2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[shangrila]

I know it's early in the season and most people aren't thinking about the draft but if my lifelong Wolves fandom has given me anything outside of a permanent sense of anxiety, it would be a love of scouting and the draft.

For reference we don't have our pick in either the 1st or 2nd round.

We have the Detroit 1st protected 1-13 (essentially lottery protected, given the strength of the West). Odds are it won't convey, but it wouldn't shock me if it did either. The Pistons look better this year and the East looks really bad so far.

We also have the Jazz 2nd, which so far is likely to be in the 31-35 range.

[shangrila]

In terms of needs, the only 1 that stands out to me is a backup C with size. Every other position has multiple young players in the pipeline.

Our early struggles with rebounding are unlikely to fix themselves naturally and for as good as Randle and Reid have been individually, the pairing has been rough on the defensive end. Getting someone with size that can rebound and protect the rim while Rudy sits would be a good target.

There's a few players that fit this mold, including Khaman Maluach, Zvonimir Ivisic, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Rocco Zikarsky, Brandon Garrison, and Motiejus Krivas.

[Klomp]

I was so confused for a second....

[shrink]

Yeah, maybe slide the word “pick” in the title?

[Devilzsidewalk]

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is it too early to start thinking about what comes after Rudy? Malauch has people very excited after seeing him in the Olympics. The total package when it comes to physical gifts. Zikarsky might catch up in hype though at some point. He is getting a lot of great experience in the NBL, and has a reported 7'6" wingspan. Ivisic is a wildcard - he didn't play much for the wildcats, but he'll get tons of minutes for the razorbacks. I felt compelled to mention Kalkbrenner too - 49 in his first game. 3 time DPOY in the Big East. Best shooter of the bunch too. Probably maxed out physically though.

[shangrila]

Yeah, maybe slide the word “pick” in the title?

Nah.

If people can't be bothered to read the full title, the opening post or any of the posts afterwards that's on them.

[shangrila]

is it too early to start thinking about what comes after Rudy? Malauch has people very excited after seeing him in the Olympics. The total package when it comes to physical gifts. Zikarsky might catch up in hype though at some point. He is getting a lot of great experience in the NBL, and has a reported 7'6" wingspan. Ivisic is a wildcard - he didn't play much for the wildcats, but he'll get tons of minutes for the razorbacks. I felt compelled to mention Kalkbrenner too - 49 in his first game. 3 time DPOY in the Big East. Best shooter of the bunch too. Probably maxed out physically though.

Ideally we'd find someone who could contribute some now and grow into that role over time as Rudy slowly ages out.

Malauch and Zikarsky are both real raw, so are unlikely to contribute early. Ivisic looks interesting but to this point I'm a bit worried about his rebounding. Kalkbrenner might be more of a backup or rotation big than Rudy replacement.

Still, at this point it looks like an interesting draft for 7fters.

[minimus]

MIN and draft luck? Nah... I dont believe that basketball Gods will allow DET to give us this pick

[younggunsmn]

Well my hope for that Pistons pick conveying this year has gone from less than 1% to maybe 5%.
The way the east is this year, they have a legit chance of making the 10 team play-in with so many teams like ATL and CHI having lost players and gone into semi-rebuilds.

Milwaukee and Philly are going to turn things around.
The likely top 8 IMHO are: (in no particular order)
BOS
CLE
NY
MIL
PHI
IND
ORL
MIA

That leaves 5 pretty mediocre teams fighting for the 9 and 10 seeds:
CHI
ATL
BRK
CHA
DET

OF those 5 teams, DET has about the same talent level, but their talent is younger.
But we'll see. JB Bickerstaff is a pretty good coach who might end up netting them a few extra wins.

Since we just drafted two first rounders this year, it might be to our advantage if that pick conveys in '26 or '27 anyway, which I'm also a bit more hopeful about happening now about than I was a month ago.

That Utah pick will be really nice this year, should be 31-35 maybe even 31-33.
Hopefully we have a shot at drafting a Gob-heir-apparent to add some sorely needed interior defense to our bench.

[Neeva]

The pistons pick may convey this upcoming draft.

