2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[Boogie!]

are we sure there is a ton that seperates Dylan Harper from RJ Barrett?

I actually see a ton of similarities across the board with Harper having the better handle

That's why I have Tre Johnson at #2.

If anything I think this is proof that we don’t understand what we have in Barrett. For all his Limitations, it is not easy to be as productive as he is and needs a little more respect, especially when it comes to his role on the team and his upside.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

I’ve made sort of a hard pivot of late and would like us to consider Jase/Kasp/Fears (if there) and look into moving IQ. I think RJ will be more valuable as a player moving forward and I think IQ is presently being overpaid.

Not sure what deal is out there but I’d make a consolidation trade with IQ and Dick to get around 40 million and see who we can get.

There is a Jak/IQ/Dick for Sabonis/Carter deal that can be made that allows us to still draft someone like Jase and have Carter/Jase/Walter run the ‘1’ and leave the bulk of the playmaking to Sabonis, Ingram, Scottie, RJ who are all 5+ assist guys

Pretty extreme roster change that depends on Scottie going up a level defensively to make up for Sabonis but it boosts the offensive floor even more and allocates IQ’s money to an actual star player. If Scottie takes a leap were even more stacked

if we want to try for the playoffs next year, trading IQ would hurt us so much offensively

I too am of the minority opinion that we should trade IQ but I'm going to hold off on pushing that until we see how this team gels this year.

As of now, he's definitely overpaid for what he brings but replacing him isn't as easy as we might think. As of now we have a solid shooter who's 25 and personality seems to work with everyone else. I'd hold on for now.

But long term, Barrett or Quickley has to go. It's possible it could be Barrett especially since he doesn't shoot but at the moment, he's also the best scorer we had last year, though that might change this year with Ingram in the fold.

I want to trade IQ now because I doubt he ever plays like a 32 million dollar player. He’s not better than Herro who has a sunk value and he’s being paid less than IQ

I’m happy replacing him with a Nembhard like guard who can catch and shoot and defend, but doesn’t necessarily have to be an offensive initiator. I think Devin Carter is exactly that guy. Similarly Jase or Kasp can fill that role for much cheaper as well

Also high key I think RJ can be a pretty good C&S 3pt threat. His overall scoring makes him valuable as well. If IQ’s shots aren’t falling he’s literally a negative on the floor imo

[UnbelievablyRAW]

are we sure there is a ton that seperates Dylan Harper from RJ Barrett?

I actually see a ton of similarities across the board with Harper having the better handle

Ball handling, first step quickness, better passer coming out of college. Not sure if RJ was as good of a at the rim finisher either

[Psubs]

are we sure there is a ton that seperates Dylan Harper from RJ Barrett?

I actually see a ton of similarities across the board with Harper having the better handle

That's why I have Tre Johnson at #2.

If anything I think this is proof that we don’t understand what we have in Barrett. For all his Limitations, it is not easy to be as productive as he is and needs a little more respect, especially when it comes to his role on the team and his upside.

I think he's like Derozan but makes some untimely turnovers and misses FT's like OG. I don't want to pay him over $30 million on his next contract.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

I’m super in on drafting Bryant and trading back into the first to get Sorber or Yang.

The Sorber tape is amazing with the rim defense and his ability to steal as a big. Very Marc Gasol like.

I think him on the bench really creates a stout defensive lineup off the bench between Shead, Walter, Mogbo, Sorber. If we take Carter that’s even more defensive playmaking and size.

Maybe we can somewhat replicate OKC’s ability to make runs off of forcing turnovers because we’re not the best shooting team (kinda like the post Kawhi Nurse Raptors)

[Buff]

are we sure there is a ton that seperates Dylan Harper from RJ Barrett?

I actually see a ton of similarities across the board with Harper having the better handle

That's why I have Tre Johnson at #2.

If anything I think this is proof that we don’t understand what we have in Barrett. For all his Limitations, it is not easy to be as productive as he is and needs a little more respect, especially when it comes to his role on the team and his upside.

We've giving the keys to RJ with Scottie out. We mastered a glorious 15 games losing streak. I love RJ, but we have enough evidence that he is not conductive to winning on a feature role. Some players are like that, such players tend to be better on a microwave role but seldom they accept it, the magic promise of the dynamic scorer.

[DG88]

Interesting listening to the end of Samson Folk's Carter Bryant video/podcast. Apparently the Raptors really like Fears. If he's there they would take him.

Personally I'd be surprised if Fears even made it to us at 9.

how would these guys know? generally asking?
the closest they gave us something was to tell us they knew we worked out Dick and Bufkin twice

From what I know Samson does have some sources. So when I heard that my ears perked up. Fears right now is slated to go anywhere from 6-8 based on what we've read from draft experts. Fears even said from his own mouth that he'd love to workout for us. I think if he somehow lasts to 9 we probably pick him just based on talent and upside.

