2025 NBA Draft Thread, Part 2 – Capture the Flagg

[redslastlaugh]

Draft twitter analysti Ben Pfeifer posts a first round mock w/ some unconventional selections:
https://www.basketballinsiders.org/news/nba-draft-2025-ideal-selections-for-each-first-round-pick/

Celts at 28 take Nolan Traore
"Traore’s scoring efficiency causes some concern, though we shouldn’t discount his huge offensive load as a teenage pro point guard. His elite speed, great passing and versatile defensive chops are bankable traits with his outside shooting as a major swing skill. Boston will bet on his talent here, hoping he can eventually find a home in their backcourt rotation."

During the last 10 years I haven't seen any Euro's taken outside of the top 10 who made any impact in the league.

Maybe the NIL will allow international players to play in the NCAA where the competition and spotlight will be brighter.

This would be a disaster in my opinion. Traore needs 3 years to be 2 years away.

I haven't seen Traore's game film at all. But I was listening to a draft podcast that said in Traore's games, his teammates are always mad at him. They say they go to the timeout and everyone is yelling at him for his decision making like he's Mario Chalmers or something.

Seems like traore is a highly volatile prospect. Some scouts see him as top 10, some say he's a 2nd rounder. He'd be a swing, I guess. Doesn't really seem like a Brad Stevens guy. I hope he's off the board before #28.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Draft twitter analysti Ben Pfeifer posts a first round mock w/ some unconventional selections:
https://www.basketballinsiders.org/news/nba-draft-2025-ideal-selections-for-each-first-round-pick/

Celts at 28 take Nolan Traore
"Traore’s scoring efficiency causes some concern, though we shouldn’t discount his huge offensive load as a teenage pro point guard. His elite speed, great passing and versatile defensive chops are bankable traits with his outside shooting as a major swing skill. Boston will bet on his talent here, hoping he can eventually find a home in their backcourt rotation."

During the last 10 years I haven't seen any Euro's taken outside of the top 10 who made any impact in the league.

Maybe the NIL will allow international players to play in the NCAA where the competition and spotlight will be brighter.

If you can allow 10 years and 10 days, Jokic is on the list too.

Interesting. Combine Jokic with the guys Curmudgeon noted and it looks like centers are the Euros that really hit later in the draft.

[playa-hater]

I really hope our "trade up" is for someone really good. a PG?? I am just not sure how good any mid-first rders are. Again I will trust Brad. But I also hope we use Hauser and 28 to do it and keep 32. Way too many talented prospects will still be there at 32.

[Hal14]

Traore is 11th on this guy's big board, FWIW:

Watch on YouTube

At 1:18:30 he says that Traore played "in a more competitive league than any of these college guys were".

[djFan71]

Traore is 11th on this guy's big board, FWIW:

Watch on YouTube

Spoiler! I'm on 16 right now.

Will post the list when I'm done, but gotta stop for a bit.

[playa-hater]

latest mock from CBSsports has us taking Drake Powell at 28.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2025-nba-mock-draft-cooper-flagg-is-top-pick-with-dylan-harper-ace-bailey-rounding-out-top-three-selections/

[Smart2Nesmith43]

During the last 10 years I haven't seen any Euro's taken outside of the top 10 who made any impact in the league.

Maybe the NIL will allow international players to play in the NCAA where the competition and spotlight will be brighter.

This would be a disaster in my opinion. Traore needs 3 years to be 2 years away.

I haven't seen Traore's game film at all. But I was listening to a draft podcast that said in Traore's games, his teammates are always mad at him. They say they go to the timeout and everyone is yelling at him for his decision making like he's Mario Chalmers or something.

Seems like traore is a highly volatile prospect. Some scouts see him as top 10, some say he's a 2nd rounder. He'd be a swing, I guess. Doesn't really seem like a Brad Stevens guy. I hope he's off the board before #28.

Dude has a 40+ AST%. What the hell are they mad about ? That he gets them too many easy shots

[djFan71]

Traore is 11th on this guy's big board, FWIW:

Watch on YouTube

At 1:18:30 he says that Traore played "in a more competitive league than any of these college guys were".

