2025 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

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Miles Byrd as late 1st pick? 3&D that can hit the 3 and shoots FT's at 90%. Danny Green with slightly better guard skills?

[Son Goku 25]

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Miles Byrd as late 1st pick? 3&D that can hit the 3 and shoots FT's at 90%. Danny Green with slightly better guard skills?

Andrew Nembhard?

[PhilBlackson]

I'm excited we got options so long as we stay within top 5-7. Hopefully we come out with best player and that player helps us win multiple ships.

I think worst case scenario is we end up with Maluach to fill in the backup C spot....not bad but it means another tanking season is needed.

I wouldn't say another tank is needed tbh, it all depends on how well Malauch develops

Tbh I think it will be damn near impossible to tank next year as well especially/most importantly with Masai's contract extension looming. You're crazy if you think he's not gonna start adding as soon as next year. It's not bloody likely that he goes to the negotiation table on the heels of several straight years in the top end of the lottery and just one Playoff appearance in the last 6 years which would also be several years ago at that point.

[Son Goku 25]

I'm excited we got options so long as we stay within top 5-7. Hopefully we come out with best player and that player helps us win multiple ships.

I think worst case scenario is we end up with Maluach to fill in the backup C spot....not bad but it means another tanking season is needed.

I wouldn't say another tank is needed tbh, it all depends on how well Malauch develops

Tbh I think it will be damn near impossible to tank next year as well especially/most importantly with Masai's contract extension looming. It's not bloody likely that he goes to the negotiation table on the heels of several years straight in the top end of the lottery and just one Playoff appearance in the last 6 years which would also be several years ago at that point.

That's my concern as well.

This is the year to try to get a player better than Scottie if I'm being honest. After that you develop and get lucky surprise players who are better than expected and then some trades and you're back in. The east from the looks of it will likely be about the same top heavy with lots of room to make playoffs and surprise teams so I'm not that concerned about that. Just gotta hope we get a better player this coming draft and stay healthy.

[TNRaps4life]

Ace High School. Talent is there. HS translate to nba

https://youtu.be/QuSEX4Qvi6M?si=c69r0A4Y0fuf_dlC

[Clutch0z24]

Wouldn't be surprised if we took CMB if we were to fall out of the top 5.

I mean end of the day you have to go Best Player Available and CMB's stats are strong aside from the FTs, but that's not a lot of shooting with Barnes, Mogbo and a center (Poeltl for now obviously, hard to find a unicorn who can hit 3s and protect the rim).

We just got done watching a terrible team that started opening day with 7 guys whose best position is probably power forward.

I guess Barnes could play the 3, but I really think he's an ideal 4, and if he's the 3, you probably want a Markkannen or Jabari Smith type shooter at the 4.

Only thing i worry about CMB is hes only 6"7 and he does not have a 3 point shot....Hes not a stretch big and in college he gets most his buckets as a post big....At 6"7 in the NBA that might not work that well....If he was a legit stretch big i could see him carving a good role for himself but it would be tough without a 3 pointer at that size...Good college numbers just worried about if they will translate to the NBA.

[S.W.A.N]

Wouldn't be surprised if we took CMB if we were to fall out of the top 5.

I mean end of the day you have to go Best Player Available and CMB's stats are strong aside from the FTs, but that's not a lot of shooting with Barnes, Mogbo and a center (Poeltl for now obviously, hard to find a unicorn who can hit 3s and protect the rim).

We just got done watching a terrible team that started opening day with 7 guys whose best position is probably power forward.

I guess Barnes could play the 3, but I really think he's an ideal 4, and if he's the 3, you probably want a Markkannen or Jabari Smith type shooter at the 4.

Only thing i worry about CMB is hes only 6"7 and he does not have a 3 point shot....Hes not a stretch big and in college he gets most his buckets as a post big....At 6"7 in the NBA that might not work that well....If he was a legit stretch big i could see him carving a good role for himself but it would be tough without a 3 pointer at that size...Good college numbers just worried about if they will translate to the NBA.

