2025 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

[Syd-TK3]

Folks that don't want Ace, please name 4 players on our team that has more potential. I wait. He is only 19 and will be 19 at the draft. Gym rat and what he lacks is coachable.

He's actually only 18 just turned it in August

[RoteSchroder]

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I’ve never left the Ace train. I see flaws but I see greatness too.

If he’s a gym rat, strives to be great, is coachable, and loves basketball, I draft him in a heartbeat.

Folks that don't want Ace, please name 4 players on our team that has more potential. I wait. He is only 18 and will be 18 at the draft. Gym rat and what he lacks is coachable.

Chomche, Scottie, RJ, IQ, Ja'Kobe, Gradey, Mogbo, AJ Lawson

Battle and Ace are about a tie

Shead's BPM as a freshman: 1.7
Ace: 1.1 and declining

No player in NBA history has ever gotten a 1.1 BPM or lower in college in any season and gone on to be an NBA star.

[Ell Curry]

Ace is a tricky one. His interviews and workouts are going to be important. But if you think he's got his head on right and just needs to be coached up you take him no problem.

Flagg and Harper are the tier 1 projects in this draft right now.
Ace, Egor, Tre, and Kasparas are the second tier.

V.J. if he starts shooting and doesn't measure out too poorly belongs in that second tier.

That is 5 maybe 6 guys that all would work great on the raptors roster. VJ is the one I have the most questions about fit wise but I'd take every one of those 5 guys over anyone in the 2024 draft.

I don't really see the fit issues with V.J Edgecombe.

We don't really have perimeter defenders and our shooters look promising.

So, assuming we can't move Brown or Boucher and use the MLE this summer on a backup center since Olynyk looks old, like Aldama/NanceJr/IsaiahJackson/Portis.

Edgecombe and Agbaji are the energy/defensive wings and Walter and Dick split time so we have a high volume shooter out there (along with Quickley). Barrett plays a bit of minutes at different spots, and we probably operate without a true backup PG since Barnes and Barrett can be a ballhandler when Quickley sits and Edgecombe (or Walter) can check PGs.

Poeltl 30 - (Olynyk or MLE) 18
Barnes 20 - Mogbo 16 - Barrett 12
Dick 20 - Agbaji 24 - Barrett 4
Edgecombe 24- Walter 20 - Dick 4
Quickley 30- Barnes 14 - Barrett 4

and we probably eventually look to trade Barrett for a center, or Barrett and a young wing for an upgrade on the wing, maybe with some picks included. We can probably find a backup 5 with one of the 2026 1sts (either by picking or via trade). Wing minutes looks a little tight, but that's true if we draft anyone but Maluach, really, with the possible exception of Flagg being a forward who plays big enough for us to try Barnes-Flagg at the 5 and 4 for like 5-10 minutes a night and see how that looks. And if even one guy is injured, which feels reasonable since we're talking about a 10 man rotation, everyone on the wing gets 5 more minutes and gets to a normal 25-30 minutes a night.

If we assume the 2026 picks are going into the rotation, we'll be up to 12 guys (or 11 if we don't use the MLE I guess, maybe we take on a Gabe Vincent, Colen Anthony or Kleber 1 year of ugly money instead to get a bunch of 2nd rounders or a 1st round swap for doing so). So we're probably looking at a 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 trade at some point (including the 2026 picks as players).

But yeah, Edgecome would give us a wing who can get some stocks and drive, which we don't have. With Quickley back, we should have normal to good NBA spacing, so one of those with great potential on D makes sense.

[Brinbe]

Ace is fine, he has obvious skill and talent, period. It's not as if he doesn't have the ability to pass or take better shots, it's all about shifting, molding and improving his mindset/mentality and it's crazy to say he's a lost cause as a 18-year-old. I also don't think it'd really be a problem on this team when we have a plethora of passers and are badly in need of a bigger wing bucket getter/play finisher.

