2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Arsenal]

Trading back with Washington for their #6 and #18.

6- Queen
18- Byrd (I think he’s moved into the top 20)

Gives us a hedge for Embiid plus depth who will complement our shooters well. Kind of a poor man’s Denver when he’s running the offense. Also will be one of the only people on this team that goes after rebounds.

Also Byrd provides us insane defense. Will be a day one contributor as defensive guard off the bench. Gives flexibility to move on from Thybulle.

Thybulle been gone over a year big dog!

[Negrodamus]

Trading back with Washington for their #6 and #18.

6- Queen
18- Byrd (I think he’s moved into the top 20)

Gives us a hedge for Embiid plus depth who will complement our shooters well. Kind of a poor man’s Denver when he’s running the offense. Also will be one of the only people on this team that goes after rebounds.

Also Byrd provides us insane defense. Will be a day one contributor as defensive guard off the bench. Gives flexibility to move on from Thybulle.

Thybulle been gone over a year big dog!

Its been tough for me to let go... (I meant Oubre)

[M2J]

Watch on YouTube

Actually discussing what he wants to improve on.


I think he definitely needs to improve on handling of course, but not to look like George but maybe more like siakam who was developed into an all star by Nurse. I want to see him leading the bench unit handling the ball from the Joel spot in this offense. Getting dribble handoffs to Maxey or George or Jared and reading that as a playmaker and when to drive. He's will get to the rim plenty in the NBA with those kinda guys spacing for him rather than him being the spacer only. He's already proven he can be an effective off ball player with a dominant on ball guy (that's not good off ball). I'm not worried about fit, but he's literally the easiest fit in this draft, even Charlotte with Brandon Miller knows he can fit in right next to him. The guy has a 7'1 wingspan and plays big on both sides. Siakam is just another example of who he can be, that hits home thanks to Nurse. Since Nurse doesn't adjust that well, you just know that's how he'll develop him... That's even how he uses George in non Joel minutes getting game assists on DHO to Maxey. It plays to Maxey, George, and McCain strengths off ball... Where they are all best.

Also, to repeat... I hate college basketball because of the spacing or lack of it ..... Which is also in the rules without 3 second violations. Both him and Flagg are going to get to the rim a lot easier in the NBA

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

Also, to repeat... I hate college basketball because of the spacing or lack of it ..... Which is also in the rules without 3 second violations. Both him and Flagg are going to get to the rim a lot easier in the NBA

He’s not struggling to get to the rim because of poor spacing, it’s because he can only drive strongly to his right and relies on a fadeaway jumper as his main counter.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bJcUtOCSwzTqqyZgysWpbQ[/x]

Guys his size typically don’t have the quickness to consistently blow by defenders, that’s why many wings, even elite ones like KD or Tatum, often settle for mid-range jumpers.

In Bailey’s case, I don’t see him blowing past someone like Quentin Grimes. If Grimes were guarding him, he’d likely be content forcing Bailey into contested jumpers. I’d also expect defenders to shade him left and take away his right hand, similar to how teams defend Jaylen Brown.

[Black Mage]

There is a month and a half until the draft and this thread is insane. If this doesn't scream "we are SO f***king back!!", I don't know what other evidence is needed.

Just imagine what we'll be like by 2028 with the unprotected Clips pick and Joel and PG contracts close to over.

[Negrodamus]

I have #3 pick fatigue.

Anyone narrowed down targets for the 35th pick?

Any chance we could package the 35th and future owed 2nd picks to move up a bit in the draft?

Cedric Coward 6’6”, WS 7’0” (+6) 15.2 PPG 39% 3PT
Mock board range 22–54 (most 35–42)
Elite 3-and-D wing, Morey archetype
Chance Morey targets him: High
He's performing well in the combine.


