2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 5

[Thaddy]

Edgecombe's athleticism is a wash due to his size. His shot, handle, and several other part of his game show he doesn't have elite guard skills like Tre Johnson. I would hope someone reaches for him before our pick so we have a better prospect drop to us.

[Clutch0z24]

I get people not wanting to take Maluach (I've said many times I'd take Queen) but man do I ever think some of you are super downplaying him...

Talking like "all he'll ever be is a backup" when he hasn't even played a single NBA game lol.

So per 40 in college...

Jarrett Allen - 16.7ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.9pbg....and the guy has been in all-star consideration and easily one of CLE's most important players.

Khaman Maluach - 16.2ppg, 12.4rpg, 2.4bpg....rebounded & blocks shots at a higher rate and "I'm worried about it", shoots higher percentages from everywhere on the court and is showing more potential to hit 3s at a younger age while being substantially bigger than Allen -- and "will not be able to play 15 mins for a Playoff team"

We'll also forget the context that Khaman played with a STACKED Duke roster eating up some of those numbers vs Allen's Texas team which should've allowed JA to do more.

Just ridiculous lol.

Yeah That is the most upside you will get from Maluach if all things go well...Is Jarrett Allen....Now its a good productive player and can help your team...But is that an All star? Or a potential star player?....No....And thats if all things go well.....Which is the most scary part about drafting Maluach as high as 7 for me....If we are being honest with ourselves he has the highest bust potential and injury potential out of the bunch...

Could be a fire able offense if we tank all season to draft a bust....Me personally i don't think he will bust but i don't know if he will reach the level alot of the Khaman believers think he will...I hope i am wrong if we do draft him.

But to me i feel there will still be players available at 7 that could reach a higher level than Maluach and will also be better than Maluach right away when drafted. I just watch the playoffs and if there are players that could even potentially be a high level dynamic player you go with that over a player that needs so much work to just end up being Jarrett Allen....Its a tough sell for me at 7th...If we were 13, 14,15th id agree with Maluach believers 100 percent...Even at 8th id prolly take him over the majority of guys...But at 7th still players will be OTB i like more....

If its Tre Johnson Vs Maluach its a no Brainer you go Tre especially in todays NBA, Maluach vs Queen im going Queen just for the offensive game being so much advanced, Maluach vs Fears....This can be debated more but Fears if he hits his ceiling thats a potential dynamic player....

[TheRaptor!]

ty jerome making a name for himself

[Oakvillehoops]

ty jerome making a name for himself

Davion Mitchell playing amazing too

[BoyzNTheHood]

Edgecombe's athleticism is a wash due to his size. His shot, handle, and several other part of his game show he doesn't have elite guard skills like Tre Johnson. I would hope someone reaches for him before our pick so we have a better prospect drop to us.

I hope the GM’s in front of us think like you.

[Clutch0z24]

ty jerome making a name for himself

Davion Mitchell playing amazing too

I remember the hot takes when Davion was available for trade in here lol....Many said hes just a chucker and you can't win with him.....Boy were they wrong.

[Thaddy]

Edgecombe's athleticism is a wash due to his size. His shot, handle, and several other part of his game show he doesn't have elite guard skills like Tre Johnson. I would hope someone reaches for him before our pick so we have a better prospect drop to us.

I hope the GM’s in front of us think like you.

Name a similar prospect who turned out well.

[mademan]

Waching Sengun, Malauch over Queen would just be crazy to me. Skill over length every single time. This is a skill league

[Clutch0z24]

Everyone should watch this Rockets game and watch how Sengun is playing....This is what most experts think Queen will be in the NBA....Very valuable player in a playoff setting.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Edgecombe's athleticism is a wash due to his size. His shot, handle, and several other part of his game show he doesn't have elite guard skills like Tre Johnson. I would hope someone reaches for him before our pick so we have a better prospect drop to us.

I hope the GM’s in front of us think like you.

