2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[2weekswithpay]

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[Muzbar]

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I'm intrigued by this guy, especially in the 2nd round, but he's probably a bit of a project.

I saw a clip where he hit like 8 3's in a row from the corner, if that's part of his game along with being a lane clogger, he could be a decent big.

[Donkedave]

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I'm intrigued by this guy, especially in the 2nd round, but he's probably a bit of a project.

I saw a clip where he hit like 8 3's in a row from the corner, if that's part of his game along with being a lane clogger, he could be a decent big.

Worth a shot with our 2nd I’d say. Will end up a 2-way deal anyways.

[Chi town]

Bulls MUST get a C from this draft.

[drosestruts]

I found this breakdown from reddit on frequency in shots at the rim in the halfcourt alongside field goal % at the rim very interesting - https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1kaejew/halfcourt_rim_frequencies_fg_stats_of_some_2025/


Stand out in a good way: (player name - HC rim frequency % - HC rim FG %)

Dylan Harper - 39.1 - 65.3
Cooper Flagg - 38.4 - 55.2%
Will Riley - 34.4. - 61.30%
Egor Denim - 32.1 - 61.6%
Kasparas - 30.9 - 61.8%


Stands out in a bad way

Jermiah Fears - 37 - 44.5% (does a good job getting to the rim but can't finish)
Labaron Philon - 36 - 45%
Boogie Fland - 18 - 29.7
Tre Johnson - 16.7 - 46.5%
Ace Bailey - 15.3 - 56.6%


Overall, this is a very specific breakdown. It has me more intrigued in Will Riley than I previously was.

It's also reafirming my stance that I would simply not draft Ace Bailey.


Carter Bryant fans will love his 72.7% FG% at the rim. Only taking 15.9% of his shots at the rim within the halfcourt is a concern.

[othawhitemeat]

I found this breakdown from reddit on frequency in shots at the rim in the halfcourt alongside field goal % at the rim very interesting - https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1kaejew/halfcourt_rim_frequencies_fg_stats_of_some_2025/


Stand out in a good way: (player name - HC rim frequency % - HC rim FG %)

Dylan Harper - 39.1 - 65.3
Cooper Flagg - 38.4 - 55.2%
Will Riley - 34.4. - 61.30%
Egor Denim - 32.1 - 61.6%
Kasparas - 30.9 - 61.8%


Stands out in a bad way

Jermiah Fears - 37 - 44.5% (does a good job getting to the rim but can't finish)
Labaron Philon - 36 - 45%
Boogie Fland - 18 - 29.7
Tre Johnson - 16.7 - 46.5%
Ace Bailey - 15.3 - 56.6%


Overall, this is a very specific breakdown. It has me more intrigued in Will Riley than I previously was.

It's also reafirming my stance that I would simply not draft Ace Bailey.


Carter Bryant fans will love his 72.7% FG% at the rim. Only taking 15.9% of his shots at the rim within the halfcourt is a concern.

\

Just not a huge fan of Bailey overall from an outside perspective. The talent is there and I can see him being an all-star if he maxes out as he has some Paul George to his game, but just worry about his will (that would be where I get all those tough questions to him). The question I want to know is his work ethic. He could shy away from the rim cause he is skinny and can put on some muscle or does he have that alpha tude to turn it around?

[kodo]

Just not a huge fan of Bailey overall from an outside perspective. The talent is there and I can see him being an all-star if he maxes out as he has some Paul George to his game, but just worry about his will (that would be where I get all those tough questions to him). The question I want to know is his work ethic. He could shy away from the rim cause he is skinny and can put on some muscle or does he have that alpha tude to turn it around?

Yeah 53% TS vs college opponents as a big man is just outlier concerning.

There was only 1 big drafted in the entire first round with TS that low in 2024, Tidjuan Saluane (52%).
In 2023 there it was only Jarace Walker. Although Jamie Jaquez was close at 54%. Which isn't comforting since Jaquez is a DNP for a play-in team right now.

But anyway most likely a decision the Bulls don't need to worry about.

[Ice Man]

I found this breakdown from reddit on frequency in shots at the rim in the halfcourt alongside field goal % at the rim very interesting - https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1kaejew/halfcourt_rim_frequencies_fg_stats_of_some_2025/


Stand out in a good way: (player name - HC rim frequency % - HC rim FG %)

Dylan Harper - 39.1 - 65.3
Cooper Flagg - 38.4 - 55.2%
Will Riley - 34.4. - 61.30%
Egor Denim - 32.1 - 61.6%
Kasparas - 30.9 - 61.8%


Stands out in a bad way

Jermiah Fears - 37 - 44.5% (does a good job getting to the rim but can't finish)
Labaron Philon - 36 - 45%
Boogie Fland - 18 - 29.7
Tre Johnson - 16.7 - 46.5%
Ace Bailey - 15.3 - 56.6%


Overall, this is a very specific breakdown. It has me more intrigued in Will Riley than I previously was.

