2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[Tor_Raps]

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Sixers landing Lauri for PG + 3rd pick makes them extremely dangerous. He's a perfect fit for Philly since they have no real PF.

*Yawn*. People never learn with the Sixers.

Truth is you can never win when your best player is made out of glass but if they insist to keep him then "on paper" they'll look great heading into the season. I agree with you what that means long term for the season is probably a 2nd round exit at best.

[earthtone]

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Sixers landing Lauri for PG + 3rd pick makes them extremely dangerous. He's a perfect fit for Philly since they have no real PF.

Lauri isn’t a needle mover especially with Embiid’s health in question. I think the Sixers are in really bad shape.

I just can’t imagine Morey being dumb enough to trade this pick. If he has to attach the 3rd overall pick just to get rid of George’s contract then he should be fired on the spot. lol.

I think extending George was dumber than trading #3 to get off the contract would be. Paying PG $54 million for his age 35 through 37 seasons when he's already clearly on the decline is enough to sink a franchise imo.

If they can use the 3rd pick to offload PG's contract and end up with Markannen & the 21st, I think you gotta do it

[JShuttlesworth]

Spoiler:

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I understand this trade from the Suns perspective, but from the Sixers perspective not so much. It's a hail mary throw with a team that seems nowhere close to winning a title.

Is Durant an upgrade from George? Yes. Does this get them out of George's awful contract. Also yes.

But at the same time -- Durant is 36 years old, he has 1-year left on his contract, and I don't know if I believe he wants to end his career in Philly watching Embiid deteriorate even further. Speaking of Embiid, is he even healthy? Is he going to give Philly more than 55 games next year? Because trading the #3 Pick in order to throw a hail mary for Durant, with an injured Embiid, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're much better off keeping that pick.

Although it would be funny to me to watch Morey trade the pick for KD, only to have KD bolt in Free Agency.

The Sixers would be foolish to trade this pick, unless it's to trade down for additional picks

Lauri makes more sense, but only if the Jazz are willing to give up their 1st

[Dalek]

Spoiler:

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I understand this trade from the Suns perspective, but from the Sixers perspective not so much. It's a hail mary throw with a team that seems nowhere close to winning a title.

Is Durant an upgrade from George? Yes. Does this get them out of George's awful contract. Also yes.

But at the same time -- Durant is 36 years old, he has 1-year left on his contract, and I don't know if I believe he wants to end his career in Philly watching Embiid deteriorate even further. Speaking of Embiid, is he even healthy? Is he going to give Philly more than 55 games next year? Because trading the #3 Pick in order to throw a hail mary for Durant, with an injured Embiid, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're much better off keeping that pick.

Although it would be funny to me to watch Morey trade the pick for KD, only to have KD bolt in Free Agency.

The Sixers would be foolish to trade this pick, unless it's to trade down for additional picks

Lauri makes more sense, but only if the Jazz are willing to give up their 1st

Wait. Someone remind me of what happened the last time Philly had the idea to trade their lotto pick?

Passing on Ace Bailey after what happened with Jayson Tatum is a fireable offense. Although we are probably past that point for Morey who should be now called Lessy for these weird ideas.

[JShuttlesworth]

Spoiler:

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I understand this trade from the Suns perspective, but from the Sixers perspective not so much. It's a hail mary throw with a team that seems nowhere close to winning a title.

Is Durant an upgrade from George? Yes. Does this get them out of George's awful contract. Also yes.

But at the same time -- Durant is 36 years old, he has 1-year left on his contract, and I don't know if I believe he wants to end his career in Philly watching Embiid deteriorate even further. Speaking of Embiid, is he even healthy? Is he going to give Philly more than 55 games next year? Because trading the #3 Pick in order to throw a hail mary for Durant, with an injured Embiid, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're much better off keeping that pick.

Although it would be funny to me to watch Morey trade the pick for KD, only to have KD bolt in Free Agency.

The Sixers would be foolish to trade this pick, unless it's to trade down for additional picks

Lauri makes more sense, but only if the Jazz are willing to give up their 1st

Wait. Someone remind me of what happened the last time Philly had the idea to trade their lotto pick?

Passing on Ace Bailey after what happened with Jayson Tatum is a fireable offense. Although we are probably past that point for Morey who should be now called Lessy for these weird ideas.

I totally agree, #3 in this draft could very well end up being the best player in the trade. I was pretty surprised to hear the Sixers would be shopping it, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Mark_83]

Big C options at 49th:
Rocco Zikarsky (if he declares) - best standing reach
Ryan Kalkbrenner - pretty much measure similar to Maluach, except standing reach being 2 inches short
Hansen Yang - best hand length by C
Yanic Konan Niederhauser - best leaping and running by C
Vladislav Goldin - best hand width by C
Maxime Raynaud - best lane agility by C

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-anthro?dir=D&sort=STANDING_REACH

Kalkbrenner also has huge hand width (tied with Yang at 11.25 inches). Strangely, his hand length is only 9.25 inches, same as Dylan Harper.

