2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 2

[Spates]

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[PoundTown]

Only on realgm raptors will you find people simping for a wing with a .193 free throw rate, ~1 DBPM and 2 offensive rebounds in 339 minutes on a college court vs one of the worst schedules in CBB through 11 games, thinking he's going to save this offensively anemic franchise just because he can create and nail tough jumpshots while being borderline useless in many other facets of the game.

It's the Smitch MO SHATS mentality. Basketball is more nuanced and requires more nuanced players to win at the highest level.

A Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Cam Thomas type wouldn’t be the end of the world. Ideally we want a guy who has better on-ball slashing ability in addition to perimeter shooting. If he can hit an efficient 20+ PPG, his upside boils down to how well he can defend.

Not too concerned about rebounding, more concerned about 1v1 D and rotational/help D. Another thing to note is that all these players were able to improve parts of their non-scoring game in college/NBA.

I see him as kind of a prime Michael redd which was an all star and liked to let it fly.

[Psubs]

Only on realgm raptors will you find people simping for a wing with a .193 free throw rate, ~1 DBPM and 2 offensive rebounds in 339 minutes on a college court vs one of the worst schedules in CBB through 11 games, thinking he's going to save this offensively anemic franchise just because he can create and nail tough jumpshots while being borderline useless in many other facets of the game.

It's the Smitch MO SHATS mentality. Basketball is more nuanced and requires more nuanced players to win at the highest level.

A Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Cam Thomas type wouldn’t be the end of the world. Ideally we want a guy who has better on-ball slashing ability in addition to perimeter shooting. If he can hit an efficient 20+ PPG, his upside boils down to how well he can defend.

Not too concerned about rebounding, more concerned about 1v1 D and rotational/help D. Another thing to note is that all these players were able to improve parts of their non-scoring game in college/NBA.

I see him as kind of a prime Michael redd which was an all star and liked to let it fly.

That's pretty good, with 3 years ahead in development and hopefully healthier.

[Ell Curry]

i mean it's a bad draft archetype

cam thomas is another trashcan he can turn into

It's not unrealistic to say that if we're picking #1, the best player on the board might be a Booker level player, and if we're picking #3, Tyler Herro (Ultimately has become the 2nd or 3rd best player in his draft with Zion's issue, after Morant and neck and neck with Garland since you can hide him easier on defence).

Booker was a much better player than Cam at the same age. Better passer, better defender, more complimentary to others.

I'd love to get a big playmeker to run the O or a 2-way player, so basically a Harper (or if they work out, Jakucionis or Demin) or Flagg (or Edgecombe if he can shoot, Bailey if he can somehow harness his gifts and shooting and turn them into something resembling a truly good basketball player, Maluach if he can develop an offensive game, which his FT% suggests isn't impossible). But if we can't, a 25 point a game scorer at 2 guard is a good draft result. We can always make a trade. Drafting a Booker type would allow us to do something like Barrett + Grady or Poeltl + Grady or Grady + 2026 1st and we move up in the draft, lots of options I think now that Grady has shown enough to think he will be a good 6th man or 4th best offensive player that you do have to hide on D on a good team.

[Ell Curry]

Only on realgm raptors will you find people simping for a wing with a .193 free throw rate, ~1 DBPM and 2 offensive rebounds in 339 minutes on a college court vs one of the worst schedules in CBB through 11 games, thinking he's going to save this offensively anemic franchise just because he can create and nail tough jumpshots while being borderline useless in many other facets of the game.

It's the Smitch MO SHATS mentality. Basketball is more nuanced and requires more nuanced players to win at the highest level.

A Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Cam Thomas type wouldn’t be the end of the world. Ideally we want a guy who has better on-ball slashing ability in addition to perimeter shooting. If he can hit an efficient 20+ PPG, his upside boils down to how well he can defend.

Not too concerned about rebounding, more concerned about 1v1 D and rotational/help D. Another thing to note is that all these players were able to improve parts of their non-scoring game in college/NBA.

I see him as kind of a prime Michael redd which was an all star and liked to let it fly.

I'm just old enough that I remember Redd in college and he was a really strong, built dude, and his shot developing was a huge surprise. Not sure Tre Johnson can bully guys like that or not get bullied on D.

The scary thing about Tre is if his shooting dips, there's not much else there. If he's a consistent 22-24 a game on say 48/41/85 splits (he's at 49/44/83) then yeah, he'll be a good pick unless he's outright bad on D.

