2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

[Clemenza]

If we get more of this from Ace, watch out!

[Mephariel]

After one pre-season game, ROY Ace Bailey. Another thread already has Flagg better than Lebron. Good grief.

They both look smooth though, I'll say that. Bailey looks like he has that 1A mentality out there.

[MMyhre]

Now we wait for my favorite, Tre Johnson. Nice size/wingspan, vertical athleticism (not fast or quick), shot creation, off ball movement, shooting, work ethic and has shown signs of decent passing ability/playmaking. Question is how is his shot selection/decision making, strength/speed, playmaking and defense ++ going to look, and will he work to improve on these things this season, or tunnel vision on his scoring skills?

For a guy with his size and athleticism (5th best wingspan of the 25 draft guards, was in the top 5 in both agility, and standing vertical, not far behind top 5 in max vertical jump), I did notice that he opts into tougher shots instead of just taking the open lane for a drive towards the rim. He is so good at shooting and handling that it feels like he will just opt into a tougher shot he feels he can make, instead of taking a higher % play closer to the rim when the drive is available. Some of it is his less than ideal speed and acceleration making him slower at getting into better positions, but he seems to settle too much for jumpers and has too low rim shot frequency.

So increasing his rim pressure, absorbing contact/improving strength, improving playmaking, defensive intensity and awareness, his speed and decision making... some questions for sure, but the overall scoring game is just beautiful to watch. Worst comparison is like... I don't even know, I think he already has a better scoring profile than a lot of pros, I will say a little bit bigger but slower, less athletic Jamal Crawford. And the ceiling is a better and bigger Ray Allen/Bradley Beal? He is already further developed than those guys in terms of shooting, shot creation and passing when you compare their freshman seasons in college... that's kind of crazy to think about, and shows the potential of this kid. Just please don't become Jamal Crawford (selfish, delusional, iso 1v1 ball, no bball iq, no defense etc)... too much talent to waste it like that.

[UcanUwill]

Kas Jakucionis looks like a true floor general in his first preseason game:

10 assists in 25 minutes played, 8 points, +16. Doesn't turn 20 until after regular season.

Was very pleasantly surprised after seeeing boxscore just now. Turnovers was his biggest problem in college I think, 3 TO in 25 minutes is a lot still, but when you make 10 assists, thats livable.

[bisme37]

Hugo Gonzalez looking good, especially on defense.

Watch on YouTube

[johannking]

This will be an exciting year to watch the rookies closely. Cooper, Ace, VJ etc all highlight reels.

[MMyhre]

Knueppel down to earth a bit, to be fair it was against OKC.
I changed my 3 to Flagg, Bailey and Johnson.

[Chi town]

CMB looks like a winning player on both ends. His E ball looks much improved too.

[Catchall]

Ace is a good candidate to lead the rookie class in scoring. I'm still waiting to see Tre Johnson, but Ace is at 22.5 ppg in two pre-season games. That should come down a bit when Lauri is back and taking more touches, but he could average 18 pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

[Thaddy]

CMB looks like a winning player on both ends. His E ball looks much improved too.

I think they'll cut down Poeltl's minutes and give it to him. It would be great for the Raptors but I doubt he gets ROTY. When's the last time it went to a bench player?

[ValvPiti]

CMB looks like a winning player on both ends. His E ball looks much improved too.

I think they'll cut down Poeltl's minutes and give it to him. It would be great for the Raptors but I doubt he gets ROTY. When's the last time it went to a bench player?

Why are we suddenly talking about ROY for CMB? There's a guy named Flagg that is a much better player who will play 30+ minutes on a solid WC team.

[babyjax13]

I think Bailey is really good, probably the best prospect we have drafted since I have followed the NBA seriously (03-04). Thrilled he dropped, hoping what he is doing now translates, I think a lot of it will.

[Thaddy]

CMB looks like a winning player on both ends. His E ball looks much improved too.

