2025 NBA Draft Prospects

[Rose2Boozer]

A deal that sends Vucevic and Duarte to the Warriors for Looney, Payton, Anderson, and a 2025 protected 1st would be amazing. I don't have confidence in AK being able to squeeze a first out of such a deal.

[Chi town]

A deal that sends Vucevic and Duarte to the Warriors for Looney, Payton, Anderson, and a 2025 protected 1st would be amazing. I don't have confidence in AK being able to squeeze a first out of such a deal.

Andersons deal sucks. 9M more for two more seasons beyond this one. Dubs won’t be using their 1st to get out of it.

[Jcool0]

At this point I think it might be a source of him being a little overrated. Go look at the college numbers for KAT, AD and Zion. Now THOSE are the stats of top-tier prospects.

Cooper's clearly a tier below. And I agree you do see it with the way he labors to make his impact. Those guys effortlessly dominated. Flagg seems like he has to fight for what he gets.

He's still a legit #1 prospect, but he's more attractive for his floor than ceiling.

Anthony Davis averaged 14.2/10.3/4.7 at Kentucky. KAT averaged 10.3/6.7/2.3 at Kentucky. Zion was 22.6/8.9/1.8 at Duke. Copper is currently 15.9/9/1.4. Maybe should of checked before making the statement.

I did check.

The following are the PER / BPM / Net Rating for each of these guys in their freshman year:

AD: 35 / 17.2 / +59
KAT: 31 / 14.3 / +48
Zion: 41 / 20.1 / +46
Flagg: 24 / 11.5 / +28

Those are the stats I was referring to.

Those 3 guys just clearly reached a higher level of statistical domination in college than Flagg has so far. They were all older than Flagg when they entered college, but I don't think you can just assume Flagg will be able to reach the level of influence they did with the passage of time since their production was absolutely elite.

In KATs first 20 games (Flaggs played 10) he had 7 where he had 10+ points and only one with more then 13. Guys going #1 are always going to have big skill that might show up in some advanced stat but that doesn't mean they were dominating teams. He had a 26 minute games in that stretch were he was 3-7 for 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 TO. Maybe you find that dominating... I don't. FWIW at that point Jahlil Okafor was the #1 guy.

[MrSparkle]

Harper with i think 18 2nd half points with a game winning 3 against a now 5-6 Seaton Hall team. Bailey and Harper went 0-4 from the line in the last minute of the game. Bailey was 1-8 on FTA. Harper and Bailey combined 8 TO. Both finished with over 20 points. Mixed bag.

Hey Rose also blew some FTs and lost a college chip.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

[DuckIII]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

Irrelevant, but I agree with you based on what I’ve seen so far.

[kodo]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

Tim Duncan wasn't that impressive his first year either, 9 ppg his first season in full starter minutes it wasn't because he didn't play much.

Definitely no Lebron, but nobody has had that much hype.

Maybe a better benchmark is a bit below Anthony Davis? AD was 14 ppg in college while being a defensive beast, which is why Flagg is considered a top prospect his defense.

[Jvaughn]

I hate drafting for need at the top of the draft, but if we burn a top 8 pick on another G, I'm gonna lose it. Coming up on almost 5 years without having rim protector is wild. If I had any faith it would be dealt with in FA, it would be different, but I have just as much faith in Bulls FO targeting one as I do in Ryan Poles focusing on the offensive line in the offseason.

[Chi town]

I hate drafting for need at the top of the draft, but if we burn a top 8 pick on another G, I'm gonna lose it. Coming up on almost 5 years without having rim protector is wild. If I had any faith it would be dealt with in FA, it would be different, but I have just as much faith in Bulls FO targeting one as I do in Ryan Poles focusing on the offensive line in the offseason.

I will gladly take Harper or KJ or Saraf.

Some solid C’s that run protect can be selected late first and early 2nd round.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

Tim Duncan wasn't that impressive his first year either, 9 ppg his first season in full starter minutes it wasn't because he didn't play much.

Definitely no Lebron, but nobody has had that much hype.

Maybe a better benchmark is a bit below Anthony Davis? AD was 14 ppg in college while being a defensive beast, which is why Flagg is considered a top prospect his defense.

