2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[Tor_Raps]

Who is PHX drafting with #9?

The same player that MIL was

[PhilBlackson]

Who is PHX drafting with #9?

I hope we didn't waste a top 10 on a rental just to try & microwave this process, this isn't the same as trading for Kawhi.

We were a 1st place team with multiple previous Playoff runs before with not only built up chemistry, depth and most of the roster within the right age group and a player at the center of it that was in his PRIME and was a current top 3 player in the league, this is not that.

Yes the team dealt with injuries but just assuming this team is ready to compete at THE highest level with a bunch of young guys who've never even been in those moments before, with a "superstar" way past his prime and clearly in the tail end of his career is not the same thing or all that wise imo. A lot of the younger rotation players and my guess is even Scottie need at least some semblance of Playoff experience before they're ready to go on a championship run.

The only way I'm cool with a KD trade is either A) we don't include this pick/give Gradey instead or B) KD is actually willing to stay (and it's pretty much a formality) despite the reports that have already said otherwise. If not, personally not sure I'm really a fan of the move should it happen.

[HangTime]

Who is PHX drafting with #9?

I hope we didn't waste a top 10 on a rental just to try & microwave this process, this isn't the same as trading for Kawhi.

We were a 1st place team with multiple previous Playoff runs before with not only built up chemistry, depth and most of the roster within the right age group and a player at the center of it that was in his PRIME and was a current top 3 player in the league, this is not that.

Yes the team dealt with injuries but just assuming this team is ready to compete at THE highest level with a bunch of young guys who've never even been in those moments before, with a "superstar" way past his prime and clearly in the tail end of his career is not the same thing or all that wise imo. A lot of the younger rotation players and my guess is even Scottie need at least some semblance of Playoff experience before they're ready to go on a championship run.

The only way I'm cool with a KD trade is either A) we don't include this pick/give Gradey instead or B) KD is actually willing to stay (and it's pretty much a formality) despite the reports that have already said otherwise. If not, personally not sure I'm really a fan of the move should it happen.

Why does everyone think getting KD is supposed to be "win now" move and nothing else?
I think it leans in that direction, but the real reason is to help everyone else.

I think a Scottie / Ingram / KD trio could be lethal on the court.
Off the court, just the training, and youthfulness of the team could be great opportunity to learn. Sort of like when Oladipo was in OKC with Westbrook.

I'm curious what Ingram and even Chomche could learn from KD.

Even if it's just 1 year, I think it's well worth a gamble if the ask is RJ, Jakob, Gradey.

[Yallbecrazy]

Who is PHX drafting with #9?

I hope we didn't waste a top 10 on a rental just to try & microwave this process, this isn't the same as trading for Kawhi.

We were a 1st place team with multiple previous Playoff runs before with not only built up chemistry, depth and most of the roster within the right age group and a player at the center of it that was in his PRIME and was a current top 3 player in the league, this is not that.

Yes the team dealt with injuries but just assuming this team is ready to compete at THE highest level with a bunch of young guys who've never even been in those moments before, with a "superstar" way past his prime and clearly in the tail end of his career is not the same thing or all that wise imo. A lot of the younger rotation players and my guess is even Scottie need at least some semblance of Playoff experience before they're ready to go on a championship run.

The only way I'm cool with a KD trade is either A) we don't include this pick/give Gradey instead or B) KD is actually willing to stay (and it's pretty much a formality) despite the reports that have already said otherwise. If not, personally not sure I'm really a fan of the move should it happen.

Why does everyone think getting KD is supposed to be "win now" move and nothing else?
I think it leans in that direction, but the real reason is to help everyone else.

I think a Scottie / Ingram / KD trio could be lethal on the court.
Off the court, just the training, and youthfulness of the team could be great opportunity to learn. Sort of like when Oladipo was in OKC with Westbrook.

I'm curious what Ingram and even Chomche could learn from KD.

Even if it's just 1 year, I think it's well worth a gamble if the ask is RJ, Jakob, Gradey.

We just got a KD lite in Ingram, adding another will have diminishing returns (see Phoenix with Booker and Beal) KD is still a great player, but on the decline and also doesn't provide a lot outside of scoring. He is also a ball stopper so he doesn't fit Darko's system at all.

[TNRaps4life]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

[WuTang_OG]

KM talk

https://youtu.be/ZS4JPqU0yKg?t=1077

[M3tro]

I hope we didn't waste a top 10 on a rental just to try & microwave this process, this isn't the same as trading for Kawhi.

We were a 1st place team with multiple previous Playoff runs before with not only built up chemistry, depth and most of the roster within the right age group and a player at the center of it that was in his PRIME and was a current top 3 player in the league, this is not that.

Yes the team dealt with injuries but just assuming this team is ready to compete at THE highest level with a bunch of young guys who've never even been in those moments before, with a "superstar" way past his prime and clearly in the tail end of his career is not the same thing or all that wise imo. A lot of the younger rotation players and my guess is even Scottie need at least some semblance of Playoff experience before they're ready to go on a championship run.

The only way I'm cool with a KD trade is either A) we don't include this pick/give Gradey instead or B) KD is actually willing to stay (and it's pretty much a formality) despite the reports that have already said otherwise. If not, personally not sure I'm really a fan of the move should it happen.

Why does everyone think getting KD is supposed to be "win now" move and nothing else?
I think it leans in that direction, but the real reason is to help everyone else.

I think a Scottie / Ingram / KD trio could be lethal on the court.
Off the court, just the training, and youthfulness of the team could be great opportunity to learn. Sort of like when Oladipo was in OKC with Westbrook.

I'm curious what Ingram and even Chomche could learn from KD.

Even if it's just 1 year, I think it's well worth a gamble if the ask is RJ, Jakob, Gradey.

