2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[Clutch0z24]

I'm starting to lean towards drafting CMB. After reading a lot of comments about how bad his shot is, that he's similar to Mogbo and his bad shooting performance at the combine I didn't even want to look at his game but man I'm glad I didn't do that. He's a unique player with size, smarts, physicality, he's a dawg, can defend pretty much anyone, process the game game at a high level, great passer, I mean he has a lot going for him.

...and then there's his shot. I have to agree it's not great but it's not broken like Draymond and he's been willing to let it go this year although only made 9. If the shot ever gets there, this is the type of player you want in the playoffs when everything gets way more physical. There's a chance everyone we like gets picked before 9 and he's the one guy left with more upside. If they believe the shot can get better I hope they don't overthink it and just draft him.

Our offense was consistently bad all year. We can’t add defense first guys with shaky offense and continue trying to win off defense alone

Yep we badly need an offensive player i feel....But problem is Kon/Tre prolly the 2 best offensive guys you can get close to our range prolly off the board...I hope Fears is the one to fall to us at 9th....Because we have enough defenders on the team that have a really hard time scoring.......Noa/Bryant/Fleming < look like role players to me....None of them have an offensive bag.....

Top 5 players in our range with an offensive bag are Tre/Kon/Fears/Jaku/Queen outside of that 5 you have Jase/Traore/Will Riley/Walter Clayton Jr....Who all have offensive bags....But i think Masai may go for another bad offensive player with good defense and then wonder why we can't out score anyone

[Indeed]

Not saying they’re exact comparisons, or that they’ll reach these levels. But to me Queen reminds me of Portland ZBo, and Sorber reminds me of Raptors Bosh.

Personally, I’d prefer Bosh, but those two in their primes was a wash offensively. The difference was on the defensive side of the ball, and I think that’s why Sorber is more valuable than Queen.

Dang....Bosh....Thats high value for Sorber...Idk if i see Bosh though....Bosh was a top pick in one of the best draft classes ever ....Sorber has not been ranked that high even before his injury.....But if he is as good as Bosh take him 9th...Wouldn't be mad...

Sir, I said I wasn’t saying those comparisons were what they’d become

I’m simply using playing styles as a comparison.

Sorber isn't quick, and might have trouble guarding on the perimeter, but I have him high.
Another question for Sorber is his shooting, if Raptors thinks his shooting can be improved, I think he can be in our range.

I like Sorber who can do it all, a bit more of a glue guy, maybe a tier or two below Queen as a hub, but he doesn't hurt your defense. I have him over Fleming at PF (and spot C).

[MEDIC]

I'm starting to lean towards drafting CMB. After reading a lot of comments about how bad his shot is, that he's similar to Mogbo and his bad shooting performance at the combine I didn't even want to look at his game but man I'm glad I didn't do that. He's a unique player with size, smarts, physicality, he's a dawg, can defend pretty much anyone, process the game game at a high level, great passer, I mean he has a lot going for him.

...and then there's his shot. I have to agree it's not great but it's not broken like Draymond and he's been willing to let it go this year although only made 9. If the shot ever gets there, this is the type of player you want in the playoffs when everything gets way more physical. There's a chance everyone we like gets picked before 9 and he's the one guy left with more upside. If they believe the shot can get better I hope they don't overthink it and just draft him.

Our offense was consistently bad all year. We can’t add defense first guys with shaky offense and continue trying to win off defense alone

Yep we badly need an offensive player i feel....But problem is Kon/Tre prolly the 2 best offensive guys you can get close to our range prolly off the board...I hope Fears is the one to fall to us at 9th....Because we have enough defenders on the team that have a really hard time scoring.......Noa/Bryant/Fleming < look like role players to me....None of them have an offensive bag.....

