2025 Draft Prospect Thread

[MasterIchiro]

We are such a young team though suffering growing pains and prone to mental lapses.

We need someone with polish and Jaku plays heady basketball. The NBA game will slow down for him early in his career where you'd almost prefer the ball in his hands over someone like Nick Smith Jr. who will be in year 3, and he's shown steady improvement making better decisions with the ball in his hands.

For a highly talented, mistake-prone team, give me IQ. This is what I loved about Castle. He starts for the Spurs.

[MasterIchiro]

Chris Paul also starts for the Spurs and he's pretty much one of the smartest players those alive today will ever watch play the game.

Give me Jaku over Bailey 100/100. Bailey also offers zero playmaking. That is irredeemable.

Note: Demin plunged from 4 to 10 on Tankathon. He's anchored to his poor shooting. Wearing an anvil necklace. Jaku is a prolific shooter.

[EmpireFalls]

I refused to think about other prospects now that Miller is injured. We are going to lose a lot. Dylan Harper or Cooper Flagg, those are our only choices.

[MasterIchiro]

I refused to think about other prospects now that Miller is injured. We are going to lose a lot. Dylan Harper or Cooper Flagg, those are our only choices.

I think everyone who thought Miller was our next most important player after LaMelo is quickly going to find out that it was Mark. We are going to win more games with LaMelo & Mark than we did with LaMelo & Miller whenever Mark was out.

Add in that Miller's core value was tied up in his spacing mostly and making threes. He wasn't ever a plus rebounder nor plus ballhandler nor plus passer.

So insert NSJ into the starting lineup like you did last night, and his production and fit providing that missing secondary playmaking and passing should compel the front office to favor the playmakers who can shoot, and target those prospects across every talent tier of the draft.

We need Harper and Jakucionis more than we know. But hopefully we learn. Even consider Demin if we fall in the lottery and that dude comes with major warts.

No more drafting players like Salaün who do not have the skills to facilitate as connectors, required to shift a defense and improve the ball movement, flow, timing of the shooters, opening lanes for finishers.

NSJ (small sample warning) is more accurate from 3 than Miller both on the season and for their 2-year careers. Let's develop this dude and capitalize on his potential as a pure scorer.

[JustBuzzin]

At this point if we don't get Flagg or Harper I say go all in on whoever is available in the off-season aka Booker/Fox or whoever becomes available.

[MasterIchiro]

At this point if we don't get Flagg or Harper I say go all in on whoever is available in the off-season aka Booker/Fox or whoever becomes available.

I think the Suns will be stubborn. And the Kings have new life.

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

4 players. Must walk away from the draft with one of them.

[JustBuzzin]

At this point if we don't get Flagg or Harper I say go all in on whoever is available in the off-season aka Booker/Fox or whoever becomes available.

I think the Suns will be stubborn. And the Kings have new life.

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

4 players. Must walk away from the draft with one of them.

Lauri is not a needle mover imo.

If we trading for a star I want a guy who can handle and help Melo facilitate the offense.

Jaku looks good, but I'm not sold he will be a star. I think he's more of a role player. Don't get me wrong he fits perfectly for what I want. I just don't see star like Flagg or Harper.

Do you think Jaku can become a star at the next level?

[Braggins]

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

Id try to trade for Markkanen regardless. My fully idealized roster for next season would look something like this...

starters: LaMelo ~ Miller ~ Flagg ~ Lauri ~ Mark
bench5: Mann ~ Lonzo/NAW ~ Martin ~ Grant ~ ?
depth: NSJr ~ Salaun ~ Diabate

I think Ainge will just want to keep Lauri unless someone overpays, so I don't necessarily see it happen, but hes still my favorite target of guys that I think could conceivably be available.

[MasterIchiro]

At this point if we don't get Flagg or Harper I say go all in on whoever is available in the off-season aka Booker/Fox or whoever becomes available.

I think the Suns will be stubborn. And the Kings have new life.

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

4 players. Must walk away from the draft with one of them.