We just got a KD lite in Ingram, adding another will have diminishing returns (see Phoenix with Booker and Beal) KD is still a great player, but on the decline and also doesn't provide a lot outside of scoring. He is also a ball stopper so he doesn't fit Darko's system at all.

KD lite lol.

Durant is one of the greatest scorers of all time and Ingram has been largely unhealthy for his career. KD at 36 years old, had a better season than any season BI has had or is likely to have. They're galaxies apart.

Bring in the alpha scorer and let the pecking order fall into place after that.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Doesn’t seem to be sound management to put so much of last season all about a pick they allowed fall to 9th while also having to hope the bpa we select is a big, because we’re too invested in a glut of mediocre guards and wings.

[Yallbecrazy]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

There it is, the worst big board I've seen or will see this year.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Last season just feels like a complete waste. Masai’s been making like 15 mil a year just to set the franchise back.

[S ID]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1lbl76z/2025_epm_draft_model_board/

Link to boards:
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/TPM_Draft_Page
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/Nick_Draft_Page
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/Andre_Draft_Page

[TimeForChange]

Read on Twitter

https://draftstack.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-big-board-3aa

1. Flagg
2. Essengue
3. Edgecombe
4. Harper
5. Maluach
6. Knueppel
7. Penda
8. Bailey
9. Fleming
10. Johnson
11. Jakucionis
12. Bryant
13. Fears
14. Coward

[Consequence]

Did I miss something or are people just projecting that Masai is desperate for KD and is giving up the pick this year?

[Yeezus_]

I hope we didn't waste a top 10 on a rental just to try & microwave this process, this isn't the same as trading for Kawhi.

We were a 1st place team with multiple previous Playoff runs before with not only built up chemistry, depth and most of the roster within the right age group and a player at the center of it that was in his PRIME and was a current top 3 player in the league, this is not that.

Yes the team dealt with injuries but just assuming this team is ready to compete at THE highest level with a bunch of young guys who've never even been in those moments before, with a "superstar" way past his prime and clearly in the tail end of his career is not the same thing or all that wise imo. A lot of the younger rotation players and my guess is even Scottie need at least some semblance of Playoff experience before they're ready to go on a championship run.

The only way I'm cool with a KD trade is either A) we don't include this pick/give Gradey instead or B) KD is actually willing to stay (and it's pretty much a formality) despite the reports that have already said otherwise. If not, personally not sure I'm really a fan of the move should it happen.

Why does everyone think getting KD is supposed to be "win now" move and nothing else?
I think it leans in that direction, but the real reason is to help everyone else.

I think a Scottie / Ingram / KD trio could be lethal on the court.
Off the court, just the training, and youthfulness of the team could be great opportunity to learn. Sort of like when Oladipo was in OKC with Westbrook.

I'm curious what Ingram and even Chomche could learn from KD.

Even if it's just 1 year, I think it's well worth a gamble if the ask is RJ, Jakob, Gradey.

We just got a KD lite in Ingram, adding another will have diminishing returns (see Phoenix with Booker and Beal) KD is still a great player, but on the decline and also doesn't provide a lot outside of scoring. He is also a ball stopper so he doesn't fit Darko's system at all.

KD lite?

His last season which was super efficient was better than any season Ingram has ever had. KD is also not a ball stopper. He plays really well off the ball and within the flow of an offense. If anything he should be ball stopping more because he’s so efficient. There’s no way you watch KD play and believe anything you wrote.

[TimeForChange]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1lbl76z/2025_epm_draft_model_board/

Link to boards:
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/TPM_Draft_Page
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/Nick_Draft_Page
https://tawnyparkmetrics.com/Andre_Draft_Page

love it

[Duffman100]

Doesn’t seem to be sound management to put so much of last season all about a pick they allowed fall to 9th while also having to hope the bpa we select is a big, because we’re too invested in a glut of mediocre guards and wings.

They allowed to fall to 9th? Just like Utah and Washington "allowed" theirs to fall to 5th and 6th.

Was it sound management of SA and Dallas to jump to 1/2.

It's all luck

[TimeForChange]

Why does everyone think getting KD is supposed to be "win now" move and nothing else?
I think it leans in that direction, but the real reason is to help everyone else.

I think a Scottie / Ingram / KD trio could be lethal on the court.
Off the court, just the training, and youthfulness of the team could be great opportunity to learn. Sort of like when Oladipo was in OKC with Westbrook.

I'm curious what Ingram and even Chomche could learn from KD.

Even if it's just 1 year, I think it's well worth a gamble if the ask is RJ, Jakob, Gradey.

We just got a KD lite in Ingram, adding another will have diminishing returns (see Phoenix with Booker and Beal) KD is still a great player, but on the decline and also doesn't provide a lot outside of scoring. He is also a ball stopper so he doesn't fit Darko's system at all.

KD lite?

His last season which was super efficient was better than any season Ingram has ever had. KD is also not a ball stopper. He plays really well off the ball and within the flow of an offense. If anything he should be ball stopping more because he’s so efficient. There’s no way you watch KD play and believe anything you wrote.

BI is not even Temu KD

[TimeForChange]

oh god

[Yeezus_]

We just got a KD lite in Ingram, adding another will have diminishing returns (see Phoenix with Booker and Beal) KD is still a great player, but on the decline and also doesn't provide a lot outside of scoring. He is also a ball stopper so he doesn't fit Darko's system at all.

KD lite?

His last season which was super efficient was better than any season Ingram has ever had. KD is also not a ball stopper. He plays really well off the ball and within the flow of an offense. If anything he should be ball stopping more because he’s so efficient. There’s no way you watch KD play and believe anything you wrote.

BI is not even Temu KD

Lol facts. I get the age concern but KDs showing no signs have slowing down. He’s also grown into being a solid defender.

[TimeForChange]