Top 5 players in our range with an offensive bag are Tre/Kon/Fears/Jaku/Queen outside of that 5 you have Jase/Traore/Will Riley/Walter Clayton Jr....Who all have offensive bags....But i think Masai may go for another bad offensive player with good defense and then wonder why we can't out score anyone

I think it's kind of difficult to assess the offensive capability of this team. Especially since the best offensive player on the team hasn't played one minute yet. Plus, you had a bunch of rookies playing big minutes this season, tons of injuries & blatant tanking moves. I would say our starting lineup lacks defense more than it lacks offense.

Quickley Offense > Defense
RJ Offense > Defense
Ingram Offense > Defense
Scottie Offense < Defense
Poeltl Defense = Offense

You have Shead, Walter, Gradey's offensive games evolving. Mogbo is probably a lost cause. Battle is better offensively than defensively. Ochai is better defensively than offensively.

The could use some scoring off the bench for sure. Maybe Gradey brings it? Maybe Walter improves his bag......I am still hoping he can turn into a Derrick White type player, or maybe Josh Hart.

I think there is a lot to be determined about this team in regards to need. We will know by allstar break for sure.

I still think this team lacks a competent veteran off the bench. Maybe it's something that can be addressed via trade.

Having said all of that, I guy like Tre Johnson would be pretty nice to have as a bench scorer until he earns a starting spot.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[MEDIC]

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-strength-agility

full strength and agility numbers now up.

Riley's numbers don't look great. I wonder if this will affect his draft stock. He'll have to shoot the lights out in workouts.

[Psubs]

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Fleming at #31? I think if Fleming couldn't shoot the 3, then I guess he would be around #31, possibly behind Yaxel, Nique Clifford.

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Ya okay then, I would trade #9 for #13 Carter Bryant and #22 Rasheer Fleming.

Give Condon a promise at #39 for a 3 year deal to not go and play in the AFL.

[Mark_83]

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.

To be fair, that was clearly a bad trade when it happened. Then again, the guys in this forum were extremely high on Bridges, so perhaps it was just us who saw that.

[MEDIC]

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Fleming at #31?

Watch on YouTube

Ya okay then, I would trade #9 for #13 Carter Bryant and #22 Rasheer Fleming.

Give Condon a promise at #39 for a 3 year deal to not go and play in the AFL.

That would give the Raps some crazy 2 way depth. I would love it.

[Mark_83]

Anyone have a comprehensive list of NCAA shooting stats for players' shots off the dribble, catch, and spot up?

[Psubs]

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Fleming at #31?

Watch on YouTube

Ya okay then, I would trade #9 for #13 Carter Bryant and #22 Rasheer Fleming.

Give Condon a promise at #39 for a 3 year deal to not go and play in the AFL.

That would give the Raps some crazy 2 way depth. I would love it.

The way that Darko talks sounds like he is going to keep pressing defensive versatility. Chet, Caruso, Hartenstein have taken OKC from contender to leader.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Anyone have a comprehensive list of NCAA shooting stats for players' shots off the dribble, catch, and spot up?

[Raptaurus]

I'm starting to lean towards drafting CMB. After reading a lot of comments about how bad his shot is, that he's similar to Mogbo and his bad shooting performance at the combine I didn't even want to look at his game but man I'm glad I didn't do that. He's a unique player with size, smarts, physicality, he's a dawg, can defend pretty much anyone, process the game game at a high level, great passer, I mean he has a lot going for him.

...and then there's his shot. I have to agree it's not great but it's not broken like Draymond and he's been willing to let it go this year although only made 9. If the shot ever gets there, this is the type of player you want in the playoffs when everything gets way more physical. There's a chance everyone we like gets picked before 9 and he's the one guy left with more upside. If they believe the shot can get better I hope they don't overthink it and just draft him.

Our offense was consistently bad all year. We can’t add defense first guys with shaky offense and continue trying to win off defense alone

Yep we badly need an offensive player i feel....But problem is Kon/Tre prolly the 2 best offensive guys you can get close to our range prolly off the board...I hope Fears is the one to fall to us at 9th....Because we have enough defenders on the team that have a really hard time scoring.......Noa/Bryant/Fleming < look like role players to me....None of them have an offensive bag.....

