2025 NBA Draft Prospects

[kodo]

If we land around the #10 mark, should we be drafting best player available or a player that fits with Coby, Giddey & Matas?

VJ would fit well between Coby & Giddey as guard or someone like Maluach to be our long term defensive center.

If went by fit we wouldn't have picked Matas or Ayo. We already had Patrick at the F spot locked up for 5 years, and we run 3 guard lineups. There was no need for Matas, which is why he barely got any minutes until recently.

The other nice pick was Ayo and we had absolutely no need for that with Coby, Lonzo, Caruso.

[DuckIII]

If we land around the #10 mark, should we be drafting best player available or a player that fits with Coby, Giddey & Matas?

VJ would fit well between Coby & Giddey as guard or someone like Maluach to be our long term defensive center.

If went by fit we wouldn't have picked Matas or Ayo. We already had Patrick at the F spot locked up for 5 years, and we run 3 guard lineups. There was no need for Matas, which is why he barely got any minutes until recently.

The other nice pick was Ayo and we had absolutely no need for that with Coby, Lonzo, Caruso.

I don’t recall the roster when Ayo was picked and would have to look. I don’t recall him being a redundancy at the time. He played quite a bit as a rookie because he filled an available role. Every team needs 5 guards. We didn’t have 5. That’s a need.

And it is certainly not true of Matas. We were arguably the only NBA team that had zero players like Matas on our roster. It was not just a need. It was a desperate need that we had ignored for years. Having one guy being played out of position to fill that need simply underscores its existence. Fortunately, that team needs was also filled by the BPA. Which is always the ideal.

[DuckIII]

Kid has me intrigued, but I have to discount UofI players...feel like we (including the Bulls FO) have "homervision".

It’s pretty obvious that you go out of your way to be negative towards Illinois players both as prospects and when they rarely land on the Bulls. Basically you are admitting that you aren’t objective by choosing to treat
them by a different standard. Your posts make a lot more sense now.

I don't disagree. It's hard to discern fact from homerism on this board, but moreso with the Bulls FO, who have struck me as too lazy to look far from home.

Educate me. Ayo as a second rounder who was the type of guy who had clearly fallen well below his projected quality. And? Matas had a cup of coffee as a Chicago HS player. Liddell? A non guaranteed G-League type deal who is from just outside St. Louis and went to Ohio State?

Who are all these local guys AK has taken that have ended up being bad decisions?

[Jcool0]

It’s pretty obvious that you go out of your way to be negative towards Illinois players both as prospects and when they rarely land on the Bulls. Basically you are admitting that you aren’t objective by choosing to treat
them by a different standard. Your posts make a lot more sense now.

I don't disagree. It's hard to discern fact from homerism on this board, but moreso with the Bulls FO, who have struck me as too lazy to look far from home.

Educate me. Ayo as a second rounder who was the type of guy who had clearly fallen well below his projected quality. And? Matas had a cup of coffee as a Chicago HS player. Liddell? A non guaranteed G-League type deal who is from just outside St. Louis and went to Ohio State?

Who are all these local guys AK has taken that have ended up being bad decisions?

FWIW Matas grew up in Hinsdale, IL and played for Hinsdale Central. He left for a different HS because the season got canceled do to COVID. Matas brother is a senior at Hinsdale Central (averaged 18.8 ppg and 8.5 rebounds, also read he lead the team in assists but couldn't find the numbers) and was named Suburban Life boys basketball Player of the Year. He is committed to South Dakota. He is only 6'3"-6'4" so not the upside of his brother.

[DuckIII]

I don't disagree. It's hard to discern fact from homerism on this board, but moreso with the Bulls FO, who have struck me as too lazy to look far from home.

Educate me. Ayo as a second rounder who was the type of guy who had clearly fallen well below his projected quality. And? Matas had a cup of coffee as a Chicago HS player. Liddell? A non guaranteed G-League type deal who is from just outside St. Louis and went to Ohio State?

Who are all these local guys AK has taken that have ended up being bad decisions?

FWIW Matas grew up in Hinsdale, IL and played for Hinsdale Central. He left for a different HS because the season got canceled do to COVID. Matas brother is a senior at Hinsdale Central (averaged 18.8 ppg and 8.5 rebounds, also read he lead the team in assists but couldn't find the numbers) and was named Suburban Life boys basketball Player of the Year. He is committed to South Dakota. He is only 6'3"-6'4" so not the upside of his brother.

Right. Regardless, I don’t consider Matas part of the, in my opinion make believe, “issue” of the Bulls falling in love with locals in a damaging way. He played his freshman year of HS in Illinois and then moved around the country multiple times and didn’t got to college at all.

[League Circles]

Educate me. Ayo as a second rounder who was the type of guy who had clearly fallen well below his projected quality. And? Matas had a cup of coffee as a Chicago HS player. Liddell? A non guaranteed G-League type deal who is from just outside St. Louis and went to Ohio State?

Who are all these local guys AK has taken that have ended up being bad decisions?

