2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[ArthurVandelay]

Raptors shot 34% from 3 on the season.

In their wins, they shot 38-39%...and that included some very poor 3 point shooting games at the end of the season against some really awful tankers.

There is no question the Raptors need to improve their 3 point shooting if wins matter next season (and they will).

All i know is the top teams in the east cleveland boston indiana are all firepower from 3. Its not a coincidence. If they truly want to be fully optimal with Scottie leading the way then they need to keep surrounding him with shooters. I always thought that was the plan.

For sure and I hope it still is the plan. We'll know how serious they are about wins next year based on Scottie's shot diet.

[RapsFanInOhio]

Wouldn't be upset if they picked Bryant at 9 and then went with a big like Raynaud/Kalkbrenner/Yang or Markovic/Ruzic with the 2nd.

But based on who they've brought in for workouts (and the chatter we've seen) so far I think they're maybe likely to go Maluach/Queen and then go for a wing later.

We don’t have much information on who they brought in for a workout .

But I also get a feeling that Maluach (if available) and Queen (if Maluach is gone) are two very possible options.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-nba-draft-workout-tracker-where-are-prospects-working-out/

All we really know so far in terms of workouts but Marc Stein/Jake Fischer (who does have a good source connected with the team based on past reporting) has said they're looking for a big early and I'm inclined to believe it. I think Fears and Bryant are both gonna be considerations as well, but Fears will be most likely gone before us.

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If both bigs are gone it's gonna be between Kon and Bryant or maybe they trade back then.

Agreed. They’re prioritizing the bigs (Maluach and then Queen) but fallback options will be Kon, Bryant, and then maybe Jak or Coward. Ultimately, I think one of Maluach, Queen, or Kon will be there and that’ll be the pick.

[WuTang_CMB]

Drafting a big might be a necessity at this point. Poeltl is getting older, plus his next contract might be pricey. C is without a doubt the position that they are most vulnerable.

I am hoping Kon drops if that big isn't available.

They are for sure getting a back up big through the draft. Chomche isn't ready and will be back in the g-league to continue his development.
Question is if Kon is there do they take him (if they view him the next coming of Klay), if not and Queen is there, I see them going Queen.

[God Squad]

I feel like passing on Essengue is going to be a huge mistake

Noa has insane growth potential-- hes a smooth, fluid, lengthy wing/big who's already insanely productive without needing the ball in his hands.

As is will be a super effective menace role player.

If he improves on shooting, handle, fills out --which he has the skill and tool to do so

He's a guaranteed star.

he always finds his way to the ball, impact the game, and is crazy aggressive +relentless

Those are MASSIVE intangibles that tell me he will make it and continue to improve.

I'm with you on Essengue, and I'm hoping Masai sees it too. I think he does, and all this Maluach stuff is smoke.

[WuTang_CMB]

2 weeks until draft

[RapsFanInOhio]

Watched some more Bryant tape this morning. You look at the tape and it looks good - kid has a clean shooting form, is clearly athletic, and is very good defensively because of that athleticism. In a best case scenario, I see a blend of like Rudy Gay and OG - without Rudy’s offensive game (their movements seem similar to me) and not quite at the level of OG defensively.

Then you look at the box scores and it’s apparent why he’s a 9-15 range pick and not a 1-8 range. His handle is passable, but his first step is slow, so he probably isn’t ever burning by guys and is probably limited from a creation standpoint because of that. So your ceiling is limited there. You know you’re probably getting a true 3&D guy, and OG is probably his best case scenario, but more realistically you’re probably getting like a Nesmith or something like Agbaji, who was a more advanced offensive player in college.

Not sure I’m sold on that at 9, but I see why he is a lottery pick. If we do pick him, I just think expectations need to be tempered because he’s probably not contributing meaningfully for a season or two.

[Psubs]

How I would like the draft to possibly go...

#1 Dallas - Flagg
#2 SA - Harper
#3 Phi - Bailey
#4 Cha - Edgecombe
#5 Utah - Kon
#6 Was - Queen
#7 N.O. - Maluach
#8 BK - Fears
#9 Toronto - Tre Johnson!!!

Then trade Dick and Agbaji in separate trades to get Carter Bryant and Rasheer Fleming. I would trade RJ Barrett for Carter Bryant.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[RapsFanInOhio]

Because I have nothing better to do with my life, I also watched some Kon tape this morning.

The shooting is absolutely going to play at the next level. It’s real, the form looks very repeatable and it’s a quick motion, so he’s going to be able to get it off at the next level. He’s more crafty than flashy, but that might be fine in today’s NBA because of his size.

Not sure he is fluid enough to be Klay, but I think his range is somewhere between Klay and Korver. He feels less fluid than both of those guys, but is probably that good of a shooter, and that’s absolutely a weapon. I think he may be passable defensively, and could get better with an NBA training regimen.

