The surprises just keep coming in the NBA.

Three months after the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in perhaps the most shocking deal in league history, Dallas landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft on Monday night with just a 1.8% chance entering the annual lottery.

It’s a stunning reversal of fortunes for Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, who drew the ire of Dallas fans for parting with a franchise icon that just last season led the team to the NBA Finals. Now, the Mavericks have the right to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg and pair one of the best prospects in years with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving to form a championship contender.

Of course, nothing is ever predictable in the NBA. There’s already been speculation that Dallas might consider trading the pick, perhaps for Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Milwaukee Bucks superstar endured a disappointing first-round exit with a mediocre roster that will be without Damian Lillard for at least a year after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. The San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, who own the Nos. 2 and 3 overall picks, respectively, could also look to trade their selections for a veteran star in a more aggressive win-now approach.

What does all this mean for former Maryland star Derik Queen? The 20-year-old Baltimore native is considered a potential lottery pick when the draft begins June 25 and will participate in the NBA draft combine this week in Chicago. Between interviews, workouts and scouting research, there’s still much to be determined about the 6-foot-10 big man’s fit at the next level after a standout freshman season for the Terps, but with the order of picks now revealed, the picture is becoming clearer about his NBA future.

Here’s a look at where Queen lands in recent mock drafts:

The Athletic: No. 6 to Washington Wizards

The Wizards entered the lottery with a 14% chance to land the top selection after finishing with one of the league’s worst records at 18-64, but they dropped all the way to No. 6. It’s a hugely disappointing result for a franchise that has been desperately searching for a superstar since John Wall and Bradley Beal left.

However, Queen could be a great consolation prize for a team that has overhauled its roster, front office and coaching staff over the past two seasons. Not only would his local roots be a hit with the fans, but his ability to pass, shoot and handle the ball would give Washington a playmaker to help take some of the pressure off young prospects Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington — a fellow Baltimore native.

“Queen is also from the DMV area and is the kind of personality that this team could use as it looks to take the next step forward,” The Athletics’ Sam Vecenie writes. “I also love the fit of Queen next to Alex Sarr, as Sarr’s struggles to rebound would be helped immensely by Queen’s positional play on the interior, while still allowing the team to play with some fun five-out concepts. Sarr’s ability to protect the rim from the weak side would also help Queen’s play on the interior defensively, too. This is a fun match.”

Bleacher Report: No. 8 to Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have lacked an identity ever since the “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, Irving and James Harden fell apart four years ago. Outside of Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton, there are few young players to get excited about on this rebuilding roster.

That could make Queen the face of the team in no time. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley describes Queen as a “unique prospect who could really impact the game with a seldom seen blend of size, scoring, vision and feel.” In Brooklyn, he could develop at his own pace.

“It’ll take the right kind of roster to first let him spread his wings and later to supplement his strengths and cover for his weaknesses,” Buckley writes. “With Brooklyn being in the blank-slate stage of its roster-building, the Nets could try to slowly construct something around Queen if they don’t find any quick-fix options this offseason.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor also projects Queen to Brooklyn, touting the big man’s “tantalizing potential.”

“Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves and crafty finishes, like his game-winning leaning jumper to send Maryland to the Sweet 16. From early in his career with the Nets, he can make an impact with those interior skills,” O’Connor writes. “The question is how long, if ever, it’ll take to translate his velvet touch to the perimeter. If he does that, he has an offensive star upside. But his interior scoring, playmaking chops, and magnetic rebounding alone give him tantalizing potential. Those traits make him an intriguing fit for a team with a clean slate like the Nets.”

ESPN: No. 11 to Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2020-21 season but showed signs of improvement this year under coach Chauncey Billups, finishing 36-46. Led by a young core of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and last year’s No. 7 overall selection Donovan Clingan, there’s optimism that Portland’s rebuild is ahead of schedule.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Queen’s “conditioning, occasional apathy defensively and lack of shooting range are things NBA teams picking in this area (or earlier) will want to get a better handle on in the predraft process,” but he is still considered perhaps the most skilled big man in this class.

“Queen’s lack of shooting might not be an ideal fit on paper for a Portland team that already struggled from the perimeter, but his talent might be too big to pass on, especially if Clingan can make a jump with his shooting like he showed flashes of in small doses as a rookie,” Givony writes.

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann also projects Portland as the fit for Queen, who he calls “a bit of an odd bird — a mostly ground-bound scoring big who can bully opponents but largely doesn’t.”

“His craft around the basket and consistent ability to get there — whether facing up from the foul line or picking his spots as a rolling screener — are nearly peerless in this class,” Mann writes. “His role on defense and iffy shooting loom over his upside, but Portland’s roster is big and long enough to cover him on the former, while his passing and broad offensive skill set should find a nice playmaking synergy with their scoring guards.”

CBS Sports: No. 12 to Chicago Bulls

The Bulls were one of the biggest losers on lottery night. After the play-in tournament, Chicago and Dallas were tied in the lottery standings with 39-43 records, so a coin flip was used to determine which team would get the 0.1% advantage in lottery odds. The Mavs won it, then vaulted all the way to the No. 1 spot in the draft. It’s a gutting outcome for a proud Bulls franchise that has been mired in mediocrity ever since Michael Jordan retired.

Queen landing in Chicago would be a fun result for Terps fans, though. The Bulls have a pair of former Maryland stars in Kevin Huerter and Jalen Smith, the school’s two most recent first-round selections. While neither is considered a cornerstone piece and mostly come off the bench, Queen would be touted as one of the team’s rising young stars alongside Coby White, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Ayo Dosunmu.

“You’ll probably see Queen and Chicago linked a lot in the coming weeks,” CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone writes. “He’s a skilled big man who would fill a need for the Bulls and help pieces in the frontcourt connect to Chicago’s dynamic backcourt.”