FWIW Matas grew up in Hinsdale, IL and played for Hinsdale Central. He left for a different HS because the season got canceled do to COVID. Matas brother is a senior at Hinsdale Central (averaged 18.8 ppg and 8.5 rebounds, also read he lead the team in assists but couldn't find the numbers) and was named Suburban Life boys basketball Player of the Year. He is committed to South Dakota. He is only 6'3"-6'4" so not the upside of his brother.

Right. Regardless, I don’t consider Matas part of the, in my opinion make believe, “issue” of the Bulls falling in love with locals in a damaging way. He played his freshman year of HS in Illinois and then moved around the country multiple times and didn’t got to college at all.

FWIW I agree with you, but maybe people are jaded by previous homerism by the previous execs under the same ownership (Krause, Pax, Gar stuff).

[DuckIII]

FWIW Matas grew up in Hinsdale, IL and played for Hinsdale Central. He left for a different HS because the season got canceled do to COVID. Matas brother is a senior at Hinsdale Central (averaged 18.8 ppg and 8.5 rebounds, also read he lead the team in assists but couldn't find the numbers) and was named Suburban Life boys basketball Player of the Year. He is committed to South Dakota. He is only 6'3"-6'4" so not the upside of his brother.

Right. Regardless, I don’t consider Matas part of the, in my opinion make believe, “issue” of the Bulls falling in love with locals in a damaging way. He played his freshman year of HS in Illinois and then moved around the country multiple times and didn’t got to college at all.

FWIW I agree with you, but maybe people are jaded by previous homerism by the previous execs under the same ownership (Krause, Pax, Gar stuff).

When did they do that? Krause famously hated drafting locals and considered it a black mark. Gar and Pax got some silly criticism for Iowa State related coincidences. Which isn’t local. I can’t think of anything else.

Taking Rose certainly doesn’t count.

[Jcool0]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

[League Circles]

Right. Regardless, I don’t consider Matas part of the, in my opinion make believe, “issue” of the Bulls falling in love with locals in a damaging way. He played his freshman year of HS in Illinois and then moved around the country multiple times and didn’t got to college at all.

FWIW I agree with you, but maybe people are jaded by previous homerism by the previous execs under the same ownership (Krause, Pax, Gar stuff).

When did they do that? Krause famously hated drafting locals and considered it a black mark. Gar and Pax got some silly criticism for Iowa State related coincidences. Which isn’t local. I can’t think of anything else.

Taking Rose certainly doesn’t count.

Lol, maybe I'm jaded too in a way that I'm misremembering things, but Krause hired his fishing buddy to usher Phil out of town, and then Gar did a deja-vu move when he hired Hoiberg, and I feel like we had a few other New Mexico State and Iowa tagalongs but maybe I'm just amplifying my memory of Tony Snell etc. Then there is Eddy Curry, Dwyane Wade, Jabari Parker and possibly more food for thought. Again, I actually agree with you that it's not an issue, and certainly hasn't been shown to be one with AKME, but people might have past trauma from at least half-real questionable allegiances. BTW that's why I used the word homerism instead of just local bias.

[League Circles]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

He's a guy I'd consider trying to trade up a couple spots for if needed. Maybe using Ayo or maaaaybe the Portland pick. He might not pan out, but he does look like a much higher ceiling C prospect than anyone we have or are likely to get for the foreseeable future.

[Chi town]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

1. I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of his game and lack of production. His shear size and length though do make me wonder if he is being hidden in Duke and what Giddey could do with him. Our biggest need outside of true #1 is a lob threat defensive C. Vertical gravity with a lob threat like Maluach would be insane for Giddey. It would open up the floor even more. Don’t know if Maluach could play at our pace but I think Joan could. Kid runs for days. Much better athlete. Not nearly the measureabkes. He won’t go till 20 mostly likely.

2. Lots of mocks have dropped Malauch. Vecenie to late teens. I think he’d be gettable with POR pick for a trade up.

[Jcool0]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

1. I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of his game and lack of production. His shear size and length though do make me wonder if he is being hidden in Duke and what Giddey could do with him. Our biggest need outside of true #1 is a lob threat defensive C. Vertical gravity with a lob threat like Maluach would be insane for Giddey. It would open up the floor even more. Don’t know if Maluach could play at our pace but I think Joan could. Kid runs for days. Much better athlete. Not nearly the measureabkes. He won’t go till 20 mostly likely.

2. Lots of mocks have dropped Malauch. Vecenie to late teens. I think he’d be gettable with POR pick for a trade up.

FWIW Duke is going for a National Title, not to get him to be the #1 pick. So what you are seeing from him is not all that he can do. Duke is keeping it simple to lobs because he can do that really well. They dont need him to do anything else. So while his numbers dont justify going in the top 15, his skill and upside makes him a top 10 pick.

