2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[GoSixersBro]

Lowkey loving the forum now back in our lotto team status. 2014-2017 were fun times. 2018 and on were just stressful.

[Da Doctor]

Lowkey loving the forum now back in our lotto team status. 2014-2017 were fun times. 2018 and on were just stressful.

Only true oldheads remember the Dante Exum hype.

[Iverson Armband]

ideally tho you see if the Spurs want to trade down perhaps for the Clippers pick?

Would you do it for Harper?

I think Morey would absolutely do that.

[stormi]

I think Kon Kneuppel might be my preferred pick but I’d want to test his ability to defend in private workouts. I think him and McCain would be an extremely dynamic pair of high IQ movement shooters that would have elite chemistry.

I like Edgecombe too and I think he’d pair really well with Maxey. The combo of shooting, athleticism, and point of attack defense between those two & Grimes is very intriguing. I worry about his health with the way he elevates in traffic without a plan sometimes tho.

This is a very interesting pick imo because the selection could hint at who Morey sees as the long-term lead guard - Maxey or McCain. I hate to pit those two against each other but it will be the inevitable convo for the next year.

I have to trust my eyes, Knueppel / Edgecombe / CMB are the three that I've grown more fond of as the season progressed.

If we're betting on tools and """upside""" it's Maluach over Bailey for me, but this process and the next month+ should be really fun.

If I put less weight on upside and focus more on fit, CMB would be my pick.

He’s a guy who complements our guards well, playing a Ben Simmons type role with Maxey, McCain, and Grimes setting inverted screens to open driving lanes for him. He can exploit smaller defenders on switches, functioning like a Siakam in a backcourt driven offense. Defensively, his presence is felt, reminding me of guys like Paul Reed, Tari Eason, or the Thompson twins.

Maxey
Grimes
Paul George
CMB
Embiid

That’s a well-rounded team that can compete in the playoffs at a high level

That's a really strong team and I love the balance.

The league has already showcased tonight that we're one of the franchises that are in the favorable side of balance so I'd just keep building organically.

It's no longer the time to be burning draft capital back and forth for upside swings especially with a core as fragile as ours.

LAC unprotected '28 and the '29 swap should be essentially untouchable.

[76ciology]

ideally tho you see if the Spurs want to trade down perhaps for the Clippers pick?

Would you do it for Harper?

I wouldn’t trade up for Harper, he doesn’t offer much added value given our guard depth, and I don’t see him as someone worth sacrificing assets for.

If you run a simulation 10 times, I think in 4 or 5 outcomes, Maluach, Tre Johnson, or Kasparas ends up just as good or even better than Harper four to five years down the line.

Take Kasparas, for example, his scoring and assist numbers are already comparable to Harper’s. His stock only dropped because of the injury and turnover issues, both of which are fixable. It’s just that Harper has less questions or risks than Kasparas where you are banking that its really the injuries that lead to his dip in numbers. Consider that Kasparas was right there at the mix for top 3 for most of the early part of the season prior to his injury.

[sixers hoops]

I think Morey will go after Zion. Not sure if George or Embiid will be the contract going out, though.

If it's Embiid, you know his knee is cooked.

I can’t see NO taking Embiid’s contract. $50+ million for four more years and there is no chance he can pass a physical. He has no cushion in his knees and is getting another “trim” to his meniscus. I don’t think they take on either contract. Without a 3rd team, I don’t know if a deal would be possible. PG has three years at over $50+, is 35, and is coming off a horrible season.

Those are two of the worst contracts in the league. It would be tough to find a team to take one of them without being handsomely compensated.

I feel like #3 is that compensation, but I agree it may need to be a 3-team trade.

For the record, I'm torn if I'd want this. Part of me just wants to start fresh with M&M, Grimes, and the pick. My struggle is that I don't believe in Ace or VJ becoming a star-level player.

#3 is the compensation for Zion. Taking on four years, $225 million for a guy who won’t pass a physical would probably take a top five pick. There are players who can play nearly entire seasons who have their physicals flagged. Embiid has barely played in two years and has a supermax extension about to kick in this summer. He is signed through 2029. Keep in mind - he was 15 months post-surgery, played 25 games or so, and just had the surgery again. If Morey can find someone foolish enough to take that contract without compensation, it would be a miracle.

[TYO23]

Ace or VJ. Don’t complicate it

[sixers hoops]

ideally tho you see if the Spurs want to trade down perhaps for the Clippers pick?

Would you do it for Harper?

I think Morey would absolutely do that.

I don’t watch college basketball and have only seen Harper in YouTube videos, but this seems like the Fultz trade all over again. If the Spurs want to trade back, we are going to get shafted. I would rather stay put.

[76ciology]

I have to trust my eyes, Knueppel / Edgecombe / CMB are the three that I've grown more fond of as the season progressed.

If we're betting on tools and """upside""" it's Maluach over Bailey for me, but this process and the next month+ should be really fun.

If I put less weight on upside and focus more on fit, CMB would be my pick.

He’s a guy who complements our guards well, playing a Ben Simmons type role with Maxey, McCain, and Grimes setting inverted screens to open driving lanes for him. He can exploit smaller defenders on switches, functioning like a Siakam in a backcourt driven offense. Defensively, his presence is felt, reminding me of guys like Paul Reed, Tari Eason, or the Thompson twins.

Maxey
Grimes
Paul George
CMB
Embiid

That’s a well-rounded team that can compete in the playoffs at a high level

That's a really strong team and I love the balance.

