2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[nomorezorro]

I think it’s much more of a stretch to think CMB could ever shoot remotely as good as Julius.

julius randle shot 3/18 on 3pt attempts in college and 70% from the line, then went on to shoot 26% on threes his first three seasons in the league

i get being particularly skeptical about CMB's 3pt shot, but i think the comparisons to randle offensively are based specifically on their similarities as prospects (as well as randle's current game as a driver/inside scorer)

[drosestruts]

VJ is immense for a PG for sure but what I mean is Fears is 6 ft 4, and that quick first step is why he routinely dunks on people. 6 ft 4 is plenty big for a PG. If we bet on Fears, we'd be betting that he can increase his strength and turnover ratio. It wouldn't be anything like betting on RJ, who after his most statistically successful season ever (and seven seasons in) is still desperately on the trading block.

Hold Up!

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-jeremiah-fears-scouting

"Fears is 6'4" and that quick first step is why he routinely dunks on people" - this what you said

Fears had 5 dunks all season, none in the halfcourt. - this is the truth

Fears shot 46% at the rim in the halfcourt

I appreciate the fact check, brother. We're all just trying to understand these players and this game a little better and your more accurate observation fits with that ultimate goal. I was getting sold by some highlights. I'm glad you mentioned that he's not a dunker. So that needs to be factored into his scouting. That first step is fire, though, right? What's stopping him from finishing with a jam?

First step is indeed great.

In general, I think he's a bad finisher and the stats support that. I think it's an athleticism issue, he'll need to become a better layup finisher to ever have good numbers at the rim.

The upside of Fears is if he can become a team's offensive engine. I would like Fears much more if I were a team with multiple first round picks and a hole at point guard - like say the Brooklyn Nets, wizards, or magic.

Right now he's a quick guard, with good handles, who does a good job getting to the line and hitting free throws

He hasn't really shown to be good at much anything else.

He can get to the rim, he just can't convert at the rim.

For Fears to reach is potential there's a lot of "ifs"

finishing at the rim
shooting
shooting off the dribble
improve his assist to turnover ratio
improve his defense

It's a boom or bust situation - because if he can't do those things, there's not much to fall back on. There's not much need for a quick guard who can't score effeciently or play-make for teammates.

[kodo]

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Definitely agree with this, comps should never use weird outlier, once in a generation players. Defeats the entire point of a comp, which is a likely outcome case based on similarities.

Harold Miner -> comp was Michael Jordan
Patrick Williams -> comp was Kawhi Leonard
CMB -> comp is Draymond Green

Paul Millsap is more likely than Draymond, Millsap was still an all-star.

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[Chi town]

2nd round dried up quick.

[Jcool0]

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99% of players never reach the high end upside, Ace Baily is probably never going to be close to KD & no one is saying CMB is Green 2.0 when they make the comparison. They are simply saying he can be that defensive 2nd facilitator forward type & he doesnt need to score 20 to be a + player. And FWIW Dennis Rodman was a better defender then Green.

[MrSparkle]

Fears… a 6’5 wingspan and 28% 3P shooter. What can go wrong? 0.1 bpg and 3+ TO average. Get your Marquis Cody Williams Henderson!

Flagg and Harper are gonna be beasts. Afterwards, I think this draft is another victim of its hype. I see a lot of busts or mid/roleplayer prospects. I’m liking the current top-10, for the Bulls. Hopefully most the mocked duds are taken by the time Chicago picks.

IMO, Denim, Queen, and a lot of deeper draft prospects are more interesting to me (Saraf, Wolf, Asa, Sorber, Fleming, Beringer).

VJ and Ace are very intriguing, but I see redflags with each. Hate drafting high-risk busts in the top-5. VJ’s bad shooting and wingspan could easily hurt hamper his NBA career, and Ace’s awareness and IQ seem off-the-charts bad.

[LateNight]

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Wow - pettiford going back to college sucks.

