2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[PushDaRock]

Those Niederhauser measurables going to get a lot of teams intrigued

[Psubs]

Maluach looks HEAVY hope he can keep the weight off a bit more

https://www.si.com/college/purdue/basketball/nobody-should-be-surprised-by-zach-edey-success-2024-nba-scouting-combine-purdue-boilermakers-basketball-matt-painter

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[Psubs]

Those Niederhauser measurables going to get a lot of teams intrigued

Right! Maybe he's a better prospect than Joan Beringer.

[Dennis 37]

Blake Griffin will be forever linked to that rigged dunk contest where he won because he jumped over the sponsor's car.

I know it won't happen, but I wonder if Flagg is considering dropping out of the draft and returning to college. Does he really want the narrative that his draft will be forever looked on as rigged? This is worse that Knicks getting Ewing or Cleveland getting LeBron. None of those teams had a narrative that it looked like they dumped a superstar for a peanut butter and jam sandwich, due to league direction, and were rewarded.

Counter: Does Flagg want to be the one that screwed over Dallas and messed up an entire draft?

The NBA screwed over Dallas by convincing them to gift their superstar to LA.

[Dalek]

I still am in awe of Jaku's numbers:
6’4 ¾ barefoot, 205.2 lbs with a 6’7 ¾" wingspan and 8’4" standing reach

Dylan's Harper by comparison:
6’4 1/2 barefoot, 213.2 lbs with a 6’10 ½" wingspan and 8’6" standing reach

Considering he shot similarly on threes and is likely a better passer it isn't a terrible fallback at 9.

My guy Will Riley gained weight since last year. Riley at 6’8 ¼ barefoot, 185.6 lbs with a 6’8 ¾" wingspan and 8’8” standing reach is gaining momentum for me. He has star upside if he can add the weight to his frame. If we trade out of 9 he is a worthy pick.

This guy is a baby Luka. The 3pt % are a bit deceiving, because he also had to take a lot of forced shots and was consistently the focal point of the offense. Key thing is he can create and break down defenses. Something IQ is not good at. As much as we have paid big money for IQ last off season, the dude needs to be traded. People will realize in two years that he is the bottleneck for this team.

I do see what you mean by "Baby Luka." I think many European guards idolize Luka because he is a superstar and try to emulate his signature moves. Jaku drives me a bit nuts with it, because he seems to only resort to step-back in game. It is a weird shot diet.

Still, if he irons out the shot, he can possibly be a starter. He is not a weak guard, has great footwork and shifty handle, and is not afraid of contact. He reminds me most of Goran Dragic but his downside is that of Greivis Vasquez.

[WuTang_CMB]

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Best shooter in the class imo.

effortless shot

[ATLTimekeeper]

Those Niederhauser measurables going to get a lot of teams intrigued

Right! Maybe he's a better prospect than Joan Beringer.

He's 4 years older! This guy isn't getting drafted.

[XTC]

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Potential target at #39. Came in with a lot of hype but didn't produce as much as expected. That UNC team had a lot of guards though which took away some playing time and touches for him. 38% from three is encouraging but that was only on 1 make per game.

I can almost guarantee Carter Bryant is going top 10

[Psubs]

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Best shooter in the class imo.

effortless shot

His vert, agility and run scores are crazy for what I thought of him. I figure he's been training hard since the season ended.

He really should be considered at #3.

[PushDaRock]

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Best shooter in the class imo.

effortless shot

Gary Trent Jresque

[WuTang_CMB]

Jaku looks like a baller. His ceiling may not be as high as many others, but I think he's gonna figure it out and become a solid rotation player for whoever drafts him.

I see the issue with his drop off after mid-January, but prior to that in November and December he was arguably a top five player. During that time he averaged 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Illinois had wins over No. 19 Arkansas and No. 20 Wisconsin so it wasn't against all bad teams.

