doclinkin wrote:Rafael122 wrote:payitforward wrote:Givony & Woo post ncaa mock draft: https://archive.is/20250408135045/https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/44569663/2025-nba-mock-draft-first-round-picks-predictions-march-madness-ncaa-mens-tournament-cooper-flagg
Harper at 2, Wolf at 19. Looks like we have 2, 19 and 41 (PHX) while the other picks were traded away.
Right. Next time everybody just listen to the doctor.
If this were our draft as of today I say we go:
2. Harper. Big combo guard.
19. Sorber. Large 4/5 interior defender.
40. JT Toppin. Hustlef#ck.
Instantly tougher, more physical, shores up the interior.
Harper gives us a 1a scorer that forces fouls on opponents. A big lead guard that siphons some possessions away from Poole. Turns him into trade bait mid season. I wish Ace proved more reliable this year, since I think his upside is higher. I think our front office might consider him anyway, based on length, youth, ranged shooting, synergy. Still, Harper adds a thing we both need and don't have. A takeover scorer, who in theory can play defense as well.
Sorber is the youngest and the biggest of the Yaxel/Rasheer/Toppin/Broome/Wolf bunch. 6'10", 255.
Won't turn 20 'til Christmas Day.
The poise and mature game he showed at Georgetown bodes well for future growth.
The fact that he had foot surgery doesn't bother us if his medicals check out.
It means he won't be able to show out at workouts, otherwise he'd go top 10 I believe.
Fine with me, we can afford to slow-play his recovery, which may help us earn back that top 8 pick.
Because if he is 100% to start the season, I think he adds enough to help the team win early.
Where we fall shortest with our current squad is in our interior defense and rebounding.
Sorber is a solid rebounder, but where he excels is in defensive positioning. He's in the right place and the right time, cuts off penetration, stays big, hard to move, and cuts off the angles with his body, bullying a player with his thickness and frame. His footwork and anticipation and understanding of angles is stellar. Really traditional old school. He reminds me of Anthony Mason, the MInister of Defense.
If Sorber's medicals are an issue I'd look at Fleming next due to his ranged shooting.
We have Sarr bombing from outside, but giving Harper more room to attack lanes is a good thing. Fleming allows us to spread the floor with 5 out, and let Harper beast on smaller guards, forcing them to foul.
That said I like Yaxel better than most, especially for his combination of flight and instinctual passing.
He'd add another above the rim lob threat. A real ath-elite. I get the interest in Danny Wolf, for passing and smart, I just think Yaxel has an athletic edge over Wolf. The fact that he's this good while being relatively new to the game suggests real upside. If I could sacrifice a few 2nds to move up and take him as well, I'd be happy.
If not I'd be happy with JT Toppin as the consolation prize at 40. He's been nearly as productive as Johni Broome but gets no press whatsoever. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Seemingly undersized for the front court, but he has that Champagnie level moxie where he's going to outwork all opponents. He'll start on the GoGo and swiftly prove too good to keep in the G League.
I love this Doc! This is the exact draft I'm hoping for! Nice breakdown too.
At 2 I would love Harper. He is just an all around high quality player. Just knows how to play, high IQ, and he would instantly raise the level of the entire team. I like the mix and match of him and Bub together as a backcourt, the trio of Harper, Bub and AJ, and in fact any combination of Harper, Bub, AJ, Kyshawn & Colby Jones for that matter.
I'm totally with you on Sorber with our 2nd pick. Like Harper he has a combination of youth and upside, the physical tools for the position, and an already solid foundation of fundamentals and feel for the game. I also like the way he compliments and fits with Sarr, as a rotation or playing together as a tandem. Fleming would also be my Plan B. Carter Bryant would be enticing as a high upside alternative with all the tools as an option to consider if he's on the board.
If we can nab Toppin in the 2nd round, sign me up! Toughness inside and rebounding are this team's biggest weaknesses, and with Harper solidifying the backcourt, bolstering the frontcourt with the later picks makes sense. Thiero is another player to consider here IMO, as well as Beringer as a long term prospect.
