2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 2

[RoteSchroder]

Ace is not a good prospect. I would be furious if we took him top 5.

Same way folks were furious we took Scottie over Jalen Suggs

They aren't even remotely comparable as prospects.

They’re practically polar opposites. Scottie was a do-it-all guy who’s not great at any one skill, passive as a scorer, and struggled with shooting.

Bailey is a shooter who loves to chuck and is good at making tough shots, but struggles or is below average with almost all other aspects of his game.

[God Squad]

Is Ace Bailey a better prospect than Brandon Miller? Try not to use hindsight when answering that.

I have no clue how to "truly" answer this because Brandon was an older freshman. With that said, he was undoubtedly a better college player than what we're seeing from 18-year-old Bailey. Just look at the stats.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-miller-3.html

I don't know what Bailey would look like as an 20yr old Freshman, you know? Bailey is a conundrum because on paper the stats say he's way overvalued. But it also wouldn't surprise me if he

1. Gets better as the season goes on
2. Comes back next year and vastly improves his overall metrics.

If you draft Bailey you're ignoring advanced stats and trusting in your development program.

I wonder if (hypothetically) Bailey were to return for a season if he becomes the undeniable #1 pick next season, or barely improves.

Well that'd also depend on if AJ Dybansta goes to BYU and is terrible, Because he has that #1 pick locked just like Cooper. But the thing with 26' is Darryn Petterson and Cameron Boozer make for a very hard top 3 for Bailey to crack. I just think they're all better players than him right now.

But I'm gonna refrain from talking about Bailey for a while because I don't want to give off the impression that I hate him. I'm just lower on him than most on this board. All I'm gonna say is he's been a disappointment for me.

[Raptorfan2012]

Is Ace Bailey a better prospect than Brandon Miller? Try not to use hindsight when answering that.

I have no clue how to "truly" answer this because Brandon was an older freshman. With that said, he was undoubtedly a better college player than what we're seeing from 18-year-old Bailey. Just look at the stats.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-miller-3.html

I don't know what Bailey would look like as an 20yr old Freshman, you know? Bailey is a conundrum because on paper the stats say he's way overvalued. But it also wouldn't surprise me if he

1. Gets better as the season goes on
2. Comes back next year and vastly improves his overall metrics.

If you draft Bailey you're ignoring advanced stats and trusting in your development program.

I wonder if (hypothetically) Bailey were to return for a season if he becomes the undeniable #1 pick next season, or barely improves.

Nah there is new stock of young prospects coming out in 2026 that will garner more hype. Safe bet AJ will be number one. Ace may even drop out of the top 3-5 conversation (potentially).

[HumbleRen]

I have no clue how to "truly" answer this because Brandon was an older freshman. With that said, he was undoubtedly a better college player than what we're seeing from 18-year-old Bailey. Just look at the stats.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-miller-3.html

I don't know what Bailey would look like as an 20yr old Freshman, you know? Bailey is a conundrum because on paper the stats say he's way overvalued. But it also wouldn't surprise me if he

1. Gets better as the season goes on
2. Comes back next year and vastly improves his overall metrics.

If you draft Bailey you're ignoring advanced stats and trusting in your development program.

I wonder if (hypothetically) Bailey were to return for a season if he becomes the undeniable #1 pick next season, or barely improves.

Nah there is new stock of young prospects coming out in 2026 that will garner more hype. Safe bet AJ will be number one. Ace may even drop out of the top 3-5 conversation (potentially).

Them Boozer twins. Sheesh.

[ArthurVandelay]

Is Ace Bailey a better prospect than Brandon Miller? Try not to use hindsight when answering that.

I have no clue how to "truly" answer this because Brandon was an older freshman. With that said, he was undoubtedly a better college player than what we're seeing from 18-year-old Bailey. Just look at the stats.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-miller-3.html

I don't know what Bailey would look like as an 20yr old Freshman, you know? Bailey is a conundrum because on paper the stats say he's way overvalued. But it also wouldn't surprise me if he

1. Gets better as the season goes on
2. Comes back next year and vastly improves his overall metrics.

If you draft Bailey you're ignoring advanced stats and trusting in your development program.

That’s it exactly

Bailey is the ultimate stats vs projection argument

[Indeed]

Is Ace Bailey a better prospect than Brandon Miller? Try not to use hindsight when answering that.

I have no clue how to "truly" answer this because Brandon was an older freshman. With that said, he was undoubtedly a better college player than what we're seeing from 18-year-old Bailey. Just look at the stats.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-miller-3.html

I don't know what Bailey would look like as an 20yr old Freshman, you know? Bailey is a conundrum because on paper the stats say he's way overvalued. But it also wouldn't surprise me if he

1. Gets better as the season goes on
2. Comes back next year and vastly improves his overall metrics.

If you draft Bailey you're ignoring advanced stats and trusting in your development program.

That’s it exactly

Bailey is the ultimate stats vs projection argument

Not exactly, people is not drafting him because his inability to pass and navigate the game (lack of vision). It is rather difficult to develop, and is a must for being #1 or #2 option. So if you are drafting someone at #3 overall and expect he won't be a #1 or #2 option, do you still think he is a good candidate?

[Thaddy]

Newell and Essengue remind me a bit of Evan Mobley. They should be ranked higher. A 6-11+ forward that's mobile and hits the boards will be good in the NBA. If either of them shows the ability to hit the 3 then they should be high up on our draft board. We need players who can make an impact without handling the ball. Defense is one of the key attributes we should be looking for. I'm talking rim protection, defensive rebounding, switch ability, covering pick and rolls, and if they can hit the three even better.

[Syd-TK3]

I'm always bpa but if we take VJ someone gotta get moved

[LoveMyRaps]

Really hope we can draft a center that can stretch the floor w/ that Portland pick.