I just want to say that people going crazy over Dylan Harper mainly are excited over his FTR and at the rim% but these two compare pretty well against each other.

Jaku
64.4% at the rim
49.6 FTR
85% FT

Harper
70% at the rim
41.9 FTR
75% FT

If you squint you can see Tyrese Haliburton in Jaku's game but he needs to cut down turnovers and not take as many step-backs. He resorts to that shot way too much and it bails out the defense and it hurts his percentages. I do think he is physical and tough enough for the NBA so he will figure things out. He's not a typical Raptor's player, but if going by talent and BPA, I think 9 is good value because I see the outline of a three level scorer with passing reads that are NBA level. I have to dig more into his turnovers, but he has some passes that are Haliburton like:

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Good post. Always liked Lithuianian talent. Played a bunch of them in HS. They are serious players. Jak has talent and the NBA game will serve him better than college with more space to operate.

[PushDaRock]

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Potential target at #39. Came in with a lot of hype but didn't produce as much as expected. That UNC team had a lot of guards though which took away some playing time and touches for him. 38% from three is encouraging but that was only on 1 make per game.

I can almost guarantee Carter Bryant is going top 10

I am talking about Drake Powell

[Dalek]

Those Niederhauser measurables going to get a lot of teams intrigued

Right! Maybe he's a better prospect than Joan Beringer.

He is a super mobile C that is bigger than Beringer from what I can tell. In the second round, my ranks for Cs are:

1. Maxime Raynaud
2. Bogoljub Marković
3. Joan Beringer
4. Alex Condon
5. Yanic Konan Niederhauser

I do prefer some shooting and handling skills, so I prefer skilled bigs over guys like YKN who are more deep bench options.

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Potential target at #39. Came in with a lot of hype but didn't produce as much as expected. That UNC team had a lot of guards though which took away some playing time and touches for him. 38% from three is encouraging but that was only on 1 make per game.

I can almost guarantee Carter Bryant is going top 10

#9 is being drafted at #9 by the Toronto Raptors.

Then trade Dick, Agbaji or Barrett to get Rasheer Fleming. I think he goes around #13-17. Trade with Orlando at #16.

[XTC]

Tre Johnson is a top 3 player in this draft.

He was a bucket in college, measured out well, his combine athletic testing has been fantastic so far.

Hes got a handle, he's got size, he's a natural scorer, and he's athletic. Kid is going to be up there with Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell in a couple years.

[Morris_Shatford]

If we're staying at #9:
1. Queen
2. Fleming
3. Traore
4. Jakucionas

PLEASSSSSEEEEE no Maluach.
PLEASSSSSEEEEE no CMB

I am echoing the Fleming Sentiment

He might be our Serge Ibaka 2.0, that can guard forwards better but giant C's worse. Though at the end of games, those giants usually do not see the floor.

On defense I see the Serge Ibaka intensity on offense he strikes me as a guy who could have a Siakam like game if he puts the effort into it;
I am hesitant to use 9 on him, but I like his game.

[Psubs]

Those Niederhauser measurables going to get a lot of teams intrigued

Right! Maybe he's a better prospect than Joan Beringer.

He is a super mobile C that is bigger than Beringer from what I can tell. In the second round, my ranks for Cs are:

1. Maxime Raynaud
2. Bogoljub Marković
3. Joan Beringer
4. Alex Condon
5. Yanic Konan Niederhauser

I do prefer some shooting and handling skills, so I prefer skilled bigs over guys like YKN who are more deep bench options.

With Chomche being the raw defensive PF/C, I want Raynaud so we never have to see O-Rob or Castelton again.

[WuTang_CMB]

I don't know who is drafting Maluach in the top 8 though.

Wizards have Sarr, they have other needs and won't use the 6th pick in the draft on a guy who is probably just a solid starting C 4 years from now they are desperate for a player who could become a star even if it's a fringe chance. Look for them to take Fears or Knueppel, maybe Queen if they fall for the "local guy" angle and think he can be a PF, might even be a dark horse for CMB as they are desperate for defence and some think CMB has star potential.

