2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[phincsfan]

I see Utah may have a pick around 18 this year. I want someone who can develop to be a quality starter and not another potential good role player. I am starting to really like R Flemimg. We would have to trade up most likely. Would it be too much to consider our 2025 (28) and our 2026 1st for him?? Ainge loves his draft assets. and Boston still keeps their 31st pick this year. We have enough "stay ready" talents already. Adding 2 more is almost a waste.

Consolidate is the way to go.

Rasheer Fleming is such a desirable archetype for the modern NBA. High motor, 6-9, wingspan, quick trigger from three, physical… who knows if he’ll pan out, if he will have the “clutch gene” like a Robert Horry where he comes through with clutch shotmaking, but I think he’s probably gonna go too high after workouts/measurements. I predict he’ll rise up like a Taylor Hendricks and go like 10-14 …

I’d be game for consolidating a couple-three picks and Brad moving up and taking him… but I just don’t know if that is Brads MO

The problem with that is minutes. I see the thinking of finding that future piece who can be a starter, but since Fleming is a PF where does he fit to get heavy minutes in the near future? JT and JB will continue to get 35+ minutes for the next few seasons for sure. He's not big enough IMO to play a small 5 and unless Joe has a brand new scheme for next season it will probably be double big with new wrinkles. Now, if Luke moves on and Al retires than Joe has to adjust to the roster.

I personally think they should go the route of the backcourt in the draft. They've loaded up with wings for the bench.

If Philon or Fland are there with the C's pick I'd love to see what Joe can do with a Maxey type of player.

[Shak_Celts]

I don’t care if he sucks, I haven’t seen one minute of game/highlights, I have no idea when or if he will be drafted, but based off one interview I just saw I want us to find a way to bring Kowacie Reeves Jr to the Celtics! One of the best interviews by a young baller I have seen! Loved it.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Well I think if we are saying they are looking at guys that can shoot, then they have to be plus shooters in some way, not necessarily excellent. Fleming (and Richrdson also) will prob be long gone, and it is kind of a short list imo, those some of those guys would be good adds to it.

Starting to think the later parts of this draft are just average and they select a second rounder and punt the first into future assets.

As always I want both a higher pick (Fleming) and a whole bunch of darts for 2nds, lol.
I agree with the general point - someone like Thiero probably isn't going to be the guy (tho, maybe....). But I don't think it swings as far as it has to be a Karaban, Kam type. They're definitely in the mix, though.

I'm kinda leaning now to if Byrd or Fleming last to trade up range or all the way to 28, grab them. Otherwise, punt for a later 2nd and future 2nd.

I still like ORL and a KCP & 16 & 44 for Jrue & 28, 31 type swap as well. Figure out the ORL filler that needs to go elsewhere and what we'd need to add to make it happen. Probably Harris. Get Fleming and KCP.

I'm on Team Keep the Starters (or Rotation Guys) and just add a rookie.

I'd add Bird to the list also. Just seems like a lot of these guys are going earlier, Kam Jones, Jase Richardson, Fleming etc.

S2N has prob mentioned him three years ago or whatever but the Spanish guy Sergio de Larrea could be in the mix for me too. 6'5"+ ballhandler seems like a guy they would like.

I think de Larrea is kinda like Nunez last year. Fun player to watch that's going to have a long and productive career in Europe but not enough juice athletically to stress NBA defense with his scoring. Hugo Gonzalez is the Spanish player you want from this draft (doubtful he'll still be there when the Celtics pick though).

[165bows]

We want the Wiz to lose, the other bottom teams are gaining on the Wiz because the Wiz keep winning

C's still have one game vs. Wizards. With #2 seed almost locked up, I wonder if they throw a game away for a better draft position. Doesn't seem like it's something Joe and co. would do though.

Oh right. My head got spun a bit there.

OTOH 2nd round tiebreaker goes the opposite of record so there is that.

[165bows]

I see Utah may have a pick around 18 this year. I want someone who can develop to be a quality starter and not another potential good role player. I am starting to really like R Flemimg. We would have to trade up most likely. Would it be too much to consider our 2025 (28) and our 2026 1st for him?? Ainge loves his draft assets. and Boston still keeps their 31st pick this year. We have enough "stay ready" talents already. Adding 2 more is almost a waste.

Consolidate is the way to go.

Rasheer Fleming is such a desirable archetype for the modern NBA. High motor, 6-9, wingspan, quick trigger from three, physical… who knows if he’ll pan out, if he will have the “clutch gene” like a Robert Horry where he comes through with clutch shotmaking, but I think he’s probably gonna go too high after workouts/measurements. I predict he’ll rise up like a Taylor Hendricks and go like 10-14 …

I’d be game for consolidating a couple-three picks and Brad moving up and taking him… but I just don’t know if that is Brads MO

The problem with that is minutes. I see the thinking of finding that future piece who can be a starter, but since Fleming is a PF where does he fit to get heavy minutes in the near future? JT and JB will continue to get 35+ minutes for the next few seasons for sure. He's not big enough IMO to play a small 5 and unless Joe has a brand new scheme for next season it will probably be double big with new wrinkles. Now, if Luke moves on and Al retires than Joe has to adjust to the roster.

