2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[redslastlaugh]

Bogo Markovic declares for the draft.
https://meridiansport.rs/kosarka/vreme-za-novog-dijamanta-bogoljub-markovic-izlazi-na-nba-draft/

Honestly, this guy looks like he could rise in the predraft process. But not too far because he's too risky a type. I think teams feel like he's reminding them of aleksej pokusevski, which is something I kinda like because it will put a lid on Markovic's draft stock.

When a player is really hitting in the NBA then a comp-lite player will go too high in the next draft because GMs are chasing the hottest thing. Remember after D Wade drove the Heat to the 2006 championship, alot of front offices were looking for the "next Dwyane Wade" and all of a sudden Randy Foye is a top 7 pick because he reminds teams of Wade.

The opposite is also true. If the most recent comp for a player was a big bust, like Poku, then the next iteration, in this case Markovic, gets unfairly penalized because GM's don't want pick a player that looks like a bust, because that's too risky for the GM.

So, in short, i think Markovic could be pretty interesting, has a chance to rise because of size/shooting but won't rise too high because of Poku. I am intrigued, let's just say.

[redslastlaugh]

I was high on Thiero and then I dropped him because of what Hal said. He's not gonna get a chance to shine here because our brain trust doesnt' value what he does well as much as they value shooting. So.... why draft a guy if he's exactly what the coaches do NOT want. Even if I don't agree that shooting should always be the priority, Brad understandably wants to get players that fit what Joe wants scheme-wise so his draftees will get minutes to develop.

Adou Thiero is starting to look like a deal in the mid-second to me. I know the team wants shooting, shooting, more shooting, and there may be guys like Clayton available a bit earlier, but Thiero seems to be a good athletic, defensive, driving beast that can compliment what we already have with Payton, Baylor and Sam.

Pass.

Let's look at the guys we've had who are non-bigs with significant shooting questions:

Banton
Lamar Stevens
Springer
Begarin
Walsh
Brissett

All have struggled to crack the rotation or haven't even been brought over..most are now gone.

Even watson, who was technically a big - gone

And Svi was a good shooter before Boston, but didn't shoot well here, so he was glued to the bench and then gone

Tillman is a big. But he's not a lob catcher/rim protector type of big (Kornet, Queta) and isn't shooting it well (like Al and KP can) so he's glued to the bench.

The guys who have gotten the lion's share of rotation mins: tatum, brown, white, Jrue, Al, pritchard, hauser, Grant williams, KP..all can shoot

Thiero is basically like a combination of Walsh, Brissett and Springer. I don't see it happening - unless it's just like an UDFA pickup..

[165bows]

I was high on Thiero and then I dropped him because of what Hal said. He's not gonna get a chance to shine here because our brain trust doesnt' value what he does well as much as they value shooting. So.... why draft a guy if he's exactly what the coaches do NOT want. Even if I don't agree that shooting should always be the priority, Brad understandably wants to get players that fit what Joe wants scheme-wise so his draftees will get minutes to develop.

Adou Thiero is starting to look like a deal in the mid-second to me. I know the team wants shooting, shooting, more shooting, and there may be guys like Clayton available a bit earlier, but Thiero seems to be a good athletic, defensive, driving beast that can compliment what we already have with Payton, Baylor and Sam.

Pass.

Let's look at the guys we've had who are non-bigs with significant shooting questions:

Banton
Lamar Stevens
Springer
Begarin
Walsh
Brissett

All have struggled to crack the rotation or haven't even been brought over..most are now gone.

Even watson, who was technically a big - gone

And Svi was a good shooter before Boston, but didn't shoot well here, so he was glued to the bench and then gone

Tillman is a big. But he's not a lob catcher/rim protector type of big (Kornet, Queta) and isn't shooting it well (like Al and KP can) so he's glued to the bench.

The guys who have gotten the lion's share of rotation mins: tatum, brown, white, Jrue, Al, pritchard, hauser, Grant williams, KP..all can shoot

Thiero is basically like a combination of Walsh, Brissett and Springer. I don't see it happening - unless it's just like an UDFA pickup..

