2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[mtcan]

I like 15, philly 26 and 44 for 9

Get your guy at 15, make the playoffs. Push sixers into the lottery. Bet on yourself.

The Sixers pick is top-4 protected for next season and turns into a second round pick in 2027. Odds of the Sixers ending up in the top 4 again next year?

[navyblue]

I like 15, philly 26 and 44 for 9

Get your guy at 15, make the playoffs. Push sixers into the lottery. Bet on yourself.

The Sixers pick is top-4 protected for next season and turns into a second round pick in 2027. Odds of the Sixers ending up in the top 4 again next year?

its a worthwhile risk.

[Jerry Lucas]

I think the ideal scenario for pick 39 if they keep it, is someone like Jase Richardson or Adou Thiero drops. If not I have no clue who they pick there.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Raps have been linked with almost everyone at this point -- Maluach, CMB, Queen, Essengue, Bryant etc. Nobody knows.

The Raps are picking 9 and 39, so they need to look at a wide range of players.

Have we been linked to Bryant? I don't think I've seen buzz on that yet.

It's hard to keep track of all the rumours and workouts and rumoured workouts.

[grant101]

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Thunder moving up for a big most likely, have to get a harkenstien replacement

I think this is right. Plus, OKC can't roster all those rookies. If Maluach is there at 9, I think you play Atlanta and OKC off of each other and extract as much value as you can. I would love if we trade down a few spots and pick up another future first.

[OakleyDokely]

Raps have been linked with almost everyone at this point -- Maluach, CMB, Queen, Essengue, Bryant etc. Nobody knows.

The Raps are picking 9 and 39, so they need to look at a wide range of players.

Have we been linked to Bryant? I don't think I've seen buzz on that yet.

It's hard to keep track of all the rumours and workouts and rumoured workouts.

He's been mocked to us quite a bit, but it's probably not due to any reputable reporting. Likely just guesses based on our drafting history with guys like OG, Siakam, Barnes etc .

[gerrit4]

I can't imagine us wanting two firsts this year. My guess is that if we trade down for something like #15 and #24, we'd look to trade that second pick for a future protected first.

And that would be nice! We'd have another asset to use in trades, or just a spare pick in an upcoming draft.

Unless we have a guy we love or a trade cooking, we already have 7 guys on rookie deals we are developing, so adding two more firsts this year may get a bit crowded.

[ATLTimekeeper]

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Thunder moving up for a big most likely, have to get a harkenstien replacement

I think this is right. Plus, OKC can't roster all those rookies. If Maluach is there at 9, I think you play Atlanta and OKC off of each other and extract as much value as you can. I would love if we trade down a few spots and pick up another future first.

fwiw, 2nd rounders are already toilet paper and moreso with the NIL. Anything out of the 30s is essentially a cash transaction. OKC has the trove, there's no need to take their offer without 2 future firsts to go all the way down to 15 from 9. Assuming that Atlanta's offer is 13 and 22, that is way better than 15, 24 and any number of 2nd rounders.

[grant101]

I like 15, philly 26 and 44 for 9

Get your guy at 15, make the playoffs. Push sixers into the lottery. Bet on yourself.

.

This is a killer move. I would even drop 44 if it helped push the deal through. 2026 is an even stronger draft than this year, and I have no faith in Philly being good.

[WuTang_OG]

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Ughhh

So, essentially, the NBA talking heads and draft guys have no idea what the Raptors are going to do...as usual.

And contradicting.
If we are looking for a dribble pass shoot guy, rim runners are not it.
If we are looking for a defensive guy, dribble pass shoot guys are not it.

All they know is we are looking for C or PF.

Tolzman said they are looking at 2 different types of centres. Would make sense if its KM or Queen. But I can see where they don't like either and would rather find a big later on for better value since thats what they like.

I think theres a lot of variables at play. I'd imagine Raps have a lot of scenarios if the board shakes out a certain way. Honestly if KM isn't really their guy, I would trade back with ATL who seem to love him (good fit with Trae) and pick up 2 picks at 13 and 22. I can easily see how they loved the narrative of them being attached to KM and he "wont get past TOR".

[grant101]

Thunder moving up for a big most likely, have to get a harkenstien replacement

I think this is right. Plus, OKC can't roster all those rookies. If Maluach is there at 9, I think you play Atlanta and OKC off of each other and extract as much value as you can. I would love if we trade down a few spots and pick up another future first.

fwiw, 2nd rounders are already toilet paper and moreso with the NIL. Anything out of the 30s is essentially a cash transaction. OKC has the trove, there's no need to take their offer without 2 future firsts to go all the way down to 15 from 9. Assuming that Atlanta's offer is 13 and 22, that is way better than 15, 24 and any number of 2nd rounders.