Yaxel Lendeborg 6’9” / 7’4” (+7) 15-10-4-1.5-1.5
Mock board range 22–35 (most 27–31)
Versatile PF, shooting concern
Chance at 35: Low (likely gone by 35th)


Alex Toohey 6’7” / 6’11” (+4) 14.0 PPG, 36% 3PT
Mock board range 33–43 (most 36–40)

Drake Powell feels like a strong likelihood to be a Morey guy in the second. Had a huge wingspan, was a blue chip recruit. His shooting numbers were OK; his FT was pretty bad.

[eyeatoma]

Watch on YouTube

Also, to repeat... I hate college basketball because of the spacing or lack of it ..... Which is also in the rules without 3 second violations. Both him and Flagg are going to get to the rim a lot easier in the NBA

He’s not struggling to get to the rim because of poor spacing, it’s because he can only drive strongly to his right and relies on a fadeaway jumper as his main counter.

Nope he drove left enough in the most recent clip shared on here. He drove left plenty. He can work on it, but its not Jalen Brown level, and he's an allstar.

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

Also, to repeat... I hate college basketball because of the spacing or lack of it ..... Which is also in the rules without 3 second violations. Both him and Flagg are going to get to the rim a lot easier in the NBA

He’s not struggling to get to the rim because of poor spacing, it’s because he can only drive strongly to his right and relies on a fadeaway jumper as his main counter.

Nope he drove left enough in the most recent clip shared on here. He drove left plenty. He can work on it, but its not Jalen Brown level, and he's an allstar.

I’m not saying he never drives left but he overwhelmingly favors driving right. His left hand is noticeably weaker, and his only real counter is a turnaround jumper.

[Negrodamus]

Whoever we get, they should be shipped straight to this facility all offseason:

Read on Twitter

Every option other than Kon is either a toothpick or too heavy.

[MVP1992]

I have #3 pick fatigue.

Anyone narrowed down targets for the 35th pick?

Drake Powell feels like a strong likelihood to be a Morey guy in the second. Had a huge wingspan, was a blue chip recruit. His shooting numbers were OK; his FT was pretty bad.

Those long arms stand out. Is his shot release of concern? Too slow? Seems to have to wind his arms up into the shot.
He loves to double clutch his shots in the lane. Almost habitually.
Smartly uses the backboard for close midrange shots to good effect.

[76ciology]

If a large portion of your shot diet is going to be mid-range, you need to be an elite shooter, someone on the level of SGA or Jokic. Based on Bailey’s shooting numbers, including a 69% free throw% (Tatum shot 84%), he doesn’t project as an advanced or reliable on-ball shooter. He’s more of a basic shooter who’s most effective on catch-and-shoot opportunities.

I really like the Jaylen Brown comparison for Bailey as a prospect, especially when looking at their numbers. But as I’ve said, Brown is on a completely different level when it comes to maturity and basketball IQ.

A better comparison is maybe Kevin Knox without the greenlight.

lets get this thread to 100 pages

[Black Mage]

Trading back with Washington for their #6 and #18.

6- Queen
18- Byrd (I think he’s moved into the top 20)

Gives us a hedge for Embiid plus depth who will complement our shooters well. Kind of a poor man’s Denver when he’s running the offense. Also will be one of the only people on this team that goes after rebounds.

Also Byrd provides us insane defense. Will be a day one contributor as defensive guard off the bench. Gives flexibility to move on from Thybulle.

Thybulle been gone over a year big dog!

Well; Queen kinda feels like Okafor 2.0; so maybe he's reliving those golden years?

[M2J]

He’s not struggling to get to the rim because of poor spacing, it’s because he can only drive strongly to his right and relies on a fadeaway jumper as his main counter.

Nope he drove left enough in the most recent clip shared on here. He drove left plenty. He can work on it, but its not Jalen Brown level, and he's an allstar.

I’m not saying he never drives left but he overwhelmingly favors driving right. His left hand is noticeably weaker, and his only real counter is a turnaround jumper.

You mean the 18 year old who still scored a lot?

There have been 0 negative reports on his work ethic on either end of the floor in terms of working on his game. Pretty much all these guys have talent, the question really is does he have the work ethic to condition his body and work on his game the way he needs to.

