2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 3

[Rapsfan07]

CMB seems like an undersized PF. We have a lot of power forwards on our team. We need to target

Future center
POA defender starting PG
Wing defender

This draft is noticeably short on PG talent but I agree - I think we need to be filling those spots as well.

Centers: There seems to be a few solid guys available in the later part of the first round. Right now, my main guy is Alex Condon who is current projected in the second round but I don't think he stays there. If he does, he'd be a HUGE pick up. If Broome is 6"10 - 6"11 proper, I'd give him a look as well. Either way, no need to waste a pick on any lottery Cs as I'm fairly certain you can get most of what they produce from these guys.

Wing defenders: Although he's listed as a PF, I think Fleming should be able to guard SFs at least some of the time. He seems to defend well, rebound and shoot. Thiero is growing on me a bit lately as well. If he can guard both forward spots in the NBA, he'd help our depth a lot as well.

As for guards, I think Richarson could be an interesting piece but outside of him, there isn't anyone else I'd really consider.

Honorable mention goes to Wolf. Such a unique talent. Could be Olynyk. Could be Markkanen. Could be Jokic 2.0. Either way, I'd trade Dick in a heartbeat to take a chance on him. Would be a solid player for our bench who can score inside, rebound, shoot the 3 and be a hub for the bench unit.

[RoteSchroder]

Not sure if they're declaring for the 2025 draft: Moustapha Thiam, Blake Harper

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I want more 2nds (and 1sts)

[Psubs]

Read on Twitter

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I can't see him busting at all. His floor is bigger Buddy Hield.

[BoyzNTheHood]

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I can't see him busting at all. His floor is bigger Buddy Hield.

Yeah, no shot of him being a bust in the modern NBA. Plus, his pull up 3 in transition is a lethal and unguardable at any level.

[Rapsfan07]

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I can't see him busting at all. His floor is bigger Buddy Hield.

He just gets buckets man. It's crazy

[WuTang_CMB]

Ya, his college stats are far better than Kornet's

Kelly is a better comp. Kelly was the better scorer, but Wolf rebounds better, shoots the three better and passed better.

If you are getting a better version of Kelly that is a damn fine player.

Kornett is a scrub. Wolf can handle it, rebound, and has a high IQ that will seperate himself amongst bigs. If we drop to 8-10, he'll be in the mix.

I don't mean it as a slight, but Wolf if he sticks in the NBA will be threes and some defense like what Kornett does. The dream of him throwing dimes like in college will die quickly because no coach is going to let him act this wild.

I dont see the comparison. Wolf plays like Olynyk the most out of anyone in the league due to his high IQ and ability to initiate / pass out of pick and rolls and dho’s.

[RoteSchroder]

Moustapha Thiam was the #1 center for the 2025 class before reclassifying to 2024. He’s displayed more offensive moves, shooting and shot blocking than Maluach. 7’1/7’2 maybe still growing. Standing reach of 9’6.75 (Edey/Clingan at 9’7)

Still need to see his lowlights, but is there a reason we would take Maluach over him?

[ArthurVandelay]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

[WuTang_CMB]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

It seems like this is the million dollar question for Masai connected / African players - how long has Muluach been playing basketball?

[MEDIC]

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The guy has star written all over him.

I wouldn't be shocked if he went top 4.

[Psubs]

Moustapha Thiam was the #1 center for the 2025 class before reclassifying to 2024. He’s displayed more offensive moves, shooting and shot blocking than Maluach. 7’1/7’2 maybe still growing. Standing reach of 9’6.75 (Edey/Clingan at 9’7)

Still need to see his lowlights, but is there a reason we would take Maluach over him?

Even before Maluach going to Duke, how have we not brought up Thiam? He's shooting 30% from 3 already and putting up 2.7 blocks. Blocks / Foul is a sweet 0.92; evident in this clip that he doesn't go for ball fakes and able to make the block after. Just great natural instincts.

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WTF, he moves like a PF. Looks like skinny Shaq. Might end up a thicker Wemby. I'd say his comp could be Clingan that can shoot FT's (70%) and 3's!!!

Geez, outisde of the top 5, I'm taking Thiam. Then like trade some players to get Fleming.

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His 3pt shoot looks so smooth, better than RJ, Boucher and Scottie.

When he moves, he looks so bouncy like VJ Edgecombe, not like a 7'2 player. Like skinny Shaq! Maybe like a more raw Embiid?

If Tijane Salaun can be drafted #6, the 7'2 version should be drafted before Maluach. If Maluach was on UCF, he wouldn't get any exposure and would come back for his sophomore season. If Thiam was on Duke, he would be in consideration for the #2 pick behind Flagg.

I can see him going #6 after Flagg, Harper, Bailey, VJ and Tre. Why not? Looks like a more nimble Zach Edey with a jumper.

[Psubs]

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/?year-mock=2026

They at least have him coming back and being mocked #34 in 2026. This was updated Feb 14, so not including his last 2 great games.

