2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 3

[Yallbecrazy]

Edit: To add, looking back at Marcus Smart he crushed the indicators I like to look at, but probably only hit his 10th percentile outcome, maybe less if you remove injuries. He also never improved once he got into the league. He would have been my #1 over Embiid when I try to look back at that draft objectively.

I'm not sure why Smart never developed into a better pure PG type on O. Maybe just a lack of first step, but I remember being relatively impressed with his PG skills in college and thinking he could bully smaller, weaker, less tough guards enough that he could finish inside and draw help.

Perhaps the sort of Mark Jackson/Andre Miller burly type PG just isn't as effective anymore, and if you can't force teams to go over picks because of your off the dribble-shooting or have an elite first step, you're just not gonna be good on O. Smart never had Miller's scoring craft and change of pace on drives or Jackson's passing and post-up game, but I would have thought he'd develop and get some sort of offensive signature thing like those guys found and made them top 10-15 PGs in their prime on O.

Obviously he was much better defensively than both, but never found an offensive skill to drag himself up to being like the 15th best starting PG on O to go with being a top 2 defender along with Jrue at the position. I guess Jrue was quicker and even stronger, and while he struggled to run efficient offences at the 1, he leveraged his strength on O much better than Smart ever has and turned himself into a very solid offensive player even if in the playoffs he was up and down as a primary ball-handler.

Smart was decent as a rookie, he just never improved. He started taking more 3s, and getting more assists, but the percentages stayed relatively equal aside from some small variance and his turnovers increased proportionally to the increase in his assists. Rebounding and steals stayed the same too. He's a legit case of a bottom ten percentile outcome for a high end prospect that isn't injury related.

[Indeed]

i don't think maluach can be ruled out because if you asked him to just go out on an nba floor as even an 18 year old just to set screens, rim run, rebound and defend he'd do it pretty well. the hope is that scheyer is showing him how to play a disciplined team role and that he can use that as a launch pad for adding layers to his game that would make him valuable down the line.

there's even a chance that his strength and ability to grab defensive boards could quickly improve like his somewhat comparable statistical cousin john collins. also i know the sample is small but he attempted almost 4 3PA/36 in BAL which moves me as that is major volume for a then 17 year old mobile 7'2 center.

the goal is for maluach to have learned to play disciplined in preparation for a more open environment like the NBA instead of being a foul and turnover machine like it appeared he would have been playing in a less structured system than Duke's. how this plays out is very difficult to determine but duke kids tend to take what they've learned and apply it going forward.

Definitely works well with a dynamic PG, but we don't and unlikely to build that way.

[NotMyKawhi]

I think we need a PG more than anything. I dont think IQ is that guy. Poeltl can be solid for us for a while..he's not old.

We played better w mitchell in the lineup for a reason.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I think we need a PG more than anything. I dont think IQ is that guy. Poeltl can be solid for us for a while..he's not old.

We played better w mitchell in the lineup for a reason.

IQ’s ideal role is as a 6th man

[ATLTimekeeper]

Edit: To add, looking back at Marcus Smart he crushed the indicators I like to look at, but probably only hit his 10th percentile outcome, maybe less if you remove injuries. He also never improved once he got into the league. He would have been my #1 over Embiid when I try to look back at that draft objectively.

I'm not sure why Smart never developed into a better pure PG type on O. Maybe just a lack of first step, but I remember being relatively impressed with his PG skills in college and thinking he could bully smaller, weaker, less tough guards enough that he could finish inside and draw help.

Perhaps the sort of Mark Jackson/Andre Miller burly type PG just isn't as effective anymore, and if you can't force teams to go over picks because of your off the dribble-shooting or have an elite first step, you're just not gonna be good on O. Smart never had Miller's scoring craft and change of pace on drives or Jackson's passing and post-up game, but I would have thought he'd develop and get some sort of offensive signature thing like those guys found and made them top 10-15 PGs in their prime on O.

Obviously he was much better defensively than both, but never found an offensive skill to drag himself up to being like the 15th best starting PG on O to go with being a top 2 defender along with Jrue at the position. I guess Jrue was quicker and even stronger, and while he struggled to run efficient offences at the 1, he leveraged his strength on O much better than Smart ever has and turned himself into a very solid offensive player even if in the playoffs he was up and down as a primary ball-handler.

I wasn't a fan of his in college. He wasn't a good athlete, wasn't a good ballhandler, wasn't a proven shooter. For PGs or primary ballhandlers, shooting off the dribble is pretty much the whole ballgame. If you can't develop there you had better be one of the best defensive players in the league, and Smart made a case for that in his time in Boston.

