2025 Draft Thread

[tontoz]

I realize highlights are supposed to make someone look good, but I hope Tre Johnson takes the step forward to be the 4th guy in this draft. Or Edgecombe.

From what i have seen Tre is already seen as top 5 along with Demin. Edgecombe is falling. Fears rising.

[Frichuela]

Yeah I agree. It was supposed to reduce tanking but I don't think it's even done that.

But even that argument was ridiculous. What do you expect Milwaukee to do when Giannis leaves? What do you expect "nobody cares" cities like Charlotte, and Orlando to do when they lose their best guys? There are a handful of cities and organizations here with enough reputation and attractiveness to pull FA's, and everyone else is perpetually screwed unless they get lucky in the draft. FA's in the NBA tend to be very specific in the cities they are interested in. Nobody wants to live in Indiana, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Orlando etc. Their hope is landing their mega star in the draft. Either a player slipping, like Giannis, or Jokic, or winning the lottery is literally the only way for these cities to reliably compete. Spitting on "tanking" is what "have lot" d bags like Bill Simmons constantly whine about, but he's a fan of a team that has contended literally every single decade going back to the Beatles, and so his team never has to worry about attracting FA's, even with their racist, dog ---- fans. Same goes for LA fans, Chicago, NY etc. But fans elsewhere only have the lottery and blind luck in the draft to pray for, otherwise, they are as likely to win a title as Sunderland or AFC Wimbledon is to win the EPL. It's beyond ridiculous. They should actively ENCOURAGE tanking because its the only way to make these franchises viable. This isn't the NFL where any city can work, and FA's could go anywhere, any time, this is the NBA, where they play with their friends in cities they enjoy living in AND NOWHERE ELSE. Why on earth they'd choose this of all leagues, to ban tanking is utterly beyond me. It's insanely stupid.

Honestly DC shouldn't even be a part of this discussion, we're a tier below NYC/LA/MIA but still a tier 2 city IMO--we've just been ass for so long, we're literally the sorriest franchise in the NBA over the past 50 years no debate. Then again I'm pretty sure no one except me actually lives in DC on this board so I might as well be speaking Chaiwanese right now. Half you posers live in Ohio for some reason.

Absolutely agree that DC should be a tier 2 city at the minimum. There are over 6 million people in the DMV (plus another 3 million in the Baltimore area).

And for the record, I live also in the district, so you are not alone amongst our Ohio Wiz friends...

As for hope, this front office has taken a clear direction. We are gonna suck big time this year and next. I am sure Dawkins is 100% focused on not conveying our 2026 top-8 protected 1st rounder, which means aiming for a bottom 4 record in 2025-26.

Hopefully we select our star in this draft (Flagg or Harper please) and/or next (‎AJ Dybantsa, Boozer).

[penbeast0]

Flagg looked really good vs. Auburn. I watched most of that game and the only thing that I got out of that is that the Wizards should lose more games.

And apparently they are listening to you.

There's a lot of chatter on social media about how bad it is, which confirms to me that most fans are absolutely fine with a 40-45 win season and a 1st round exit. Ted had it right. That's why Ernie stayed around so long, he had no reason to change things b/c fans were content with the kind of team we had. This is what a true tank and rebuild looks like.

I'm a lot happier this year than I've been for . . . decades. Even though Sarr isn't close to what you would expect from a #2 pick, at least we are generally going the right direction in my opinion.

[The Consiglieri]

Honestly DC shouldn't even be a part of this discussion, we're a tier below NYC/LA/MIA but still a tier 2 city IMO--we've just been ass for so long, we're literally the sorriest franchise in the NBA over the past 50 years no debate. Then again I'm pretty sure no one except me actually lives in DC on this board so I might as well be speaking Chaiwanese right now. Half you posers live in Ohio for some reason.

I don't have DC in the discussion. I think I was pretty clear that the teams that are hopeless, period, in cities that domestic lottery studs would really care about avoiding beyond a rookie contract are cities/states like Milwaukee, Indiana, Charlotte, Orlando etc. DC's been a sleeping giant for the past 40+ years, but still its been asleep. We all know, when the teams actually give a ----, build something worth while, the fans come in droves, and its a diverse city that's attractive to FA's in that scenario. For places like Milwaukee, or Indianapolis, I don't know ANYBODY, who wants to move there, period, let alone athletes looking for fun, diverse cities. So DC? If it ever gets its sporting ---- together in Basketball, it will wake up, just like it has in pro football, all it took was 15 months and Dan Snyder launched out of town via Trebuchet. Would be similar with the Wizards (wouldn't hurt if both teams changed their names too: Wizards has always been dumb as hell, Commanders even worse).