For everyone else, this AVC guy is one I've been following and he's pretty good at breaking things down - shooting form, how prospect skills will/wont translate to NBA, etc. The big board video it self has some decent info, but he's also done breakdown videos on most of the top 35, which are more informative. Spoiler has his board, in case you wanna watch without knowing.

Spoiler:

1 Cooper Flagg
2 Dylan Harper
3 Ace Bailey
4 VJ Edgecombe
5 Khaman Maluach
6 Kasparas Jakucionis
7 Tre Johnson
8 Asa Newell
9 Carter Bryant
10 Kon Knueppel
11 Nolan Traore
12 Danny Wolf
13 Rasheer Fleming
14 Nique Clifford
15 Walter Clayton Jr
16 Jeremiah Fears
17 Derik Queen
18 Will Riley
19 Noah Penda
20 Cedric Coward
21 Hugo Gonzalez
22 Liam McNeeley
23 Ben Saraf
24 Johni Broome
25 Thomas Sorber
26 Egor Demin
27 Maxime Raynaud
28 Noa Essengue
29 Colin Murray-Boyles
30 John Tonje
31 Koby Brea
32 Grant Nelson
33 Jase Richardson
34 Dink Pate
35 Adou Thiero
36 Drake Powell
37 Joan Beringer
38 Rocco Zikarsky
39 Tyrese Proctor
40 Hansen Yang
41 Yanic Konan Niederhauser
42 Mark Sears
43 Ryan Kalkbrenner
44 Javon Small
45 Ryan Nembhard
46 Kam Jones
47 Hunter Sallis
48 Alex Toohey

He didn't do a full 60 - anyone not on here he would do UDFA at best on.

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

[redslastlaugh]

I haven't seen Traore's game film at all. But I was listening to a draft podcast that said in Traore's games, his teammates are always mad at him. They say they go to the timeout and everyone is yelling at him for his decision making like he's Mario Chalmers or something.

Seems like traore is a highly volatile prospect. Some scouts see him as top 10, some say he's a 2nd rounder. He'd be a swing, I guess. Doesn't really seem like a Brad Stevens guy. I hope he's off the board before #28.

Dude has a 40+ AST%. What the hell are they mad about ? That he gets them too many easy shots

I dunno man, I'm just reporting what I heard, lol

It was these dudes at 13:00 ... and they rip traore to shreds so brace yourself, lol

Watch on YouTube

;t=1227s

[redslastlaugh]

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

I wonder now about Memphis. Memphis famously loves the 30th pick and early 2nd -- where they got Bane in the 1st place. After the Orlando trade, Memphis has #16, #48, #56

Possible trade up partner for us? 16 + 48 for 28 + 32

We get a higher tier prospect and then catch a sliding prospect at 48??

[playa-hater]

Traore is 11th on this guy's big board, FWIW:

Watch on YouTube

At 1:18:30 he says that Traore played "in a more competitive league than any of these college guys were".

For everyone else, this AVC guy is one I've been following and he's pretty good at breaking things down - shooting form, how prospect skills will/wont translate to NBA, etc. The big board video it self has some decent info, but he's also done breakdown videos on most of the top 35, which are more informative. Spoiler has his board, in case you wanna watch without knowing.

Spoiler:

1 Cooper Flagg
2 Dylan Harper
3 Ace Bailey
4 VJ Edgecombe
5 Khaman Maluach
6 Kasparas Jakucionis
7 Tre Johnson
8 Asa Newell
9 Carter Bryant
10 Kon Knueppel
11 Nolan Traore
12 Danny Wolf
13 Rasheer Fleming
14 Nique Clifford
15 Walter Clayton Jr
16 Jeremiah Fears
17 Derik Queen
18 Will Riley
19 Noah Penda
20 Cedric Coward
21 Hugo Gonzalez
22 Liam McNeeley
23 Ben Saraf
24 Johni Broome
25 Thomas Sorber
26 Egor Demin
27 Maxime Raynaud
28 Noa Essengue
29 Colin Murray-Boyles
30 John Tonje
31 Koby Brea
32 Grant Nelson
33 Jase Richardson
34 Dink Pate
35 Adou Thiero
36 Drake Powell
37 Joan Beringer
38 Rocco Zikarsky
39 Tyrese Proctor
40 Hansen Yang
41 Yanic Konan Niederhauser
42 Mark Sears
43 Ryan Kalkbrenner
44 Javon Small
45 Ryan Nembhard
46 Kam Jones
47 Hunter Sallis
48 Alex Toohey

He didn't do a full 60 - anyone not on here he would do UDFA at best on.

