2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[tecumseh18]

Who is the top guy on your board that you would be upset if we passed on? The guy has to realistically be an option to fall (let’s eliminate Flagg, Harper, Edgecomb from this exercise as I can’t realistically see those guys falling).

I think for me it’s probably Bailey. I could understand why - but I think his talent is too good to pass up.

I think Bailey is this draft's Skal Labissier. So much hype, but teams will see through it.

Ya Fears would be the only guy I can think of. I think we all basically trust our scouting staff's ability to weed out out the pretenders at this point in the draft. It would be fun to see if they'd pass on a guy like Kon (who probably won't drop but who knows - there's so much smokescreen at this time of year).

[WuTang_CMB]

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[earthtone]

Or they don't believe in the concept of a "rebuild".

It's funny you speak of patience when the majority of "tank and rebuild" posters said we should trade Gradey after his first summer league.

Please provide the proof for this

That's way too much work, a lot of people wanted Gradey gone quickly...and many still do...yet when I suggest on reddit that Podz would have been the better pick I get downvoted into oblivion despite it being objectively correct.

There’s a case to be made either way, but its definitely not ‘objectively correct’ that Podz would’ve been a better pick than Gradey

[Yallbecrazy]

Please provide the proof for this

That's way too much work, a lot of people wanted Gradey gone quickly...and many still do...yet when I suggest on reddit that Podz would have been the better pick I get downvoted into oblivion despite it being objectively correct.

There’s a case to be made either way, but its definitely not ‘objectively correct’ that Podz would’ve been a better pick than Gradey

Maybe in the future, but right now #9 wouldn't net you Podz and Gradey doesn't get you a top 20 pick so it kind of is objectively correct right now.

[deeps6x]

our only hope for this core is drafting Malauch and him becoming WAY better then most think he will be.

We basically need to hit a homerun with this pick and thats probably our only hope that Malauch falls and Masai develops him into some type of baby/poor man's Embiid

which would still be high impact on both ends, all-star center at some point.

KM... uggh. I'd rather have Edey. Someone should create a KM or Edey poll.

And now that Memphis raped Orlando with four FRPs and a swap for Bane, maybe we should be calling them up to see if we can pry Edey from them.

#16, Edey and salary for RJ Barrett. It solves all of our problems and makes them look like geniuses.
I'm not saying RJ is as good as Bane, because lets face it, Bane is a better creator/defender.... but RJ had more PPG, RPG and APG then Bane last year, and he's taller and younger as well.

Memphis could trade Edey and #16 (plus filler) for RJ, and pocket the other three FRPs and the swap from Orlando, and barely have a step down in production with RJ taking his place.

KCP, Edey and #16 for RJ. Salaries even match.

Masai, get them on the phone quick...

[CazOnReal]

Alright let's put this center talk into a poll: https://strawpoll.com/6QnMQ3AMkne

[deeps6x]

Or they don't believe in the concept of a "rebuild".

It's funny you speak of patience when the majority of "tank and rebuild" posters said we should trade Gradey after his first summer league.

Please provide the proof for this

That's way too much work, a lot of people wanted Gradey gone quickly...and many still do...yet when I suggest on reddit that Podz would have been the better pick I get downvoted into oblivion despite it being objectively correct.

How do we downvote?

[NotMyKawhi]

Alright let's put this center talk into a poll: https://strawpoll.com/6QnMQ3AMkne

I like the idea of trying to get future picks and a late 1st. Like 9 for 13, 22 and future 2nds. Then 13 for 2 or maybe 3 future 1sts.

Be grateful for Sorber joan or Wolf at 22. Stack up future 1sts for a Big fish trade.

[earthtone]

That's way too much work, a lot of people wanted Gradey gone quickly...and many still do...yet when I suggest on reddit that Podz would have been the better pick I get downvoted into oblivion despite it being objectively correct.

There’s a case to be made either way, but its definitely not ‘objectively correct’ that Podz would’ve been a better pick than Gradey

Maybe in the future, but right now #9 wouldn't net you Podz and Gradey doesn't get you a top 20 pick so it kind of is objectively correct right now.

Not sure that speculating about trade values counts as objectively correct tbh

I think #9 would be more than enough for Podz, and there are plenty of teams in the teens that would love to get Gradey with their pick if he was available

[S.W.A.N]

Alright let's put this center talk into a poll: https://strawpoll.com/6QnMQ3AMkne

I like the idea of trying to get future picks and a late 1st. Like 9 for 13, 22 and future 2nds. Then 13 for 2 or maybe 3 future 1sts.

Be grateful for Sorber joan or Wolf at 22. Stack up future 1sts for a Big fish trade.

Nah.

9 for 13 and 22 and future seconds is perfect. Stop right there.

[CazOnReal]

If i'm trading down from 9 to 13, my starting ask is that Bucks/Pelicans 2027 1st.

Obviously if it's a different team like the Bulls then you're asking for something else i.e. a future Bulls 1st, that lottery-protected Blazers 1st, etc. But i'm not looking to add 3 rookies to this team after adding essentially 5 last season (Walter, Chomche, Mogbo, Shead and then Battle as an undrafted free agent). Maybe you trade 22nd for some future draft capital but I need more than a late 1st in a draft that is increasingly thin with all these recent withdrawals.

Also let's be blunt: Masai and Bobby have traded a 1st rounder in 4 of the past 4 years, there's no reason to think that said future first will last that long.

