2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[BMagic]

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Ace's camp must have a promise.

[dcPress]

This is all getting so muddled, but if you look at who they’ve picked so far it seems like they’ve tried to maintain maximum flexibility. With many of these options they’d be locking themselves in somewhat with picks that violate their philosophy

Fears- doesn’t have the length so the roster construction would have to account for that
Queen - to slow and too chunky. Again he’d break the mold and have a domino effect of other positions. Doesn’t seem like he’s the guy you’d want to build around.
Bailey - doesn’t constrain the plan but he seems like he’d break the mold from a personality perspective. Maybe worth it tho
Tre, Essengue or Maluach wouldn’t break anything so my guess is it’d be one of these 3 if Ace isn’t there, perhaps in a trade down.

Seems like 2026 would be the year they have to decide how the final pieces should fit not 2025.

[TheBlackCzar]

Fears is smaller than Harper , shoots 7% worse on 2s, turns it over 50% more. Nothing to see here.

the fact that you think you closed the arguments on 18 and 19 year olds is funny.... Go look up how different these guys will both look in a few seasons.....

Have you seen any reports about the Spurs considering Fears? If you have feel free to share

No but the prior comments weren't about that, you brought those stats up in relation to there being no comparison to them as players based on stats in their year 18 and 19 seasons and stated that was the end of it.... I said it's not because you don't know what either of them will look like at 21 or 22....

What they both share in common is an inate ability to get to the rim seemingly at will, albeit via differing methods... Harper is bigger and more crafty, Fears is faster and also crafty but in a much faster manner...
They both need to work on their outside shooting but Fears was a kid up until right before his frosh season.....I think it's hard to judge a guy who's still physically growing so much....
Just look at his film when he was a jr in HS.... He looks like he's 11.... He still looks like he's only about 16 facially but he's gotten alot quicker, faster and is more explosive off the jump as he's getting taller and gaining more strength just getting older....

Harper being older is of course more physically developed, plus of course you know the NBA genetics and lessons advantage he has over most prospects...
I expect him to be exceptional, because he's very seasoned for such a young prospect....
I really wanted him here, and I thought his ability to score was more of an elite skill than anything Cooper Flagg currently has in his arsenal.... So trust I love the kid.... We unfortunately don't have the number 2 pick at the moment to get him....

Fears isn't anywhere near as developed as Harper and that's what's exciting about the kid... As much as I love the Rod Strick comps, this kid is faster than Rod was...

But they are not the same kind of guard... Fears is not an easy comp to any of the guys I see listed for him......
What is known is his first step is elite, he gets to the line an inordinate amount of times relative to his and position...
He has decent form on his shot, and he has to work on finishing through contact more consistently....
I think maybe year one he would be very frustrating at first, as he'd be very inefficient but I think he'd progress as the season went along and he got used to the speed of the game and realizes what his advantages are or aren't, and adjusted to the NBA 3point line....

All this may be moot if we can get Ace, who I think might end up as one of the best players from this class if not the best POTENTIALLY!!!!!!!

[prime1time]

Bailey's draft process has certainly been bizarre but I can't say that I'm surprised. It's clear that Bailey has a promise. And if you watch a full game or hear him talk, he's not coming to be a role player. Ace wants to be the guy. I like Ace but he's clearly an acquired taste. If you draft him but he doesn't get the playing time he expects to get there will be problems. If you draft him but he doesn't get the shot attempts he expects to get, there will be problems. Now maybe he just wants to put himself in the best position, but if he wants things given to him, if he expects the red carpet rolled out for him, if he wants to be treated like he's done something before he's accomplished anything I'd probably pass.

We have a bunch of young players on our team. If we can draft Ace and Ace becomes another one of the guys, then fine. But if he expects to start on a different hierachy simply because he's Ace Bailey, then that is a disaster waiting to happen.We have a lot of guys working on their game. Bub, AJ, Bilal, Sarr, Kyshawn etc. You can't give Ace special treatment.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Wizards are not interested in Derik Queen at #6

The Pelicans are at #7

https://www.totalprosports.com/nba/2025-nba-draft-who-could-the-new-orleans-pelicans-target-with-their-no-seven-overall-pick/

The Trailblazers have #11. They worked out Queen Friday

https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rookie/2025/06/14/maryland-derik-queen-nba-draft-workout-trail-blazers/84204528007/

Chicago has an interest in Queen at #12

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/bulls-rumors-derik-queen-buzz-155547676.html

“Queen has been linked the most to the Chicago Bulls with the 12th pick, yet league sources indicate that the Bulls are still evaluating a few other names in this spot to provide more athleticism and length to their roster.”

“Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, and Asa Newell are three players who have also come up in conversations about the Bulls,” Siegel added

I doubt Queen falls lower than #12, but this is a wide-open draft.

You know how I feel about Derik Queen.

Looking at the Maryland Rutgers box score now.

Queen had 29 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block.

Ace Bailey had 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals (only 1 personal foul) in 24 minutes. (turns out he was sick)

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401721417

I remember this game.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401721417

Queen flat out dominated. Niether Harper nor Bailey impressed me.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Wizards are not interested in Derik Queen at #6

The Pelicans are at #7

https://www.totalprosports.com/nba/2025-nba-draft-who-could-the-new-orleans-pelicans-target-with-their-no-seven-overall-pick/

The Trailblazers have #11. They worked out Queen Friday

https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rookie/2025/06/14/maryland-derik-queen-nba-draft-workout-trail-blazers/84204528007/

Chicago has an interest in Queen at #12

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/bulls-rumors-derik-queen-buzz-155547676.html

“Queen has been linked the most to the Chicago Bulls with the 12th pick, yet league sources indicate that the Bulls are still evaluating a few other names in this spot to provide more athleticism and length to their roster.”

“Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, and Asa Newell are three players who have also come up in conversations about the Bulls,” Siegel added

I doubt Queen falls lower than #12, but this is a wide-open draft.

You know how I feel about Derik Queen.

Looking at the Maryland Rutgers box score now.

Queen had 29 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block.

Ace Bailey had 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals (only 1 personal foul) in 24 minutes. (turns out he was sick)

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401721417

Yeah but he didn't do well at the combine. That's more important than production on the basketball court.

I know this is sarcasm. I totally agree.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

So... you guys who would like to draft Queen:

1. Where would you take him? What draft pick?
2. If not at 6, & assuming you think he'll be gone by 18, what pick would you use on him & exactly what would you give to acquire that pick?

Let's hear it....

I would take him at 6.

I can't think of trade scenarios. Who wants Kispert? Poole?

[Frichuela]

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Ace's camp must have a promise.

I agree it looks that way. Could it be the Wiz? Not entirely sure…He fits Dawkins mold measurements wise but not sure about his personality. Other than us, Pelicans or Brooklyn would be my bet. In the below, it is rumored he does not want Utah either. Will Dawkins also pass? His whole pre draft journey has been bizarre…

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[9 and 20]

If Philly trades all the way down to 8 with Brooklyn, I don't think they can get Kon there. So what's a good three way trade where Philly goes to six, we go to eight, and Brooklyn jumps up to 3? This would be assuming Dawkins doesn't want Ace.

Philly trades 3 and PG for 6 and Middleton
DC trades 6 and Middleton for 8, another first round pick, and 1-year salary filler
Brooklyn trades 8, another first rounder, and 1 year salary filler for 3 and Paul George

Philly gets Kon and dumps PG.
Brooklyn takes on PG and trades a later first round pick for Ace Bailey
DC moves down 2 spots and picks up another pick.

We come away from the draft with enough ammo for 2 lottery picks - Fears and Queen, or Essengue and Traore, or whatever other combination Dawkins wants.

[Frichuela]

Per Troy Haliburton, Brooklyn may be the party with a guaranteed offer…

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[closg00]

So... you guys who would like to draft Queen:

1. Where would you take him? What draft pick?
2. If not at 6, & assuming you think he'll be gone by 18, what pick would you use on him & exactly what would you give to acquire that pick?

Let's hear it....

I would take him at 6.

I can't think of trade scenarios. Who wants Kispert? Poole?

I believe Queen is going to become a really good and impactful player, and I am super happy that the FO had him in and conducted a group workout rather than having him come in and shoot around in an empty gym, I wonder who the other players were in the workout.

[tontoz]

What they both share in common is an inate ability to get to the rim seemingly at will, albeit via differing methods... !!

You forgot the huge gap in the ability to finish at the rim. Harper is elite, Fears is weak.

[gesa2]

Would Monta Ellis or Jerryd Bayless be better comps for Fears? Just bringing them up makes me like him less, although skill development is much better than it was 10-20 years ago it seems

[gesa2]

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare

Monta came in to the NBA out of HS. Bayless was better in every offensive stat as a freshman at Arizona but was also a year older. Man Bayless had alligator arms! Fears at least is a little longer and taller.

