2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[LateNight]

Read on Twitter

[2weekswithpay]

The issue is Pats mentality. I never heard Pat talk like Bryant.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/carter-bryant/

Weaknesses: Still very raw in many aspects of his game … Averaged just 6.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.0 APG as a freshman, struggling to carve out consistent playing time … Sample size on his shooting numbers was limited—raises questions about whether his 3-point percentage is sustainable … Lacks consistency in his offensive approach, and can disappear for long stretches … Decision-making and shot selection need refinement … Not a natural playmaker and can force the action when trying to create off the dribble … Ball-handling in traffic is loose and will need to improve to maximize his upside as a shot creator … Free throw percentage (69.5%) is average and suggests there’s still development needed as a pure shooter … Despite his athletic tools, doesn’t always play with the level of intensity and focus needed to dominate … Scouts have noted questions about his toughness, effort, and motor in competitive settings … Needs to show he can impact the game even when not scoring … Some scouts have questioned the level of improvement over the past year or two …

From the exact same guy who said this about Pat

There are question marks about his want to as a scorer, and his ceiling as a scorer at the next level … Can he be a 15+ point scorer, does he have the desire to be a bucket getter? … Does not seem to have the instinct to be a high level scorer. So being a standout role player type could be his calling … Doesn’t have the most impressive body of work from a statistical standpoint … Only averaged 9.2 points per game as a freshman … Struggled for playing time in his freshman year, (22 mpg) despite relative effectiveness … Shot just 32% from three, on 16 makes throughout the year … Has a great reputation for being a nice kid, but at times has been called “too nice” and in need of more grit in order to maximize his abilities … Should look to utilize his physicality to his advantage more often … Needs to work on back to the basket skills … Improve his footwork and learn some post moves … Plays unselfish to a fault. Can learn to play with more sense of urgency and force the issue, considering his talent edge … Shows tons of untapped potential, but whether he will be able to tap that ability is the question mark. How badly does he “want it”? … He likely will be a player that really benefits from a good development situation at the next level, or may not make it with his first team if he lands in the wrong situation … Jump shot is a little slow and mechanical. Will need to work on speeding up his release some, specifically from deep … Appears to have better form when shooting pull ups than spot ups … Seems to shoot a jumpshot from mid-range and a set shot from deep. Perhaps learning to get more of a streamline form from deep would increase his shot release quickness and efficiency …

My point was Pat will never talk like this. Pat acts like he doesnt even care about basketball.

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4:20
Q. What would you like to achieve besides winning a championship?
6:20
Q. What do you think your potential is down the road?

Not as eloquent as Bryant, but Pat said all the right things in interviews as well.

[2weekswithpay]

Read on Twitter

[Chi town]

I like Byrd in the 2nd

[boozapalooza]

https://youtu.be/qibcTKbXyu4?si=YD0AYGSok_k_iRN9

Anyone else fascinated by Hansen Yang? Dudes got some serious game. Hard to find 7’2 guys who can shoot it, pass, and generally be as coordinated as him. Would love to take a flyer in the 2nd round.

Chinese Jokic vibes are strong if we get him at 45

[Chi town]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJr70z-y-Dx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Wow! 72% makes on his shooting drills. Think that’s the highest I’ve seen.

[Rose2Boozer]

There's no rush to find a frontcourt mate for Matas Buzelis. The talent is not there in the 2025 draft class, but 2026 is a different animal.

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[Rose2Boozer]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJr70z-y-Dx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Wow! 72% makes on his shooting drills. Think that’s the highest I’ve seen.

The Bulls have to start bringing in guys with high defensive upside. I wouldn't mind Coward at 12, and pairing him with Giddey.

[WesPeace]

Yeah I really love Coward, actually I think I want him the most now.. he is giving me I want to win no matter what MJ vibes and with his measurements I could see Pippen lite SF version for next decade, but if he improves on his defense even more, bingooo! Willingness is there, motivation is there..

Yeah, last 2 days, I made a 180° and I want Coward at #12 for starting SF! He has that extra something in him, that dog, that mentality.. high risk, but huge reward guy!

