2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[165bows]

Hauser is/was more your prototypical 3&D wing, and an elite shooter or close to it.

Karaban seems to be more a random combo forward. He might be a good shooter, but he is merely a good shooter. He appears to be more effective around the rim and has better hops (at least, he is a much better shot blocker than Hauser). But also, he is/was more physically impressive than Hauser and has less upside to that effect. Doesn't come up with a lot of steals and its possible he fits best as a smallish PF at the NBA level.

Someone like Miles Bridges comes to mind for me, moreso than Hauser. Of course, Miles Bridges with better character and intangibles would be a nice player to have, even if he were a bit less athletic.

Right that seems the conventional wisdom is that Karaban is more slanted to the front court, and while he has been generating more blocks, he’s been a weak producer on the glass, much more so than Hauser.

It’s just interesting to me that he’s very similar though not (to me at least) a clearly better prospect, considering their prospect ratings. It’s almost like Sam got penalized for staying in school.

[165bows]

Kind of like this profile, sort of a Nick Claxton type but with more ball skills and less vertical pop. Not sure if this guy is good or not but sounds like a good fit for the current version of NBA ball. Kind of does everything (or has a shot at it anyways) but shoot.

https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/malique-ewin-scouting-report

[threrf23]

Right that seems the conventional wisdom is that Karaban is more slanted to the front court, and while he has been generating more blocks, he’s been a weak producer on the glass, much more so than Hauser.

This is true. To be fair though, he has been playing on the wing for teams that have dominated the glass.

edit he's been starting at PF. Although, these UCONN teams have been dominating the boards. Well, except for this season. But his freshman season, for example, UCONN was top 10 nationally in both rebounds, and rebounds allowed.

[Hal14]

Right that seems the conventional wisdom is that Karaban is more slanted to the front court, and while he has been generating more blocks, he’s been a weak producer on the glass, much more so than Hauser.

This is true. To be fair though, he has been playing on the wing for teams that have dominated the glass.

edit he's been starting at PF. Although, these UCONN teams have been dominating the boards. Well, except for this season. But his freshman season, for example, UCONN was top 10 nationally in both rebounds, and rebounds allowed.

Yeah, hard to get a ton of rebounds playing next to guys like Clingan, Sanogo..and Andre Jackson was a very good rebounder for his position too.

UConn's system seems to be set up so that the centers get lots of boards and everyone else crashes the boards too so rebounds end up being distributed fairly evenly among the other guys.

From the eye test, it seems like Karaban is in the same ballpark as Hauser in terms of rebounding. And not far off in terms of shooting.

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

[return2glory]

I've watched Flagg about 4 times now. He is legit. Special talent.

[Hal14]

Kind of like this profile, sort of a Nick Claxton type but with more ball skills and less vertical pop. Not sure if this guy is good or not but sounds like a good fit for the current version of NBA ball. Kind of does everything (or has a shot at it anyways) but shoot.

https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/malique-ewin-scouting-report

Yeah, I like Ewin.

Wrote an article on him here:

https://the-center-hub.com/2025/01/22/dont-sleep-on-malique-ewin/

[Hal14]

Shackles, your guy Flory Bidunga is growing on me. He's been getting more playing time of late and is getting better. Really high BPM, TRB%, blocks %, TS%. High number of dunks.

He's light on feet out there, he's bouncy. Moves quick and fluid.

He's kind of like Time Lord..not as strong but he's young, only 19..he'll get stronger.

[playa-hater]

I've watched Flagg about 4 times now. He is legit. Special talent.

There have been hyped up Busts throughout there years, But damn I agree. If you are looking closely, it is hard to see any weakness at all to his game and he seems so capable of utilizing a different skill set to take on any type of defender and defense. And he "seems like" the type of player that won't coast on his laurels. (looking at You Tatum!)

Health injury aside, his floor looks like a very good player with quite a few all-star games. His ceiling may be an all-timer.

[BillessuR6]

Joan Berenger...

He is playing for my team here in Slovenia. Great prospect, reallly young, terrific defender, long, athletic, raw on offense...

He will be a player. If he is there at the end of round 1 you take him. But there were 20+ NBA scouts at the game against Valencia yesterday, somebody (like OKC) will take a flier on him.

He is really contributing at 18, his defense is dictating the opponents offense... Has a long way to go offensively but he has only been playing basketball for a few years...

Sent from my SM-A536B using RealGM mobile app

[brackdan70]

I've watched Flagg about 4 times now. He is legit. Special talent.

Yep I was a bit skeptical at first about the hype. He’s not LeBron or Wemby, but he’s not far behind as prospect.

[Fierce1]

Flagg will have to improve his 3pt shooting.

33% is just not good enough.

[brackdan70]

Flagg will have to improve his 3pt shooting.

33% is just not good enough.

Agree but it’s trending up. And .352 from NBA range.
I think with everything else he brings to the table, I am not worried about his 3%.

[brackdan70]

Will Riley, Drake Powell or Mikes Byrd or Noah Penda.

Does Penda have the handles to play as a guard, bring the ball up?

[brackdan70]

Thomas Sorber, Rasheer Fleming, Danny Wolf or Johni Broome.

I am feeling more and more that Sorber might go well before we pick.

[brackdan70]

Jase Richardson, Labaron Philon or Boogie Fland or none of the above?

[brackdan70]

Last of my board spamming.
Alex Karaban, Adieu Thiero or Carter Bryant.

[Hal14]

Will Riley, Drake Powell or Mikes Byrd or Noah Penda.

I think Powell and Riley need another year of college ball. I don't think they're ready yet.

From this list I like Penda the most - then Byrd..I'd take Penda in the 1st round..Byrd perhaps in the 2nd. But I wouldn't take both..one or the other.

Does Penda have the handles to play as a guard, bring the ball up?

He's got good handles for a wing/forward. Not for a guard.

Think eventually he'd be able to bring the ball up, not as a guard but like how Horford sometimes will grab a rebound and then bring it up himself, rather than trying to find a teammate in the back court to give it to, potentially slowing down our offense. Think Penda has that "grab and go" capability from a forward..

[Hal14]

Jase Richardson, Labaron Philon or Boogie Fland or none of the above?

For us..probably no small guards but if I had to pick, I'd lean Jase.

[Larry_Russell]

Brown for Flagg right?

Right??????