Name a similar prospect who turned out well.

Mitchell, Oladipo, and Westbrook.

[PhilBlackson]

I get people not wanting to take Maluach (I've said many times I'd take Queen) but man do I ever think some of you are super downplaying him...

Talking like "all he'll ever be is a backup" when he hasn't even played a single NBA game lol.

So per 40 in college...

Jarrett Allen - 16.7ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.9pbg....and the guy has been in all-star consideration and easily one of CLE's most important players.

Khaman Maluach - 16.2ppg, 12.4rpg, 2.4bpg....rebounded & blocks shots at a higher rate and "I'm worried about it", shoots higher percentages from everywhere on the court and is showing more potential to hit 3s at a younger age while being substantially bigger than Allen -- and "will not be able to play 15 mins for a Playoff team"

We'll also forget the context that Khaman played with a STACKED Duke roster eating up some of those numbers vs Allen's Texas team which should've allowed JA to do more.

Just ridiculous lol.

Yeah That is the most upside you will get from Maluach if all things go well...Is Jarrett Allen....Now its a good productive player and can help your team...But is that an All star? Or a potential star player?....No....And thats if all things go well.....Which is the most scary part about drafting Maluach as high as 7 for me....If we are being honest with ourselves he has the highest bust potential and injury potential out of the bunch...

Could be a fire able offense if we tank all season to draft a bust....Me personally i don't think he will bust but i don't know if he will reach the level alot of the Khaman believers think he will...I hope i am wrong if we do draft him.

But to me i feel there will still be players available at 7 that could reach a higher level than Maluach and will also be better than Maluach right away when drafted. I just watch the playoffs and if there are players that could even potentially be a high level dynamic player you go with that over a player that needs so much work to just end up being Jarrett Allen....Its a tough sell for me at 7th...If we were 13, 14,15th id agree with Maluach believers 100 percent...Even at 8th id prolly take him over the majority of guys...But at 7th still players will be OTB i like more....

If its Tre Johnson Vs Maluach its a no Brainer you go Tre especially in todays NBA, Maluach vs Queen im going Queen just for the offensive game being so much advanced, Maluach vs Fears....This can be debated more but Fears if he hits his ceiling thats a potential dynamic player....

Allen being "the most upside" simply isn't true lol. I literally just showed how we was both a better rebounder & shot blocker at the same age but most importantly he shot VASTLY higher percentages both from the FT line and field which may be the completely untapped part of his game which there were flashes of in BAL when he was getting more touches. If Jarrett Allen could suddenly hit mid range to 3pt shots as Khaman has shown flashes of he'd be a completely different level player. Khaman also shows very soft touch around the rim if you watch some of the hook shots and just lay up finishes he makes when he's not dunking everything. This is also at 7'2 with a longer wingspan and will probably have 30+pds on Allen by the time Maluach reaches his physical prime. I'm not sure there's a great comparison of Maluach's potential because no it certainly is NOT an Embiid type of player but a 7'2 monster that can defend the rim, rebound AND potentially knock down jumpers could have a huge impact overall.

That being said yes I favor a more dynamic player like Queen because as you said (and I pointed out a couple pages ago when I made an argument for Queen) when the Playoffs hit, you want more than one player that can create their own shot...and then others. BI & Queen would give us that. I love Tre, I know I was one of the first people talking about him when the college season started (along with Fears) but idk if it kinda feels like a diminishing return considering almost HALF the roster is SGs lol (RJ, JaKobe, Ochai, Gradey, Battle, Lawson, Rhoden). That's SEVEN of our 15 roster spots, Tre would make LITERALLY make MORE than half the roster. I just don't see them drafting him at all for that reason even if I like him myself. Likewise with Fears they just paid IQ (too much) and Shead has pretty much cemented that back up role. I don't buy that this FO will ACTUALLY go BPA even though I really, really like both of them - they'll just sell us who they select as the "BPA" regardless of who it is.

