2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[Mattya]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

[minimus]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

I have weird feeling that pick 31 will be more important

[Mattya]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

I have weird feeling that pick 31 will be more important

A high second rounder is nice. Seems like maybe a good one to trade back and get some future seconds.

[younggunsmn]

Our pick from Detroit will be 17 unless Sacramento or Dallas win their way out of the play-in, pushing one team with a better record than Detroit into the lottery.

In that scenario it will be 18.

So if we completely flame out in the play-in altogether it would tank our pick one more spot to put a cherry on top of our hot fudge sundae.

Utah 2nd round pick can still be 31 or 32 and I think it's a coin flip if they stay tied with Washington.

The pick we owe to Utah could be anywhere from 18=24 depending on results of game 82s and coinflips, or 14 if we get kicked into the lottery by losing out in the play-in.
And them beating us would definitely make that pick better.

I wonder if Collins, Markaanen, and Kessler suddenly get healthy on Sunday.

[Neeva]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

It’s not a strong draft, but it is a draft where later picks might end up being a lot better than most of the top 10.

[Neeva]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

[minimus]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

As part of Randle sign-and-trade? It would be an ideal scenario for MIN: 17, 31 and Randle for 20, 25 and 27. Based on espn draft MIN could get following players:

Guards: Ben Saraf (23), Walter Clayton Jr (28)
Wings: Carter Bryant (20), Adou Thiero (26)
Bigs: Thomas Sorber (24), Yaxel Lendeborg (27), Rasheer Fleming (30), Asa Newell (21), Alex Condon (29)

Based on noceiling draft:

Guards: Nolan Traore (22), Jase Richardson (24)
Wings : Carter Bryant (23), Adou Thiero (30)
Bigs: Yaxel Lendeborg (34), Johni Broome (25) , Alex Condon (31)

In this case MIN would be able to address all three major needs: ballhandler, backup big wing and backup big. Let say TC drafts one of Saraf/Traore, one of Carter Bryant / Adou Thiero and one of Lendeborg / Broome

Traore draft and stash.

Gobert/Lendeborg/Miller
Reid/McDaniels/Minott
McDaniels/NAW/Thiero
Edwards/DDV/Clark
DDV/Dillingham/Conley

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/44569663/2025-nba-mock-draft-first-round-picks-predictions-march-madness-ncaa-mens-tournament-cooper-flagg

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2025-nba-mock-draft-v5

[BlacJacMac]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

How many young players do we need for Finch to not play?

[thinktank]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

How many young players do we need for Finch to not play?

If you have too many young guys then trading up is the move. Consolidate.

[minimus]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

How many young players do we need for Finch to not play?

I think this claim can be made against any coach. at least I've seen fans curse Kerr, Udoka, Stevens, Malone, Spoelstra for not putting a young player on the court in a particular game. Specifically on Finch, I'm pleased with the progress of Clark, Shannon and Dillingham. The development of Mynott and Miller is debatable, but it's hard for me to say I'd do anything differently if I were Finch, those guys are very raw.

[shangrila]

I'm still wary of putting so much stock into a small sample size with Clayton. Anyone that goes from mid to late 2nd to mid 1st after a tournament run raises alarm bells for me.

I get it, but I don't think it was a fluke climb like Jonny Flynn. Clayton was a first team All-American this year, it wasn't completely out of nowhere.

I didn't say it was? The real question is what's changed from pre- to post-tournament for him to jump up boards like this.

I'm also seeing people overlook some obvious flaws that he has. While the playmaking has improved he still isn't a natural PG. His man defence, when he's engaged, is ok but he spends far too much time ball watching off ball which will get punished in the NBA.

There's a role in the league for guys like him, think someone like Isaiah Joe from OKC, but it's weird to me that he went from that level of prospect to can't miss. Reminds me a lot of the old McHale days.

[shangrila]

I'm still wary of putting so much stock into a small sample size with Clayton. Anyone that goes from mid to late 2nd to mid 1st after a tournament run raises alarm bells for me.

I get it, but I don't think it was a fluke climb like Jonny Flynn. Clayton was a first team All-American this year, it wasn't completely out of nowhere.

Agreed. It's pretty easy to tell which posters only watched the tournament compared to those of us that watch college hoops all season long. It's a very lazy narrative.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

And it's obvious who's only tuned in for the tournament and based their opinions on highlight videos.

[BlacJacMac]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Connelly trades down? Nets currently have picks 20, 25 and 27.

How many young players do we need for Finch to not play?

I think this claim can be made against any coach. at least I've seen fans curse Kerr, Udoka, Stevens, Malone, Spoelstra for not putting a young player on the court in a particular game. Specifically on Finch, I'm pleased with the progress of Clark, Shannon and Dillingham. The development of Mynott and Miller is debatable, but it's hard for me to say I'd do anything differently if I were Finch, those guys are very raw.

