2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 3

[Indeed]

Hypothetical - Would you trade:

1st pick + IQ for the 2nd pick + Lamelo
1st pick + IQ for the 2nd pick + Zion
1st pick + Walter for 2nd pick + Sarr

We shouldn't be considering dealing the No. 1 pick for anybody not named Wembanyama.

Much less adding stuff to it.

It's not like the players I included instead deal + getting Dylan Harper are nothing, I was just curious what people think the gap between Cooper and Harper is.

Cooper is playing at a position that is harder to be replaced. Simply say, the replacement value is higher, even their impact may not be that much.

[BoyzNTheHood]

That's fair, but the Thompson twins may just be anomalies. Level of competition matters the majority of the time. I need to see Maluach on the big stage perform. He'll have an amazing shot to skyrocket during the tourney playing beside Flagg.

I know that Sergio de Larrea only plays 12 mpg but had he been playing on on a team like Illinois like Jak would he also be a top 10 pick? He can shoot the international 3 at 45% and shoot from NBA range in highlights. Has at least an A/T of 1.5 so perhaps 6'6 combo-guard if not PG.

Ben Saraf and Hugo Gonzalez are ranked higher but if you're a Euro that can't shoot, I don't think there is a chance they will later on.
They seem more like Rudy Fernandez that couldn't stick.

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I like him. I have him as an excellent bench player who might get to start depending on where he’s picked. But I think his peak is ideal 6th man.

[Psubs]

That's fair, but the Thompson twins may just be anomalies. Level of competition matters the majority of the time. I need to see Maluach on the big stage perform. He'll have an amazing shot to skyrocket during the tourney playing beside Flagg.

I know that Sergio de Larrea only plays 12 mpg but had he been playing on on a team like Illinois like Jak would he also be a top 10 pick? He can shoot the international 3 at 45% and shoot from NBA range in highlights. Has at least an A/T of 1.5 so perhaps 6'6 combo-guard if not PG.

Ben Saraf and Hugo Gonzalez are ranked higher but if you're a Euro that can't shoot, I don't think there is a chance they will later on.
They seem more like Rudy Fernandez that couldn't stick.

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I like him. I have him as an excellent bench player who might get to start depending on where he’s picked. But I think his peak is ideal 6th man.

That's fair, probably help a team win more than say Jamal Crawford, Jordan Clarkson, etc, since he'll be able to run the bench and spot start at guard if if an injury. I think like Jakobe Walter but de Larrea better shooter, while Jakobe the better defender. That's actually a nice complementary platoon with size and versatility.

[Psubs]

Sorber's growing on me as well.

I know this isn't the popular opinion here but I would really stay away from Maluach.

I like Sorber but he needs to grow 1 inch because he's only a C right now. He's a bit mechanical like Alex Condon but slower with his moves. At only 6'10 maybe he's like an Elton Brand tweener. I'd rather take Rasheer Fleming at 6'9 but who is able to guard 3-5.

Shoulder Sorber cash in now and get 2 years guaranteed money? If he goes back, risks regression getting heavier than 255 lbs and maybe less agile? He's like bigger Ed Davis right now. I think a lot of people like me wanted Avery Bradley, but really not much missed after to be considered at #13. We obtain Patrick Patterson anyways later on.

Sorber is a year younger (19.5) than Condon (20.9) and Fleming (20.9), and Fleming is low in assist. Sorber is also shooting better at free throw line. I would not worry too much about height if he has good wingspan above 7'4, that might be enough for blocking shots.

Queen has a good footwork to get by his defender. His question is on defense. I feel Queen will be a PF, and he will need to slim down for re-gaining his quickness. He slides pretty well left and right, it just moving backward.

I have Sorber over Maluach, because his stocks are better and at least he can make a pass.

Sorber's functional big man skills are a lot weaker. Low dunk rate, poor P&R roll man efficiency and while he mostly attempts post-ups isn't the most skilled hands/feet guy out there. That stock rate which is great mostly due to his WS might just show up in limited mins off the bench due to lack of great functional C skills.

Sorber has the same amount of dunk(22) as Condon (23), just hard to compare a stacked Duke Maluach (55), mainly from offensive rebound (17%) vs Sorber (9%) vs Condon (13%).

Reference: https://barttorvik.com/playerstat.php?year=2025&p=Thomas%20Sorber&t=Georgetown

Condon can grab a board, run the break an set up a teammate.

I guess I like the older prospects but maybe Fleming is Tijane Salaun (6'9 with 7'2 wingspan) that can shoot well? It was just 7 months ago. Still not done his freshman year but he really isn't shooting well. Salaun is 1 year younger than Fleming but I would take Fleming over Salaun.

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[BoyzNTheHood]

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[Yallbecrazy]

Maluach is a big time shooter for a guy with his dimensions and age. Go back to BAL tape and his shot preparation on C&S is really good. I think he has a ton of potential w C&S and pick and pop.