I'm sure the FO have eyes for Harper and he'd indeed be a great fit but I still would be fine with Bailey.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Ace is fine, he has obvious skill and talent, period. It's not as if he doesn't have the ability to pass or take better shots, it's all about shifting, molding and improving his mindset/mentality and it's crazy to say he's a lost cause as a 18-year-old. I also don't think it'd really be a problem on this team when we have a plethora of passers and are badly in need of a bigger wing bucket getter/play finisher.

I'm sure the FO have eyes for Harper and he'd indeed be a great fit but I still would be fine with Bailey.

For me, I just look at the low assist to TO ratio as a symptom of a greater problem. Also, drafting for niche need, like "badly in need of a bigger bucket getter/play finisher" is a bad drafting strategy that high in the draft.

Lost cause isn't how I look at it, but I think the low BPM is hard to stomach. You're really hoping he's an anomaly at that point. That's a lot of risk. But, maybe his draft stock slides a little and he wises up and improves over the rest of the year.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

1. Harper, 2. Flagg, 3. Bailey, 4. Kasparas, 5. VJ (who I've come around on more after watching more fiba stuff with NBA players), 6. Denim

Given our whole coaching staff is just about development, I see any guy we take having a great opportunity to hit their ceiling. If we get the number 1 pick I'd even be inclined to trade back to 2 to get Harper and assets

[Clutch0z24]

1. Harper, 2. Flagg, 3. Bailey, 4. Kasparas, 5. VJ (who I've come around on more after watching more fiba stuff with NBA players), 6. Denim

Given our whole coaching staff is just about development, I see any guy we take having a great opportunity to hit their ceiling. If we get the number 1 pick I'd even be inclined to trade back to 2 to get Harper and assets

Tre Johnson has to be on the list somewhere....Walking bucket

[ArthurVandelay]

Ace is fine, he has obvious skill and talent, period. It's not as if he doesn't have the ability to pass or take better shots, it's all about shifting, molding and improving his mindset/mentality and it's crazy to say he's a lost cause as a 18-year-old. I also don't think it'd really be a problem on this team when we have a plethora of passers and are badly in need of a bigger wing bucket getter/play finisher.

I'm sure the FO have eyes for Harper and he'd indeed be a great fit but I still would be fine with Bailey.

For me, I just look at the low assist to TO ratio as a symptom of a greater problem. Also, drafting for niche need, like "badly in need of a bigger bucket getter/play finisher" is a bad drafting strategy that high in the draft.

Lost cause isn't how I look at it, but I think the low BPM is hard to stomach. You're really hoping he's an anomaly at that point. That's a lot of risk. But, maybe his draft stock slides a little and he wises up and improves over the rest of the year.

Ace's stats goes against everything I usually adhere to in watching prospects. My affinity for Ace is not rational, that is for sure. I truly believe he is going to be a much better pro than college player due to better spacing. Someone else said it, his success likely depends on where he ends up. If he ends up on a team where he's expected to be the guy, I don't see much success. But if he goes to a team with a strong development, where he won't need to be THE guy right away, then I think by the time he is 21 (3rd year NBA), he's going to be very good.

[Psubs]

1. Harper, 2. Flagg, 3. Bailey, 4. Kasparas, 5. VJ (who I've come around on more after watching more fiba stuff with NBA players), 6. Denim

Given our whole coaching staff is just about development, I see any guy we take having a great opportunity to hit their ceiling. If we get the number 1 pick I'd even be inclined to trade back to 2 to get Harper and assets

Tre Johnson has to be on the list somewhere....Walking bucket

Tre had one blowout game where he passed more and had 4 assists and 0 turnovers. I think of all the players in this draft he has the highest potential to average 30ppg. Maybe he's at least a bigger Beal? Proper size for a SG. It's like Vince Carter being drafted 5th overall, but can also find gems at #9 and #10.

[DG88]

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[Landomar]

Harper / Kasparas
Edgecombe / Johnson
Denim / Bailey
Flagg
Maluach / Queen

That's a pretty good group to be picking from. I like Queen a lot, and am also interested in Maluach, which makes the top of the draft 9 deep for me currently.