[NotMyKawhi]

Alright let's put this center talk into a poll: https://strawpoll.com/6QnMQ3AMkne

I like the idea of trying to get future picks and a late 1st. Like 9 for 13, 22 and future 2nds. Then 13 for 2 or maybe 3 future 1sts.

Be grateful for Sorber joan or Wolf at 22. Stack up future 1sts for a Big fish trade.

Nah.

9 for 13 and 22 and future seconds is perfect. Stop right there.

That one for sure. I dont see much difference between Kas, queen, Noa, bryant and cmb. Guaranteed to get 1 at 13

[Yallbecrazy]

There’s a case to be made either way, but its definitely not ‘objectively correct’ that Podz would’ve been a better pick than Gradey

Maybe in the future, but right now #9 wouldn't net you Podz and Gradey doesn't get you a top 20 pick so it kind of is objectively correct right now.

Not sure that speculating about trade values counts as objectively correct tbh

I think #9 would be more than enough for Podz, and there are plenty of teams in the teens that would love to get Gradey with their pick if he was available

Are you serious? People here think Dick vs Podz is a debate somehow? Dick had a -3.2 bpm last year, I think he will take a major step forward this season on both sides of the ball, but even then he won't be as good as Podz was last year. Podz is a starter on pretty much every team in the NBA except for Cleveland and OKC. Gradey doesn't make the rotation on many teams. If you think it's close you are either extremely biased or don't follow the whole league. Podz was GS' 3rd best player this year, 4th after Jimmy was acquired.

I know bpm ain't perfect, but I'm pretty sure there have been 0 players that had better seasons than someone who had a bpm 4.0 higher than them except for at the extreme ends of the tails.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

Kon is getting picked before 9 especially with the Bane trade. Teams will get hyped.

[earthtone]

Maybe in the future, but right now #9 wouldn't net you Podz and Gradey doesn't get you a top 20 pick so it kind of is objectively correct right now.

Not sure that speculating about trade values counts as objectively correct tbh

I think #9 would be more than enough for Podz, and there are plenty of teams in the teens that would love to get Gradey with their pick if he was available

Are you serious? People here think Dick vs Podz is a debate somehow? Dick had a -3.2 bpm last year, I think he will take a major step forward this season on both sides of the ball, but even then he won't be as good as Podz was last year. Podz is a starter on pretty much every team in the NBA except for Cleveland and OKC. Gradey doesn't make the rotation on many teams. If you think it's close you are either extremely biased or don't follow the whole league. Podz was GS' 3rd best player this year, 4th after Jimmy was acquired.

I know bpm ain't perfect, but I'm pretty sure there have been 0 players that had better seasons than someone who had a bpm 4.0 higher than them except for at the extreme ends of the tails.

No argument to the point Podz had a better season than Gradey, I just don’t think it means that he’s objectively a better pick.

They’re different archetypes of players and both still so early into their careers. The gap is close enough that one up or down season from either player next year could easily reverse their ranking.

Not denying Podz has been better than Gradey so far in their (2 season) careers, but I don’t think Podz value is as inflated or Gradey’s as deflated as you’re painting it. No one who puts up 14 PPG at 21 years old doesn’t make the rotation on most teams.

I like Podz quite a bit, but its hard to say a guy starts for every team in the NBA when he only got just over half of the starts for his own team. There’s at least a dozen teams he doesn’t start for, and another 5-10 where it’d be a toss up.

Guys who immediately contribute on winning teams are valuable and ‘too soon re-draft’ darlings, but they don’t always hold that advantage down the line as situations change and development occurs.

[Mark_83]

A reminder that we once drafted Malachi Flynn instead of Bane. I had both on my top 3 board for our pick that year but sadly put Flynn one spot higher due to need/fit.

[Spates]

I think we draft Demin at 9.

[Dalek]

A reminder that we once drafted Malachi Flynn instead of Bane. I had both on my top 3 board for our pick that year but sadly put Flynn one spot higher due to need/fit.

I fought internally not to mention it. But just the past two weeks one story about Flynn being out of the NBA while Bane is fetching four firsts. It was a strange decision at the time. I think I remember Bane even praising Toronto player development prior to the draft.

[DreamTeam09]

our only hope for this core is drafting Malauch and him becoming WAY better then most think he will be.

We basically need to hit a homerun with this pick and thats probably our only hope that Malauch falls and Masai develops him into some type of baby/poor man's Embiid

which would still be high impact on both ends, all-star center at some point.

KM... uggh. I'd rather have Edey. Someone should create a KM or Edey poll.

And now that Memphis raped Orlando with four FRPs and a swap for Bane, maybe we should be calling them up to see if we can pry Edey from them.

#16, Edey and salary for RJ Barrett. It solves all of our problems and makes them look like geniuses.
I'm not saying RJ is as good as Bane, because lets face it, Bane is a better creator/defender.... but RJ had more PPG, RPG and APG then Bane last year, and he's taller and younger as well.

Memphis could trade Edey and #16 (plus filler) for RJ, and pocket the other three FRPs and the swap from Orlando, and barely have a step down in production with RJ taking his place.

KCP, Edey and #16 for RJ. Salaries even match.

Masai, get them on the phone quick...

I'd much rather KM over Edey, well maybe not much rather, but I'd be just as happy either or. Edey is currently injured and out up to 5months according to the bill Simmons podcast