2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[Devilzsidewalk]

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Im a big fan at 31

imo we need a guy like him. Kuminga exposed that we don't have a good matchup for athletic forwards.

[moss_is_1]

Noa Essengue looks like he's going to move up into the top 10 at a minimum. 18, 6'9" with 9'3" standing reach. Just had a huge game leading his team to victory in the 2nd round of playoffs 22 points and 14 boards.

[Norseman79]

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Im a big fan at 31

imo we need a guy like him. Kuminga exposed that we don't have a good matchup for athletic forwards.

I disagree, I think we have them, Finch didn't use them.

[minimus]

I think Ben Saraf has functional athleticism, size and high IQ to be a PG in NBA.

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[BlacJacMac]

I think Ben Saraf has functional athleticism, size and high IQ to be a PG in NBA.

He absolutely does. The question is can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor?

[minimus]

I think Ben Saraf has functional athleticism, size and high IQ to be a PG in NBA.

He absolutely does. The question is can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor?

No doubts. I think Saraf can play in organised basketball which means can understand flow of the game, hence takes good shots. It is only matter of time when he starts hitting NBA 3PT shots.

[Norseman79]

I think Ben Saraf has functional athleticism, size and high IQ to be a PG in NBA.

He absolutely does. The question is can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor?

No doubts.

But does he have the mindset of a pitbull or a pussy cat? He seemed soft

[minimus]

He absolutely does. The question is can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor?

No doubts.

But does he have the mindset of a pitbull or a pussy cat? He seemed soft

It might sound cliché, but honestly, I prefer a smart cat over a dumb pitbull.

19-year-old Saraf is already playing meaningful playoff basketball in the German league, and he was even considered a better PG prospect than Kasparas Jakucionis.

[Norseman79]

No doubts.

But does he have the mindset of a pitbull or a pussy cat? He seemed soft

It might sound cliché, but honestly, I prefer a smart cat over a dumb pitbull.

19-year-old Saraf is already playing meaningful playoff basketball in the German league, and he was even considered a better PG prospect than Kasparas Jakucionis.

Yeah but if those were my choices I would prefer to simply pass. And it's more about temperament and attitude than intelligence. No one wants a dumb point guard.

[Klomp]

If Nolan Traore is closer to 6'5" he's listed at on ESPN than the 6'3" he's listed at on Tankathon, he becomes very intriguing for me.

Ben Saraf? measured: 6'5″, 8'6″ standing reach, 202 lbs, 6'7.5″ wingspan, 31.5″ max vert at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders

I hope both Saraf and Traore will be next week in Treviso, so we will get actual measurements.

I much prefer Traore to Saraf at this point.

[minimus]

If Nolan Traore is closer to 6'5" he's listed at on ESPN than the 6'3" he's listed at on Tankathon, he becomes very intriguing for me.

Ben Saraf? measured: 6'5″, 8'6″ standing reach, 202 lbs, 6'7.5″ wingspan, 31.5″ max vert at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders

I hope both Saraf and Traore will be next week in Treviso, so we will get actual measurements.

I much prefer Traore to Saraf at this point.

I think Traore is better at creating shots for himself, shooting off the dribbling, while Saraf is better at using angles, manipulate defense and running pick-n-roll.

[moss_is_1]

Dreaming that we have teams ahead of us that are asleep and let Asa Newell or Kasparas Jakucionis fall for us to get one. Newell reminds me of Lively(but probably 2 inches shorter). If those 2 are gone I'd want to try and get Walter Clayton or Danny Wolf. Maybe we don't have to take them at 17, but I wouldn't want to mess around too much.

[jpatrick]

Ben Saraf? measured: 6'5″, 8'6″ standing reach, 202 lbs, 6'7.5″ wingspan, 31.5″ max vert at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders

I hope both Saraf and Traore will be next week in Treviso, so we will get actual measurements.

I much prefer Traore to Saraf at this point.