Exactly.

[Thaddy]

In the NBA the one skill that keeps you on the court is key. Sometimes we get enamoured with potential but without that one playable skill it's hard to give playing time and no playing time stunts growth. In the past Masai's picks have have all had some form of that single core skill:

Dick: Shooting
Shead: Man defense
Chomche: Rim protection
Walter: 3+D
Mogbo: Defensive versatility

In the draft outside of the obvious 3 of Bailey, Harper, and Flagg.

Jakunionis: Guard skills Potential: Perimeter scorer/creator
Johnson: Creation Potential: 3 level scorer if he can finish at the rim in the NBA
Maluach: Rim protection Potential: Stretch Potential: DPOTY

These are the only 3 I can see outside the top 3 who don't have any glaring issues and will be immediately playable but also a decent degree of potential.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Ace High School. Talent is there. HS translate to nba

https://youtu.be/QuSEX4Qvi6M?si=c69r0A4Y0fuf_dlC

I thought that but Suggs looked like Brandon Roy in HS

[TNRaps4life]

Ace High School. Talent is there. HS translate to nba

https://youtu.be/QuSEX4Qvi6M?si=c69r0A4Y0fuf_dlC

I thought that but Suggs looked like Brandon Roy in HS

And Suggs has been playing well.

[Yallbecrazy]

I mean end of the day you have to go Best Player Available and CMB's stats are strong aside from the FTs, but that's not a lot of shooting with Barnes, Mogbo and a center (Poeltl for now obviously, hard to find a unicorn who can hit 3s and protect the rim).

We just got done watching a terrible team that started opening day with 7 guys whose best position is probably power forward.

I guess Barnes could play the 3, but I really think he's an ideal 4, and if he's the 3, you probably want a Markkannen or Jabari Smith type shooter at the 4.

Only thing i worry about CMB is hes only 6"7 and he does not have a 3 point shot....Hes not a stretch big and in college he gets most his buckets as a post big....At 6"7 in the NBA that might not work that well....If he was a legit stretch big i could see him carving a good role for himself but it would be tough without a 3 pointer at that size...Good college numbers just worried about if they will translate to the NBA.

Exactly.

Think of him as a SF/PF. Shot isn't broken and has improved. He defends the perimeter incredibly well and if his shot comes along then he can be an elite wing who will score at will inside vs other wings in the NBA and hopefully can develop an outside game to score easily vs centres on the perimeter. He reminds me of a college Kawhi. Kawhi developed an elite outside shot and handle, CMB isn't there yet, but has potential because his strengths (inside scoring, rebounding, defending) are pretty elite. He's also a good passer of the ball.

[Yallbecrazy]

I'm really interested in conference play for Queen and Sorber as I'm much more excited about them than Malauch.

[ArthurVandelay]

I'm really interested in conference play for Queen and Sorber as I'm much more excited about them than Malauch.

Maluach best choice, imo, would be to enter the transfer portal and go to another program next year, similar to what Kel'el Ware did going from Oregon to INdiana.

I'm not impressed by what I'm seeing at Duke.

[God Squad]

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.

I think I like Jeremiah Fears more than Fland. Fears has slowly been moving up my nonexistent draft board.

Agreed...Fears at least theoretically may be able to guard 1-3. I know Fland is actually supposed to be a fairly "solid" defender because he has a good sense of anticipation in general (both offensively & defensively) but 6'2 & skinny is what it is lol. And if we're drafting him to be IQ's replacement then he'd obv be here more so for what he does offensively so he's not even gonna push himself that hard on the defensive end. But Fears also looks like if he cleans up his 3pt shot that there's a chance for him to actually be dynamic as he has a little "Kyrie" to his game.

But the only way I'm looking at any of them is if we fell outta the top 10 and personally I'd also consider Saraf as well. I'm not even sure why he seems to continue to go under the radar all year. If we're outside of the top 10, I'd prob look at Fears, Saraf or Noa then notch below that Traore or Powell. Truth is though I'd be pretty damn pissed if we fall outta the top 8 lol.