[earthtone]

That should be our only focus this draft.

Dynamic offensive talent, regardless of position. I'd be tempted to trade up to guarantee myself that player.

We have three 20+ PPG scorers (if you round up Scottie’s 19.9), IQ who averaged 21 per 36, Jak who averaged ~15, and Gradey who averaged 14.

I don’t think we should pass on a dynamic scorer if they’re the BPA, but it’s definitely not the most pressing need imo

Scottie and IQ are not who I would consider dynamic scorers. Their averages are higher on a team that accomplished nothing, so I'm expecting they dip when we have a more talented offensive pecking order.

and the expectation for the number 9 pick to come in and supplant Scottie & IQ in the pecking order?

[TNRaps4life]

Good analysis on Carter Bryant vs Noa Essengue. Give this channel a subscribe and like.

Watch on YouTube

[earthtone]

We have three 20+ PPG scorers (if you round up Scottie’s 19.9), IQ who averaged 21 per 36, Jak who averaged ~15, and Gradey who averaged 14.

I don’t think we should pass on a dynamic scorer if they’re the BPA, but it’s definitely not the most pressing need imo

With a high end draft pick you go with dynamic kinda scorers as long as they are not horrible on defense.....3&D kinda role players are always available in the later parts of drafts and also easier to add via trade if you need one...

If Masai thinks one of the guys at 9 has dynamic scoring upside i think that should be the more important trait high up in the draft...

Also why is gradey dick still being mentioned as a scorer? He’s not who everyone thinks he is, and he’s inefficient at that.

If you’re writing off Gradey as a scorer after putting up 14ppg at 21, you’ll end up writing off 99% of this draft class too

[WuTang_CMB]

The similarities between Cedric's and JDub's games, measurements, both played almost same amount of college games (72,84jwill) and how they rose up the draft boards is actually pretty interesting

if we do pick Cedric, you can only hope his impact will be close to what JDub is doing in the NBA

[XTC]

Why is everything about defense though. We neeed scoringgggggg
Look at the pacers. Part of what makes them so good is they’re balanced offensively. They don’t need the same guys to carry them every night.

That should be our only focus this draft.

Dynamic offensive talent, regardless of position. I'd be tempted to trade up to guarantee myself that player.

We have three 20+ PPG scorers (if you round up Scottie’s 19.9), IQ who averaged 21 per 36, Jak who averaged ~15, and Gradey who averaged 14.

I don’t think we should pass on a dynamic scorer if they’re the BPA, but it’s definitely not the most pressing need imo

Scottie averaged 19.3

Do we still round him up to 20?

[Boogie!]

With a high end draft pick you go with dynamic kinda scorers as long as they are not horrible on defense.....3&D kinda role players are always available in the later parts of drafts and also easier to add via trade if you need one...

If Masai thinks one of the guys at 9 has dynamic scoring upside i think that should be the more important trait high up in the draft...

Also why is gradey dick still being mentioned as a scorer? He’s not who everyone thinks he is, and he’s inefficient at that.

If you’re writing off Gradey as a scorer after putting up 14ppg at 21, you’ll end up writing off 99% of this draft class too

I’m writing off gradey based on his skill set and overall impact not specifically on his stats or his age. You must not be familiar with me around here.

[Raptaurus]

if we want to try for the playoffs next year, trading IQ would hurt us so much offensively

I too am of the minority opinion that we should trade IQ but I'm going to hold off on pushing that until we see how this team gels this year.

As of now, he's definitely overpaid for what he brings but replacing him isn't as easy as we might think. As of now we have a solid shooter who's 25 and personality seems to work with everyone else. I'd hold on for now.

But long term, Barrett or Quickley has to go. It's possible it could be Barrett especially since he doesn't shoot but at the moment, he's also the best scorer we had last year, though that might change this year with Ingram in the fold.

I want to trade IQ now because I doubt he ever plays like a 32 million dollar player. He’s not better than Herro who has a sunk value and he’s being paid less than IQ

I’m happy replacing him with a Nembhard like guard who can catch and shoot and defend, but doesn’t necessarily have to be an offensive initiator. I think Devin Carter is exactly that guy. Similarly Jase or Kasp can fill that role for much cheaper as well

Also high key I think RJ can be a pretty good C&S 3pt threat. His overall scoring makes him valuable as well. If IQ’s shots aren’t falling he’s literally a negative on the floor imo

Not gonna be easy to get off IQ’s contract without attaching first round picks/swap to entice teams to take him.

