2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[Son Goku 25]

No thread for a Canadian winning season and finals MVP? That's something to celebrate.

Edit wrong place

[bballsparkin]

Im actually pissed...

Hailiburton is out for the year and we traded the 2026 Pacers pick lmao....

They'll win 45 games I wouldn't fret. Most likely at least.

[BoyzNTheHood]

He did it all year in college.

Which is definitely not the NBA.

He doesn't have to put up a 6.9 obpm is rookie season in the NBA to be considered worth the #9 pick.

A jumper is essential. With that he’d be top 2 in this class, but without it he’s going to need a lot of help in the NBA.

[Grew]

BPA is just such an opinion based thing in the first place. Not like Broome is going 2nd overall for being the best college player. So BPA is some amalgam of NBA potential and current production through the lens of whatever organization is looking. So for the raptors, I don't see the justification for an undersized big man who can't shoot and is an average athlete at best, being the BPA.

CMB might be a fine player in a vacuum. I was looking into him last season as a mid first rounder and thought he would be an option at 15-20.

If CMB really was in another tier at our pick, he would be being looked at by the teams ahead of us. He's not getting any traction there. I would love if the teams ahead of us liked him as much as the few posters and analysts that have him top 5. He doesn't fit here.

There's definitely a hope his shot develops. If they draft him I'm assuming it's assumed he will develop a shot. It seems very Raptor-esque.

This dude came out for his 3pt combine drill and aired out his first shot...

I can see why he looks like a raptors type to some. I think Masai has come to terms with the fact that we don't need a full roster of that type of player.

[Yallbecrazy]

bad stuff. has to be.

I’d assume the pick is forfeited.

that sounds very bad.

Probably like the NFL where the team after can make their pick quickly and leapfrog you. You then would have their timeslot to make the pick before the next team can also leapfrog you.

2003 nfl draft Minnesota Vikings moved from 7th to 9th.

[bballsparkin]

If Jak is there at 9, do you draft him over Bryant, Coward, Essengue, Demin, or Queen?

I am definitely open to that idea. Why not.

[bballsparkin]

This dude came out for his 3pt combine drill and aired out his first shot...

I can see why he looks like a raptors type to some. I think Masai has come to terms with the fact that we don't need a full roster of that type of player.

lol for sure, it's a big jump. stranger things have happened.

[PhilBlackson]

If Jak is there at 9, do you draft him over Bryant, Coward, Essengue, Demin, or Queen?

No.

[Basketball_Jones]

I remember watching that Scottie workout he did for us where he was nailing 3’s and dunking. I mean, if CMB does that in an open gym workout for us then sure maybe he’s the pick? Scottie’s workout was damn impressive though I’m not sure CMB is even in the same league.

[CPT]

I do not understand the Yang lovefest.

He looks like a stiff. A stiff with some skills, but I don’t think he’d get them off against NBA length/athleticism.

Second round shot in the dark? Sure, whatever. 9th or even trading out of 9th to take him later. I don’t know about that.

[djsunyc]

I do not understand the Yang lovefest.

He looks like a stiff. A stiff with some skills, but I don’t think he’d get them off against NBA length/athleticism.

Second round shot in the dark? Sure, whatever. 9th or even trading out of 9th to take him later. I don’t know about that.

agreed. the draft process is so long and the hype videos are so well put together that you can convince yourself everyone can be a good nba player. good news is that we can trust masai to get someone that's good.

[WuTang_OG]

San antonio really likes sorber at 14 per kyle mann

[grant101]

I do not understand the Yang lovefest.

He looks like a stiff. A stiff with some skills, but I don’t think he’d get them off against NBA length/athleticism.

Second round shot in the dark? Sure, whatever. 9th or even trading out of 9th to take him later. I don’t know about that.

I think you’re may be overly focused fluidity. He’s a little stiff at the waist, but he’s really good at turning his hips, has very nimble feet and covers ground well north-south.

It also seems unfair that so many hold the CBA level of competition over him but don’t account for some of the lesser leagues in Europe for those prospects. It also means he hasn’t had the benefit of playing with solid guards. Everytime he goes against NBA length/athleticism as you say, he seems to do well. He dominated Sarr in the U18s, did well on a **** Chinese team at last years summer league, was one of the best players at the combine, and had no problems against Australia’s full squad at a recent qualifier. You can’t teach size, feel and touch, and he has all three. If he struggles in the league, it won’t be on offence (that said, there’s a non-zero chance that the defensive smarts/timing that led him to be chosen as DPOY in the CBA carry over).

I wouldn’t draft him at 9, but only because he’s going to be available later in the draft. The kid has potential and fits our offense perfectly. He reminds me of a young Marc Gasol/Zubac

[grant101]

I do not understand the Yang lovefest.

