2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[shrink]

I’d forgotten that we get this year’s UTA 2nd as well, bonus value from Connelly’s DLo for Conley + NAW trade.

If the season ended today, that would be pick #35, in one of the deepest and most talent-laden drafts in decades. Should be good.

[Mattya]

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I think he will end up somewhere between 10-20 by draft time.

[Norseman79]

Khaman Maluach please

[Norseman79]

Michael Ruzic in the 2nd

[minimus]

guys, I've totally missed that we have UTA 2025 SRP!!! Is this draft deep enough? Can we find a rotational player in 31-40?

[Klomp]

I think this kid could be a lot of fun if he's sitting there in the early 2nd

Watch on YouTube

[life_saver]

guys, I've totally missed that we have UTA 2025 SRP!!! Is this draft deep enough? Can we find a rotational player in 31-40?

damn..I forgot about that. I feel like you can find good backup Centers in that range

[Neeva]

Liam Mcneely anyone? He has good basketball IQ.
Can’t believe people thought the Pistons pick would end up a second round pick..

[minimus]

Just add size either at C or/and wings. As for nbadratroom:

DET FRP - Carter Bryant or Rasheer Fleming
UTA SRP - Joan Beringer (draft and stash, plus French connection)

I assume Randle is not returning, Reid and NAW will be re-signed. Sign Day'Ron Sharpe or Paul Reed. As for now I am not high on Minott and Garza chances to make roster

Gobert/Sharpe/???
Reid/McDaniels/Miller
McDaniels/Clark/Bryant
Edwards/NAW/TJ
DDV/Dillingham/Conley

[BlacJacMac]

It would be hard for me to pass on Danny Wolf with the Detroit pick. I love his long-term fit with all our kids.

[minimus]

It would be hard for me to pass on Danny Wolf with the Detroit pick. I love his long-term fit with all our kids.

Can you explain Danny Wolf long term fit to me? I have not read much scouting reports yet.

Derik Queen is advertised as the best passing bigman of 2025 draft. I don't know whether it is true, but a big who can pass might be the best direction if we want to build a modern offense around Edwards. Also it seems logical to bring here offensive minded bigman, because at some degree MIN can cover his defensive weaknesses by playing good perimeter defense. As long as offensive minded big can be physical, I mean can rebound at high rate, boxout and set good screens.

[BlacJacMac]

It would be hard for me to pass on Danny Wolf with the Detroit pick. I love his long-term fit with all our kids.

Can you explain Danny Wolf long term fit to me? I have not read much scouting reports yet.

Derik Queen is advertised as the best passing bigman of 2025 draft. I don't know whether it is true, but a big who can pass might be the best direction if we want to build a modern offense around Edwards. Also it seems logical to bring here offensive minded bigman, because at some degree MIN can cover his defensive weaknesses by playing good perimeter defense. As long as offensive minded big can be physical, I mean can rebound at high rate, boxout and set good screens.

7', 255. Decent wingspan, much improved mobility, solid quickness and agility. Can handle the ball well for a guy his size. Averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 stocks in 29 minutes. Shooting 37% on three 3PA/game. In the argument for "best passing big man" in college ball. He does turn it over too much, but turnovers of aggression I can live with in young players.

Leads the Big 10 in Rebounds per game, DRB%, TRB% and DBPM.

Last year led the Ivy League in DRB%, TRB%, BLK% and DWS.

[BlacJacMac]

Here is Givony and Woo's Big Board ranking from January 18th:

15. Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Height: 7-0 | Age: 20.6 | Prev. rank: 68

One of the bigger revelations in college hoops this season, Wolf has been creatively deployed at Michigan after transferring from Yale, showcasing his unusual passing ability, ingenuity for his size, operating as a functional point guard some of the time for the No. 20 Wolverines (13-4).

Wolf's impressive skill level at his size (255 pounds), plus improved defensive play has positioned him as an intriguing lineup cog for an NBA team. He could play all over the court, find teammates and enhance the flow of an offense.

There are still questions about his perimeter shooting (61% from the free throw line and 39% from 3), heavy turnovers (a byproduct of his risky style), and mobility, but few players are affecting games the way he has of late. His feel for running the offense is hard to discount.

Wolf still has more to prove, due to his unorthodox profile as a prospect and the thick of Big Ten competition ahead, but an NBA front office and coaching staff willing to deploy him creatively could reap long-term benefits.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

[shangrila]

It would be hard for me to pass on Danny Wolf with the Detroit pick. I love his long-term fit with all our kids.

