2025 NBA Draft Thread, Part 2 – Capture the Flagg

[jfs1000d]

Round two predictions:

32. Boston Celtics
ESPN: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
The Athletic: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
CBS Sports: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Sports Illustrated: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/26/nba-mock-draft-best-available-second-round-picks-2025/84368283007/

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

BTW, I all am All-Out on the draft. I'd just as soon sign UDFAs as two-ways and see if we can hit like we did on Hauser and to a lesser extent JD Davidson (not a hit yet, but he probably bettee than guys getting drafted in second round). That, or take a high ceiling Euro that will take 2 years to come here. More Begarin/Mader. Haha.

[themoneyteam2]

How about Anferenee Simons and #32 to Brooklyn for one of their firsts yesterday and into cap space? I would then keep that said player over there. Boom, it's $27M TPE and we are WAY under lux tax. We get therse huge TPE that can use next summer!

That would be the best trade you can do.

If they wanted to do that they would've done it yesterday. Not happening. And more importantly that would be a terrible trade for Boston.

[redslastlaugh]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

Round two predictions:

32. Boston Celtics
ESPN: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
The Athletic: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
CBS Sports: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Sports Illustrated: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/26/nba-mock-draft-best-available-second-round-picks-2025/84368283007/

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

Have another look if it's been awhile:

[jfs1000d]

How about Anferenee Simons and #32 to Brooklyn for one of their firsts yesterday and into cap space? I would then keep that said player over there. Boom, it's $27M TPE and we are WAY under lux tax. We get therse huge TPE that can use next summer!

That would be the best trade you can do.

If they wanted to do that they would've done it yesterday. Not happening. And more importantly that would be a terrible trade for Boston.

Why? It is about salary. Lets get under lux tax.


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[Bill Lumbergh]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

So, safe to say that you think his defense won't translate to the NBA then. Fair enough. He will struggle in space. I think he'll be quite good in drop coverage, though. He's remarkable at defending and blocking shots without fouling. Probably not finding anyone who checks all boxes at 32. Who has the least offensive warts at that point.

[Dogen]

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Minnesota might be interested in Penda. They already got a big in the draft. And Celtics already got a Euro, for what it's worth.

I think Penda might have the most talent left, but is another wing, so not sure he'd be in the Celtics plans.

Penda is more of a SF/PF, with potential to possibly be like a small ball 5..positionally similar to like Niang, Grant Williams (or others like PJ Washington, Boris Diaw, Kyle Anderson, Larry Nance Jr, Nic Batum).

So perhaps we draft him..develop him for a year..learn from Niang..then Niang is gone in a year and Penda steps into the rotation then..plus Hauser is likely getting traded this summer so more of a role would be opened up for him.

I would prefer more a true big with this pick though, like Broome/Raynaud..or even Markovic/Fleming who are more of a 4 but also more of a 5 then Penda is..

Yeah, Niang fulfills a bit of that type of role that Penda would bring. I think the team intends to keep Georges, but who knows? He's dependable yet expendable.

I like the idea of a Diaw/Grant type small ball 5 if the team is able to sign Horford and Luke, as Penda is probably the BPA. Not sure if Fleming can be that type of player, and I'm going to assume that Wolves take either Penda or Fleming.

That leaves Raynaud possibly there after Minneapolis picks, the "French Sheed". I'm not so sure about that comparison, but Max fits that role as a stretch bic with passing out of the high post, whereas Penda is more of an all around utility guy. It can be argued that we just got two of those in Gonzsalez and Niang, so that may make the importance of getting a shooting big like Raynaud or Fleming the more obvious preference.

[redslastlaugh]

So, safe to say that you think his defense won't translate to the NBA then. Fair enough. He will struggle in space. I think he'll be quite good in drop coverage. Probably not finding anyone who checks all boxes at 32. Who has the least offensive warts. Sorry for that image.

