2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[Landomar]

The second round has thinned out noticeable after so many players chose to go back to college. There are around 6 guys who I would have been happy to draft at 39 who went back to school. I thought the draft was pretty strong into the early 40s, but now the talent seems to drop off in the mid 30s.

My best sleeper pick who is likely to still be available at 39 is now Javon Small. I'd say he's a slightly worse prospect than Jamal Shead was last season, but he's close enough that I'm interested. Small and Shead seem pretty similar in terms of age at the draft, size, and athleticism. They both had BPMs over 10 as college seniors in their draft years. Small looks like a better shooter/scorer coming into the NBA, and Shead looks better at passing and defense.

We're going to want a 3rd string point guard for next season anyway, and Quickley / Shead / Small would make for a pretty good depth chart.

[DG88]

I'll never understand the Rj hate. Hometown boy, still young, plays hard. If im cutting salary IQ is the first to go.

Also pass on Malauch still. Any of the top 8, Jaku or trade down and try to land 2.

If we can't trade down I take Jaku, Flemming, Traore in that order I think.

Not sure it's RJ hate but he's the most likely player to be traded due to him being eligible for an extension and the team being right at the luxury tax.

Not to mention that nearly half the roster plays the same position as him.

Yes but RJ is still one of our only downhill threats on roster. It's one of our major weaknesses with our halfcourt offense. We don't have a guy would can shift a defense. We'll see with BI, but if we draft a guard who has that capability it would help.

[Psubs]

Just out of curiosity.. would you guys do RJ for Houston’s #10?

100%, immdediately.

How much salary are they sending back? Thing is, I don't think Jock Landale would work because would need to add more salary.

#10 and Dillon Brooks for RJ Barrett and #39? Trade #9 for #13 and #22.

#10 Carter Bryant
#13 Rasheer Fleming
#22 Thomas Sorber/Raynaud/Coward

Barrett can help them more as a secondary creator and let FVV walk.

PG Amen - Holiday - Sheppard
SG Green - Sheppard
SF Barrett - Tari - Whitmore
PF Jabari - Tari
C Sengun - Landale - #39

[RapsFanInOhio]

Just out of curiosity.. would you guys do RJ for Houston’s #10?

Absolutely not.

I have no idea why this board continues to underrate him. There is a small chance that anyone you draft at 10 ever averages 21 points per game in a season. Not that points is the end all be all, but it’s not like RJ is a bad player or a bad contract.

[RapsFanInOhio]

I'll never understand the Rj hate. Hometown boy, still young, plays hard. If im cutting salary IQ is the first to go.

Also pass on Malauch still. Any of the top 8, Jaku or trade down and try to land 2.

If we can't trade down I take Jaku, Flemming, Traore in that order I think.

Not sure it's RJ hate but he's the most likely player to be traded due to him being eligible for an extension and the team being right at the luxury tax.

But he’s also under contract for two more seasons, and this management group has historically taken their time to evaluate the roster. They’re under no crunch to duck the tax this season, and outside of the championship team, next season’s roster will probably be the most talented roster we have ever had. I’m not sure why they would move him now in a clear salary dump when we haven’t seen the team play a single game together unless somehow Giannis is a real option. It just doesn’t make

[Psubs]

Just out of curiosity.. would you guys do RJ for Houston’s #10?

Absolutely not.

I have no idea why this board continues to underrate him. There is a small chance that anyone you draft at 10 ever averages 21 points per game in a season. Not that points is the end all be all, but it’s not like RJ is a bad player or a bad contract.

Just because a player can put up 21ppg, it doesn't mean they can help you be a contender.

JaKobe wil emerge. RJ used to be a negative asset and now is neutral if not slightly positive for his contract. Don't want to pay him $30+ million for his next contract. I would rather trade him like Derozan for a proven player like KD but going the opposite direction for #10 who will make less than the MLE and controlled for 5-7 years or so would be good. Need bigger players.

[DG88]

I'll never understand the Rj hate. Hometown boy, still young, plays hard. If im cutting salary IQ is the first to go.

Also pass on Malauch still. Any of the top 8, Jaku or trade down and try to land 2.

If we can't trade down I take Jaku, Flemming, Traore in that order I think.

Not sure it's RJ hate but he's the most likely player to be traded due to him being eligible for an extension and the team being right at the luxury tax.