[2weekswithpay]

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99% of players never reach the high end upside, Ace Baily is probably never going to be close to KD & no one is saying CMB is Green 2.0 when they make the comparison. They are simply saying he can be that defensive 2nd facilitator forward type & he doesnt need to score 20 to be a + player. And FWIW Dennis Rodman was a better defender then Green.

I don't think he needs to average 20 a game. The issue is his archetype. A 6'6 PF that can't shoot and isn't a great athlete isn't an archetype that teams play these days. Draymond is the success story that comes to mind, but he's an outlier. What's the median outcome?

Maybe the passing and ball skills CMB has are enough to make it work, but there is a good chance he has to learn how to shoot to be a starter. No NBA team is going to give him the ball in the post and let him isolate.

[Senor Chang]

If we can somehow come out of this draft with coward and flemming i will be ecstatic. Adding some length to our core will go a long way toward completing this team build.


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[Chi town]

If we can somehow come out of this draft with coward and flemming i will be ecstatic. Adding some length to our core will go a long way toward completing this team build.


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I think length is way underrated. Buz’s length made such a huge difference last year. Adding another player with length would magnify the defensive impact.

[Jcool0]

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99% of players never reach the high end upside, Ace Baily is probably never going to be close to KD & no one is saying CMB is Green 2.0 when they make the comparison. They are simply saying he can be that defensive 2nd facilitator forward type & he doesnt need to score 20 to be a + player. And FWIW Dennis Rodman was a better defender then Green.

I don't think he needs to average 20 a game. The issue is his archetype. A 6'6 PF that can't shoot and isn't a great athlete isn't an archetype that teams play these days. Draymond is the success story that comes to mind, but he's an outlier. What's the median outcome?

Maybe the passing and ball skills CMB has are enough to make it work, but there is a good chance he has to learn how to shoot to be a starter. No NBA team is going to give him the ball in the post and let him isolate.

He is almost 6'8" in shoes, 249lbs with a 7'1" wingspan he will be fine. Ron Artest had a good career at that size.

[boozapalooza]

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When KC name drops…I listen. First I’ve really heard of Drake Powell and 12 seems like a reach….

Definitely was not a high impact guy in his only season at UNC, but I do like that he was a 5-star recruit ranked around #10 in the freshman class I suppose

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[CobysHairpick]

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When KC name drops…I listen. First I’ve really heard of Drake Powell and 12 seems like a reach….

Definitely was not a high impact guy in his only season at UNC, but I do like that he was a 5-star recruit ranked around #10 in the freshman class I suppose

Throw pre-draft rankings out and he's exactly who a team like the Thunder would draft. Shades of JDub dare I say.

[Indomitable]

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When KC name drops…I listen. First I’ve really heard of Drake Powell and 12 seems like a reach….

Definitely was not a high impact guy in his only season at UNC, but I do like that he was a 5-star recruit ranked around #10 in the freshman class I suppose

Throw pre-draft rankings out and he's exactly who a team like the Thunder would draft. Shades of JDub dare I say.

I like Powell profile too.

[jordanwilliams6]

Powell certainly looks interesting. Seems like the exact sort of guy that you can slot between Giddey & Coby if that’s the long term combo they want to look at.

[Muzbar]

For their 2nd round pick right?

[The Box Office]

For their 2nd round pick right?

Powell is 2nd round talent. AKME is looking at Powell for defense? His defensive metrics are awful.

[rosenthall]

Is Ben Saraf an interesting prospect for us? I'm on the fence. His tape is good but not great, and his production in Ulm looks very similar to what Killian Hayes did at the same age -- not a flattering comparison. I take it to mean the competition in that league just isn't very good.

But he had an historically dominant performance at U18 EuroBasket, and he's showing very well in the BBL playoffs, albeit with only a few games under his belt.

I don't see any outlier traits, but ever since being a Luka skeptic I've avowed to be more careful about evaluating euros. To my eye he's a back half of first round guy, but I'd be curious to see if someone genuinely likes him at our pick.