I think most people believe that Cooper has that work ethic.. We'll see. But, I still feel Ace is the most high potential player and has an alpha mindset (doesn't mean selfish, because his game doesn't reflect that).

Plus....1. He goes left plenty with a nifty spin move as a counter.
2. The college game itself is clearly a factor on getting to the rim, it is a factor for all players .. It's terrible.
3. One of the questions in Ace hasn't been so much as why he doesn't go to the rim that much, it's that he didn't try enough.... Which has brought up the questions of his decision making to take tough jumpers more than he should. Maybe he was working on his game .. Maybe....I think the team and his role in it plays a part in that.

[76ciology]

Trading back with Washington for their #6 and #18.

6- Queen
18- Byrd (I think he’s moved into the top 20)

Gives us a hedge for Embiid plus depth who will complement our shooters well. Kind of a poor man’s Denver when he’s running the offense. Also will be one of the only people on this team that goes after rebounds.

Also Byrd provides us insane defense. Will be a day one contributor as defensive guard off the bench. Gives flexibility to move on from Thybulle.

Thybulle been gone over a year big dog!

Well; Queen kinda feels like Okafor 2.0; so maybe he's reliving those golden years?

Givony was asked who he thinks has the biggest red flags among the guys in the lottery and he said it’s Queen.

Blame Givony

[76ciology]

Nope he drove left enough in the most recent clip shared on here. He drove left plenty. He can work on it, but its not Jalen Brown level, and he's an allstar.

I’m not saying he never drives left but he overwhelmingly favors driving right. His left hand is noticeably weaker, and his only real counter is a turnaround jumper.

You mean the 18 year old who still scored a lot?

There have been 0 negative reports on his work ethic on either end of the floor in terms of working on his game. Pretty much all these guys have talent, the question really is does he have the work ethic to condition his body and work on his game the way he needs to.

I think most people believe that Cooper has that work ethic.. We'll see. But, I still feel Ace is the most high potential player and has an alpha mindset (doesn't mean selfish, because his game doesn't reflect that).

Plus....1. He goes left plenty with a nifty spin move as a counter.
2. The college game itself is clearly a factor on getting to the rim, it is a factor for all players .. It's terrible.
3. One of the questions in Ace hasn't been so much as why he doesn't go to the rim that much, it's that he didn't try enough.... Which has brought up the questions of his decision making to take tough jumpers more than he should. Maybe he was working on his game .. Maybe....I think the team and his role in it plays a part in that.

These are world-class athletes, we’re not talking about ordinary 18 year olds like the rest of us.

So why is Tre Johnson, who’s only five months older than Bailey, not nearly as raw? Jeremiah Fears is three months younger and already looks far more advanced. Even Maluach, just a month younger, has a handle that’s probably just as good or not far off.

Doesn’t it scare you that he said he “worked a lot” already on those jumpers and yet they aren’t going in?

He doesn’t have a work ethic issue and yet he dribbles like Andre Drummond?

Im buying the “raw” excuse if he just picked up playing basketball a few years ago. But how come you still look “raw” after all the training?

[Black Mage]

Watch on YouTube

Actually discussing what he wants to improve on.


I think he definitely needs to improve on handling of course, but not to look like George but maybe more like siakam who was developed into an all star by Nurse. I want to see him leading the bench unit handling the ball from the Joel spot in this offense. Getting dribble handoffs to Maxey or George or Jared and reading that as a playmaker and when to drive. He's will get to the rim plenty in the NBA with those kinda guys spacing for him rather than him being the spacer only. He's already proven he can be an effective off ball player with a dominant on ball guy (that's not good off ball). I'm not worried about fit, but he's literally the easiest fit in this draft, even Charlotte with Brandon Miller knows he can fit in right next to him. The guy has a 7'1 wingspan and plays big on both sides. Siakam is just another example of who he can be, that hits home thanks to Nurse. Since Nurse doesn't adjust that well, you just know that's how he'll develop him... That's even how he uses George in non Joel minutes getting game assists on DHO to Maxey. It plays to Maxey, George, and McCain strengths off ball... Where they are all best.

