2025 NBA Draft

[RichCollab]

For people that still dont get it...

Ben Sheppard - 26th pick in the 2023 draft - averaging 15mpg in the current playoffs.
Andrew Nembhard - 31st pick in the 2022 draft - starter averaging 33mpg in the current playoffs.
Aaron Wiggins - 55th pick in the 2021 draft - averaging 14mpg in the current playoffs.
Miles McBride - 36th pick in the 2021 draft - averaging 19mpg in the current playoffs.

This is just me picking random players since 2021 from teams that made it past the first round...

Stop acting like players past pick #10 dont matter.

Stop pretending like Orlando wouldn't gladly take these players to "crack the rotation".

Idiots here would have you believe Ben Shappard wouldn't "crack Orlando's rotation" simply because he was the 26th pick 1 draft ago.

They contributed their rookie years to playoff runs?

These are all not the norm and are outliers. I wouldn’t bank on this to aid us getting past the 2nd round.

Is Orlando competing for a championship next season?

These are the decisions that matter when filling out a roster so you arent paying Cole Anthony $13m to do nothing.

Win now seems to elude to that being the goal in the very near future and adding proven players is what we actually need.

We aren’t on the parallel track. Did you have the Pacers competing for a championship this year?

[VFX]

TDS wasn't in the rotation until Paolo went down though.

So it's probably more accurate to say something along the lines of "when everyone is healthy, this player won't regularly play rotation minutes"

"Let me add a lot of qualifiers to a dumb statement to make it sound less dumb"

Not really?

When all the forwards were healthy at the beginning of the year TDS didn't play.

When all the forwards were healthy at the end of the year TDS didn't play.

Like yes, injuries happen, but you certainly don't go into a season expecting your 30-35 MPG players to miss 25+ games.

My main point here is that you are not drafting specifically for rookie year production, but those guys are also contributing.

Which leads them to cracking a rotation when the opportunity arises.

There are a number of things Orlando can do with the picks, but people need to stop pretending they aren't valuable because they aren't starting on day 1 as the #16 or #25. Even if Weltman just makes the selections its to get rid of the scrubs currently on the roster making 10x what they make.

[VFX]

They contributed their rookie years to playoff runs?

These are all not the norm and are outliers. I wouldn’t bank on this to aid us getting past the 2nd round.

Is Orlando competing for a championship next season?

These are the decisions that matter when filling out a roster so you arent paying Cole Anthony $13m to do nothing.

Win now seems to elude to that being the goal in the very near future and adding proven players is what we actually need.

We aren’t on the parallel track. Did you have the Pacers competing for a championship this year?

You aren't asking the right question.

The question is:

"Did the Pacers draft 4 players in the second round believing that they wouldn't be heavily contributing to a finals appearance?"

No, they drafted them in the last 3 drafts to build up to this rotation.

Like people here are going to argue that Cedric Coward or Jase Richardson for example aren't going to POSSIBLY be better than Cole Anthony or Gary Harris? No. Only a stupid homer would believe that because of the name on the front of the jersey and the belief that Weltman makes all the correct decisions.

You arent drafting these guys for what they are going to do in 6 months. You are drafting them for what they provide for the next 4 years for 10x less the price and ongoing future rather than the scrubs I just listed.

[Knightro]

My main point here is that you are not drafting specifically for rookie year production, but those guys are also contributing.

Which leads them to cracking a rotation when the opportunity arises.

There are a number of things Orlando can do with the picks, but people need to stop pretending they aren't valuable because they aren't starting on day 1 as the #16 or #25. Even if Weltman just makes the selections its to get rid of the scrubs currently on the roster making 10x what they make.

Aren't you the same guy when talking about potential trades for the Magic has repeatedly said that the draft picks the Magic have to offer up aren't that valuable?

[VFX]

My main point here is that you are not drafting specifically for rookie year production, but those guys are also contributing.

Which leads them to cracking a rotation when the opportunity arises.

There are a number of things Orlando can do with the picks, but people need to stop pretending they aren't valuable because they aren't starting on day 1 as the #16 or #25. Even if Weltman just makes the selections its to get rid of the scrubs currently on the roster making 10x what they make.

Aren't you the same guy when talking about potential trades for the Magic has repeatedly said that the draft picks the Magic have to offer up aren't that valuable?

Valuable in context to what?

Are we talking about trading them for Simons?
Are we talking about trade packages for Reaves or Garland?

The context to what Im talking about matters actually.

The picks are valuable because the Magic's assets are so garbage that they must attach them to get a positive asset out in a deal.
The picks themselves are not as valuable in the context of larger trade packages in how they are perceived by other teams when we are discussing quantifiable starting or allstar level players.