Flagg and Kentucky AD aren’t comparable defensively. Two different species in terms of length and athleticism. Which isn’t a knock on Flagg; AD is the best defensive prospect to come out of college in the last 20+ years. The defensive comps are tough with him. Kirilenko is too aspirational. Pre-injuries Anunoby is a bit too modest. He probably belongs somewhere on that spectrum though. I see Flagg as more of a Swiss Army knife perimeter-first defender than an anchor a la Adebayo (the NBA player, not the prospect) or AD.

On offense, the comp that I hope crystallizes by season’s end is college Odom. Flagg isn’t there in terms of ball handling or overall fluidity, but that’s the impact (if not the style) you want out of him.

[Jcool0]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

FWIW Tim Duncan averaged 9.8 ppg & 9.6 rebounds as a freshman & LeBron averaged 20 ppg om 41% (29% from 3) shooting & his only year of a under 20 PER as a NBA rookie. Flagg is currently at 16 points, 9 rebounds and almost 4 assists and doesn't turn 18 for 6 more days. Last guys in college to truly dominate from day one as a freshman was Zion & I don't know to many others that weren't 75% potential/upside guys.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

Tim Duncan wasn't that impressive his first year either, 9 ppg his first season in full starter minutes it wasn't because he didn't play much.

Definitely no Lebron, but nobody has had that much hype.

Maybe a better benchmark is a bit below Anthony Davis? AD was 14 ppg in college while being a defensive beast, which is why Flagg is considered a top prospect his defense.

I watched a bunch of wake forest games his senior year . He was about as can't miss a prospect I ever seen . I was convinced he was a franchise player and he was . Flagg very well could be but I could see him becoming a very good starter also .

[Jcool0]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

Tim Duncan wasn't that impressive his first year either, 9 ppg his first season in full starter minutes it wasn't because he didn't play much.

Definitely no Lebron, but nobody has had that much hype.

Maybe a better benchmark is a bit below Anthony Davis? AD was 14 ppg in college while being a defensive beast, which is why Flagg is considered a top prospect his defense.

I watched a bunch of wake forest games his senior year . He was about as can't miss a prospect I ever seen . I was convinced he was a franchise player and he was . Flagg very well could be but I could see him becoming a very good starter also .

Everyone was watching Tim Duncan play he was the biggest name in college basketball at the time. Rick Patino took the Boston job because they had the best odds to get Duncan.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

FWIW Tim Duncan averaged 9.8 ppg & 9.6 rebounds as a freshman & LeBron averaged 20 ppg om 41% (29% from 3) shooting & his only year of a under 20 PER as a NBA rookie. Flagg is currently at 16 points, 9 rebounds and almost 4 assists and doesn't turn 18 for 6 more days. Last guys in college to truly dominate from day one as a freshman was Zion & I don't know to many others that weren't 75% potential/upside guys.

By implication you’re flattening non-Zion freshmen into a “did not dominate” class of prospects that has Flagg on even footing with a guy like KAT, who was a substantially better freshman. Efficiency matters. Flagg’s .505 TS% is on an island historically for #1 picks. While it’s early days, and as you’ve mentioned Flagg’s young - only 5 weeks younger than freshman Banchero it should be noted - his weaknesses are being overly caveated.

[MrSparkle]

Flag has handles, vision, NBA size, a quick first step, rebounding awareness, defensive IQ, strong footwork and hustle. Hard to imagine this guy not being a Paolo/Franz/Chet caliber all-star within 3 years.

I’m sure his initial play will be scrutinized. His shot and lateral movement against NBA athleticism will probably not look pretty, out the gate. But like Luka, Franz and other white guys have shown, strong fundamentals and frames translate. You don’t need jets for feet and amazing 3P% to develop.

Also, I’ll say Matas is a thinner, weaker, less polished prospect who in my eyes looks NBA solid- just playing for a coach who needs him to earn minutes.

Flag’s gonna be an all star unless he has chronic injuries. Unfortunately we’re pretty much out the running. What’s it looking like: 3%? Probably giving #11 to SAS. Can’t wait to watch the Embiid/George/Maxey/Flag show. We’re gonna have year 8 of the Lavine and friends 10-seed squad.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Hes very polished which is good his floor is ridiculously high whatever team gets him will have an NBA ready player there won't be any doghouse like a lot of this draft has had happen . That being said the gap between him and matas isn't as much as peeps think .

