2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[shangrila]

I wouldn't.

I'd be more inclined to trade both picks to move up a few spots if a player we love is there.

We don't need 3 more rookies.

With 2 picks that is the question. Do you want 1, 2, or 3 young players and how much upside does each player/pick represent?

I'll take targeted drafting over shotgunning.

1st choice: Move up for a guy that we think can be a core piece.
2nd choice: Draft a player we really like in the 1st and then take a flyer on a high risk/reward player in the 2nd.
3rd choice: Draft a player we really like in the 1st and then move the early 2nd for a future pick.
4th choice: Trade back for multiple picks in this draft.

A trade down might make sense in a Randle trade. Just spitballing, but an example might be Randle+17 to WAS for Holmes+Bey+26. Shaves 10mil off the books right away, Holmes is expiring (actually non-guaranteed) and Bey is fairly cheap at only around 6-7mil per year for next year and the one after. For the Wizards they would get to move up and get a productive veteran so they aren't the worst team of all time next season (seems to be what they're angling for now with the Smart/Middleton trades).

Otherwise I'm with you; either stay pat at 17 or try and move up if the guy you really like is available (maybe if Maluach slips a bit?). Take BPA at both spots though. The only place we're really overloaded is at the guard positions and even then we could probably use another actual PG

[Invictus88]

As an actual Piston fan happening upon your board I was thoroughly confused looking at the title of this thread. Makes much more sense now. I hope you enjoy your additional 1st this year.

[minimus]

I wonder if MIN can draft an upgraded version of Vando. He was one of my favorite players back then, I like his energy and toughness. But he also has hands of stone and he is not fluid with the ball. He can't dribble, can't pass and can't shoot much. An upgraded version of Vando, even without three point shot would basically be a poor version of Bam Adebayo:

- 6'8"-6'9" athletic big, 230-250lbs, 7' plus wingspan
- can rebound
- can defend both in the paint and on perimeter
- can pass
- can finish at rim

In offense pair him with Naz and DDV as main scorers within second unit. In defense play him in aggressive switch or zone defense.

[Norseman79]

I'm sure I'm going to catch some heat for this, but if it was up to me, I'm drafting two bigs if we do get the Pistons selection. And I'm taking two of the following, in this order, Khaman Maluach, Danny Wolf, Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Call me crazy, but I am moving Randle, Gobert, Conley (if he doesn't retire), NAW.

[shangrila]

As an actual Piston fan happening upon your board I was thoroughly confused looking at the title of this thread. Makes much more sense now. I hope you enjoy your additional 1st this year.

To be honest, the thread title did start as a joke but I've watched more Pistons games this year and they're actually fun to watch (shame about Ivey though).

[minimus]

I'm sure I'm going to catch some heat for this, but if it was up to me, I'm drafting two bigs if we do get the Pistons selection. And I'm taking two of the following, in this order, Khaman Maluach, Danny Wolf, Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Call me crazy, but I am moving Randle, Gobert, Conley (if he doesn't retire), NAW.

You are crazy, but if we can move both Gobert and Randle, while keeping both DET and UTA pick AND getting KD AND draft two NBA ready bigs AND re-sign KD with discount it will be exactly the soft rebuild around Edwards that FO and new owners want to implement. Although it is nearly impossible my ideal roster would be:

Draft Thomas Sorber, Kanon Catchings. Re-sign Clark, NAW, Reid. Sign Day'Ron Sharpe

Reid/Sharpe/Sorber
KD/McDaniels/Miller
McDaniels/Clark/Catchings
Edwards/NAW/TJ
DDV/Dillingham/Conley

[shangrila]

I'm sure I'm going to catch some heat for this, but if it was up to me, I'm drafting two bigs if we do get the Pistons selection. And I'm taking two of the following, in this order, Khaman Maluach, Danny Wolf, Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Call me crazy, but I am moving Randle, Gobert, Conley (if he doesn't retire), NAW.

No heat, although I do disagree.

Getting a big out of this draft would be ideal for the long term, but short term there will be a lack of opportunity that makes doubling up a little much. We can safely assume Gobert will be here for a few more years given his extension, and we hope Naz will as well. That along will eat up around 40mpg, assuming we continue going small with Naz (Or Randle, if he's still around). So getting Maluach and Kalkbrenner, for example, doesn't make sense since there's just no opportunity.