[Scase]

I will be over the moon with any of Harper/Ace/Flagg.

[Badonkadonk]

Harper / Kasparas
Edgecombe / Johnson
Denim / Bailey
Flagg
Maluach / Queen

That's a pretty good group to be picking from. I like Queen a lot, and am also interested in Maluach, which makes the top of the draft 9 deep for me currently.

Also liking Boogie Fland out of Arkansas and Asa Newell at Georgia from what I've seen recently.

Honestly after Flagg/Harper, I think it's pretty wide open. Not gonna be mad with anybody in the top 10 if the Raps don't luck into top 2.

[Jerry Lucas]

For anyone still sleeping on Derik Queen, the time for that to end is now.

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[ATLTimekeeper]

I've got the Tankathon top 14 ranked in FTA rate

Jakucionis .582
Murray-Boyles .495
Harper .462
Queen .455
Riley .436
Flagg .383
Maluach .381
Demin .333
Edgecombe .281
Newell .271
Bailey .241
Traore .223
Knueppel .210
Johnson .207

For the most part it tracks as the jump shooters relying on their jump shot too much. Jakucionis is an outlier as a shooter and driver.

[Jerry Lucas]

I've got the Tankathon top 14 ranked in FTA rate

Jakucionis .582
Murray-Boyles .495
Harper .462
Queen .455
Riley .436
Flagg .383
Maluach .381
Demin .333
Edgecombe .281
Newell .271
Bailey .241
Traore .223
Knueppel .210
Johnson .207

For the most part it tracks as the jump shooters relying on their jump shot too much. Jakucionis is an outlier as a shooter and driver.

The one thing I don't agree with the above tweet I posted, was that a lower than 30+ FTr suggests a lower hit rate. In general this is usually true, but I think for guards specifically the minimum can be lower (like 20+ FTr). But for forwards and bigs it has to be 30+ FTr.

[PhilBlackson]

Harper / Kasparas
Edgecombe / Johnson
Denim / Bailey
Flagg
Maluach / Queen

That's a pretty good group to be picking from. I like Queen a lot, and am also interested in Maluach, which makes the top of the draft 9 deep for me currently.

Also liking Boogie Fland out of Arkansas and Asa Newell at Georgia from what I've seen recently.

Honestly after Flagg/Harper, I think it's pretty wide open. Not gonna be mad with anybody in the top 10 if the Raps don't luck into top 2.

Naaaah, I’d be super disappointed with Newell in particular. He just looks like a smaller Lively. An unskilled PF/C that can leap won’t do much to really raise the ceiling of the team. I like Fland but another small guard to at best battle with IQ for a starting spot but not really a franchise guard is a diminished return. Remaining in the top 8 is vitally important.

[RoteSchroder]

Bogojlub should get lotto consideration, he's better than Ace

[Psubs]

Harper / Kasparas
Edgecombe / Johnson
Denim / Bailey
Flagg
Maluach / Queen

That's a pretty good group to be picking from. I like Queen a lot, and am also interested in Maluach, which makes the top of the draft 9 deep for me currently.

Also liking Boogie Fland out of Arkansas and Asa Newell at Georgia from what I've seen recently.

Honestly after Flagg/Harper, I think it's pretty wide open. Not gonna be mad with anybody in the top 10 if the Raps don't luck into top 2.

Naaaah, I’d be super disappointed with Newell in particular. He just looks like a smaller Lively. An unskilled PF/C that can leap won’t do much to really raise the ceiling of the team. I like Fland but another small guard to at best battle with IQ for a starting spot but not really a franchise guard is a diminished return. Remaining in the top 8 is vitally important.

Exactly. He's a young Johni Broome.

[RoteSchroder]

Top 6 in no order:
Kasparas
Ace
Flagg
Tre
Harper
Edgecombe

If we pick at 7, who do we take: Noa Essengue, Sorber, Queen, Bogoljub, Maluach, Fears, Demin, McNeeley