I personally think they should go the route of the backcourt in the draft. They've loaded up with wings for the bench.

If Philon or Fland are there with the C's pick I'd love to see what Joe can do with a Maxey type of player.

I do think it’s a worthwhile point positionally with Fleming. On the one hand it’s true Tatum is going to take the huge bulk of those PF minutes and someone else at that spot is going to either have to also be capable of playing the 3 or the 5.

Other hand they have been really looking for a guy around the margins that’s a big four. With the Watson pick, replaced him will the same archetype in Norris for the last two-way and then just dumped all their G league draft picks for another similar size guy so it’s something they are looking at.

[djFan71]

Rasheer Fleming is such a desirable archetype for the modern NBA. High motor, 6-9, wingspan, quick trigger from three, physical… who knows if he’ll pan out, if he will have the “clutch gene” like a Robert Horry where he comes through with clutch shotmaking, but I think he’s probably gonna go too high after workouts/measurements. I predict he’ll rise up like a Taylor Hendricks and go like 10-14 …

I’d be game for consolidating a couple-three picks and Brad moving up and taking him… but I just don’t know if that is Brads MO

The problem with that is minutes. I see the thinking of finding that future piece who can be a starter, but since Fleming is a PF where does he fit to get heavy minutes in the near future? JT and JB will continue to get 35+ minutes for the next few seasons for sure. He's not big enough IMO to play a small 5 and unless Joe has a brand new scheme for next season it will probably be double big with new wrinkles. Now, if Luke moves on and Al retires than Joe has to adjust to the roster.

I personally think they should go the route of the backcourt in the draft. They've loaded up with wings for the bench.

If Philon or Fland are there with the C's pick I'd love to see what Joe can do with a Maxey type of player.

I do think it’s a worthwhile point positionally with Fleming. On the one hand it’s true Tatum is going to take the huge bulk of those PF minutes and someone else at that spot is going to either have to also be capable of playing the 3 or the 5.

Other hand they have been really looking for a guy around the margins that’s a big four. With the Watson pick, replaced him will the same archetype in Norris for the last two-way and then just dumped all their G league draft picks for another similar size guy so it’s something they are looking at.

I see him as a 4 / 5 you can play in double bigs with anyone since he can shoot. As mentioned, Kornet may not be back, Al will play less minutes, etc. He’ll be battling Queta and Hauser mainly.

I think he’d be great at small ball 5. I would love to see him with JT, JB, White and…. James.

[playa-hater]

Xx

[playa-hater]

I think eventually Jrue may be the first starter to go...Fleming could start with Kp and Tatum up front while Brown slides to SG and White at pg..

That would be a very big versatile lineup i would love. And as mentioned by you guys, he can easily step in and play some small ball 5

[redslastlaugh]

Jaxson Robinson seems like a JAG, skinny shooter who doesn’t do too much else, doubt he gets drafted in either round. He’ll be on a two-way for somebody next year but I wouldn’t expect much.

Plus Fleming is from Camden, NJ so you know he's a tough kid.
NBAdraft.net has the Celtics taking Jaxson Robinson, who is out for the year with an injury. Any takes on him?

[165bows]

Jaxson Robinson seems like a JAG, skinny shooter who doesn’t do too much else, doubt he gets drafted in either round. He’ll be on a two-way for somebody next year but I wouldn’t expect much.

Plus Fleming is from Camden, NJ so you know he's a tough kid.
NBAdraft.net has the Celtics taking Jaxson Robinson, who is out for the year with an injury. Any takes on him?

I remember him from last year, seems like he’s got less attention draft wise this year than last.

He’s hurt too but I could see it being local guy Joson Sagnon if they go for a wing shooter. Better shooter iinm.

[ConstableGeneva]

Get her to Boston, Brad!

[Hal14]

Hugo Gonzalez is the Spanish player you want from this draft (doubtful he'll still be there when the Celtics pick though).

It's also doubtful that Brad (given the rumors that we are only interested in drafting someone who can shoot) would take Gonzalez, given he's shooting 24.5% from 3 (combined this season + FIBA U18 last summer + a couple FIBA games with Spain's national team over the past few weeks)

[snowman]

With the cap the way it is for Boston, I highly doubt we keep the 1st round pick. I could see something like our pick (currently the 28th) to the Hornets for one of their 2nd's (currently the 33rd and 34th) let's say the 34th and a future 2nd, so we don't have to pay a guaranteed four-year deal. This would give us the 31st and 34th to bring in players to work with plus a future 2nd in the bank. This is similar to what Brad did in 2023.
Then I would look closely at whom ever falls out of the first round or JT Toppin 6'9 PF from Texas Tech or Alex Condon 6'11 PF/C from Florida or Tyrese Proctor 6'5 PG from Duke.

