2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 3

[SharoneWright]

or Maluach. Book it.

6'9+ AND an African name?

Pretty sure the Maluach name is actually Romulan.

[PhilBlackson]

All jokes aside, I think he has a lot of untapped potential. Dude only started playing bball at 16 or something. He could have Siakam type trajectory and he is only 18 unlike Siakam. Also, I think Duke coach doesn't really use him to his full potential. The draft workouts might really up his stock. I'm not sure if we will draft him, but if a team that's good at developing young guys gets him, he can end up being a special player one day.

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The problem is his passing. Unlike Siakam who was a willing passer, Maluach doesnt show enough on that, and we clearly mentioned by Webster that we are looking for a big who can pass and facilitate, so I am pretty sure he is not a fit, particularly, we dont have a dynamic PG to set him up for his potential. He is more Hawks type of pick.

While he doesn't show that passing yet, he looks like a very good screen setter.

Now that Ingram/Barnes are the core of our offense, having a big that passes probably has less value than it did before the trade.

I would think that his defensive upside would be the biggest selling point.

Of the bigs that we'd take in the top 10 I think there is a case for 4 guys.

Kaman: Best defensive upside, ability to play both drop and some switching. Potential to stretch the floor is there but not something you can bank on as he's only done it in International play.
Queen: Best scoring big in the draft? Strong, great footwork and hands. Not a great rim deterent but gets steals so his stocks are not bad at all. Could be a guy you run the offense through.
Wolf: Best passing big in the draft, and has shown nba range. Is a more athletic Kelly O?
Asa Newell: Solid, talented player but is he a 4 or a 5. Doesn't rebound as well as the others, but projects to be the most likely to be a stretch big.

I think Kaman is the only one I'd draft with a 5th or 6th pick as there other guys who I think are a tier above them talent wise, but at say the 8th pick all bets are off and there is a far wider talent pool to look at.

Queen is my dark horse big as he is probably the guy that if he measures well becomes super interesting. if he's say 6'10 barefoot with a 7-3+ reach then he becomes my favorite guy. But if he is 6'9 with a 7 reach he is far less interesting...

Feel the same way about Queen. If his measurables check out he'd fly up my board. It's weird because I have heard that his reach is 7' but I just find that so hard to believe looking at him. If anything he actually looks like he has LONG arms in relation to his body. Like Yak is a 7'2 wingspan but it looks shorter to me (pause). I understand that Yak is also supposed to be a couple inches taller but still the dimensions of each guy, but when I watch DQ, he appears to me to have a wingspan closer to 7'3. But maybe the eye test is way off and the rumored 7ft is true then I'd cool on him because then he'd almost be forced to play PF like Sabonis which isn't the worst thing but in reality Scottie is a point forward PF and the whole idea of drafting a "C" is to have a long term replacement for Yak.

But if he does have that good 7'3+ wingspan then he might be close to my favorite non top 4 pick prospect because he just has a bball IQ/feel for the game that I think would REALLY be awesome for the dynamics for the team. As he'd certainly be able to operate as an actual hub and much more so than even Yak as he can make the mid range with proficiency and is showing really good potential to step out and hit a 3. He's also almost an underrated athlete because he can get up & down the court in transition, is able to recover defensively and if you check his advanced numbers, he's not some god awful defender that people just assume he is based on his appearance.

That's the one thing the FO must find intriguing, is Queen is actually an advanced stat darling, he impacts winning and is incredibly important to their offence as he was in Monteverde. I don't think a lot of people realize that Queen was almost just as much of a hub offensively as Flagg when they played together. If Queen has the dimensions to play C, I'd draft him.

[Psubs]

Maluach with 7'6 wingspan.
Rasheer Fleming with 7'5-7'6 wingspan.

Fleming shot 3 for 5 from deep today.

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

CMB got outplayed Thomas Haugh. I would draft Haugh over CMB. Even though he comes off the bench has a 1.7 A/T, has a 3pt shot with 81.5% FT shooting. He should be able to play SF/PF at 6'9 with hops.

Zvonimir with a 3rd straight good game in only 20 mins:
13 pts, 6 rebs, 4 blks (1 foul), shooting 3 for 5 (5 for 6 FT and 2 for 3 from deep).

[BoyzNTheHood]

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

Based on what?

[Thaddy]

Maluach with 7'6 wingspan.
Rasheer Fleming with 7'5-7'6 wingspan.

Fleming shot 3 for 5 from deep today.

