2025 NBA Draft

[Skybox]

Andrew Nembhard played 4 years in college and was drafted 31st. He's close to the same size as Clayton Jr. Nembhard is 6'3" without shoes. Clayton Jr. is 6'2.5".

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That's all true...just like it is for, literally, hundreds of other college players now dominating at the Y

[OrlandoDream]

If Walter Clayton is there at the denver pick, you trade the pick.

Fixed:
The very last thing Orlando needs is two rookie for the 2025/26 squad.

Orlando has 4 draft picks coming. I would be happy if all four were used in a trade package. But if the Magic keep their pick (lilely the 17th pick in the draft), trade the Denver picks with - pick one of - Caldwell-Pope. Carter, Anthony, Howard: for a new guard, that is the value of this Denver pick.
(Anthony, the Denver pick for Luke Kennard, as one example).

I guess i the Magic trades their own pick and uses the Denver pick, Clayton makes sense if available at ~#25. Orlando will need a 3rd string PG if/when Anthony is traded. Clayton seems fine for Mr. 3rd string.

But if the Magic had to choose between using their own pick to draft Traore or the Denver pick to draft Clayton, well, that's an easy choice.

Yeah picking Wlton Jr with 25 is assuming we trade our own on package for upgrade backcourt player. Your right I don't see us going into next year with 4 rookies. Two tops. I fully expect one of our FRP and one of both our second to be traded this summer. However at this rate, I'm not sure Clayton makes it to the 25.

[VFX]

There is a limited upside to drafting older guys. That’s just reality.

Contending teams that have 2-3 year windows, and immediate need within that timeframe, are usually drafting late and will trade the picks or draft older guys hoping their skillsets can help them. Bucks draft AJ Johnson and included him in a package for the Middleton move because they are competing and don’t see the upside in having him rot on the bench. Wizards can afford to give him a look.

Orlando isn’t realistically competing for anything in the next 2-3 seasons. They have short and long term needs. They can take risks on guys that aren’t 22-23, but that comes at the expense of more development that hasn’t panned out for a guy like Jett who just won’t get minutes here now and should be moved.

This is why I bring up minutes here ad nauseam in a draft thread.

It matters. Why? Because ideally the guy you draft shouldn’t be losing asset value or on court production value. Thats just bad business. It doesn’t matter what pick you are using. If you can’t manage assets you trade them.

Josh Giddey and Walter Clayton are the same age for example. Jalen Suggs would be murdering everyone in this tournament no questions asked. Which is why I’m not super impressed by Clayton outside of the fact that he’s able to rise to the occasion given the circumstances. Could he be a good nba contributor? Sure. Is he Steph Curry? Likely no. His upside is a backup in all likelihood and his potential is limited. People need to get past older dudes having good tournament games because they are 3-4 years older than everyone else on the court. Yeah, of course they look better.

Orlando has minutes available at point guard so he’s worth a workout. They can do better in all likelihood though because they have picks higher than 26 for players that are 3 years younger doing the same stuff.

[Idiosyncratic]

I think the bottom line is older players often go later in draft for good reason.

But at the same time he could be a viable pick for us because our picks are later and we have hypothetically already found our stars.

And for me I still would want to acquire a proven guard in addition to whatever picks we make.

That's my personal Clayton summary. I would not be mad if they picked him, I think he is a viable mid to late 1st rounder at this point. It's all going to depend on how the board shakes out and if any trades are made at this point. Because if we hypothetically traded for a guard with 15 and Clayton is there at 24 or whatever, but Yaxel or Sorber are also there I may lean more toward the big that I have roughly just as high on my board. But if they just acquire a one year stopgap guard then maybe not. A lot at play.

[drsd]

There is a limited upside to drafting older guys. That’s just reality.

And-1

Look - no matter what the Magic is drafting bench players. Let's accept that please. A da Silva-type is as good as older guy gets.

Exluding that I hate any rookie on next year's roster, there are some nice Euroleague prospects like Essengue and Penda.
But a college senior on next year's roster, it really is a terrible idea.

There are literally 100 LLE guys better than a low FRP rookie. Easily. EXAMPLE: Cory Joseph is better than Trista d Silva. It is not a conversation.

Hell: I would rather the Magic resign Houstan than take the Denver pick, at all.

[drsd]

But at the same time he could be a viable pick for us because our picks are later and we have hypothetically already found our stars.

This is the counter. And: the current CBA demands that bench players are ultra cheap. Late FRPs actually could have more value cap-wise than mid-range FPRs.

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

[Idiosyncratic]

But at the same time he could be a viable pick for us because our picks are later and we have hypothetically already found our stars.

This is the counter. And: the current CBA demands that bench players are ultra cheap. Late FRPs actually could have more value cap-wise than mid-range FPRs.

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Yeah plus 1st dibs on extending the player you draft if they are worth it and you are allowed to go over the luxury tax to do so. Which will matter for us down the line.