The picks are valuable to Orlando in all three ways:

They need them to move bad contracts.
They can select rookie scale guys to round out the roster as cost controlled assets as the cap-space absolutely matters in that timeframe.
They can package them (and other assets for probably ONE positive asset) whether that be a higher draft pick or player.

That about covers it in case you were confused by my position here.

[Magic_Stick914]

Come June draft Thomas Sorber at #16 used #25 for a PG/SG

[The Effect]

There is no point in arguing the benefits of 2nd rounders because clearly our FO doesnt care nor feel they can use them.

We have sold or traded more picks outside the top 20 than we have kept (10 picks, kept 3, sold\traded 7), most years trading\selling them before the draft even starts and waiting to see who is even available. Our FO clearly only scouts the top 15-20 guys and then give up for the rest of the off season

Like a few years ago, we had the 5th or 6th pick in the 2nd round, nope, sold to NO
or a few years before that we had the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, sold before the draft, didnt matter that guys like herb jones, mcbride, Dosunmu, boston, wiggins were all available. COuld keep going but why?

So 2 weeks from now, we will have 4 picks, and id bet anything i have that at the end of the day we end up 1 or less rookies

[Knightro]

There is no point in arguing the benefits of 2nd rounders because clearly our FO doesnt care nor feel they can use them.

We have sold or traded more picks outside the top 20 than we have kept (10 picks, kept 3, sold\traded 7), most years trading\selling them before the draft even starts and waiting to see who is even available. Our FO clearly only scouts the top 15-20 guys and then give up for the rest of the off season

Like a few years ago, we had the 5th or 6th pick in the 2nd round, nope, sold to NO
or a few years before that we had the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, sold before the draft, didnt matter that guys like herb jones, mcbride, Dosunmu, boston, wiggins were all available. COuld keep going but why?

So 2 weeks from now, we will have 4 picks, and id bet anything i have that at the end of the day we end up 1 or less rookies

I would argue that the 2nd round pick strategy is *very* likely to change moving forward given how top heavy the roster is about to be financially.

They're going to need cheap players to fill out the bottom of the roster very soon.

[basketballRob]

Carter Bryant is the same size as Jaylen Brown. Is there any way he develops into a Brown type player?

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[tiderulz]

There is no point in arguing the benefits of 2nd rounders because clearly our FO doesnt care nor feel they can use them.

We have sold or traded more picks outside the top 20 than we have kept (10 picks, kept 3, sold\traded 7), most years trading\selling them before the draft even starts and waiting to see who is even available. Our FO clearly only scouts the top 15-20 guys and then give up for the rest of the off season

Like a few years ago, we had the 5th or 6th pick in the 2nd round, nope, sold to NO
or a few years before that we had the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, sold before the draft, didnt matter that guys like herb jones, mcbride, Dosunmu, boston, wiggins were all available. COuld keep going but why?

So 2 weeks from now, we will have 4 picks, and id bet anything i have that at the end of the day we end up 1 or less rookies

I would argue that the 2nd round pick strategy is *very* likely to change moving forward given how top heavy the roster is about to be financially.

They're going to need cheap players to fill out the bottom of the roster very soon.

our front office comes into the draft with a player in mind and that seems to be it. they dont adjust when a player drops. I dont have faith in them using 2nd round picks

[cedric76]

“Crack our rotation” is what was said.

TDS was selected at #18, in a way worse draft, and played significant minutes in the beginning of the season. He started 38 games and averaged 22mpg.

To say a rookie won’t “crack the rotation” is beyond stupid.

TDS wasn't in the rotation until Paolo went down though.

So it's probably more accurate to say something along the lines of "when everyone is healthy, this player won't regularly play rotation minutes"

VFX's world

[The Effect]

There is no point in arguing the benefits of 2nd rounders because clearly our FO doesnt care nor feel they can use them.

We have sold or traded more picks outside the top 20 than we have kept (10 picks, kept 3, sold\traded 7), most years trading\selling them before the draft even starts and waiting to see who is even available. Our FO clearly only scouts the top 15-20 guys and then give up for the rest of the off season

Like a few years ago, we had the 5th or 6th pick in the 2nd round, nope, sold to NO
or a few years before that we had the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, sold before the draft, didnt matter that guys like herb jones, mcbride, Dosunmu, boston, wiggins were all available. COuld keep going but why?

So 2 weeks from now, we will have 4 picks, and id bet anything i have that at the end of the day we end up 1 or less rookies

I would argue that the 2nd round pick strategy is *very* likely to change moving forward given how top heavy the roster is about to be financially.