Same I get all fired up about an athletic forward like when I thought Hamadou Diallo would be a great pick up. Thiero same thing but guys like that really got left holding the short end of the stick with the modern offense the way it is.

[djFan71]

I was high on Thiero and then I dropped him because of what Hal said. He's not gonna get a chance to shine here because our brain trust doesnt' value what he does well as much as they value shooting. So.... why draft a guy if he's exactly what the coaches do NOT want. Even if I don't agree that shooting should always be the priority, Brad understandably wants to get players that fit what Joe wants scheme-wise so his draftees will get minutes to develop.

Pass.

Let's look at the guys we've had who are non-bigs with significant shooting questions:

Banton
Lamar Stevens
Springer
Begarin
Walsh
Brissett

All have struggled to crack the rotation or haven't even been brought over..most are now gone.

Even watson, who was technically a big - gone

And Svi was a good shooter before Boston, but didn't shoot well here, so he was glued to the bench and then gone

Tillman is a big. But he's not a lob catcher/rim protector type of big (Kornet, Queta) and isn't shooting it well (like Al and KP can) so he's glued to the bench.

The guys who have gotten the lion's share of rotation mins: tatum, brown, white, Jrue, Al, pritchard, hauser, Grant williams, KP..all can shoot

Thiero is basically like a combination of Walsh, Brissett and Springer. I don't see it happening - unless it's just like an UDFA pickup..

Same I get all fired up about an athletic forward like when I thought Hamadou Diallo would be a great pick up. Thiero same thing but guys like that really got left holding the short end of the stick with the modern offense the way it is.

4thed. I’m really trying to prune guys that can’t shoot from my board (non centers). But, man, other than that…. He’s super intriguing. Reminds me of a taller JB coming out of Cal, but worse shooting. Hes the ultimate “if he can learn to shoot “ guy. I can’t fully remove him from the end of my list, but he’s super low on it. Rough board at this moment:

Tradeup/fall: Fleming, Carter, Newell
Bigs: Yaxel, Beringer, Raynaud, Condon
Wings/Guards: Nique, James, Thiero, Byrd, Darrion Williams

[redslastlaugh]

Kyle Mann and Danny Chau have Labaron Philon and Carter Bryant in the lottery in their big board released today
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

And no Rasheer Fleming, no JT Toppin in the top 30

edit: some really crazy player comp bubbles. They say Asa Newell is 50% Zeke Nnaji, 20% Marvin Bagley, 20% Precious Achiuwa, 10% Nic Clayton … lol, how bout just throw a black cat on the stage, lol, as Bill Simmons used to say in his Draft Diary days. What comps are those for a top-20 prospect, lol

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I'm going to speak a Gonzalez/Raynaud draft into existence and none of you can stop me.

[djFan71]

Kyle Mann and Danny Chau have Labaron Philon and Carter Bryant in the lottery in their big board released today
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

And no Rasheer Fleming, no JT Toppin in the top 30

edit: some really crazy player comp bubbles. They say Asa Newell is 50% Zeke Nnaji, 20% Marvin Bagley, 20% Precious Achiuwa, 10% Nic Clayton … lol, how bout just throw a black cat on the stage, lol, as Bill Simmons used to say in his Draft Diary days. What comps are those for a top-20 prospect, lol

yeah, i was noticing that on some of the comps too. Even Edgecombe they say KCP, though bitten by a radioactive spider at least.

My favorite is Carter Bryant.... Jordan Walsh. He's good on D, so, sure, but he can actually shoot. 37% on 3s. And they have him in the lotto - which I don't disagree with - but main comp is a 2nd rounder who's barely played in 2 years?

[djFan71]

I'm going to speak a Gonzalez/Raynaud draft into existence and none of you can stop me.

I believe it. If 26.4% from 3 won't stop you, surely nothing will.

[djFan71]

When are you gonna get around to suggesting Drake Powell? Seems like the perfect kind of innocuous guy for you to say we'll take mid 2nd after trading down. I've been waiting for it for a while now.

[Dogen]

Adou Thiero is starting to look like a deal in the mid-second to me. I know the team wants shooting, shooting, more shooting, and there may be guys like Clayton available a bit earlier, but Thiero seems to be a good athletic, defensive, driving beast that can compliment what we already have with Payton, Baylor and Sam.

