2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[WuTang_CMB]

Might be a hot take too (maybe not so much anymore) but give me Yang over Malauch. Both 7'2, but ill take skill over length every time

I much rather get Jak or a big 3 and D wing at 9 and draft a big at 39

[Yeezus_]

I'm going to go on record saying that Yaxel is my sleeper pick this year and I'm hoping for a Agbaji + #39 for a pick in the 20s to take him. His statistical profile and background are eerily similar to Mogbo but with a little more size and significantly better touch/ball-handling. Like Mogbo, he'll be turning 23 in his rookie year and he had a long and winding collegiate career. He had trouble academically but if you listen to his combine interviews, he sounds very intelligent, self-aware and humble.

He's a late-bloomer type who hasn't been playing organized basketball for that long and has shown consistent improvement from year to year. His defensive play-making and passing in general are excellent for his size, showing a high level BBIQ. His shooting has rapidly improved and his form looks good to my eye. He's not terribly athletic but his handle/strength combo is very functional for his position as a 4/5. He's equally adept using either hand and is just nifty and nimble as a ball handler overall. I also love the emotion he plays with as he frequently gets amped up over big plays and carries himself like a leader.

I see Yaxel as an elite 7th guy on a good team, kind of like a bigger Josh Hart.

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Some of you guys like the thought of prospects becoming good rather than valuing a player we already have who’s shown to be good.

You say Yaxel can be an elite 7th guy on a good team. Ochai has shown flashes of being an elite 3&D guy who can start for a good team if the shooting is real. We aren’t talking about a finished product here either.

Fans love prospects a little too much. Most of the time these prospects dont live up to what you expect them to be.

[Yeezus_]

Might be a hot take too (maybe not so much anymore) but give me Yang over Malauch. Both 7'2, but ill take skill over length every time

Yang might be a little more skilled right now but he seems a little slow defensively. Your Center needs to be a defensive anchor if you want to be a great defensive team in the NBA.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[DG88]

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Interesting

[Psubs]

Might be a hot take too (maybe not so much anymore) but give me Yang over Malauch. Both 7'2, but ill take skill over length every time

Yang might be a little more skilled right now but he seems a little slow defensively. Your Center needs to be a defensive anchor if you want to be a great defensive team in the NBA.

He looks more fit that last year so perhaps he's able to keep that going and in a couple of years, be a real threat.

I like Yang more than Wolf, due to size.

[WuTang_CMB]

if he was 6'5" he'd go top 5
has some harden in his game

Watch on YouTube

[MEDIC]

It’s pretty clear we need good two way wings and two way centers all the remaining playoff teams have them. While Khaman/Bryant/Rasheer don’t scream star talent I think there is enough there at 9 to hope and pray for and they also fill a big void on this team. We still need a star offensive guard but I doubt Kasp and Kon are it.

That's the way I see it as well.

With the 9th pick I would like to see a player with enough length to play PF & C. Preferable to also have some range & switchable athleticism.

For the 2nd round pick you go with the best 3+D forward or C available.

These are the types of players this team will need moving forward. There is a pretty big hole in this area right now.

[DG88]

if he was 6'5" he'd go top 5
has some harden in his game

Watch on YouTube

It's why he's at the top of my board

[Basketball_Jones]

It’s pretty clear we need good two way wings and two way centers all the remaining playoff teams have them. While Khaman/Bryant/Rasheer don’t scream star talent I think there is enough there at 9 to hope and pray for and they also fill a big void on this team. We still need a star offensive guard but I doubt Kasp and Kon are it.

That's the way I see it as well.

With the 9th pick I would like to see a player with enough length to play PF & C. Preferable to also have some range & switchable athleticism.

For the 2nd round pick you go with the best 3+D forward or C available.

These are the types of players this team will need moving forward. There is a pretty big hole in this area right now.

Yeah we’ll have IQ/Gradey/Ingram to kind of be our offensive stars which isn’t great, but we’ll ride that out until an opportunity comes along. We didn’t land Harper/Flag/Johnson who are the runaway offensive stars in this draft imo. Fears and VJ have a chance as well but we probably won’t land them at 9.