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

So he has my two hopefuls for 28 or a trade up at 12 and13..In Wolf and Fleming.. F this copy-cat.

[djFan71]

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

I wonder now about Memphis. Memphis famously loves the 30th pick and early 2nd -- where they got Bane in the 1st place. After the Orlando trade, Memphis has #16, #48, #56

Possible trade up partner for us? 16 + 48 for 28 + 32

We get a higher tier prospect and then catch a sliding prospect at 48??

I dunno, I think possibly the opposite. AVC says something about the depth of this draft and says he can see up to the top 16 on his board contributing right away - which he says is crazy high number. That specific number caught my ear since a draft savvy team just traded for #16. And, unfortunately, I kinda agree. I think there are guys past that range that could contribute if developed properly, or a few like Penda, Broome beyond his 16 spot that could help sooner. And, there's always someone unexpected, but top 15-20 range seems to be the sweet spot.

[djFan71]

Traore is 11th on this guy's big board, FWIW:

Watch on YouTube

At 1:18:30 he says that Traore played "in a more competitive league than any of these college guys were".

For everyone else, this AVC guy is one I've been following and he's pretty good at breaking things down - shooting form, how prospect skills will/wont translate to NBA, etc. The big board video it self has some decent info, but he's also done breakdown videos on most of the top 35, which are more informative. Spoiler has his board, in case you wanna watch without knowing.

Spoiler:

1 Cooper Flagg
2 Dylan Harper
3 Ace Bailey
4 VJ Edgecombe
5 Khaman Maluach
6 Kasparas Jakucionis
7 Tre Johnson
8 Asa Newell
9 Carter Bryant
10 Kon Knueppel
11 Nolan Traore
12 Danny Wolf
13 Rasheer Fleming
14 Nique Clifford
15 Walter Clayton Jr
16 Jeremiah Fears
17 Derik Queen
18 Will Riley
19 Noah Penda
20 Cedric Coward
21 Hugo Gonzalez
22 Liam McNeeley
23 Ben Saraf
24 Johni Broome
25 Thomas Sorber
26 Egor Demin
27 Maxime Raynaud
28 Noa Essengue
29 Colin Murray-Boyles
30 John Tonje
31 Koby Brea
32 Grant Nelson
33 Jase Richardson
34 Dink Pate
35 Adou Thiero
36 Drake Powell
37 Joan Beringer
38 Rocco Zikarsky
39 Tyrese Proctor
40 Hansen Yang
41 Yanic Konan Niederhauser
42 Mark Sears
43 Ryan Kalkbrenner
44 Javon Small
45 Ryan Nembhard
46 Kam Jones
47 Hunter Sallis
48 Alex Toohey

He didn't do a full 60 - anyone not on here he would do UDFA at best on.

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

So he has my two hopefuls for 28 or a trade up at 12 and13..In Wolf and Fleming.. F this copy-cat.

Are we sure he's not you? He likes your guys, follows ball a ton, likes to talk smack, and even has Rocco on his list. Hmm...

[playa-hater]

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

I wonder now about Memphis. Memphis famously loves the 30th pick and early 2nd -- where they got Bane in the 1st place. After the Orlando trade, Memphis has #16, #48, #56

Possible trade up partner for us? 16 + 48 for 28 + 32

We get a higher tier prospect and then catch a sliding prospect at 48??

I would be stoked with that trade. Then I would try Hauser and 48 to get late 1st or early 2nd. Or maybe Hauser and 28 for 16..

Damn, what does Brad have up his sleeve???

[djFan71]

I haven't seen Traore's game film at all. But I was listening to a draft podcast that said in Traore's games, his teammates are always mad at him. They say they go to the timeout and everyone is yelling at him for his decision making like he's Mario Chalmers or something.

Seems like traore is a highly volatile prospect. Some scouts see him as top 10, some say he's a 2nd rounder. He'd be a swing, I guess. Doesn't really seem like a Brad Stevens guy. I hope he's off the board before #28.