Jrue did have a nice handle in college and developed shooting off the dribble.

[Dalek]

Bold mock from NBA Draft Room, but I see a lot of things that I can see happening:

5. Raptors Liam McNeeley SF – UConn – HT: 6-8 – WT: 210 – WING: NA – Fr – Big, strong and highly skilled as a shot-maker and as a defender, Liam is one of the best 3pt shooters in his class and can get red hot from outside. He’s got a smooth and repeatable release and is deadly accurate. Has good cutting ability and feel for moving without the ball. Liam has a strong build and can guard up and down the line-up.

8. Bulls Noa Essengue PF – Ulm (France) – HT: 6-10 – WT: 195 – WING: NA – Int.06 – Essengue is a super long combo forward with a ton of upside but a raw game. He’s a very fluid athlete at 6-10 who is quick and graceful in the open court and moves like a guard. He’s at this best going to the basket and using his athleticism to make plays and is starting to expand his offensive arsenal. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft class.

10. Spurs (Hawks) Thomas Sorber C – Georgetown – HT: 6-10 – WT: 255 – WING: NA – Fr – A big-bodied center who impacts both ends and rebounds the heck out of the ball. A breakout star for the Hoyas who has shown some really nice flashes.

https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/

This is a mock before all the draft workouts so things can change. I think Hugo Gonzalez and other European team players may climb up based on workouts.

[Pointgod]

Bold mock from NBA Draft Room, but I see a lot of things that I can see happening:

5. Raptors Liam McNeeley SF – UConn – HT: 6-8 – WT: 210 – WING: NA – Fr – Big, strong and highly skilled as a shot-maker and as a defender, Liam is one of the best 3pt shooters in his class and can get red hot from outside. He’s got a smooth and repeatable release and is deadly accurate. Has good cutting ability and feel for moving without the ball. Liam has a strong build and can guard up and down the line-up.

8. Bulls Noa Essengue PF – Ulm (France) – HT: 6-10 – WT: 195 – WING: NA – Int.06 – Essengue is a super long combo forward with a ton of upside but a raw game. He’s a very fluid athlete at 6-10 who is quick and graceful in the open court and moves like a guard. He’s at this best going to the basket and using his athleticism to make plays and is starting to expand his offensive arsenal. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft class.

10. Spurs (Hawks) Thomas Sorber C – Georgetown – HT: 6-10 – WT: 255 – WING: NA – Fr – A big-bodied center who impacts both ends and rebounds the heck out of the ball. A breakout star for the Hoyas who has shown some really nice flashes.

https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/

This is a mock before all the draft workouts so things can change. I think Hugo Gonzalez and other European team players may climb up based on workouts.

Why do I feel the Raptors are locked into Malauch regardless of what position they’re picking from.

[LoveMyRaps]

Bold mock from NBA Draft Room, but I see a lot of things that I can see happening:

5. Raptors Liam McNeeley SF – UConn – HT: 6-8 – WT: 210 – WING: NA – Fr – Big, strong and highly skilled as a shot-maker and as a defender, Liam is one of the best 3pt shooters in his class and can get red hot from outside. He’s got a smooth and repeatable release and is deadly accurate. Has good cutting ability and feel for moving without the ball. Liam has a strong build and can guard up and down the line-up.

8. Bulls Noa Essengue PF – Ulm (France) – HT: 6-10 – WT: 195 – WING: NA – Int.06 – Essengue is a super long combo forward with a ton of upside but a raw game. He’s a very fluid athlete at 6-10 who is quick and graceful in the open court and moves like a guard. He’s at this best going to the basket and using his athleticism to make plays and is starting to expand his offensive arsenal. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft class.

10. Spurs (Hawks) Thomas Sorber C – Georgetown – HT: 6-10 – WT: 255 – WING: NA – Fr – A big-bodied center who impacts both ends and rebounds the heck out of the ball. A breakout star for the Hoyas who has shown some really nice flashes.

https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/

This is a mock before all the draft workouts so things can change. I think Hugo Gonzalez and other European team players may climb up based on workouts.

Why do I feel the Raptors are locked into Malauch regardless of what position they’re picking from.

I've been saying this from the start of the season. There's a Masai x Maluach connection. However, we'll only take him if we draft outside of the top 4 (i.e., Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ).