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

CMB got outplayed Thomas Haugh. I would draft Haugh over CMB. Even though he comes off the bench has a 1.7 A/T, has a 3pt shot with 81.5% FT shooting. He should be able to play SF/PF at 6'9 with hops.

Zvonimir with a 3rd straight good game in only 20 mins:
13 pts, 6 rebs, 4 blks (1 foul), shooting 3 for 5 (5 for 6 FT and 2 for 3 from deep).

Maluach with a top ten pick is low ceiling and risky I hope we don't go in that direction.

[Psubs]

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

Based on what?

Maybe he's not that good of a shooter and his A/T isn't really that good, so maybe he's just an average SG.

I wasn't suggesting he drop that far but dropping for similar reasons. Maybe a few spots but still in the top 10.

[Psubs]

Maluach with 7'6 wingspan.
Rasheer Fleming with 7'5-7'6 wingspan.

Fleming shot 3 for 5 from deep today.

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

CMB got outplayed Thomas Haugh. I would draft Haugh over CMB. Even though he comes off the bench has a 1.7 A/T, has a 3pt shot with 81.5% FT shooting. He should be able to play SF/PF at 6'9 with hops.

Zvonimir with a 3rd straight good game in only 20 mins:
13 pts, 6 rebs, 4 blks (1 foul), shooting 3 for 5 (5 for 6 FT and 2 for 3 from deep).

Maluach with a top ten pick is low ceiling and risky I hope we don't go in that direction.

I'm just pointing out that Fleming is good. I guess Maluach would be a prospect like Zach Edey but younger.

[TGM]

I think getting a PG is definitely the way to go for Raps. VJ or Kasparas are both studs. Kasparas honestly has like Luka 2.0 or Rich Man Austin Reaves all over him. He is pretty underused for an international prospect given that he is playing now in the NCAA. He might not have the athleticism of the over top 4 guys, but this guy can ball outright. Passing, outside shot, shot creation. Great dribbler and high bball IQ.

I think he moves up in the draft. Where we are picking he is the guy. I think teams in the 8-12 range will try to move up aggressively to land him.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?

Based on what?

Maybe he's not that good of a shooter and his A/T isn't really that good, so maybe he's just an average SG.

I wasn't suggesting he drop that far but dropping for similar reasons. Maybe a few spots but still in the top 10.

He’s a PG, not a SG. Although he can probably play both spots in the NBA. The A/TO ratio is a bit concerning, but he’s the go-to on a team as an 18 year old. It’s not an excuse, but I think it’s a bit less concerning than it would usually be.

[Mark_83]

Unless we move up from our current spot I'm pretty set on either VJ or TJ at pick 5. Either would compliment what we already have on the roster while also arguably being the BPA at that spot.

I would then move our second plus Walter to move up into the mid-first round and take Flemming.

[PhilBlackson]

Unless we move up from our current spot I'm pretty set on either VJ or TJ at pick 5. Either would compliment what we already have on the roster while also arguably being the BPA at that spot.

I would then move our second plus Walter to move up into the mid-first round and take Flemming.

Swap Walter with Ochai who there was already supposedly a market for and who we likely can’t afford to keep, and I’m with it (in fact suggested that trade earlier lol)! We’re still loaded at the SG position after (RJ, JaKobe & Dick).

But I really, REALLY want Fleming with a 2nd pick, he’d basically replace a lot of what we lost with OG but he’s even bigger. Personally I like the idea of drafting one of the top C prospects and him to really add some great size to our roster to really match up with the top teams in the Conference (ie/ CLE, BOS, ORL, MIL etc). If that happened (or if we just happened to fluke into one of the top wings like Flagg or Bailey) our roster would be so loaded top to bottom.

[Psubs]

Unless we move up from our current spot I'm pretty set on either VJ or TJ at pick 5. Either would compliment what we already have on the roster while also arguably being the BPA at that spot.

I would then move our second plus Walter to move up into the mid-first round and take Flemming.

To me, Walter is a keeper. I would sooner trade Dick, Agbaji, Shead or Barrett.

Walter has already shown he can guard PG's and PG.

[Psubs]

Unless we move up from our current spot I'm pretty set on either VJ or TJ at pick 5. Either would compliment what we already have on the roster while also arguably being the BPA at that spot.

I would then move our second plus Walter to move up into the mid-first round and take Flemming.

Swap Walter with Ochai who there was already supposedly a market for and who we likely can’t afford to keep, and I’m with it (in fact suggested that trade earlier lol)! We’re still loaded at the SG position after (RJ, JaKobe & Dick).