But he’s also under contract for two more seasons, and this management group has historically taken their time to evaluate the roster. They’re under no crunch to duck the tax this season, and outside of the championship team, next season’s roster will probably be the most talented roster we have ever had. I’m not sure why they would move him now in a clear salary dump when we haven’t seen the team play a single game together unless somehow Giannis is a real option. It just doesn’t make

I'm not saying they would move him now. I'm more so talking about why some posters are lining up potential deals with RJ. It's very possible that the FO doesn't move him at all, but the deal involving BI did have RJ in the mix until it was changed. So the FO is open to the idea of they get the player that they think will elevate the team.

[Psubs]

Not sure it's RJ hate but he's the most likely player to be traded due to him being eligible for an extension and the team being right at the luxury tax.

But he’s also under contract for two more seasons, and this management group has historically taken their time to evaluate the roster. They’re under no crunch to duck the tax this season, and outside of the championship team, next season’s roster will probably be the most talented roster we have ever had. I’m not sure why they would move him now in a clear salary dump when we haven’t seen the team play a single game together unless somehow Giannis is a real option. It just doesn’t make

I'm not saying they would move him now. I'm more so talking about why some posters are lining up potential deals with RJ. It's very possible that the FO doesn't move him at all, but the deal involving BI did have RJ in the mix until it was changed. So the FO is open to the idea of they get the player that they think will elevate the team.

New Orleans is cheap (salary dump Kira Lewis with a 1st pick), they would rather expiring Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk with 1 more year left now.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

These playoffs really emphasizing we can’t get a big that can be played off the court defensively. Khaman still fits the bill but for where we’d have to take him, it’s tough

[WuTang_CMB]

I think chris finch made some good comments post game. You need multiple ball handlers and shot creators in the playoffs.

I think Darko has a good offense where its not predictable with lots of movement and passing. The problem is the creation. BI will help. Scottie isn’t there yet. A fun PG like Fears would do this team a lot of good because we need paint touches and we need to shift the defense. Both indiana and okc do a great job for this. Nobody could really stop them.

This draft will be interesting to see where Masai’s head is at. Based on history, we likely stay at 9 and dont move up or back.

Fears likely not there at 9. So it could be Jak. Or a 3 and D in Bryant. KM is a total wild card for me. So we may just play it safe.

[Tor_Raps]

Jaylen Brown, presumably. Ime connection and they do need a go-to scorer. Plus there was that whole "Brown wants to the The Guy™" thing which has died down for the time being.

I could maybe see the Celtics making it a 3-team deal involving Jakob Poeltl - and it's a big maybe since I doubt we'd want to get off of Jakob unless he said under no circumstances would he re-sign with us this offseason - since they were linked to Poeltl and are supposedly the reason why we gave up a 1st with such menial protections but TBD if they're going to actually make such a drastic move in the draft unless they want to bottom out & try again in 2026/27 with a Top 4-ish pick to trade for Tatum's next co-star.

Raptors are trying to win next year and Poeltl will be a big part of that so he's not going anywhere.

The Jaylen Brown to Houston makes a lot of sense but I think Boston will offload Jrue & Porzingis for talent that can help them in 2027 since next year will be a write-off for them.

In agreement re: Poeltl, the odds he's traded between now and the next season are very low.

The Jrue & Tingus Pingus moves...not sure I see an easy needle thread for them. Jrue might just be a negative on his current contract and I doubt you're getting much of any value out of him even with a pick or two attached. Like, is #28 and Jrue even getting you off of his contract or are you trading one bad contract for another - or are you just looking for someone to tread water with i.e. DeMar for 28 & Jrue (Note: I would hate this for DeMar).

Tingus Pingus is an expiring but the player said expiring is attached to is a major injury concern who has an illness doctors can't seem to be able to identify, and who knows how he looks with another year of wear and tear on his body plus this illness potentially affecting him next year. So again, hard to see them flipping that into tangible value unless they're taking on a bad contract.

You're underestimating a team like the Mavs wanting Jrue. PJ Washington + Gafford would be a solid return and guys who can help in 2027.

I haven't thought about Porzingis traded but there will also be teams who would want him without seeing him as a negative asset. Brad Stevens has already shown to be a genius so I'd have total faith in him being able to pivot and retool for 2027.

[Indeed]

Just out of curiosity.. would you guys do RJ for Houston’s #10?

Absolutely not.

I have no idea why this board continues to underrate him. There is a small chance that anyone you draft at 10 ever averages 21 points per game in a season. Not that points is the end all be all, but it’s not like RJ is a bad player or a bad contract.

Just because a player can put up 21ppg, it doesn't mean they can help you be a contender.

JaKobe wil emerge. RJ used to be a negative asset and now is neutral if not slightly positive for his contract. Don't want to pay him $30+ million for his next contract. I would rather trade him like Derozan for a proven player like KD but going the opposite direction for #10 who will make less than the MLE and controlled for 5-7 years or so would be good. Need bigger players.

