2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[dobrojim]

The level of physicality that the NBA is allowing in the playoffs is nothing short of stunning. And on the fact that viewership is up and the way people are putting together teams will shift. Super skinny players will be at a disadvantage.

I have been loving it as a fan. Best playoffs in a long, long time. I feel like I'm watching 90s ball.

There have been some great games but I honestly
don't know what a foul is anymore.

[payitforward]

That’s my opinion yes. Huge. Physical. Mobile. Teams still bomb away from 3 but he’s shown he’s not a giant stiff, can guard the pick and roll and recover to the paint. Not strictly a liability guarding the perimeter. One of those defenders who played soccer growing up so he understands positional defense instinctively cutting off angles and using his size — even if he’s been taught this year to stay ground bound and vertical instead of jumping to block shots. I think he’ll regain the shot blocking as he gets comfortable. Since that was his game in international play. Meanwhile on size alone he deters players from attacking the paint. That hesitation he causes is an ideal fit for a team with long rangy outside defenders. They can feel free to challenge three point shooters knowing even if they’re blown past they’ll have a second to recover when the ball handler checks up to reconsider their actions. Maluach is so big and mobile that even in the mid range he’s only one giant step away from the paint. The radius of that 2.9 second polka that bigs have to play in the NBA fills a very wide area.

Offensively he showed he’s unstoppable when he’s fed the ball in good position. An 88% scorer when he can dunk the ball. Doesn’t turn it over. Huge hands that can catch one handed even in traffic. His pre Duke footage shows a more advanced offensive game isn’t a fantasy. Meanwhile he showed a high floor in a simplified role. He wades through defenses. Ignoring contact. Actually seeks it out. Bulldozes players to get to an offensive board. His offensive board work suggests his defensive rebounding has an upside but meanwhile it becomes an ideal fit for a team that likes to shoot from outside. His catch radius is huge on those putbacks in traffic. It turns missed jump shots into accidental assists.

So raw that even his supporters know he’s a few years away. But that suits our timeline. Meanwhile his size lets him be playable while his skills accrue. Hard worker and smart so you expect him to learn quickly in the right situation.

A playable two way big who is not phased by physical play is a good fit for postseason play.

I'm sold. & if we could get him with a trade-down from, for example, 3, that brought us another R1 pick -- I'd be all over that.

[Northwest Roddy]

If we end up with the 5th or 6th pick, is Maluach a type of player that could do well in this prison-ball style of playoff basketball?

Prison ball?

Was the way Bill Simmons described it last year towards the end of the year when he’d noticed there was a change in officiating.

[dobrojim]

No profuse bleeding, no foul.

[closg00]

No profuse bleeding, no foul.

Yes, come the playoffs, it’s MMA time, the Pacers have James Johnson who has a black belt in karate.

[doclinkin]

(On Maluach)
A playable two way big who is not phased by physical play is a good fit for postseason play.

I'm sold. & if we could get him with a trade-down from, for example, 3, that brought us another R1 pick -- I'd be all over that.

All depends on the lotto and who lands where of course but I’d listen to offers for anything after Flagg. Not that Flagg is a LeBron level pick and surefire HOFer but I think no GM or franchise can afford trading the #1 overall.

I do think Harper is also well suited for playoff games since he can’t be kept out of the paint and scores well in traffic. He needs a 3 ball to keep teams honest. You figure that can develop. Still, for Harp someone might have a godfather offer that includes unprotected picks next year when the draft is deep in ball handlers and shot creators.

That’s what I’d be looking for in a trade down from 2-5. Slip a spot or three, collect an extra 1st this year and something in next year’s likely lotto range.

I don’t think Dawkins would do it though.

[payitforward]

Fun to think about....

[doclinkin]

True! Okay what would you do with all 4 Brooklyn picks?

[tontoz]

Two weeks until the lottery.

[Dat2U]

(On Maluach)
A playable two way big who is not phased by physical play is a good fit for postseason play.

I'm sold. & if we could get him with a trade-down from, for example, 3, that brought us another R1 pick -- I'd be all over that.