It's also reafirming my stance that I would simply not draft Ace Bailey.


Carter Bryant fans will love his 72.7% FG% at the rim. Only taking 15.9% of his shots at the rim within the halfcourt is a concern.

That's a cool stat, which backs up the eye test: Ace Bailey's shot selection was TERRIBLE. A big reason why Rutgers had a losing record for the season despite signing the #2 and #3 ranked HS seniors. I would be really, really wary of spending a high draft pick on a guy who made such openly terrible decisions. I mean, maybe he could learn how to think on the court, but that's a heck of a gamble to take.

Another, smaller point in the data is that Flagg's finishing at the rim needs some work. That also showed up in the eye test, as he hasn't yet learned how to use the defenders' momentum against them with pump fakes and/or hesitations. Once he got close to the basket he would tend to launch shots, even if the angle was difficult. But that is a second-order issue, rather than the first-order problem that Ace Bailey had.

[Chi town]

I found this breakdown from reddit on frequency in shots at the rim in the halfcourt alongside field goal % at the rim very interesting - https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1kaejew/halfcourt_rim_frequencies_fg_stats_of_some_2025/


Stand out in a good way: (player name - HC rim frequency % - HC rim FG %)

Dylan Harper - 39.1 - 65.3
Cooper Flagg - 38.4 - 55.2%
Will Riley - 34.4. - 61.30%
Egor Denim - 32.1 - 61.6%
Kasparas - 30.9 - 61.8%


Stands out in a bad way

Jermiah Fears - 37 - 44.5% (does a good job getting to the rim but can't finish)
Labaron Philon - 36 - 45%
Boogie Fland - 18 - 29.7
Tre Johnson - 16.7 - 46.5%
Ace Bailey - 15.3 - 56.6%


Overall, this is a very specific breakdown. It has me more intrigued in Will Riley than I previously was.

It's also reafirming my stance that I would simply not draft Ace Bailey.


Carter Bryant fans will love his 72.7% FG% at the rim. Only taking 15.9% of his shots at the rim within the halfcourt is a concern.

\

Just not a huge fan of Bailey overall from an outside perspective. The talent is there and I can see him being an all-star if he maxes out as he has some Paul George to his game, but just worry about his will (that would be where I get all those tough questions to him). The question I want to know is his work ethic. He could shy away from the rim cause he is skinny and can put on some muscle or does he have that alpha tude to turn it around?

Ace will take awhile to develop on ball.

He needs a strong PG for his first few years to set him up.

[drosestruts]

I found this breakdown from reddit on frequency in shots at the rim in the halfcourt alongside field goal % at the rim very interesting - https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1kaejew/halfcourt_rim_frequencies_fg_stats_of_some_2025/


Stand out in a good way: (player name - HC rim frequency % - HC rim FG %)

Dylan Harper - 39.1 - 65.3
Cooper Flagg - 38.4 - 55.2%
Will Riley - 34.4. - 61.30%
Egor Denim - 32.1 - 61.6%
Kasparas - 30.9 - 61.8%


Stands out in a bad way

Jermiah Fears - 37 - 44.5% (does a good job getting to the rim but can't finish)
Labaron Philon - 36 - 45%
Boogie Fland - 18 - 29.7
Tre Johnson - 16.7 - 46.5%
Ace Bailey - 15.3 - 56.6%


Overall, this is a very specific breakdown. It has me more intrigued in Will Riley than I previously was.

It's also reafirming my stance that I would simply not draft Ace Bailey.


Carter Bryant fans will love his 72.7% FG% at the rim. Only taking 15.9% of his shots at the rim within the halfcourt is a concern.

\

Just not a huge fan of Bailey overall from an outside perspective. The talent is there and I can see him being an all-star if he maxes out as he has some Paul George to his game, but just worry about his will (that would be where I get all those tough questions to him). The question I want to know is his work ethic. He could shy away from the rim cause he is skinny and can put on some muscle or does he have that alpha tude to turn it around?

Ace will take awhile to develop on ball.

He needs a strong PG for his first few years to set him up.

Dylan Harper is the best point guard in this draft - it didn't seem to help Ace much.