You referring Barnes putting up 21 ppg, while all his offense from NBA Stats playtype are below average or just above average? Paying 30+ is an issue, while someone who cannot create nor space the floor is near max, great.

I am not against trading Barrett, but if your 4 (and 5) cannot space the floor, you are hardly having a downhill to put rim pressure, just a perimeter shooting team that won't go deep into the playoffs with Walter and Quickley as your backcourt.

[Indeed]

These playoffs really emphasizing we can’t get a big that can be played off the court defensively. Khaman still fits the bill but for where we’d have to take him, it’s tough

There are Fleming, Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Broome down the draft.
Maluach doesn't fit the offense of Darko. Unless we are changing our offense, and have a very good ball handler to create lobs (you are looking at Paul, Lowry or someone who can get down hill with a good passing vision). We are in no way make use of Maluach, and Barnes are horrible on offense with a stretch 5 or not (tried Olynyk with him shooting 40% from 3s). Let's not assume we get a stretch 5 and someone sudden become Hali or Siakam on our team.

[Clutch0z24]

Who are the best shot creators in this class? I think one of them are the 9th pick....Need a list of best Shot creators in this class...

[Raptaurus]

I thought we already had a bonafide center in the midst of his prime in Poetl? We gave up significant draft capital for this guy not too long ago, which stunted our ability to rebuild through the draft. And now we are ready to compete and we wanna use our only lottery pick in the past 5 years on his potential replacement? Just the year prior to the Poetl trade, we used our “first round pick” to draft another center project in Koloko.

Thats a lot of draft resources being spent over the years on acquiring centers. I can understand the logic of drafting Maluach if he was a legit 2-way floor spacing center but thats definitely not him.

Yak will be 30 next season I think? Got a couple of really good years left and by the time Mal is 21-22 he’d be perfect to take over. It’s a pick that helps us a bit now and a lot in the future.

He’s still 29. A little early to start looking for his replacement IMO. I get we need more big man depth but it just sucks to have to potentially spend it on the likes Maluach. Would rather just try to trade some of our guard depth for a decent back up center and slowly develop Chomche.

[TNRaps4life]

Noa Essengue my pick at 9

Read on Twitter

?s=19

[DreamTeam09]

I'll never understand the Rj hate. Hometown boy, still young, plays hard. If im cutting salary IQ is the first to go.

Also pass on Malauch still. Any of the top 8, Jaku or trade down and try to land 2.

If we can't trade down I take Jaku, Flemming, Traore in that order I think.

Not sure it's RJ hate but he's the most likely player to be traded due to him being eligible for an extension and the team being right at the luxury tax.

I'm hoping for a longer term at a lower cap hit on his next deal. It's not automatically assumed or guaranteed he's gonna be in line for a raise. If he makes it to UFA I don't see teams lining up for RJ at 30+ mill. But if gets a a deal for 4-5yrs at 22-27 range that might make both sides happy.

[Clutch0z24]

Read on Twitter

Lets hope this comes to reality this time

[DreamTeam09]

These playoffs really emphasizing we can’t get a big that can be played off the court defensively. Khaman still fits the bill but for where we’d have to take him, it’s tough

There are Fleming, Sorber, Kalkbrenner, Broome down the draft.
Maluach doesn't fit the offense of Darko. Unless we are changing our offense, and have a very good ball handler to create lobs (you are looking at Paul, Lowry or someone who can get down hill with a good passing vision). We are in no way make use of Maluach, and Barnes are horrible on offense with a stretch 5 or not (tried Olynyk with him shooting 40% from 3s). Let's not assume we get a stretch 5 and someone sudden become Hali or Siakam on our team.

You line of thinking is way too rigid. It's not always an X = Y situation. There's so many variables in the game of basketball that you're not accounting for.

[Yallbecrazy]

The second round has thinned out noticeable after so many players chose to go back to college. There are around 6 guys who I would have been happy to draft at 39 who went back to school. I thought the draft was pretty strong into the early 40s, but now the talent seems to drop off in the mid 30s.

My best sleeper pick who is likely to still be available at 39 is now Javon Small. I'd say he's a slightly worse prospect than Jamal Shead was last season, but he's close enough that I'm interested. Small and Shead seem pretty similar in terms of age at the draft, size, and athleticism. They both had BPMs over 10 as college seniors in their draft years. Small looks like a better shooter/scorer coming into the NBA, and Shead looks better at passing and defense.

We're going to want a 3rd string point guard for next season anyway, and Quickley / Shead / Small would make for a pretty good depth chart.

his team was pretty **** so his stats could be deflated too.