2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[Klomp]

OK I only just got my first look at him, but I am super intrigued by French forward Noah Penda. He's like a blend of Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw, which translates to a French Kyle Anderson with shooting potential. He's in consideration at 17.

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[Klomp]

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[KGdaBom]

OK I only just got my first look at him, but I am super intrigued by French forward Noah Penda. He's like a blend of Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw, which translates to a French Kyle Anderson with shooting potential. He's in consideration at 17.

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Tankathon has him going 27, but he is intriguing.

[BlacJacMac]

I believe Tankathon’s mock is just an aggregation of other sites.

I wouldn’t take it as anything near gospel.

[Klomp]

I believe Tankathon’s mock is just an aggregation of other sites.

I wouldn’t take it as anything near gospel.

It's definitely not gospel. I don't know if it's aggregation though either.

Tankathon is usually the first place I learn about players, but then I do my own research to determine whether I like a player. I don't think it's a stretch to think a guy can improve his draft stock by 10 spots in the month leading up to the draft. Penda isn't flashy and probably lacks a high ceiling, but he's a guy who feels safely solid as a potential pick in the late teens.

[BlacJacMac]

I believe Tankathon’s mock is just an aggregation of other sites.

I wouldn’t take it as anything near gospel.

It's definitely not gospel. I don't know if it's aggregation though either.

Tankathon is usually the first place I learn about players, but then I do my own research to determine whether I like a player. I don't think it's a stretch to think a guy can improve his draft stock by 10 spots in the month leading up to the draft. Penda isn't flashy and probably lacks a high ceiling, but he's a guy who feels safely solid as a potential pick in the late teens.

I think it’s a very good resource. I just don’t trust it too much as a mock site.

[minimus]

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He is basically a bigger Okogie. I like this archetype of defender, but I dont know whether I would bet my money on his 3PT shooting. Not a bad candidate for 31st.

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P.S. I dont know why he did not participate in combine. He is that type of player he would benefit from official measurements and scrimmage games.

[minimus]

A few stats (although I wish we had more context here)

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[minimus]

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Tyus Jones clone?

[theGreatRC]

BPA, but I hope the BPA is a big defensive center with good hands or a shot creating PG.

Connelly has been nailing this picks so I believe

[minimus]

OK I only just got my first look at him, but I am super intrigued by French forward Noah Penda. He's like a blend of Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw, which translates to a French Kyle Anderson with shooting potential. He's in consideration at 17.

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One concern is his ability to finish around the rim. He lacks ideal athleticism

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[KGdaBom]

The Tankathon mock draft has been updated with the Wolves taking Hugo Gonzalez a SF from Madrid Spain at 31. He's at 28 on their big board, but this one puzzles me as he is youngish, but not young and his stats are all underwhelming. They have us taking Nique Clifford at 17 so this would be back to back SF. Can somebody in the know help me with this?

[jpatrick]

The Tankathon mock draft has been updated with the Wolves taking Hugo Gonzalez a SF from Madrid Spain at 31. He's at 28 on their big board, but this one puzzles me as he is youngish, but not young and his stats are all underwhelming. They have us taking Nique Clifford at 17 so this would be back to back SF. Can somebody in the know help me with this?

I don’t know why they have us taking two wings, but Gonzalez is interesting. Is currently playing for Real Madrid, one of the best teams in Europe, which is filled with a bunch of ex-NBAers. Prior to that was on the Real Madrid junior team with Demin. Gonzalez being the ultra athletic wing while Demin more the passer. Each, reportedly, was offered seven figures to go to BYU. Demin took it. Gonzalez did not. I think in the future, these high level players are going to take the college money. Much easier to get playing time in college than the elite Euro teams and now the money is probably better too. In U18 events, he was seen as an equal to Demin, Jakucionis, etc.

He’d be an interesting pick at 31. Swing skills would be shooting and BBIQ (which can’t tell based on highlights). I know Givony (Draft Express/ESPN) is high on him and today noted his playing time has increased lately.

[Klomp]

Can somebody in the know help me with this?

Yes. Don't take it too seriously. You're welcome.

[KGdaBom]

Can somebody in the know help me with this?

Yes. Don't take it too seriously. You're welcome.

LMAO Klomp, but not very helpful. We are talking draft so shouldn't I take the mocks and rumors seriously?

[BlacJacMac]

Can somebody in the know help me with this?

Yes. Don't take it too seriously. You're welcome.

LMAO Klomp, but not very helpful. We are talking draft so shouldn't I take the mocks and rumors seriously?

I wouldn't. Especially once you're out of the lottery.

Most mocks, once you're past the top players, become more of a "big board" than actually guesses as to who teams will take.

[minimus]

To me tankathon offers zero actual knowledge nor context around draft candidates.

[Klomp]

Yes. Don't take it too seriously. You're welcome.

LMAO Klomp, but not very helpful. We are talking draft so shouldn't I take the mocks and rumors seriously?

I wouldn't. Especially once you're out of the lottery.

Most mocks, once you're past the top players, become more of a "big board" than actually guesses as to who teams will take.

Especially a month ahead of the draft. I trust mocks as sources for scouting reports on prospects and maybe somewhat on what these places think a team needs, but connecting the two is usually guesswork, again especially this early. Very few mocks are good sources for using team/league intel to predict who goes where.

[minimus]

It look like Fleming as athletic stretch four who can defend in space and in the space might be an easy fix to our smallball lineups. I believe he can play next to Reid, or next to Randle. Another one was Lendeborg. So what I am trying to say is that TC can go different ways: draft a stretch 5 or stretch 4 or even a Jalen Williams type of big wing. They offer different skillset both I can see how all three archetypes working well in MIN.

Stretch fives: Raynaud, Kalkbrenner, Yang
Stretch fours: Fleming, Newell
Big wings: Coward, Bryant, Thiero, Penda, Essengue, Toohey
Mobile bigs: Niederhauser, Beringer

Something like Reid-Fleming-McDaniels-Edwards-DDV might work

Reid-McDaniels-Bryant-Edwards-DDV could be a very interesting lineup if Bryant can defend PF-SF-SG

Niederhauser-Reid-McDaniels-Edwards-DDV would run in transition non-stop

P.S. I am really struggle put Sorber, CMB and Wolf in any category. Sorber can't shoot and can't finish. CMB can't shoot and undersized, Wolf can't defend.

[BlacJacMac]

To me tankathon offers zero actual knowledge nor context around draft candidates.

Yeah, I consider Tankathon more of a spreadsheet than a mock draft or player evaluations.

I really wish the DX guys didn't sell to ESPN. They're still a good source, but they provide about 1/10th the content they did when they were on their own.