So my wish list now for #12
1. Coward
2. Essengue
3. Murray Boyles OR Bryant
4. Sorber
5. Demin

[Jvaughn]

Read on Twitter

Whoever that was he was guarding needs to go back to school. Completely shutdown and unable to bring the ball up the court against pressure.

[coldfish]

Just in general I think the Bulls are in a position to draft BPA. You basically have Buzelis, Giddey and maybe Coby White as base pieces. No one else even matters. Given that Buz could eventually play the 3 or 4 and Giddey might end up as 1,2 or 3, you can really take anyone.

The Bulls will need a center but they should have massive capspace in 2026 and maybe you make it happen that way.

[Indomitable]

Just in general I think the Bulls are in a position to draft BPA. You basically have Buzelis, Giddey and maybe Coby White as base pieces. No one else even matters. Given that Buz could eventually play the 3 or 4 and Giddey might end up as 1,2 or 3, you can really take anyone.

The Bulls will need a center but they should have massive capspace in 2026 and maybe you make it happen that way.

In any draft you never regret taking the best player available.

I agree with this philosophy..

[Muzbar]

I've been doing a deeper dive into prospects I'm not too keen on, to try and see if I can be swayed.

Collin Murray-Boyles: I watched several videos of him, trying to see something to try and change my opinion of him. His defense is obviously his best attribute and he nice very good on that end. However, his offense is extremely underwhelming, it's all pick and rolls and put backs, he seems like a lane clogger, I'm not impressed with him in the slightest.

Jase Richardson: Jase's measurements turned me off him a little bit more initially (his wingspan is pretty decent though), but, after watching some more footage of him recently he's swayed my opinion of him. He's got a great handle and has a terrific jumpshot and quick to boot. With Giddey on board Jase could play the scoring PG role and play off of Giddey (similar to Coby), Jase is actually a pretty defender also. Jase has moved onto my intrigued/could be talked into list.

Asa Newell: No matter how many times I watch him, he just never pops out at me, he just seems like just another guy, very Wendell Carteresque I just don't see anything special about him whatsoever. He does seem to have a pretty decent jumpshot on him though.

Derik Queen: Queen is definitely talented offensively but I'm not convinced he'll be a force in the NBA, I feel his jumpshot will get blocked a bit at the NBA level as he seems to shoot from in front of his face and he doesn't have a lot of lift on his jumpers either and reports are that he doesn't seem to be taking the combine too seriously. I still have him over CMB though.

I haven't watched much of Cedric Coward yet, but his measurements and jumpshot and very intriguing.

[othawhitemeat]

Give me one of Coward, KJ, Essengue, Clayton Jr., or maybe Sorber. Think Queen will be not very good, def not Wolf, etc.

[BullsSD]

Just in general I think the Bulls are in a position to draft BPA. You basically have Buzelis, Giddey and maybe Coby White as base pieces. No one else even matters. Given that Buz could eventually play the 3 or 4 and Giddey might end up as 1,2 or 3, you can really take anyone.

The Bulls will need a center but they should have massive capspace in 2026 and maybe you make it happen that way.

In any draft you never regret taking the best player available.

I agree with this philosophy..

I disagree, especially with Billy Donovan and AK running show. You take BPA early in full rebuild. We are not doing full rebuild. Taking a guard at this juncture, who wouldn’t play at all in 2026 or if he did, would reduce value of our trade assets, would be dumb. Our roster is totally backcourt heavy and it’s dumb. We need to balance it out and since we don’t have roster spots, it needs to be via draft.

We have the 1/2/3 of our lineup. Take a damn 4 or 5 or an extremely high upside pick we believe in like Coward who can atleast coexist with our core.

[sco]

Give me one of Coward, KJ, Essengue, Clayton Jr., or maybe Sorber. Think Queen will be not very good, def not Wolf, etc.

I'll add Bryant to that list of wants.

[Chi town]

Just in general I think the Bulls are in a position to draft BPA. You basically have Buzelis, Giddey and maybe Coby White as base pieces. No one else even matters. Given that Buz could eventually play the 3 or 4 and Giddey might end up as 1,2 or 3, you can really take anyone.

The Bulls will need a center but they should have massive capspace in 2026 and maybe you make it happen that way.

In any draft you never regret taking the best player available.

I agree with this philosophy..