[The Consiglieri]

Flagg looked really good vs. Auburn. I watched most of that game and the only thing that I got out of that is that the Wizards should lose more games.

And apparently they are listening to you.

There's a lot of chatter on social media about how bad it is, which confirms to me that most fans are absolutely fine with a 40-45 win season and a 1st round exit. Ted had it right. That's why Ernie stayed around so long, he had no reason to change things b/c fans were content with the kind of team we had. This is what a true tank and rebuild looks like.

If true, like a lot of them, fans are the stupidest people on earth. Even House, brought on Bill Simmons, has always had the dumbest and most short sighted of takes, just kind of astonishing to me (he wanted Beal around all the way into '22, then suddenly was angry that we got annihilated in the trade, and also signed him to the albatross deal: ummm, DUH, that's why smart people wanted him dealt after Wall fell out of the shower, the writing was on the wall INSTANTLY). The only question was a matter of when to deal him to maximize the value of the capital brought in (earlier rather than later, but for what rookie class of picks?).

If fans are actually upset now? It's just mind bogglingly stupid. The only people who I can understand being upset at this point are people who fear they are too old to witness what may happen if this works in '27-'35 and beyond, but other than them (70+ years old), anyone and everyone should be happy as hell. The team literally spent the last 40 years being satisfied fighting for a ----ing 8 seed every --- damned season. It was unbelievably moronic. If there's ever been a sport so fundamentally connected to: You are either winning titles/contending for said titles, mid-rebuild after tanking, or fully tanking, it's this one. This is a sport that requires tanking to have any chance whatsoever unless your NY, LA, or Miami basically. To try to fight for 42-40 seasons? As we have done since 1979? It is fundamentally ownership and GM malpractice, and not coincidentally we've had two of the worst owners, and a whose who of the absolute bottom of the barrell worst GM's in these era's.

[The Consiglieri]

And apparently they are listening to you.

There's a lot of chatter on social media about how bad it is, which confirms to me that most fans are absolutely fine with a 40-45 win season and a 1st round exit. Ted had it right. That's why Ernie stayed around so long, he had no reason to change things b/c fans were content with the kind of team we had. This is what a true tank and rebuild looks like.

I'm a lot happier this year than I've been for . . . decades. Even though Sarr isn't close to what you would expect from a #2 pick, at least we are generally going the right direction in my opinion.

Same, fans who do not understand we are trying to land our own Duncan, Wemby, Ant, Morant (but with impulse control), Doncic etc, not trying to win 24-42 games for yet another 40 years on a hamster wheel of sub-mediocrity are clueless morons who should be ignored, full stop. It's unbelievable to me that after 40+ years of this horse ----, there are still fans who do not get this? Do they not see what just happened for the Redskins/WFT/Commanders by simply tanking one freaking season? A new owner and one horrible season got them Jayden Daniels, one of the best GM's in the league, and a good coach. Yes, us Redskins fans have suffered for 30 years, not one season, but they literally are seeing what tanking in the right year (an elite QB Prospect year, Maye was my guy) can do even for a football team, and they don't get what it could do for the Wizards? Seriously. Just utterly hopeless idiots. Every single loss is the best of news, not just good news, every single one locks us closer and closer to a top 5 pick in a 4-5 stud draft, and gives us a better and better shot at the cream of it too. How on earth do people still not understand this?!?! I want the Wiz to do this for two more seasons after this one too, and they are already whining? Its preposterous. Did they actually enjoy 1980-2023? I don't recall ANYONE enjoying any of that, with the possible exception of 96-97, the pregungate years, and a year or too of healthy Wall/Beal, that's like 3 or 4 seasons out of the past 40. PASS. Give me the Tank.

[tontoz]

Yeah this is a good year to tank with such a strong top 5. I am not interested in more years of 'all in for the play in'.

[Rafael122]

There's a lot of chatter on social media about how bad it is, which confirms to me that most fans are absolutely fine with a 40-45 win season and a 1st round exit. Ted had it right. That's why Ernie stayed around so long, he had no reason to change things b/c fans were content with the kind of team we had. This is what a true tank and rebuild looks like.

I'm a lot happier this year than I've been for . . . decades. Even though Sarr isn't close to what you would expect from a #2 pick, at least we are generally going the right direction in my opinion.

