2025 Draft Thread

[gesa2]

An observation
Nobody has mentioned Knueppel.
Tank has had him in the general range of
our most likely pick (5/6). Anyone care
to comment about him?

Corey Kispert vibes albeit he seems to have a little more offensive pop and aggressiveness but to be honest they look about the same size and he is definitely and under the rim type around the basket. A safe pick who you can probably play at SF but defensively he's going to be targeted relentlessly.

I'm sorta over this archetype: Kispert, Harris, Knecht. It hasn't worked or proven valuable recently.

If Kon was 2-3 inches taller then I would be interested.

No Wiz players that rhyme with Nipple. Simple rule, not the time to break it now

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

An observation
Nobody has mentioned Knueppel.
Tank has had him in the general range of
our most likely pick (5/6). Anyone care
to comment about him?

Corey Kispert vibes albeit he seems to have a little more offensive pop and aggressiveness but to be honest they look about the same size and he is definitely and under the rim type around the basket. A safe pick who you can probably play at SF but defensively he's going to be targeted relentlessly.

I'm sorta over this archetype: Kispert, Harris, Knecht. It hasn't worked or proven valuable recently.

Karaban. McNeely.

What is it about them that might make me think they're similar?

Alex K might hold his own defensively.

[The Consiglieri]

An observation
Nobody has mentioned Knueppel.
Tank has had him in the general range of
our most likely pick (5/6). Anyone care
to comment about him?

Corey Kispert vibes albeit he seems to have a little more offensive pop and aggressiveness but to be honest they look about the same size and he is definitely and under the rim type around the basket. A safe pick who you can probably play at SF but defensively he's going to be targeted relentlessly.

I'm sorta over this archetype: Kispert, Harris, Knecht. It hasn't worked or proven valuable recently.

If Kon was 2-3 inches taller then I would be interested.

What if he had Quetzalcoatlus arms? Might make up for it? I can't help it, when I look at that guy and see his name, all I can think of is anonymous NBA role player. Not deep analysis at all, but I just can't see any world in which he's a difference maker. I'd swing for the fences with ceiling and low floor if we get hosed in the lottery, I don't want a single w/that pick, and Knueppel seems more like a Walk than even a single.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This is my first game watching Duke. Malauach looks even better than Flagg. I see why most prefer him over Queen.

He looks like Dikembe Mutombo on defense and Robert Parrish on offense

[gesa2]

Nique Clifford looks like a man among boys in the MD game, I guess because he is at 23 yrs old

[payitforward]

This is my first game watching Duke. Malauach looks even better than Flagg. I see why most prefer him over Queen.

He looks like Dikembe Mutombo on defense and Robert Parrish on offense

Agreed -- Maluach looks like he's going to be a monster in the NBA!

[NatP4]

Carter Bryant has that Mikal Bridges skill set. He’s going to be a great pro.

[prime1time]

I wouldn't touch Kasparas at all. The wheels have completely fallen off. 6 turnovers a game his last 4 games. The shot making has disappeared. The 3-point shooting has disappeared. Far from looking like a lottery pick he was a liability.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Nique Clifford looks like a man among boys in the MD game, I guess because he is at 23 yrs old

I jumped on to see what you all think of Nique. He looks like an NBA sure thing to me. Will he be there with our 2nd pick? Would you all draft him?

[doclinkin]

My guy Folgueiras showed his complete game skills in the loss to the Bama’s

Watch on YouTube

If he stays in school he’ll make a ton of $ in the transfer portal. Personally I see 1st round talent in his play.

[TGW]

This is my first game watching Duke. Malauach looks even better than Flagg. I see why most prefer him over Queen.

He looks like Dikembe Mutombo on defense and Robert Parrish on offense

We could use him for sure. Add some toughness to the frontcourt.

[Dat2U]

Written in stone:
1. F Cooper Flagg
2. G Dylan Harper

Written in crayon:
3. G V.J Edgecombe

Written in pencil
4. G Jeremiah Fears
5. G Jase Richardson
6. C Khaman Malauch
7. G Tre Johnson
8. F Ace Bailey

Written in dust:
9. F Collin Murray-Boyles
10. C Thomas Sorber
11. C Derik Queen
12. F Will Riley
13. F Kon Knueppel
14. G Boogie Fland
15. C Danny Wolf
16. F Noa Essengue
17. F Asa Newell

I'm completely winging it at this point:
18. G Nolan Traore
19. G Labaron Philon
20. G Kasparas Jakucionis
21. F J.T. Toppin
22. G Sergio de Larrea
23. F Rasheer Fleming
24. G Ben Saraf
25 F Yaxel Lendeborg
26. G Egor Demin
27. C Johni Broome
28. F Liam McNeeley
29. C Alex Condon
31. F Hugo Gonzalez
32. G Kam Jones
33. G Ian Jackson
34. F Carter Bryant
35. F Alex Karaban
36. G Nique Clifford
37. G Miles Byrd
38. F Bogoljub Markovic
39. F Adou Thierro
40. G Walter Clayton Jr
41. F Darrion Williams
42. C Joan Beringer
43. F Dailyn Swain
44. F Jojo Tugler
45. C Tomislav Ivisic
46. G Xaivian Lee
47. C Rocco Zikarsky
48. C Zvonimir Ivisic
49. F Alex Toohey
50. G Cedric Coward

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Nique Clifford looks like a man among boys in the MD game, I guess because he is at 23 yrs old

I jumped on to see what you all think of Nique. He looks like an NBA sure thing to me. Will he be there with our 2nd pick? Would you all draft him?

He's 23.

Queen is 20.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Nique Clifford looks like a man among boys in the MD game, I guess because he is at 23 yrs old

I jumped on to see what you all think of Nique. He looks like an NBA sure thing to me. Will he be there with our 2nd pick? Would you all draft him?

