Rasheer Fleming Selected By Phoenix Suns Following Trade Up In 2025 NBA Draft

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Rasheer Fleming's day was filled with excitement as the Phoenix Suns traded up to secure him with the first pick of the second round in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Suns, who missed the playoffs last season for the first time in five years, made a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to move up after Minnesota expressed interest in trading their 31st pick.

The Timberwolves still selected Fleming, who averaged 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds at Saint Joseph's last season, but the trade had been finalized earlier. After learning his final destination, Fleming, one of the top prospects not picked in the first round, expressed his happiness. "It was a long day now that I think about it," he said. "Everything has happened so fast—this was a great experience. It's kind of a crazy feeling. Not even kind of. It's a crazy feeling."

Another notable selection on day two occurred when the Philadelphia 76ers picked Auburn's Johni Broome at number 35. They had previously chosen Baylor's VJ Edgecombe as their third overall pick a day earlier. Broome shared his excitement with reporters, saying, "Being here, this is probably the most exciting moment of my life so far. As a kid you always want to be drafted, hear your name called, put on the hat. So actually going through the moment... I don't know, it just feels surreal."

The Boston Celtics also made headlines by selecting Noah Penda at number 32 and then trading him to the Orlando Magic for four second-round picks—two for this year and two for future years. With their new selections in 2025, Boston chose Kentucky's British-born center Amari Williams and VCU guard Max Shulha.

Orlando's president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, commented on acquiring Penda: "We were looking at him at number 25. He had a very good visit with us, on and off the court. And you guys know how important the person is to us. We just felt he's got Magic DNA."

The Charlotte Hornets capitalized on consecutive picks at numbers 33 and 34 by selecting Sion James and acquiring Ryan Kalkbrenner through a trade involving Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks.

The draft concluded with Jahmai Mashack being picked as the final player at number 60 by Memphis Grizzlies after a trade with Houston Rockets.