[Dalek]

Bold mock from NBA Draft Room, but I see a lot of things that I can see happening:



https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/

This is a mock before all the draft workouts so things can change. I think Hugo Gonzalez and other European team players may climb up based on workouts.

Why do I feel the Raptors are locked into Malauch regardless of what position they’re picking from.

I've been saying this from the start of the season. There's a Masai x Maluach connection. However, we'll only take him if we draft outside of the top 4 (i.e., Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ).

I can see Masai ties being a factor, but that is a really high pick for a player that will need some time before being productive in the NBA. Bigs always take long to get acclimated and I am not sure if this guy can play in .5 offense. We have a simplistic big in Orlando Robinson now and it looks rough.

I can see us also taking a player like McNeeley because look at our last first round picks: Gradey Dick (RSCI rank 16 in 2022) and Ja'Kobe Walter (RSCI rank 8 in 2023). Both were known highly ranked high school recruits.

Bobby tends to value that and has made comments about knowing/tracking players for many years. McNeeley is a Montverde Academy guy who played with Cooper Flagg and was RSCI ranked 10 in 2024.

He was a special high school player and a very impactful college player, leading his team as a freshman and would fit easily into our offensive schemes as a guy who works off ball screens and can do some secondary creation and brings some size at forward. A case can be made he fits well in Toronto.

[DreamTeam09]

Hope we do get Maluach, I can't name the last time we had a lob threat, Lucas Naugeria maybe?? Vertical spacing is a thing, especially with BI n Barnes, works well with me. His defense is tremendous too

[Yallbecrazy]

Why do I feel the Raptors are locked into Malauch regardless of what position they’re picking from.

I've been saying this from the start of the season. There's a Masai x Maluach connection. However, we'll only take him if we draft outside of the top 4 (i.e., Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ).

I can see Masai ties being a factor, but that is a really high pick for a player that will need some time before being productive in the NBA. Bigs always take long to get acclimated and I am not sure if this guy can play in .5 offense. We have a simplistic big in Orlando Robinson now and it looks rough.

I can see us also taking a player like McNeeley because look at our last first round picks: Gradey Dick (RSCI rank 16 in 2022) and Ja'Kobe Walter (RSCI rank 8 in 2023). Both were known highly ranked high school recruits.

Bobby tends to value that and has made comments about knowing/tracking players for many years. McNeeley is a Montverde Academy guy who played with Cooper Flagg and was RSCI ranked 10 in 2024.

He was a special high school player and a very impactful college player, leading his team as a freshman and would fit easily into our offensive schemes as a guy who works off ball screens and can do some secondary creation and brings some size at forward. A case can be made he fits well in Toronto.

He also projects as a terrible defender on a team that needs defense. I understand the whole pick the best player philosophy, but there's no way McNeeley is going to be the undisputed best player when the Raptors pick and if it's close then fit needs to be a factor.
From a fit perspective +defenders are ideal.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I've been saying this from the start of the season. There's a Masai x Maluach connection. However, we'll only take him if we draft outside of the top 4 (i.e., Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ).

I can see Masai ties being a factor, but that is a really high pick for a player that will need some time before being productive in the NBA. Bigs always take long to get acclimated and I am not sure if this guy can play in .5 offense. We have a simplistic big in Orlando Robinson now and it looks rough.

I can see us also taking a player like McNeeley because look at our last first round picks: Gradey Dick (RSCI rank 16 in 2022) and Ja'Kobe Walter (RSCI rank 8 in 2023). Both were known highly ranked high school recruits.

Bobby tends to value that and has made comments about knowing/tracking players for many years. McNeeley is a Montverde Academy guy who played with Cooper Flagg and was RSCI ranked 10 in 2024.

He was a special high school player and a very impactful college player, leading his team as a freshman and would fit easily into our offensive schemes as a guy who works off ball screens and can do some secondary creation and brings some size at forward. A case can be made he fits well in Toronto.

He also projects as a terrible defender on a team that needs defense. I understand the whole pick the best player philosophy, but there's no way McNeeley is going to be the undisputed best player when the Raptors pick and if it's close then fit needs to be a factor.
From a fit perspective +defenders are ideal.

We won’t take McNeeley, but he will be a top 10 player from this class.

[Dalek]

I've been saying this from the start of the season. There's a Masai x Maluach connection. However, we'll only take him if we draft outside of the top 4 (i.e., Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ).

I can see Masai ties being a factor, but that is a really high pick for a player that will need some time before being productive in the NBA. Bigs always take long to get acclimated and I am not sure if this guy can play in .5 offense. We have a simplistic big in Orlando Robinson now and it looks rough.