He's 23.

Queen is 20.

True that. But Queen won’t be there at 26. Clifford might. Would you take him there?

[prime1time]

Written in stone:
1. F Cooper Flagg
2. G Dylan Harper

Written in crayon:
3. G V.J Edgecombe

Written in pencil
4. G Jeremiah Fears
5. G Jase Richardson
6. C Khaman Malauch
7. G Tre Johnson
8. F Ace Bailey

Written in dust:
9. F Collin Murray-Boyles
10. C Thomas Sorber
11. C Derik Queen
12. F Will Riley
13. F Kon Knueppel
14. G Boogie Fland
15. C Danny Wolf
16. F Noa Essengue
17. F Asa Newell

I'm completely winging it at this point:
18. G Nolan Traore
19. G Labaron Philon
20. G Kasparas Jakucionis
21. F J.T. Toppin
22. G Sergio de Larrea
23. F Rasheer Fleming
24. G Ben Saraf
25 F Yaxel Lendeborg
26. G Egor Demin
27. C Johni Broome
28. F Liam McNeeley
29. C Alex Condon
31. F Hugo Gonzalez
32. G Kam Jones
33. G Ian Jackson
34. F Carter Bryant
35. F Alex Karaban
36. G Nique Clifford
37. G Miles Byrd
38. F Bogoljub Markovic
39. F Adou Thierro
40. G Walter Clayton Jr
41. F Darrion Williams
42. C Joan Beringer
43. F Dailyn Swain
44. F Jojo Tugler
45. C Tomislav Ivisic
46. G Xaivian Lee
47. C Rocco Zikarsky
48. C Zvonimir Ivisic
49. F Alex Toohey
50. G Cedric Coward

Is it that you don't see Bailey's potential or that you see it but you don't think he'll reach it?

[Dat2U]

8. F Ace Bailey

Is it that you don't see Bailey's potential or that you see it but you don't think he'll reach it?

I see potential ... to be a potential 3rd option. Maybe a taller, less athletic J.R. Smith or a post-injury version of Michael Porter Jr.

The basis of this is that I tie potential to IQ and high-speed processing. The ability to read and see the floor at a higher level that others. If To be blunt, Derik Queen has more star potential to me than Ace Bailey. Now Derik has some red flags defensively and with his motor that give me extreme pause but has an elite processor that Ace will never have.

I'm not calling Ace stupid or saying he's an idiot, but to be honest, he strikes me as a basketball novice out there in a wonderful tool kit who doesn't have a clue of how to best use his resources as of yet.

He can absolutely learn and improve and become more cerebral in his on-court approach but I would be fool to expect him to eventually turn water into wine.

I think his intersection of upside & skill meets a certain threshold around late lottery where his ability outweighs his shortcomings, but I have hard time betting a top 5 pick on him living up to that draft standing.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I jumped on to see what you all think of Nique. He looks like an NBA sure thing to me. Will he be there with our 2nd pick? Would you all draft him?

He's 23.

Queen is 20.

True that. But Queen won’t be there at 26. Clifford might. Would you take him there?

No. I would not draft Clifford #26. Why not?

From the 2024 draft:
Dillon Jones (#26), Terrance Shannon Jr. (#27), Baylor Scheierman (#30). What do they have in common? These guys are 23, 24, and 24 years old.
How are they performing as rookies, and what will be their long-term return on investment?

No way do I burn a round one pick on Nique Clifford even if he obviously has pro skills.

I'd draft a needed BIG MAN at #26, or I'd draft a YOUNGER prospect like Will Riley if he declares. He could be a Reggie Miller/SGA-lite at the next level.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

He's 23.

Queen is 20.

True that. But Queen won’t be there at 26. Clifford might. Would you take him there?

No. I would not draft Clifford #26. Why not?
From the 2024 draft:

DEVIN CARTER (#13), Dillon Jones (#26), Terrance Shannon Jr. (#27), Baylor Scheierman (#30).

These guys are 22, 23, 24, and 24 years old, like Nique Clifford.


How are they performing, and what will be their return on investment?
No way do I burn a round one pick on Nique Clifford even if he obviously has pro skills.

I'd draft a needed BIG MAN at #26, or I'd draft a YOUNGER prospect like Will Riley if he declares. He could be a Reggie Miller/SGA-lite at the next level.

I hear that. I think Riley is a good younger comp. I wouldn’t be upset at all with him at 26. I do wonder if he’ll ever be able to play any defense.

[prime1time]

8. F Ace Bailey

Is it that you don't see Bailey's potential or that you see it but you don't think he'll reach it?

I see potential ... to be a potential 3rd option. Maybe a taller, less athletic J.R. Smith or a post-injury version of Michael Porter Jr.

The basis of this is that I tie potential to IQ and high-speed processing. The ability to read and see the floor at a higher level that others. If To be blunt, Derik Queen has more star potential to me than Ace Bailey. Now Derik has some red flags defensively and with his motor that give me extreme pause but has an elite processor that Ace will never have.

I'm not calling Ace stupid or saying he's an idiot, but to be honest, he strikes me as a basketball novice out there in a wonderful tool kit who doesn't have a clue of how to best use his resources as of yet.

He can absolutely learn and improve and become more cerebral in his on-court approach but I would be fool to expect him to eventually turn water into wine.

I think his intersection of upside & skill meets a certain threshold around late lottery where his ability outweighs his shortcomings, but I have hard time betting a top 5 pick on him living up to that draft standing.

What are you basing his lack of processing and b-ball iq on?

[Rafael122]

I get Queen got the GW shot, but all I see is an undersized forward who's too slow footed to bring it defensively in the NBA. He's going to be BBQ chicken at the next level.