2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[arusinov]

And now - both recent themes:)

Read on Twitter

Wasserman about Ben Saraf which lead Israel to win over Spain (with 2 draft prospects of their own: Hugo
Gonzalez and Mario Saint-Supery) with maybe most dominant game performance in Euro U18 history:
40 points,8 boards,3 assists (2 turnovers),4 steals,1 block, 13-23 FG,4-8 3P,10-14 FT

Israel moves on to QF against France and another draft prospect Nolan Traore

[Pistol King]

Ben Saraf is one of those prospects most draft junkies never heard of until now but I wouldn't be surprised if his draft stock is going to massively rise up in the upcoming months when he plays for Ulm. I was sold on him this week when been watching him dominant both Hugo Gonzales and Nolan Traore at the FIBA U-18.

Great size for a PG (6'6", 1.99m), a plus wingspan, already has some advanced shot creation moves, body hesitations, change of speeds, a good first step, and his pull up J looks very good from an eye test. He also has good fundamentals to become a plus defender.

Two major areas the development program in Ulm has to improve in him to become a success story at the NBA would be bulking him up and keep improving his explosiveness. He'd need to learn to read the defense a bit faster. I'm buying his shooting and I'm buying his court vision. Can't see a reason these two tools wouldn't be translated.

[ConstableGeneva]

Drafting in the top 10 since 2013-2021:

ATL - Trae (5), Hunter (4), Reddish* (10), Okungwu (6)
BOS - Smart (6), Brown (3), Tatum (3)
CHI - WCJ (7), White (7), Williams* (4)
CHO - Vonleh* (9), Kaminsky* (9), Ball (2)
CLE - Wiggins (1), Sexton (8), Garland (5), Okoro* (5), Mobley (3)
DAL - DSJ* (9), Doncic (3)
DET - Johnson* (8), Hayes (7), Cunningham (1)
DEN - Mudiay* (7), Murray (7)
GSW - Wiseman* (2), Kuminga (7)
HOU - Green (2)
LAL - Randle (7), DAR (2), Ingram (2), Ball* (2)
MEM - JJJ (4), Ja (2), Z.Williams* (10)
MIA - Winslow* (10)
MIL - Parker* (2), Maker* (10)
MIN - Towns (1), Dunn* (5), Markkanen (7), Culver* (6), Edwards (1)
NOP - Hield (6), Williamson (1), Hayes* (8)
NYK - Porzingis (4), Ntilikina* (8), Knox* (9), Barrett (3), Toppin (8)
OKC - Giddey (6)
ORL - Gordon (4), Hezonja* (5), Isaac (6), Bamba* (6), Suggs (5), Wagner (8)
PHI - Embiid (3), Okafor* (3), Payton (10), Simmons (1), Fultz* (1)
PHX - Bender* (4), Jackson* (4), Ayton (1), Bridges (10), Smith (10)
SAC - Stauskas* (8), WCS* (6), Chriss* (7), Fox (5), Collins (10), Bagley* (2), Mitchell* (9)
TOR - Poeltl (9), Barnes (4)
UTA - Exum* (5)
WAS - Hachimura (9), Avdija (9)

No draft picks in top 10: SAS, BKN, IND, POR, LAC

Ainge was 3/3. Everyone other than Rockets, Celtics, and Raptors had a dud.

[Shak_Celts]

And now - both recent themes:)

Read on Twitter

Wasserman about Ben Saraf which lead Israel to win over Spain (with 2 draft prospects of their own: Hugo
Gonzalez and Mario Saint-Supery) with maybe most dominant game performance in Euro U18 history:
40 points,8 boards,3 assists (2 turnovers),4 steals,1 block, 13-23 FG,4-8 3P,10-14 FT

Israel moves on to QF against France and another draft prospect Nolan Traore

Not impressed, that looks like Yam. He’s taller so, STAR. I’m joking and he’s probably excellent, I wouldn’t know, but he does move like Yam.