[redslastlaugh]

Depending upon the ownership situation come the draft, I also wouldn’t be surprised if we packaged 28+31 and used them to entice a team to trade for Jrue and take on that contract. Or package them for a future 1st in 2026, 2027 or 28 with plans to use that pick as a carrot to entice another team to take Jrue or KP or whatever contract they decide to move to alleviate the tax penalty going forward.

With the cap the way it is for Boston, I highly doubt we keep the 1st round pick. I could see something like our pick (currently the 28th) to the Hornets for one of their 2nd's (currently the 33rd and 34th) let's say the 34th and a future 2nd, so we don't have to pay a guaranteed four-year deal. This would give us the 31st and 34th to bring in players to work with plus a future 2nd in the bank. This is similar to what Brad did in 2023.
Then I would look closely at whom ever falls out of the first round or JT Toppin 6'9 PF from Texas Tech or Alex Condon 6'11 PF/C from Florida or Tyrese Proctor 6'5 PG from Duke.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Hugo Gonzalez is the Spanish player you want from this draft (doubtful he'll still be there when the Celtics pick though).

It's also doubtful that Brad (given the rumors that we are only interested in drafting a shooter) would take Gonzalez, given he's shooting 24.5% from 3 (combined this season + FIBA U18 last summer + a couple FIBA games with Spain's national team over the past few weeks)

I prefer to judge people on what they actually do instead of what other people think they might do. Celtics picks since Stevens took over: Juhann Begarin, JD Davison, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Anton Watson. I see nothing in that track record that suggests he prioritizes shooting when it comes to drafting. He doesn't seem too bothered about picking a defense first wing though (which makes sense considering the wings already on the roster can handle a ton of offensive responsabilities on their own).

[Hal14]

A look at what Kam Jones is capable of, over the weekend vs a very good St John's team (coached by Rick Pitino).

Watch on YouTube

Hits a couple threes but more impressive was his ability to get downhill, pressure the rim and score at the rim at will.

Would not hate it if we drafted him. He's very skilled.

[Tatumfor2]

A look at what Kam Jones is capable of, over the weekend vs a very good St John's team (coached by Rick Pitino).

Watch on YouTube

Hits a couple threes but more impressive was his ability to get downhill, pressure the rim and score at the rim at will.

Would not hate it if we drafted him. He's very skilled.

What a game! Kam jones looked great on offense, but he looked completely lost on defense in those highlights. Hopefully, he has a long way to go just to be on JD's level on D. That being said, this is literally all I've ever seen of Jones, so I don't really know what I'm saying.

edit* I meant to say that, hopefully, he can improve on D.

[redslastlaugh]

Bennett Stirtz PG/SG out of Drake generating sleeper buzz.

Read on Twitter

Edit: pasted the Jonathan Givony tweet relating to Stirtz, but looks like Twitter still glitching.

[threrf23]

Bennett Stirtz PG/SG out of Drake generating sleeper buzz.

Read on Twitter

Edit: pasted the Jonathan Givony tweet relating to Stirtz, but looks like Twitter still glitching.

I think the issue is on Realgm's side now. Yesterday a script was glitching and it was preventing Realgm pages from loading if they included an embedded tweet. They removed the script I think, still have to put it back in place.

[redslastlaugh]

nbadraft.net strays far from consensus (reality?) on some of their takes, but they released a new mock update today. Here is picks 20-40:

20 LA Clippers Derik Queen
21 *Utah Thomas Sorber
22 Golden St. Will Riley
23 *Oklahoma Cty Baye Ndongo
24 Memphis Khaman Maluach
25 New York Jaland Lowe
26 *New Orleans Tahaad Pettiford
27 *Orlando Joson Sanon
28 Boston Labaron Philon
29 *Brooklyn Noah Penda
30 *Utah Collin Murray-Boyles
31 Washington Ben Saraf
32 *Minnesota Tyler Harris
33 *San Antonio Chaz Lanier
34 Charlotte Ryan Kalkbrenner
35 *Dallas Danny Wolf
36 *New York Joan Beringer
37 *Charlotte RJ Luis
38 San Antonio Amari Williams
39 *Sacramento Jaxson Robinson
40 *Washington Adou Thiero

Interesting that they have Baye Ndongo in the 20s and Kentucky center Amari Williams in the 30s. I’ve been wondering why Amari Williams isn’t in most top 60 big boards, this is the first time I’ve seen him top 40.

This draft, and a couple of other mock draft, have had Labaron Philon., a 177lb PG going to the Celtics. Philon does not seem like a Brad Stevens guard because Brad likes the Marcus/Jrue body types, but Philon on talent seems like an intriguing prospect.

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/?year-mock=2025