2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[threrf23]

He’s an interesting case, should he have his stock discounted and by how much. Counter point is he had a head injury sometime around Christmas and his shooting fell off after that, is he a guy you can grab at a discount due to a slump.

Other piece is is he just struggling as the main guy compared to how he was killing it as part of an elite team. That could go either way considering his role here.

He's 6'9 210, averaging 14+ rebounds per 40, and putting up decent stock/foul numbers. Still under 20 y/o. More efficient that Precious Achiuwa was. Per 40, he is shooting 10-17 inside the arc. He's been getting to the foul line. Put up a 41/15 line a couple of weeks ago. He is not struggling, IMO.

Give him a couple of years and a mature physique and he is potentially a quality big man, if his shot improves (realistic) and he turns out to have good perimeter skills, all the better. Should be an automatic pick for us if he is still on the board, IMO.

Edit, wait, ignore me, sorry....was talking JT Toppin, was mentioned right above your post but you were quoting someone else...nonetheless I like JT Toppin.

[winsomme2]

Anybody know anything about Bennett Stirtz?

I hadn’t heard his name before but then just saw him as a first round pick on a mock draft.

Just watching a little footage of him, he kinda reminds me of Ty Jerome. Sneaky athletic and can score at three levels.

[redslastlaugh]

On the St Joes game today on USA the announcers said Brad Stevens was present in person at the Feb 22 St. Joe’s vs Richmond game to scout Rasheer Fleming, and that other high level NBA scouts were in attendance as well including Nick Collison who works under Presti now for OKC.

Fleming had 23/6/2 with 2 stocks in the game.

Watch on YouTube

[Hal14]

On the St Joes game today on USA the announcers said Brad Stevens was present in person at the Feb 22 St. Joe’s vs Richmond game to scout Rasheer Fleming, and that other high level NBA scouts were in attendance as well including Nick Collison who works under Presti now for OKC.

Fleming had 23/6/2 with 2 stocks in the game.

Watch on YouTube

Not a surprise if Brad is having a look at Fleming.

-Rumor has it, we only want to draft someone who can shoot and Fleming is shooting well over 40% from 3 this season
-We always (past few yrs) seem to be on. this neverending quest for a backup PF..we thought we had one in Grant but he's gone..we drafted Watson to maybe be that guy but he's just been in maine, has barely gotten garbage time with the big club this season, let alone any real mins so the search continues
-Fleming is projected somewhere in the latter part of the 1st round, where we'll be picking..if we don't trade the pick..

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

I doubt Fleming will be available when the Celtics are drafting, I see him going in the top 25. On another NBA team, I could see him starting at power forward. He seems like a pretty good prospect, but the Celtics are going to have to trade up for him, if they want him.

[Celts17Pride]

Draft a defensive wing that can make a shot

[165bows]

Draft a defensive wing that can make a shot

Nique Clifford D+3 and good experience, bigger younger option is Carter Bryant though neither are great shooters.

Not too many in their range really.

[phincsfan]

Draft a defensive wing that can make a shot

Now that’s a perfect world

[winsomme2]

Is Milan Momcilovic an NBA level prospect?

I stumbled across an Iowa State game this weekend and he was looking pretty good.

[cl2117]

I would like to see us go for a big if possible.

Horford is retiring soon. KP has injury issues. Tillman looks cooked. We may get priced out on Kornet. Queta is a great developmental option but still isn't likely to be able to be a playoff rotation piece. Feels like adding another big, especially if Horford sticks around, means we're over indexing on the position but finding a competent big with upside would be huge for our ability to keep the expensive parts of this team together and also a post-Horford world.

Apart from that I'm happy to keep spamming the 3&D archetype until we hit on it because it's got to be the most valuable roleplaying asset you can find.

Not bothering to dig too deep into the draft until after the season, but just from scanning through some big boards it seems like there are plenty of 3&D profile guys as well as a handful of bigs who should be available when we're on the clock.

[brackdan70]

I would like to see us go for a big if possible.

Horford is retiring soon. KP has injury issues. Tillman looks cooked. We may get priced out on Kornet. Queta is a great developmental option but is still more likely than not to be able to be a playoff rotation piece. Feels like adding another big, especially if Horford sticks around, means we're over indexing on the position but finding a competent big with upside would be huge for our ability to keep the expensive parts of this team together and also a post-Horford world.

Apart from that I'm happy to keep spamming the 3&D archetype until we hit on it because it's got to be the most valuable roleplaying asset you can find.

Not bothering to dig too deep into the draft until after the season, but just from scanning through some big boards it seems like there are plenty of 3&D profile guys as well as a handful of bigs who should be available when we're on the clock.

I am with you. I think there will be good players when we draft. I want a big as well (a guy better than Queta and Kornet) and if we keep two picks I want a taller D White with the other (asking too much lol)

[brackdan70]

Is Milan Momcilovic an NBA level prospect?

I stumbled across an Iowa State game this weekend and he was looking pretty good.

I think he could be. I also think he might wait a year to come out.

[phincsfan]

Potential undrafted possibilities for 25' who are interesting:

Payton Sandfort 22yrs 6'7 ** All around good player

Mark Sears 23yrs 6'1 **Small but an absolute dawg

Koby Brea - 22yrs 6'7" **Very good at shooting the 3

[Hal14]

Is Milan Momcilovic an NBA level prospect?

I stumbled across an Iowa State game this weekend and he was looking pretty good.