Dude has a 40+ AST%. What the hell are they mad about ? That he gets them too many easy shots

I dunno man, I'm just reporting what I heard, lol

It was these dudes at 13:00 ... and they rip traore to shreds so brace yourself, lol

Watch on YouTube

;t=1227s

Oh man, they do, lol. Yikes. No idea who the dudes are, but they are NOT fans.

[playa-hater]

For everyone else, this AVC guy is one I've been following and he's pretty good at breaking things down - shooting form, how prospect skills will/wont translate to NBA, etc. The big board video it self has some decent info, but he's also done breakdown videos on most of the top 35, which are more informative. Spoiler has his board, in case you wanna watch without knowing.

Spoiler:

1 Cooper Flagg
2 Dylan Harper
3 Ace Bailey
4 VJ Edgecombe
5 Khaman Maluach
6 Kasparas Jakucionis
7 Tre Johnson
8 Asa Newell
9 Carter Bryant
10 Kon Knueppel
11 Nolan Traore
12 Danny Wolf
13 Rasheer Fleming
14 Nique Clifford
15 Walter Clayton Jr
16 Jeremiah Fears
17 Derik Queen
18 Will Riley
19 Noah Penda
20 Cedric Coward
21 Hugo Gonzalez
22 Liam McNeeley
23 Ben Saraf
24 Johni Broome
25 Thomas Sorber
26 Egor Demin
27 Maxime Raynaud
28 Noa Essengue
29 Colin Murray-Boyles
30 John Tonje
31 Koby Brea
32 Grant Nelson
33 Jase Richardson
34 Dink Pate
35 Adou Thiero
36 Drake Powell
37 Joan Beringer
38 Rocco Zikarsky
39 Tyrese Proctor
40 Hansen Yang
41 Yanic Konan Niederhauser
42 Mark Sears
43 Ryan Kalkbrenner
44 Javon Small
45 Ryan Nembhard
46 Kam Jones
47 Hunter Sallis
48 Alex Toohey

He didn't do a full 60 - anyone not on here he would do UDFA at best on.

My Cs specific one is close-ish, but I think I'm something like this right now:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Walter Clayton Jr
Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Hugo Gonzalez
Maxime Raynaud
Carter Bryant
Johni Broome
Joan Beringer
Adou Thiero


A few are pretty unlikely, but there if we trade up / someone falls unexpectedly.

So he has my two hopefuls for 28 or a trade up at 12 and13..In Wolf and Fleming.. F this copy-cat.

Are we sure he's not you? He likes your guys, follows ball a ton, likes to talk smack, and even has Rocco on his list. Hmm...

It can't be me... According to some, I am just a couch Potato.

[djFan71]

Whoa. I just saw Beringer measurements: 6’11” barefoot, 234.8 lbs with a 7’4½” wingspan and a 9’3” standing reach.
He was like 6'9" barefoot last time... might have to move him up a bit on my list. New to ball, still a project and all, but physical tools are there, and he supposedly works hard, etc.

Of course, that all means he won't fall to us.

[phincsfan]

If Penda is Kuminga 2.0 are you ok with that at 28? Kerr played Kuminga right from the start, 70 games 17mpg. Side note, C’s should have won

I’d rather trade up for Clifford or Sorber.

I’d be ok with Penda at 32 and continue to develop him in Maine. I do like that they worked him out and probably gave him and his agent things to focus on for this season.

[djFan71]

If Penda is Kuminga 2.0 are you ok with that at 28? Kerr played Kuminga right from the start, 70 games 17mpg. Side note, C’s should have won

I’d rather trade up for Clifford or Sorber.

I’d be ok with Penda at 32 and continue to develop him in Maine. I do like that they worked him out and probably gave him and his agent things to focus on for this season.

I think he has much better feel for the game in passing and general processing than Kuminga who tends to rely on his physical tools. I’d be very happy if Pemda falls to 28.

[winsomme2]

The more i think about it, unless someone surprising drops, I think we should take Kalkbrenner. HIs size and skill combination is too much to pass on.

I could see him being a late riser and not even be there. He really is a big.

Watch on YouTube