2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[DreamTeam09]

How, all fair options, all fit a need, those are pretty rational from a fanbase perspective actually lol

Yea, I'd say it's fairly similar to a poll (albeit with less options) we had on realgm.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2448667

Masai always goes against the grain. It won't be who fans want.

JKW was unanimously BPA
GD we knew long before as he was high on our board because we needed a shooter
Even going back to Flynn, we needed a PG and took the last 1st round potential PG

When's the last time we went against the grain with a 1st even the Suggs vs Barnes debate, it was one of the other,

[Johnston]

I could see Masai taking Noa Essengue at 9.

I sure hope not. There are will be high ceiling and high floor players available.

This is a fireable offense IMO.

??? lol how on earth can you say that's a fireable offense, no1 at 9 is a sure-fire stud, everyone has their pros n cons? What makes you Nostradamus here

I justed lol'd at the other guys post. It gives us much needed size and athleticism. Projects to be a similar player as Pascal and we have had success drafting and developing that Archetype. Masai has been over there scouting him and Traore. With our glut of guards, I can't imagine taking Traore unless that is another trade that happens. I'm not saying this guy is a superstar in the making or w/e but putting the pieces together, it kind of makes sense especially since we dropped to 9.

[DreamTeam09]

How, all fair options, all fit a need, those are pretty rational from a fanbase perspective actually lol

Maluach with a 20 vote advantage is wild. He’s not good.

This is giving me Skal Labissiere vibes (not the comps) but how everyone was locked in on him and Masai said nah

Completely different from the top 10 to the bottom 5 of the first round - we aren't going totally left field at 9

[WuTang_CMB]

I just don't see him taking minutes from Walter/Shead. Coward may be a good bench scoring option right now and make take a while to get PT like Aaron Nesmith. A team like Brooklyn should take Coward with one of their picks in the 20's.

He will immediately get minutes. This team does not have a jumbo creator and neither Shead or IQ bring that.
Perfect fit for Darko's system and at the PG position will have ++ length/height to help on both ends.

If you are referring to Jakucionis, he is unlikely the defender you want at PG. I think the better option is Philon down the 1st.
Coward being senior could be in the late 1st by a playoff team.

Neither is IQ at this point. Jak's length will help him and you hope he can be a neutral guy. But the talent is hard to deny if he's there at 9

[DG88]

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[BoyzNTheHood]

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[WuTang_CMB]

Yea, I'd say it's fairly similar to a poll (albeit with less options) we had on realgm.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2448667

Masai always goes against the grain. It won't be who fans want.

JKW was unanimously BPA
GD we knew long before as he was high on our board because we needed a shooter
Even going back to Flynn, we needed a PG and took the last 1st round potential PG

When's the last time we went against the grain with a 1st even the Suggs vs Barnes debate, it was one of the other,

GD and JKW were rarely mentioned in these draft threads the last 2 years because they were mocked much earlier.

[Indeed]

I asked chat gpt for a list of players who weren’t projected to go top 10 but ended up sneaking into the top 10 late in the process. Not a bad list.

2023:
Bilal Coulibaly rose rapidly late in the process from outside the top 20 to being drafted 7th overall by the Pacers (traded to Wizards).
Taylor Hendricks was largely off preseason boards and ended up going 9th to the Jazz.
2022:
Jalen Williams (Santa Clara) was seen as a late first or second-rounder until workouts and combine; he went 12th (just outside top 10, but same pattern).
Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite) was not a lock for top 10 early in the year but rose to 8th overall.
2021:
Josh Giddey wasn’t a consensus top-10 pick early but climbed due to international performance and OKC’s interest, going 6th.
Franz Wagner was mocked in the 10–15 range most of the year but ended up 8th.
2020:
Patrick Williams was a mid-to-late first-round prospect in early mocks, went 4th overall after rising through combine and workouts.

Obviously his rise was not as dramatic as Coulibaly or other name that you listed but last year we can mention Zach Edey. At this stage he was mostly mock in the teens and some Raps fans were even debating whether to take him or not at #19. The closer we got to draft day it becomes clear he was not going to be around at #19 and could even sneak in the top10.

Edey is a bit different, because he was ranked lower due to being a senior, but his performance (BPM) was there.
If you are drafting a freshman, it might be best to compare with freshmen, and they may drop (actual skill out weighted potential when draft)

[WuTang_CMB]

Maluach with a 20 vote advantage is wild. He’s not good.

This is giving me Skal Labissiere vibes (not the comps) but how everyone was locked in on him and Masai said nah

Completely different from the top 10 to the bottom 5 of the first round - we aren't going totally left field at 9

Nope. People wanted Skal at 9

[Indeed]

He will immediately get minutes. This team does not have a jumbo creator and neither Shead or IQ bring that.
Perfect fit for Darko's system and at the PG position will have ++ length/height to help on both ends.

If you are referring to Jakucionis, he is unlikely the defender you want at PG. I think the better option is Philon down the 1st.
Coward being senior could be in the late 1st by a playoff team.

Neither is IQ at this point. Jak's length will help him and you hope he can be a neutral guy. But the talent is hard to deny if he's there at 9

I have Jakucionis in our range, but I am unsure his fit.
I think we are better off picking a big or wing if available than guard.

[Johnston]

Maluach with a 20 vote advantage is wild. He’s not good.