And I don't think it's coincidence that the FO has not only publicly acknowledged they want a YOUNG big but have also refused to try to address the backup C position with an actual NBA player lol. Even last year Masai said he wanted a young C to develop and don't tell me Chomche as he's almost at a grade school level of bball IQ, love the kid and his physical traits to be a great defender eventually but he can't be compared to Maluach, KM was a the backbone defensively of the top program in college, Chomche wouldn't get on the court. But again I prefer Queen anyways and think he's the fair "compromise" in some ways because he offers some upside to be a bit more "dynamic" while also fulfilling a NEED that I'm almost certain the FO is gonna use this pick to address whether that's what either of us want or not. If anything I just worry about a team like the Nets drafting him before we can.

[Clutch0z24]

I get people not wanting to take Maluach (I've said many times I'd take Queen) but man do I ever think some of you are super downplaying him...

Talking like "all he'll ever be is a backup" when he hasn't even played a single NBA game lol.

So per 40 in college...

Jarrett Allen - 16.7ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.9pbg....and the guy has been in all-star consideration and easily one of CLE's most important players.

Khaman Maluach - 16.2ppg, 12.4rpg, 2.4bpg....rebounded & blocks shots at a higher rate and "I'm worried about it", shoots higher percentages from everywhere on the court and is showing more potential to hit 3s at a younger age while being substantially bigger than Allen -- and "will not be able to play 15 mins for a Playoff team"

We'll also forget the context that Khaman played with a STACKED Duke roster eating up some of those numbers vs Allen's Texas team which should've allowed JA to do more.

Just ridiculous lol.

Yeah That is the most upside you will get from Maluach if all things go well...Is Jarrett Allen....Now its a good productive player and can help your team...But is that an All star? Or a potential star player?....No....And thats if all things go well.....Which is the most scary part about drafting Maluach as high as 7 for me....If we are being honest with ourselves he has the highest bust potential and injury potential out of the bunch...

Could be a fire able offense if we tank all season to draft a bust....Me personally i don't think he will bust but i don't know if he will reach the level alot of the Khaman believers think he will...I hope i am wrong if we do draft him.

But to me i feel there will still be players available at 7 that could reach a higher level than Maluach and will also be better than Maluach right away when drafted. I just watch the playoffs and if there are players that could even potentially be a high level dynamic player you go with that over a player that needs so much work to just end up being Jarrett Allen....Its a tough sell for me at 7th...If we were 13, 14,15th id agree with Maluach believers 100 percent...Even at 8th id prolly take him over the majority of guys...But at 7th still players will be OTB i like more....

If its Tre Johnson Vs Maluach its a no Brainer you go Tre especially in todays NBA, Maluach vs Queen im going Queen just for the offensive game being so much advanced, Maluach vs Fears....This can be debated more but Fears if he hits his ceiling thats a potential dynamic player....

Allen being "the most upside" simply isn't true lol. I literally just showed how we was both a better rebounder & shot blocker at the same age but most importantly he shot VASTLY higher percentages both from the FT line and field which may be the completely untapped part of his game which there were flashes of in BAL when he was getting more touches. If Jarrett Allen could suddenly hit mid range to 3pt shots as Khaman has shown flashes of he'd be a completely different level player. Khaman also shows very soft touch around the rim if you watch some of the hook shots and just lay up finishes he makes when he's not dunking everything. This is also at 7'2 with a longer wingspan and will probably have 30+pds on Allen by the time Maluach reaches his physical prime. I'm not sure there's a great comparison of Maluach's potential because no it certainly is NOT an Embiid type of player but a 7'2 monster that can defend the rim, rebound AND potentially knock down jumpers could have a huge impact overall.