Lauri is not a needle mover imo.

If we trading for a star I want a guy who can handle and help Melo facilitate the offense.

Jaku looks good, but I'm not sold he will be a star. I think he's more of a role player. Don't get me wrong he fits perfectly for what I want. I just don't see star like Flagg or Harper.

Do you think Jaku can become a star at the next level?

He reminds me of Goran Dragic.

[MasterIchiro]

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

Id try to trade for Markkanen regardless. My fully idealized roster for next season would look something like this...

starters: LaMelo ~ Miller ~ Flagg ~ Lauri ~ Mark
bench5: Mann ~ Lonzo/NAW ~ Martin ~ Grant ~ ?
depth: NSJr ~ Salaun ~ Diabate

I think Ainge will just want to keep Lauri unless someone overpays, so I don't necessarily see it happen, but hes still my favorite target of guys that I think could conceivably be available.

I'd trade for Lauri regardless as well, but if we are not in position to draft Harper, Flagg or Jakucionis, I would trade for Lauri on draft night, and leverage the value of pick 5 or 6 for example, which buffers the cost of the other pieces included. If pick 6 or 7 is the centerpiece for Lauri, we probably get to keep all our own firsts, and only have to include the Heat 1st and Mavs 1st. And the lottery pick could even buffer the value surrendered in outgoing contracts. For example, Green + Grant outgoing in place of Miles.

Keeping Miles gives us LaMelo - Miller - Miles - Lauri - Mark.

That's not possible if we don't lead with a lottery pick as the prize for Ainge. And Ainge will demand a surcharge from the team trying to motivate him to move Lauri so early in the offseason.

[HornetJail]

Honestly, we should be looking at Flagg, Harper, Jakucionis or Lauri Markkanen as our options.

Id try to trade for Markkanen regardless. My fully idealized roster for next season would look something like this...

starters: LaMelo ~ Miller ~ Flagg ~ Lauri ~ Mark
bench5: Mann ~ Lonzo/NAW ~ Martin ~ Grant ~ ?
depth: NSJr ~ Salaun ~ Diabate

I think Ainge will just want to keep Lauri unless someone overpays, so I don't necessarily see it happen, but hes still my favorite target of guys that I think could conceivably be available.

I'd trade for Lauri regardless as well, but if we are not in position to draft Harper, Flagg or Jakucionis, I would trade for Lauri on draft night, and leverage the value of pick 5 or 6 for example, which buffers the cost of the other pieces included. If pick 6 or 7 is the centerpiece for Lauri, we probably get to keep all our own firsts, and only have to include the Heat 1st and Mavs 1st. And the lottery pick could even buffer the value surrendered in outgoing contracts. For example, Green + Grant outgoing in place of Miles.

Keeping Miles gives us LaMelo - Miller - Miles - Lauri - Mark.

That's not possible if we don't lead with a lottery pick as the prize for Ainge. And Ainge will demand a surcharge from the team trying to motivate him to move Lauri so early in the offseason.

Agreed that next offseason is the time to do *something*, whether or not our tank yields a top 3 pick. There's no way you can waste a 6th year of LaMelo's career trying to just tank for the next prospect. At some point, you have to stop playing scared and go for it. Green needs to be replaced as a starter, and we have to build a bench that compensates for the injury prone nature of two of our cornerstones.

Lauri is an attractive but expensive option (both in terms of salary and trying to reach Ainge's lofty asking prices). If we luck into a top 3-4 pick there's no way i'm trading that for him, but what's the price if that pick is off the table? Bridges, Salaun, Green, (valuing all three of those just above neutral) and our 2026, 2028, and DAL 2027 is probably as far I'm willing to go, and I'm guessing not enough for Ainge. If Lauri were a more reliable player, I'd probably go further but he's not. He's a near-perfect fit that is fringe all-star level for 50-65 games a year.

I'd be willing to go all-in on a more productive and reliable player but i'm not sure that player is on the market.

