2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[JCP11]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

[RoteSchroder]

I wonder if we can create a bidding war among competing teams after drafting Coward. Orlando could really use him. Sell him like he’s prime Klay Thompson.

[Boogie!]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

Why is everything about defense though. We neeed scoringgggggg
Look at the pacers. Part of what makes them so good is they’re balanced offensively. They don’t need the same guys to carry them every night.

[Rapsfan07]

I’ve made sort of a hard pivot of late and would like us to consider Jase/Kasp/Fears (if there) and look into moving IQ. I think RJ will be more valuable as a player moving forward and I think IQ is presently being overpaid.

Not sure what deal is out there but I’d make a consolidation trade with IQ and Dick to get around 40 million and see who we can get.

There is a Jak/IQ/Dick for Sabonis/Carter deal that can be made that allows us to still draft someone like Jase and have Carter/Jase/Walter run the ‘1’ and leave the bulk of the playmaking to Sabonis, Ingram, Scottie, RJ who are all 5+ assist guys

Pretty extreme roster change that depends on Scottie going up a level defensively to make up for Sabonis but it boosts the offensive floor even more and allocates IQ’s money to an actual star player. If Scottie takes a leap were even more stacked

if we want to try for the playoffs next year, trading IQ would hurt us so much offensively

I too am of the minority opinion that we should trade IQ but I'm going to hold off on pushing that until we see how this team gels this year.

As of now, he's definitely overpaid for what he brings but replacing him isn't as easy as we might think. As of now we have a solid shooter who's 25 and personality seems to work with everyone else. I'd hold on for now.

But long term, Barrett or Quickley has to go. It's possible it could be Barrett especially since he doesn't shoot but at the moment, he's also the best scorer we had last year, though that might change this year with Ingram in the fold.

[RoteSchroder]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

50/40/90 threat with solid defense. Not sure if he can reach a high average volume (18+ PPG in his prime would be ideal), but this archetype would be highly valuable and something we sorely need.

[canada_dry]

Man i don't understand people that say "goran 2.0" or "bigger goran" as if that's not a really really good player...

At number 9?! Sign me up.

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[canada_dry]

He seems like Goran Dragic 2.0. He might not even take minutes from Ja'Kobe. Egor Demin as a jumbo creator should get drafted before Jak.

Goran Dragic 2.0 takes minutes away from every back court player on our team. He made All NBA one year for petes sake. He was like Steve Nash lite at his peak. That player goes top 9 in almost any re-draft.

Not in his first 4 years. He did have a nice prime. I would say that Bryant could have a better and more useful prime for the team. Fleming could help right away from the corner and dunker spot and rebounding on both ends.

Just because he's comparable to Dragic doesn't mean he's going to have the exact same career path and take just as long to get good. I don't understand that logic. Respectfully.

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[Rapsfan07]

I wonder if we can create a bidding war among competing teams after drafting Coward. Orlando could really use him. Sell him like he’s prime Klay Thompson.

I'd rather just keep him and sell Orlando on Dick instead.

[S.W.A.N]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

Bumping him up my list based on that interview. That mentality is everything.

[Rapsfan07]

Man i don't understand people that say "goran 2.0" or "bigger goran" as if that's not a really really good player...

At number 9?! Sign me up.

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

They probably didn't watch Dragic play.

He was an extremely good player and getting that kind of a talent at #9 is insane value.

[RoteSchroder]

I wonder if we can create a bidding war among competing teams after drafting Coward. Orlando could really use him. Sell him like he’s prime Klay Thompson.

I'd rather just keep him and sell Orlando on Dick instead.

I’m guessing Dick would have little value to them, they’d probably like Ochai.

If we could wipe them of all their 2025 picks and a future 2026 pick, would you do it

[DonDoolie]

Man i don't understand people that say "goran 2.0" or "bigger goran" as if that's not a really really good player...

At number 9?! Sign me up.

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

They probably didn't watch Dragic play.

He was an extremely good player and getting that kind of a talent at #9 is insane value.

Cant shoot, cant defend and turns the ball over like crazy. We good on that

[GoRapstheoriginal]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45179882/2025-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-59-picks-post-combine-cooper-flagg-dallas-mavericks

[JCP11]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

Why is everything about defense though. We neeed scoringgggggg
Look at the pacers. Part of what makes them so good is they’re balanced offensively. They don’t need the same guys to carry them every night.

Why couldn't he become a good offensive player, he already has the shot and the strength to pretty much do whatever he wants on a court, he only needs to work on his handles and deepen his bag. He can get his shot off anytime anywhere he wants to with that wingspan. He could learn behind BI, Scottie and RJ to start off, no pressure to produce right away.

[Pooper]

For me I want either Fleming, Coward or Essengue. They are both two ways with with great consistent offensive skills with and you can never have too much of those. I know that there is currently a log jam between the 2 and 3 but you could always trade. I don't want Maluach or Carter Bryant as they are too raw and are inconsistent shooters. I would also rather take a big with the 39th pick than the 9th pick. Yang, Kalkbrenner, and Condon for me are way more intriguing than Maluach, CMB and Sorber.

[bballsparkin]

wrong thread

[DG88]

Interesting listening to the end of Samson Folk's Carter Bryant video/podcast. Apparently the Raptors really like Fears. If he's there they would take him.

Personally I'd be surprised if Fears even made it to us at 9.

[M3tro]

Masai sees this and he's going to take him:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hsBrTlGyeTY?si=oJhKlzJmk8VEkoaL

The more i watch him the more I find it hard to not want him at #9. He has everything you want physically and mentally. The shot is legit and he's a late bloomers that had to earn his way. That's what Masai usually likes right there.

Why is everything about defense though. We neeed scoringgggggg
Look at the pacers. Part of what makes them so good is they’re balanced offensively. They don’t need the same guys to carry them every night.

That should be our only focus this draft.

Dynamic offensive talent, regardless of position. I'd be tempted to trade up to guarantee myself that player.

[VanWest82]

This Cedric Coward hype is out of control lol. Givony has him mocked 30th post combine. You guys want us to take a flier on him at 9??

Assuming top 8 go as expected, we're likely picking between CMB, Jakucionis, Demin, and maybe Queen imo. There's a drop after that tier with more questions re body of work, positional size, and/or projectable potential. Out of those four, I bet we take Jak. He checks the most boxes. There will be a mins crunch but he's going to need to time anyway. Raps have lots of ball handlers but they could use a connector long-term. Maybe Jak is that guy. Can't force a young two way big if it's not there.

[JCP11]

This Cedric Coward hype is out of control lol. Givony has him mocked 30th post combine. You guys want us to take a flier on him at 9??

Assuming top 8 go as expected, we're likely picking between CMB, Jakucionis, Demin, and maybe Queen imo. There's a drop after that tier with more questions re body of work, positional size, and/or projectable potential. Out of those four, I bet we take Jak. He checks the most boxes. There will be a mins crunch but he's going to need to time anyway. Raps have lots of ball handlers but they could use a connector long-term. Maybe Jak is that guy. Can't force a young two way big if it's not there.

Who cares what Givony has to say? He's only one guy, the rest of experts have him ways higher than that. Cowards measurables, shot and combine performance are worth way more than the 30th spot. He's a late riser like Coulibaly and Jalen Williams was. No matter what Givony says ain't no way he's getting drafted 30th.