2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[tontoz]

I just want to do something lol. Trade up trade down whatever thats better than just staying at 6.

[mhd]

Well sure. If we could do it for an 18th and 6th, I'd do it but of course, they'd want another future first.

We’ve got extra future firsts though. Doesn’t have to be our own.

This. There is POR’s 2029 pick (their second best pick of three) or the late 2026 1st that we got from them on the Butler trade.

Another option is the Paul George 3-year salary absorption trade….

No WAY am I trading that 2029 lotto ticket. If Portland makes the playoffs in 2028, then WE get the best of the Bucks and Celtics pick in 2029. If they don't, then we get the 2nd best of Portland, Bucks, and Boston's 2029 1st. I'm not trading that pick in ANY deal.

[mhd]

We're one of the youngest teams in the NBA, are we really trying to add 3-4 more rookies this year?

Yup. It's a max of two rookies this year. Remember, we are tanking hard to ensure that our 2026 1st does not convey to the Knicks (currently it is top 8 protected). Considering the shenanigans with this past lottery, we need to make sure we finish with a top 4 worst record.

[closg00]

If this is the case, definitely up for trading down and getting an extra asset.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

If you believe the current trends on the mock, Fears is going to Utah, ESPN's Jeremy Woo & Givony both have him going there.

[Frichuela]

If this is the case, definitely up for trading down and getting an extra asset.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

If you believe the current trends on the mock, Fears is going to Utah, ESPN's Jeremy Woo & Givony both have him going there.

If Fears is going to Utah, one of Tre Johnson, VJ or Ace drops to us….interesting scenario!

[payitforward]

We're one of the youngest teams in the NBA, are we really trying to add 3-4 more rookies this year?

Yup. It's a max of two rookies this year. Remember, we are tanking hard to ensure that our 2026 1st does not convey to the Knicks (currently it is top 8 protected). Considering the shenanigans with this past lottery, we need to make sure we finish with a top 4 worst record.

Why would we not add 3 rookies -- or even 4 if possible? We have the roster spots. We going to sign veteran FAs instead?

[mhd]

We're one of the youngest teams in the NBA, are we really trying to add 3-4 more rookies this year?

Yup. It's a max of two rookies this year. Remember, we are tanking hard to ensure that our 2026 1st does not convey to the Knicks (currently it is top 8 protected). Considering the shenanigans with this past lottery, we need to make sure we finish with a top 4 worst record.

Why would we not add 3 rookies -- or even 4 if possible? We have the roster spots. We going to sign veteran FAs instead?

We don't have the roster spots. Here's who is on the team right now for sure in 2025-2026 (they have guaranteed salaries):

Guards (4):
Poole
Smart
AJ
Bub

Wings (6):
Middleton
Kispert
Bilal
George
Bey
Champagnie

Bigs (1):
Sarr

That is not factoring in the 6th pick (let us count that as 1) and the 18th pick (might be a stash guy if not traded away). So, that is 12 roster spots that are assured of being on the 15th roster spot assuming no trades. We have Colby Jones, Gill, and Holmes (only 250k guaranteed) on the books for next year, but could waive them if need be.

Why waste those roster spots on guys who we could get any year (like a Champagnie that we developed in the G-league) vs attempting to get future 1sts in later years as potential trade capital? The 12th-15th slots are not going to play anyways. If you have young guys, you need to play them for development (like AJ). Otherwise, you are wasting their rookie contracts and valuable time to pick up their options.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Watch on YouTube

[tontoz]

Watch on YouTube

[SUPERBALLMAN]

If this is the case, definitely up for trading down and getting an extra asset.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

Well, I'd be more interested in this because I want Bryant. If they can get Bryant at 8, and add pick 19 in the process sign me up.

At 18 & 19 we could potentially come away with Asa Newell AND Thomas Sorber...

[DCZards]

If this is the case, definitely up for trading down and getting an extra asset.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

Well, I'd be more interested in this because I want Bryant. If they can get Bryant at 8, and add pick 19 in the process sign me up.

At 18 & 19 we could potentially come away with Asa Newell AND Thomas Sorber...

Carter Bryant would be on my shortlist at 8. I’ve seen him mostly mocked in the 10-14 range so 8 would not be a reach. Heck, I wouldn’t rule out taking him at 6. He looks to be that good.

[tontoz]

Looks like the nets don't have a pg under contract for next season so the Fears rumor might be legit.

A thought just occurred to me that Kon would be a good fit on a team that has stars in place and is looking to win next season, like Philly.

[Northwest Roddy]

Question: which player possibly available at 6 looks the most like what we see on the floor for the Thunder this postseason?

[DCZards]

Hey Dat, as I watch Aaron Nesmith shoot the lights out for the Pacers I can’t help but recall you telling us in 2020 that he was probably the best shooter in that year’s draft.

[dobrojim]

We're one of the youngest teams in the NBA, are we really trying to add 3-4 more rookies this year?

Given that we must remain bottom 4 next year,
the answer might be yes.