[HornetJail]

I'll say that every combination of

Melo/Miller/Flagg/Lauri/Mark
Melo/Miller/Bailey/Lauri/Mark
Melo/Harper/Miller/Lauri/Mark
Melo/Jakuc/Miller/Lauri/Mark
Melo/Miller/Bridges/Lauri/Mark (assume we'd keep Bridges in a trade involving our 1st

sounds great in theory

[JustBuzzin]

Lauri is not a needle mover. I'm sorry but if our big trade is Lauri this team isn't going anywhere. At least trade for a star who is actually known for getting a team to the playoffs. Lauri been the best player for a non playoff team.

Adding him with guys who already doesn't know how to win would leave us as a middle of the pack team. The big trade has to be for a difference maker.


Lauri is more of a fit piece not a difference maker imo.

[MasterIchiro]

Lauri is not a needle mover. I'm sorry but if our big trade is Lauri this team isn't going anywhere. At least trade for a star who is actually known for getting a team to the playoffs. Lauri been the best player for a non playoff team.

Adding him with guys who already doesn't know how to win would leave us as a middle of the pack team. The big trade has to be for a difference maker.


Lauri is more of a fit piece not a difference maker imo.

The availability of players factors into a move on draft night. The Raptors were trying to trade Anunoby and Siakam for high draft picks prior to the season where Toronto dealt them at the deadline. No other high end players were made available. Last draft, Avdija was the biggest name moved on draft night (for 14). In the Miller draft rumors suggested the Pelicans were shopping Zion or Ingram. The Blazers rumoredly asked for Bam. Not available.

The trouble with drafting your guy at 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Jakucionis off the board) is that your guy isn't Ainge's guy. Any trade partner is going to want to call in that pick, so the minute you make it for yourself, you're saying you'd rather walk away from the draft with Demin over Lauri Markkanen, and wait on Demin for how many years to make an impact, possibly losing value over time. You've removed yourself from the market for a player you believe doesn't move the needle, only to walk away with a prospect that moves the needle even less.

If Lauri is the move and he goes for the lottery pick + crappy contracts + Heat 1st + Mavs 1st, Hornets still have Miles + 4 Hornets 1st to bid on a player who could become available in the coming year or final one of Miles' contract. Inclusion of 4 firsts puts you in the market for superstars like the version of Durant when he was dealt. Harden didn't command 4 firsts. Kyrie commanded 1. All different situations. My point is by trading for Lauri, you dont take yourself out of the auction for a better player who may not be available on draft night.

For instance, if Booker and Lauri are both available on draft night, that's a no brainer, you trade anyone outside the top-2 for him over trading for Lauri.

Hornets have the assets to trade both for someone like Lauri draft night, and Booker down the road. Can't miss out on Lauri for someone like Demin. I'd riot.

[JustBuzzin]

Lauri is not a needle mover. I'm sorry but if our big trade is Lauri this team isn't going anywhere. At least trade for a star who is actually known for getting a team to the playoffs. Lauri been the best player for a non playoff team.

Adding him with guys who already doesn't know how to win would leave us as a middle of the pack team. The big trade has to be for a difference maker.


Lauri is more of a fit piece not a difference maker imo.

The availability of players factors into a move on draft night. The Raptors were trying to trade Anunoby and Siakam for high draft picks prior to the season where Toronto dealt them at the deadline. No other high end players were made available. Last draft, Avdija was the biggest name moved on draft night (for 14). In the Miller draft rumors suggested the Pelicans were shopping Zion or Ingram. The Blazers rumoredly asked for Bam. Not available.

The trouble with drafting your guy at 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Jakucionis off the board) is that your guy isn't Ainge's guy. Any trade partner is going to want to call in that pick, so the minute you make it for yourself, you're saying you'd rather walk away from the draft with Demin over Lauri Markkanen, and wait on Demin for how many years to make an impact, possibly losing value over time. You've removed yourself from the market for a player you believe doesn't move the needle, only to walk away with a prospect that moves the needle even less.