That being said yes I favor a more dynamic player like Queen because as you said (and I pointed out a couple pages ago when I made an argument for Queen) when the Playoffs hit, you want more than one player that can create their own shot...and then others. BI & Queen would give us that. I love Tre, I know I was one of the first people talking about him when the college season started (along with Fears) but idk if it kinda feels like a diminishing return considering almost HALF the roster is SGs lol (RJ, JaKobe, Ochai, Gradey, Battle, Lawson, Rhoden). That's SEVEN of our 15 roster spots, Tre would make LITERALLY make MORE than half the roster. I just don't see them drafting him at all for that reason even if I like him myself. Likewise with Fears they just paid IQ (too much) and Shead has pretty much cemented that back up role. I don't buy that this FO will ACTUALLY go BPA even though I really, really like both of them - they'll just sell us who they select as the "BPA" regardless of who it is.

And I don't think it's coincidence that the FO has not only publicly acknowledged they want a YOUNG big but have also refused to try to address the backup C position with an actual NBA player lol. Even last year Masai said he wanted a young C to develop and don't tell me Chomche as he's almost at a grade school level of bball IQ, love the kid and his physical traits to be a great defender eventually but he can't be compared to Maluach, KM was a the backbone defensively of the top program in college, Chomche wouldn't get on the court. But again I prefer Queen anyways and think he's the fair "compromise" in some ways because he offers some upside to be a bit more "dynamic" while also fulfilling a NEED that I'm almost certain the FO is gonna use this pick to address whether that's what either of us want or not. If anything I just worry about a team like the Nets drafting him before we can.

I hope you are right about Maluach being better than Allen...But you said hes shown Mid range and shooting....I don't think he has 1 mid range jumpshot in his entire Duke season....He has not shown he can do it on the college level consistently if at all.... Let alone in the NBA

Also we are not good enough imo to draft on need or our roster we have now....We won 30 games last season you just have to go BPA.....And Tre upside is way 2 good to pass on....Again Maluach vs Fears can be debated. Maluach at the end of the day will be best suited in his NBA career as a rim running P&R lob threat imo....If you let him take 3 pointers or try and create for himself you will see alot of bad basketball and ugly misses. Thats just not his game at all.

Just watch these playoffs and watch Senguns impact vs Jarrett Allens impact ....Its night and day who is the better producer...And thats basically Queen vs Maluach.

[mademan]

Malauch becoming Allen would be incredible, but he doesnt have the same athleticism. He's big and long and has good mobility for his size, but Allen is a an incredible athlete and Malauch's high hips dont let him move the same way and allow him to get knocked off balance easier. Offensively, maybe. But theyre completely different defensive player types

[Godaddycurse]

Just watch these playoffs and watch Senguns impact vs Jarrett Allens impact ....Its night and day who is the better producer...And thats basically Queen vs Maluach.

Sengun feasting on a tiny GSW lineup isn't much to write about. If he does this against Denver/OKC/Minny (teams with real centers) then i'll be impressed

[Godaddycurse]

Malauch becoming Allen would be incredible, but he doesnt have the same athleticism. He's big and long and has good mobility for his size, but Allen is a an incredible athlete and Malauch's high hips dont let him move the same way and allow him to get knocked off balance easier. Offensively, maybe. But theyre completely different defensive player types

I think his best outcome is to become someone like brook lopez, not allen.

[PhilBlackson]

Spoiler:

Yeah That is the most upside you will get from Maluach if all things go well...Is Jarrett Allen....Now its a good productive player and can help your team...But is that an All star? Or a potential star player?....No....And thats if all things go well.....Which is the most scary part about drafting Maluach as high as 7 for me....If we are being honest with ourselves he has the highest bust potential and injury potential out of the bunch...

Could be a fire able offense if we tank all season to draft a bust....Me personally i don't think he will bust but i don't know if he will reach the level alot of the Khaman believers think he will...I hope i am wrong if we do draft him.