All depends on the lotto and who lands where of course but I’d listen to offers for anything after Flagg. Not that Flagg is a LeBron level pick and surefire HOFer but I think no GM or franchise can afford trading the #1 overall.

I do think Harper is also well suited for playoff games since he can’t be kept out of the paint and scores well in traffic. He needs a 3 ball to keep teams honest. You figure that can develop. Still, for Harp someone might have a godfather offer that includes unprotected picks next year when the draft is deep in ball handlers and shot creators.

That’s what I’d be looking for in a trade down from 2-5. Slip a spot or three, collect an extra 1st this year and something in next year’s likely lotto range.

I don’t think Dawkins would do it though.

Harper is arguably the best guard prospect in the draft since Cade, I think he's even better at some of the key indicators- % of possessions ending in a paint touch, 2 pt scoring, rim finishing. Maybe even better than Ja as all around prospect at 6-6. You could go 4-5 entire drafts without seeing a guard prospect like this. I don't think many GMs are passing that up for a bunch of hopes, maybes and long range possibilities.

[The Consiglieri]

I don't think there's much chance at all they'd trade down from 2 or 3, or probably 4, 5 and 6 maybe, not top 3, probably not top 4.

[tontoz]

I'm sold. & if we could get him with a trade-down from, for example, 3, that brought us another R1 pick -- I'd be all over that.

All depends on the lotto and who lands where of course but I’d listen to offers for anything after Flagg. Not that Flagg is a LeBron level pick and surefire HOFer but I think no GM or franchise can afford trading the #1 overall.

I do think Harper is also well suited for playoff games since he can’t be kept out of the paint and scores well in traffic. He needs a 3 ball to keep teams honest. You figure that can develop. Still, for Harp someone might have a godfather offer that includes unprotected picks next year when the draft is deep in ball handlers and shot creators.

That’s what I’d be looking for in a trade down from 2-5. Slip a spot or three, collect an extra 1st this year and something in next year’s likely lotto range.

I don’t think Dawkins would do it though.

Harper is arguably the best guard prospect in the draft since Cade, I think he's even better at some of the key indicators- % of possessions ending in a paint touch, 2 pt scoring, rim finishing. Maybe even better than Ja as all around prospect at 6-6. You could go 4-5 entire drafts without seeing a guard prospect like this. I don't think many GMs are passing that up for a bunch of hopes, maybes and long range possibilities.

Dylan is not 6'6. I bet he measures between 6'4 and 6'5 without shoes, but I agree he is an elite prospect.

He is a total no brainier at 2. I had him at 1 early in the season. I can't remember a guy in recent
years as skilled in college at getting to the rim and finishing, especially considering his lack of turnovers

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Yes, Harper is much more of a sure thing than Queen.

The next guard I'm convinced will succeed is Fears.

Cooper, Harper, and Fears will be all stars from this draft. Tre Jones figures to score a lot.

Will Riley and Kam Jones are both highly underrated.

If Washington drafts Derik Queen, he has a solid chance at being Rookie of the Year. He could average 17/8/3 in his sleep. Forget tanking. The Wizards will have a revised de-construction.

[closg00]

They did us dirty by having us pick 6th, but it’s possible in this crazy Yahoo mock.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-mock-draft-cooper-flagg-to-the-nets-heres-a-wild-pre-lottery-scenario-that-could-happen-202415473.html

[AFM]

Notice how they have the best run franchise picking Queen. Just saying. #QueenRising #DDQ

[payitforward]

True! Okay what would you do with all 4 Brooklyn picks?

We don't have a practical way to acquire all 4 Brooklyn R1 picks. Oh, maybe if we wound up w/ #1. In any case, maybe 1 & 18 wiould bring 6, 19, 26 & 27.

TBH, I feel very uncertain about who'll be on the board in the mid-20s. But if I use https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/ I'd be happy with trading down to get Fears or Maluach & more trade capital. Like you, I am extremely intrigued by Maluach's potential!

But, I'm not as sold on Sorber as you are -- tho perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I haven't done much of a dive on him.