I think Traore is better at creating shots for himself, shooting off the dribbling, while Saraf is better at using angles, manipulate defense and running pick-n-roll.

I’m currently working in a hotel room, so I put on last years U18 game of France (Traore) vs Lithuania (Jakucionis). Second full game of Traore I’ve watched. He is much quicker/athletic than I thought. Easily the quickest guy on the floor. Can get into the paint at will. But I’m a little disappointed. He’s a willing passer, but definitely not someone that sees and manipulates the defense at an elite level. When you add in the inconsistent shot, not that he’ll be this good, but as a player he reminds me of a righty De’Aron Fox. Super quick, good size, inconsistent shot, willing but not elite passer, and someone who is ball dominant.

Jakucionis I’ve seen at Illinois. Same here. Good BBIQ. Good passer. I like him. But not athletic and doesn’t get a lot of separation off the bounce. I didn’t see the step back he showed at Illinois, so nice to know he’s been adding to his game (btw, he put up 37 this game but lost to a team with Traore, Essengue, and Beringer).

[Dewey]

Get me the gamer who can walk onto any playground in the country and just play basketball - with anyone - and establish chemistry/IQ.

[Battletrigger]

What happened to Wolf? Some weeks ago I saw him related to Wolves or higher but lately is in the 20s.

I though he had good defense with handles and 3 PT...

[KGdaBom]

I much prefer Traore to Saraf at this point.

I think Traore is better at creating shots for himself, shooting off the dribbling, while Saraf is better at using angles, manipulate defense and running pick-n-roll.

I’m currently working in a hotel room, so I put on last years U18 game of France (Traore) vs Lithuania (Jakucionis). Second full game of Traore I’ve watched. He is much quicker/athletic than I thought. Easily the quickest guy on the floor. Can get into the paint at will. But I’m a little disappointed. He’s a willing passer, but definitely not someone that sees and manipulates the defense at an elite level. When you add in the inconsistent shot, not that he’ll be this good, but as a player he reminds me of a righty De’Aron Fox. Super quick, good size, inconsistent shot, willing but not elite passer, and someone who is ball dominant.

Jakucionis I’ve seen at Illinois. Same here. Good BBIQ. Good passer. I like him. But not athletic and doesn’t get a lot of separation off the bounce. I didn’t see the step back he showed at Illinois, so nice to know he’s been adding to his game (btw, he put up 37 this game but lost to a team with Traore, Essengue, and Beringer).

37 is usually good.

[KGdaBom]

I think I'm Egor or bust 1st round. At 31 I want Wolf, Fleming, Clayton Jr. Saraf, Hugo Gonzalez, Kam Jones or Thiero.

[minimus]

What happened to Wolf? Some weeks ago I saw him related to Wolves or higher but lately is in the 20s.

I though he had good defense with handles and 3 PT...

Wolf is a bad defender...

[Klomp]

Interesting point on Dane Moore's show. Using soundbites from Connelly saying there's not much gap between 17 and 31, Moore/Hine surmise that 17 could be trade bait. They also remind listeners that Connelly has never stood pat on draft night since coming here, so they expect a trade of some sort.

[moss_is_1]

Interesting point on Dane Moore's show. Using soundbites from Connelly saying there's not much gap between 17 and 31, Moore/Hine surmise that 17 could be trade bait. They also remind listeners that Connelly has never stood pat on draft night since coming here, so they expect a trade of some sort.

Unless one of those top guys were to fall then I agree.

Flagg is his own tier, then Harper. Then there's roughly 7 more guys I'd expect to guy in some order(Edgecomb, Bailey, Fears, Knuppel, Maluach, Tre Johnson, and Jakucionis). Then I'd say Queen, Newell, Essengue, and Bryant will be in the next tier. So after ~13 guys I think 14 to about 35(?) is very similar in terms of prospects. If we could maneuver around, get some future draft capital, maybe even move some guys with murky futures(Minott/Miller) and still come away with 1 or 2 guys we're really high on it seems like a no brainer.