But to me i feel there will still be players available at 7 that could reach a higher level than Maluach and will also be better than Maluach right away when drafted. I just watch the playoffs and if there are players that could even potentially be a high level dynamic player you go with that over a player that needs so much work to just end up being Jarrett Allen....Its a tough sell for me at 7th...If we were 13, 14,15th id agree with Maluach believers 100 percent...Even at 8th id prolly take him over the majority of guys...But at 7th still players will be OTB i like more....

If its Tre Johnson Vs Maluach its a no Brainer you go Tre especially in todays NBA, Maluach vs Queen im going Queen just for the offensive game being so much advanced, Maluach vs Fears....This can be debated more but Fears if he hits his ceiling thats a potential dynamic player....

Spoiler:

Allen being "the most upside" simply isn't true lol. I literally just showed how we was both a better rebounder & shot blocker at the same age but most importantly he shot VASTLY higher percentages both from the FT line and field which may be the completely untapped part of his game which there were flashes of in BAL when he was getting more touches. If Jarrett Allen could suddenly hit mid range to 3pt shots as Khaman has shown flashes of he'd be a completely different level player. Khaman also shows very soft touch around the rim if you watch some of the hook shots and just lay up finishes he makes when he's not dunking everything. This is also at 7'2 with a longer wingspan and will probably have 30+pds on Allen by the time Maluach reaches his physical prime. I'm not sure there's a great comparison of Maluach's potential because no it certainly is NOT an Embiid type of player but a 7'2 monster that can defend the rim, rebound AND potentially knock down jumpers could have a huge impact overall.

That being said yes I favor a more dynamic player like Queen because as you said (and I pointed out a couple pages ago when I made an argument for Queen) when the Playoffs hit, you want more than one player that can create their own shot...and then others. BI & Queen would give us that. I love Tre, I know I was one of the first people talking about him when the college season started (along with Fears) but idk if it kinda feels like a diminishing return considering almost HALF the roster is SGs lol (RJ, JaKobe, Ochai, Gradey, Battle, Lawson, Rhoden). That's SEVEN of our 15 roster spots, Tre would make LITERALLY make MORE than half the roster. I just don't see them drafting him at all for that reason even if I like him myself. Likewise with Fears they just paid IQ (too much) and Shead has pretty much cemented that back up role. I don't buy that this FO will ACTUALLY go BPA even though I really, really like both of them - they'll just sell us who they select as the "BPA" regardless of who it is.

And I don't think it's coincidence that the FO has not only publicly acknowledged they want a YOUNG big but have also refused to try to address the backup C position with an actual NBA player lol. Even last year Masai said he wanted a young C to develop and don't tell me Chomche as he's almost at a grade school level of bball IQ, love the kid and his physical traits to be a great defender eventually but he can't be compared to Maluach, KM was a the backbone defensively of the top program in college, Chomche wouldn't get on the court. But again I prefer Queen anyways and think he's the fair "compromise" in some ways because he offers some upside to be a bit more "dynamic" while also fulfilling a NEED that I'm almost certain the FO is gonna use this pick to address whether that's what either of us want or not. If anything I just worry about a team like the Nets drafting him before we can.

I hope you are right about Maluach being better than Allen...But you said hes shown Mid range and shooting....I don't think he has 1 mid range jumpshot in his entire Duke season....He has not shown he can do it on the college level consistently if at all.... Let alone in the NBA

Also we are not good enough imo to draft on need or our roster we have now....We won 30 games last season you just have to go BPA.....And Tre upside is way 2 good to pass on....Again Maluach vs Fears can be debated. Maluach at the end of the day will be best suited in his NBA career as a rim running P&R lob threat imo....If you let him take 3 pointers or try and create for himself you will see alot of bad basketball and ugly misses. Thats just not his game at all.