I can see us also taking a player like McNeeley because look at our last first round picks: Gradey Dick (RSCI rank 16 in 2022) and Ja'Kobe Walter (RSCI rank 8 in 2023). Both were known highly ranked high school recruits.

Bobby tends to value that and has made comments about knowing/tracking players for many years. McNeeley is a Montverde Academy guy who played with Cooper Flagg and was RSCI ranked 10 in 2024.

He was a special high school player and a very impactful college player, leading his team as a freshman and would fit easily into our offensive schemes as a guy who works off ball screens and can do some secondary creation and brings some size at forward. A case can be made he fits well in Toronto.

He also projects as a terrible defender on a team that needs defense. I understand the whole pick the best player philosophy, but there's no way McNeeley is going to be the undisputed best player when the Raptors pick and if it's close then fit needs to be a factor.
From a fit perspective +defenders are ideal.

I am curious about that. We were a defense first team for a long time but I wonder if that's changed. It's not like guys like RJ, IQ, Olynyk, Walter, Dick are +defenders. Mogbo is our classic pick, but I am not sure if the team is better with him on court. I think McNeeley can be a neutral defender with + offense. Similar to a lot of players in that 5-12 range.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Am I missing something? Liam has a 42FG% and a relatively high usage. Stocks look poor as well and almost has a 1:1 Ast/TO ratio....

If we take him top 5 I might just shut the TV off

[LoveMyRaps]

Am I missing something? Liam has a 42FG% and a relatively high usage. Stocks look poor as well and almost has a 1:1 Ast/TO ratio....

If we take him top 5 I might just shut the TV off

We're not taking McNeeley top 5, or top 10.
0% chance.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Hypothetical:

Pelicans get 2nd pick and we get 6

If it were on the table, are you doing IQ+6 for CJ+2?

Pelicans can play IQ next to Murray easy, move CJ for someone of worth and get another high lottery pick. We get a chance to go all in on Harper (or Ace). Can probably start CJ at the '1' until the deadline where we move him to a more contending team and promote Dyaln to start after the allstar break

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Danny Wolf looks amazing ngl. Not sure how well he can be as a rim protector but he'd fit the Darko system perfectly as a passing big hub. Him being able to dribble is a plus

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Drafting an offball wing with **** defense at 5 is wild. Carter Bryant clears McNeeley so hard once you realize he's an 80% ft shooter.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Drafting an offball wing with **** defense at 5 is wild. Carter Bryant clears McNeeley so hard once you realize he's an 80% ft shooter.

Carter Bryant sucks lol he’s so bad that I’ll be surprised if he declares this year. He needs more time. McNeeley clears him so easily it’s not even funny.

Like I said, McNeeley will end up as a top-10 player from the class. At the same time, I wouldn’t take him at our pick unless we drop past 10, but he’s really good. Straight killa.

[PhilBlackson]

As it stands right now obviously Flagg is the dream scenario, if we fluke into the top 3 personally I'll still be hoping for Bailey because one way or the other I'd like a bigger dynamic wing for us to develop vs another guard, and at minimum I really like Ace as an elite pitch out option for pretty much any of our starters while he develops his game....

BUT assuming we don't crack the top 3 this is how I pray our draft plays out where we basically add a ton of size to compete with the rest of the East elite who all have a ton of length everywhere (ie/ CLE - Mobley/Allen, BOS - Tatum/KP, ORL - Paolo/Franz/Gogi, MIL - Giannis/Lopez etc)...

TOR pick: one of Khaman or Queen (both have upside to become a floor spacer and add a different dimension that Yak doesn't)
POR pick: Miles Byrd to add a tenacious guard/wing defender OR Dink Pate as an upside play
Midish 1st (like 17+): trade Ochai to get one & draft Rasheer Flemming (period), we get someone to fill that void as a versatile wing/big defender that can space the floor that OG left

IQ/Shead/Byrd
JaKobe/Gradey/Byrd
Notorious BI3/Fleming or Pate
Scottie/Fleming or Pate/Mogbo
Poeltl/Khaman or Queen/Chomche

I genuinely believe that team long term could find itself in the top 4 or so in the Conference (and that's before we start consolidating pieces to trade for even better upgrades) but I'd love long term to see a starting lineup that consists of BI3/Scottie/Fleming/Khaman -- just a HUGE team. I mean maybe we look to flip IQ and/or RJ for a more consistent shooting and taller PG but that would be the vision for me.