[Yallbecrazy]

Jazz if they trade Lauri and get #3 would pick VJ there and might pick CMB at #5.
They are very analytical drafters.

[Kevin Willis]

Giannis before the roids

Giannis Stephonopolous on the Greek Christian basketball team? He played well but there are closer comparisons than Giannis A. from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Watch he's gonna go pick 7# now where we dropped, we have the worst luck last few yrs.

If he's available at 9# you take him and run, even if a couple of the established top 9 slip.

We need to hit a home run with this pick..

no other prospect in that range offers the ceiling or projection of Essengue.

He's a killer, young, extremely skilled, extremely long, productive, projectable, star potential..

I am even taking Essengue over Malauch if he drops.

I think there is zero bust potential with Essengue, can't say the same for Malauch.

Essengue could be the perfect eventual/actual RJ replacement (unlikely we pay RJ) who can actually defend.

PG- Quickley
SG- Ingram
SF- Essengue
PF- Barnes
C- Poeltl

there's some lack of shooting but if Essengue and Barnes can hold a respectable 3PT shot eventually (around 35%) that is a deadly young starting 5 for the future.

What a defence! and we can work on Poeltl replacement later

BPA and BPA is Essengue if he's still there..

unfortunately I fear again he will rise and be gone, if Brooklyn was thinking Queen at all I think they go for Essengue instead

You think maybe another Bilal?

[mtcan]

I understand this trade from the Suns perspective, but from the Sixers perspective not so much. It's a hail mary throw with a team that seems nowhere close to winning a title.

Is Durant an upgrade from George? Yes. Does this get them out of George's awful contract. Also yes.

But at the same time -- Durant is 36 years old, he has 1-year left on his contract, and I don't know if I believe he wants to end his career in Philly watching Embiid deteriorate even further. Speaking of Embiid, is he even healthy? Is he going to give Philly more than 55 games next year? Because trading the #3 Pick in order to throw a hail mary for Durant, with an injured Embiid, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're much better off keeping that pick.

Although it would be funny to me to watch Morey trade the pick for KD, only to have KD bolt in Free Agency.

The Sixers would be foolish to trade this pick, unless it's to trade down for additional picks

Lauri makes more sense, but only if the Jazz are willing to give up their 1st

Wait. Someone remind me of what happened the last time Philly had the idea to trade their lotto pick?

Passing on Ace Bailey after what happened with Jayson Tatum is a fireable offense. Although we are probably past that point for Morey who should be now called Lessy for these weird ideas.

I totally agree, #3 in this draft could very well end up being the best player in the trade. I was pretty surprised to hear the Sixers would be shopping it, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Don't forget the time they drafted Mikal Bridges at #10 and then traded him for Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first round pick that was traded to LAC for Tobias Harris. And this was with Mikal Bridges being a local Philly boy with his mom working for the 76ers organization as well. Just bad karma all around for that trade. Imagine having Bridges all this time instead of Smith who never amounted to anything and Tobias Harris whose contract extension didn't age well from day 1.

We think it's smart to deal a high pick for a lower pick plus future picks...but sometimes its best not to overthink it and just take BPA wherever we are.

[Kevin Willis]

Giannis before the roids

Giannis Stephonopolous on the Greek Christian basketball team? He played well but there are closer comparisons than Giannis A. from the Milwaukee Bucks.

I'm talkin bout Giannis A before the bucks. Obviously it's highly unlikely Essengue becomes anything close to the Giannis we know, but he reminds me of pre draft Giannis.

Got you now. It's a risk I can see Masai taking. He's missed out a few times on these type of physical freak prospects.

[earthtone]

I understand this trade from the Suns perspective, but from the Sixers perspective not so much. It's a hail mary throw with a team that seems nowhere close to winning a title.

Is Durant an upgrade from George? Yes. Does this get them out of George's awful contract. Also yes.

But at the same time -- Durant is 36 years old, he has 1-year left on his contract, and I don't know if I believe he wants to end his career in Philly watching Embiid deteriorate even further. Speaking of Embiid, is he even healthy? Is he going to give Philly more than 55 games next year? Because trading the #3 Pick in order to throw a hail mary for Durant, with an injured Embiid, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're much better off keeping that pick.

Although it would be funny to me to watch Morey trade the pick for KD, only to have KD bolt in Free Agency.

The Sixers would be foolish to trade this pick, unless it's to trade down for additional picks

Lauri makes more sense, but only if the Jazz are willing to give up their 1st

Wait. Someone remind me of what happened the last time Philly had the idea to trade their lotto pick?

Passing on Ace Bailey after what happened with Jayson Tatum is a fireable offense. Although we are probably past that point for Morey who should be now called Lessy for these weird ideas.