I think they'll cut down Poeltl's minutes and give it to him. It would be great for the Raptors but I doubt he gets ROTY. When's the last time it went to a bench player?

Why are we suddenly talking about ROY for CMB? There's a guy named Flagg that is a much better player who will play 30+ minutes on a solid WC team.

It's more about integration. I don't think Flagg has that much on CMB when you look at floor impact and advance stats.

[Exp0sed]

Hansen looking awesome, with his size, touch and handle he's looking like an immediate high impact player in the mould of Jokic\Sengun etc.

with Sharpe looking good, Jrue, Deni, Camara,Clingan..even Grant looks like he's back to being a contributor, I think the Blazers are headed to the playoffs, they got themselves a squad!

Hansen also moves pretty naturally and fluidly for a guy with his frame

Really weird that so many teams passed on him, i think he's a top 5 player from this draft class

[peZt]

This class allready looking like one of the better ones the last 15 years or so. Not sure how many elite players will come out of this draft but I see a lot of all stars
The elite guys will hopefully be covered in next years draft with what looks like an insane top 4.
The league was in dire need of good (american) talent

[SOUL]

Read on Twitter

Jase yet to miss a three yet! (5-5)

[basketballRob]

Penda looks solid. He can handle the ball well for a 6'8" player. He only got 12 minutes but was +24.

https://youtu.be/DicCtp4U2Bs?si=UwxgLeeYoN6fP0Bp

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[MMyhre]

Ace is a good candidate to lead the rookie class in scoring. I'm still waiting to see Tre Johnson, but Ace is at 22.5 ppg in two pre-season games. That should come down a bit when Lauri is back and taking more touches, but he could average 18 pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

I still have Tre as the favorite, based on their college stats, Tre should comfortably be the better shooter and scorer. Bailey has looked good, but it's still a small sample size. 34.6 3pt % in college vs 39.7 % for Tre, who also has a pretty tough shot selection. Bigger difference in their ft % with 69.2 % for Bailey to Johnsons 87.1 %. Remember Bailey went 2-4 from the line in SL, we need bigger samples but he has made it look effortless in two games at least.

Bailey will need to use his size advantage to get easier buckets and looks, to beat the shooting advantage of Johnson.

Stupid Wizards taking so long to play their first game.. very hyped for this draft class.

And for Jakucionis, I really like the way he dribbled in the last game, really pushing the tempo and pace on that ball in front of him, yet in control - he got into space very effectively, but those college stats... I will wait to see a bigger sample size on him, 4.7 ast to 3.7 to in college, and now you're going to play the toughest position in the league at pg..

I would be very surprised if he just becomes a great playmaker in his first season after not being one in college. Same goes for Demin who failed to playmake in Summer League.

So for me it's Flagg, Johnson, Bailey... then you got Edgecombe, Knueppel and Harper on the outside looking in, for now. Then you have the wild card, Yang Hansen. He should be comfortably better offensively than Clingan, so the Blazers could run a more offensive lineup with Hansen at times if he takes the level fast.

[MMyhre]

Penda looks solid. He can handle the ball well for a 6'8" player. He only got 12 minutes but was +24.

https://youtu.be/DicCtp4U2Bs?si=UwxgLeeYoN6fP0Bp

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

I like the way he plays, but what is he eating? He looks out of shape, is he on that Boris Diaw croissant diet? I compared to summer league and he visibly looks fatter/at a too high body fat % now, and this obviously makes him a worse athlete. He looks pretty soft in the u20 FIBA games in 2024 as well, so I just think he has a terrible diet. French are known for a lot of white carbs, so easy to put on weight eating croissant and baguettes all day.

So that's a big question mark for me, coming into your first NBA season overweight is certainly a choice. The talent is there though.

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

Jase yet to miss a three yet! (5-5)

Jase found the perfect home in ORL. They may have the best constructed roster in the league outside OKC.