Pass.

Let's look at the guys we've had who are non-bigs with significant shooting questions:

Banton
Lamar Stevens
Springer
Begarin
Walsh
Brissett
Juancho Hernangomez
JD Davison

All have struggled to crack the rotation or haven't even been brought over..most are now gone.

Even watson, who was technically a big - gone

And Svi was a good shooter before Boston, but didn't shoot well here, so he was glued to the bench and then gone

Tillman is a big. But he's not a lob catcher/rim protector type of big (Kornet, Queta) and isn't shooting it well (like Al and KP can) so he's glued to the bench.

The guys who have gotten the lion's share of rotation mins: tatum, brown, white, Jrue, Al, pritchard, hauser, Grant williams, KP..all can shoot

Thiero is basically like a combination of Walsh, Brissett and Springer. I don't see it happening - unless it's just like an UDFA pickup..

That's actually my concern as well, and I appreciate seeing those comparisons.

Like Walsh, Brissett and Springer et al., would Thiero basically be relegated to standing in the corner, waiting for a shot at a three, which he can't hit at a decent percentage?

Maybe so. My guess is that a few years ago, Thiero, as a Junior, may have been a first rounder. Players of his type, like Okoro, have not developed shooting enough to stay on the floor. But Thiero is freak that can guard multiple positions and attack the basket. He's stronger than Banton, faster than Stevens, bigger than Springer, more seasoned in US than Begarin, and probably more ready than Walsh.

So IDK, if Brad trades down into that 35-45 range, maybe Karaban is there and the team gets a player that can move into a role that has served us well, and be a potential Sam replacement down the road. But I'd like to see Brad take another shot at getting that physical specimen defender off the bench. Taking a look at what's happening in Houston and OKC, a case can be made that the pendulum is swinging toward having more physical presence off the bench.

[165bows]

When are you gonna get around to suggesting Drake Powell? Seems like the perfect kind of innocuous guy for you to say we'll take mid 2nd after trading down. I've been waiting for it for a while now.

Seems like a definitely ok prospect though I don’t know that much about him. I don’t love that mold though, I think I figured that out from Dean D, the 6’6” wing can be the most over rated guy.

But for a freshman he’s got decent numbers but nothing dramatic either.

I’m really after the mold of guy that has plus plus versatility and is a solid or better all around defender. Plus shooting and passing.

[djFan71]

When are you gonna get around to suggesting Drake Powell? Seems like the perfect kind of innocuous guy for you to say we'll take mid 2nd after trading down. I've been waiting for it for a while now.

Seems like a definitely ok prospect though I don’t know that much about him. I don’t love that mold though, I think I figured that out from Dean D, the 6’6” wing can be the most over rated guy.

But for a freshman he’s got decent numbers but nothing dramatic either.

I’m really after the mold of guy that has plus plus versatility and is a solid or better all around defender. Plus shooting and passing.

He’s just giving me Harrison Ingram flashbacks.

Last sentence sums up the dream. I’ll even leave a little versatility off the table if you get all the rest at where were picking.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I'm going to speak a Gonzalez/Raynaud draft into existence and none of you can stop me.

I believe it. If 26.4% from 3 won't stop you, surely nothing will.

As freshmen, Scheierman shot 24.7% from three, Walsh 27.8%, Davison 30.1% and Watson 11.1%. Begarin shot 29% in his first pro season. He'll fit right in.

[Hal14]

I'm going to speak a Gonzalez/Raynaud draft into existence and none of you can stop me.

I believe it. If 26.4% from 3 won't stop you, surely nothing will.

As freshmen, Scheierman shot 24.7% from three, Walsh 27.8%, Davison 30.1% and Watson 11.1%. Begarin shot 29% in his first pro season. He'll fit right in.

But none of those guys did anything in the NBA, except maybe Scheierman. And he wasn't draftable after his poor shooting freshman year. Had to stay in school for 5 years. His last 4 college seasons he shot between 36 - 46% from 3 in each of them.

I guess Hugo should play a few more years overseas (or maybe go the college route) and keep working on that jumper before entering the league. Otherwise he'll end up like JD, Begarin, Walsh, Kendall Brown, etc.

