2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[Rose2Boozer]

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It's money season for Khaman Maluach. The NCAA games are over and this is his time to shine.

[Chi town]

Serious Mo Bamba vibes. And I loved Mo Bamba.

Screw it, I'm in.

Loved it all until the “I’m in.”

He will be long gone by 12.

Bigger Bamba probably is the comp. Gentle giant. Center version of Pat.

[Jvaughn]

Read on Twitter

I'm older and wiser now. I'll never been fooled again. Willie Cauley Stein's draft workouts had me thinking he was going to be some weird combo of Dirk and AD

Watched that man for 3 college seasons, but let some clips convince me he was a complete stud. If Maluach could get to 33% on extremely low volume, I'd be shocked. That being said, he's still towards the top of my want list.

[burlydee]

I always think it's a bad sign when a 7fter without a proven track record of shooting is telling me about his 3pt shooting. It almost never materializes. If he could shoot, he'd shoot during the games just based on how wide open he is almost always is.

I'd much rather him tell me he's going to average 12 rebounds and 3 blocks and dominate the paint on both ends. That guy always has value.

[sco]

Interesting comment that NIL has crushed the depth of the 2nd round, more of the Intl guys going to college instead of NBA. Never really thought about that...makes sense. I thought 2nds were useless before, but now...yuck.

It’s probably good thing that many second rounders will be more established older guys most just rot on benches for 3 to 4 years.

Yeah, it could be a win-win. There will be fewer players in the draft in the short-run because NIL is new, but at some point, it’ll even out because it’ll become more normal to stay and each draft class will end up going back to having a normal amount of talent, but more developed because they stayed in school longer.

It's hard to say, but I've long been a fan of dumping 2nd round picks for other assets when possible. In some ways I think the NIL has helped the first round because fewer marginal guys are coming out early and they develop in college.

[DASMACKDOWN]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

If we drafted Khaman Maluach for instance, I would give it a 99% chance that he will be a forever fixture in the windy city Bulls.

[Andi Obst]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

The Bulls didn't really have many bigs worth playing in recent years. Sure, you could've argued for more Drummond minutes in the last two seasons, but that would've meant less Vuc minutes because they can't play together. Who else am I missing?

I think Billy just wants his bigs to make smart decisions with the basketball. Make simple passes and quick decisions, ideally hit the 3. It's easier to find that when you go smaller. That's also why he didn't love Gafford IMO, who is nothing but a lob target on offense.

[DuckIII]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

If we drafted Khaman Maluach for instance, I would give it a 99% chance that he will be a forever fixture in the windy city Bulls.

I’m not willing to make that assumption about BD given the “bigs” he has had to work with. You might be right, but nothing has really stood out to me given our rosters.

[sco]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

If we drafted Khaman Maluach for instance, I would give it a 99% chance that he will be a forever fixture in the windy city Bulls.

I’m not willing to make that assumption about BD given the “bigs” he has had to work with. You might be right, but nothing has really stood out to me given our rosters.

I'm still hoping we don't draft a C. While several of them might fill a need, I really doubt that any of them will turn into very good 2-way players. Guys like those are gettable with MLE type money up to around $20M. I'd rather reach for a high-ceiling wing.

[DuckIII]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

If we drafted Khaman Maluach for instance, I would give it a 99% chance that he will be a forever fixture in the windy city Bulls.

I’m not willing to make that assumption about BD given the “bigs” he has had to work with. You might be right, but nothing has really stood out to me given our rosters.

I'm still hoping we don't draft a C. While several of them might fill a need, I really doubt that any of them will turn into very good 2-way players. Guys like those are gettable with MLE type money up to around $20M. I'd rather reach for a high-ceiling wing.

I’d draft a center (not necessarily as my top choice) in this draft at 12 so long as he is unique. Maluach and Noa are the only 2 that fit the description.

I just don’t want the FO to go for an ordinary guy that is gettable in free agency. Two examples, to me, are Richardson and Newell. Not saying they are poor prospects, just that I don’t see them as unique high upside options.

And given our position as a team with limited assets, no clear franchise players, but who wins too much to get quality lottery odds, we should use our pick in big swings, thinking creatively.

[MrSparkle]

I know he has high bust odds, but I’m having a hard time not liking Danny Wolf. What are his scenarios? Mo Wagner? Poku? Or competent starter?

[sco]

I know he has a high bust rate, but I’m having a hard time not liking Danny Wolf. What are his scenarios? Mo Wagner? Poku? Or competent starter?

He's definitely a PF not a C in the NBA...not enough rim protection. I could see a best case where he develops into a PF version of Giddey.

[WesPeace]

I’m not willing to make that assumption about BD given the “bigs” he has had to work with. You might be right, but nothing has really stood out to me given our rosters.

I'm still hoping we don't draft a C. While several of them might fill a need, I really doubt that any of them will turn into very good 2-way players. Guys like those are gettable with MLE type money up to around $20M. I'd rather reach for a high-ceiling wing.