Same, fans who do not understand we are trying to land our own Duncan, Wemby, Ant, Morant (but with impulse control), Doncic etc, not trying to win 24-42 games for yet another 40 years on a hamster wheel of sub-mediocrity are clueless morons who should be ignored, full stop. It's unbelievable to me that after 40+ years of this horse ----, there are still fans who do not get this? Do they not see what just happened for the Redskins/WFT/Commanders by simply tanking one freaking season? A new owner and one horrible season got them Jayden Daniels, one of the best GM's in the league, and a good coach. Yes, us Redskins fans have suffered for 30 years, not one season, but they literally are seeing what tanking in the right year (an elite QB Prospect year, Maye was my guy) can do even for a football team, and they don't get what it could do for the Wizards? Seriously. Just utterly hopeless idiots. Every single loss is the best of news, not just good news, every single one locks us closer and closer to a top 5 pick in a 4-5 stud draft, and gives us a better and better shot at the cream of it too. How on earth do people still not understand this?!?! I want the Wiz to do this for two more seasons after this one too, and they are already whining? Its preposterous. Did they actually enjoy 1980-2023? I don't recall ANYONE enjoying any of that, with the possible exception of 96-97, the pregungate years, and a year or too of healthy Wall/Beal, that's like 3 or 4 seasons out of the past 40. PASS. Give me the Tank.

What's unfortunate about the Wemby thing is that we were a ping pong away lol in the last 2 drafts. We're due.

[The Consiglieri]

I know. It's just too bad math doesn't work like that . Maybe karma will but I doubt it (fingers crossed anyway).

[tontoz]

I realize highlights are supposed to make someone look good, but I hope Tre Johnson takes the step forward to be the 4th guy in this draft. Or Edgecombe.

Tre was well known by draft junkies before the season, when this vid was made. They told a cool story about Tre from the 10th grade.

Watch on YouTube

[DCZards]

I don't have DC in the discussion. I think I was pretty clear that the teams that are hopeless, period, in cities that domestic lottery studs would really care about avoiding beyond a rookie contract are cities/states like Milwaukee, Indiana, Charlotte, Orlando etc. DC's been a sleeping giant for the past 40+ years, but still its been asleep. We all know, when the teams actually give a ----, build something worth while, the fans come in droves, and its a diverse city that's attractive to FA's in that scenario. For places like Milwaukee, or Indianapolis, I don't know ANYBODY, who wants to move there, period, let alone athletes looking for fun, diverse cities. So DC? If it ever gets its sporting ---- together in Basketball, it will wake up, just like it has in pro football, all it took was 15 months and Dan Snyder launched out of town via Trebuchet. Would be similar with the Wizards (wouldn't hurt if both teams changed their names too: Wizards has always been dumb as hell, Commanders even worse).

Totally agree with this. I've been saying for years that at it's core DC is a "basketball town." I know that sounds like blasphemy to football fans but take my word for it. (Plus half of Commanders fans probably live an hour or more from DC.)

Build a good, competitive Zards team and bball the fans will turn out big time. Just like they do when U of Maryland and Georgetown have good teams.

As you point out, it also helps that DC is a diverse, international city with a lively, upscale social life....as well as a major media market. Build it and the FAs will come.

I too live in DC, BTW.

[tontoz]

Rutgers playing Sat at noon on fs1.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

What's the last team that built into a contender by adding an 18-year-old?

How many years did it take?

[Jstock12]

Read on Twitter

[tontoz]

OSU was trapping Harper on the pnr. Even when there wasn't a pick they would still double him most of the time when he tried to drive. He definitely looked frustrated. In the second half he started shooting 3s, going 3-7 for the game. If he starts making 3s that would really solidify him as the best player.

Ace struggled in the first half, missed a couple of layups. He got his middie going in the 2nd half. I think the college game works against him more than the other top guys. He can't bully his way to the rim like Flagg and he can't navigate a crowded lane like Harper which leads to a lot of midrange shots. I think the extra spacing in the NBA will make a big difference with him.

Ace is a good defender. He has a good motor to go along with his length and speed. That will be a big help rotating and chasing guys off the line.

Their supporting cast isn't very good which I guess should be expected.

[tontoz]

Count me on the Tre Johnson bandwagon. Just
watched Texas vs UConn. Slow start for Tre. UConn was dominant early. Tre only had 6 at the half.

Second half he opened up his bag and it was quite a show. His handles/shooting are NBA caliber right now and he has good size. He dropped 18 in the 2nd half and also had some nice assists. Very impressive.

[tontoz]

Watch on YouTube

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Tre Johnson transferred as a high school junior after being Texaa Mr. Basketball. He went to an academy in Branson, Missouri.

Before selecting him, look into that.

[Frichuela]

Beast! Big fan.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=GWeuz7j_sc5cBYZzdD92Tw

[tontoz]

Beast! Big fan.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=GWeuz7j_sc5cBYZzdD92Tw

11 ppg with a 47% TS is elite now?