If Lauri is the move and he goes for the lottery pick + crappy contracts + Heat 1st + Mavs 1st, Hornets still have Miles + 4 Hornets 1st to bid on a player who could become available in the coming year or final one of Miles' contract. Inclusion of 4 firsts puts you in the market for superstars like the version of Durant when he was dealt. Harden didn't command 4 firsts. Kyrie commanded 1. All different situations. My point is by trading for Lauri, you dont take yourself out of the auction for a better player who may not be available on draft night.

For instance, if Booker and Lauri are both available on draft night, that's a no brainer, you trade anyone outside the top-2 for him over trading for Lauri.

Hornets have the assets to trade both for someone like Lauri draft night, and Booker down the road. Can't miss out on Lauri for someone like Demin. I'd riot.

I understand your point, I'm just not thrilled with Lauri as our big trade. Once Ainge strips us for all our assets this is our core moving forward.

[MasterIchiro]

Lauri is not a needle mover. I'm sorry but if our big trade is Lauri this team isn't going anywhere. At least trade for a star who is actually known for getting a team to the playoffs. Lauri been the best player for a non playoff team.

Adding him with guys who already doesn't know how to win would leave us as a middle of the pack team. The big trade has to be for a difference maker.


Lauri is more of a fit piece not a difference maker imo.

The availability of players factors into a move on draft night. The Raptors were trying to trade Anunoby and Siakam for high draft picks prior to the season where Toronto dealt them at the deadline. No other high end players were made available. Last draft, Avdija was the biggest name moved on draft night (for 14). In the Miller draft rumors suggested the Pelicans were shopping Zion or Ingram. The Blazers rumoredly asked for Bam. Not available.

The trouble with drafting your guy at 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Jakucionis off the board) is that your guy isn't Ainge's guy. Any trade partner is going to want to call in that pick, so the minute you make it for yourself, you're saying you'd rather walk away from the draft with Demin over Lauri Markkanen, and wait on Demin for how many years to make an impact, possibly losing value over time. You've removed yourself from the market for a player you believe doesn't move the needle, only to walk away with a prospect that moves the needle even less.

If Lauri is the move and he goes for the lottery pick + crappy contracts + Heat 1st + Mavs 1st, Hornets still have Miles + 4 Hornets 1st to bid on a player who could become available in the coming year or final one of Miles' contract. Inclusion of 4 firsts puts you in the market for superstars like the version of Durant when he was dealt. Harden didn't command 4 firsts. Kyrie commanded 1. All different situations. My point is by trading for Lauri, you dont take yourself out of the auction for a better player who may not be available on draft night.

For instance, if Booker and Lauri are both available on draft night, that's a no brainer, you trade anyone outside the top-2 for him over trading for Lauri.

Hornets have the assets to trade both for someone like Lauri draft night, and Booker down the road. Can't miss out on Lauri for someone like Demin. I'd riot.

I understand your point, I'm just not thrilled with Lauri as our big trade. Once Ainge strips us for all our assets this is our core moving forward.

I don't do the trade if I can't walk away with Lauri, Miles and all 4 Hornets 1sts.

Ainge is getting his call 5-9 + Heat + Mavs 1st.

That's 3 firsts for Lauri, 1 is a lottery pick. That lead piece couldn't be beat, so we'd be bidding against ourselves if we were to include more and Ainge would be squandering the highest pick he could possibly get for Lauri from any bidder.

So, I disagree that Ainge will "strip us of all our assets". Using the pick as a centerpiece for Lauri preserves Miles + 4 firsts which can be used as assets to add a young star at the next deadline or in the following year after that prospect's rookie year.

[JustBuzzin]

The availability of players factors into a move on draft night. The Raptors were trying to trade Anunoby and Siakam for high draft picks prior to the season where Toronto dealt them at the deadline. No other high end players were made available. Last draft, Avdija was the biggest name moved on draft night (for 14). In the Miller draft rumors suggested the Pelicans were shopping Zion or Ingram. The Blazers rumoredly asked for Bam. Not available.

