2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[Rapsfan07]

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couldnt get FRP territory

Sucks. He would have been a major steal in the second round.

[Dalek]

RJ Felton (guard - dynamic 20+ PPG scorer for Eastern Washington)

I thought this might be Raymond Felton’s son and just about turned to dust.

Turns out they’re cousins.

He even is a similar body to Raymond Felton being a big combo guard. I think he ends up going back, but maybe someone sees a microwave bench scorer. He is a walking bucket and will kill it in the G-League.

[Dalek]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

[OakleyDokely]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

[WuTang_CMB]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

[S.W.A.N]

Tre might actually be elite enough offensively to warrant that pick. Kon doesn't suck on defense and probably the safest pick available.

You like to point out he played longer and in weaker conference before moving up. Why is it so hard to think he might be getting overlooked because of that.

Yes, he might be overlooked because of that. Alternatively, if he was/is as good as some here are suggesting, then why didn't he transfer after his first season at Eastern Washington, why didn't he transfer to a better basketball school than Washington State after his junior year, and why isn't he being consistently mocked as a lottery pick in this year's draft?

Coward has a freaking .700 TS a massive wingspan and good counting stats. I don't care if the draft pundits agree, guys like him end up being winning players.

For context, the 6 games he played this year while at Washington State were against Portland State, Bradley, Idaho, Iowa, Northern Colorado, and Eastern Washington.

Prior to this year at Washington State, the games he played while at Eastern Washington were against the likes of Utah, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Stanford, Walla Walla, Washington State, Southern California, Air Force, Portland Bible, Cal Poly, Washington, Portland State, Sacramento State, South Dakota, North Dakota State, Idaho, Weber State, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona, Montana State, Montana.

Considering his physical profile (wingspan, standing reach, vertical, etc) and the strength of competition he's played during the past two (2) years, he should be able to efficiently score over defenders who aren't as long, wiry, or athletically gifted as himself.

Does that mean he's going to be able to find the same level of success when playing against NBA-caliber opponents who are just as long, wiry, and athletically gifted as he is or is it not reasonable to except he's going to struggle when facing much stronger opposition?

tier 1:... Flagg
tier 2:... Harper
tier 3:... VJ
tier 4:... Khaman, Carter, Fears, Ace, Tre, Kon,

tier 5:... Jak, Demin, CMB, Jace, Coward, Fleming
tier 6:... Sorber, Asa,
tier 7:... Queen

There will be 1, maybe 2 guys from my top 9 available for raps on draft night. The question is are any of my tier 5 guys good enough to warrant 9th pick. probably not but i'm going to give them a hard look.

Khaman or Carter Bryant is my desired outcome outside the top guys.

Same. I would be happy with either Khaman Maluach or Carter Bryant at #9 and hope both of them are available to choose from when it's our turn to pick.

I don't disagree with your concerns... Level of competition matters. Age matters. I still don't care about mock drafts. I've been a draft fanatic for years. Long enough to know guys get missed all the time, especially guys that played at weaker schools and didn't get they hype. With a guy like Coward they have to do extra homework. Can his extreme efficiency and shooting sustain at a higher level? That is the ultimate question.

Again, I suspect someone is going to get him around 12-15. One of those teams with multiple picks that can take a flier on a higher risk/reward player. And they might end up looking like geniuses for finding a stud.

But the player prototype is hard to Ignore. Elite length, Elite shooting, Good advanced metrics... The questions are hard to ignore as well. Competition, defense, etc.etc. You can add him to the long list of guys in this range that have massive question marks.

But ya I'm far higher on Bryant Khaman, Kon as guys who might be there at 9 and just take the best player available. That said, Jak, Demin, Traore are guys I think could end up getting picked because of their super high upside that I'd love be able get behind if the team believed in them. Going to be an interesting draft. There so many guys that could end up being in the same tier and it just pick your poison.

[LoveMyRaps]

Damn man, some pretty solid options dropped out of the draft today.

[WuTang_CMB]

8. Brooklyn Nets: G Egor Demin, BYU
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire — and all signs point to the Brooklyn Nets being seriously intrigued by BYU’s Egor Demin. The 6’9” guard has become the hottest name in pre-draft circles, skyrocketing from a fringe first-rounder in earlier mocks to a legitimate top-10 talent.

Brooklyn desperately needs backcourt reinforcements to pair with Cam Thomas, and Demin checks every box. He’s got the size, versatility, and instincts to grow into a dynamic two-way guard, with flashes of playmaking and scoring ability that suggest a high ceiling down the line. For a rebuilding Nets team, taking a swing on Demin’s upside could be a home run. While Duke’s Khaman Maluach might get consideration here, the smart money says Brooklyn goes with the most intriguing backcourt talent on the board — and right now, that’s Demin.

9. Toronto Raptors: C Khaman Maluach, Duke
At long last, Khaman Maluach finds his NBA home as the Raptors snag the franchise center they’ve been searching for. Jakob Poeltl has held it down admirably, but Toronto has needed a long-term anchor in the paint — and Maluach might just be the missing puzzle piece for a team brimming with talent like RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley. Adding a high-upside rim protector who can grow offensively could instantly elevate this group into a serious Eastern Conference riser.

Standing 7'1" with an eye-popping 7'7" wingspan, Maluach blends elite size with tantalizing potential. He’s already a force as a rim-runner and finisher, and his 1.3 blocks per game in limited minutes hint at serious defensive upside. With growing confidence in his perimeter game and the agility to switch on defense, Maluach fits the mold of a modern big — one who could thrive alongside the Raptors’ dynamic core.