[Jcool0]

Finally watched a couple Flagg games . I don't see the fascination with him definitely not worth throwing away a whole season . If do backflips if we get him but he's not some Duncan lebron like prospect .

FWIW Tim Duncan averaged 9.8 ppg & 9.6 rebounds as a freshman & LeBron averaged 20 ppg om 41% (29% from 3) shooting & his only year of a under 20 PER as a NBA rookie. Flagg is currently at 16 points, 9 rebounds and almost 4 assists and doesn't turn 18 for 6 more days. Last guys in college to truly dominate from day one as a freshman was Zion & I don't know to many others that weren't 75% potential/upside guys.

By implication you’re flattening non-Zion freshmen into a “did not dominate” class of prospects that has Flagg on even footing with a guy like KAT, who was a substantially better freshman. Efficiency matters. Flagg’s .505 TS% is on an island historically for #1 picks. While it’s early days, and as you’ve mentioned Flagg’s young - only 5 weeks younger than freshman Banchero it should be noted - his weaknesses are being overly caveated.

How exactly do you come to that conclusion?

[drosestruts]

I hate drafting for need at the top of the draft, but if we burn a top 8 pick on another G, I'm gonna lose it. Coming up on almost 5 years without having rim protector is wild. If I had any faith it would be dealt with in FA, it would be different, but I have just as much faith in Bulls FO targeting one as I do in Ryan Poles focusing on the offensive line in the offseason.

Good news - Smith and Buzelis blocked 8 shots combined in the last game.

[MrSparkle]

You don’t need to look far for a solid serviceable C. Almost every draft has a solid starting big in the 10-30 range. The MLE can get you a pre Knicks Hartenstein. Bit more cap gets you a post Knick Hartenstein. Hell , a 2nd rounder got us Gafford.

However, AK put all his eggs into the Vuc basket… on path to sending an 11th pick to SAS for no palatable reason. Traded all his 2nds. Capped out until he dumps Zach… overpaid Pat… Hasn’t signed or traded for a low value steal. Look at how Orlando put together a Wendell, Mo Wagner and Goga rotation on the cheap. Their 3rd stringer routinely outplays Vuc at a fraction of cost.

Using a top-10 pick for a rim protector makes no sense, unless he can score buckets like Bam. This terrible FO needs to make a good move. So far their AI NBA2K engine is making gaffe after gaffe.

With Lonzo being more a feel-good rehab project (more importantly, expiring)… Coby and Ayo still being below average starters… Zach one foot out the door… we definitely need a star guard prospect. I’d gladly take a Harper, Egor or KJ if they’re the bpa. Of course we might be looking at Spurs’ draft choice, because of this FO’s stupid management.

[Chi town]

You don’t need to look far for a solid serviceable C. Almost every draft has a solid starting big in the 10-30 range. The MLE can get you a pre Knicks Hartenstein. Bit more cap gets you a post Knick Hartenstein. Hell , a 2nd rounder got us Gafford.

However, AK put all his eggs into the Vuc basket… on path to sending an 11th pick to SAS for no palatable reason. Traded all his 2nds. Capped out until he dumps Zach… overpaid Pat… Hasn’t signed or traded for a low value steal. Look at how Orlando put together a Wendell, Mo Wagner and Goga rotation on the cheap. Their 3rd stringer routinely outplays Vuc at a fraction of cost.

Using a top-10 pick for a rim protector makes no sense, unless he can score buckets like Bam. This terrible FO needs to make a good move. So far their AI NBA2K engine is making gaffe after gaffe.

With Lonzo being more a feel-good rehab project (more importantly, expiring)… Coby and Ayo still being below average starters… Zach one foot out the door… we definitely need a star guard prospect. I’d gladly take a Harper, Egor or KJ if they’re the bpa. Of course we might be looking at Spurs’ draft choice, because of this FO’s stupid management.

Yep. This draft has some solid C prospects into the 2nd round. No way I’m taking one top 20. That includes Malauch. Queen has no rim protection but he’s a really fun prospect looking like Jokic on offense.

Bulls need a lead guard that can be the engine for the offense. Buz seems to have 2nd option game ala Franz.

I think there is a lot of talent in this draft that could best outcome ceiling out to it. Harper, KJ, Demin, Saraf, and even Riley and Ace if they grow into their bodies and fully develop their dribble game. I think Flagg could even be that guy if given a strong traditional PG.