2025 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

[Psubs]

His best comparision IMO is Roy Hibbert. If he can be a Roy Hibbert from 11-13, who is more mobile that is his best case scenario, but he has a TON of work + coaching to get to that level, and even then I have my doubts.

Maybe a taller Mark Williams is a good comp. Still a DND for me.

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[CazOnReal]

A healthy Mark Williams is one of the more valuable shotblockers in the league, let alone as a prospect. Dude's absurdly long and mobile. Might not be a floor spacing center but still a worthwhile archetype for any team looking to up their paint defense. Big problem with Mark is he has the fortitude of a cookie dunked in a glass of milk.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I dunno how much this is relevant, but Bam and Jarrett Allen had low block % and terrible assist to TO ratios.

Bam averages 0.7 BPG in 24/25 (0.9 for his career)
Allen averages 0.8 BPG in 24/25 (1.3 for his career)

Allen + Bam have some of the highest defensive IQ's in the league. Maluach biggest weaknesses at the moment is his IQ both offensively and defensively. His rotations are honestly subpar, but he's able to recover because of his length and size. That won't fly at the NBA level... maybe that changes, but currently he's not a defensive maestro (like Bam and Allen) who can get by with switchabililty and smart rotations. If he doesn't project as an elite shotblocker I dont know where his value defensively is.

His best comparision IMO is Roy Hibbert. If he can be a Roy Hibbert from 11-13, who is more mobile that is his best case scenario, but he has a TON of work + coaching to get to that level, and even then I have my doubts.[/quote]

He looks pretty mobile for someone that big. Hibbert was a stiff. Maluach started playing basketball 5 years ago, so for a player like him it's more important to figure out how quickly he can learn and adapt. He's not getting played off the floor at Duke, imo.

[Indeed]

Question. Why does everyone love Maluach? I'd argue he hasn't been that good or the best big in the freshman class.

He’s 7’2 with long arms, fast feet, intensity and aggression, physically and mentally dominant at times, has shown shooting touch and willingness to take them, and his floor is so high he’s already a fantastic rim running big. Shooting 92% as PnR finisher. He can’t be stopped sometimes and if you nourish and develop him, he could potentially be able to do everything. Has no real holes at all aside from lack of development.

I see him as a future DPOTY and the kind of C any team would want. I project him as a Gobert+ player that can stretch the floor.

Gobert has a 7'9 wingspan
Edey has a 7'11 wingspan
Wemby has a 8' wingspan

Maluach should have a 7'5 wingspan, but not in the Gobert category.
Zvonimir Ivisic would be the 3&D C you are describing for with similar wingspan to Gobert or Edey and good 3 point shooting.

[God Squad]

The gap between Harper/Flagg and Bailey keeps getting larger. I'm not even sure Bailey is a top 5-7 pick for me right now. I can talk myself into the idea of Bailey, but I can't close my eyes to his advanced stats. It's so ugly that I have a hard time believing he can regain the momentum he had coming into the season. It's scary.

Look at these stats and tell me the last top 5 pick with them that was a star.

1. Win-share - 0.7
2. BPM - 0.4
3. DBPM - -0.4
4. OBPM - 0.8 - very bad for an offensive player like himself
5. TS% - .519
6. USG% - 28.6

Compare him to damn near anyone at the top and they make him look undraftable. He's a terrifying prospect for me because everything says DO NOT DRAFT, but I still see the potential.

[God Squad]

Tankathon has Kon Knueppel at 8th... That'd be a big "Hell No" from me. I wouldn't even consider it lol.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

If we decide to sell house I hope we get another first or find a way to trade up with the POR 2nd

[Jstock12]

The gap between Harper/Flagg and Bailey keeps getting larger. I'm not even sure Bailey is a top 5-7 pick for me right now. I can talk myself into the idea of Bailey, but I can't close my eyes to his advanced stats. It's so ugly that I have a hard time believing he can regain the momentum he had coming into the season. It's scary.

Look at these stats and tell me the last top 5 pick with them that was a star.

1. Win-share - 0.7
2. BPM - 0.4
3. DBPM - -0.4
4. OBPM - 0.8 - very bad for an offensive player like himself
5. TS% - .519
6. USG% - 28.6

Compare him to damn near anyone at the top and they make him look undraftable. He's a terrifying prospect for me because everything says DO NOT DRAFT, but I still see the potential.

