2024/25 College basketball / NBA draft thread

[JMaster5K]

With two games to go, the Pacers have locked 4th and have a mathematical chance for 3rd. Tony East's Locked on Pacers makes the interesting point that if we lose twice several West Conference teams can exceed our record greatly improving our draft position.

Wow,.. hadn't thought of that,... we could potentially pick up what 4 draft spots? A good reason to rest players !

[Wizop]

Scoot - remind me how the Stepien Rule works. we didn't have a 2024 pick and don't have a 2026 pick. since the 2024 draft is over, are we free to trade 2025 for 2026 now or do we have to wink wink wait until after the pick is made so we can trade the draft rights to the player "we" selected for a future pick?

[Scoot McGroot]

Scoot - remind me how the Stepien Rule works. we didn't have a 2024 pick and don't have a 2026 pick. since the 2024 draft is over, are we free to trade 2025 for 2026 now or do we have to wink wink wait until after the pick is made so we can trade the draft rights to the player "we" selected for a future pick?

2024 is done and in the past. It has no impact on Stepien in any way, as Stepien rules only impact “future picks”. We could trade a 2025 1st for a 2026 1st at any point. And if we get a 2026 1st back that is fully unprotected and guaranteed to convey, we would then open up Stepien rules going forward once this draft is complete.

[Wizop]

Scoot - remind me how the Stepien Rule works. we didn't have a 2024 pick and don't have a 2026 pick. since the 2024 draft is over, are we free to trade 2025 for 2026 now or do we have to wink wink wait until after the pick is made so we can trade the draft rights to the player "we" selected for a future pick?

2024 is done and in the past. It has no impact on Stepien in any way, as Stepien rules only impact “future picks”. We could trade a 2025 1st for a 2026 1st at any point. And if we get a 2026 1st back that is fully unprotected and guaranteed to convey, we would then open up Stepien rules going forward once this draft is complete.

I thought 2024 was history but wanted confirmation, thanks.

[Scoot McGroot]

Scoot - remind me how the Stepien Rule works. we didn't have a 2024 pick and don't have a 2026 pick. since the 2024 draft is over, are we free to trade 2025 for 2026 now or do we have to wink wink wait until after the pick is made so we can trade the draft rights to the player "we" selected for a future pick?

2024 is done and in the past. It has no impact on Stepien in any way, as Stepien rules only impact “future picks”. We could trade a 2025 1st for a 2026 1st at any point. And if we get a 2026 1st back that is fully unprotected and guaranteed to convey, we would then open up Stepien rules going forward once this draft is complete.

I thought 2024 was history but wanted confirmation, thanks.

Yup. Literally as soon as the first round of a draft is completed, it no longer counts toward Stepien Rules calculations.

[JMaster5K]

2024 is done and in the past. It has no impact on Stepien in any way, as Stepien rules only impact “future picks”. We could trade a 2025 1st for a 2026 1st at any point. And if we get a 2026 1st back that is fully unprotected and guaranteed to convey, we would then open up Stepien rules going forward once this draft is complete.

I thought 2024 was history but wanted confirmation, thanks.

Yup. Literally as soon as the first round of a draft is completed, it no longer counts toward Stepien Rules calculations.

Isn’t it as soon as the draft starts, that draft no longer counts, because it is no longer ‘future’? At this years draft we could trade our 2025 pick without any consideration of our 2026 pick status? But not having a 2026 pick would prevent us from trading our 2027 pick?

I could be wrong? But I seem to remember something from Larry Coon’s FAQ about this specific idea?

[Scoot McGroot]

I thought 2024 was history but wanted confirmation, thanks.

Yup. Literally as soon as the first round of a draft is completed, it no longer counts toward Stepien Rules calculations.

Isn’t it as soon as the draft starts, that draft no longer counts, because it is no longer ‘future’? At this years draft we could trade our 2025 pick without any consideration of our 2026 pick status? But not having a 2026 pick would prevent us from trading our 2027 pick?

I could be wrong? But I seem to remember something from Larry Coon’s FAQ about this specific idea?

Theoretically, it’s the same, as the draft order is “locked” a couple hours before the draft, and trades aren’t processed during the 1st round. However, the most specific terminology is that as soon as the first round is over, it is now a “past draft”, as none of the first round picks in that draft are yet to be drafted. It’s why we tend to see the deputy commissioner start to announce trades during the 2nd round.

