2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[PhilBlackson]

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I wonder who or what we'd have to attach to jump up to 4.

[Grew]

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I wonder who or what we'd have to attach to jump up to 4.

RJ/Ochai and 9 for Nurkic, Grant Williams and 4?

I would really love to get VJ

[niQ]

If we did to this trade down deal, I wonder who we'd be interested in at 19. There's decent talent that will still be there, but it will also be much harder to predict who doesn't get scooped up in the lottery

If we do go that route, Nolan Traore and Hugo Gonzalez come to mind. But that's just based on reports of Masai being in attendance for their games and I'm sure they've seen a lot more for others as well.

[Mark_83]

Still fully on board the Carter Bryant train. Just hoping no one jumps the gun and takes him ahead of us. Hoping for another first rounder to take Jase Richardson. But assuming we stand pat I'll go Kalkbrenner in the 2nd round, and sign Mark Sears and Jalon Moore to camp deals.

[M3tro]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

[Duffman100]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

Essengue vs Bryant, what's the main difference other than Bryant can shoot.

I feel if both are at that pick you go Bryant.

[WuTang_CMB]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

Essengue vs Bryant, what's the main difference other than Bryant can shoot.

I feel if both are at that pick you go Bryant.

If no one major drops i expect bryant to be the pick

[HumbleRen]

I gotta say - I'm surprised that there is serious debate around moving #9 + Barrett for Johnson and #19.

It's a no for me.

Barrett still has two years left at a fairly reasonable price and is still just 25. Johnson is almost 30
Johnson is injured quite frequently
Johnson plays the same position as our two best players

Plus we have to move 10 spots back in the draft after having to endure this past year of basketball?

This should be a fairly easy no, guys.

People like shiny new rookies. No one analyzes things objectively. If RJ Barrett were in this draft he goes top 3, maybe 2. Even at 23, take RJ’s skill set and put it on an NCAA roster and you’re not trading this guy for the 19th pick and Cam Johnson, much less giving up 9.

That’s only because RJ would be on a rookie deal lol.

RJ is just not a winning player. I get that he’s Canadian and all that stuff but this is the same trap a lot of Demar fans fell for.

He will always be a guy that every single team wants to upgrade on when they go from a middling team to a team that’s serious about winning.

Knicks won’t be first team, we won’t be the last team, this will be his legacy for every team that he lands on.

There’s not a single playoff team that would take RJ over Johnson.

[bobbyp3588]

I gotta say - I'm surprised that there is serious debate around moving #9 + Barrett for Johnson and #19.

It's a no for me.

Barrett still has two years left at a fairly reasonable price and is still just 25. Johnson is almost 30
Johnson is injured quite frequently
Johnson plays the same position as our two best players

Plus we have to move 10 spots back in the draft after having to endure this past year of basketball?

This should be a fairly easy no, guys.

People like shiny new rookies. No one analyzes things objectively. If RJ Barrett were in this draft he goes top 3, maybe 2. Even at 23, take RJ’s skill set and put it on an NCAA roster and you’re not trading this guy for the 19th pick and Cam Johnson, much less giving up 9.

That’s only because RJ would be on a rookie deal lol.

RJ is just not a winning player. I get that he’s Canadian and all that stuff but this is the same trap a lot of Demar fans fell for.

He will always be a guy that every single team wants to upgrade on when they go from a middling team to a team that’s serious about winning.

Knicks won’t be first team, we won’t be the last team, this will be his legacy for every team that he lands on.

There’s not a single playoff team that would take RJ over Johnson.

I don’t believe that for a second. And who are you for me to believe. Opinions are like ****. We all have one. Why should we care about yours?

[ATLTimekeeper]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

Essengue vs Bryant, what's the main difference other than Bryant can shoot.

I feel if both are at that pick you go Bryant.

I'm not high on either of these guys, but Essengue is more of a hustle big that is actually producing against much better competition. Bryant has shown only one skill as the 7th most important player on a college team. Taking him at 9 would be a significant waste of that draft opportunity. If you took either of these guys at 20, then it's more justifiable.

[ATLTimekeeper]

RJ is turning 26 this year, Cam is turning 30 and has bad knees. There's no way Masai is moving DOWN to pick up a worse, older player. I think Masai has a lot to prove to earn back the trust of the fanbase, but he's not capable of making a trade this bad.

[Gavin_TDThree]

Can someone talk me into Cedric Coward. I've see the highlights, the shooting touch, the stats, but I'm not sold. He wasn't playing that strong of competition and he's an older prospect. For the Cowards heads out there, if the raps were to grab him at 9th what am I getting?

[HumbleRen]

People like shiny new rookies. No one analyzes things objectively. If RJ Barrett were in this draft he goes top 3, maybe 2. Even at 23, take RJ’s skill set and put it on an NCAA roster and you’re not trading this guy for the 19th pick and Cam Johnson, much less giving up 9.

That’s only because RJ would be on a rookie deal lol.

RJ is just not a winning player. I get that he’s Canadian and all that stuff but this is the same trap a lot of Demar fans fell for.

He will always be a guy that every single team wants to upgrade on when they go from a middling team to a team that’s serious about winning.

Knicks won’t be first team, we won’t be the last team, this will be his legacy for every team that he lands on.

There’s not a single playoff team that would take RJ over Johnson.

I don’t believe that for a second. And who are you for me to believe. Opinions are like ****. We all have one. Why should we care about yours?

We literally just tried to trade him at the trade deadline and a team like the poverty Pelicans said nah I’m good on RJ.

Knicks immediately went from a play in team to winning at a 80% rate by simply replacing him with OG in the starting line up.