Top 5 players in our range with an offensive bag are Tre/Kon/Fears/Jaku/Queen outside of that 5 you have Jase/Traore/Will Riley/Walter Clayton Jr....Who all have offensive bags....But i think Masai may go for another bad offensive player with good defense and then wonder why we can't out score anyone

In terms of offensive talent, there’s quite a drop off after the projected top 7 (Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ, Tre, Fears, Kon). Thats not say to that one of the latter won’t drop but its looking less likely.

[720]

I agree with Givony.

Someone is surely to fall. They always do.

No one fell to the Raps in 2016, also an '8 player draft', yet they walked away with Poeltl, Siakam and FVV. The 'x player draft' narrative is always silly.

I get it, just going off of Gradey draft, he fell from being top 8 most of the year. Jakobe some say dropped ( I don’t know where he was mocked), even the Siakam draft Deyonta Davis fell and we passed on him (thankfully). Recently Whitmore fell and we passed on him. Someone will fall in all likelihood, we could still choose to not pick that person.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Someone is surely to fall. They always do.

No one fell to the Raps in 2016, also an '8 player draft', yet they walked away with Poeltl, Siakam and FVV. The 'x player draft' narrative is always silly.

I get it, just going off of Gradey draft, he fell from being top 8 most of the year. Jakobe some say dropped ( I don’t know where he was mocked), even the Siakam draft Deyonta Davis fell and we passed on him (thankfully). Recently Whitmore fell and we passed on him. Someone will fall in all likelihood, we could still choose to not pick that person.

100%. It’s purely situational. When OG fell we grabbed him, but like you said there have been times where we’ve passed on guys multiple times. Skal Labissierre for example.

[JCP11]

I'm starting to lean towards drafting CMB. After reading a lot of comments about how bad his shot is, that he's similar to Mogbo and his bad shooting performance at the combine I didn't even want to look at his game but man I'm glad I didn't do that. He's a unique player with size, smarts, physicality, he's a dawg, can defend pretty much anyone, process the game game at a high level, great passer, I mean he has a lot going for him.

...and then there's his shot. I have to agree it's not great but it's not broken like Draymond and he's been willing to let it go this year although only made 9. If the shot ever gets there, this is the type of player you want in the playoffs when everything gets way more physical. There's a chance everyone we like gets picked before 9 and he's the one guy left with more upside. If they believe the shot can get better I hope they don't overthink it and just draft him.

Our offense was consistently bad all year. We can’t add defense first guys with shaky offense and continue trying to win off defense alone

Yep we badly need an offensive player i feel....But problem is Kon/Tre prolly the 2 best offensive guys you can get close to our range prolly off the board...I hope Fears is the one to fall to us at 9th....Because we have enough defenders on the team that have a really hard time scoring.......Noa/Bryant/Fleming < look like role players to me....None of them have an offensive bag.....

Top 5 players in our range with an offensive bag are Tre/Kon/Fears/Jaku/Queen outside of that 5 you have Jase/Traore/Will Riley/Walter Clayton Jr....Who all have offensive bags....But i think Masai may go for another bad offensive player with good defense and then wonder why we can't out score anyone

That's basically my point, all the offensive prospects we want will probably be gone when Raptors pick and the next wave are all role players and I see CMB as the best of that bunch if they keep the pick. If they trade down that's another story.

[MEDIC]

The way that Darko talks sounds like he is going to keep pressing defensive versatility. Chet, Caruso, Hartenstein have taken OKC from contender to leader.

I think that is a smart way to go.

I was watching OKC & thinking "man, what a luxury to have 2 guys like Caruso & Dort on your team".

I still think the Raptors should.collect as many guys like that as they can. Those are winning players.

[Pointgod]

I'm starting to lean towards drafting CMB. After reading a lot of comments about how bad his shot is, that he's similar to Mogbo and his bad shooting performance at the combine I didn't even want to look at his game but man I'm glad I didn't do that. He's a unique player with size, smarts, physicality, he's a dawg, can defend pretty much anyone, process the game game at a high level, great passer, I mean he has a lot going for him.

