2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Negrodamus]

Sorry but how is a prospect with Wiggins comparison being considered as a top 5 pick?

Because if he develops his passing tool, he's got Hall of Fame upside. It's almost always worth the gamble when it comes to guys with this kind of size/athleticism/scoring ability.

If he develops his passing, he can be McGrady / Grant Hill/ Paul George.

If he doesn't, he'll be Wiggins. Even Wiggins put up insane numbers in his career and was a key ancillary piece for a championship team.

You can say the same thing with Tre Johnson, while Johnson is likely to reach that upside and is already more advanced as a scorer.

I'll give you this: I was harder on Tre than I should have been initially.

I actually think if we got the third pick, Morey would pick him. I just hope he's at least 6'5 W/O shoes.

[Negrodamus]

… but man he stinks at defense. Like zero awareness or effort.

[Kobblehead]

Carter Bryant is a guy that I'm envisioning in a 5 man unit against Boston in a playoff series.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/carter-bryant

Just 19 years old. Listed at 6'8" 225 with a great combination of strength and athleticism. Has elite defensive numbers and a .500+ 3PA rate. Looking like a three and d unit. And there's a bit of passing ability present, as well.

[Negrodamus]

A reason to never go to Arizona. Dude is only avg 18 mpg? Should be at least 25mpg in conference play.

[Kobblehead]

I caught a couple Arizona games this year. It's beyond obvious that Carter Bryant and KJ Lewis are the best and most impactful players on the roster and neither player start. It's shades of Sheppard and Dillingham last year at Kentucky.

[Kobblehead]

Negro, I think Miles Byrd and Carter Bryant share some similarities, albeit at different postitions. Both project to be elite defensively and both have a quick trigger from three at over .500 3PA rate. And both are better passers than they get credit for.

I slightly disagree with 76iology's belief that we should be pairing Maxey with a big PG. I think we should be playing essentially all Fs with he and Embiid.

C - Embiid
F - Bryant
F - George
F - Byrd
G - Maxey

[76ciology]

I slightly disagree with 76iology's belief that we should be pairing Maxey with a big PG. I think we should be playing essentially all Fs with he and Embiid.

C - Embiid
F - Bryant
F - George
F - Byrd
G - Maxey

It depends on the type of forward. Ideally, the guard has guard skills but defends like a forward—similar to Jrue Holiday or Derrick White. But more importantly, he should have playmaking ability to take some of the burden off Embiid, especially since Maxey isn’t a natural playmaker.

[Negrodamus]

Negro, I think Miles Byrd and Carter Bryant share some similarities, albeit at different postitions. Both project to be elite defensively and both have a quick trigger from three at over .500 3PA rate. And both are better passers than they get credit for.

I slightly disagree with 76iology's belief that we should be pairing Maxey with a big PG. I think we should be playing essentially all Fs with he and Embiid.

C - Embiid
F - Bryant
F - George
F - Byrd
G - Maxey

Yea, I'm not sure a PG is necessarily needed anymore since Maxey has shown he can basically play that role. I do think there needs to be a guy who does the connective passes to our outside shooters which is why Flagg (obviously) and Queen interest me. I think that's one of the biggest missing pieces on this offense since Maxey isn't really a high level passer and Embiid is mediocre to bad passer.

But yea, Byrd intrigues since he's basically the PG in SDSU while playing like a poor man's Thybulle on defense.

I need to watch more of Carter Bryant. Highlight tapes look great and his percentages are intriguing, but looking at his splits show him struggling when given more time this month (7G, 24mpg, 7ppg, 37% FG, 29% 3FG). If he can't have a +10ppg March, then he might need to return to school (or better yet transfer). Then again, Ryan Dunn fit this archetype and he went first round this past year. There's reason to believe Bryant will be a better shooter than Dunn, so I can see the argument of staying in.

[Negrodamus]

Colorado State has won 8 out of their last 10.

Last night, Nique Clifford had 14 points, 14 rebounds (!), and 5 assists.

This guy is a culture-changer on the wing.

Watching more of him, he's underrated for sure. The rebounding is what really brings it home too. Just like McCain was a very good rebounder for his size, that type of effort translates to the NBA; particularly for sub 6'7 guys.