[Chi town]

\

Just not a huge fan of Bailey overall from an outside perspective. The talent is there and I can see him being an all-star if he maxes out as he has some Paul George to his game, but just worry about his will (that would be where I get all those tough questions to him). The question I want to know is his work ethic. He could shy away from the rim cause he is skinny and can put on some muscle or does he have that alpha tude to turn it around?

Ace will take awhile to develop on ball.

He needs a strong PG for his first few years to set him up.

Dylan Harper is the best point guard in this draft - it didn't seem to help Ace much.

Dylan played more like scoring guard that brought the ball up. He got his own offense but he certainly doesn’t know how to lead and offense.

[drosestruts]

Ace will take awhile to develop on ball.

He needs a strong PG for his first few years to set him up.

Dylan Harper is the best point guard in this draft - it didn't seem to help Ace much.

Dylan played more like scoring guard that brought the ball up. He got his own offense but he certainly doesn’t know how to lead and offense.

Harper's 1.67 Assist to Turnover ratio is better than:

Kasparas Jaukucionis (1.27)
Fears (1.21)
Ben Saraf (1.59)


Prospects with a better Ast/To

Egor Denim (1.86)
Nolan Traore (1.88)


Ace's shortcomings can't all be other players' faults

[2weekswithpay]

Ace would benefit from a role change. Ace makes bad decisions, but he also lacks the skills to get to the rim more. He's too upright, lacks strength, and the handle isn't good enough. Ace playing like an on-ball wing with these flaws isn't going to help him. Ace is better off being used as an off-ball wing, but Rutgers didn't use him this way. I wouldn't blame Harper either. When Ace is in the 99th percentile in isolations, I look at the coach. Ace has flaws but he has a clear role in the NBA.

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[Chi town]

Dylan Harper is the best point guard in this draft - it didn't seem to help Ace much.

Dylan played more like scoring guard that brought the ball up. He got his own offense but he certainly doesn’t know how to lead and offense.

Harper's 1.67 Assist to Turnover ratio is better than:

Kasparas Jaukucionis (1.27)
Fears (1.21)
Ben Saraf (1.59)


Prospects with a better Ast/To

Egor Denim (1.86)
Nolan Traore (1.88)


Ace's shortcomings can't all be other players' faults

They aren’t. Ace takes dumb shots. Rutgers was a
**** show. Did you watch full games? I watched over a dozen throughout the year. Ace can play. He needs a vet PG to help lead him and find his spots while his on ball develops. He will also look much better in NBA spacing and faster pace. Harper doesn’t push pace. He largely plays more half court style.

[Chi town]

Well said 2 Weeks. Fully agree.

[Dez]

Did the Tankathon lottery sim.

Got the Bulls winning the lottery first try.

Believe.

[Jcool0]

RD1, PK12 Chicago Bulls Liam McNeeley

Team Fit
The Bulls were third in 3-point attempts per game but only 13th in percentage. They clearly want to be a high volume and high efficiency scoring team. Maybe McNeeley can help since he projects as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense like Chicago’s with multiple points of creation.

Comparisons: Keegan Murray Corey Kispert

Attributes
3-Point Marksman
Off-Ball Mover

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/

31% from 3 on 145 3PA (23% on 60 3PA over his last 11 games)

[Chi town]

RD1, PK12 Chicago Bulls Liam McNeeley

Team Fit
The Bulls were third in 3-point attempts per game but only 13th in percentage. They clearly want to be a high volume and high efficiency scoring team. Maybe McNeeley can help since he projects as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense like Chicago’s with multiple points of creation.

Comparisons: Keegan Murray Corey Kispert

Attributes
3-Point Marksman
Off-Ball Mover

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/

31% from 3 on 145 3PA (23% on 60 3PA over his last 11 games)

Please NO.

Dude is Kispert. Bench rotation player.

[sco]

RD1, PK12 Chicago Bulls Liam McNeeley

Team Fit
The Bulls were third in 3-point attempts per game but only 13th in percentage. They clearly want to be a high volume and high efficiency scoring team. Maybe McNeeley can help since he projects as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense like Chicago’s with multiple points of creation.

Comparisons: Keegan Murray Corey Kispert

Attributes
3-Point Marksman
Off-Ball Mover

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/

31% from 3 on 145 3PA (23% on 60 3PA over his last 11 games)

Please NO.

Dude is Kispert. Bench rotation player.

I don't want to draft a 3pt specialist with a first round pick. They, like defensive C's, are good to get, but better sourced in 2nd round or via FA.

[jump]

We need a defensive wing and a defensive C. Priority.