[Shak_Celts]

Drafting in the top 10 since 2013-2021:

ATL - Trae (5), Hunter (4), Reddish* (10), Okungwu (6)
BOS - Smart (6), Brown (3), Tatum (3)
CHI - WCJ (7), White (7), Williams* (4)
CHO - Vonleh* (9), Kaminsky* (9), Ball (2)
CLE - Wiggins (1), Sexton (8), Garland (5), Okoro* (5), Mobley (3)
DAL - DSJ* (9), Doncic (3)
DET - Johnson* (8), Hayes (7), Cunningham (1)
DEN - Mudiay* (7), Murray (7)
GSW - Wiseman* (2), Kuminga (7)
HOU - Green (2)
LAL - Randle (7), DAR (2), Ingram (2), Ball* (2)
MEM - JJJ (4), Ja (2), Z.Williams* (10)
MIA - Winslow* (10)
MIL - Parker* (2), Maker* (10)
MIN - Towns (1), Dunn* (5), Markkanen (7), Culver* (6), Edwards (1)
NOP - Hield (6), Williamson (1), Hayes* (8)
NYK - Porzingis (4), Ntilikina* (8), Knox* (9), Barrett (3), Toppin (8)
OKC - Giddey (6)
ORL - Gordon (4), Hezonja* (5), Isaac (6), Bamba* (6), Suggs (5), Wagner (8)
PHI - Embiid (3), Okafor* (3), Payton (10), Simmons (1), Fultz* (1)
PHX - Bender* (4), Jackson* (4), Ayton (1), Bridges (10), Smith (10)
SAC - Stauskas* (8), WCS* (6), Chriss* (7), Fox (5), Collins (10), Bagley* (2), Mitchell* (9)
TOR - Poeltl (9), Barnes (4)
UTA - Exum* (5)
WAS - Hachimura (9), Avdija (9)

No draft picks in top 10: SAS, BKN, IND, POR, LAC

Ainge was 3/3. Everyone other than Rockets, Celtics, and Raptors had a dud.

Who was the Lakers dud? Ball? He played well when he wasn’t injured. Who knows how good he could have been.


I don’t know how Washington has been good(bad) enough to not have more than 2, and they were both at the tail end. It feels like OKC should have had more too. Hornets should be ashamed because they have been terrible-mediocre forever. They needed to tank better! Wait, who were they before? I’m confused, but it feels like that team should have more top 10. KL hasn’t been gone as long as it feels but Spurs should have 5, even though the cutoff was ‘21.

I give BKN a pass, they played bad enough for our picks. They didn’t make them but… thanks!

[ConstableGeneva]

Drafting in the top 10 since 2013-2021:

ATL - Trae (5), Hunter (4), Reddish* (10), Okungwu (6)
BOS - Smart (6), Brown (3), Tatum (3)
CHI - WCJ (7), White (7), Williams* (4)
CHO - Vonleh* (9), Kaminsky* (9), Ball (2)
CLE - Wiggins (1), Sexton (8), Garland (5), Okoro* (5), Mobley (3)
DAL - DSJ* (9), Doncic (3)
DET - Johnson* (8), Hayes (7), Cunningham (1)
DEN - Mudiay* (7), Murray (7)
GSW - Wiseman* (2), Kuminga (7)
HOU - Green (2)
LAL - Randle (7), DAR (2), Ingram (2), Ball* (2)
MEM - JJJ (4), Ja (2), Z.Williams* (10)
MIA - Winslow* (10)
MIL - Parker* (2), Maker* (10)
MIN - Towns (1), Dunn* (5), Markkanen (7), Culver* (6), Edwards (1)
NOP - Hield (6), Williamson (1), Hayes* (8)
NYK - Porzingis (4), Ntilikina* (8), Knox* (9), Barrett (3), Toppin (8)
OKC - Giddey (6)
ORL - Gordon (4), Hezonja* (5), Isaac (6), Bamba* (6), Suggs (5), Wagner (8)
PHI - Embiid (3), Okafor* (3), Payton (10), Simmons (1), Fultz* (1)
PHX - Bender* (4), Jackson* (4), Ayton (1), Bridges (10), Smith (10)
SAC - Stauskas* (8), WCS* (6), Chriss* (7), Fox (5), Collins (10), Bagley* (2), Mitchell* (9)
TOR - Poeltl (9), Barnes (4)
UTA - Exum* (5)
WAS - Hachimura (9), Avdija (9)

No draft picks in top 10: SAS, BKN, IND, POR, LAC

Ainge was 3/3. Everyone other than Rockets, Celtics, and Raptors had a dud.