Wolf might be able to play the 4 in the same vein KAT was, so him + a proper C might make sense.

I also think Maluach is a bit of a pipe dream for us at this point. While I personally don't agree with him as a top 10 pick that ranking seems to be the consensus so I doubt he makes it to us at roughly 17.

[Norseman79]

I'm sure I'm going to catch some heat for this, but if it was up to me, I'm drafting two bigs if we do get the Pistons selection. And I'm taking two of the following, in this order, Khaman Maluach, Danny Wolf, Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Call me crazy, but I am moving Randle, Gobert, Conley (if he doesn't retire), NAW.

No heat, although I do disagree.

Getting a big out of this draft would be ideal for the long term, but short term there will be a lack of opportunity that makes doubling up a little much. We can safely assume Gobert will be here for a few more years given his extension, and we hope Naz will as well. That along will eat up around 40mpg, assuming we continue going small with Naz (Or Randle, if he's still around). So getting Maluach and Kalkbrenner, for example, doesn't make sense since there's just no opportunity.

Wolf might be able to play the 4 in the same vein KAT was, so him + a proper C might make sense.

I also think Maluach is a bit of a pipe dream for us at this point. While I personally don't agree with him as a top 10 pick that ranking seems to be the consensus so I doubt he makes it to us at roughly 17.

The question might be would the 17 plus Randle be enough to move us up to get him?

I was thinking Wolf similar to towns also, as a four or five combo.

I am 100% trying to move Gobert and Randle

[wolves_89]

My idea behind Thomas Sorber is simple: imagine replacing Randle with true defensive minded bigman: much less offense, but still a capable ball mover, an elite rebounder and rim protector. I can see as successful strategy because of following trends:

First and the most obvious reason: MIN need backup С badly. It is clear that last season despite bad fit at PF, Towns and Gobert created a lot of depth at C, and this depth already showed to be crucial for #1 defense. In some sense drafting a bigman might signal that MIN returns to already successful path. Also Gobert is declining, TC and Finch need to have a contingency plan

Second, McDaniels has been great playing more as PF. Last season MIN had luxury to play Anderson who could defend C/PF/SF, but McDaniels development as rebounder is crucial for PF position

Third, Reid has showed improvements as defender, but still it is less than ideal to play him as rim protector. Meanwhile he has showed more and more that he has wing skills by creating of the dribble, shooting pullup threes, and still can posting ups smaller opponents as bigmen do. This fact and McDaniels improvement creates some depth at PF. I wish Minott and Miller showed improvements tho.

Finally, if Sorber can be developed in Al Horford type of versatile big, I see a lot of similarities with BOS defensive structure

KP - Gobert = long drop defender
Horford - Sorber = versatile big
JT - McDaniels = oversized wing
Brown - Edwards = athletic guard
White - Clark = 3&D
NAW - Holiday = elite defender

+ Reid

I think Sorber would be a great pick, but I have a suspicion that he is going to be one of those guys that shoot up the board as the draft gets closer. If I had to guess, I'd say he ends up going in the late lottery.

[minimus]

I think Sorber would be a great pick, but I have a suspicion that he is going to be one of those guys that shoot up the board as the draft gets closer. If I had to guess, I'd say he ends up going in the late lottery.

Yeah, but at the moment I am comfortable with drafting one of Sorber, Fleming, Wolf, Maluach, Queen. I am not so sure about Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue (Toumani Camara???) Carter Bryant, Asa Newell and Johni Broome

[shangrila]

I think Sorber would be a great pick, but I have a suspicion that he is going to be one of those guys that shoot up the board as the draft gets closer. If I had to guess, I'd say he ends up going in the late lottery.

Yeah, but at the moment I am comfortable with drafting one of Sorber, Fleming, Wolf, Maluach, Queen. I am not so sure about Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue (Toumani Camara???) Carter Bryant, Asa Newell and Johni Broome

Sorber is the kind of guy that drops, if anything.

In game smarts and feel doesn't translate well in a workout setting. Athleticism is what pops, which isn't Sorber's strong suit.

Guys like Maluach, Fleming, Bryant, Newell, those types are likely to fly up boards.