Can you explain Danny Wolf long term fit to me? I have not read much scouting reports yet.

Derik Queen is advertised as the best passing bigman of 2025 draft. I don't know whether it is true, but a big who can pass might be the best direction if we want to build a modern offense around Edwards. Also it seems logical to bring here offensive minded bigman, because at some degree MIN can cover his defensive weaknesses by playing good perimeter defense. As long as offensive minded big can be physical, I mean can rebound at high rate, boxout and set good screens.

7', 255. Decent wingspan, much improved mobility, solid quickness and agility. Can handle the ball well for a guy his size. Averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 stocks in 29 minutes. Shooting 37% on three 3PA/game. In the argument for "best passing big man" in college ball. He does turn it over too much, but turnovers of aggression I can live with in young players.

Leads the Big 10 in Rebounds per game, DRB%, TRB% and DBPM.

Last year led the Ivy League in DRB%, TRB%, BLK% and DWS.

Easiest way to describe him is to compare him to Reid.

More of a passer and less of a scorer than Naz, but similar in the sense of being bigs that do guard things. If Wolf can grow as a shooter (and he's not one now, to be clear) they could run a lot of similar sets for both of them.

[shangrila]

Liam Mcneely anyone? He has good basketball IQ.
Can’t believe people thought the Pistons pick would end up a second round pick..

If he can play the 4 I could see it. That seems to be the other major gap we have, aside from the 5, when looking at the future; an athletic 3/4 forwarded.

And I can't blame anyone for the Pistons pick projection. Most people were (and still are) in their feelings about the KAT trade and wanted to crap on it as much as possible, while the Pistons haven't had much of a track record of success lately.

[shangrila]

I think this kid could be a lot of fun if he's sitting there in the early 2nd

Watch on YouTube

He's interesting. He's actually the only player in college with a >30% USG and <10% TOV, which either means he takes care of the ball incredibly well or he's from the Shabazz school of "can't turn it over if I shoot every time I touch it". I'm leaning towards the former, especially with an AST% of 23.

I do worry about him defensively. He doesn't strike me as incredibly mobile (or athletic) so I'd have some concerns about him defending the perimeter. And while the BLK% is good at a little over 10, watching him play I can't see it translating. He gets very little lift off a stand still jump.

In terms of measurements I had to go back to 2023 because he apparently didn't measure at the G League Elite camp last year, which I thought for sure he played in, nor does he show up at the NBA combine either. That said back then we was listed at 6-9 w/o shoes, with a 7ft wingspan and 9ft standing reach. Fairly similar to Daron Holmes from last season. He also had a near 13% body fat, so there's maybe room for improvement on that end too.

Offensively I can see him as a PnR big as he seems to set good screens, rolls hard, has good hands and a soft touch around the basket. Passing he makes good decisions. The big swing skill is the shooting, which he hasn't had a lot of success improving from the line at least over the years (consistently low to mid 60s in % throughout his career).

To be honest I don't think he fits this team's draft philosophy so I don't know how realistic of an option he is but it's hard to bet against his production. At worst I'm sure he could be a backup in the league.

[shangrila]

guys, I've totally missed that we have UTA 2025 SRP!!! Is this draft deep enough? Can we find a rotational player in 31-40?

damn..I forgot about that. I feel like you can find good backup Centers in that range

It's also in a good spot to catch anyone that falls unexpectedly. Think Kyle Filipowski from last season.

[minimus]

Yaxel Lendeborg? I saw him make some really good reads/passes

[Ethomasp31]

Watch on YouTube

I think he will end up somewhere between 10-20 by draft time.

I've seen him mocked in the middle of the second round. He isn't a great defender, turns the ball over a lot and isn't very athletic. He is a unique and very college basketball player I just am not sure how that will translate to the athletes in the NBA.

[Mattya]

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I think he will end up somewhere between 10-20 by draft time.

I've seen him mocked in the middle of the second round. He isn't a great defender, turns the ball over a lot and isn't very athletic. He is a unique and very college basketball player I just am not sure how that will translate to the athletes in the NBA.

I haven't cared about what the mocks have said for many years. These are the same people that said the 2020 draft was weak and Ant's potential was Dion Waiters. He has elite handle for a big and can run big to big pick and roll while showing shooting potential. Reminds me of Sengun with more floor spacing potential.