Yeah I think its that archetype of a difficult shot maker at 6'10 that makes him so alluring. If anyone showed you these stats for some 6'3 PG you'd never in a million years consider drafting him in the top3. It won't surprise me if on draft night he'll fall to 10-14 range where the very high risk might be worth the high reward.

[Reeko]

Can someone please explain to me why Dylan Harper is in consideration for the #1 pick and Jeremiah Fears is not a lock for the lottery?

[God Squad]

Can someone please explain to me why Dylan Harper is in consideration for the #1 pick and Jeremiah Fears is not a lock for the lottery?

Aye, don't get me started. I'm a big Fears fan. IMO he is a lock for the lotto and the big boards just haven't caught up yet. But we'll see. I think Fears gonna be the riser that pops up every year, just like Bub and Jalen Williams.

[God Squad]

VJ Edgecombe has some sneaky good advanced stats. I had no clue, wtf ...

[Reeko]

Can someone please explain to me why Dylan Harper is in consideration for the #1 pick and Jeremiah Fears is not a lock for the lottery?

Aye, don't get me started. I'm a big Fears fan. IMO he is a lock for the lotta and the big boards just haven't caught up yet. But we'll see. I think Fears gonna be the riser that pops up every year, just like Bub and Jalen Williams.

I just looked at CBS's updated mock... he wasn't mocked in the 1st round.

[ArthurVandelay]

Can someone please explain to me why Dylan Harper is in consideration for the #1 pick and Jeremiah Fears is not a lock for the lottery?

Because it’s December and none of the draft “gurus” want to break consensus just yet. But as soon as one does, Fears will rise for all.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Jeremiah Fears and Liam McNeeley deserve to be ranked higher.

[PushDaRock]

The gap between Harper/Flagg and Bailey keeps getting larger. I'm not even sure Bailey is a top 5-7 pick for me right now. I can talk myself into the idea of Bailey, but I can't close my eyes to his advanced stats. It's so ugly that I have a hard time believing he can regain the momentum he had coming into the season. It's scary.

Look at these stats and tell me the last top 5 pick with them that was a star.

1. Win-share - 0.7
2. BPM - 0.4
3. DBPM - -0.4
4. OBPM - 0.8 - very bad for an offensive player like himself
5. TS% - .519
6. USG% - 28.6

Compare him to damn near anyone at the top and they make him look undraftable. He's a terrifying prospect for me because everything says DO NOT DRAFT, but I still see the potential.

Yeah I think its that archetype of a difficult shot maker at 6'10 that makes him so alluring. If anyone showed you these stats for some 6'3 PG you'd never in a million years consider drafting him in the top3. It won't surprise me if on draft night he'll fall to 10-14 range where the very high risk might be worth the high reward.

I'm not sure I even understand the allure really. He looks closer to Emoni Bates than Michael Porter Jr. and people would already be disappointed if he only turned into MPJ who would be a very good outcome imo based on his current skill set. He's young enough to still make some substantial leaps but if we are projecting him out to be a star, I think we are basically saying his weaknesses will eventually all become strengths too and that seems like a pretty big stretch.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Can someone please explain to me why Dylan Harper is in consideration for the #1 pick and Jeremiah Fears is not a lock for the lottery?

Harper looks like Harden-lite but I agree Fears should be mocked higher. Felt the same way with Carrington from last year who was mocked around 25-30 everywhere but went lottery

[PushDaRock]

Maluach's form at the FT line almost looks like a carbon copy of Luol Deng

[Naysorn]

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Need an absolute bucket getter on all 3-levels next to Scottie if we want to be a contender.

He gives you everything RJ does but with better shooting and playmaking.

[Mark_83]

Unless we pick in the top 3 I think I'm pretty locked in on Tre for the Raptors. He's such an elite shooter, with 3-level scoring ability. He just needs to get a bit stronger. I can see a rich man's Coby White in his game, with a dash of Rip.

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Need an absolute bucket getter on all 3-levels next to Scottie if we want to be a contender.

He gives you everything RJ does but with better shooting and playmaking.

He lost to Xaivian Lee.

I think we all need to temper expectations. Lots of really good players in this draft but likely top out at Banchero, Franz, Mike Conley, Suggs, etc. Better draft than last year but still likely not as good as 2026.

Jakobe was a top 5 HS recruit and had 2 French prospects go as top picks and even a bad year in college doesn't take away the initial ranking.