2025 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

[Jstock12]

Guess I need to watch more Duke games, because Knueppel being ahead of Demin is pretty shocking.

Hes basically there for his upside with his shooting...The way the league is going the shooting will raise your draft stock because every team in the NBA needs these kinds of players....But yeah i would not pick him if i had a high pick because his upside is a role player at best.

Agreed. But not gonna lie, I find Givony's ranking arguments a bit hypocritical/noncoherent at times. Knocking some prospects lower because of their recent shooting slumps, but just assuming that Knueppel is an elite shooter regardless of his current inefficient splits.

[PhilBlackson]

Raps are going to take a euro

Euro/Asian since Russia is technically both ie/ Egor Demin lol

[Dalek]

We have history with Baylor players - including two current Raptors in Davion and JaKobe. VJ Edgecombe would arguably be the highest profile guy we have drafted from Baylor, but also one with some concerns with shooting.

Also, with Ja'Kobe and Dick as projectable two-men and RJ Barrett still around, would we even consider VJ?

To me he is a big ticket type of prospect. I know the shooting numbers are nothing special 11/5/3 on 40/24/65 but he has some advanced stats that pop:

8.2 BPM
4.8 DBPM
7.1 BLK%
5.1 STL%
18 AST%
27 FTR

Also, he has 10 dunks in 8 games. His physicality is a weapon. Even if his offensive game stagnates for the first couple years, I think you are at least drafting a Matisse Thybulle or Lu Dort on defense. VJ is a high effort high motor athlete. More importantly you are getting a lob threat and potentially an electric scorer in our context. He is a lead handler at times for Baylor and he knows how to get to the rim and finish. This game against Tennessee highlights his talent:

Watch on YouTube

[S.W.A.N]

We have history with Baylor players - including two current Raptors in Davion and JaKobe. VJ Edgecombe would arguably be the highest profile guy we have drafted from Baylor, but also one with some concerns with shooting.

Also, with Ja'Kobe and Dick as projectable two-men and RJ Barrett still around, would we even consider VJ?

To me he is a big ticket type of prospect. I know the shooting numbers are nothing special 11/5/3 on 40/24/65 but he has some advanced stats that pop:

8.2 BPM
4.8 DBPM
7.1 BLK%
5.1 STL%
18 AST%
27 FTR

Also, he has 10 dunks in 8 games. His physicality is a weapon. Even if his offensive game stagnates for the first couple years, I think you are at least drafting a Matisse Thybulle or Lu Dort on defense. VJ is a high effort high motor athlete. More importantly you are getting a lob threat and potentially an electric scorer in our context. He is a lead handler at times for Baylor and he knows how to get to the rim and finish. This game against Tennessee highlights his talent:

Watch on YouTube

Really depends on his progression this season but his shooting and size are very much not ideal.
Right now I doubt he's a top 6 pick. Watch him start falling down the draft sites. He's probably a top 10 pick based just on his uber athleticism and upside.

I'd rather be looking at Demin, Jakucionis, johnson, Bailey, Harper, Flagg as a Raptors top 6 grouping.

After that VJ definitely should be in the mix with guys like Newell Essengue Maluach and Queen. Traore probably stays in mix as well

[Jerry Lucas]

Raps are going to take a euro

By euro do you mean playing in Europe, or the player is European?

[WuTang_CMB]

Raps are going to take a euro

By euro do you mean playing in Europe, or the player is European?

player is euro

[PhilBlackson]

We have history with Baylor players - including two current Raptors in Davion and JaKobe. VJ Edgecombe would arguably be the highest profile guy we have drafted from Baylor, but also one with some concerns with shooting.

Also, with Ja'Kobe and Dick as projectable two-men and RJ Barrett still around, would we even consider VJ?

To me he is a big ticket type of prospect. I know the shooting numbers are nothing special 11/5/3 on 40/24/65 but he has some advanced stats that pop:

8.2 BPM
4.8 DBPM
7.1 BLK%
5.1 STL%
18 AST%
27 FTR

Also, he has 10 dunks in 8 games. His physicality is a weapon. Even if his offensive game stagnates for the first couple years, I think you are at least drafting a Matisse Thybulle or Lu Dort on defense. VJ is a high effort high motor athlete. More importantly you are getting a lob threat and potentially an electric scorer in our context. He is a lead handler at times for Baylor and he knows how to get to the rim and finish. This game against Tennessee highlights his talent:

Watch on YouTube

Doesn't really make much sense when we just drafted two SGs in consecutive years to add a 3rd one (technically 4th) and I say that as a poster that still likes VJ as a prospect in the right situation. I HIGHLY doubt we'll take him as it's just a diminishing return if you have bunch of prospects all at the same position and this isn't even factoring RJ (who is actually a SG) into the conversation as well.