But yeah, our not having a 2026 1st affects our ability to trade 2027 and such, but Wizop and I have talked of trying to trade our 2025 1st for an unprotected 2026 1st (even if it’s guaranteed to be super late) so that it would then effectively reset our Stepien restrictions.

[JMaster5K]

Yup. Literally as soon as the first round of a draft is completed, it no longer counts toward Stepien Rules calculations.

Isn’t it as soon as the draft starts, that draft no longer counts, because it is no longer ‘future’? At this years draft we could trade our 2025 pick without any consideration of our 2026 pick status? But not having a 2026 pick would prevent us from trading our 2027 pick?

I could be wrong? But I seem to remember something from Larry Coon’s FAQ about this specific idea?

Theoretically, it’s the same, as the draft order is “locked” a couple hours before the draft, and trades aren’t processed during the 1st round. However, the most specific terminology is that as soon as the first round is over, it is now a “past draft”, as none of the first round picks in that draft are yet to be drafted. It’s why we tend to see the deputy commissioner start to announce trades during the 2nd round.

But yeah, our not having a 2026 1st affects our ability to trade 2027 and such, but Wizop and I have talked of trying to trade our 2025 1st for an unprotected 2026 1st (even if it’s guaranteed to be super late) so that it would then effectively reset our Stepien restrictions.

Thanks mate! I was aware of the pick restrictions prior to the draft (and the resulting 'drafting a player for X team, to receive a player from X team' with the trade completed after the draft), but hadn't realized the implication of that for the Stepien rule.

[Grang33r]

Is Khaman Maluach NBA comparable Jalen Jackson jr? Or no?

[JMaster5K]

Is Khaman Maluach NBA comparable Jalen Jackson jr? Or no?

Ehhhhhh,.... More like the high school version of Myles with slightly quicker feet? It's really hard to tell? He's all arms, legs, & movement at this point? He (as yet?) doesn't have quick enough feet to really defend on the perimeter like JJJ did (but, JJJ had played a LOT more ball at the same age, had more years of elite coaching, and seemed to have developed a little bit more physically?)

He's locked into the paint right now & tries to block everything. His timing when playing the person & body positioning looks good,... his timing on the ball after it's shot is sorta average? He's got quick hands, but there aren't always where they need to be yet? to me,.. he's 'gangly' & 'ungainly'?... Right now,.. he's sorta trying to set screens, but seems to ghost a LOT of them? When he does set a screen, he seems to get moved by the impact & lose the screen? If he is 250, he's not yet a filled out, or strong 250, and doesn't really use what he does have?

Most of what I've seen,.. he's rebounding from behind his man, just because he's longer than his man. His hands when catching the ball, don't seem to me to be as good as JJJ or Myles in HS? He still needs to 2 hand all the lobs sent his way. Having said that? To me, his athleticism is better than it's been advertised? He does move really well up & down the court. As well as, in the half-court offense. He can attack as a cutter from the wing & moves well doing it,.. but someone has to throw a lob. He's not doing it with the ball, nor does he seem to read the floor well?

His shot looks good, but I haven't seen it at Duke? and, it doesn't go down that much right now? more as a last resort thing, as opposed to a real weapon on offense?

This guy made the comparison to Myles & Rudy Gobert? He kinda moves like Gobert? Herky, Jerky, in the paint, but fluid on the court? I think he's still growing & doesn't have the body control to be anything else? If, he's really 7'2" & 235? (or 250 as reported on tankathon?),... then he could easily end up 7'4" maybe 270 pound version of Myles?.... but that would still be several (3?-4?) years with NBA level coaching from happening? I mean,... this guys will still only be like 18 years,... 9 months? at the time of the draft?

According to his bio, he's been playing BB since 2019, & club level ball in Africa since 2022?.....

https://nbadraftroom.com/khaman-maluach/

Edit: after thinking about this? he reminds me more of the way David Robinson played,... in that first year at Navy (I think it was his first year? could have been HS?) when he grew from 6'1 or 2,... to like 6'8 in a year,... they continued to 7'0 over the next sorta 6 months? He looks like the Admiral when he first hit 7'0, and had not yet developed the balance or body control needed? 2 years later,... he was the admiral.

[Wizop]

Read on Twitter

[Grang33r]

Is Khaman Maluach NBA comparable Jalen Jackson jr? Or no?