Problem with mock drafts is NBA media isn't NFL media. You aren't getting good mock this early because no one really cares at this point and also there isn't a demand or a big pool of people doing them in general. ESPN keeps all draft coverage behind a paywall because they make more from a subscription then a click for NBA draft content (FWIW Jonathan Givony has Malauch 7th). If the Bulls make the playoffs where they are drafting most causals will already have tuned out.

[Mbrahv0528]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

Considering he's being mocked in he mid to late teens, we absolutely have a chance to draft him.

Sent from my SM-S938U using RealGM mobile app

[2weekswithpay]

1. I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of his game and lack of production. His shear size and length though do make me wonder if he is being hidden in Duke and what Giddey could do with him. Our biggest need outside of true #1 is a lob threat defensive C. Vertical gravity with a lob threat like Maluach would be insane for Giddey. It would open up the floor even more. Don’t know if Maluach could play at our pace but I think Joan could. Kid runs for days. Much better athlete. Not nearly the measureabkes. He won’t go till 20 mostly likely.

2. Lots of mocks have dropped Malauch. Vecenie to late teens. I think he’d be gettable with POR pick for a trade up.

Rim running lob threat should perform better in the NBA with better guard play and more spacing. Lively is the best recent example. I don't think he's being hidden though. He doesn't have any ball skills and hasn't shown much as a passer. If Duke isn't willing to let him shoot more 3s, they likely don't think he's good enough as a shooter yet.

[Jcool0]

I really like the upside play with Maluach for the Bulls. Would fit in very nicely with this team with lobs from Giddey. Its a shame we will probably have 0% chance to draft him.

Considering he's being mocked in he mid to late teens, we absolutely have a chance to draft him.

Sent from my SM-S938U using RealGM mobile app

What mocks? No Ceilings, ESPN, B/R & Hoop intellect all have him in the top 10.

[Jcool0]

1. I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of his game and lack of production. His shear size and length though do make me wonder if he is being hidden in Duke and what Giddey could do with him. Our biggest need outside of true #1 is a lob threat defensive C. Vertical gravity with a lob threat like Maluach would be insane for Giddey. It would open up the floor even more. Don’t know if Maluach could play at our pace but I think Joan could. Kid runs for days. Much better athlete. Not nearly the measureabkes. He won’t go till 20 mostly likely.

2. Lots of mocks have dropped Malauch. Vecenie to late teens. I think he’d be gettable with POR pick for a trade up.

Rim running lob threat should perform better in the NBA with better guard play and more spacing. Lively is the best recent example. I don't think he's being hidden though. He doesn't have any ball skills and hasn't shown much as a passer. If Duke isn't willing to let him shoot more 3s, they likely don't think he's good enough as a shooter yet.

He was 32% on 56 attempts from 3 last year in his pro league & currently a 75% FT shooter.

[2weekswithpay]

1. I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of his game and lack of production. His shear size and length though do make me wonder if he is being hidden in Duke and what Giddey could do with him. Our biggest need outside of true #1 is a lob threat defensive C. Vertical gravity with a lob threat like Maluach would be insane for Giddey. It would open up the floor even more. Don’t know if Maluach could play at our pace but I think Joan could. Kid runs for days. Much better athlete. Not nearly the measureabkes. He won’t go till 20 mostly likely.

2. Lots of mocks have dropped Malauch. Vecenie to late teens. I think he’d be gettable with POR pick for a trade up.

Rim running lob threat should perform better in the NBA with better guard play and more spacing. Lively is the best recent example. I don't think he's being hidden though. He doesn't have any ball skills and hasn't shown much as a passer. If Duke isn't willing to let him shoot more 3s, they likely don't think he's good enough as a shooter yet.

He was 32% on 56 attempts from 3 last year in his pro league & currently a 75% FT shooter.

56 attempts don't move me. The volume is too low and 75% from the line is good but when projecting shooting, it could go either way. These are still solid shooting indicators but just not enough to get me to buy in.

Someone like Myles Turner shot 83% at the line and shot above 40% on non paint 2s with good volume.

[Jcool0]

Rim running lob threat should perform better in the NBA with better guard play and more spacing. Lively is the best recent example. I don't think he's being hidden though. He doesn't have any ball skills and hasn't shown much as a passer. If Duke isn't willing to let him shoot more 3s, they likely don't think he's good enough as a shooter yet.

He was 32% on 56 attempts from 3 last year in his pro league & currently a 75% FT shooter.

56 attempts don't move me. The volume is too low and 75% from the line is good but when projecting shooting, it could go either way. These are still solid shooting indicators but just not enough to get me to buy in.

Someone like Myles Turner shot 83% at the line and shot above 40% on non paint 2s with good volume.

I can not stress this enough... I could care less what Myles Turner did.

[Guy Rodgers fan]

Disappointing game by the Illini. Jakucionis finishes with 5 turnovers. Ayo had 6 turnovers in his last NCAA tournament game which is one reason he slipped to the Bulls in the 2nd round. I don't think Jakucionis will fall that far, but he didn't play like a high lottery pick.

[Guru]

We are likely drafting 10-16. Time to rethink some things.