Certainly I'd be happy with Lendeborg at 26 or 27. I like Wolf a lot as well. & Johni Broome. Two of those 3 guys at Brooklyn's 26/27.

Would I maybe take Clifford at 19...? Do we still have 18 in this scenario?

edit: it's been an extremely long day, hence this virtually incoherent post -- will do better tomorrow.

[doclinkin]

Harper is arguably the best guard prospect in the draft since Cade, I think he's even better at some of the key indicators- % of possessions ending in a paint touch, 2 pt scoring, rim finishing. Maybe even better than Ja as all around prospect at 6-6. You could go 4-5 entire drafts without seeing a guard prospect like this. I don't think many GMs are passing that up for a bunch of hopes, maybes and long range possibilities.

I doubt any would. Definitely not Dawkins. Me I'd be curious to see what package people would offer though if you suggested the pick was up for auction. I'd happily turn down most offers, but be willing to be blown out of the water on a package of young talent, or picks from a team who was unlikely to compete in the next few years.

Of course I'm happy if we get #2. We will have to shape a team around him, but that's a good problem to have. We don't have anything like the team I want to see him play next to if he was our centerpiece player.

Playoff ball wise, he's the 1A alpha scorer every team needs. A guy who forces fouls and attacks the interior. I'd want a filthy screener next to him since I think he works well off of screens and picks. Here he ushers Poole out the door a little quicker since he is best with the ball in his hands. Though Poole is a reliable outside shooter this past year. Harper plays well in traffic but will be even better if there's real spacing. Hopefully Sarr and Key and Bilal are working on their shooting first and above all in the offseason. If they can't raise their % we will be looking for trades to build that team around him. I do like that we have willing passers like Key and Sarr and Bub who can find him when he is in motion off ball.

No player is flawless, even if he's ahead of the crowd in this draft. I want his own three ball to improve. He plays well off ball, so I'd like to see his catch and shoot game raise to match his dribble drive game. Yes you want him on the ball as often as possible, but a one man attack is easier to defend. Especially if you know he's going inside with almost every touch. If he has a deadly outside shot it will force teams to shadow him like Stef, to drag the defense around and out of position.

I think some of his drives into traffic are going to get snuffed for a minute against the longer more athletic front courts he will see. Like Ace he will often attack the heart of the defense and end up surrounded by defenders. Difference is he'd actually score from there, splitting the double teams instead of pulling up or falling into a fading jumper to shoot over them. In the NBA some of those shots get devoured. But If he has to adjust he is too smart to get stifled for long. He will find his gaps and angles. Force fouls. Bait defenders. Score through contact. He is born for playoff basketball. His style does expose him to injury risk though. I'd want him on a training regimen that makes him bulletproof. Cardio, core, balance and strength. Yoga. Judo. Something if he's going to be running into the middle of a crowd of shot blockers and beasts all the time.

[Dat2U]

I wouldnt listen to any offers at 1 or 2. I would be happy and celebrate!

At 3 I lean VJ strongly but would start listening to offers.

At 4, 5 & 6: I listen to all offers!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I wouldnt listen to any offers at 1 or 2. I would be happy and celebrate!

At 3 I lean VJ strongly but would start listening to offers.

At 4, 5 & 6: I listen to all offers!

VJ fouls a bunch. Does Poole just not play if Edgecombe is drafted? AJ Johnson? Khris Middleton? Who doesn't play?

A trade back from VJ to get Queen would start the Handel's Messiah Hallelujah Chorus.

https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c?si=JnWR9JDqcKwM4zK-

[Zonkerbl]

If we get a guard who is as productive as Poole but is a pass first guard that is long and can play defense as well as Poole does then we take that guard and trade Poole for whatever we can get. Unless Bub has become that guy? I'm not quite sold on Bub being the starting PG on a playoff team. Right now Bub and Poole are playing similar roles, we need to trade one of those guys for a facilitator (or draft a facilitator and trade one of them for whatever we can get) and Poole is probably the more tradeable asset.