When I watch Fears I think his "elite" skills would be his first step and getting consistent paint touches. Which IMO is very much an underappreciated NBA skill. It's also something our teams have lacked for a long time.

[God Squad]

Ace High School. Talent is there. HS translate to nba

https://youtu.be/QuSEX4Qvi6M?si=c69r0A4Y0fuf_dlC

Now I want Ace to be "HIM" like the next guy. He's the perfect fit for our current roster construction. But he's not even close to being even good in terms of BPM. He's just not great right now regardless of the big/contested shots he takes. Also, why post-HS highlights when we have over 10 NCCA against better competition?

Ace wouldn't be the first or last "great" HS player who fizzles out in the NCAA. Happens every year, even for projected top 1-10 picks.

Spoiler:

I really wish he was playing better. But IMO he's OUT of the top 1-2 selections and it's 2man race with Harper/Flagg ATM

[God Squad]

Ace High School. Talent is there. HS translate to nba

https://youtu.be/QuSEX4Qvi6M?si=c69r0A4Y0fuf_dlC

I thought that but Suggs looked like Brandon Roy in HS

And Suggs has been playing well.

But he doesn't play anything like he did when he was in HS, is the point. What he used to do, didn't work anymore. Suggs adjusted his game to become an elite defender, not a big-time shot maker.

[Reeko]

Only thing i worry about CMB is hes only 6"7 and he does not have a 3 point shot....Hes not a stretch big and in college he gets most his buckets as a post big....At 6"7 in the NBA that might not work that well....If he was a legit stretch big i could see him carving a good role for himself but it would be tough without a 3 pointer at that size...Good college numbers just worried about if they will translate to the NBA.

Exactly.

Think of him as a SF/PF. Shot isn't broken and has improved. He defends the perimeter incredibly well and if his shot comes along then he can be an elite wing who will score at will inside vs other wings in the NBA and hopefully can develop an outside game to score easily vs centres on the perimeter. He reminds me of a college Kawhi. Kawhi developed an elite outside shot and handle, CMB isn't there yet, but has potential because his strengths (inside scoring, rebounding, defending) are pretty elite. He's also a good passer of the ball.

Yes, I don't like saying it because people think you're saying he's the next Kawhi even if you're not, but he does remind me of some blend of Kawhi and Scottie. As you said the shot is not broken, he's shooting 33% from 3 this year, he's also shown an ability to get from the 3 point line to the rim. He's going to cook guys in the post because he has legitimate post moves and he looks like he has a pretty long wingspan.

[Jerry Lucas]

I'm really interested in conference play for Queen and Sorber as I'm much more excited about them than Malauch.

I have potentially bad news for you about Sorber. He could be this year's CMB, as he may or may not go back to school for his sophomore season. It's been mixed reporting from what I've seen though, so I'd guess as of right now close to a 50/50 chance he stays in the draft.

[Psubs]

I'm really interested in conference play for Queen and Sorber as I'm much more excited about them than Malauch.

I have potentially bad news for you about Sorber. He could be this year's CMB, as he may or may not go back to school for his sophomore season. It's been mixed reporting from what I've seen though, so I'd guess as of right now close to a 50/50 chance he stays in the draft.

Get that 2nd 1st pick and give him a guarantee. Then draft both CMB AND Sorber.

Use the Portland 2nd on one of the Ivisic's. Since neither of them are good 3pt shooters yet, draft Zvonimir.

Fernando and Boucher should be off the team next season.

BENCH
PG Shead
SG Jakobe
SF Mogbo - Battle
PF CMB - Sorber
C Ivisic - Chomche

[ArthurVandelay]

Broome reminds me of Sabonis.

He's injured, shoulder...and not the first time. I think he could end up being another pick everyone talks themselves out of.

https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/2024/12/18/auburn-basketball-johni-broome-injury-bruce-pearl/