The trouble with drafting your guy at 5 (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Jakucionis off the board) is that your guy isn't Ainge's guy. Any trade partner is going to want to call in that pick, so the minute you make it for yourself, you're saying you'd rather walk away from the draft with Demin over Lauri Markkanen, and wait on Demin for how many years to make an impact, possibly losing value over time. You've removed yourself from the market for a player you believe doesn't move the needle, only to walk away with a prospect that moves the needle even less.

If Lauri is the move and he goes for the lottery pick + crappy contracts + Heat 1st + Mavs 1st, Hornets still have Miles + 4 Hornets 1st to bid on a player who could become available in the coming year or final one of Miles' contract. Inclusion of 4 firsts puts you in the market for superstars like the version of Durant when he was dealt. Harden didn't command 4 firsts. Kyrie commanded 1. All different situations. My point is by trading for Lauri, you dont take yourself out of the auction for a better player who may not be available on draft night.

For instance, if Booker and Lauri are both available on draft night, that's a no brainer, you trade anyone outside the top-2 for him over trading for Lauri.

Hornets have the assets to trade both for someone like Lauri draft night, and Booker down the road. Can't miss out on Lauri for someone like Demin. I'd riot.

I understand your point, I'm just not thrilled with Lauri as our big trade. Once Ainge strips us for all our assets this is our core moving forward.

I don't do the trade if I can't walk away with Lauri, Miles and all 4 Hornets 1sts.

Ainge is getting his call 5-9 + Heat + Mavs 1st.

That's 3 firsts for Lauri, 1 is a lottery pick. That lead piece couldn't be beat, so we'd be bidding against ourselves if we were to include more and Ainge would be squandering the highest pick he could possibly get for Lauri from any bidder.

So, I disagree that Ainge will "strip us of all our assets". Using the pick as a centerpiece for Lauri preserves Miles + 4 firsts which can be used as assets to add a young star at the next deadline or in the following year after that prospect's rookie year.

I think you're underestimating Ainge as a GM. Bridges got 5 1st Rd picks. Ainge going to be looking for something similar.

Also who's to say they don't keep Lauri especially if they get Flagg or Harper. That team lacks talent you need to have some help for the rook.

[UNCNYC]

My picks have changed. I still like my current picks but more than likely they are all returning to school. As of now my picks are
pick 1 Maxime Raynaud and pick 2 Walter Clayton JR. I think both are franchise players.

Other players I like *which I have named years ago* are Will Richard, and Zeke Mayo. One player I just found out about is Alijah
Martin. He seems solid.

Maxime Raynaud - I have know about him for years but recently became impressed

Watch on YouTube

[JustBuzzin]

My picks have changed. I still like my current picks but more than likely they are all returning to school. As of now my picks are
pick 1 Maxime Raynaud and pick 2 Walter Clayton JR. I think both are franchise players.

Other players I like *which I have named years ago* are Will Richard, and Zeke Mayo. One player I just found out about is Alijah
Martin. He seems solid.

Maxime Raynaud - I have know about him for years but recently became impressed

Watch on YouTube

Are you down on Flagg and Harper?

These dudes you naming I never even heard of.

[UNCNYC]

My picks have changed. I still like my current picks but more than likely they are all returning to school. As of now my picks are
pick 1 Maxime Raynaud and pick 2 Walter Clayton JR. I think both are franchise players.

Other players I like *which I have named years ago* are Will Richard, and Zeke Mayo. One player I just found out about is Alijah
Martin. He seems solid.

Maxime Raynaud - I have know about him for years but recently became impressed

Watch on YouTube

Are you down on Flagg and Harper?

These dudes you naming I never even heard of.

Nah lmao, I can't pick the players suggested. Something about me HAS TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PLAYER lol. Even if I tried it would be a half effort. Every once in a while someone who is a FAVORITE I happen to LOVE like Penny Hardaway, Brandon Roy, Grant Hill, Damion Lillard but for the most part if I don't like their style if play I can't get into the... So happy to see you are doing well on the boards... I truly appreciate your passion and knowledge