Edit - assuming they like what's available and there
is space on the roster. Depends a lot on who the
rookies are. The flatness of this draft class 6-30
hints that they might like a few of those players.
Do they include Bryant, Sorber, Traore? 3 off the top of my head.

[The Consiglieri]

We’ve got extra future firsts though. Doesn’t have to be our own.

This. There is POR’s 2029 pick (their second best pick of three) or the late 2026 1st that we got from them on the Butler trade.

Another option is the Paul George 3-year salary absorption trade….

No WAY am I trading that 2029 lotto ticket. If Portland makes the playoffs in 2028, then WE get the best of the Bucks and Celtics pick in 2029. If they don't, then we get the 2nd best of Portland, Bucks, and Boston's 2029 1st. I'm not trading that pick in ANY deal.

Yep, all 3 of those teams have issues. Portland looks destined to be that awful middling 26-38 win zone, Milwaukee unless they hit a grand slam long term with the Giannis trade could be going down too, and the current version of the Celtics is set to age out long before then, knowing them they'll find some angle as usual, but those are lottery tickets that have about a 1-1.5 to 1-3 chance of gifting us a lottery pick, there is literally zero chance I trade any of those futures out of pique that we got screwed in the lottery AGAIN. No thank you. Those picks are ammo our future will need, keep it in reserve, period.

[payitforward]

Yup. It's a max of two rookies this year. Remember, we are tanking hard to ensure that our 2026 1st does not convey to the Knicks (currently it is top 8 protected). Considering the shenanigans with this past lottery, we need to make sure we finish with a top 4 worst record.

Why would we not add 3 rookies -- or even 4 if possible? We have the roster spots. We going to sign veteran FAs instead?

We don't have the roster spots. Here's who is on the team right now for sure in 2025-2026 (they have guaranteed salaries):

Guards (4):
Poole
Smart
AJ
Bub

Wings (6):
Middleton
Kispert
Bilal
George
Bey
Champagnie

Bigs (1):
Sarr

I don't expect Gill to be with us, so that's 11 guys. Add Colby Jones to make 12. I expect Kispert to be traded, which takes us back to 11. Add Holmes to get back to 12.

Plenty of room for all 3 of our draft picks. All the more if the #40 is signed as a 2-way player.

As to:

Why waste ... roster spots on guys who we could get any year (like a Champagnie ...

By no means can you get a player as productive as Champagnie "any year!"

[The Consiglieri]

We're one of the youngest teams in the NBA, are we really trying to add 3-4 more rookies this year?

Yup. It's a max of two rookies this year. Remember, we are tanking hard to ensure that our 2026 1st does not convey to the Knicks (currently it is top 8 protected). Considering the shenanigans with this past lottery, we need to make sure we finish with a top 4 worst record.

Why would we not add 3 rookies -- or even 4 if possible? We have the roster spots. We going to sign veteran FAs instead?

You can't have 10+ players age 19-23, you're locker room will instantly turn into a clown car, or as another poster said, a wiener dog driven rickshaw (forgetting his hilarious analogy). As much as we'd love to have 10 darts thrown at prospects, no teams roll with 10+ 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 year olds in the house and expect anything else to happen other than the cops being called at midnight. It just creates way too much stupid.

[dckingsfan]

This. There is POR’s 2029 pick (their second best pick of three) or the late 2026 1st that we got from them on the Butler trade.

Another option is the Paul George 3-year salary absorption trade….

No WAY am I trading that 2029 lotto ticket. If Portland makes the playoffs in 2028, then WE get the best of the Bucks and Celtics pick in 2029. If they don't, then we get the 2nd best of Portland, Bucks, and Boston's 2029 1st. I'm not trading that pick in ANY deal.

Yep, all 3 of those teams have issues. Portland looks destined to be that awful middling 26-38 win zone, Milwaukee unless they hit a grand slam long term with the Giannis trade could be going down too, and the current version of the Celtics is set to age out long before then, knowing them they'll find some angle as usual, but those are lottery tickets that have about a 1-1.5 to 1-3 chance of gifting us a lottery pick, there is literally zero chance I trade any of those futures out of pique that we got screwed in the lottery AGAIN. No thank you. Those picks are ammo our future will need, keep it in reserve, period.

The Celtics will probably recover by then? Unless you think Tatum is done?

Portland is a weird one. They have the opportunity to have lots of cap space in '26-27 and a pretty decent core (with no franchise player). If their FO does it right, they could be a low-level playoff team for a few years running (it is the west though - they would have been a playoff team in the East this year, IMO).

Milwaukee - how do they not tank?

The question is do we get our franchise player by then? If so, then it will be a nice pile on.

[nate33]

I don't expect Gill to be with us, so that's 11 guys. Add Colby Jones to make 12. I expect Kispert to be traded, which takes us back to 11. Add Holmes to get back to 12.

It’s real hard to trade away guys into raw cap space. If Kispert gets traded, the likelihood is that we will be taking back a contract.