Agreed, Atlanta's deal is better, but OKC has a slew of future firsts that can balance the scale. If we can nab one or two of those, we're in a much better spot. Especially cause I disagree with your "all the way down to 15" sentiment. I don't love any of our options at 9 (unless someone like Fears of Kon falls) and think we'd basically be picking from the same tier.

[Raptorfan2012]

So, essentially, the NBA talking heads and draft guys have no idea what the Raptors are going to do...as usual.

And contradicting.
If we are looking for a dribble pass shoot guy, rim runners are not it.
If we are looking for a defensive guy, dribble pass shoot guys are not it.

All they know is we are looking for C or PF.

Tolzman said they are looking at 2 different types of centres. Would make sense if its KM or Queen. But I can see where they don't like either and would rather find a big later on for better value since thats what they like.

I think theres a lot of variables at play. I'd imagine Raps have a lot of scenarios if the board shakes out a certain way. Honestly if KM isn't really their guy, I would trade back with ATL who seem to love him (good fit with Trae) and pick up 2 picks at 13 and 22. I can easily see how they loved the narrative of them being attached to KM and he "wont get past TOR".

I will need more than just 13 and 22 to drop down. Will ask for Bufkin or Gueye or a young piece attached.

[WuTang_OG]

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[Double Helix]

The more I think about it the more I think the smart money is on CMB being the Raptors pick at 9.

Analytics models love this kid. In large part because he projects as a possible DPOTY type of defensive menace.

I think myself and probably many Raptors fans wanted to write him off because his offensive game is such a poor fit for this roster and becuse of how desperate we are for an offensive star but there has always been a lot about CMB that has felt super Raptors-y.

We spent our last two first round picks on more offensive focused weapons and I expect that may change because the Raptors organization is going to consider an elite defensive weapon with some offensive promise as superior to a medium upside offensive one with negative defence.

I won’t be surprised if he is considered BPA by our org at 9 and if we draft him. Even though the fit is not ideal on O and he needs a lot of work to branch out his shooting.

Julius Randle-ish O combining with Draymond level D is just going to be too tempting for Masai and Bobby and Dan to pass up. Prepare yourselves for CMB.

[Godaddycurse]

The more I think about it the more I think the smart money is on CMB being the Raptors pick at 9.

Analytics models love this kid. In large part because he projects as a possible DPOTY type of defensive menace.

I think myself and probably many Raptors fans wanted to write him off because his offensive game is such a poor fit for this roster and becuse of how desperate we are for an offensive star but there has always been a lot about CMB that has felt super Raptors-y.

I won’t be surprised if he is considered BPA by our org at 9 and if we draft him. Even though the fit is not ideal on O and he needs a lot of work to branch out his shooting.

Julius Randle-ish O combining with Draymond level D is just going to be too tempting for Masai and Bobby and Dan to pass up. Prepare yourselves for CMB.

could see this happening if we trade down, but not at 9

[WuTang_OG]

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[WuTang_OG]

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[causal_fan]

I'd take OKC 15,24 and a future FRP or 15 and 2 future FRP to move down - OKC has so many FRP that they could easily pay well to move up.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think this is right. Plus, OKC can't roster all those rookies. If Maluach is there at 9, I think you play Atlanta and OKC off of each other and extract as much value as you can. I would love if we trade down a few spots and pick up another future first.

fwiw, 2nd rounders are already toilet paper and moreso with the NIL. Anything out of the 30s is essentially a cash transaction. OKC has the trove, there's no need to take their offer without 2 future firsts to go all the way down to 15 from 9. Assuming that Atlanta's offer is 13 and 22, that is way better than 15, 24 and any number of 2nd rounders.

Agreed, Atlanta's deal is better, but OKC has a slew of future firsts that can balance the scale. If we can nab one or two of those, we're in a much better spot. Especially cause I disagree with your "all the way down to 15" sentiment. I don't love any of our options at 9 (unless someone like Fears of Kon falls) and think we'd basically be picking from the same tier.

Tiers are super subjective and irrelevant to me, but if a team wants to move up than they should be compelled to pay up and then it's what the market demands. Maybe the Raptors agree that 9 is as good as 15, but they are giving up their preference for that trade and that should be worth something.

I hate trading down as a strategy because you usually end up seeing someone really good go in that gap and it looks bad, and it's typically for the cost of extra picks in lower success outcome ranges (late firsts and 2nds). But, I'm just speculating based on the rumours here and what I think is best for the Raptors if they intend to trade the pick. The 2nd isn't worth the extra players you don't have the option of drafting.

[anotherhomer]

I think i prefer nikola topic, 15 and 26 for raps number 9 if okc willing to do that