I’d draft a center (not necessarily as my top choice) in this draft at 12 so long as he is unique. Maluach and Noa are the only 2 that fit the description.

I just don’t want the FO to go for an ordinary guy that is gettable in free agency. Two examples, to me, are Richardson and Newell. Not saying they are poor prospects, just that I don’t see them as unique high upside options.

And given our position as a team with limited assets, no clear franchise players, but who wins too much to get quality lottery odds, we should use our pick in big swings, thinking creatively.

Essengue isnt a center.. SF/PF tweener.. but he is my top 3 favourite to pick with #12

[Red Larrivee]

I always think it's a bad sign when a 7fter without a proven track record of shooting is telling me about his 3pt shooting. It almost never materializes. If he could shoot, he'd shoot during the games just based on how wide open he is almost always is.

I'd much rather him tell me he's going to average 12 rebounds and 3 blocks and dominate the paint on both ends. That guy always has value.

Which is why median outcomes are central.

If Maluach is largely the same player or a little better, is he worth his pedigree? I don't think so. The Bulls do need a long-term starting center, but I don't think you need to reach on it just to say you did it. Teams are finding these players with much less opportunity cost these days. It's very possible the Bulls can find that guy through trade, FA or a later draft pick.

[kodo]

Read on Twitter

I'm older and wiser now. I'll never been fooled again. Willie Cauley Stein's draft workouts had me thinking he was going to be some weird combo of Dirk and AD

Watched that man for 3 college seasons, but let some clips convince me he was a complete stud. If Maluach could get to 33% on extremely low volume, I'd be shocked. That being said, he's still towards the top of my want list.

More recently, Mo Bamba. Better athlete than Maluach, freak wingspan (7' 9" wingspan, Maluach 7' 4"), much better college stats than Maluach. And in the NBA he delivered, he turned out to be a good 3P shooter. 39%, 38%, 38% his first 3 seasons from 3.

Still a low minute bench center in the league and waste of a 6th pick when SGA & Mikal Bridges were still on the board.
People were drooling a guy his size was doing this.

Watch on YouTube

[jump]

Get me Kalkbrenner in the 2nd and I’m happy.

[Am2626]

The thing I think we also need to start considering, will Billy Donovan even play any of the bigs we are talking about drafting?

Billy just seems indifferent about centers. Unless the big is a bucket like Vooch or can shoot the ball like Smith, Billy tends to not think too much about them and would rather small ball it.

If we drafted Khaman Maluach for instance, I would give it a 99% chance that he will be a forever fixture in the windy city Bulls.

I’m not willing to make that assumption about BD given the “bigs” he has had to work with. You might be right, but nothing has really stood out to me given our rosters.

I'm still hoping we don't draft a C. While several of them might fill a need, I really doubt that any of them will turn into very good 2-way players. Guys like those are gettable with MLE type money up to around $20M. I'd rather reach for a high-ceiling wing.

If Maluach is still there at 12 the Bulls have to take him but I don’t see him being available when the Bulls draft. If the Bulls get lucky and move into the top 4 it will be one of the 4 guys in the top tier in this order; Flagg, Harper and then either Bailey or Edgecombe. They won’t reach for Maluach that high.

[DuckIII]

I'm still hoping we don't draft a C. While several of them might fill a need, I really doubt that any of them will turn into very good 2-way players. Guys like those are gettable with MLE type money up to around $20M. I'd rather reach for a high-ceiling wing.

I’d draft a center (not necessarily as my top choice) in this draft at 12 so long as he is unique. Maluach and Noa are the only 2 that fit the description.

I just don’t want the FO to go for an ordinary guy that is gettable in free agency. Two examples, to me, are Richardson and Newell. Not saying they are poor prospects, just that I don’t see them as unique high upside options.

And given our position as a team with limited assets, no clear franchise players, but who wins too much to get quality lottery odds, we should use our pick in big swings, thinking creatively.

Essengue isnt a center.. SF/PF tweener.. but he is my top 3 favourite to pick with #12

I see him as a 4/small ball 5.

[Hangtime84]

Serious Mo Bamba vibes. And I loved Mo Bamba.

Screw it, I'm in.

Watch on YouTube

Same YES DO IT!!!

[Chi town]

I’d draft a center (not necessarily as my top choice) in this draft at 12 so long as he is unique. Maluach and Noa are the only 2 that fit the description.

I just don’t want the FO to go for an ordinary guy that is gettable in free agency. Two examples, to me, are Richardson and Newell. Not saying they are poor prospects, just that I don’t see them as unique high upside options.

And given our position as a team with limited assets, no clear franchise players, but who wins too much to get quality lottery odds, we should use our pick in big swings, thinking creatively.

Essengue isnt a center.. SF/PF tweener.. but he is my top 3 favourite to pick with #12

I see him as a 4/small ball 5.

You see Buz as the 3 next to Noa?

How do you see Giddey playing with them? Using them?