2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[niQ]

Thoughts on Kasp?

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

Toronto Raptors
The Raps were one of the least efficient pick-and-roll teams in the NBA last season, and Jakucionis can certainly help in that area. As the college season wore on, injuries and a loss of confidence had an effect on the freshman. But that may distract from the headline of Kasparas’s case: Illinois ran a fantastic offense last season, and that’s largely a credit to this 18-year-old. He’s shown enough to prove he can be an additive creative force on the floor, with a scoring punch that surpasses that of other big playmakers in this class, such as Hugo Gonzalez or Egor Demin. The odds are that his entire career will probably float in that “extra creator” space because of the questions about his scoring consistency and ability to take care of the ball.

[Raptors_Dynasty]

Who's this drafts TMAC

[Basketball_Jones]

Who's this drafts TMAC

Maluach

[Grew]

Queen's max vert is 28??? I'll take CMB shoving the ball toward the net over that.

Edey had a 31.5 max vert and people calling him unathletic in comparison lol

Well combine just isn't all that important compared to actual playstyle. Queen only had something like 3 less dunks than Fleming despite fleming being a long athletic type. Queen can get himself to the hoop, Fleming needs you to spoonfeed him an easy closeout to attack or pass to him wide open in the dunkers spot.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

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[PhilBlackson]

Read on Twitter

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Chomche's only really redeeming quality is his athleticism lol so I should hope he tested well.

Idk why people are getting so caught up on athletic traits.

[Grew]

Will Riley another guy who would be interesting at 9. Likely the best shot creator available, and he had good numbers at the rim. Canadian too.

[Got Nuffin]

Read on Twitter

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Stay as far away as possibles

Watch on YouTube

I was already shaky about considering him at 9... I mean we laugh at clips of Maluach hitting 3s in an open gym criticising his release etc. but look at this guy.

We're talking about a 3/4 man here.

If we're saying Maluach can't hit them in game time situations this guy has no prayer

[ItsDanger]

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Made this observation months ago but was slammed for it. Going to hurt his value.

[Supermann98]

Thoughts on Kasp?

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

Toronto Raptors
The Raps were one of the least efficient pick-and-roll teams in the NBA last season, and Jakucionis can certainly help in that area. As the college season wore on, injuries and a loss of confidence had an effect on the freshman. But that may distract from the headline of Kasparas’s case: Illinois ran a fantastic offense last season, and that’s largely a credit to this 18-year-old. He’s shown enough to prove he can be an additive creative force on the floor, with a scoring punch that surpasses that of other big playmakers in this class, such as Hugo Gonzalez or Egor Demin. The odds are that his entire career will probably float in that “extra creator” space because of the questions about his scoring consistency and ability to take care of the ball.

I'm on board, kid is a straight up baller. Reminds me of a Steph Curry-lite

[Son Goku 25]

Nolan
Demin
Noa
Rasheer
Carter B
Asa
Jak
Thomas S

are all options

[arbsn]

Can’t begin to describe how discouraging the lottery was

That being said, @9, we prob lose out on Fears, Kon, and Tre.

My initial thoughts are we should target Queen or Kasparas maybe Jase with also considering Essengue, Demin, Traore, Fleming and Maluach

[WuTang_CMB]

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[S.W.A.N]

I was already 90% sure, but after seeing the Wiz fall it becomes clear they will pair Sarr and Queen together. They drafted Bub Carrington also a Baltimore native who grew up beside Queen.

Read on Twitter

Reminder of what he said after hitting a game winning shot against C-State:

Read on Twitter

The fit with Sarr is good giving them an inside-outside combo, and his shotblocking helps Queen. They need a culture guy and Queen gives them a personality.

I like it. A lot of factors there to bring it all together. Hometown boy, good fit with Sarr. Makes a lot of sense..

Since it Washington I give it a 50% chance of happening.

[arbsn]

Those comparing Queen to Sengun.

Here are Sengun's stats while being 19 months younger and against much better competition:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/alperen-sengun-1.html

Here are Queen's:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/derik-queen-1.html

I like that Queen can score in the post and playmake, but his starting point is so much worse I think he will have a hard time adjusting.

You’re not getting any complete players at 9. You have to get guys with elite talent. Queen has potential to be an all star level forward. Not certain he can be a championship level player due to lack of defence/size/athleticism but he could be a great stats guy and juicy asset.

[PushDaRock]

Queen's max vert is 28??? I'll take CMB shoving the ball toward the net over that.

Edey had a 31.5 max vert and people calling him unathletic in comparison lol

Well combine just isn't all that important compared to actual playstyle. Queen only had something like 3 less dunks than Fleming despite fleming being a long athletic type. Queen can get himself to the hoop, Fleming needs you to spoonfeed him an easy closeout to attack or pass to him wide open in the dunkers spot.

Not sure why you're comparing him to Fleming or how it's relevant since they play nothing alike.

His play style is exactly why there is concern, it's questionable how it translates over. He doesn't shoot well, is a bit undersized, unathletic and is going to need to score over NBA athletes that are way more athletic and longer than him.

[Yallbecrazy]

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Stay as far away as possibles

Watch on YouTube

I was already shaky about considering him at 9... I mean we laugh at clips of Maluach hitting 3s in an open gym criticising his release etc. but look at this guy.

We're talking about a 3/4 man here.

If we're saying Maluach can't hit them in game time situations this guy has no prayer

This obviously is bad, but if he hit 18/25 he doesn't fall to #9. His general form is okay, except his off hand is doing weird things which is fixable.
Coaching at USC was probably terrible considering how bad they are as a team.
He also hit 7/10 after the video cut out.
https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-shooting-drills

Movement off dribble shooting was oddly very good for CMB.

He also shot the 3 better than Fleming did who was 9/25

[CazOnReal]

Is 11th even possible? That's a nightmare scenario.

Dropping to 9th or later is the nightmare scenario, frankly. This is likely the best chance we'll get regarding "free" talent injection provided health prevails for Scottie, IQ and Ingram so potentially losing out on certain options is going to hurt in the long run. And i'm not even referring to a Top 4 pick, i'm talking about guys in that 5-8 range and missing out on every one of them.

Well, well, well

[OakleyDokely]

I don't there's a consensus beyond the first two picks. Maybe there is among mockers, but not nba teams.

[earthtone]

Is 11th even possible? That's a nightmare scenario.

Dropping to 9th or later is the nightmare scenario, frankly. This is likely the best chance we'll get regarding "free" talent injection provided health prevails for Scottie, IQ and Ingram so potentially losing out on certain options is going to hurt in the long run. And i'm not even referring to a Top 4 pick, i'm talking about guys in that 5-8 range and missing out on every one of them.

Well, well, well

Who's the franchise changing talent you think will be available from 5-8 but are sure won't be there at 9?