2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[gerrit4]

I think we should only trade back if we think that the players available later are in the same tier. So for example, if Maluach is available at our pick but our FO thinks that Sorber and Beringer are equally good prospects, we should explore trading back because one would probably be available at #15. But, if our FO thinks that Beringer (for example) is a great prospect who is underrated on mock drafts and a better prospect than anyone available? Then we should take him at #9.

If our FO trades back purely because of internet mock drafts, then they should be fired. But if they think that the 4th tier of players starts at #9 and ends at #18, then trading back makes some sense.

[Double Helix]

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I hate his offensive game but he sees the game the way top inspact players tend to in that he’s out thinking on both ends constantly and reacting to changes fast and the Raptors love guys like that and have confidence in their development systems to improve offence over time.

[LoveMyRaps]

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[Godaddycurse]

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Probably didnt want to risk injury and lose millions of dollars

[ATLTimekeeper]

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What? The season isn't over? That's brutal.

[niQ]

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.

Yeaa.. I still hate the fit, but his defense might be hard for FO to pass on. I can totally see this happening though.

[niQ]

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Fellow draft prospect Ben Saraf

[Rodrickle]

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.

I think he'll have top 3 impact on the game (for this draft). I think he'll get his shot eventually. Just needs to be willing to let it fly from the beginning. He seems like the confident type. he's the type of player the coach will end up trusting in the playoffs. he's worth it at 9 imo. I can see OKC trying to trade up for him. Don't think he lasts to 15

[causal_fan]

I think we should only trade back if we think that the players available later are in the same tier. So for example, if Maluach is available at our pick but our FO thinks that Sorber and Beringer are equally good prospects, we should explore trading back because one would probably be available at #15. But, if our FO thinks that Beringer (for example) is a great prospect who is underrated on mock drafts and a better prospect than anyone available? Then we should take him at #9.

If our FO trades back purely because of internet mock drafts, then they should be fired. But if they think that the 4th tier of players starts at #9 and ends at #18, then trading back makes some sense.

What? Internet mock drafts and chatter are a lot of fun but no FO will be swayed by that stuff.

[Double Helix]

CMB is very Thunder-ish for sure.

[Godaddycurse]

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What? The season isn't over? That's brutal.

he has nothing to gain by keep playing and millions to lose if he gets injured

[Consequence]

Moving down for 13&22 feels a lot better than 15&24. Now 15&Cason Wallace I would be in to.

[Pointgod]

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They can’t keep getting away with this!

[grant101]

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.

You’re right about tiers being subjective, but you have to look at each draft as its own exercise with a specific set of players and I think the calibre of talent for this particular draft is fairly flat after the top 8 till the early 20s. That said, I think KM has unique value to a few teams sold on his upside. If you don’t share this same conclusion, then it makes sense to get more shots at acquiring talent. You can disagree with my assessment of the tiers, but I think it’s actually quite pertinent to the discussion.

That said, I agree that second rounders in this particular draft aren’t very valuable after the early 30s. I don’t recall saying otherwise.

Anyways, as mentioned in my previous post, what makes the OKC offer appealing is not the second rounders - it’s the possibility you could extract a future first round pick as part of the offer. We know that when OKC likes a player in the draft, they’re not afraid to dip into their stash of picks. If we can get a good one like philly’s 2026, then that becomes a very very interesting offer.

[Tor_Raps]

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

Topic was going to go top 5 last year if not for the injuries right? I doubt OKC throws him away like that... youre trading with the best franchise in the nba here

[grant101]

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What? The season isn't over? That's brutal.

he has nothing to gain by keep playing and millions to lose if he gets injured

He also wasn’t doing much in this series. He’s had a rough stretch of games now that the opposing team is decent. Saraf has showed out though

[grant101]

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

Topic was going to go top 5 last year if not for the injuries right? I doubt OKC throws him away like that... youre trading with the best franchise in the nba here

Teams are almost always overly attached to players they drafted. I think the smarter play is to get one of their future picks

[PushDaRock]

Moving down for 13&22 feels a lot better than 15&24. Now 15&Cason Wallace I would be in to.

lmao wtf we aren't even getting Wallace for #9 straight up

[WuTang_CMB]

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[MEDIC]

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.

CMB is a tough one. I think everyone knows he is going to be an impactful player & if he lands out of the top 10, some team is going to get really good value.....possibly top 5 player in a re-draft.

I wouldn't be against the Raptors taking him. He isn't in my top 5, but if he is an impact player & has elite level skills, he might be worth picking at 9. We need impact players. It doesn't really matter if that impact is on offense or defense. At this stage in the re-building process, we just need to collect as many impactful/ winning players as possible, then figure it out from there.

Edit: It's tough though.....with guys like Scottie & Mogbo already on the roster, do we really need another one of these archetypes (6'7" guy who is elite defensively, but can't shoot)? CMB seems to be what we all hoped Mogbo could become. I don't think CMB fills any holes that we have.....that's the challenge. I think he's on the Raps radar, but maybe not top 3.