I also disagree with whoever said something about fouling I think he has shown increased discipline not leaving his feet and staying square while at Duke compared to previous film. His fundamentals are improving thanks to Scheyer.

I agree with this, the lack of blocks don't bother me as much as blocks to fouls is way more important than just blocks.

However, I've said it before and will say it again:
Steals and assists are the two most important predicitve stats for centres and he is dreadful at both.

I think anyone who is closely following Duke knows Khaman is being forced to operate within a certain framework as Scheyer is trying to win a national title and will not tolerate any kind of adventurism from him. On another team with more liberty I don't see why the assist rate wouldn't be similar to many current starting centers when they were that age such as Sabonis, Gobert, Capela, Valanciunas, etc..

I think your point highly excludes him from becoming a higher USG offensive hub which I agree with, not from being a functional NBA starting center.

Assists are important not just from an offensive standpoint, but they demonstrate high bbiq, which is critical from a defensive standpoint.

[LoveMyRaps]

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Still my favorite prospect outside of the lottery.

THE BIGGEST SLEEPER OF THE DRAFT.

[LoveMyRaps]

Not good from Maluach.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Not good from Maluach.

In a blowout he can only muster 2 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assists with no blocks

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I agree with this, the lack of blocks don't bother me as much as blocks to fouls is way more important than just blocks.

However, I've said it before and will say it again:
Steals and assists are the two most important predicitve stats for centres and he is dreadful at both.

I think anyone who is closely following Duke knows Khaman is being forced to operate within a certain framework as Scheyer is trying to win a national title and will not tolerate any kind of adventurism from him. On another team with more liberty I don't see why the assist rate wouldn't be similar to many current starting centers when they were that age such as Sabonis, Gobert, Capela, Valanciunas, etc..

I think your point highly excludes him from becoming a higher USG offensive hub which I agree with, not from being a functional NBA starting center.

Assists are important not just from an offensive standpoint, but they demonstrate high bbiq, which is critical from a defensive standpoint.

Oh I don't disagree entirely. But Rudy Gobert is 7x all-defense and had garbo assist totals overseas. Khaman is an 18 year old. AST% generally increases over time. Then you have NBA bigs who can pass the ball quite well and are either subpar or neutral defenders.

If you're trying to find the next Jokic then AST:TO will matter. I don't think Condon is that guy w/ 7ft WS and pretty mid scoring ability.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

20 teams at Baylor game

VJ is clear #2 to me.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Fran Fraschilla stole my comparison for VJ

[Indeed]

I think anyone who is closely following Duke knows Khaman is being forced to operate within a certain framework as Scheyer is trying to win a national title and will not tolerate any kind of adventurism from him. On another team with more liberty I don't see why the assist rate wouldn't be similar to many current starting centers when they were that age such as Sabonis, Gobert, Capela, Valanciunas, etc..

I think your point highly excludes him from becoming a higher USG offensive hub which I agree with, not from being a functional NBA starting center.

Assists are important not just from an offensive standpoint, but they demonstrate high bbiq, which is critical from a defensive standpoint.

Oh I don't disagree entirely. But Rudy Gobert is 7x all-defense and had garbo assist totals overseas. Khaman is an 18 year old. AST% generally increases over time. Then you have NBA bigs who can pass the ball quite well and are either subpar or neutral defenders.

If you're trying to find the next Jokic then AST:TO will matter. I don't think Condon is that guy w/ 7ft WS and pretty mid scoring ability.

Gorbert has a 7'9 wingspan, which is in the Wemby (8') and Edey (7'10) range.
Maluach only has a 7'6 wingspan.

I don't think we are looking for a point centre, but not someone who has little in passing.
As for improving, basketball IQ is one the of harder thing to improve. He can provide handoffs for assist, but spotting open players are not most players can improve on. Not just C, there are many players who never improve on their passing (eg. Powell).

I think Maluach is more projected to Capela. Not saying the others are better, maybe projected as Allan or any Center paying in the 20m range. This is one reason I am unsure we want to draft a C in the top 10.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Davion Mitchell and Ja’Kobe Walter checking out VJ Edgecombe

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

vj against big 12 opp:

48/42/88

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

carter bryant flashing higher quality dime dropping than OG ever did as freshman

[Grew]

carter bryant flashing higher quality dime dropping than OG ever did as freshman

If he had a handle and some footwork would be a top 5 pick. Interesting prospect.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

bryant killing it so far tonight, 5 ast 2 tov and the 2 tov were back to back travels that can be cleaned up.

[LoveMyRaps]

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[LoveMyRaps]

Masai was attendance for a couple Rutgers games earlier in the season.
Gotta think it was to watch Dylan since Ace was injured at the time and wasn’t playing.

Did Harper win Masai over?