My priority this offseason would 100% be to trade for a guard that fits the team, I have changed my view on that, I was too attached to the picks earlier this season. They have to get a guard that can help our stars out right now, they have to. I'm not saying go out there and drastically overpay but do something that makes sense.

But after that this team will absolutely need cheap bench contributors going forward so there is value in making late picks at some point and hopefully even taking some chances in the 2nd round. And the thing is sometimes you get really lucky with those picks. Sometimes it takes getting really lucky on a late pick to push your team over the top.

[RichCollab]

Andrew Nembhard played 4 years in college and was drafted 31st. He's close to the same size as Clayton Jr. Nembhard is 6'3" without shoes. Clayton Jr. is 6'2.5".

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Anything is certainly possible.

[KillMonger]

We're at a talent deficit, I'll take what we can get... WCJ might be the Cole replacement, better version that can actually shoot

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[OrlandoDream]

Most of the opposition im seeing about drafting WCJr is due to his age and ceiling. We as fanbase have to realize that were at a different stage in the rebuild. We have 3 legit talents to build around as core pieces. We are no longer in desperation mode to gamble on guys on high ceiling that have star potential. We have 3 guys capable of that. WE need players that can contribute right away or shortly as a potential playoff rotation. Guys like Da Silva and WCJr have a higher floor then rest of their class albeit lower ceiling.....and that ok for us. If you can be a solid rotation player that contributes to winning and complements Paolo/Franz/Suggs in some way, that's all we need.

[eyriq]

I'm still in the keep both first round picks camps. I think the two scenarios I like best are:

Walter Clayton Jr. at 16 and Rasheer Fleming at 24

or

Liam McNeeley at 16, and Kam Jones at 24 (assuming Clayton Jr. is gone by 24)

[eyriq]

One of Walter Clayton Jr. or Kam Jones and one of Rasheer Fleming or Liam McNeeley and I'm a happy camper.

[VFX]

Also when can we collectively gtf over calling grown men Jr And Senior? Who the **** is Walter Clayton Senior? Did he play in the nba? No idea. Doesn’t matter.

You are going by Clayton. Same with Wendell. You aren’t a child. I’m not calling you “Junior” your dad isn’t famous enough and just because you have a kid you aren’t “Senior” on your drivers license. **** is cringe.

People know who the **** I’m talking about when I say Wendell Carter or Walter Clayton. They don’t need the suffix.

[Bensational]

WCJ is exactly what we’re looking for, why talk ourselves out of it? We need shooting, we need more playmaking in the backcourt, we don’t have time to wait for a project to develop, and he’s showing the sort of game that can handle the pressure of a big moment.

He’s not dominating guys with his size, speed or athleticism. He’s doing it with a lethal 3pt shot which he needs no space to get off. That’s translatable. Even if that’s all that’s translatable, ask Houstan, CoJo and KCP what kind of difference it makes to the team to have a guy getting 3’s.

[eyriq]

WCJ is exactly what we’re looking for, why talk ourselves out of it? We need shooting, we need more playmaking in the backcourt, we don’t have time to wait for a project to develop, and he’s showing the sort of game that can handle the pressure of a big moment.

He’s not dominating guys with his size, speed or athleticism. He’s doing it with a lethal 3pt shot which he needs no space to get off. That’s translatable. Even if that’s all that’s translatable, ask Houstan, CoJo and KCP what kind of difference it makes to the team to have a guy getting 3’s.

Bingo

[eyriq]

The main issue with this off-season is that we absolutely need to trade Cole Anthony for a bench sparkplug and KCP for a more offensively oriented starting guard and we might need to invest draft equity in the re-tool.

Ideally we can include Jett in the trade to upgrade Cole and just swap KCP for a different flavor outright.

[cedric76]

The main issue with this off-season is that we absolutely need to trade Cole Anthony for a bench sparkplug and KCP for a more offensively oriented starting guard and we might need to invest draft equity in the re-tool.

Ideally we can include Jett in the trade to upgrade Cole and just swap KCP for a different flavor outright.

We don't need to trade KCP, we need this type of vet 3&d specialist however, you are right we need to trade Cole

[drsd]

We're at a talent deficit, I'll take what we can get... WCJ might be the Cole replacement, better version that can actually shoot

If Black is not Anthony's full-time replacement next year, I might shave your head out of frustration!
The threat stands!

[KillMonger]

We're at a talent deficit, I'll take what we can get... WCJ might be the Cole replacement, better version that can actually shoot

If Black is not Anthony's full-time replacement next year, I might shave your head out of frustration!
The threat stands!

Black can be kcp's replacement

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[drsd]

We're at a talent deficit, I'll take what we can get... WCJ might be the Cole replacement, better version that can actually shoot

If Black is not Anthony's full-time replacement next year, I might shave your head out of frustration!
The threat stands!

Black can be kcp's replacement

Hopefully we agree that Caldwell-Pope AND Anthony with the two FRPs will lead to a guard and wing upgrade. And that that would be a positive outcome.