2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[redslastlaugh]

Hal, you are really high on Walter Clayton Jr. He seems kinda like a Payton Pritchard type but most mocks I’ve seen have him in the 2nd round or going undrafted. I don’t know how he rates defensively, but on offense he seems tailor-made for Mazzulla ball.

My updated big board

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

Hal, you are really high on Walter Clayton Jr. He seems kinda like a Payton Pritchard type but most mocks I’ve seen have him in the 2nd round or going undrafted. I don’t know how he rates defensively, but on offense he seems tailor-made for Mazzulla ball.

My updated big board

Read on Twitter

Yeah he is very similar to Pritchard actually..the more I watch Clayton, the more I see it.

His defense is ok. Not great but not terrible.

I don't really pay much attention to other mocks..just make my own evaluations. Clayton is legit..he's been playing really well this season. The best player on possibly the best team in college basketball.

[165bows]

Was comparing stats for Wolf and Olynyk and couldn’t help but wonder if they had higher expectations for KO.

Dude was a beast in college. And on the front edge of the skllled five wave.

[djFan71]

My updated big board

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Not to nitpick everything, but you seem to have Byrd pretty low. He's actually one of my top guys for our range right now. What don't you like about him?

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

One thing Stevens needs to do is up his Draft Stock and find a contributor. The Celtics hasn't found a legitimate Draft contributor since PP and he was selected by Ainge.

[redslastlaugh]

In fairness to Brad, Sam Hauser was signed on draft night. But Sam is like 27 years old already.

It’d be nice if Brad drafts a couple of guys that really pan out. That could be Walsh, Scheierman, Anton Watson or whoever we get in the upcoming draft, but it would be nice, I’m not gonna lie to you and say it wouldn’t be nice…

One thing Stevens needs to do is up his Draft Stock and find a contributor. The Celtics hasn't found a legitimate Draft contributor since PP and he was selected by Ainge.

[Gant]

To put Brad Stevens draft record into context, so far he's drafted at pick numbers 45, 53, 54, and 30. Scheierman might yet pan out. Almost no one makes it from those other slots.

He also got Hauser post-draft.

[redslastlaugh]

Yea, not disagreeing with you, but he also traded out of 1st round picks #16, #25, #29, back from #25 (ending up at #39) and #14 in the 2021-24 drafts in the deals for Al, Derrick, Brogdon, and Jrue, so … good deals. But 2021, esp that #16 pick could have been Alperen Senguin, Jalen Johnson, Trey Murphy, etc … so Brad traded cheap swings at upside for more costly proven vets… and I would have done those deals as well too, but now into repeater tax we probably need to actually make some picks and have them pan out.

To put Brad Stevens draft record into context, so far he's drafted at pick numbers 45, 53, 54, and 30. Scheierman might yet pan out. Almost no one makes it from those other slots.

He also got Hauser post-draft.

[165bows]

To put Brad Stevens draft record into context, so far he's drafted at pick numbers 45, 53, 54, and 30. Scheierman might yet pan out. Almost no one makes it from those other slots.

He also got Hauser post-draft.

Jordan Walsh also at 38.

[165bows]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

The Celtics will draft whomever Givorny and Vecenie say they will, since they seem to have an in with Stevens/Zarens/Ainge. Hopefully at 28, they take an "elite role player" at the NBA level like Karaban, someone solid and an immediate contributor. With the 30th Pick, they can take a flier on an outstanding talent not fully developed, a Drifter, a Sleeper, more in the line of Boogie. Or trade down and do this...

[165bows]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

I guess Carter Bryant should be added to that list as well, seems like he’s still mocked in that late first early second round vicinity. Wouldn’t mind having another young athletic prospect the team could develop.

[phincsfan]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

Clayton's a Gator

[djFan71]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

I guess Carter Bryant should be added to that list as well, seems like he’s still mocked in that late first early second round vicinity. Wouldn’t mind having another young athletic prospect the team could develop.

Yeah, he's coming on strong. Maybe too strong, lol, zipping right past our pick. Feels like if he doesn't get a guarantee top 20 or so, he may just go back for another year. I have nothing to base that on, though.

[165bows]

Tiny bit interested in Walter Clayton PG from Kansas, more as a second rounder.

Guys that stick out for me right now are the Spanish guy, Karaban, Kalkbrenner, Bird and Nique Clifford, in terms of late first/early second. Don’t see many people talking about the Spanish guy but I like his production level for his age, size and shooting.

Clayton's a Gator

Ah damn autocorrect

[djFan71]

I've come around on Dany Wolf. He's so skilled, and quick/savvy enough that he'll survive on D. I hope we can come away with one of Wolf, Fleming, Broome, or Beringer.

[Hal14]

My updated big board

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Not to nitpick everything, but you seem to have Byrd pretty low. He's actually one of my top guys for our range right now. What don't you like about him?

I explain here..

Read on Twitter

And after I posted that, he was 2/12 FG and 1/9 from 3 in his last game..

[Hal14]

One guy who's really growing on me is Thomas Haugh. 6'9", PF..small ball 5 type. Build strong. Plays tough. Can shoot, put the ball on the floor a bit and attack closeouts. Can pass, run DHO, hit cutters. Defense is pretty good, but not great. But he's young..only like 20 yrs old..will get better. Seems like a hard worker. Plays hard. And at times has been the best player on a Gators team that's arguably the best team in college basketball.

We're always asking who's the horford replacement. It might be Haugh. He kind of reminds me of Dean Wade.

Would probably be a reach in the 1st round..but seems like he could be a solid pick in 2nd round or UDFA. But since he's only a sophomore, if he's not a projected 1st rounder, there's a good chance he'll return for another year of college ball..

But Florida is the #2 ranked team in the country..they could make a deep tourney run, and if Haugh continues playing as well as he has been, he could end up getting drafted this year..definitely a name to keep an eye on..

[djFan71]

My updated big board

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Not to nitpick everything, but you seem to have Byrd pretty low. He's actually one of my top guys for our range right now. What don't you like about him?

I explain here..

Read on Twitter

And after I posted that, he was 2/12 FG and 1/9 from 3 in his last game..

Thanks. Looks like I wasn't alone in that question. The driving/playmaking is kinda the swing skill. If he can develop those, he's a stud, but if not, meh. Can't say the numbers you spouted excite me, lol. I was hoping for the DWhiteLite. If he's "just" a 3D wing, it'll be tough to get time here for a few years. I do think he's a prospect more than a contributor right away - even on a lesser team. Might end up going back and being R1 next year. Risk is he pulls a Sallis and is in basically the same spot next year, but older.

[165bows]

I've come around on Dany Wolf. He's so skilled, and quick/savvy enough that he'll survive on D. I hope we can come away with one of Wolf, Fleming, Broome, or Beringer.

One thing for me on Wolf is he's really a worse scorer in college than Olynyk was. I mentioned awhile back, KO was an elite inside the arc scorer in the NCAA, whereas Wolf is a better rebounder with substantially worse scoring volume and efficiency.

So obviously this would be a back end of the round pick not a late lotto pick but I think it's fair to think of Wolf as a ball handler, passer banger big than a real shooter/scorer, even though he can shoot a tiny bit.