Who was the Lakers dud? Ball? He played well when he wasn’t injured. Who knows how good he could have been.


I don’t know how Washington has been good(bad) enough to not have more than 2, and they were both at the tail end. It feels like OKC should have had more too. Hornets should be ashamed because they have been terrible-mediocre forever. They needed to tank better! Wait, who were they before? I’m confused, but it feels like that team should have more top 10. KL hasn’t been gone as long as it feels but Spurs should have 5, even though the cutoff was ‘21.

I give BKN a pass, they played bad enough for our picks. They didn’t make them but… thanks!

You're right. Lonzo, when healthy, was quite good. Lakers even used their youngins to acquire AD.

Wiz had Wall and Beal for a few years then Westbrook and Beal. Not bad enough to tank.

OKC had KD until 2016. Then had Westbrook paired with PG then CP? Not bad enough to tank.

Hornets had Kemba til we got him. Plus East is a mess so you have to be really bad to bottom out. Raps had that problem post-Lowry.

Some of them weirdly choose to be in purgatory.

[Shak_Celts]

Drafting in the top 10 since 2013-2021:

ATL - Trae (5), Hunter (4), Reddish* (10), Okungwu (6)
BOS - Smart (6), Brown (3), Tatum (3)
CHI - WCJ (7), White (7), Williams* (4)
CHO - Vonleh* (9), Kaminsky* (9), Ball (2)
CLE - Wiggins (1), Sexton (8), Garland (5), Okoro* (5), Mobley (3)
DAL - DSJ* (9), Doncic (3)
DET - Johnson* (8), Hayes (7), Cunningham (1)
DEN - Mudiay* (7), Murray (7)
GSW - Wiseman* (2), Kuminga (7)
HOU - Green (2)
LAL - Randle (7), DAR (2), Ingram (2), Ball* (2)
MEM - JJJ (4), Ja (2), Z.Williams* (10)
MIA - Winslow* (10)
MIL - Parker* (2), Maker* (10)
MIN - Towns (1), Dunn* (5), Markkanen (7), Culver* (6), Edwards (1)
NOP - Hield (6), Williamson (1), Hayes* (8)
NYK - Porzingis (4), Ntilikina* (8), Knox* (9), Barrett (3), Toppin (8)
OKC - Giddey (6)
ORL - Gordon (4), Hezonja* (5), Isaac (6), Bamba* (6), Suggs (5), Wagner (8)
PHI - Embiid (3), Okafor* (3), Payton (10), Simmons (1), Fultz* (1)
PHX - Bender* (4), Jackson* (4), Ayton (1), Bridges (10), Smith (10)
SAC - Stauskas* (8), WCS* (6), Chriss* (7), Fox (5), Collins (10), Bagley* (2), Mitchell* (9)
TOR - Poeltl (9), Barnes (4)
UTA - Exum* (5)
WAS - Hachimura (9), Avdija (9)

No draft picks in top 10: SAS, BKN, IND, POR, LAC

Ainge was 3/3. Everyone other than Rockets, Celtics, and Raptors had a dud.

Who was the Lakers dud? Ball? He played well when he wasn’t injured. Who knows how good he could have been.


I don’t know how Washington has been good(bad) enough to not have more than 2, and they were both at the tail end. It feels like OKC should have had more too. Hornets should be ashamed because they have been terrible-mediocre forever. They needed to tank better! Wait, who were they before? I’m confused, but it feels like that team should have more top 10. KL hasn’t been gone as long as it feels but Spurs should have 5, even though the cutoff was ‘21.

I give BKN a pass, they played bad enough for our picks. They didn’t make them but… thanks!

You're right. Lonzo, when healthy, was quite good. Lakers even used their youngins to acquire AD.

Wiz had Wall and Beal for a few years then Westbrook and Beal. Not bad enough to tank.

OKC had KD until 2016. Then had Westbrook paired with PG then CP? Not bad enough to tank.