[MEDIC]

I think this is going to be a tough pick for the Raptors. I think they will have a plan based on who they think will be available & who they want to pick.........but I have a feeling someone surprising will fall, putting a bit of a hitch in their plan.

[ebo]

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He is who I think we should grab for C prospect. He moves very well, seems to show that top of the key play making, and he has the most athletic combine stats compared to both Queen and Maulach:

[BoyzNTheHood]

Might be a hot take too (maybe not so much anymore) but give me Yang over Malauch. Both 7'2, but ill take skill over length every time

Yang might be a little more skilled right now but he seems a little slow defensively. Your Center needs to be a defensive anchor if you want to be a great defensive team in the NBA.

Your Centre needs to play both sides of the ball. This is a down year for high end teams, but let’s not act as if Boston wouldn’t be waltzing to the Finals if they had a healthy Tatum and Porzingis. Denver has also failed to build a proper roster around the defensively challenged Jokic. A team like Minnesota is bucking the trend with Gobert, but if you go by his trophy case he’s a generational defender which makes up for the lack of offense… although, his offense was a serious speed bump for their success before this season. Indiana had Turner who’s basically a 3+D C, New York has KAT who’s all offense, and OKC has Hartenstein.

[Pericles]

I think Maluach is miles better than Yang.

[LoveMyRaps]

I think this is going to be a tough pick for the Raptors. I think they will have a plan based on who they think will be available & who they want to pick.........but I have a feeling someone surprising will fall, putting a bit of a hitch in their plan.

I think we draw a name out of a hat once we're on the clock.

[DG88]

Can't remember if I posted this before but Jase Richardson did interview with the Raptors at the Combine

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[Dalek]

Can't remember if I posted this before but Jase Richardson did interview with the Raptors at the Combine

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He also follows Scottie Barnes on IG and is with CAA which is the same as Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick. I am keeping hopeful that he is a future Raptor. I like this idea way more than Derik Queen who is also with CAA but I am not as inspired to draft him.

[Psubs]

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He is who I think we should grab for C prospect. He moves very well, seems to show that top of the key play making, and he has the most athletic combine stats compared to bother Queen and Maulach:

I like trading #9 for #13 and 22 and drafting Bryant or Fleming at #13 and would be good with drafting Yang at #22.

[Psubs]

Might be a hot take too (maybe not so much anymore) but give me Yang over Malauch. Both 7'2, but ill take skill over length every time

Yang might be a little more skilled right now but he seems a little slow defensively. Your Center needs to be a defensive anchor if you want to be a great defensive team in the NBA.

Your Centre needs to play both sides of the ball. This is a down year for high end teams, but let’s not act as if Boston wouldn’t be waltzing to the Finals if they had a healthy Tatum and Porzingis. Denver has also failed to build a proper roster around the defensively challenged Jokic. A team like Minnesota is bucking the trend with Gobert, but if you go by his trophy case he’s a generational defender which makes up for the lack of offense… although, his offense was a serious speed bump for their success before this season. Indiana had Turner who’s basically a 3+D C, New York has KAT who’s all offense, and OKC has Hartenstein.

Yang was DPOY in his league.

[RapsFanInOhio]

I really don’t want any part of Bryant. He’s not a guy that would impact this roster in the next 3-4 seasons based on its current construction, and you’re basically just banking on strictly upside there. He’s a guy who should absolutely go back to school and find his shot / playmaking ability, but I guess that’s what the G League is for. Still, I tend to think they’ll go in a different direction based on the current roster makeup and development curve.

I’m still sold that Maluach will 100% be the pick if he falls that far, which it seems like may be a possible outcome. I’ve just felt that he is a perfect guy to slide into that backup C role and develop behind Yak, who will be here a few more years.

The real question, at least to me, is what to do if he or Kon aren’t there. I’m not sold on CMB. Queen is intriguing but he’s more of a forward to me. I don’t like Bryant’s developmental curve. Jak is probably BPA at that point, so I would be fine with him there, but he also adds to the glut of guys we have a PG and on the wing.

It’s a tricky spot to be in unless Maluach falls. If he falls, you’re basically at the best possible outcome in this draft because we likely would have picked him anywhere outside the top 2 or 3.