I just don't know about his defensive translation. I listen to pods where guys make the case against Kalkbrenner, that 230 lbs NBA drivers like JB will have a fieldday ramming a shoulder into him, moving him back and scoring easily. But then I look at the numbers and nobody in college could score on him and I think the defensive instincts, shot blocking and not-fouling should carry over. So I don't know.

If you take a guard or a wing or a scoring PF/C it's less binary, more possible good outcomes. I'd be fine if we took Kalkbrenner though. He could be really good actually ... or he could stink ... lol i can talk myself into circles.

The other big factor in deciding on him is that we have Jayson Tatum. Tatum may be the best at elevating bigman of any star in the NBA, him and Luka. So ... Everything with a bigman comes down to the JT+big pairing. And I'm not sold on Ryan Kalkbrenner. Especially if you imagine Rasheer Fleming catching JT lobs RobWill style ... Just don't know!

[Dogen]

Does anyone else think Austin Ainge stole the Celtics guard target by trading up for Walter Clayton? I'm wondering if that is the person Brad was trying to trade up to get.

Watching Brad's presser after the draft, he seemed sneaky salty that was the case by the way he praised Austin Ainge.

[playa-hater]

I feel like Fleming is getting the same treatment Robert williams first got. An extremely athletic player but may not know the nuances of how to play. I still don't care Robert Williams when healthy was a such an impactful player. I think Fleming would be the same although slightly different position And ability.

My choice is fleming and then either of the seven footers and in that order.

[Bill Lumbergh]

So, safe to say that you think his defense won't translate to the NBA then. Fair enough. He will struggle in space. I think he'll be quite good in drop coverage. Probably not finding anyone who checks all boxes at 32. Who has the least offensive warts. Sorry for that image.

I just don't know about his defensive translation. I listen to pods where guys make the case against Kalkbrenner, that 230 lbs NBA drivers like JB will have a fieldday ramming a shoulder into him, moving him back and scoring easily. But then I look at the numbers and nobody in college could score on him and I think the defensive instincts, shot blocking and not-fouling should carry over. So I don't know.

If you take a guard or a wing or a scoring PF/C it's less binary, more possible good outcomes. I'd be fine if we took Kalkbrenner though. He could be really good actually ... or he could stink ... lol i can talk myself into circles.

The other big factor in deciding on him is that we have Jayson Tatum. Tatum may be the best at elevating bigman of any star in the NBA, him and Luka. So ... Everything with a bigman comes down to the JT+big pairing. And I'm not sold on Ryan Kalkbrenner. Especially if you imagine Rasheer Fleming catching JT lobs RobWill style ... Just don't know!

All good. It's not a hill I'm going to die on. I'm actually not in love with any of our options. Last year I really wanted Baylor and we got him. I'm just not all in on anyone this year, so I am okay with several outcomes. Would like one of the several bigs on the table.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I feel like Fleming is getting the same treatment Robert williams first got. An extremely good athletic player but may not know the nuances of how to play. I still don't care Robert Williams when healthy was a such an impactful player. I think Fleming would be the same although slightly different position And ability.

My choice is fleming and then either of the seven footers and in that order.

I still remember that San Antonio game when Rob threw down a couple of unreal dunks. **** was insane.

For your viewing pleasure:

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[themoneyteam2]

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[phincsfan]

Offer Al the minimum and let him say no.

Hopefully Luke gets an offer someplace that he can't refuse.

Draft a big tonight and throw him in the fire. Not a fan of the Creighton kid, but Broome is safe and the French kid is intriguing.

[Hal14]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

Round two predictions:

32. Boston Celtics
ESPN: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
The Athletic: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
CBS Sports: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Sports Illustrated: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/26/nba-mock-draft-best-available-second-round-picks-2025/84368283007/

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

Have another look if it's been awhile:

Age is key.

Gobert was like 4 years younger than Kalkbrenner when drafted.

