It’s hard to determine the truly safe NBA draft prospects every year, since it can be difficult to tell how a player will match up in the NBA until they enter the league. Nonetheless, some prospects offer skillsets that always play well in the league, while others present more potential than immediate impact.
This year is no different, as teams must decide when they want to take a risk and when they want to play it safe. While there is no truly “safe” prospect, certain profiles offer higher floors than others based on draft history.
Here’s a breakdown of six players who project as safer picks in this year’s NBA Draft.
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Safest NBA Draft picks in 2025
1. Cooper Flagg
Flagg is the best prospect in the draft in large part because of his high floor. The Duke star had a stellar freshman season on both ends of the floor, proving himself to be one of the best prospects in recent memory. Even if Flagg doesn’t become a superstar, it would be a surprise if he isn’t a high-end contributor at the next level.
Due to Flagg’s elite status as a prospect, there is no safer player in the draft than the Duke forward. Flagg stands at 6-9 while being able to provide ball-handling, shooting, game-changing defense and a strong motor.
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2. VJ Edgecombe
Edgecombe is expected to be a top-five pick, and he could sneak into the top-three, thanks to his athleticism and effort on the defensive end. Even though his offense is a work in progress, Edgecombe’s skillset on defense should allow him to fill a rotational role on his next team, before he even gets to potential improvements.
Edgecombe doesn’t have the typical profile of a “safe” draft pick, especially with his offensive questions, but his skillset quietly provides teams a higher floor than it seems on the surface.
3. Kon Knueppel
Knueppel is a strong shooter who already knows how to succeed as a role player, since he played with Flagg at Duke during the season. He not only represents one of the best shooters in the draft, along with his solid size, but he is also a smart player who should make the adjustment to the NBA quickly.
The main question regarding Knueppel is his athleticism, as he will not provide agility or quickness in the way other prospects might. However, someone with his size and shot-making ability should be able to find a role in the NBA pretty easily.
4. Carter Bryant
Every year there are at least a few players whom the league values more than the public, and this year that could be Bryant.
With NBA teams always looking for their next 3-and-D role player, Bryant’s profile fits that exact build. The Arizona forward has the size and athleticism to make an impact immediately on defense, and his 37.1 percent shooting from deep in college projects well in the NBA. Even if Bryant doesn’t develop skills to become the focal point of an offense, his profile screams high-end role player.
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5. Ryan Kalkbrenner
“Safe” players sometimes don’t have higher ceilings, which is the case with Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner. The 23-year-old is very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get player, which limits his upside as a prospect.
However, it also means he provides a relatively safer and easily-projectable floor, as long as he is drafted at a reasonable spot. The four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year is one of the best defensive centers in the draft, and Zach Edey’s success as a rookie should help the Creighton product’s value at the next level as a defense-first center.
6. Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton Jr.’s breakout in the NCAA tournament likely made him some money at the next level, but it was also a preview of what he can do against top competition. The point guard’s veteran experience and shooting should allow him to make an immediate impact in the NBA, potentially serving as a backup point guard right away, with room to grow above the backup role.
Casual fans will recognize Clayton from March Madness and may expect him to replicate that success in the NBA. While that may be expecting much, it’s hard to go wrong with a point guard who had Clayton’s level of success last year.