I disagree, especially with Billy Donovan and AK running show. You take BPA early in full rebuild. We are not doing full rebuild. Taking a guard at this juncture, who wouldn’t play at all in 2026 or if he did, would reduce value of our trade assets, would be dumb. Our roster is totally backcourt heavy and it’s dumb. We need to balance it out and since we don’t have roster spots, it needs to be via draft.

We have the 1/2/3 of our lineup. Take a damn 4 or 5 or an extremely high upside pick we believe in like Coward who can atleast coexist with our core.

Disagree.

Billy plays two guards with Giddey at the 3 and Buz at the 4. Every starter min Buz played was at the 4.

Tre and Zo were starting at the 1 next to Coby and Giddey before injuries. They defended the opposing teams best guard.

Tre may not be resigned.
Zo can’t stay healthy.
Ayo could be traded and returns from injury.
Huerter only started after two injuries. He’s effectively our 6th man.
Pat is a 3-4 defender off the bench.

A player like Coward can really defend 1-4.
Penda can guard 2-4.
CB can guard 2-4.

Yes, I’d prefer a true defensive rim protector. But we also need an elite wing defender that hopefully has some shooting and on ball game. We need a secondary PG because Ayo ain’t it nor is Coby. We also need more shooting. Preferably movement shooting.

[kodo]

I can see why Queen is falling after the combine. He may be too small to play NBA C, and he's far too unathletic to play forward.
Even with a ton of basketball skill & feel, he may end up falling into the situation where Jahlil Okafor couldn't get any minutes.

Height: 6.77" w/o shoes
Hand Length: 32nd percentile
Lane Agility: 20th percentile
Standing Vert: 10th percentile
Wingspan: 15th percentile

Throw in that he has a rep of not playing or training very hard, I can see him freefalling in the draft.

[sco]

In any draft you never regret taking the best player available.

I agree with this philosophy..

I disagree, especially with Billy Donovan and AK running show. You take BPA early in full rebuild. We are not doing full rebuild. Taking a guard at this juncture, who wouldn’t play at all in 2026 or if he did, would reduce value of our trade assets, would be dumb. Our roster is totally backcourt heavy and it’s dumb. We need to balance it out and since we don’t have roster spots, it needs to be via draft.

We have the 1/2/3 of our lineup. Take a damn 4 or 5 or an extremely high upside pick we believe in like Coward who can atleast coexist with our core.

Disagree.

Billy plays two guards with Giddey at the 3 and Buz at the 4. Every starter min Buz played was at the 4.

Tre and Zo were starting at the 1 next to Coby and Giddey before injuries. They defended the opposing teams best guard.

Tre may not be resigned.
Zo can’t stay healthy.
Ayo could be traded and returns from injury.
Huerter only started after two injuries. He’s effectively our 6th man.
Pat is a 3-4 defender off the bench.

A player like Coward can really defend 1-4.
Penda can guard 2-4.
CB can guard 2-4.

Yes, I’d prefer a true defensive rim protector. But we also need an elite wing defender that hopefully has some shooting and on ball game. We need a secondary PG because Ayo ain’t it nor is Coby. We also need more shooting. Preferably movement shooting.

No disagreeing with our needs, but Nobody on this team including Matas, Giddey and Coby should stop AK from drafting the BPA, even if he is redundant. Nobody's that good.

[Red Larrivee]

I've been doing a deeper dive into prospects I'm not too keen on, to try and see if I can be swayed.

Collin Murray-Boyles: I watched several videos of him, trying to see something to try and change my opinion of him. His defense is obviously his best attribute and he nice very good on that end. However, his offense is extremely underwhelming, it's all pick and rolls and put backs, he seems like a lane clogger, I'm not impressed with him in the slightest.

Not even remotely true.

His isolation, face up and post game were very good last season. He can attack with multiple dribbles and finish. He was also a hub for the team as a playmaker in the half court reliably. At bare minimum, he's competent to good at everything offensively.... except as a shooter, which is obviously a big deal and can limit his upside. But, anyone pretending he's just some rim runner isn't watching him.

He's skilled on both sides, but needs a Randle or Aaron Gordon improvement as a shooter, which isn't unrealistic.