[penbeast0]

If Philly trades all the way down to 8 with Brooklyn, I don't think they can get Kon there. So what's a good three way trade where Philly goes to six, we go to eight, and Brooklyn jumps up to 3? This would be assuming Dawkins doesn't want Ace.

Philly trades 3 and PG for 6 and Middleton

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Stop here. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, and do not trade the #3 pick for #8 and an extra late 1st. Take the best player and build around him.
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DC trades 6 and Middleton for 8, another first round pick, and 1-year salary filler
Brooklyn trades 8, another first rounder, and 1 year salary filler for 3 and Paul George

Philly gets Kon and dumps PG.
Brooklyn takes on PG and trades a later first round pick for Ace Bailey
DC moves down 2 spots and picks up another pick.

We come away from the draft with enough ammo for 2 lottery picks - Fears and Queen, or Essengue and Traore, or whatever other combination Dawkins wants.

[nate33]

Per Troy Haliburton, Brooklyn may be the party with a guaranteed offer…

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It sounds like speculation though. Not insider info.

[NatP4]

Random guy on twitter

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

[PaulinVA]

Excerpt from David Aldridge at The Athletic:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6430848/2025/06/19/nba-draft-confidential-wings-2025/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=7030725&source=dailyemail

Ace Bailey | 6-8 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers

College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Rutgers): I like Ace a lot. I think he’s a pretty one-sided ballplayer. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of desire on defense. I hate criticizing kids on stuff like that when I haven’t coached them. I don’t know what they were asking or what they were trying to get him to do. Maybe he was doing what they were asking him to do. He certainly has the measurables to be a good defender. He’s got good athleticism, he’s got good length, he’s got quickness. He seems to be a pretty smart kid. He’s a hard shot maker, which always worries me in terms of replicating that at that level, ’cause he’s not that strong, and he’s not going to knock guys off their spot. And he’s not going to be the best athlete on the floor, either, anymore.

I love what he could be, (but) there are some things I worry about in terms of being a real dude in the NBA. Ace, I worry about physically, being able to translate, certainly next year. But there’s definitely real potential there. Shoots off either foot, shoots off either hip, shoots off the move, shoots off the bounce. He should probably be a better rebounder. Not much of a playmaker for others, but he’s a scorer.

Western Conference executive No. 1: There (are) questions about how good his feel for the game is, and how locked in he is, and the team was disappointing, and he was a little up and down. But on his game, you could sit there and squint and tell yourself you’re getting some version of Durant. His ability to get to his spot in the midrange, you can’t really alter or block that shot. He’s got a ton of offensive talent. Sometimes, these one-and-done guys, that freshman year just doesn’t click where they are. … I would like them to at least make the NCAA tournament. I mean, you have two top-three picks, and you can’t be one of the top 68 teams? But I don’t know (if) that matters anymore. Anthony Edwards couldn’t do that for Georgia. LaMelo Ball’s team was way below .500 in Australia when he left.

The playmaking, I feel in part is not there. My experience has been while we can get guys slimmer, put weight on, get them stronger, a lot of guys improve their jump shots and everything. But if that (playmaking) is not there, we don’t have a computer chip to insert to get them to do that. … That’s not going to improve. You have to — have to, in almost all cases — bring that to the NBA, or you just don’t have it.

College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played Rutgers): He is a fun-loving kid who’s always got a smile on his face most of the time. They said he acts like a (kid) sometimes. Tremendous talent, but very young. He had an incredible game against us. He made all kinds of shots. But I’ve seen him disappear in games where he had two or four points. Their team is hard to figure out. They’re going to have the second and third pick in the draft, and they didn’t make the tournament. His player comp is Jabari Smith, who may never be a bona fide starter in the NBA. But you’ve got to remember he’s only (18). He’s got great size. He can really shoot it deep, but his maturity and decision making are very suspect. I’m higher on him than some of the others.

College head coach No. 2 (his team played Rutgers): Has to get stronger. In college, he can play three/four. In the NBA, he has to be a two/three. Tough shot maker. Shot quality might have to improve. Really good shot maker off the bounce.

Western Conference executive No. 2: Is he a talented kid? Yes. But he better get to the right environment. … If he gets in a dysfunctional situation, he could be out of the league in five years.

[prime1time]

Per Troy Haliburton, Brooklyn may be the party with a guaranteed offer…

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Wouldn't put much stock in this.