2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

payitforward · Post #81 » by **payitforward** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:55 pm

Noah Penda:

Read on Twitter

Post #82 » by **nate33** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:55 pm

Here's the same chart incorporating 2023 picks for comparison:

Our boy Bilal looks great in this metric. Though I'm not really sure this metric is all that predictive of NBA success.

Hibachi_0 · Post #83 » by **Hibachi_0** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:36 pm

nate33 wrote:Here's the same chart incorporating 2023 picks for comparison:

Our boy Bilal looks great in this metric. Though I'm not really sure this metric is all that predictive of NBA success.

Without context is kind of useless (as most metrics). Mmost of the ones ranked at that the top are at best mediocre shooters. What if one turns out to be an above average shooter (+37 %3p) does the success rate improve? That would be an interesting list, top performers in this category in college/international play in the last 5/10 years that have an NBA 3p percentage of above 36/37. How many of them have turned out as good/great NBA players? If there is correlation you could back up with numbers that feeling of "if this guy that gets to the lane at will improves his jumper he'll be a star for sure"

Then there also is how they get to the rim. The way Harper or Fears do it is not comparable to Penda for example. In one hand we are talking star caliber player skillset and on the other hand a helpful skills for a projected a nice 3&D. But who doesn't want a 3&D that is smart enough to make the right cut instead of only be waiting at the corner?

doclinkin · Post #84 » by **doclinkin** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 4:06 pm

payitforward wrote:Noah Penda:

Read on Twitter

Okay add Noah Penda to my list at 18. Or as a player to target if we can trade into an extra 1st round pick.

AFM · Post #85 » by **AFM** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 4:44 pm

Watch on YouTube

Got some footage in there I hadn't seen yet. Dude compares Queen to Siakam and Randle.

closg00 · Post #86 » by **closg00** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 9:44 pm

AFM approved video.
https://www.youtube.com/live/1Z1NQJbEjOk?feature=shared

AFM · Post #87 » by **AFM** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:28 pm

closg00 wrote:AFM approved video.
https://www.youtube.com/live/1Z1NQJbEjOk?feature=shared

#QueenRising #TheQueenIsTheMostPowerfulPiece

SUPERBALLMAN · Post #88 » by **SUPERBALLMAN** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:21 pm

doclinkin wrote:
payitforward wrote:Noah Penda:

Read on Twitter

Okay add Noah Penda to my list at 18. Or as a player to target if we can trade into an extra 1st round pick.

I need to revisit Penda. I checked him out pretty early on and wasn't especially impressed, nothing real exciting but looked like a solid high floor low ceiling type, not great at anything but good at everything. My 1st thought watching him was Tobias Harris.

He definitely seems to fit the Dawkins profile, and I do think their draft targets will prioritize defense.

SUPERBALLMAN · Post #89 » by **SUPERBALLMAN** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:27 pm

Here's a couple new scouting videos ...

Watch on YouTube

I might need to drop Essengue. :-?

prime1time · Post #90 » by **prime1time** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:33 pm

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.

AFM · Post #91 » by **AFM** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:43 pm

prime1time wrote: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.

doclinkin · Post #92 » by **doclinkin** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 12:57 am

prime1time wrote: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 forget who it is who has been saying on this board that the NBA has been trending in this direction. That teams will need to be able to get big and score through contact. Especially in the playoffs. professorhypertext or whatever his name is...

closg00 · Post #93 » by **closg00** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:17 am

AFM wrote:
prime1time wrote: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.

...and you know who will be built for playoff basketball in the trenches

AFM · Post #94 » by **AFM** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:35 am

closg00 wrote:
AFM wrote:
prime1time wrote: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.

...and you know who will be built for playoff basketball in the trenches

His name escapes me right now, but probably the dude with pockets fatter than Dairy Queen, he turn the low post to a scary scene

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #95 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:23 am

prime1time wrote: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.

DDQ

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #96 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:30 am

doclinkin wrote:
prime1time wrote: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 forget who it is who has been saying on this board that the NBA has been trending in this direction. That teams will need to be able to get big and score through contact. Especially in the playoffs. professorhypertext or whatever his name is...

Who in this draft finishes well even when double teamed?

(Hint: Give him the MF ball)

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #97 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:31 am

AFM wrote:
closg00 wrote:
AFM wrote:
I have been loving it as a fan. Best playoffs in a long, long time. I feel like I'm watching 90s ball.

...and you know who will be built for playoff basketball in the trenches

His name escapes me right now, but probably the dude with pockets fatter than Dairy Queen, he turn the low post to a scary scene

Yeah, what is his name??

Northwest Roddy · Post #98 » by **Northwest Roddy** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:09 am

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?

doclinkin · Post #99 » by **doclinkin** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 9:23 am

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.

prime1time · Post #100 » by **prime1time** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 9:25 am

Northwest Roddy wrote: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?