Hornets had Kemba til we got him. Plus East is a mess so you have to be really bad to bottom out. Raps had that problem post-Lowry.

Some of them weirdly choose to be in purgatory.

Yeah, seems so long ago on all of that, wow. It’s crazy, they weren’t even winning much at all during those times either but they held out hope for too long.

[Hal14]

My updated big board for 2025 draft..

[redslastlaugh]

Noa Essengue seems like an interesting prospect that I haven’t heard much about, I’m gonna have to look at his YouTube.

And then there is a prospect called Dink Pate? Unfortunate name, sounds like duck pate but somehow worse, lol

My updated big board for 2025 draft..

[Hal14]

Yeah Essengue is interesting, for sure. He's kind of raw but very young. Doesn't turn 19 till late in 2025.

But he has played well vs his age group in European competitions. Has good size at 6'10". Not really a 5..more of a 4 but not a great shooter - he's so young though, he can improve there.

He just makes a lot of stuff happen on the court though..scores in transition, grabs boards, makes some nice passes, can pretty much defend all 5 positions. Can put the ball on the floor a bit.

Pate does have a strange name..but he's a 6'8" PG and has a year experience under his belt playing in the G league already, even though he's only 18.

Some good players in this class..it'll be fun this season to see how they develop over the upcoming season..

[redslastlaugh]

Succinct write ups on top 45 prospects for 2025

https://mavsdraft.substack.com/p/2025-way-too-early-big-board

… by Richard Stayman at MavsDraft, famous for having Anton Watson just out of the first round at #32 on his predraft player rankings.

[jfs1000d]

Ainge absolutely nailed the drafts.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[redslastlaugh]

From 2013-2018, he did.

2019 & 2020, after he scaled back bc of the heart attack, he didn’t exactly kill it, Romeo and Nesmith in the lottery, using the pick that was Desmond Bane to dump Enes Kanter to make space for Tristan Thompson. And a run on undersized guards with Carson Edwards, Tremont Waters and Yam Madar headlining…. So Danny somewhat went out with a whimper, but great run before that, fo sure!

Ainge absolutely nailed the drafts.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Succinct write ups on top 45 prospects for 2025

https://mavsdraft.substack.com/p/2025-way-too-early-big-board

… by Richard Stayman at MavsDraft, famous for having Anton Watson just out of the first round at #32 on his predraft player rankings.

A Traoré non believer. That's alright they'll figure out their mistake soon enough.

[Hal14]

Nolan is a baller. I've got him top 5.

[Hal14]

Joe and Brad trying to contain their excitement watching this lol

Watch on YouTube

;t=209s

He'll be a freshman this season at Creighton, where Scheierman played college ball..

[Dogen]

Noa Essengue seems like an interesting prospect that I haven’t heard much about, I’m gonna have to look at his YouTube.

And then there is a prospect called Dink Pate? Unfortunate name, sounds like duck pate but somehow worse, lol

My updated big board for 2025 draft..

There is also a prospect called Rakease Passmore. I'd draft him just for the lulz every time he has the ball and the other players are clapping their hands at him, "C'mon, Pass More! Pass More!"

[redslastlaugh]

lol, that’s funny about Passmore. It reminds me of the 2000 draft hearing of the prospect Jay Scrubb. Couldn’t have been easy for him growing up as a baller with the last name “Scrub” lol … All his coaches were probably like, “This Scrubb is our best player, WTF” hahah

Noa Essengue seems like an interesting prospect that I haven’t heard much about, I’m gonna have to look at his YouTube.

And then there is a prospect called Dink Pate? Unfortunate name, sounds like duck pate but somehow worse, lol

My updated big board for 2025 draft..

There is also a prospect called Rakease Passmore. I'd draft him just for the lulz every time he has the ball and the other players are clapping their hands at him, "C'mon, Pass More! Pass More!"

[Hal14]

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[shackles10]

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When he first came stateside almost everything was "Big Dunkah" for Flory. Such a great kid... really rooting for him to do well as he's also been adopted into my hometown and played for my old HS winning back to back Indiana Gatorade POTY honors.