I didn't say he will, I said he has the POTENTIAL to be better than Allen just to be clear lol. Likewise I also said he had shown flashes of a mid range & 3pt shot in BAL and no it would be impossible for him to show that consistency at Duke because they literally didn't run any plays for him to show any of that. Obv in BAL he was much more of a focal point/greater freedom offensively so he showed more there. I know obv that's lesser competition but he can only show what the coaching staff allows him to, we've seen that happen to (much) greater players than himself in college ie/ AD & KAT (to a lesser extent). But Scheyer as a 1st coach at Duke following one of the GOAT college coaches of all time and inheriting a supposed "generational" prospect along with multiple other top recruits (ie/ Kon, Evans, Proctor etc) didn't have the leash to develop or test things out, it was all about winning and making sure guys play their roles hence why a kid like Evans that would start on vast majority of college teams was forced to come off the bench. But the FT% and percentages from the floor are there that there's at least POTENTIAL there to be greater.

Also being a "30W team" is a bit disingenuous...I'm not sure the exact numbers but I'll be surprised if our full starting lineup even played 1/3 of the season together an I'd say for almost 3/4 of the season we were missing multiple starters and that's not even factoring Ingram as one of them. We could EASILY been a lot better than that at full health, we were fighting to LOSE games lol. BUT again love Tre but I simply don't see the FO considering an EIGHTH shooting guard (period) and maaaybe they'll consider Fears but I still have my doubts considering the lack of minutes available. Can't say it enough that I don't think it's any coincidence that we lack an actual NBA level backup C and Masai flat out saying that's what he wants lol. To be clear personally I don't even debate Fears vs Maluach, I think Fears has more star potential but don't see them doing it. Because I don't see them considering any guards, the only non C I might see them looking at is Carter Bryant.

Personally I like any of Queen, Bryant (would've been Fears had I believed the FO would do it) or Maluach (prob in that order). So it's not like I'm personally attached to drafting Maluach but again I just think people writing him off as a "bust" or "backup at best" is a bit crazy when we haven't seen him in the NBA yet considering he has a higher starting point (and potential) than a current borderline all-star C especially with a franchise that develops as well as we do.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Waching Sengun, Malauch over Queen would just be crazy to me. Skill over length every single time. This is a skill league

Thinking the same thing. Especially with his weak lower body, I can see him being boxed out of close paint touches with physicality. Queen is a big body that can actually dribble for real.

[PhilBlackson]

Waching Sengun, Malauch over Queen would just be crazy to me. Skill over length every single time. This is a skill league

Thinking the same thing. Especially with his weak lower body, I can see him being boxed out of close paint touches with physicality. Queen is a big body that can actually dribble for real.

The biggest thing for me is that he can self create...and then for others which is prob THE most important ability in the Playoffs.

We seen with MIL today what happens when teams key into just one player that can do it. Then they just force the "others" to beat you and ofc 9/10 they can't. Not to mention it helps keep your overall offence stay consistent when you can always have one of them on the floor to prevent any droughts throughout a game when roleplayers play tight in big moments.

If you have 2 on the court it's hard to guard that because you just swing it until one of them gets the ball and the opposing teams simply can't "cheat" defensively as they do which leads to the surrounding cast getting better looks too if they try to do so. But with a bully like Queen on the block, you're forced to collapse and then with his passing it's just target practice with one of those being BI who will just finesse tfo whoever tries to guard him one on one nvm RJ as a cutter with guys like IQ, JKW, GD, Battle rotating everywhere to get shots. Not to mention Scottie & Mogbo are great weak side defenders that can help rim protect (which is the actual defensive weakness of DQ, not on ball as some mistakenly think).

[MainEvent]

Queen is going to show up in the best shape of his life in these workouts and teams will be moving him up their boards especially if he shows potential from 3 which I'm sure he's been focusing on.

Bryant is also too low on some boards, i've seen him mid 20s. If you were creating an NBA player physically he would be it. 6'8 long athletic already 220+ pounds . he's going to look good in a gym setting. He would need to really work on his handle + driving and unlock some self creation to reach the next level but he has a safe floor as a 3+D with good size

[UnbelievablyRAW]

If I told you Kasparas was taller Podz, would that entice you at 7?