I think they are FAR more likely to look at players like Demin, Maluach, Queen at positions of need with arguably equal or greater upside and if they were to go with another SG, it's far more likely to be Tre Johnson as they're clearly prioritizing shooting around Scottie which ofc VJ is not good at.

[Jerry Lucas]

Raps are going to take a euro

By euro do you mean playing in Europe, or the player is European?

player is euro

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

[WuTang_CMB]

By euro do you mean playing in Europe, or the player is European?

player is euro

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

ya he loves jumbo guardss

[Jerry Lucas]

player is euro

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

ya he loves jumbo guardss

Admittedly I'm not even looking at non-college guys. Masai has always stayed within the safety of drafting NCAA prospects with FRPs (easiest prospect pool to project production forward to the pros) since the Bruno mistake.

But Essengue, Traore and Saraf are also kind of interesting.

[PhilBlackson]

By euro do you mean playing in Europe, or the player is European?

player is euro

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

My early guess (assuming Flagg, Harper and Bailey are off the board) that our FO will take one of Egor or Malauch.

I just flat out don't see them taking another guard when they just paid IQ and of course the SG is already overloaded and those guys have similar or better upside (Egor, Khaman) depending on how you value them. But if Egor is on the board, there's no way I'm taking Kasp over him.

Keep in mind it's not like Scottie had an amazing freshman season and I'd say Egor has already shown more potential at the same point than Scottie did. Really the only way I see them passing on Demin is if Masai happens to have a crush on Maluach but my gut says it's gonna be one of Bailey, Egor or Maluach and I could even be wrong about the order because I think Demin SCREAMS the type of player this FO would love to develop alongside Scottie as he's arguably a very similar prospect with better shooting potential...they really could potentially have their own "Paolo/Franz" type of big wings with better passing and better surrounding shooters to offset whatever scoring discrepancy there is. I'd be pretty surprised if they pass on that.

[Mark_83]

Another good game for Isaiah Evans. 14 points shooting 4-6 from three. He's very shot dependent right now, but he's making them at least. Sucks that he's only getting 11.8 minutes per game and being used primarily as a spot-up shooter because I think there's more to his game than that. Him, Riley, and Essengue are guys I like if we can add a mid-first at the deadline.

Watch on YouTube

;t=54s

[MessiahUjiri]

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

ya he loves jumbo guardss

Admittedly I'm not even looking at non-college guys. Masai has always stayed within the safety of drafting NCAA prospects with FRPs (easiest prospect pool to project production forward to the pros) since the Bruno mistake.

But Essengue, Traore and Saraf are also kind of interesting.

Was Ben Saraf in the IDF?

I really don’t want to see Israel Palestine politics in Raps games, but he would force the divisive convo.

People will def. ask whether he or his immediate family ever did military missions in Palestinian neigbourhoods and killed anyone.

[Syd-TK3]

Read on Twitter

Yeah if he gets a consistent 3 he's got superstar potential

[RoteSchroder]

player is euro

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

My early guess (assuming Flagg, Harper and Bailey are off the board) that our FO will take one of Egor or Malauch.

I just flat out don't see them taking another guard when they just paid IQ and of course the SG is already overloaded and those guys have similar or better upside (Egor, Khaman) depending on how you value them. But if Egor is on the board, there's no way I'm taking Kasp over him.

Keep in mind it's not like Scottie had an amazing freshman season and I'd say Egor has already shown more potential at the same point than Scottie did. Really the only way I see them passing on Demin is if Masai happens to have a crush on Maluach but my gut says it's gonna be one of Bailey, Egor or Maluach and I could even be wrong about the order because I think Demin SCREAMS the type of player this FO would love to develop alongside Scottie as he's arguably a very similar prospect with better shooting potential...they really could potentially have their own "Paolo/Franz" type of big wings with better passing and better surrounding shooters to offset whatever scoring discrepancy there is. I'd be pretty surprised if they pass on that.

Kasparas > Demin for me, I think Kasparas is more capable of high difficulty plays.

If Tre Johnson is available, he should be heavily in consideration too. We don’t have an elite perimeter on-ball scorer. In that scenario, you build around Tre and Scottie, all others are expendable at the right price.

In the 2nd round, grant101 mentioned Bogoljib Markovic, who I think is intriguing. Mobile 6’11 do-it-all wing. He has 1st round potential too. He needs some strength training, but he fits the Wagner archetype.