I like that IQ can hit pull up 3s but he is waaay overpaid in today’s salary cap landscape. I feel that we bid against ourselves in paying him that much….

[earthtone]

That should be our only focus this draft.

Dynamic offensive talent, regardless of position. I'd be tempted to trade up to guarantee myself that player.

We have three 20+ PPG scorers (if you round up Scottie’s 19.9), IQ who averaged 21 per 36, Jak who averaged ~15, and Gradey who averaged 14.

I don’t think we should pass on a dynamic scorer if they’re the BPA, but it’s definitely not the most pressing need imo

Scottie averaged 19.3

Do we still round him up to 20?

Was going off memory, must’ve confused this season with last season.

Don’t think it really meaningfully changes the point though.

[earthtone]

Also why is gradey dick still being mentioned as a scorer? He’s not who everyone thinks he is, and he’s inefficient at that.

If you’re writing off Gradey as a scorer after putting up 14ppg at 21, you’ll end up writing off 99% of this draft class too

I’m writing off gradey based on his skill set and overall impact not specifically on his stats or his age. You must not be familiar with me around here.

I guess I’m unfamiliar. Are you a notorious Gradey hater?

[JCP11]

Don't get fooled by those insiders that get infos from front offices during draft season, this period we're in isn't called "Lying season" for nothing. If there's a guy teams like they will use insiders to muddy the field. Sometimes they get the truth sometimes not, you can't trust what only one person says. Mel Kiper for the NFL draft is the exact same, he gets used all the time and he knows it but it's good for TV.

Coward is 6'6 215, 7'2 wingspan, great shooter, strong as hell, good athlete (39 inch vert), hard worker, smart...you can't possibly believe he's really 30th in most teams boards. Just watch the tape if you don't think it's true, the proof is there. He fell through the cracks coming from Dlll and getting injured last season.

At his age, he needs more than measurement.
At #9, he needs to able to create for himself, which I don't find that. He is a low risk high-end 3&D to me. If people see Carter Bryant being a high-end 3&D at 20, maybe he could be drafted a slot or two above him.

Agree with this. The fact that he is going to be 22 and handles the ball like a power forward gives me a lot of pause at #9. Are we drafting Trevor Ariza? Even Anunoby had better handle at that age and we all know he can’t create much for himself.

I am higher on Essengue (sp?) as this type of high end role player. He is legitimately one of the youngest in this class and already producing at a high level. Can’t shoot? He has a much better chance of improving that than Coward with his piss poor handles at their respective ages.

Not saying Coward wouldn’t be a fantastic addition to any team right away, but I feel like we should be going for upside here rather than just drafting Ingram’s long term back up.

I'm not sold on Essengue at 9 besides his age, I just don't see anything special beside his motor. I don't think he will be able to guard wings and he's too skinny to play 5. There's way more projection than Coward, I would actually rather take a chance on Bryant. I have to admit I'm warming up to Coward but I'm not married to the idea of taking him. All I'm saying is that he already has a lot going for him shot wise and physically. He's already a great shooter both 3pt and mid range just that alone can open up driving lanes for him to use his frame and finish strong. He's not crazy athletic but he doesn't need to be either with his shot. If he develops his handle more he could be a very good player in this league.

[Boogie!]

If you’re writing off Gradey as a scorer after putting up 14ppg at 21, you’ll end up writing off 99% of this draft class too

I’m writing off gradey based on his skill set and overall impact not specifically on his stats or his age. You must not be familiar with me around here.

I guess I’m unfamiliar. Are you a notorious Gradey hater?

Nope. Not a hater. Just call it like I see it. If gradey was any good I’d be the first one to say it.

[deeps6x]

Jase/Coward/Flemming/Bryant

Unless we are in love with one of them I would love to roll the dice and see whos still there if we traded down to say 13 + 22 from ATL

I don't think you'd get that deal for just #9.

Would you throw in Dick?

#9 + Dick seems reasonable for #13 + #22

Then you'd still be able to land one of Maluach/Essengue/Queen/Bryant/Richardson. We'd probably have a choice of 2 of these 5 at #13.

Plus one of Sorber/Traore/Berringer/Wolf/Flemming/Clayton/Penda. We'd probably have a choice of 3 of these 7 at #22.

I could feel good about any of those five players at #13, and flipping Dick and a four spot drop for #22, would help us take a player to better balance our roster.

[earthtone]

I’m writing off gradey based on his skill set and overall impact not specifically on his stats or his age. You must not be familiar with me around here.

I guess I’m unfamiliar. Are you a notorious Gradey hater?

Nope. Not a hater. Just call it like I see it. If gradey was any good I’d be the first one to say it.

Good to know. I see it a little differently, but reasonable minds may differ