2025 Draft prospects - thread 3

[dawhizz]

KC says the names hes hearing most for us are now CMB and Noa…with Queen an option if both those guys are off the board. VERY interesting

This sounds to me the Bulls realizing too late that they have telegraphed too much that they like Newell, so now they “leak” info to KJ about liking other similar prospects hoping that it will trick teams into thinking they don’t actually want Newell.

[nomorezorro]

newell is being pretty consistently mocked in the late teens at this point; not sure they need a smokescreen if he's their target

[Dominator83]

KC says the names hes hearing most for us are now CMB and Noa…with Queen an option if both those guys are off the board. VERY interesting

This sounds to me the Bulls realizing too late that they have telegraphed too much that they like Newell, so now they “leak” info to KJ about liking other similar prospects hoping that it will trick teams into thinking they don’t actually want Newell.

I really don't think AK has a reputation for being an eye for talent to where other GMs are gonna say: "Wait a minute, Karnisovas really likes player X. That player must be really damn good so lets take that player instead of the one we're keying in on! " AK is batting 1 for 3 in 1st round picks, with one of the misses being a #4 overall pick. Now if im a GM and i get word that like Sam Presti or the Miami Heat really love a prospect.... then i might be more inclined to copy and snipe their guy. If anything, AK loving a player should tell other GMs to stay far away from that player

[BullsSD]

If AKME picks CMB and he busts, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I just don't know if I can engage next year watching CMB clank 4 footers and airball freethrows.

EDIT: I always say this but come back. How could I not witness Matas and Giddey grow!?

[2weekswithpay]

Drafting Beringer with CMB, Sorber, Coward, and Essengue on the board would be a big mistake.

[Muzbar]

Read on Twitter

kinda think CMB goes to phoenix if they stick at 10. hope they trade down to accumulate assets

I really hope this is true. Seeing either Queen or CMB gone before the Bulls pick would ease my heart slightly.

[Red Larrivee]

If AKME picks CMB and he busts, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I just don't know if I can engage next year watching CMB clank 4 footers and airball freethrows:

It's so obvious when people have half assed scouting a player.

[nomorezorro]

you mean the guy who shot 62% on 2pt shots and led his conference in FG% doesn't clank a lot of 4 footers?

[Red Larrivee]

you mean the guy who shot 62% on 2pt shots and led his conference in FG% doesn't clank a lot of 4 footers?

Clearly he's Bismack Biyombo.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

you mean the guy who shot 62% on 2pt shots and led his conference in FG% doesn't clank a lot of 4 footers?

Not high on a 6’6” PF doing that in the NBA. He’s really good on defense though.

[DuckIII]

I disagree - the combination of quick lateral movement off ball, herky jerk skill on ball, and bball IQ plus a shot that I believe in … means n likely to be better options there if he is available:

Watch on YouTube

At some point, you're just filling up too many lineup slots with guys who aren't hounds on the perimeter defensively.

You can overlook that if someone is an outlier offensive talent (by NBA standards), but I don't see that with KJ (more like he fits in).

The Bulls need to take BPA and worry about the other stuff later. The team needs as much talent as it can get.

Exactly. If that's the concern, draft the superior and more positionally diverse talent in KJ and then trade Coby to boost the defense.

We have two core players. That's it. Add the best talent you can everywhere else.

[Red Larrivee]

you mean the guy who shot 62% on 2pt shots and led his conference in FG% doesn't clank a lot of 4 footers?

Not high on a 6’6” PF doing that in the NBA. He’s really good on defense though.

Same. Good thing he's 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan.

[DuckIII]

i like jakucionis, but him being a consensus top 6 guy in january doesn't matter at all unless you have hard evidence that his fall-off in january-march was because of injury

I've mentioned this before, but I have a contact within the Illini athletic department who told me back during the season that his "decline" was entirely due to the injury and behind the scenes it was much more painful than the team would let on because they didn't want the other teams to know.

Take it however you want, but it clicks completely with what I saw on the court. He's going to be a stud. I don't even use qualifiers with him like he's going to be a stud "if he does X." I consider him a can't miss prospect with a high, locked in floor. Does he have "superstar" franchise player as his ceiling? I don't think so. But does he have a championship caliber game all full of winning elements? No doubt about it.

[Jvaughn]

Basketball Gods, I don't ask for much. But please let 2 of these 4 go before 12: CMB, Queen, Newell, Sorber

[kodo]

Here is Sam Vecenie of the Athletic mock draft. I would be fine with Beringer. He fits AK’s timeline in that he can develop while Vuc plays out his contract. Maybe he can develop into a Tyson Chandler type defensive anchor for us down the line. At this point i really don’t want Egor Demin with our pick. In this draft scenario i would take Coward but taking Joan Beringer is palatable to me.

Beringer at 12 with all those names still on the board would be a truly wild gamble by AK. I'm here for it. It would solidify him as the worst GM in the league or help redeem him along w/ the Matas pick.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

you mean the guy who shot 62% on 2pt shots and led his conference in FG% doesn't clank a lot of 4 footers?

Not high on a 6’6” PF doing that in the NBA. He’s really good on defense though.

Same. Good thing he's 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan.

Eh, he measured 6'6" without shoes at the combine. Like I said, he's a terrific defender. Maybe one of the best in this draft. But I wouldn't count on his offense in the NBA.

I was high on EJ Liddell a few years ago and looked how that turned out. Marcus Fizer, Demarcus Beasley, etc. CMB might stick due to his impressive defensive IQ and timing, but I don't think he's a legit offensive threat in the NBA unless he miraculously develops a 3pt shot.

[boozapalooza]

If AKME picks CMB and he busts, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I just don't know if I can engage next year watching CMB clank 4 footers and airball freethrows.

EDIT: I always say this but come back. How could I not witness Matas and Giddey grow!?

CMB cant shoot 3s yet but he was still a solid scorer for SC. I’ve come around on him for sure. Elite defender with a good offensive game. If the shot evolves, watch out. The upside is there for me at 12.

[DuckIII]

Not high on a 6’6” PF doing that in the NBA. He’s really good on defense though.

Same. Good thing he's 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan.

Eh, he measured 6'6" without shoes at the combine. Like I said, he's a terrific defender. Maybe one of the best in this draft. But I wouldn't count on his offense in the NBA.

It was 6'6.5, and in shoes 6'8 which are worn during games. He's plenty tall to play the 4 in today's NBA even before you account for the unusually long arms. He's fine on this front.

He really only has one issue, and that's the perimeter shot its possible he never develops. Because his currently sucks and unlike someone like Matas last year or Demin this year, he does not have the mechanics in place to project consistent improvement. It will have to be constructed.

But everything else is there for a modern 4. I don't have him #1 like Red, but he's way up there for me. I only have KJ and Essenge in front of him.

[DuckIII]

I was high on EJ Liddell a few years ago and looked how that turned out.

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but I'm very high on CMB and I thought EJ Liddel was an utter trash prospect who had no business anywhere near an NBA roster. I wouldn't have used the last pick in the draft on him, and considered it a wasted contract when the Bulls signed him for PR. I see them as completely dissimilar prospects.

[kulaz3000]

If we do draft CMB, it looks like the vast majority of the Bulls board is going to be displeased. That said, he really isn't a AK archetype of player they' normally draft, so I wouldn't worry.

Another team is going to draft him and reap the rewards, and then we'll blame AK for passing up on him.