They're going to need cheap players to fill out the bottom of the roster very soon.

Doubtful, we've always had space for good cheap young talent with potential and weham proved time and time again they would rather sell the draft picks and then sign guys like admiral or Iggy or other league min scrubs they can find

They refuse to scout past the top 15-20 and instead would rather put a few bucks on the owners pockets and then enjoy their vacation til the season starts

[RookieStar]

Next season.. if we qctually depend on a 16th pick to crack our rotation and contribute... then we arent as far along as i thought we were in our rebuild

[pepe1991]

Next season.. if we qctually depend on a 16th pick to crack our rotation and contribute... then we arent as far along as i thought we were in our rebuild

yea. I mean, sure, 16# can be rotation player. But if you actually expect him to change your trajectory and "fix" things. Woof.

[RookieStar]

Next season.. if we qctually depend on a 16th pick to crack our rotation and contribute... then we arent as far along as i thought we were in our rebuild

yea. I mean, sure, 16# can be rotation player. But if you actually expect him to change your trajectory and "fix" things. Woof.

Only way i think a 16th rookie can be in rotation isnif

1. Injuries
2. We play 11 man per game
3. We always play blowouts

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Next season.. if we qctually depend on a 16th pick to crack our rotation and contribute... then we arent as far along as i thought we were in our rebuild

yea. I mean, sure, 16# can be rotation player. But if you actually expect him to change your trajectory and "fix" things. Woof.

Only way i think a 16th rookie can be in rotation isnif

1. Injuries
2. We play 11 man per game
3. We always play blowouts

I think 25 could get some time depending on who we trade. Not even thinking of 16th pick that’s as good as gone IMO

[Knightro]

There is no point in arguing the benefits of 2nd rounders because clearly our FO doesnt care nor feel they can use them.

We have sold or traded more picks outside the top 20 than we have kept (10 picks, kept 3, sold\traded 7), most years trading\selling them before the draft even starts and waiting to see who is even available. Our FO clearly only scouts the top 15-20 guys and then give up for the rest of the off season

Like a few years ago, we had the 5th or 6th pick in the 2nd round, nope, sold to NO
or a few years before that we had the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, sold before the draft, didnt matter that guys like herb jones, mcbride, Dosunmu, boston, wiggins were all available. COuld keep going but why?

So 2 weeks from now, we will have 4 picks, and id bet anything i have that at the end of the day we end up 1 or less rookies

I would argue that the 2nd round pick strategy is *very* likely to change moving forward given how top heavy the roster is about to be financially.

They're going to need cheap players to fill out the bottom of the roster very soon.

Doubtful, we've always had space for good cheap young talent with potential and weham proved time and time again they would rather sell the draft picks and then sign guys like admiral or Iggy or other league min scrubs they can find

They refuse to scout past the top 15-20 and instead would rather put a few bucks on the owners pockets and then enjoy their vacation til the season starts

It’s not at all about roster space though. It’s all about finances moving forward. The Magic are going to be a luxury tax team for the first time in a very long time.

Indirectly, you’re actually kind of making my point for me here,

The Magic aren’t going to have the 14th and 15th guys on the roster as veterans making $3.5 million dollars when they could have those roster spots being 2nd round picks making $1.2 million dollars.

That 4.6M difference may not seem like a lot, but it is when each dollar over the tax eventually starts getting compounded.

[KillMonger]

is there a Courtney Lee in this draft for us?

[zaymon]

is there a Courtney Lee in this draft for us?

In case of mature skill set Cedric Cowars, in case of potential trade and empty role Thomas Sorber ?

[Skybox]

yea. I mean, sure, 16# can be rotation player. But if you actually expect him to change your trajectory and "fix" things. Woof.

Only way i think a 16th rookie can be in rotation isnif

1. Injuries
2. We play 11 man per game
3. We always play blowouts

I think 25 could get some time depending on who we trade. Not even thinking of 16th pick that’s as good as gone IMO

also...looking at the board, it's conceivable that #25 could be a lower-ceiling ready to contribute guy, whereas the best choice at #16 might be the high-upside kid who'll need at least a year of seasoning (I'm not endorsing the BS that good players show up 4 years in to their NBA career).

I also assume at least one frp will be moved, although if Weltman is aiming higher - it might only involve the more valuable 26 frp...there's so much uncertainty about the value of that pick- I'm more than willing to sell it to some other team to pray to the lottery gods while ORL adds a proven player. I'm not blind to its upside, I'm also not selling it for nothing...there's a range and I like some certainty as I don't think ORL is moving into the contention mode where longshot bets are less attractive than guaranteed ones.