Pelicans could take him, but they just used a first on Yves Missi, some are saying they really want a PG of the future out of this draft, Fears or Jak would make a lot of sense for them.

Nets already have Claxton plus Sharpe and Clowney as developing young bigs, they have a desperate need for PGs, they only have Melton as Russell was only acquired to get draft picks off the Lakers and is probably not in their long term plans.

Teams that are picking do not think with this kind of Logic when picking players on potential in the top parts of the draft....If you like a player in your range and they are available you take them no matter "Fit" or who you have on your team....These teams picking in the 5-6-7-8 area are not good enough to pick players based on needs or fits....Its to get the best player with the highest upside....And Khaman just like Masai would have taken him over a few players in that range....Other teams will as well....

So from your perspective Maluach is BPA for a team above us, but not for us at pick 9? Do I have that right? I'm not sure how both things can be true. In any case, Wizards aside, I definitely expect some teams to factor in team need for who they draft, there are lots of teams that draft for need and not just BPA. The Wizards will draft BPA, but I don't see that being Maluach at 6.

Teams will always lean on better fit if they view the players as in the same tier. Masai just admitted this below

From three to about 12, it's who you like or how you like it. So we'll figure out how we like it and how to manoeuvre.”

and I don't think this is just smoke or anything and it kind of goes with what we've been saying so far in this draft. that next tier after the top guys is all bunched up and it will be on preference.

[Clutch0z24]

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Best shooter in the class imo.

effortless shot

Gary Trent Jresque

Watch the games....he plays nothing like GTJR....GTJR basketball IQ and consistency is at an all time low....This guy has both Basketball IQ and he is very consistant...2 diff players not even a good comp...

[ciueli]

Teams that are picking do not think with this kind of Logic when picking players on potential in the top parts of the draft....If you like a player in your range and they are available you take them no matter "Fit" or who you have on your team....These teams picking in the 5-6-7-8 area are not good enough to pick players based on needs or fits....Its to get the best player with the highest upside....And Khaman just like Masai would have taken him over a few players in that range....Other teams will as well....

So from your perspective Maluach is BPA for a team above us, but not for us at pick 9? Do I have that right? I'm not sure how both things can be true. In any case, Wizards aside, I definitely expect some teams to factor in team need for who they draft, there are lots of teams that draft for need and not just BPA. The Wizards will draft BPA, but I don't see that being Maluach at 6.

I never said that....If Maluach ends up to you at 9 you take him as well....At 7 it would be a little rich for my liking personally but if he is the one to fall to you at 9 you take it....I just have my doubts he is going to be there....Again you might be thinking of this with a bias hat on because you want Maluach to be a Raptor really badly....Think of it from a logical perspective....The potential will be too high for teams to pass up on him even if he becomes a bust or does not reach his ceiling....Teams are still going to take the chance on him....Again teams this high in the lotto pick the highest potential picks....And Khaman outside of the top 5 has one of the highest upside if it hits....These teams are not good enough to make a pick based on what they need if there is a player at a position they don't need but they are blown away by.

Ah, no, I believe you are the one with the bias hat on because any time I talk about Maluach you are against him, but then suddenly when it comes to teams above us he is BPA and because all teams draft BPA (or something) and he won't be there for us, I think you just want us to draft anyone other than Maluach. I am only speculating about us taking Maluach because I have learned from past experience that Masai will take who he likes and not who I like and he absolutely loves his guys with long arms and there is the personal connection as well, it doesn't hurt that our team is really undersized and we don't have a single player who is above 6'8" and a credible NBA player outside Jak with no tax flexibility to add anyone of note in free agency. Writing is on the wall, Masai is taking him if he's there and I don't see a compelling argument that he won't be there. Draft is random and all that, could be a team who grabs him before us but I don't see an obvious one at the moment.