2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[grant101]

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Horrible Mock

We get Jak and Yang.

That fills our biggest needs with maybe the best fits in the entire draft. Could be a huge win for the Raps if it plays out like that.

We get a 6'6" playmaking/theoretical shooting big PG.

We get 7'1" high feel (passing and shooting upside) backup center.

I would argue those are perfect fits for this team. Both players have decent ceilings too.

Swap out Fears for Jak, and this is a fantastic draft for me (I don’t mind Jak, but have Fears at least a tier above).

I don’t mind missing on Khaman. He could be a bigger, longer Clint Capela, or he could be another Wiseman or Ibou Badji. He has so few bankable skills outside of interior finishing and passive rim protection given his sheer size. These blank slate centers are terrifying.

[Psubs]

Atlanta wants Maluach at #9 for sure. They let Capela, Levert and Nance walk to be like $20 million under the luxury. They could theoretically trade Mann, Niang and a future two 1st picks for KD?

PG Trae - Dyson
SG Dyson/Krejci - Mann
SF Risacher - Niang
PF JalenJohnson - Okongwu
C Okongwu - Maluach

Anyways, Raptors with #13 Carter Bryant, #22 Rasheer Fleming. Would like to trade Agbaji and #39 to secure the best big they can be it Yang, Markovic or whoever they want.

Would Yang and Chomche be the most complementary big man platoon?

maybe atlanta gets their center sending levert to dallas for gafford? also i don't see bryant lasting til 13.

Levert is a FA. Dallas should just use the MLE to sign him.

[PhilBlackson]

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I sorta get it because if the goal is to win now, VJ would be better for that as PG is looking pretty much washed and their other guards don't guard lol and I'll be shocked if Embiid is even much of a defender now with his knees hanging on with super glue. Somebody has to slow someone down.

But I will say I will be a bit surprised if they do in fact pass on Ace considering how much Podcast P raves about him and could actually be a solid mentor to him...and it would allow both Maxey & McCain to play at the same time but whatever...Morey is the most overrated GM of all time and I hate the Sixers for their shameless tank and hope it blows up in their damn face.

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I would say you could find a Jarrett Allen level player later in the draft and that Maluach may not be that much better to spend #9 on him.

I completely agree

the only pick we have later in the draft is 39. will jarrett allen be there at 39?

Right now. People say that they wouldn't trade Agbaji for a 1st pick. I say sell and trust your scouting and trade him for as best a 1st pick you can get. Early 20's? Late teens?

[mademan]

Is there a reason that CMB cant be a poor man's Randle offensively (or even rich mans)? Randle came in same size with the same shaky long range jumper, both ball handling small-ish 4's with great strength that allows them to play there (with CMB also having greater length).

I dunno. It's hard not to be enamoured with his impact numbers. I get the fit issues, but we might just look back and ask why we passed up on someone so dominant at his own level.

[Spates]

I completely agree

the only pick we have later in the draft is 39. will jarrett allen be there at 39?

Right now. People say that they wouldn't trade Agbaji for a 1st pick. I say sell and trust your scouting and trade him for as best a 1st pick you can get. Early 20's? Late teens?

Hmmm. I don't fully agree here. While there are players that could be selected in the late teens or early twenties that I would definitely trade Agbaji for, I would only swap him for those specific players. I have Nique Clifford, Jase Richardson, and Egor Demin in mind. Otherwise I wouldn't swap him for a pick in that range unless I was fairly confident I could get someone I like.

And tbh, I'm somewhat hesitant with Demin and Richardson with defensive and size concerns respectively. I would hands down take Nique. I think he should go earlier. And in the new CBA it makes sense to me that older players would be more advantageous. Greater ability to step-in and contribute right away and better cost control. They're likely to be on their 2nd contract throughout their early to mid prime years.

Back to my point... watching the playoffs, I think we're all seeing the importance of two-way ability. Agbaji was a slight defensive positive and an efficient shooter. Given that he's still on his rookie contract and potentially a candidate for an insubstantial extension, id hesitate to move off him too quickly. I think he could have easily plugged in for 10-15 minutes/GM in these playoffs similar to Ben Sheppard or Delon Wright/Landry Shamet.