Bigger, more mobile and coordinated Kel el Ware?

The small sample eye-test is getting me excited.

[Yallbecrazy]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

Masai has drafted how many guys out of Africa? Is Siakam the only one?
Siakam had pretty great advanced and predictor stats.
Raptors lean heavily on the analytics department, and Malauch's poor passing really makes him a bad fit in Darko's system.
I think the comparisons to Masai are a little lazy and don't go beyond Africa and Masai's camps.

[ArthurVandelay]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

Masai has drafted how many guys out of Africa? Is Siakam the only one?
Siakam had pretty great advanced and predictor stats.
Raptors lean heavily on the analytics department, and Malauch's poor passing really makes him a bad fit in Darko's system.
I think the comparisons to Masai are a little lazy and don't go beyond Africa and Masai's camps.

He drafted Chomche last year, no? Who do you think was the driving force behind the Raptors trading for/picking Soloman Alibi back in the 2010?

He recently talked about the (paraphrasing) "number of 7'2 guys learning the game and coming out of Africa in the coming years."

Without question Masai knows more than any other executive about the talent coming from Africa. Maluach is a top rated prospect who got his start through Giants of Africa/BAL, is now at an elite NCAA school, is generally mocked to where the Raptors will be picking (pre-lottery), and fills a real position of long-term need.

I get what you're saying about the lazy assessment and tying anything African to Masai, but I don't think it is accurate in this case for the reasons I listed.

[Psubs]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

Masai has drafted how many guys out of Africa? Is Siakam the only one?
Siakam had pretty great advanced and predictor stats.
Raptors lean heavily on the analytics department, and Malauch's poor passing really makes him a bad fit in Darko's system.
I think the comparisons to Masai are a little lazy and don't go beyond Africa and Masai's camps.

Ulrich Chomche

[RoteSchroder]

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/?year-mock=2026

They at least have him coming back and being mocked #34 in 2026. This was updated Feb 14, so not including his last 2 great games.

Bigger, more mobile and coordinated Kel el Ware?

The small sample eye-test is getting me excited.

Was ranked #59 in 2025 on another mock. I think a Jazz fan on reddit had him in the 20’s in 2025.

If we get #8-10 and management do their homework and like what they see, I’d tell him to declare and give him a draft promise. But there’s not enough footage of him to determine what flaws or red flags he may have. I think it’s been mentioned that he’s not as mobile as Maluach. His rebound % is also lower and BPA isn’t that strong, maybe due to team performance.

He started b-ball at 13 and was like 6’5 or something a few years ago.

[Pointgod]

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The guy has star written all over him.

I wouldn't be shocked if he went top 4.

I think Tre Johnson turning into a star is entirely dependent on him landing on a team that will build good habits and let him develop the right way. God help us all of the Spurs or Thunder land this kid.

[DreamTeam09]

Barring lottery luck and the possibility the Raptors slip to 7th or 8th, it feels like the writing is on the wall about the draft. Maluach has the long term Ujiri connections and he also fills a long term position of need with the team. I'm not a fan but I'm trying to warm up to the idea.

I've been comparing highlights and stats of Maluach to Lively II and Mark Williams. My biggest concern, like everyone else, is that it doesn't seem Maluach has the same feel for the game as those guys. It is evident in his ast%, stl%, and blk%. On the bright side there is comparable rebound rates, WS/40, and BPM. While Lively and Williams have a better overall feel for the game, Maluach definitely has the better touch, including around the rim, from deep, and ft.

What might be the biggest saving grace for Maluach (for me at least) is in his freshman year he is a year younger than Williams and 2.5 years younger than Lively plus Maluach didn't start playing basketball until 12-13 years old. When you consider what Maluach is doing with the experience and age disadvantage of Lively and Williams, I'm starting to feel a bit better about the prospects of drafting him.

Full disclosure: I'm really talking myself into this

He prospects well compared to lively / lively didn't show a lot at Duke either, at least not compared to the expectations of the Mavericks. Khaman is tall and mobile so the lively and mark Williams comparison are valid. I expect us to jump up in the draft but part of me wants us to remain at 5 for Khaman

[Dalek]

I mean am I crazy for thinking we draft Tre Johnson to be our pseudo starting PG? Barnes and Barrett get a ton of possession initiation anyway, and why can't Tre Johnson be a better version of Quickley. He has true star potential.

I am convinced Quickley is not a true starting PG, anyway. Picks up his dribble way too often, has no bag to create his own shot, and cannot finish at the rim. He is essentially providing value as a pull-up threat and catch and shoot option. Now, Johnson is bigger and can create off the dribble as well as shoot from anywhere on the floor. I kind of think of him as a Devin Booker type of player.

Tre Johnson
Barrett
Barnes
Ingram
Poeltl

Quickley
Dick
Walter
Mogbo?
Robinson?

That's a potent offense with some obvious defensive issues, but I like Johnson because if we move off RJ he can fill in, and he has a hope of becoming an all-star more than most of the other options outside the top two in the class.