It turns out that it’s probably a wise idea to upgrade on a guy that’s on both these lists and is a weak defender too.

Masai will trade him as soon as he can find a team that wants him.

[Tripod]

That’s only because RJ would be on a rookie deal lol.

RJ is just not a winning player. I get that he’s Canadian and all that stuff but this is the same trap a lot of Demar fans fell for.

He will always be a guy that every single team wants to upgrade on when they go from a middling team to a team that’s serious about winning.

Knicks won’t be first team, we won’t be the last team, this will be his legacy for every team that he lands on.

There’s not a single playoff team that would take RJ over Johnson.

I don’t believe that for a second. And who are you for me to believe. Opinions are like ****. We all have one. Why should we care about yours?

We literally just tried to trade him at the trade deadline and a team like the poverty Pelicans said nah I’m good on RJ.

Knicks immediately went from a play in team to winning at a 80% rate by simply replacing him with OG in the starting line up.





It turns out that it’s probably a wise idea to upgrade on a guy that’s on both these lists and is a weak defender too.

Masai will trade him as soon as he can find a team that wants him.

Nice to see we have 4 of the worst 12 finishers in the league.

[PhilBlackson]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

Essengue vs Bryant, what's the main difference other than Bryant can shoot.

I feel if both are at that pick you go Bryant.

Bryant is also a much better defender. I know it sounds cliche but honestly ask Arizona fans, he really does make winning plays. I’m not sure if he’ll be a star but I’m confident he will/would make this team better.

[Psubs]

A few mocks have us going with Essengue now

Essengue vs Bryant, what's the main difference other than Bryant can shoot.

I feel if both are at that pick you go Bryant.

Bryant is also a much better defender. I know it sounds cliche but honestly ask Arizona fans, he really does make winning plays. I’m not sure if he’ll be a star but I’m confident he will/would make this team better.

The way I see it is that he's taller than Derozan so the balances the explosiveness. Bryant is raw but way more defensive projection do to wingspan and glimpses at Arizona. Also shows can hit the college 3 so likely a better 3pt shooter than Demar. Also a good kid from a good family and works hard.

[OakleyDokely]

Can someone talk me into Cedric Coward. I've see the highlights, the shooting touch, the stats, but I'm not sold. He wasn't playing that strong of competition and he's an older prospect. For the Cowards heads out there, if the raps were to grab him at 9th what am I getting?

I guess these would be bullet points in his favor:

1) Size -- 6'5 w/o shoes, 7'2 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 213 lbs

2) Shooting and efficiency - yes, the competition hasn't been great, but over his college career (72 games), he has shooting splits of 60/39/83 with a 70 TS% which is insane at any level. His shooting technique is also pretty flawless.

3) He has a solid feel for the game and he fills the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals, blocks

4) Solid athlete who had a 39 inch vertical at the draft combine which is comparable to a guy like Edgecombe.

[mtcan]

RJ is turning 26 this year, Cam is turning 30 and has bad knees. There's no way Masai is moving DOWN to pick up a worse, older player. I think Masai has a lot to prove to earn back the trust of the fanbase, but he's not capable of making a trade this bad.

RJ was born in 2000...he turns 25 this year.

Cam was born 1996. He is 29.

4 year difference.

[Psubs]

Still fully on board the Carter Bryant train. Just hoping no one jumps the gun and takes him ahead of us. Hoping for another first rounder to take Jase Richardson. But assuming we stand pat I'll go Kalkbrenner in the 2nd round, and sign Mark Sears and Jalon Moore to camp deals.

Watching a guy like Jaylen Brown develop and win Final MVP has me feeling like Bryant will help the team win more. I didn't think Brown would be much more than an average player due to his shot but he shot amazing in the Celtics private drill and the rest is history. Well Jaylen Brown STILL can't go left well.

Cooper
Harper
Tre
VJ
Bailey
Knueppel

I think that top 6 is certain. So need 2 of Fears, Maluach, Queen, Jakucionus, Demin, CMB, Essengue, Jase, Traore, or Coward to have their name called before the 9th pick.

[redraptor77]

That’s only because RJ would be on a rookie deal lol.

RJ is just not a winning player. I get that he’s Canadian and all that stuff but this is the same trap a lot of Demar fans fell for.

He will always be a guy that every single team wants to upgrade on when they go from a middling team to a team that’s serious about winning.

Knicks won’t be first team, we won’t be the last team, this will be his legacy for every team that he lands on.

There’s not a single playoff team that would take RJ over Johnson.

I don’t believe that for a second. And who are you for me to believe. Opinions are like ****. We all have one. Why should we care about yours?

We literally just tried to trade him at the trade deadline and a team like the poverty Pelicans said nah I’m good on RJ.

Knicks immediately went from a play in team to winning at a 80% rate by simply replacing him with OG in the starting line up.





It turns out that it’s probably a wise idea to upgrade on a guy that’s on both these lists and is a weak defender too.

Masai will trade him as soon as he can find a team that wants him.

It’s fine to trade RJ. To give up a top ten pick to drop 10 spots in a fairly deep draft for a 29 year old that plays 55 games a year and is not remotely close to a star player is insane to me
Cam Johnson does t move the needle He is a final touch on a OKC or Indiana, Wolves, Dallas type team
No way I giving up RJ, durable has made improvements, 4 years younger and his contract isn’t issue until next year or year after and has a larger contract to support larger trades along with a top ten pick for cam freakn Johnson and ten spots lower Unless BRK tosses in more picks next year also makes no sense to me
Their remaining picks in 2025 now are just filler we can’t have another five rookies on the roster