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2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
- Celts17Pride
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
We go through this just about every year. Ben Simmons was can't miss, Andrew Wiggins was can't miss, Jabari Parker was can't miss, Markelle Fultz was can't miss, Zion Williamson was can't miss. Cooper Flagg may or may not be any good in the NBA. It's a crap shoot.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Wow, this forum has come a long way..at least when it comes to draft discussion. I'm impressed!
In October 2022, I went ahead and started the thread for the 2023 NBA Draft on here and made a few posts about prospects, and got laughed at and ridiculed by 2 posters who are no longer on this forum for starting up the draft discussions so early.
Now look at us. We've got the draft thread cooking in mid July for the following year's draft, with plenty of discussion, from lots of different posters..and the thread wasn't even started by me
and no one is mocking anyone for talking draft so early..
To add to the discussion..it's obviously very early so this list will likely look *way* different by the time we get closer to the draft..but this is my personal big board for next year..at least just the top 30..

Karaban was discussed quite a bit for the 2024 draft but he returned to UConn. I have him ranked 31st at the moment.
Both Karaban and Toppin worked out for the C's ahead of the 2024 draft but both returned to college so both could be on the team's radar this season. And both could be in that late 1st/early 2nd round range..
In October 2022, I went ahead and started the thread for the 2023 NBA Draft on here and made a few posts about prospects, and got laughed at and ridiculed by 2 posters who are no longer on this forum for starting up the draft discussions so early.
Now look at us. We've got the draft thread cooking in mid July for the following year's draft, with plenty of discussion, from lots of different posters..and the thread wasn't even started by me

To add to the discussion..it's obviously very early so this list will likely look *way* different by the time we get closer to the draft..but this is my personal big board for next year..at least just the top 30..

Karaban was discussed quite a bit for the 2024 draft but he returned to UConn. I have him ranked 31st at the moment.
Both Karaban and Toppin worked out for the C's ahead of the 2024 draft but both returned to college so both could be on the team's radar this season. And both could be in that late 1st/early 2nd round range..
1/11/24 The birth of a new Hal. From now on being less combative, avoiding confrontation - like Switzerland 

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
jfs1000d wrote:Let’s think logically.
We are coming off an nba title, might win it again and y’all consorting a scheme to get worse as a team in hopes of one day getting better and winning title…
We are a title team. We got at least one more in us. No chance we do a trade like that. LolZ
Doncic was 4th in MVP voting in his second year, Wemby was 2nd in DPOY voting his rookie season, etc. If you believe he is that kind of player we are not talking about a multi year project here. But if he is that kind of player it's unclear to me why anybody would trade him for Jaylen Brown and if he's not I'm not sure what's the point of trading Jaylen Brown for a guy you hope will turn into Jaylen Brown years down the road.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
There are $200 million reasons why we’d want to trade a 28 yr old wing making $60 million for the best 18 yr wing prospect in yrs who’d be slotted at like $12 million by the rookie scale salary for first overall pick. Second apron, man
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Smart2Nesmith43 wrote:But if he is that kind of player it's unclear to me why anybody would trade him for Jaylen Brown and if he's not I'm not sure what's the point of trading Jaylen Brown for a guy you hope will turn into Jaylen Brown years down the road.
Only people in RealGM do things like this.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
brackdan70 wrote:Fierce1 wrote:I would trade Jaylen Brown for Cooper Flagg.
In a vacuum I would as well and think most would agree…but for 25/26 and 26/27 anyway I think JB will be the more impactful player.
So for the Cs that trade might close this window but open a fresh window in a couple years.
The dream scenerio would be the Cs win this year and make a draft day 2025 trade Brown for Flagg and the necessary salary ballast.
I don’t think whoever gets the number one pick makes that trade? What do you think?
Red would find a way! Come on Brad!
We won it for Al!!! 

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Celts17Pride wrote:We go through this just about every year. Ben Simmons was can't miss, Andrew Wiggins was can't miss, Jabari Parker was can't miss, Markelle Fultz was can't miss, Zion Williamson was can't miss. Cooper Flagg may or may not be any good in the NBA. It's a crap shoot.
Since 2003, The only players who have been considered as good (or better) than Flagg before entering the NBA are Wemby, Zion, LeBron and perhaps Luka.
I'd say that's a pretty good hit rate..
And Zion was a *stud* prospect. He has been a star in the NBA. He is a star. His ceiling hasn't quite been reached yet, due to weight issues (not applicable to Flagg) and injuries (can happen to anyone, typically not something that can be predicted..but can be more common with players who have weight issues..)
1/11/24 The birth of a new Hal. From now on being less combative, avoiding confrontation - like Switzerland 

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Celts17Pride wrote:We go through this just about every year. Ben Simmons was can't miss, Andrew Wiggins was can't miss, Jabari Parker was can't miss, Markelle Fultz was can't miss, Zion Williamson was can't miss. Cooper Flagg may or may not be any good in the NBA. It's a crap shoot.
Cooper has a much bigger engine than any of the guys you mentioned.
We won it for Al!!! 

