2025 NBA Draft Thread

[FarBeyondDriven]

Another draft is upon us and we're armed with pick #42 in a shallow draft. There are likely to be some decent glue guys still left on the board so thought I'd point out some possibilities. I'm trying to be hopeful which is hard with a roster like ours and not having a first round pick but there have been numerous 2nd round players taken throughout NBA history that have ended up difference makers so maybe it's our turn to hit for once! One of the following will make for a positive addition providing at least some reason for excitement (along with Carter and Keegan's development) for what is assuredly going to be a painful season. If we land one of these guys we should count ourselves lucky.

Jamir Watkins - 6'5" SG/SF 6'11.25" wingspan

he's very reminiscent of Jimmy Butler with similar size/athleticism/skill plus the way he moves, defends and affects the game. He really showed out at the combine. Like Butler his shot isn't consistent (32% from three) and he's an older prospect (24) which is why he may drop. I could see him becoming a Dort/Brooks type player which has a lot of value

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Sion James - 6'4" SG

he's another potential Dort/Brooks type player. Built like a truck and a jack of all trades master of none. Consummate 3 and D (41% from three) Winning teams need guys like this in the back of their rotation. Not flashy but doesn't make mistakes and makes all the right plays.

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Jonathan Pierre - 6'7" SF

late bloomer due to a late growth spurt that took a circuitous route to becoming a draft prospect. Great size, BBIQ and production. Showed out in the pre-draft process and is flying under the radar not even on anyone's mock drafts or Big Boards but he's made several visits to NBA teams including us. Something very smooth about his game. Huge sleeper.

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Ryan Nembhard - 5'11" PG

There's no sugar-coating it, he's tiny and he doesn't have the length or athleticism necessary to make you forget about it. But he's scrappy, can really run an offense, has active hands and is a 40% 3pt shooter. He had a great combine displaying his true PG skills. We just saw how a similar guy like TJ McConnell performed in the Finals so it's possible to get contributions from small guards. His older brother actually plays on the Pacers too. He'd be very easy to root for and I'm ngl he's who I think we'll be picking

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Dink Pate - 6'6" G/F

Was a 17 y/o playing with men and holding his own in the G-League Ignite alongside Holland and Buzelis a couple of seasons ago. Played out of position (off-ball) this season and prospect status stalled. He has PG skillset with drive and kicks and at that position offers a nice size/athleticism advantage. Shooting consistency needs work. Flashes on defense so he's a potential plus defender. For a team that feels it doesn't currently have a PG on the roster he makes sense.

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Yanic Konan Niederhauser - 6'11" center with 7'3" wingspan and 9'3" reach

Gafford 2.0. Typical, useful rim-running center that could allow us to play two-big lineups when the situation calls for it. We've needed a player like this since we acquired Sabonis. It'd be nice i he could help space the floor but alas, if he could do that he'd be a lottery pick.

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[City of Trees]

I live in Oklahoma and I like Jeremiah Fears. He will be a good player.

[codydaze]

Not surprised we aren't doing anything but, man, Jakucionis at 20 would have been awesome.

[codydaze]

Well hey, we made a move! We just love the old prospects don't we, lol, but I do like Nique Clifford. Think he can be a solid role player.

[LightTheBeam]

Pg - nobody
Sg - lavine, demar, monk, keon, Carter, Clifford, davis
Sf - Keegan
Pf - nobody
C - sabonis, jval, Isaac jones

Can we trade monk, Carter and Demar asap?

[City of Trees]

Using the Spurs 27' (1-16 protected) pick was a good move. I like it.

[Silver Man]

Move seems fine enough with Clifford. Nique improved every year at CU/CSU but the roster remains as uninspiring as usual

[codydaze]

Would love to get Rasheer Fleming in the second round tomorrow but he's likely going 31-35. Dropping to 42 would be a huge steal.

Fleming, Markovic and Thiero are top three choices for tomorrow (in that order) if they're available at our pick.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I typed a whole lot of words thinking it was likely going to be a couple of 2nd rounders. Now that I know it's likely to be mid-round first I'm less thrilled about the pick because he's yet another older prospect that plays a position we're very deep in. Listen, I like the player. If we were a glue guy away from contention he'd make a whole lot of sense. But we aren't and we passed on huge upside guys or guys we could have taken to make trading Sabonis or DeRozan more palatable. I'm sure some beat writer is salivating over this move now to gain access to Perry and then in a few years will blame Vivek for it when it amounts to nothing lmao.

[BoogieTime]

solid, but unspectacular first stuff from Perry.

[City of Trees]

Kings need some size. I like the idea of adding 18 year old 7'4" kid from Australia, Rocco Zikarsy.

[LightTheBeam]

Flemming
15-9 with 39% from 3
1.5 blocks
1.5 steals
6'9 with a massive 7'5 wingspan

A snippet from the ringer - He’s a strong, two-footed leaper who happens to hit 39 percent of his 3s at an attempt rate that would have been deemed excessive not 10 years ago. Fleming is a defense-oriented stretch 4, a term hardly used anymore.

If there is a guy you take a swing on next to Sabonis, this is absolutely the guy. Could have some Naz Reid in him.

I'd offer 42 + Charlotte 2nd next year + Kings 2nd if necessary. This is the archetype we've been begging the team to find, even if he never pans out its worth a swing.

[City of Trees]

Kings can easily move up if they want to

[City of Trees]

I like seeing the 2nd round kids getting their 15 seconds on TV.

[hoopsfan777]

Trade y'all Micah Peavy for Maxime Raynaud.

[codydaze]

Didn't expect us to go with a big but I like Maxime Raynaud. Gives me big Santi Aldama vibes.

[codydaze]

I think Clifford and Raynaud are good enough to be rotation guys right away.

[LightTheBeam]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Am I crazy for wanting to trade jval? Id rather roll with maxime and Isaac Jones as the backup centers day 1.

Jval added to my demar/lavine must trade list lol

[OGSactownballer]

I think Clifford and Raynaud are good enough to be rotation guys right away.

Also mature enough to be.

And that is the point here. There are moves coming to unload the old and overpaid.

[FarBeyondDriven]

just rating the players and value of the picks I think Perry knocked it out of the park. Of course, much of that is owed to the fact that Raynaud fell but still, he stopped the fall. If we were in the middle of a rebuild and had already landed a franchise type talent and had these picks I'd be over the moon. I'm still happy. But I kinda wish we'd get rid of everyone and just start the kids and embrace the tank at this point. Our floor is raised but only enough to keep us late lottery or middle teens which is the worst place to be when you have a bunch of high priced vets.