But end of the day, it's BPA with the possible exception of a PF who can't shoot unless Scottie would somehow be down for playing center and we get some strong, switchable wings in the 2026 draft and that all seems a bit unlikely.

[LoveMyRaps]

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Poeltl replacement?

[LoveMyRaps]

Updated Mock Draft (12/30):

1. Flagg
2. Harper
3. Bailey
4. Edgecombe
5. Maluach
6. Traore
7. Demin
8. Johnson
9. Fears
10. Essengue


(+) Fears is the biggest riser.
I think by the end of January, he'll establish himself as a T5 prospect.

[mademan]

I get people scrutinizing Flagg, but there's almost no way he doesnt go 1. 6'9 forward with great defensive versatility in a draft without any other A+ prospect is an easy choice with the top pick. There's a reason a guy like Mikal Bridges got 5 1st round picks...defensive versatile wing with size is the most coveted archetype

[Jstock12]

I get people scrutinizing Flagg, but there's almost no way he doesnt go 1. 6'9 forward with great defensive versatility in a draft without any other A+ prospect is an easy choice with the top pick. There's a reason a guy like Mikal Bridges got 5 1st round picks...defensive versatile wing with size is the most coveted archetype

Agree pretty much, although I'd say a mobile defensive center who can space the floor is probably more coveted since it's probably the rarest one. There's truly only a handful of those guys currently in the NBA.

[Bruin]

I get people scrutinizing Flagg, but there's almost no way he doesnt go 1. 6'9 forward with great defensive versatility in a draft without any other A+ prospect is an easy choice with the top pick. There's a reason a guy like Mikal Bridges got 5 1st round picks...defensive versatile wing with size is the most coveted archetype

Agree pretty much, although I'd say a mobile defensive center who can space the floor is probably more coveted since it's probably the rarest one. There's truly only a handful of those guys currently in the NBA.

Boucher says hi

[Kreamy]

Dylan Harper with a triple double 16/11/10 with 4 mins to go.

Ace Bailey with 22/6.

[TNRaps4life]

Where are all the Ace Bailey haters. Kid is just 18 doing this. 24 pts 8 rbs.

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?s=19

[Kreamy]

Flagg, Harper and Bailey are the top 3 players in the draft.

[TNRaps4life]

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[Jstock12]

Harper with a nice 12:1 assist/tov ratio

[Mark_83]

Where are all the Ace Bailey haters. Kid is just 18 doing this. 24 pts 8 rbs.

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?s=19

Man, when this kid gets more comfortable with his handle, watch out.

[Badonkadonk]

Updated Mock Draft (12/30):

1. Flagg
2. Harper
3. Bailey
4. Edgecombe
5. Maluach
6. Traore
7. Demin
8. Johnson
9. Fears
10. Essengue


(+) Fears is the biggest riser.
I think by the end of January, he'll establish himself as a T5 prospect.

That's a solid top 8. I'm focused on that number for the following reasons:

- The average statistical outcomes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th overall are: 3.7, 3.9, 4.1, 4.4 (given equal luck 1-4 will slide down)
- 5th overall pick is the inflection point for needing strong luck for top 4
- 5th overall's most likely outcome is 5th and has the following risk: 6th = 19.6%, 7th = 26.7%, 8th = 8.7%, 9th = 0.6%
- Not saying the Raps finish 5th last, but I think the Wiz, Hornets, Nets, Blazers and Jazz are going to be shamelessly tanking. Bulls and Pistons are ahead now but are at risk of firesales as well (Lavine, Vuc, Tobias, Hardaway etc.)

If Maluach/Demin are available when the Raps pick, I'll be pretty happy. If they get lucky and move up, even better.

EDIT: got pick-odds from here - https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds

[Syd-TK3]

Yeah man I would gladly give Harper the keys and find some suitors for IQ

[RoteSchroder]

I get people scrutinizing Flagg, but there's almost no way he doesnt go 1. 6'9 forward with great defensive versatility in a draft without any other A+ prospect is an easy choice with the top pick. There's a reason a guy like Mikal Bridges got 5 1st round picks...defensive versatile wing with size is the most coveted archetype

I mean..there was a haul for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but no haul for Siakam. Mikal is listed at 6'7..probably closer to 6'6 without shoes. He's also not that versatile compared to someone like Siakam. You don't want Mikal playing point forward or guarding PF/C's for example.

Unless Cooper develops his scoring, his upside will be limited. He's not as talented offensively as someone like Ben Simmons at the same age, although Simmons basically showed zero improvement over the years.

[NinjaBro]

My boy Ace Bailey heating up!