2025 NBA Draft (2)

[Zumramania]

What are the contract stipulations, can Embiid play like 20 games per season until the end of the contract and collect the cash? Or will he be forced to retire? They signed the third biggest contract in NBA history with a basically disabled player, genious move.

[Negrodamus]

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Hope this guy didn't make draft decisions for us during that time.

[Iverson Armband]

Former RealGM great Derek Bodner has Tre #3 on his big board. Smart man.

Take that, Leon!

[Stanford]

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Hope this guy didn't make draft decisions for us during that time.

I don't like this one bit!

[Iverson Armband]

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Hope this guy didn't make draft decisions for us during that time.

Oh no

[Black Mage]

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Hope this guy didn't make draft decisions for us during that time.

I don't like this one bit!

Shouldn't be allowed until after the draft b/c that could irrevocably harm the Sixers if he "accidentally" leaks intel or even subconsciously takes actions based on what he learned with us.

[M2J]

I guess I conflated "play big" with physicality. I suppose he can be a 6'9 202lb "big".

I assumed he meant PF but I do look at them as wings unless you actually go double big. But Tatum at 6’8 220 plays the 4 majority of the time for Boston. The Horford Porzingis double big lineup was more so used for specific matchups. Although Porzingis not being available may be another reason why it wasn’t

In a couple years Ace will be up to a chiseled 220 lbs and will be playing a lot of PF. Added bulk and strength will help him get to the rim more often.

https://youtu.be/k8CAlK-y7mc


Fact of the matter is even at his floor his archetype and style is one of the most coveted in the league. I personally think his day 1 comparison is closer to Rashard Lewis that's due to his lack of a dribble package (which I think he's further along with than a young Lewis was). Lewis was a two-time All-Star that had a couple of really good playoff runs including the '09 finals run with the Magic and played on some good defenses. Though he's in a different situation MPJ very much favors Lewis as well with less responsibility and could be a 21-23ppg scorer as a true 2nd or 3rd option. Not only that. Denver needed more shooting. If they could clone one player on their entire roster and put it in the starting lineup, it would probably be 2 of him Murray/MPJ x2/Gordon/Jokic. Neither of them in my opinion have the overall athleticism of Ace.

Porter lost lots of athleticism with all of his surgeries. As an individual defender during the season he still held his opponents to 24.6% in isolation (one of the best in the entire NBA). Porter sometimes gets lost and help defense though. Ace again held his opponents under 31% on jump shots.... About 40% at the rim.

Let's say you think his bottom is Jabari who is only a 3rd year player BTW. Jabari is maybe the 5th option on that team fill of top 5 draft picks that fell into Penguin at 16th pick. Jabari was projected to hopefully be better shooter than he has actually been from 3... Still one of their best shooters and is a better mid range player that can't play from mid range due to Sengun. They basically play the same position and many feel he plays his best as a 5.... He put up 30 on Philly a few months ago as a 5 much of the game due to Sengun foul trouble and helped lead them back from down 25. But my main reason for bringing him up is that universally outside of the rockets fan base and definitely inside the rockets fan base he is seen as a keeper and damn near untouchable due to his defense around the rim helping Sengun and offensive ability to play next to him. If his role were to change or he becomes more efficient shooting, he'd be a special NBA player

Point here is that even if they all project to be role players. Between Tre, VJ and Ace.... Ace is still a more valuable position piece with the higher ceiling for a winning team. If Ace pans out to be what he thinks he will be.... And improves his ball handling and passing ability enough to build an offense around him the way like a Carmelo and George did.... He's elite. As best case scenario options go only Tre and ace have actual championship level first option ceilings.... Cooper's going to be a star but I don't see him being an offensive number one option for a title team... Maybe at best Anthony Davis which comes close... But I feel is an elite #2

[Iverson Armband]

You have to imagine the pick is already pretty much in at this point if they’re staying at 3, right?

[Negrodamus]

You have to imagine the pick is already pretty much in at this point if they’re staying at 3, right?

Probably, but I imagine Morey will want to trade down.

[Black Mage]

Former RealGM great Derek Bodner has Tre #3 on his big board. Smart man.

Take that, Leon!

It's not a surprise. Derek has been irrational this entire draft period in his views. First stating he wanted to straddle a win now approach with building for future while admitting there is no win now if Joel's not ready and he doesn't know if Joel will be ready. To wanting to trade back b/c he hates the options at 3 but likes them better if drafting at 5 or 6 (um it's the same options Derek, just less to choose from b/c you let someone else with some balls make the tough call). To stating the team needs two-way talent and that offense only guards get played off the court in the playoffs and then saying Tre's his man.

[Negrodamus]

I'd say Tre is less crafty with the ball going to the rim than Kon Knueppel is which is saying something.

[Iverson Armband]

Former RealGM great Derek Bodner has Tre #3 on his big board. Smart man.

Take that, Leon!

It's not a surprise. Derek has been irrational this entire draft period in his views. First stating he wanted to straddle a win now approach with building for future while admitting there is no win now if Joel's not ready and he doesn't know if Joel will be ready. To wanting to trade back b/c he hates the options at 3 but likes them better if drafting at 5 or 6 (um it's the same options Derek, just less to choose from b/c you let someone else with some balls make the tough call). To stating the team needs two-way talent and that offense only guards get played off the court in the playoffs and then saying Tre's his man.

I think he’s done his homework over these last 3 weeks and has come to the proper conclusion. Let’s not overthink this.

[Stanford]

I'd say Tre is less crafty with the ball going to the rim than Kon Knueppel is which is saying something.

And they're all less crafty than Jared, who will be our next all-star.

[Jailblazers7]

If we draft Tre, be prepared to be furious with Nick Nurse who will limit his minutes until he learns to play a little defense.

[Negrodamus]

I'd say Tre is less crafty with the ball going to the rim than Kon Knueppel is which is saying something.

And they're all less craft than Jared, who will be our next all-star.

The ones we're talking about as realistic options: Ace, VJ, Tre, Kon... Yep, McCain was craftier for sure.

[Iverson Armband]

I'd say Tre is less crafty with the ball going to the rim than Kon Knueppel is which is saying something.

I think his year at Texas was just a weird year for him in that aspect. Watching him in HS he was better/more crafty at the rim. He showed flashes at Texas but I agree it wasn’t consistent enough.

[Negrodamus]

One of my hot takes is that one of these foreign guys is going to be better than the guys discussed at three:

Noa Essengue
Noah Penda
Ben Saraf
Hugo Gonzalez
Alex Toohey

They all have actual size to them (Saraf is supposed to be the same size as Kasparas, he looks much bigger on the court). It just feels like those guys have goofy stats because they play on weird team structures and it's hard to get a real grasp of their transition to the NBA. Probably why all of them are flocking to the NCAA since it's an easier evaluation for NBA teams.

[Negrodamus]

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[LeonJordanJr24]

Ace can and will cook Essengue. Ace would avg 25 oversees.

[Stanford]

Rutgers would have been above .500 with Harper and Essengue.