But I really, REALLY want Fleming with a 2nd pick, he’d basically replace a lot of what we lost with OG but he’s even bigger. Personally I like the idea of drafting one of the top C prospects and him to really add some great size to our roster to really match up with the top teams in the Conference (ie/ CLE, BOS, ORL, MIL etc). If that happened (or if we just happened to fluke into one of the top wings like Flagg or Bailey) our roster would be so loaded top to bottom.

Pretty much, I would trade Agbaji for a late 1st pick and end up with 2 or 3 from Fleming, Condon an Zvonimir.

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=PSy3Ch7pvG4ybe2MpvWFcw

Ya his stock definitely rose tonight.

An amazing all-around game for Tre.

Been always high on him. That’s why I don’t care if we drop to 6th, but please no more than just a -1

A bigger drop means Masai picking Malauch 100%, I don’t think there are any needle movers past 1-6

[Son Goku 25]

I bet the raps board is

Cooper/Bailey tied
VJ
Malauch
Queen
Harper

[Indeed]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=PSy3Ch7pvG4ybe2MpvWFcw

Ya his stock definitely rose tonight.

An amazing all-around game for Tre.

Been always high on him. That’s why I don’t care if we drop to 6th, but please no more than just a -1

A bigger drop means Masai picking Malauch 100%, I don’t think there are any needle movers past 1-6

Mentioned on the press confeeence that we are looking for a big with passing. Malauch is unlikely to be one. Not even Ujiri type, unsure why people think he is

[JShuttlesworth]

Tre Johnson last night

Watch on YouTube

[Psubs]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=PSy3Ch7pvG4ybe2MpvWFcw

Ya his stock definitely rose tonight.

An amazing all-around game for Tre.

Been always high on him. That’s why I don’t care if we drop to 6th, but please no more than just a -1

A bigger drop means Masai picking Malauch 100%, I don’t think there are any needle movers past 1-6

Mentioned on the press confeeence that we are looking for a big with passing. Malauch is unlikely to be one. Not even Ujiri type, unsure why people think he is

Really I see San Antonio drafting Maluach at #10 and Nolan Traore at #15.

PG Fox - Traore
SG Vassell - Branham
SF Castle - Champagnie - Keldon
PF Wemby - Barnes
C Sochan - Maluach

Condon is him. Does this mean eventually trade Poeltl, maybe after next season?

Who would want to trade up for two 1st picks? ATLANTA! Maybe they trade up to draft Maluach and let Capela walk? Okongwu starts and Maluach develops behind him.

PG Trae - Dyson
SG Dyson - Krejci - Bufkin
SF Risacher - Mann
PF JalenJ - Niang
C Okongwu - Maluach

[Brinbe]

Think it's probably gonna be a battle between Tre and Jak for that 5 and 6 spot behind Coop/Dylan/Ace/VJ. Think people will be split there between those two guards. But that should be a fun conversation lol.

Beyond that once you get to 7 and beyond that's where it gets interesting. I'm all for Maluach there personally, but we'll see if there's any other players that make a really compelling place to get ahead of him.

Sorber/Queen/Newell may be in that mix as bigs and I think all offer their unique strengths. Newell with his offensive rebounding/energy/outside shooting potential. Queen with his inside scoring/passing/overall skill and Sorber as a bit more of a traditional jack of all trades type of big. But they're also way smaller compared to Maluach and probably won't be as impactful defensively, which is like the main thing for a big, especially how they'll be utilized in this lineup in the future.

I guess we'll see Fears, Knueppel, McNeeley in that mix too and who knows with the 4s like CMB/Essnengue but there's always surprise players who work their way up with a big March or in team workouts. Maybe Rasheer Fleming and/or Jase Richardson? Who knows maybe Egor works his way back up lol.

[TGM]

[quote="Psubs"][quote="BoyzNTheHood"][quote="Psubs"]

Should Jakucionis' stock be dropping like Egor Demin?[/quote]

Based on what?[/quote]

Maybe he's not that good of a shooter and his A/T isn't really that good, so maybe he's just an average SG.

I wasn't suggesting he drop that far but dropping for similar reasons. Maybe a few spots but still in the top 10.[/quote]

No way he drops. Kasparas has the best PG offensive game of all the guards in the NCAA.

Once workouts start this guy will shoot through the roofs.

He is just getting the white boy discount. If his name was Darius Johnson he would easily be considered top 3.

Just watch the Illinois games and then watch, Harper, Edgecomb, Bailey and you will see how advance Kasparas’ offensive game is. Edgecomb I’m big as well, but Kasparas legitimately gives me smaller Luka vibes