He looks like a stiff. A stiff with some skills, but I don’t think he’d get them off against NBA length/athleticism.

Second round shot in the dark? Sure, whatever. 9th or even trading out of 9th to take him later. I don’t know about that.

I think you may be overly focused fluidity. He’s a little stiff at the waist, but he’s really good at turning his hips, has very nimble feet and covers ground well north-south.

It also seems unfair that so many hold the CBA level of competition over him but don’t account for some of the lesser leagues in Europe for those prospects. It also means he hasn’t had the benefit of playing with solid guards. Everytime he goes against NBA length/athleticism as you say, he seems to do well. He dominated Sarr in the U18s, did well on a **** Chinese team at last years summer league, was one of the best players at the combine, and had no problems against Australia’s full squad at a recent qualifier. You can’t teach size, feel and touch, and he has all three. If he struggles in the league, it won’t be on offence (that said, there’s a non-zero chance that the defensive smarts/timing that led him to be chosen as DPOY in the CBA carry over).

I wouldn’t draft him at 9, but only because he’s going to be available later in the draft. The kid has potential and fits our offense perfectly. He reminds me of a young Marc Gasol/Zubac

[Rapsfan07]

If Jak is there at 9, do you draft him over Bryant, Coward, Essengue, Demin, or Queen?

No.

Over Coward might be very very hard. The rest of those guys, yeah I'd take him over easily.

[WuTang_OG]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

ssengue's predraft process continues to be put on hold as his season is prolonged, with Ulm now up 2-1 and in position to secure the championship with a win Tuesday. Regardless of when he arrives in the U.S., he will not conduct any private workouts for teams.

The Raptors are a franchise that rival teams have had a hard time pegging in terms of their intentions, partially because of the wide range of prospects that could be considered in this tier, and partially because of their roster, which has considerable depth at every position, besides perhaps center.

Essengue's length, mobility and defensive versatility would certainly fit the Raptors' DNA, even if his inconsistent perimeter shooting would create some challenges in spacing the floor effectively for the likes of Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. His youth, tools, two-way instincts and rapid rate of improvement this season suggest a high ceiling that some teams in this part of the draft could surely want to tap into. -- Givony

[bboyskinnylegs]

so basically, once again they don't really have any intel on what the Raps are doing with their pick, and are just guessing

[WuTang_OG]

morey lol

Edgecombe appears in pole position to hear his name called at No. 3 because of his unique talent, but also because Ace Bailey's clear determination to avoid teams in this range puts Philadelphia in a difficult position, potentially selecting someone who clearly does not want to play for them.

While sources say Edgecombe appeared nervous during his private workout in Philadelphia and did not shoot the ball particularly well in an unnatural one-on-one setting, he made a strong impression in interviews and meetings, something the front office values more highly.

Like Harper in San Antonio, Edgecombe's fit in Philadelphia's backcourt with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain doesn't appear to be seamless. Still, there's significant upside to tap into with the high-level explosiveness Edgecombe possesses, as well as the flashes he has shown as a passer, shooter and defender. -- Givony

With the Suns desperately needing to upgrade their frontcourt -- especially after losing their starting power forward in Durant -- Murray-Boyles is likely someone the team will consider heavily if they keep the pick, along with a more traditional big man such as Derik Queen. -- Givony

------Demin is another player who has been tough for teams to pin down his landing spot, having worked out for the vast majority of teams inside the top 20. Teams believe he's a candidate for Toronto, Portland, Chicago, and also a sleeper target for Brooklyn, but it's possible he slips past that -- at which point there's a best-available case for a team such as the Hawks to simply take a swing.

Demin would flat out shock me.

---Wolf has one of the wider ranges in the first round, with interest from several teams in the back half of the lottery, as well as several potential landing spots in the top 20, including Memphis, Minnesota and Brooklyn.

The uncertainty around where he winds up is due in part to a range of potential trade scenarios that could take place, but also the fact that Wolf's uncommon mix of size and skill set has been a polarizing evaluation for many around the NBA. His playmaking ability in the frontcourt could be a fit in Atlanta should he fall here, although there appears to be a growing chance he doesn't make it all the way to this spot. -- Woo

[Raptorfan2012]

I just don't have a good feeling about Noa Essengue... not sure what he will excel at in the NBA level. Kon doesn't get me excited that much either (but I am sure he will have a steady career). My top guys I want at 9 are Khaman, Bryant, and maybe even Demin. Would be excited if someone like Tre Johnson or Bailey fall. Also open to trading the pick.

[WuTang_OG]

They are going to take CMB arent they