[minimus]

I think Sorber would be a great pick, but I have a suspicion that he is going to be one of those guys that shoot up the board as the draft gets closer. If I had to guess, I'd say he ends up going in the late lottery.

Yeah, but at the moment I am comfortable with drafting one of Sorber, Fleming, Wolf, Maluach, Queen. I am not so sure about Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue (Toumani Camara???) Carter Bryant, Asa Newell and Johni Broome

Sorber is the kind of guy that drops, if anything.

In game smarts and feel doesn't translate well in a workout setting. Athleticism is what pops, which isn't Sorber's strong suit.

Guys like Maluach, Fleming, Bryant, Newell, those types are likely to fly up boards.

What are your thoughts about Johni Broome? Can he survive in smallball? I mean let say he is on the floor with Reid against opponent second unit, can he play in aggressive high wall defensive scheme? If not Broome then maybe Collin Murray-Boyles as undersized pseudo bigman?

P.S. I kind of expect that Fleming will kill in workout setting and will be drafted in top-10...

[shangrila]

Yeah, but at the moment I am comfortable with drafting one of Sorber, Fleming, Wolf, Maluach, Queen. I am not so sure about Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue (Toumani Camara???) Carter Bryant, Asa Newell and Johni Broome

Sorber is the kind of guy that drops, if anything.

In game smarts and feel doesn't translate well in a workout setting. Athleticism is what pops, which isn't Sorber's strong suit.

Guys like Maluach, Fleming, Bryant, Newell, those types are likely to fly up boards.

What are your thoughts about Johni Broome? Can he survive in smallball? I mean let say he is on the floor with Reid against opponent second unit, can he play in aggressive high wall defensive scheme? If not Broome then maybe Collin Murray-Boyles as undersized pseudo bigman?

P.S. I kind of expect that Fleming will kill in workout setting and will be drafted in top-10...

Interesting question.

I like Broome in general. I know he's older but he's got some insane production numbers at the moment; massive usage, doesn't turn it over (under 10% TOV) but still a great passer (over 20% AST, 2.5 AST-TO rate), good efficiency especially with his usage taken into consideration. Even the shooting might be better than it appears, as he's apparently at just over 40% from 3 on open looks (although the FT% needs to go up).

Defensively he looks like he moves his feet well for a guy his size. He's not CMB but from what I can see he should be able to aggressively hedge and play in schemes like that. He's got an elite BLK% for a big as well although he's not quite athletic enough for me to see it translating as well as others (like Walker Kessler, for example).

If you're looking for an example of how it might work you don't have to go back far, just look at the Randle-Reid lineups shortly before Randle's injury. Early in the season they tried Reid as the 5 man but it wasn't working, particularly against bigger players, so they swapped over to Randle and found a ton more success with his strength causing problems for bigger guys while Reid chases on the perimeter more. Broome could easily slide into that Randle role from that POV and might provide more as a rim protecter as well, minimising some of the issues with going small like that.

[BlacJacMac]

From last month:

2025 NBA draft: 10 risers and under-the-radar players
Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo
Jan 14, 2025, 06:45 AM ET

Danny Wolf, PG/PF, Michigan
Age: 20.6 | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 255
Projected draft range: 12-25

Why there's intrigue: The Yale transfer who represents Israel in FIBA competition has made the transition from the Ivy League to the Big Ten look seamless, helping No. 20 Michigan to a 5-0 conference record and top-10 KenPom ranking, while improbably seeing significant minutes at point guard despite being a 7-footer.

There isn't another player in college basketball like him with his ability to push off the defensive glass, creativity operating out of pick-and-roll handling, passing and finishing skillfully with both hands, and finding teammates off a live dribble. College bigs often have no idea how to defend his ball-screen actions with 7-foot-1 center Vlad Goldin, with Wolf's ability to play off crossovers and hesitation moves, reject screens, dish on the move and throw in 3-pointers pulling up against unders or ducking behind handoffs. He has improved his rebounding, finishing and defensive versatility from last season, showing a strong motor and sharp instincts recovering for blocks and steals while being in the right spots off the ball and generally holding his own.

What scouts are saying: "I can't remember the last time I saw a college big play that loose and free as a ball handler and passer. Some of the s--- he's doing; right hand, left hand. He's highly, highly skilled. ... He has a skill set that everyone is trying to find. My question is, when the lights get super super bright as the season moves on, can he maintain that swagger and confidence?"