Gobert was also miles better in terms of mobility/athleticism..

[Bill Lumbergh]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

Have another look if it's been awhile:

Age is key.

Gobert was like 4 years younger than Kalkbrenner when drafted.

Gobert was also miles better in terms of mobility/athleticism..

At 32, if you get a solid rotation piece, you've won. You don't need to draft a multi-time DPOY for it to be a good pick. This stuff is all eye of the beholder and pure projection until we see what's what on the court.

[Kalela]

I feel like Fleming is getting the same treatment Robert williams first got. An extremely athletic player but may not know the nuances of how to play. I still don't care Robert Williams when healthy was a such an impactful player. I think Fleming would be the same although slightly different position And ability.

My choice is fleming and then either of the seven footers and in that order.

Timelord dropped in the draft because of a known knee condition. I can't recall the exact name, but it was something that meant he’d always have knee issues. Fleming’s situation is more like Leonard Miller’s. Miller was once projected as a high pick but slid all the way to No. 33 in the 2nd round, and so far, he hasn’t really proven the doubters wrong.

[brackdan70]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

Round two predictions:

32. Boston Celtics
ESPN: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
The Athletic: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
CBS Sports: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Sports Illustrated: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/26/nba-mock-draft-best-available-second-round-picks-2025/84368283007/

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

Have another look if it's been awhile:

I think a lot of the equation I work ethic as well. Sometimes that is hard to gauge.

We have a lot of good options at 32….so many that I want to trade Hauser for another 2nd lol.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I have the most simplistic analysis on Ryan Kalkbrenner & I think it applies to any lumbering center taken with a pick in this range.
If he's good, I like it.
If he's bad, I hate it.
lol

Rudy Gobert and Udoka Azubuike were both pick #27 with opposite outcomes. This archetype of player boils down to: does his size, length, defense work against NBA athletes. Or not.

Kalk could really work out. Or not. My mood right now is I say pass on Kalk, unless we can drop down to later in the 2nd and grab something else and Kalk is still there.

I am good with either one of these. I see Raynaud as more of a stretch 4, and Kalkbrenner as a rim protecting big who can also hit from the outside some. I think Kalkbrenner will be far more impactful defensively, so that's why I want him, but I won't be unhappy with Raynaud. I should add that I would also be okay with Broome. Some team will end up happy with the production he will provide, I think. His ground bound game is not beautiful to watch, but it's effective.

Brad may zag and not take a big at all, and just wait until next year to address that need; just make do with a relative pupu platter of bigs this year, since we're really going nowhere important this year anyway. I don't know if we're keeping Niang, but Penda kinda reminds me of him (or SloMo) a bit anyway. Thiero is a monster athlete, but unskilled.

Anyway, I want a big. Give me Kalkbrenner. Edit: or Fleming. I am back on the Fleming train.

Edit: I just rewatched Fleming's highlights, and this dude seems like everything you'd want in a PF. I just don't get why he fell out of the first round. I remember loving his game a couple of months ago when I checked him out, and figured he'd be long gone before we picked. I am a-okay with Fleming here, too. More than okay.

Have another look if it's been awhile:

I think a lot of the equation I work ethic as well. Sometimes that is hard to gauge.

We have a lot of good options at 32….so many that I want to trade Hauser for another 2nd lol.

There do seem to be more good players in the early/mid thirties than usual. Then again, it may be that I am only paying attention because we have one of those picks. Hard to imagine rostering 3 rookies, though, although if ever there were a year to basically punt, it's this one.

[redslastlaugh]

BR's Wasserman reports T'Wolves are shopping the #31 pick

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[themoneyteam2]

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I mean this fist windmill is just silly. Not saying he’ll be the Thompson twins, but he’s a freak athlete. He can’t shoot a lick (like the Thompson’s), but he easily had highest ceiling of these guys left and could be a rotation piece, which is all you’re looking for in 2nd rounders