The league has already showcased tonight that we're one of the franchises that are in the favorable side of balance so I'd just keep building organically.

It's no longer the time to be burning draft capital back and forth for upside swings especially with a core as fragile as ours.

LAC unprotected '28 and the '29 swap should be essentially untouchable.

I see it as a move similar to what the Celtics did when they drafted Marcus Smart in 2014, stacking high-end role players and building a strong foundation while waiting for the right star to come along with our 2028 and 2029 picks in play, this is a more measured (but slower) approach lower risk, higher probability of success.

The alternative is we go for boom or bust players like what the Warriors did when they drafted Whiteside and Kuminga.

[Mik317]

ideally tho you see if the Spurs want to trade down perhaps for the Clippers pick?

Would you do it for Harper?

yeah

but logically probably shouldn't but yeah

[Covi_Marsh]

Although Ace Bailey struggles creating I see a Michael Porter Jr role offensively early for him. But defensively he gives us rebounding and weak side shot blocking that we’ve been looking for for years.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

It's simple..You take Bailey, VJ, Trey, or Edgecombe.
Bailey has the highest upside. At the worst he's Jabari Smith at best he's Kevin Durant.

[JustBuzzin]

Hornets fan here which way y'all leaning Ace/VJ/Tre?

[youngcrev]

If I put less weight on upside and focus more on fit, CMB would be my pick.

He’s a guy who complements our guards well, playing a Ben Simmons type role with Maxey, McCain, and Grimes setting inverted screens to open driving lanes for him. He can exploit smaller defenders on switches, functioning like a Siakam in a backcourt driven offense. Defensively, his presence is felt, reminding me of guys like Paul Reed, Tari Eason, or the Thompson twins.

Maxey
Grimes
Paul George
CMB
Embiid

That’s a well-rounded team that can compete in the playoffs at a high level

That's a really strong team and I love the balance.

The league has already showcased tonight that we're one of the franchises that are in the favorable side of balance so I'd just keep building organically.

It's no longer the time to be burning draft capital back and forth for upside swings especially with a core as fragile as ours.

LAC unprotected '28 and the '29 swap should be essentially untouchable.

I see it as a move similar to what the Celtics did when they drafted Marcus Smart in 2014, stacking high-end role players and building a strong foundation while waiting for the right star to come along with our 2028 and 2029 picks in play, this is a more measured (but slower) approach lower risk, higher probability of success.

The alternative is we go for boom or bust players like what the Warriors did when they drafted Whiteside and Kuminga.

The fault I see in that line of thinking is that to an extent, the role player types are also boom or bust, just with less upside and less room for error.

[GutUNC]

Don't overthink this. Ace Bailey is the guy!

---Daryl Morey on the phone with GMs, every day between now and the draft

[youngcrev]

Hornets fan here which way y'all leaning Ace/VJ/Tre?

Probably Ace. Not a big believer in any them, but he's probably the biggest upside play and the best fit. Kinda hoping for a trade of some sort (move back and pick up an asset?)

[JustBuzzin]

Hornets fan here which way y'all leaning Ace/VJ/Tre?

Probably Ace. Not a big believer in any them, but he's probably the biggest upside play and the best fit. Kinda hoping for a trade of some sort (move back and pick up an asset?)

Makes sense. I think I seen Paul George say he thinks Ace has a higher upside than Cooper Flagg on his podcast.

[ProcessDoctor]

Hornets fan here which way y'all leaning Ace/VJ/Tre?

I think if we stay at #3, Morey will pick Edgecombe. Nothing beyond the highlights say Ace will be an All-Star.

[Negrodamus]

I'm pretty much anything but Ace. I really don't want to wait for him to figure it out at the NBA level. Give me the guy with natural ballhandling and instincts (Fears, Tre, Queen, Kasparas). I'd also like someone who has made a commitment to living up to their hype (Queen, Fears, Kon).

The guy who shows up to Rutgers, expects to shoot x amount, and has piss poor analytics for a top 5 pick is just of zero interest to me.

[76ciology]

That's a really strong team and I love the balance.

The league has already showcased tonight that we're one of the franchises that are in the favorable side of balance so I'd just keep building organically.

It's no longer the time to be burning draft capital back and forth for upside swings especially with a core as fragile as ours.

LAC unprotected '28 and the '29 swap should be essentially untouchable.

I see it as a move similar to what the Celtics did when they drafted Marcus Smart in 2014, stacking high-end role players and building a strong foundation while waiting for the right star to come along with our 2028 and 2029 picks in play, this is a more measured (but slower) approach lower risk, higher probability of success.

The alternative is we go for boom or bust players like what the Warriors did when they drafted Whiteside and Kuminga.

The fault I see in that line of thinking is that to an extent, the role player types are also boom or bust, just with less upside and less room for error.

Yes, but there’s a lot less risk. Take Maluach, he’s the biggest boom or bust prospect in the class. You’re betting on his shooting and offensive wing skills developing. Or Ace making leap with his shooting touch and basketball IQ.

With CMB, the only real concern is whether he’s ultimately too small to make a serious impact in the NBA.But I’m not expecting him to be a 20 PPG scorer or anything close to a star. He just needs to keep playing the way he did in college, and he’ll have a clear role.

It’s just that CMB is not the type player you draft with a top 3 pick. He’s the type you draft late lotto to mid first.