Dillingham is basically out of the rotation and is a mess when he does play. He looks like he's lost all confidence since playing decently early.

TSJ is used only for injuries. Clark is being underplayed.

Even if you leave out Miller and Minott, do you think Finch finds room next year for Dilly, Clark, TSJ and 3 rookies?

[minimus]

How many young players do we need for Finch to not play?

I think this claim can be made against any coach. at least I've seen fans curse Kerr, Udoka, Stevens, Malone, Spoelstra for not putting a young player on the court in a particular game. Specifically on Finch, I'm pleased with the progress of Clark, Shannon and Dillingham. The development of Mynott and Miller is debatable, but it's hard for me to say I'd do anything differently if I were Finch, those guys are very raw.

Dillingham is basically out of the rotation and is a mess when he does play. He looks like he's lost all confidence since playing decently early.

TSJ is used only for injuries. Clark is being underplayed.

Even if you leave out Miller and Minott, do you think Finch finds room next year for Dilly, Clark, TSJ and 3 rookies?

Drafting three players doesn’t mean Finch has to immediately find playing time for all of them. It could be a situation like Clark or Vanderbilt — where a young player is recovering from injury. Or it could be a draft-and-stash scenario with someone like Traore or Saraf.

I think there are a lot of things happening behind the scenes that influence the coach’s rotation decisions. Just a few things I’ve heard:

– TSJ has reportedly been dealing with an injury over the past few weeks
– Finch said Dilly needs to improve his decision-making and involve teammates more — makes sense, since MIN has a lot of mouths to feed
– Clark has been consistently getting minutes, though he had a rough game vs. DEN (gambling on defense, unnecessary fouls, and getting blocked)
– Minott ended up in Finch’s doghouse for repeatedly being out of position on defense

But the truth is: once DDV, Gobert, and Randle were healthy again, every rotation player clearly deserved minutes more than Dilly, TJ, or Minott.

– NAW basically won us the DEN game and continues to play well
– DDV is regaining form
– Add the rookie wall and NBA adaptation factor
– Even Reid and McDaniels don’t get that many touches

Also, there are two major offseason factors coming:
1. I believe A-Rod and Lore will push for cost-saving moves. There are a few different paths here:
– Try to bring in a veteran like Tyus Jones and sell him on playing a big role for his next contract (not sure I see it happening)
– Sign a vet like Westbrook at the minimum (not a fan of that)
– Or invest in developing a young player who can contribute long term
2. Every time Gobert isn’t 100%, the Wolves struggle to win — and the lack of a real backup center makes it worse.
Every time Minott plays mistake-free basketball, it becomes clear that there’s a rotation path for a big wing who can defend, rebound, finish at the rim, and knock down open threes.

So while I agree that adding another guard into an already crowded backcourt would complicate his development, I think a backup big and a full-sized wing should get real opportunities.

[BlacJacMac]

So while I agree that adding another guard into an already crowded backcourt would complicate his development, I think a backup big and a full-sized wing should get real opportunities.

So why trade down for more bodies instead of taking the best big and big wing at ~17 and 31?

[minimus]

So while I agree that adding another guard into an already crowded backcourt would complicate his development, I think a backup big and a full-sized wing should get real opportunities.

So why trade down for more bodies instead of taking the best big and big wing at ~17 and 31?

Because there might be a totally different situation this offseason.

[BlacJacMac]

So while I agree that adding another guard into an already crowded backcourt would complicate his development, I think a backup big and a full-sized wing should get real opportunities.

So why trade down for more bodies instead of taking the best big and big wing at ~17 and 31?

Because there might a totally different situation this offseason.

Like dumping a bunch of our current players? I don’t see it.

I want the best players I can get. Quality over quantity.

17 is likely the best pick we’re going to see for some time. We need to take advantage of it.

[minimus]

So why trade down for more bodies instead of taking the best big and big wing at ~17 and 31?

Because there might a totally different situation this offseason.

Like dumping a bunch of our current players? I don’t see it.

It is not me, it is new CBA that says that there is zero chance MIN can have this payroll for another season. There will be a cost saving move, regardless I like it or not.

I want the best players I can get. Quality over quantity. 17 is likely the best pick we’re going to see for some time. We need to take advantage of it.

It is lottery, nothing is guaranteed. Jaden McDaniels (28th pick) is better than Leandro Bolmaro (23th pick). But I agree that it is not quantity that TC should target, but a specific player. Let say TC wants Danny Wolf and he falls down. Or Maluach/Queen is available for 17+31.

[Mattya]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

It’s not a strong draft, but it is a draft where later picks might end up being a lot better than most of the top 10.

It’s a strong draft

[Neeva]

Well we get pick 17 in a pretty strong draft.

It’s not a strong draft, but it is a draft where later picks might end up being a lot better than most of the top 10.

It’s a strong draft

I don’t think so, we will see in a few years. Hopefully Connelly snags two of the better players from it.