Ehhhhhh,.... More like the high school version of Myles with slightly quicker feet? It's really hard to tell? He's all arms, legs, & movement at this point? He (as yet?) doesn't have quick enough feet to really defend on the perimeter like JJJ did (but, JJJ had played a LOT more ball at the same age, had more years of elite coaching, and seemed to have developed a little bit more physically?)

He's locked into the paint right now & tries to block everything. His timing when playing the person & body positioning looks good,... his timing on the ball after it's shot is sorta average? He's got quick hands, but there aren't always where they need to be yet? to me,.. he's 'gangly' & 'ungainly'?... Right now,.. he's sorta trying to set screens, but seems to ghost a LOT of them? When he does set a screen, he seems to get moved by the impact & lose the screen? If he is 250, he's not yet a filled out, or strong 250, and doesn't really use what he does have?

Most of what I've seen,.. he's rebounding from behind his man, just because he's longer than his man. His hands when catching the ball, don't seem to me to be as good as JJJ or Myles in HS? He still needs to 2 hand all the lobs sent his way. Having said that? To me, his athleticism is better than it's been advertised? He does move really well up & down the court. As well as, in the half-court offense. He can attack as a cutter from the wing & moves well doing it,.. but someone has to throw a lob. He's not doing it with the ball, nor does he seem to read the floor well?

His shot looks good, but I haven't seen it at Duke? and, it doesn't go down that much right now? more as a last resort thing, as opposed to a real weapon on offense?

This guy made the comparison to Myles & Rudy Gobert? He kinda moves like Gobert? Herky, Jerky, in the paint, but fluid on the court? I think he's still growing & doesn't have the body control to be anything else? If, he's really 7'2" & 235? (or 250 as reported on tankathon?),... then he could easily end up 7'4" maybe 270 pound version of Myles?.... but that would still be several (3?-4?) years with NBA level coaching from happening? I mean,... this guys will still only be like 18 years,... 9 months? at the time of the draft?

According to his bio, he's been playing BB since 2019, & club level ball in Africa since 2022?.....

https://nbadraftroom.com/khaman-maluach/

Edit: after thinking about this? he reminds me more of the way David Robinson played,... in that first year at Navy (I think it was his first year? could have been HS?) when he grew from 6'1 or 2,... to like 6'8 in a year,... they continued to 7'0 over the next sorta 6 months? He looks like the Admiral when he first hit 7'0, and had not yet developed the balance or body control needed? 2 years later,... he was the admiral.

Interesting, thats for the analysis.

Any early favorites for pick 23?

[JMaster5K]

Is Khaman Maluach NBA comparable Jalen Jackson jr? Or no?

Interesting, thats for the analysis.

Any early favorites for pick 23?

idk?.... He's been falling on draft boards lately,... which is probably good for him. He's been in the top 10 until the tournament,... but I think he'll probably go like 13 - 20?

What do you think? o0

[Scoot McGroot]

Read on Twitter

Have I ever said how much I appreciated Dustin?

[Wizop]

TheAthletic has Beringer (Bear-In-Jay) falling to us at 23.

[Pacers Forever]

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[Grang33r]

TheAthletic has Beringer (Bear-In-Jay) falling to us at 23.

Ive done a bunch of youtube watching and the two players that constantly jump out at me are Adou Thiero and Rasheer Fleming.

Just from watching this season and then these playoffs league wide, seems to me we could add some length to the defensive wings and players who aren't afraid to be physical. But also players that can shoot to fit our style.

[Wizop]

TheAthletic has Beringer (Bear-In-Jay) falling to us at 23.

Ive done a bunch of youtube watching and the two players that constantly jump out at me are Adou Thiero and Rasheer Fleming.

Just from watching this season and then these playoffs league wide, seems to me we could add some length to the defensive wings and players who aren't afraid to be physical. But also players that can shoot to fit our style.

The college player that impressed me was Sorber but I don't expect him to last until 23.

[Grang33r]

Also have become a big fan of Maxime Raynaud. One mock i saw the other day had him listed at #43 but no chance this guy isn't a first rounder imo.

[Grang33r]

The college player that impressed me was Sorber but I don't expect him to last until 23.

Yeah i agree, he seems great. Ive done some reading about him but i try to focus more time watching youtube for guys who might be available for us but Sorber jumps out as a nice prospect for sure.