Also, to repeat... I hate college basketball because of the spacing or lack of it ..... Which is also in the rules without 3 second violations. Both him and Flagg are going to get to the rim a lot easier in the NBA

I think of the 3, Tre impressed me the most with his answers. He was more thoughtful (at least from clips I've seen) and used fewer cliches. I learned from my Trey Lance days, it tends not to be a good sign of processing power when a player just keeps repeating the same word or phrase across several questions.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

If a large portion of your shot diet is going to be mid-range, you need to be an elite shooter, someone on the level of SGA or Jokic. Based on Bailey’s shooting numbers, including a 69% free throw% (Tatum shot 84%), he doesn’t project as an advanced or reliable on-ball shooter. He’s more of a basic shooter who’s most effective on catch-and-shoot opportunities.

I really like the Jaylen Brown comparison for Bailey as a prospect, especially when looking at their numbers. But as I’ve said, Brown is on a completely different level when it comes to maturity and basketball IQ.

A better comparison is maybe Kevin Knox without the greenlight.

lets get this thread to 100 pages

Kevin Knox? Being a bit harsh on Ace. I'm going to see how the next 30 something days play out before I contribute any more. You did just compare him to Jaylen Brown a minute ago. Kevin Knox - Jaylen Brown...Dude...That's a broad gap.
On that note...I'm stoked about the third overall pick, but a bit uneasy about what these debates will do to the lifers on here. All good tho man.

We...Are...Back!

[Arsenal]

I’m not saying he never drives left but he overwhelmingly favors driving right. His left hand is noticeably weaker, and his only real counter is a turnaround jumper.

You mean the 18 year old who still scored a lot?

There have been 0 negative reports on his work ethic on either end of the floor in terms of working on his game. Pretty much all these guys have talent, the question really is does he have the work ethic to condition his body and work on his game the way he needs to.

I think most people believe that Cooper has that work ethic.. We'll see. But, I still feel Ace is the most high potential player and has an alpha mindset (doesn't mean selfish, because his game doesn't reflect that).

Plus....1. He goes left plenty with a nifty spin move as a counter.
2. The college game itself is clearly a factor on getting to the rim, it is a factor for all players .. It's terrible.
3. One of the questions in Ace hasn't been so much as why he doesn't go to the rim that much, it's that he didn't try enough.... Which has brought up the questions of his decision making to take tough jumpers more than he should. Maybe he was working on his game .. Maybe....I think the team and his role in it plays a part in that.

These are world-class athletes, we’re not talking about ordinary 18 year olds like the rest of us.

So why is Tre Johnson, who’s only five months older than Bailey, not nearly as raw? Jeremiah Fears is three months younger and already looks far more advanced. Even Maluach, just a month younger, has a handle that’s probably just as good or not far off.

Doesn’t it scare you that he said he “worked a lot” already on those jumpers and yet they aren’t going in?

He doesn’t have a work ethic issue and yet he dribbles like Andre Drummond?

Im buying the “raw” excuse if he just picked up playing basketball a few years ago. But how come you still look “raw” after all the training?

What training? Unlike all the other top prospects, Ace went to a public high school instead of a basketball prep factory. Then he was at a terrible Rutgers program surrounded by straight garbage.

He's going to get much better training than ever before once he gets to the NBA.

[Negrodamus]

Thybulle been gone over a year big dog!

Well; Queen kinda feels like Okafor 2.0; so maybe he's reliving those golden years?

Givony was asked who he thinks has the biggest red flags among the guys in the lottery and he said it’s Queen.

Blame Givony

Givony also said he's a superstar if he gets in better shape, so there's that.

[76ciology]

Edgecombe is a good fit for the Hornets. He may not be a star but he’s a high end impact player. Kind of like a Marcus Smart, GP2 or Draymond in terms of role/impact.