I totally agree, #3 in this draft could very well end up being the best player in the trade. I was pretty surprised to hear the Sixers would be shopping it, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

If we're including contracts, I think Lauri Markannen + 21st pick could very well end up having more value over the next 5 years than Paul George + Ace Bailey.

Morey shouldn't have put himself in the situation to need to trade the pick to offload salary, but I think not trading it would just be compounding on the mistake

[Indeed]

Yanking your chain a little bit... I understand that passing is not one of his strengths but I disagree that is a must to be a championship team C. I think great rim protection, switchability and FT does it. Something missing there that actually worries me with KM is rebounding. You must gobble all of them rebounds to be championship caliber.

I disagree that you build around your role player instead of your star player in a championship run.
Maluach is a role player, and if there is a star player, you draft them first.

Maluach combine measurement isn't good, bottom 5 in other categories outside of standing reach and wingspan (well, middle in hands).

Never say you "build", I said you draft and develop so they are ready when the time comes. Now, of course if there is someone who projects a clear #1 you take it and run, but realistically... is there going to be someone like that at 9? not really.

You never said we build around Maluach, but you said he is a championship calibre player, which to me, championship calibre player are towards star players. Role players are not because they can be replaced. would you call Ibaka a championship calibre player? Would you call Norm Powell a championship player?

If Maluach is a high end role player, there are also other options in that tier, and we can look for better fit. We do not have a dynamic guard to use Maluach, so his fit is in question. But I think we are hoping for a player who can create at 9.

[TGM]

Kasparas getting so little love, but this guy is a stud.
Edgecombe I think if Philly trades the pick or trades down goes 3.

Edgecombe only PG I would take over Kasparas.

Would love to see us maybe ship out RJ and 9 for 3 and filler.

[Duffman100]

Kasparas getting so little love, but this guy is a stud.
Edgecombe I think if Philly trades the pick or trades down goes 3.

Edgecombe only PG I would take over Kasparas.

Would love to see us maybe ship out RJ and 9 for 3 and filler.

I don't think RJ has that value.

[arbsn]

Kasparas getting so little love, but this guy is a stud.
Edgecombe I think if Philly trades the pick or trades down goes 3.

Edgecombe only PG I would take over Kasparas.

Would love to see us maybe ship out RJ and 9 for 3 and filler.

I don't think RJ has that value.

How come Raps fans hate RJ so much?

He’s 24, from Toronto, solid triple threat scorer, gets to the ft line, on a semi reasonable deal for his upside, cares more than anyone else on the team, decent enough defender (esp after putting up with Derozans terrible D for so long)

It’s really sad to see how disrespected he is by raps fans

[Duffman100]

Kasparas getting so little love, but this guy is a stud.
Edgecombe I think if Philly trades the pick or trades down goes 3.

Edgecombe only PG I would take over Kasparas.

Would love to see us maybe ship out RJ and 9 for 3 and filler.

I don't think RJ has that value.

How come Raps fans hate RJ so much?

He’s 24, from Toronto, solid triple threat scorer, gets to the ft line, on a semi reasonable deal for his upside, cares more than anyone else on the team, decent enough defender (esp after putting up with Derozans terrible D for so long)

It’s really sad to see how disrespected he is by raps fans

I don't hate RJ by any means, I just don't think he vaults you into the top 3 of a draft is all.

[720]

Danny Wolf is fun to watch, if we can somehow get a mid to late 1st I’d love to get him. I’m tempted to even pick him at 9 if all our top guys are pick above 9th. Or trade back and get him.

I mean, look at the guy play. He could be a monster. He’s a three year player but I don’t care.

Watch on YouTube

[Pointgod]

It’s funny how it just so happens to be right before our pick when the drop off begins.

From what I’ve read, it’s the first I’ve heard about there being a drop off after 8. Not a great draft for elite talent but quite a few good prospects.

Just my opinon.

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecome
Fears
Johnson
Maluach
Knueppel

Are the top 8 guys then there is a drop off at #9.

Queen?

Jak as well has been scattered through out the top 10 in mocks. I don't see the big drop off when you add those two names in.

The top 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecomb, Johnson) have the most potential to be an allstar/borderline allstar contributors to their teams.

After that there’s a lot of players with significant question marks about their talent or long term projects.

[Duffman100]

Just my opinon.

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecome
Fears
Johnson
Maluach
Knueppel

Are the top 8 guys then there is a drop off at #9.

Queen?

Jak as well has been scattered through out the top 10 in mocks. I don't see the big drop off when you add those two names in.

The top 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecomb, Johnson) have the most potential to be an allstar/borderline allstar contributors to their teams.

After that there’s a lot of players with significant question marks about their talent or long term projects.

I wouldn't group them all into the same class.

Flagg is a tier of his own
Harper below him

The other 3 have higher potential than the rest of the lottery but also have bust potential.

I also don't think the gap from 3-12 is that big tbh.

[Pointgod]

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I wish this guy would fall to us.