10. Houston Rockets: G Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
The Rockets are bursting at the seams with young talent, and while their playoff run came to an end courtesy of the veteran-savvy Warriors, locking down the No. 2 seed in the loaded Western Conference proves they’re way ahead of schedule. With a deep asset pool and swirling rumors about a potential blockbuster pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, this pick could easily be leveraged in a trade.

But if Houston keeps the pick and Jakucionis is still on the board, don’t be surprised if they make a move. The crafty guard brings a slick mix of scoring instincts and creative playmaking, using his shifty handle and keen vision to keep defenders guessing. He’d be a fascinating backcourt piece to pair with Alperen Sengun, and in a system already teeming with playmakers, Jakucionis would have time to develop his perimeter shot and potentially grow into a starting-caliber floor general—especially if Fred VanVleet isn’t in the long-term picture.

https://www.si.com/onsi/fantasy/nba/2025-nba-mock-draft-round-1-tre-johnson-egor-demin

[ciueli]

This one kinda hurts from a 2nd-round depth perspective. He was definitely one of my options at 39 (if he was there).

NIL is making the 2nd round obsolete. The NBA needs a way to combat NIL.

I don't think this is really true, looking at pay packages for NIL most of the players are still making less than they would on a second round contract and that doesn't factor in that they can still make endorsement money once they are in the NBA, it seems to be the football players who are making more of the money. And I believe that international players are still not able to capitalize on this, I remember Zach Edey was eager to get to the NBA because he was not getting any NIL money due to being Canadian.

Another consideration is that once a player is drafted in the second round they have the freedom to negotiate a contract with their team, there is no set salary figure as there is for player in the first round. Most of the time this translates into a player taking a 2-3 year minimum contract (around $2M/year or so) with usually only 2 years guaranteed, but that doesn't have to be the case. Looking at some players that signed deals last season as high second round picks, the Bucks gave Tyler Smith a full 3 years of guaranteed money plus a team option, Tyler Kolek also got 3 years guaranteed from the Knicks plus a little bit more money over the minimum.

[Yallbecrazy]

NIL is making the 2nd round obsolete. The NBA needs a way to combat NIL.

2nd round picks have always been a bit of a crapshoot, and the most successful ones have pretty much always been four-year seniors anyway.

It'll weaken the depth of drafts a bit, but at the end of the day only around 20 guys each draft make it to any sort of meaningful second contract and I think that'll stay the same. Only now guys don't feel the pressure to declare early for financial reasons when they can make a good amount of money by staying or entering the portal.

Yeah, I see it the same way as you.

I honestly think NIL is positive for the NBA. The guys who are ready for the NBA will enter. The guys on the cusp will likely lean to go back (if they dont get strong engagements from teams) and season/develop more. It will only benefit the NBA as the talent entering will be higher than previous years (in theory). NCAA will now have some continuity with guys staying plus with the NIL money, they will be getting more international players which is already starting to happen.

Win Win

Yes and no.

The loss is a player would develop more slowly (other than experience) in college rather than the pros. The coaching and training in the NBA will be superior for nearly all teams.

[Yallbecrazy]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

CMB will punish every single player in this draft in a workout to be honest. He's probably the strongest guy in the draft and he's quicker than anyone within 15 lbs of him.

[CoinTossRoss31]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

Where did you hear this? Would love to hear some insider info on how the workouts went. Kind of like how Suggs bombed his shooting drills with the Raptors

[BoyzNTheHood]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

Sorry I’m on mobile. Who did CMB punish?

[WuTang_CMB]

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

Sorry I’m on mobile. Who did CMB punish?

Newell

[WuTang_CMB]

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

Where did you hear this? Would love to hear some insider info on how the workouts went. Kind of like how Suggs bombed his shooting drills with the Raptors

Barlow on one of his pods

[Psubs]

I think Toronto is focused on a big and they obviously love defense and switchability. Asa Newell is going to be the best switch big who can swap between PF and C. He is projectable as a three point shooter. He isn't a passer, but he is young and high floor as an energy big. I think most people find him boring, a bit of the forgotten lotto guy, but he is a quality big given his athleticism and aggression. He's a bit like Chris Bosh being a lefty PF with good fluidity.

He doesn't really seem to fit the Raps typical profile though. Not a great rebounder or passer, only a 6'11 wingspan for someone who measured 6'9. I think there are more Raptor-y guys.

Ya, I'm taking Rasheer Fleming over Asa Newell for sure.

[WuTang_CMB]

2nd round picks have always been a bit of a crapshoot, and the most successful ones have pretty much always been four-year seniors anyway.

It'll weaken the depth of drafts a bit, but at the end of the day only around 20 guys each draft make it to any sort of meaningful second contract and I think that'll stay the same. Only now guys don't feel the pressure to declare early for financial reasons when they can make a good amount of money by staying or entering the portal.

Yeah, I see it the same way as you.

I honestly think NIL is positive for the NBA. The guys who are ready for the NBA will enter. The guys on the cusp will likely lean to go back (if they dont get strong engagements from teams) and season/develop more. It will only benefit the NBA as the talent entering will be higher than previous years (in theory). NCAA will now have some continuity with guys staying plus with the NIL money, they will be getting more international players which is already starting to happen.

Win Win

Yes and no.

The loss is a player would develop more slowly (other than experience) in college rather than the pros. The coaching and training in the NBA will be superior for nearly all teams.

For maybe 10 teams. Theres 20 teams in the NBA that cant develop for beans especially for 2nd rounders. Guys staying in college to get better to improve for a FRP territory benefits everyone.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Also rumour is CMB punished him in a workout

Sorry I’m on mobile. Who did CMB punish?

Newell

[OakleyDokely]

Miles Byrd is a fascinating prospect. Incredible block/steal %, solid rebounder and passer, high BPM, great motor, hit 83% of his FTs, took almost 6 3s per game, but his shooting % was terrible.

[DG88]

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