...and then there's his shot. I have to agree it's not great but it's not broken like Draymond and he's been willing to let it go this year although only made 9. If the shot ever gets there, this is the type of player you want in the playoffs when everything gets way more physical. There's a chance everyone we like gets picked before 9 and he's the one guy left with more upside. If they believe the shot can get better I hope they don't overthink it and just draft him.

Our offense was consistently bad all year. We can’t add defense first guys with shaky offense and continue trying to win off defense alone

Yep we badly need an offensive player i feel....But problem is Kon/Tre prolly the 2 best offensive guys you can get close to our range prolly off the board...I hope Fears is the one to fall to us at 9th....Because we have enough defenders on the team that have a really hard time scoring.......Noa/Bryant/Fleming < look like role players to me....None of them have an offensive bag.....

Top 5 players in our range with an offensive bag are Tre/Kon/Fears/Jaku/Queen outside of that 5 you have Jase/Traore/Will Riley/Walter Clayton Jr....Who all have offensive bags....But i think Masai may go for another bad offensive player with good defense and then wonder why we can't out score anyone

One of the reasons why I’d rather just take a swing on guys like Fears or Queen if they’re available where we pick. Also with Kon you can never have too much shooting but I’m not sure about Jak. What are your thoughts on him and how his game translates to the NBA?

[Johnston]

No one fell to the Raps in 2016, also an '8 player draft', yet they walked away with Poeltl, Siakam and FVV. The 'x player draft' narrative is always silly.

I get it, just going off of Gradey draft, he fell from being top 8 most of the year. Jakobe some say dropped ( I don’t know where he was mocked), even the Siakam draft Deyonta Davis fell and we passed on him (thankfully). Recently Whitmore fell and we passed on him. Someone will fall in all likelihood, we could still choose to not pick that person.

100%. It’s purely situational. When OG fell we grabbed him, but like you said there have been times where we’ve passed on guys multiple times. Skal Labissierre for example.

Typically you draft the best player on your board, not who's on ESPNs or draftexpress big board Lol. I remember BC drafting Ed Davis, and the raps had no workouts or interviews with him because he expected to go much higher.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I get it, just going off of Gradey draft, he fell from being top 8 most of the year. Jakobe some say dropped ( I don’t know where he was mocked), even the Siakam draft Deyonta Davis fell and we passed on him (thankfully). Recently Whitmore fell and we passed on him. Someone will fall in all likelihood, we could still choose to not pick that person.

100%. It’s purely situational. When OG fell we grabbed him, but like you said there have been times where we’ve passed on guys multiple times. Skal Labissierre for example.

Typically you draft the best player on your board, not who's on ESPNs or draftexpress big board Lol. I remember BC drafting Ed Davis, and the raps had no workouts or interviews with him because he expected to go much higher.

I remember being obsessed with Paul George. That was such an obvious pick to me, I’m surprised he fell to 10. That class had good top end talent.

Ed was projected top 5 most of the year iirc, but so limited. He would’ve been a solid pick for a contender, but that really sucked for us.

Remember Willie Warren? That dude was a lotto pick all year and dropped to 54! People were so caught up in the Ben Gordon hype.

[Pointgod]

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.

Flagg and Harper have franchise potential, Ace, Edgecomb and Johnson all have all-star potential (remember Bradley Beal was an all-star) based on talent alone. I’ve been listening to a lot of draft content and I’ve never heard any serious person say any of the 3 have high bust potential.

If you look at the top 5, all of them have self creation ability and outside of the top 5 the only guys that have high self creation ability projected to go lottery are Queen, Kasparov, Fears, Denim and maybe Knueppel but they all also come with way more question marks than the projected top 5.

Isn't the knock on Bailey that he doesn't have self creation ability outside of tough jumpers.

From what I’ve read the main concern with Bailey is his decision making not his ability to create. Also remember that outside of Harper his teammates were just really bad.