[Klomp]

I still think I would put it at only a 35-40% of conveying this year, but it looks like it will at a minimum be something to monitor all-season long and likely into the Play-In Tournament.

Eastern Conference
7. Detroit 7-9
8. Indiana 6-8
9. Chicago 6-9
10. Charlotte 5-8
11. Brooklyn 5-9
12. Milwaukee 5-9

I don't expect Milwaukee to stay this bad, so they should be in the PIT. I think Indiana and Chicago will likely stay in the Top 10 as well. So the fourth spot might come down to Detroit or Charlotte, and I think I like Detroit's chances of staying in the Top 10.

[Klomp]

My timing could probably be better, but we need an update as it continues to be interesting to watch in the Eastern Conference.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
t5. Milwaukee 17-16
t5. Miami 17-16
----
t7. Atlanta 18-18
t7. Indiana 18-18
9. Detroit 17-18
10. Chicago 16-19
----
11. Philadelphia 14-19
12. Brooklyn 13-22

Additionally, a reminder that it is Top 13 protected, not 14. That means if Detroit is the best record among all non-playoff teams, the pick would still convey. Seems far-fetched, but current No. 8/9 seeds in the West has just an 18-17 record, so it's currently not out of the question.

[winforlose]

My timing could probably be better, but we need an update as it continues to be interesting to watch in the Eastern Conference.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
t5. Milwaukee 17-16
t5. Miami 17-16
----
t7. Atlanta 18-18
t7. Indiana 18-18
9. Detroit 17-18
10. Chicago 16-19
----
11. Philadelphia 14-19
12. Brooklyn 13-22

Additionally, a reminder that it is Top 13 protected, not 14. That means if Detroit is the best record among all non-playoff teams, the pick would still convey. Seems far-fetched, but current No. 8/9 seeds in the West has just an 18-17 record, so it's currently not out of the question.

Don’t forget that Orlando is looking more like a whose healthy than whose out team. Also it is my understanding that if they make the play in and advance then pick selection is changed, is that correct? The theory being a playoff team cannot also be a lottery team.

[younggunsmn]

I want Detroit to win for the pick but as a basketball fan I'm really liking the way they are playing.

JB Bickerstaff is doing an incredible job with that team, great energy and defense, finding roles for the young draft picks (Thompson, Holland, Duren, Stewart) that suit them instead of forcing them to do things they are not good at "cuz high draft pick".

Also really locked in on things that Cade can do will and using his size as a big PG to his advantage.
Cade is light years ahead of Ant when it comes to reading and countering the defense, and the difference is more than a little bit system and coaching.

[Klomp]

Also it is my understanding that if they make the play in and advance then pick selection is changed, is that correct? The theory being a playoff team cannot also be a lottery team.

Two teams who finish 7-10 in the regular season make the playoffs and two do not. The two that don't are in the lottery.

[Klomp]

Cade is light years ahead of Ant when it comes to reading and countering the defense, and the difference is more than a little bit system and coaching.

Almost like one has always been a PG and one has always been a SG....

[Klomp]

Cade is light years ahead of Ant when it comes to reading and countering the defense, and the difference is more than a little bit system and coaching.

Almost like one has always been a PG and one has always been a SG....

[Mattya]

Lots of good prospects in that 14-20 range. Jeremiah Fears, Liam McNeely, Ben Saraf, and Noa Essengue. Don't know what to think of the 1st round centers. None of them are putting up statistics in the categories that matter that really indicate a can't miss player. I wouldn't mind taking Tomislav Ivisic in the second round instead. He looks like he can rebound, pass and has enough touch to be a guy other teams can't leave wide open.

[minimus]

I know that MIN and basketball luck are two completely different things, but I am pretty comfortable with keeping this pick. We could use a high potential rookie on cheap contract to improve our roster on any position except SG:

- backup C (stretch five, rim protector, rim runner, rebounder)
- backup PF, starting PF (stretch four)
- backup SF (movement shooter)
- starting PG, backup PG (pass-first, shooter)

It does not mean TC should draft based on needs, but BPA (unless SG) most likely be a good fit.

[Klomp]

Good news for us, potentially...

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