Gabriele Procida was actually a good shooter before the draft, and he's still waiting for an NBA team to bring him over. Springer was a good shooter in college but it was on low volume, during a COVID season with no fans in the stands and his mechanics aren't great so it hasn't translated to the NBA..plus Springer was very young, only 18..Walsh was very young, so was JD and Begarin but Scheierman was older..later in the draft (like outside of the top 15-20 picks) the guys who make it in the league are usually older guys who are more developed.

I get he's on a loaded Real Madrid team but he barely gets any playing time. So he's not developing as much on that team and NBA decision makers aren't able to fully evaluate him without enough film/stats. I think he should try for the 2026 draft and play next season either at an NCAA school or some other overseas pro team that will play him more.

[djFan71]

I believe it. If 26.4% from 3 won't stop you, surely nothing will.

As freshmen, Scheierman shot 24.7% from three, Walsh 27.8%, Davison 30.1% and Watson 11.1%. Begarin shot 29% in his first pro season. He'll fit right in.

But none of those guys did anything in the NBA, except maybe Scheierman. And he wasn't draftable after his poor shooting freshman year. Had to stay in school for 5 years. His last 4 college seasons he shot between 36 - 46% from 3 in each of them.

I guess Hugo should play a few more years overseas (or maybe go the college route) and keep working on that jumper before entering the league. Otherwise he'll end up like JD, Begarin, Walsh, Kendall Brown, etc.

Gabriele Procida was actually a good shooter before the draft, and he's still waiting for an NBA team to bring him over. Springer was a good shooter in college but it was on low volume, during a COVID season with no fans in the stands and his mechanics aren't great so it hasn't translated to the NBA..plus Springer was very young, only 18..Walsh was very young, so was JD and Begarin but Scheierman was older..later in the draft (like outside of the top 15-20 picks) the guys who make it in the league are usually older guys who are more developed.

I get he's on a loaded Real Madrid team but he barely gets any playing time. So he's not developing as much on that team and NBA decision makers aren't able to fully evaluate him without enough film/stats. I think he should try for the 2026 draft and play next season either at an NCAA school or some other overseas pro team that will play him more.

Impressive work finding the microfiche with Scheierman's freshman stats.

It pains me, cuz I love the archetype and I'm always willing to wait while they learn to shoot. Joe is too - he just waits while they hold down the bench or shine in Maine or overseas. A stash would actually be great, but I think he'll go higher than stash range.

[redslastlaugh]

Forward JT Toppin announces he will forgo the NBA draft and return to Texas Tech for more money. Bummer, he was one of my guys. They say he got $4 mil to return

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/jt-toppin-spurns-nba-draft-will-return-to-texas-tech-for-purported-4-million-in-nil-earnings-next-year/

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I believe it. If 26.4% from 3 won't stop you, surely nothing will.

As freshmen, Scheierman shot 24.7% from three, Walsh 27.8%, Davison 30.1% and Watson 11.1%. Begarin shot 29% in his first pro season. He'll fit right in.

But none of those guys did anything in the NBA, except maybe Scheierman. And he wasn't draftable after his poor shooting freshman year. Had to stay in school for 5 years. His last 4 college seasons he shot between 36 - 46% from 3 in each of them.

I guess Hugo should play a few more years overseas (or maybe go the college route) and keep working on that jumper before entering the league. Otherwise he'll end up like JD, Begarin, Walsh, Kendall Brown, etc.

Gabriele Procida was actually a good shooter before the draft, and he's still waiting for an NBA team to bring him over. Springer was a good shooter in college but it was on low volume, during a COVID season with no fans in the stands and his mechanics aren't great so it hasn't translated to the NBA..plus Springer was very young, only 18..Walsh was very young, so was JD and Begarin but Scheierman was older..later in the draft (like outside of the top 15-20 picks) the guys who make it in the league are usually older guys who are more developed.

I get he's on a loaded Real Madrid team but he barely gets any playing time. So he's not developing as much on that team and NBA decision makers aren't able to fully evaluate him without enough film/stats. I think he should try for the 2026 draft and play next season either at an NCAA school or some other overseas pro team that will play him more.