I would be fine with drafting him because I think he would absolutely fit well with our existing roster. There’s some minute crunch concerns unless we go really small - this kid is probably too good for the G League and can contribute immediately. I actually think his game is a great fit with Grady and Walter, but that’s a lot of guys for not so many minutes. He is probably BPA at 9, though, so you draft him and figure it out.

Also - Maluach is a big dude. He’s not a better player than Kon right now, but I would probably still draft him ahead of Kon because he fits the roster better and I think we could get the most out of his height. That’s not how you draft, I get that, and I don’t even think his ceiling is as impactful as Kon - but you can’t teach that size.

[WuTang_CMB]

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The NBA Draft is just two weeks away, and the chatter is growing louder. Yesterday, the NBA reportedly issued the first wave of green room invitations for the 2025 NBA Draft — a list that includes 13 names: Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, Kasparas Jakucionis, Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell.

Now, I’m not the best at math, but 13 players were invited — and if the invites were based on projected lottery range or simply the 14 players with the most executive votes, I’d bet that French prospect Noa Essengue, who’s still in the middle of a playoff run in Germany, would’ve been the 14th name — if he wasn’t still playing.

Still, a couple of names caught my attention. First: Asa Newell. I’ve consistently had him projected in the late teens, so for him to be among the first 13 invitees is a sign that his stock is trending up. The other surprise? Carter Bryant. For the Arizona wing to be among the initial wave, voted in by top executives across the league, is absolutely a positive signal — and could suggest he’s creeping closer to lottery range.

The green room, for context, is the staging area at the draft where players and their families sit at tables, waiting to hear their names called. It’s an honor — and an indicator — and with 11 more invites expected to go out in the coming weeks, it’s worth keeping tabs on who’s next.

With the draft around the corner and trade chatter picking up steam, let’s take a pulse check on how the top of the 2025 draft is shaping up — and what names are circulating in the rumor mill. There’s a lot of smoke, and in some cases, fire.

Khaman Maluach continues to gain traction as a potential fit in Washington. Word around the league is that he’s unlikely to fall past Toronto at No. 9. The Raptors are also in need of a young center...

[LoveMyRaps]

For the first time ever, I think we actually trade our pick.

RJ + #9 could fetch us an interesting player in return.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[UnbelievablyRAW]

Thread on the faults of JK

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?s=46

TLDR

Great passing vision and has ability to shoot but very unathletic which shows up in his defensive numbers. Also poor under ball pressure. The turnovers put him in company if pretty mediocre bad NBA players

[GLF]

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The NBA Draft is just two weeks away, and the chatter is growing louder. Yesterday, the NBA reportedly issued the first wave of green room invitations for the 2025 NBA Draft — a list that includes 13 names: Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, Kasparas Jakucionis, Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell.

Now, I’m not the best at math, but 13 players were invited — and if the invites were based on projected lottery range or simply the 14 players with the most executive votes, I’d bet that French prospect Noa Essengue, who’s still in the middle of a playoff run in Germany, would’ve been the 14th name — if he wasn’t still playing.

Still, a couple of names caught my attention. First: Asa Newell. I’ve consistently had him projected in the late teens, so for him to be among the first 13 invitees is a sign that his stock is trending up. The other surprise? Carter Bryant. For the Arizona wing to be among the initial wave, voted in by top executives across the league, is absolutely a positive signal — and could suggest he’s creeping closer to lottery range.

The green room, for context, is the staging area at the draft where players and their families sit at tables, waiting to hear their names called. It’s an honor — and an indicator — and with 11 more invites expected to go out in the coming weeks, it’s worth keeping tabs on who’s next.

With the draft around the corner and trade chatter picking up steam, let’s take a pulse check on how the top of the 2025 draft is shaping up — and what names are circulating in the rumor mill. There’s a lot of smoke, and in some cases, fire.

Khaman Maluach continues to gain traction as a potential fit in Washington. Word around the league is that he’s unlikely to fall past Toronto at No. 9. The Raptors are also in need of a young center...

Is that all that was said about Raptors?

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Mark_83]

[quote="WuTang_OG"]

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13) Bryant
22) Richardson
38) Kalkbrenner

[bboyskinnylegs]

I wonder how our front office ranks these bigs

[bboyskinnylegs]

13+22 for 9 could be interesting for sure. I'd still have to wait until the Nets make their pick to see if there's anyone we can't pass up, but depending on what Houston/Portland/Chicago do that could net you the guy you want at 9 at a cheaper price + another guy you're considering in that 10-20 mix.

[DreamTeam09]

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Horrible Mock

[deeps6x]

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I'd trade #9 for #13 and #23. We might land Flemming and Sorber, instead of just Jak.