[PhilBlackson]

So far Kasparas and Demin are both playing like Masai-type lottery picks.

Spoiler:

My early guess (assuming Flagg, Harper and Bailey are off the board) that our FO will take one of Egor or Malauch.

I just flat out don't see them taking another guard when they just paid IQ and of course the SG is already overloaded and those guys have similar or better upside (Egor, Khaman) depending on how you value them. But if Egor is on the board, there's no way I'm taking Kasp over him.

Keep in mind it's not like Scottie had an amazing freshman season and I'd say Egor has already shown more potential at the same point than Scottie did. Really the only way I see them passing on Demin is if Masai happens to have a crush on Maluach but my gut says it's gonna be one of Bailey, Egor or Maluach and I could even be wrong about the order because I think Demin SCREAMS the type of player this FO would love to develop alongside Scottie as he's arguably a very similar prospect with better shooting potential...they really could potentially have their own "Paolo/Franz" type of big wings with better passing and better surrounding shooters to offset whatever scoring discrepancy there is. I'd be pretty surprised if they pass on that.

Kasparas > Demin for me, I think Kasparas is more capable of high difficulty plays.

If Tre Johnson is available, he should be heavily in consideration too. We don’t have an elite perimeter on-ball scorer. In that scenario, you build around Tre and Scottie, all others are expendable at the right price.

In the 2nd round, grant101 mentioned Bogoljib Markovic, who I think is intriguing. Mobile 6’11 do-it-all wing. He has 1st round potential too. He needs some strength training, but he fits the Wagner archetype.

I might've been the first one on Tre Train if you look back through this thread so you don't have to sell me on him lol my only slight gripe is you probably wouldn't be likely to just get another FRP back in return for either of Gradey or JaKobe buuut I'm still VERY much open to idea of drafting him because like you said, I've always liked his upside as a go to scorer. I actually compared him to a slightly taller/longer Booker type of potential which would obviously be a fantastic fit with Scottie AND while maybe GD (more likely has higher value/JW has better potential defensively) or JW prob won't net a FRP, they could be used in a package for a better player at a greater position of need so I'd still hop at the opportunity.

I just like Egor's long term upside (especially here) more than Kasparas' but obv to each his own.

Bogo would be great but as you said, if he's in the mold of Franz it's not likely he'll be there in the 2nd round when we pick. I think we'll far more likely have to look at one of the Ivisic bros, personally I prefer what I've seen from Tom (the younger of the two). He just looks more mobile and has a faster release on his jumper. If we do however end up taking one of Malauch or Queen, we could still potentially grab one of Adou, Mgbako or Catchings for the SF position.

[PhilBlackson]

Another good game for Isaiah Evans. 14 points shooting 4-6 from three. He's very shot dependent right now, but he's making them at least. Sucks that he's only getting 11.8 minutes per game and being used primarily as a spot-up shooter because I think there's more to his game than that. Him, Riley, and Essengue are guys I like if we can add a mid-first at the deadline.

Watch on YouTube

;t=54s

Personally I prefer Fears, Saraf and Riley in the mid-first the most, then Noah & Powell aren't bad either but Evans looks a bit too frail for my liking and his creation ability looks decent but not elite.

[Clutch0z24]

Read on Twitter

Yeah if he gets a consistent 3 he's got superstar potential

Hes the most talented player in the class and i think by the end of the year hes the number 1 pick....Flagg is good but Harper will be better.

[Syd-TK3]

Read on Twitter

Yeah if he gets a consistent 3 he's got superstar potential

Hes the most talented player in the class and i think by the end of the year hes the number 1 pick....Flagg is good but Harper will be better.

I think as long as Flagg doesn't fall off a cliff and disappoint he'll probably still go #1 just cause he been hyped so much to be.
But harper potential atleast as a #1 option is definitely better

[RoteSchroder]

Read on Twitter

Yeah if he gets a consistent 3 he's got superstar potential

Hes the most talented player in the class and i think by the end of the year hes the number 1 pick....Flagg is good but Harper will be better.

I think as long as Flagg doesn't fall off a cliff and disappoint he'll probably still go #1 just cause he been hyped so much to be.
But harper potential atleast as a #1 option is definitely better

I’m not a huge Flagg fan cause his athleticism doesn’t really pop out to me (first step for face ups or strength for post ups) and he doesn’t fit the Sengun mold where he’s got some elite footwork and post moves. His 3 point shooting form looks a bit weird too, not horrible, but weird. I do like Flagg’s defense though.

Harper also has a funky shot with a low release point, I wonder if it would affect his shooting consistency. Based on the NBA law of siblings, Harper should be really good though.