I was merely dispelling the notion that Gonzalez's low three point percentage would be some kind of impediment to the Celtics drafting him. Clearly based on the track record since Stevens became GM, the front office doesn't place a lot of stock in what percentage guys shot from downtown as teenagers. Whether they should is a different question.

To be fair, the sample sizes are so tiny that they aren't completely meaningless but almost. For a guy like Gonzalez we are talking about like 60 attempts this season due to the limited playing time. Now I'm not arguing he is a great shooter on some badly timed cold streak but he is solid from the line and he has decent touch so I don't think it's unfixable.

[165bows]

As freshmen, Scheierman shot 24.7% from three, Walsh 27.8%, Davison 30.1% and Watson 11.1%. Begarin shot 29% in his first pro season. He'll fit right in.

But none of those guys did anything in the NBA, except maybe Scheierman. And he wasn't draftable after his poor shooting freshman year. Had to stay in school for 5 years. His last 4 college seasons he shot between 36 - 46% from 3 in each of them.

I guess Hugo should play a few more years overseas (or maybe go the college route) and keep working on that jumper before entering the league. Otherwise he'll end up like JD, Begarin, Walsh, Kendall Brown, etc.

Gabriele Procida was actually a good shooter before the draft, and he's still waiting for an NBA team to bring him over. Springer was a good shooter in college but it was on low volume, during a COVID season with no fans in the stands and his mechanics aren't great so it hasn't translated to the NBA..plus Springer was very young, only 18..Walsh was very young, so was JD and Begarin but Scheierman was older..later in the draft (like outside of the top 15-20 picks) the guys who make it in the league are usually older guys who are more developed.

I get he's on a loaded Real Madrid team but he barely gets any playing time. So he's not developing as much on that team and NBA decision makers aren't able to fully evaluate him without enough film/stats. I think he should try for the 2026 draft and play next season either at an NCAA school or some other overseas pro team that will play him more.

I was merely dispelling the notion that Gonzalez's low three point percentage would be some kind of impediment to the Celtics drafting him. Clearly based on the track record since Stevens became GM, the front office doesn't place a lot of stock in what percentage guys shot from downtown as teenagers. Whether they should is a different question.

To be fair, the sample sizes are so tiny that they aren't completely meaningless but almost. For a guy like Gonzalez we are talking about like 60 attempts this season due to the limited playing time. Now I'm not arguing he is a great shooter on some badly timed cold streak but he is solid from the line and he has decent touch so I don't think it's unfixable.

Nothing apropos of these prospects but the idea they aren’t picking someone who can’t shoot I think is just as much someone who won’t shoot - ie, most guys need to develop their shot but they are going to focus on guys that are willing to shoot and can get the attempts up.

[phincsfan]

Forward JT Toppin announces he will forgo the NBA draft and return to Texas Tech for more money. Bummer, he was one of my guys. They say he got $4 mil to return

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/jt-toppin-spurns-nba-draft-will-return-to-texas-tech-for-purported-4-million-in-nil-earnings-next-year/

I think it's a good move for him. Hopefully more players take advantage of the NIL (may be the other way around also), and grow up, mature and learn from NBA draft workout/meetings.

The league needs to figure something out with draft and stash IMO. Make another round or something, unless the NIL starts allowing international players to benefit from NIL also. I'd rather them be in the college system vs the international leagues. IMO, they'll improve more here in the states.

[redslastlaugh]

Some overseas measurements. Markovic measured 6-11 with a 6-11 wingspan but 216lbs which is a good weight for a guy getting Poku comps. (And whose weight on tankathon is listed at 190 lbs)
https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1jvef1l/2025_nike_hoop_summit_world_team_measurements/

Bogo Markovic declares for the draft.
https://meridiansport.rs/kosarka/vreme-za-novog-dijamanta-bogoljub-markovic-izlazi-na-nba-draft/

Honestly, this guy looks like he could rise in the predraft process. But not too far because he's too risky a type. I think teams feel like he's reminding them of aleksej pokusevski, which is something I kinda like because it will put a lid on Markovic's draft stock.