This is giving me Skal Labissiere vibes (not the comps) but how everyone was locked in on him and Masai said nah

Completely different from the top 10 to the bottom 5 of the first round - we aren't going totally left field at 9

Define "left field"? Every scouts big board should be different. We have an elite scouting and development team Even on our whiffs (Bruno for example) there are no consensus wins after him. Every now and there there is a player like Jokic that 40+ teams missed. I assume they take their BPA regardless of what the list on Tankarhon, ESPN or NBA draft.net says.

[Rapsfan07]

I think whomever we pick will be thrusted into the bench mob aka probably won't be spending much time in the G-League. Raptors are going to try to win next season, so less time trying to develop. As such, I think NBA-ready is going to be an important characteristic.

There are 3 main positions we need to fill:

- Back up big: Maluach if he is available at 9. If not, there are several back up big potentials in the 2nd round such as Ryan Kalkbrenner, Rocco Zikarsky, Hansen Yang, Maxime Rynaud, Alex Condon etc.

- 3-D wing: A position we have sorely missed since trading OG. Carter Bryant will be a great fit here but I wonder how NBA-ready he is. Fleming and Coward may be another option (probably more NBA ready). Not so sure about guys like Riley, Essengue, or McNeeley.

- Back up PG: I think this is one is less of a priority as we already have Quickley and Shead, but there is a possibility the Raptors want more of a field general at the lead guard spot. I can see a possibility we entertain drafting guys like Kasp or Traore with the 9th pick, or maybe pick one up with our 39th pick like Proctor, Pettiford, Fland, Philon etc.

I agree with the areas of need. Good summary.

- Back up big: At the top of my list is Danny Wolf. He might be a stretch at 9, but he won't be available at pick 39 so I still take him lotto. To me, he is a 7ft quick processor, can handle like Hedo in pick and roll and can shoot it a bit, so he brings a ton of offensive versatility. He has legit C size and above average mobility and coordination. He also is play now and won't take two years to develop like KM. What stands out to me is at Yale he was more of a traditional big and then he went point-C at Michigan. That shows real role versatility. He is just scratching the surface of his potential IMO.

- 3-D wing: I'd look to the second round for this option. Top of my board for guys likely to be available at 39 is Micah Peavy. Really outstanding defender and his shooting has really improved. He is a senior but he was a top scorer for his team while also being an elite defender. Gives me some Brogdon vibes given his development path and intelligence. Undrafted route and to just get into our system, I love Jahmyl Telfort from Butler. He is built well at 6'7 shot 36% and just is a tough. He's a Montreal kid too.

- Back-up PG: I'd look to the undrafted market for this. My top guy for a two-way deal is Aurora legend Ryan Nembhard. He'll be great with the 905 and play with other CanBall types like AJ Lawson.

Danny Wolf at #9? That's brutal man, I'm not gonna lie.

[BoyzNTheHood]

So we have to watch the Cooper Flagg interview without seeing the game? They can’t PIP this interview?

[Rapsfan07]

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Don't understand why people like him over Coward.

[RoteSchroder]

I kind of want to avoid Queen and Fears

[Johnston]

This is giving me Skal Labissiere vibes (not the comps) but how everyone was locked in on him and Masai said nah

Completely different from the top 10 to the bottom 5 of the first round - we aren't going totally left field at 9

Nope. People wanted Skal at 9

We have to check ourselves a little bit here. In the grand scheme of drafting outside of some YouTube clips and watching a few games we don't know anything. I know this org, character and personality are a huge part of the drafting process. It why they went out of their way to trade for Ochai (they had kept tabs on him since the draft because they loved his attitude). Same goes fo Scottie, Pascal etc. I'm willing to bet a lot of these guys, the difference in talent overall is very small.

[Rapsfan07]

kasparas jakucionis could have the same type of year that JKW had where they started off strong and tapered off in 2nd half of year due to injury

6'6" with shoes
6'8" wingspan
35" max vert

I know the defense is a little suspect but this team desperately needs a creator at the top and get into the lane

If we stay at #9, I think this is the kind of player I'd want to take a chance on. He's at the top of my list followed by Fleming and Coward but I'm hoping we can acquire a later pick to grab one of those guys.

Couldnt agree more. Whats your thoughts on Traore

I'm warming up.

I was super high on him this time last year. I thought for sure he would have been a Top 5 player but things didn't really shake his way.

I'm worried about his shooting and his right hand dominance but he gets to the basket with good ease, super quick which I like and passes the ball well.

The question I ask myself is if the player we draft never improves, is he still going to be at least serviceable? I'm not sure about that with him. With guys like Fleming, Coward or even Kasp for example, worst comes to worst we should be able to get at least some bench production. Can we say the same about Traore? I'm not sure.

[dTox]

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[Indeed]

I kind of want to avoid Queen and Fears

I am lower on Queen, but Fears seem to measured well with being a good shooter, so what exactly is the issue with Fears?

[DreamTeam09]

Masai always goes against the grain. It won't be who fans want.

JKW was unanimously BPA
GD we knew long before as he was high on our board because we needed a shooter
Even going back to Flynn, we needed a PG and took the last 1st round potential PG

When's the last time we went against the grain with a 1st even the Suggs vs Barnes debate, it was one of the other,

GD and JKW were rarely mentioned in these draft threads the last 2 years because they were mocked much earlier.

That's just proving my point, we haven't been taking these "risks" / "out of no where" prospects as of late