Outlook: Wolf still has improvements to make on his outside shooting (35% 3-pointers, 59% free throws) and turnover rate (he lead all prospects with a 28% turnover percentage).

Michigan has some major tests in the next two months in the Big Ten in which defenses will be singularly focused on slowing him down, which will tell us more about the viability of his unique style of play against elite opponents. -- Givony

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43402156/2025-nba-draft-10-risers-radar-players-prospects

[Klomp]

I think Broome is a 5 in this era, I'm questioning whether he could play the 4. He's like a mesh of Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer and Luka Garza. I don't love the fit as much as other bigs, but I don't hate it.

[Klomp]

From last month:

2025 NBA draft: 10 risers and under-the-radar players
Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo
Jan 14, 2025, 06:45 AM ET

Danny Wolf, PG/PF, Michigan
Age: 20.6 | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 255
Projected draft range: 12-25

Why there's intrigue: The Yale transfer who represents Israel in FIBA competition has made the transition from the Ivy League to the Big Ten look seamless, helping No. 20 Michigan to a 5-0 conference record and top-10 KenPom ranking, while improbably seeing significant minutes at point guard despite being a 7-footer.

There isn't another player in college basketball like him with his ability to push off the defensive glass, creativity operating out of pick-and-roll handling, passing and finishing skillfully with both hands, and finding teammates off a live dribble. College bigs often have no idea how to defend his ball-screen actions with 7-foot-1 center Vlad Goldin, with Wolf's ability to play off crossovers and hesitation moves, reject screens, dish on the move and throw in 3-pointers pulling up against unders or ducking behind handoffs. He has improved his rebounding, finishing and defensive versatility from last season, showing a strong motor and sharp instincts recovering for blocks and steals while being in the right spots off the ball and generally holding his own.

What scouts are saying: "I can't remember the last time I saw a college big play that loose and free as a ball handler and passer. Some of the s--- he's doing; right hand, left hand. He's highly, highly skilled. ... He has a skill set that everyone is trying to find. My question is, when the lights get super super bright as the season moves on, can he maintain that swagger and confidence?"

Outlook: Wolf still has improvements to make on his outside shooting (35% 3-pointers, 59% free throws) and turnover rate (he lead all prospects with a 28% turnover percentage).

Michigan has some major tests in the next two months in the Big Ten in which defenses will be singularly focused on slowing him down, which will tell us more about the viability of his unique style of play against elite opponents. -- Givony

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43402156/2025-nba-draft-10-risers-radar-players-prospects

His pure skill level is very much Naz-like.

[shangrila]

I think Broome is a 5 in this era, I'm questioning whether he could play the 4. He's like a mesh of Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer and Luka Garza. I don't love the fit as much as other bigs, but I don't hate it.

I'd agree with that.

A comp I'd give is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who's done well for Golden State as a late 2nd pickup. Broome is either equal with or better than TJD in most statistical categories, although he is less efficient (caused by the fact he takes 3s and only hits them at a 30% clip, which decreases his overall FG% as compared to TJD who took no 3s).

I'm actually really coming around on Broome. I can't see how he fails in the NBA as at worst he should be a backup and overall his skillset is something we could use behind Gobert (imagine a better defending Garza).

[Klomp]

I think Broome is a 5 in this era, I'm questioning whether he could play the 4. He's like a mesh of Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer and Luka Garza. I don't love the fit as much as other bigs, but I don't hate it.

I'd agree with that.

A comp I'd give is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who's done well for Golden State as a late 2nd pickup. Broome is either equal with or better than TJD in most statistical categories, although he is less efficient (caused by the fact he takes 3s and only hits them at a 30% clip, which decreases his overall FG% as compared to TJD who took no 3s).

I'm actually really coming around on Broome. I can't see how he fails in the NBA as at worst he should be a backup and overall his skillset is something we could use behind Gobert (imagine a better defending Garza).

That's another great comp!

[minimus]

Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (foot) to undergo season-ending surgery.

Damn...

[younggunsmn]

Whoa slow down Pistons, we don't want that pick to be in the 20's.
Just stay in that 6th seed spot and we're all good.