Maybe one of the Ivisic brothers?

A stretch big would complement the BBQ trio very well.

[Jerry Lucas]

Have you watched any Asa Newell?

I was out on him early largely due to archetype, but after watching a few Georgia games and some of his tape/scouting reports from his time at Montverde, I've fallen in love with him. Don't have a board as of now, but I can't see him falling much lower than my top 5.

I actually want to be high on Asa Newell (and was originally high on him earlier on in the college season), but his low FTr is a pretty big red flag that keeps turning me away.

But other than that there's like no other flags, which is why I want to be high on him. But again, to be a big and your FTr is below 30%, that's a pretty significant red flag for me.

Just did a quick look up of all the bigs drafted with a FTr lower than 30%, and YIKES, that's not a good list to be a part of. Definitely going to be watching out for that ROS, I just view him pretty much exclusively as a 4 (which helps mitigate that a bit), and love the rest of his game enough to put that on the back burner for now.

Also makes a ton of sense why Ace isn't in your Top 10 if you place a lot of weight on the metrics, his red flags are waaaay harder to look past than Asa's. Don't know where he'll end up on my board, but he's a lot closer to 10 than 1 for now.

Asa Newell's FTr has finally climbed above 30%. Was steadily and slowly rising since the start of the season when he was in the 20s. Just barely above for now, at 30.2%.

[anotherhomer]

i think raptors need more draft picks, similiar to nets 2025 4 FRPs strategy

[Psubs]

Newell and Essengue remind me a bit of Evan Mobley. They should be ranked higher. A 6-11+ forward that's mobile and hits the boards will be good in the NBA. If either of them shows the ability to hit the 3 then they should be high up on our draft board. We need players who can make an impact without handling the ball. Defense is one of the key attributes we should be looking for. I'm talking rim protection, defensive rebounding, switch ability, covering pick and rolls, and if they can hit the three even better.

Maybe more like a Noah Clowney?

Wow Clowney is shooting 38% from 3 with almost 80% FT.

[TorontoBarneys]

Where do you guys think someone like Brandon Miller would go in this draft class? Is Harper a higher tier prospect?

[Psubs]

Where do you guys think someone like Brandon Miller would go in this draft class? Is Harper a higher tier prospect?

Ahead of Tre Johnson based on size. I would say 3-6.

[Jstock12]

Braden Smith cooking Harper a little bit. He'll have a great career in the Euroleague if he goes undrafted.

[ArthurVandelay]

Where do you guys think someone like Brandon Miller would go in this draft class? Is Harper a higher tier prospect?

I’d say 2-4.

I think Harper is a higher tier prospect but if a team is drafting who has a PG they might go Miller instead.

[Jstock12]

Where do you guys think someone like Brandon Miller would go in this draft class? Is Harper a higher tier prospect?

I’d say 2-4.

I think Harper is a higher tier prospect but if a team is drafting who has a PG they might go Miller instead.

How about Markelle Fultz?

[Thaddy]

Newell and Essengue remind me a bit of Evan Mobley. They should be ranked higher. A 6-11+ forward that's mobile and hits the boards will be good in the NBA. If either of them shows the ability to hit the 3 then they should be high up on our draft board. We need players who can make an impact without handling the ball. Defense is one of the key attributes we should be looking for. I'm talking rim protection, defensive rebounding, switch ability, covering pick and rolls, and if they can hit the three even better.

Maybe more like a Noah Clowney?

Wow Clowney is shooting 38% from 3 with almost 80% FT.

They are better on defense and get more stocks. I'd compare him to Mobley. A true power forward not a tweener who can probably play small ball 5.

If we traded down and came out with both Maluach and Newell we'd be cooking 2 years from now similar to the Cavs.

Maluach / Z. Ivisic
Newell / Chomche
Barnes / Mogbo

That would be a great defensive front court.

[RoteSchroder]

Newell and Essengue remind me a bit of Evan Mobley. They should be ranked higher. A 6-11+ forward that's mobile and hits the boards will be good in the NBA. If either of them shows the ability to hit the 3 then they should be high up on our draft board. We need players who can make an impact without handling the ball. Defense is one of the key attributes we should be looking for. I'm talking rim protection, defensive rebounding, switch ability, covering pick and rolls, and if they can hit the three even better.

Maybe more like a Noah Clowney?

Wow Clowney is shooting 38% from 3 with almost 80% FT.

Essengue is slow on offense with limited talent and potentially negative on defense.

Newell will likely be a solid role player, maybe Claxton with worse shot blocking, but better at finishing near the basket is a better comparison.

[RoteSchroder]

Random thought. A mid season draft lottery might counteract the tanking problem in the NBA. It could be done around the trade deadline. Then we'd see the trade deadline dynamics change with teams looking to finish strong. It'd also give teams ample time to scout the prospects in their range.

I would do a reverse draft. The best non-playoff team gets the higher pick and higher odds.

Except this is weighted or balanced between the previous two years. If you sucked in the prior two years, your odds also increase.

So a team that sucked for two years, but tried to put a winning team on the floor this year (e.g. Detroit) gets a top pick. You reward that team for trying.

A team blatantly tanking every year (Utah) gets a mid-lotto pick and about the same odds as a team that is mid every year.

Teams with the lowest odds would be like Cleveland having LBJ for his final two years there, then completely sucking after he left. I don’t think teams that have enjoyed 60+ wins for years should get gifted a top pick immediately afterwards.

What about just going to flat odds for non-playoff teams like when Orlando won Shaq? Then run the lottery for all 14 draft slots.

That works too, but pretty much all the bottom feeders would have nothing to play for. Fans will be disengaged as neither winning or losing matters. Teams already with a superstar who had an injury for one season (e.g. Embiid) now have a chance of getting a #1 pick.