[Negrodamus]

Watch on YouTube

Like, this dude is pretty cold blooded. Wish he was either taller or more athletic.

[76ciology]

Isn’t it a bit underwhelming if Cooper Flagg’s upside is just Jalen Johnson? He’s not a defensive anchor, nor someone you can build an offense around.

That said, he’s still a prospect you can’t pass up at No. 1. I’d put him in the same tier as Chet Holmgren when he was coming into the draft.

[Negrodamus]

Isn’t it a bit underwhelming if Cooper Flagg’s upside is just Jalen Johnson? He’s not a defensive anchor, nor someone you can build an offense around.

That said, he’s still a prospect you can’t pass up at No. 1. I’d put him in the same tier as Chet Holmgren when he was coming into the draft.

Not really. I mean, Jalen Johnson was 19, 10, 5 this year and I think he's just getting started. I think Cooper is a better shooter, so I think he'll be able to have better scoring numbers while hitting the 10 and 5 pretty easily. A plus defender putting up elite offensive numbers is what you hope for from a #1 pick, particularly one that's 6'9 with guard skills. He's the most sure fire top prospect I've seen in a draft since Wemby. Usually if given the option of "#1 pick" or "the field" having the top prospect, I've usually gone the field. But Cooper feels like the All NBA guy here.

[Negrodamus]

Speaking of Jalen Johnson, his brother Kobe Johnson will be in this draft and he's one of the better perimeter defenders in college basketball.

[Negrodamus]

Jakucionis is really on a bad stretch recently.

[stormi]

Yea, Miles Byrd needs to be a Sixer yesterday.

Another benefit of getting to the five spot other than improving our Flagg/Harper odds is that our SRP also moves up a spot. This draft is 40 deep with legitimate NBA players. Very good chance at adding two more core players to the current next-gen crop.

Also RE: Kasparas - I've seen him falling down boards as well.

Athleticism concerns, doesn’t dunk despite his size, minimal stocks/orebs, turnover stuff etc

He's still my third fav player in the class as of today but he's not all that close to Harper.

[Arsenal]

Colorado State has won 8 out of their last 10.

Last night, Nique Clifford had 14 points, 14 rebounds (!), and 5 assists.

This guy is a culture-changer on the wing.

Watching more of him, he's underrated for sure. The rebounding is what really brings it home too. Just like McCain was a very good rebounder for his size, that type of effort translates to the NBA; particularly for sub 6'7 guys.

Similar to Josh Hart?

[Kobblehead]

That's definitey his comp. Rebounds like a PF but it probably only about 6'5" or so. Can shoot and pass, as well. Nique is just flatout a covetable dude for your rotation.

[Kobblehead]

Isn’t it a bit underwhelming if Cooper Flagg’s upside is just Jalen Johnson? He’s not a defensive anchor, nor someone you can build an offense around.

That said, he’s still a prospect you can’t pass up at No. 1. I’d put him in the same tier as Chet Holmgren when he was coming into the draft.

Aren't you a big Franz Wagner fan? I think Flagg is a very similar player, just a superior version.

[Negrodamus]

Couldn't believe the end to that Mich St - Maryland game.

[76ciology]

Isn’t it a bit underwhelming if Cooper Flagg’s upside is just Jalen Johnson? He’s not a defensive anchor, nor someone you can build an offense around.

That said, he’s still a prospect you can’t pass up at No. 1. I’d put him in the same tier as Chet Holmgren when he was coming into the draft.

Aren't you a big Franz Wagner fan? I think Flagg is a very similar player, just a superior version.

Yeah, what made me like Franz back then was he showed his ability to run an offense. He was stealthy good PnR ball handler. And with Cooper we’re talking about a generational talent on the level of LeBron or Wemby. Or am I wrong to assume that he’s being projected to be at that level.

Don’t get me wrong—I think he’ll be very good, somewhere between Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren, and Anthony Davis. He has a high basketball IQ and projects as a much better shooter, which is already an All-NBA ceiling.

That said, I’m not ruling anything out. He’s still young and has all the tools to become a truly great player.