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
I don't believe this got posted yet in this thread (not positive) but assuming many on here have already seen it..
Only a 38 second clip and it's just a scrimmage but here we see Flagg looking very good vs the stacked team USA in a scrimmage..he's going against Haliburton/Jrue/Booker/AD/Bam..does about everything you can do on a basketball court in one sequence, and he doesn't even turn 18 until December:
I don't know if we have ever seen a 17 yr old HS player look *this* good while going against some of the best players in the NBA..
With that being said, whoever gets the no. 1 pick is not trading it..they're taking Flagg so kind of pointless to talk about him since there's no way Boston is getting him..
Only a 38 second clip and it's just a scrimmage but here we see Flagg looking very good vs the stacked team USA in a scrimmage..he's going against Haliburton/Jrue/Booker/AD/Bam..does about everything you can do on a basketball court in one sequence, and he doesn't even turn 18 until December:
I don't know if we have ever seen a 17 yr old HS player look *this* good while going against some of the best players in the NBA..
With that being said, whoever gets the no. 1 pick is not trading it..they're taking Flagg so kind of pointless to talk about him since there's no way Boston is getting him..
1/11/24 The birth of a new Hal. From now on being less combative, avoiding confrontation - like Switzerland 

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
People are going to make me start digging up posts from 2014 lol.
“No effing way would anyone trade a #1 pick, Andrew Wiggins!!”
“No effing way would anyone trade a #1 pick, Andrew Wiggins!!”
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
At any rate will be exciting to see the college hoops season, and an elite prospect that actually wants to be in Boston is worth following regardless.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Tatumfor2 wrote:Celts17Pride wrote:We go through this just about every year. Ben Simmons was can't miss, Andrew Wiggins was can't miss, Jabari Parker was can't miss, Markelle Fultz was can't miss, Zion Williamson was can't miss. Cooper Flagg may or may not be any good in the NBA. It's a crap shoot.
Cooper has a much bigger engine than any of the guys you mentioned.
Been through this 5-6 times in this forum, then when Flagg turns out to be a bust the most common reply is "I never said that."
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Barring injury, there will be a tankathon to get Flagg, He's head and shoulders about everyone else in this draft and that will become clear when he plays at Duke.
"Numbers lie alot. Wins and losses don't lie." - Jerry West
"You are what your record says you are."- Bill Parcells
"Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. Rebounding wins championships." Pat Summit
"You are what your record says you are."- Bill Parcells
"Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. Rebounding wins championships." Pat Summit
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
165bows wrote:People are going to make me start digging up posts from 2014 lol.
“No effing way would anyone trade a #1 pick, Andrew Wiggins!!”
Exactly my point. People in this forum were saying trade everything for Wiggins.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Celts17Pride wrote:165bows wrote:People are going to make me start digging up posts from 2014 lol.
“No effing way would anyone trade a #1 pick, Andrew Wiggins!!”
Exactly my point. People in this forum were saying trade everything for Wiggins.
I'd be more interested in videos of Wiggins from 2014 going against team USA competition and compare that to Flagg's videos instead of the old posts. 100% people said it about Wiggins too, but they were wrong lol. Flagg is going to be REALLY good and Andrew Wiggins own mother would pick 17 year old Cooper over her boy.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Hal14 wrote:Wow, this forum has come a long way..at least when it comes to draft discussion. I'm impressed!
In October 2022, I went ahead and started the thread for the 2023 NBA Draft on here and made a few posts about prospects, and got laughed at and ridiculed by 2 posters who are no longer on this forum for starting up the draft discussions so early.
Now look at us. We've got the draft thread cooking in mid July for the following year's draft, with plenty of discussion, from lots of different posters..and the thread wasn't even started by meand no one is mocking anyone for talking draft so early..
To add to the discussion..it's obviously very early so this list will likely look *way* different by the time we get closer to the draft..but this is my personal big board for next year..at least just the top 30..
Karaban was discussed quite a bit for the 2024 draft but he returned to UConn. I have him ranked 31st at the moment.
Both Karaban and Toppin worked out for the C's ahead of the 2024 draft but both returned to college so both could be on the team's radar this season. And both could be in that late 1st/early 2nd round range..
Do you have the first big board for the 24' draft? That would be interesting to see how the scouting started and how the draft ended up.
Early draft talk is always fun for the NBA and NFL.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
ESPN had Bronny James as a top 10 pick in Feb of 2023. It might be fun to discuss the draft a year ahead but it's not going to be very accurate.
Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
BK_2020 wrote:ESPN had Bronny James as a top 10 pick in Feb of 2023. It might be fun to discuss the draft a year ahead but it's not going to be very accurate.
It's not February right now.
This mock from July of last year had Bronny going 36th:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10082695-2024-nba-draft-top-50-big-board-bronny-james-projects-outside-first-round
Obviously it's not completely accurate when looking at how things ended up going in the draft 11 months later but it's just for fun, of course.
1/11/24 The birth of a new Hal. From now on being less combative, avoiding confrontation - like Switzerland 

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
Hal14 wrote:BK_2020 wrote:ESPN had Bronny James as a top 10 pick in Feb of 2023. It might be fun to discuss the draft a year ahead but it's not going to be very accurate.
It's not February right now.
This mock from July of last year had Bronny going 36th:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10082695-2024-nba-draft-top-50-big-board-bronny-james-projects-outside-first-round
Obviously it's not completely accurate when looking at how things ended up going in the draft 11 months later but it's just for fun, of course.
Agreed. That's exactly why it's fun to discuss it. Look at how inaccurate that BR big board was. Mocks that are put up seconds before the actual draft are also inaccurate. Those boards gives people names of players to keep an eye on during the college season.
Holland #1 and Sarr #18. Dillingham #38 Knecht not even on the board and Justin Edwards not even drafted.

Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg
ryan in Maine wrote:Cooper wants to be a Celtic.
Is it too early to start the tank talk or should I wait until training camp starts?
*Insert witty signature here.*