Maybe. Certainly appears to fit the "tall wing shooter with basketball IQ, fundamentals but limited in terms of defense, athleticism and driving" that Brad seems to like.

So I'm sure he's at least on our brain trusts's radar.

But his draft stock seems pretty low, partly because he missed a chunk of the season with an injury. And he still has 2 more years of college eligibility left after this one so I figure he'll probably return for another year of college ball..

[165bows]

On the St Joes game today on USA the announcers said Brad Stevens was present in person at the Feb 22 St. Joe’s vs Richmond game to scout Rasheer Fleming, and that other high level NBA scouts were in attendance as well including Nick Collison who works under Presti now for OKC.

Fleming had 23/6/2 with 2 stocks in the game.

Watch on YouTube

Not a surprise if Brad is having a look at Fleming.

-Rumor has it, we only want to draft someone who can shoot and Fleming is shooting well over 40% from 3 this season
-We always (past few yrs) seem to be on. this neverending quest for a backup PF..we thought we had one in Grant but he's gone..we drafted Watson to maybe be that guy but he's just been in maine, has barely gotten garbage time with the big club this season, let alone any real mins so the search continues
-Fleming is projected somewhere in the latter part of the 1st round, where we'll be picking..if we don't trade the pick..

Tiny clips there obviously but he looks good. Just his athleticism at his size changing ends on the court pops a bit, has NBA legs as Bill Simmons used to say (or something like that).

I'd written this guy off as either too good for Boston's pick or as the inevitable overhyped long athletic shooter (skal labissiere type).

Maybe too hasty though.

[djFan71]

I would like to see us go for a big if possible.

Horford is retiring soon. KP has injury issues. Tillman looks cooked. We may get priced out on Kornet. Queta is a great developmental option but is still more likely than not to be able to be a playoff rotation piece. Feels like adding another big, especially if Horford sticks around, means we're over indexing on the position but finding a competent big with upside would be huge for our ability to keep the expensive parts of this team together and also a post-Horford world.

Apart from that I'm happy to keep spamming the 3&D archetype until we hit on it because it's got to be the most valuable roleplaying asset you can find.

Not bothering to dig too deep into the draft until after the season, but just from scanning through some big boards it seems like there are plenty of 3&D profile guys as well as a handful of bigs who should be available when we're on the clock.

I am with you. I think there will be good players when we draft. I want a big as well (a guy better than Queta and Kornet) and if we keep two picks I want a taller D White with the other (asking too much lol)

A Fleming/Byrd draft is my dream at this point to get just that. I'd use Hauser to make it happen. Move up from 28, save some Hauser salary (assuming something will have to come back, so not all of it). Depending on details, might take another 2nd to make it happen.

[redslastlaugh]

A poster did a statistical analysis looking for 2025 potential steals.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1j2csrb/prospect_query_for_later_round_talent/

The model identified Walter Clayton Jr as a potential PG steal & Nique Clifford and Cedric Coward as underrated SG/SF… the post has some interesting graphics comparing to steals in previous drafts like Brunson, Reaves etc.

[165bows]

A poster did a statistical analysis looking for 2025 potential steals.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1j2csrb/prospect_query_for_later_round_talent/

The model identified Walter Clayton Jr as a potential PG steal & Nique Clifford and Cedric Coward as underrated SG/SF… the post has some interesting graphics comparing to steals in previous drafts like Brunson, Reaves etc.

I brought up Walter Clayton Jr a bit back in this thread, based on his clear high level statistical production. Clifford has def been talked about a lot this year and last.

Coward not sure if we talked about here, I think he came up on the draft board. Great statistical profile actually. 6'6", 21/8.5/4.4 per 40 on elite efficiency, career .595/.388/.832 shooting splits. 1.9%/3.7% steal and block rates.

.492/.508 3PATr and FTr, just what this team likes to do.

I don't know much at all about him but a ton to like there obviously, pretty much zero statistical flaws in his line this year. Still 21 years old on draft night according to RealGM, would not at all be surprised to see him be a first round pick unless he's an awful cherry picker no D guy.

Edit: https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/cedric-coward-scouting-report

Reading this later, yeah this guy is a first rounder lol, def should be on our radar as he is an archetype this team absolutely loves.

[redslastlaugh]

I haven’t kept up with Cedric Coward. I did a google and learned he played 6 games before season ending shoulder surgery. Don’t know his recovery timeline. Givony has him 50 ish, Vecenie has him 40 ish.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/despite-season-ending-injury-cedric-coward-still-worth-an-nba-draft-pick

I don't know much at all about him but a ton to like there obviously, pretty much zero statistical flaws in his line this year. Still 21 years old on draft night according to RealGM, would not at all be surprised to see him be a first round pick unless he's an awful cherry picker no D guy.

Edit: https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/cedric-coward-scouting-report

Reading this later, yeah this guy is a first rounder lol, def should be on our radar as he is an archetype this team absolutely loves.

[165bows]

I haven’t kept up with Cedric Coward. I did a google and learned he played 6 games before season ending shoulder surgery. Don’t know his recovery timeline. Givony has him 50 ish, Vecenie has him 40 ish.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/despite-season-ending-injury-cedric-coward-still-worth-an-nba-draft-pick

I don't know much at all about him but a ton to like there obviously, pretty much zero statistical flaws in his line this year. Still 21 years old on draft night according to RealGM, would not at all be surprised to see him be a first round pick unless he's an awful cherry picker no D guy.

Edit: https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/cedric-coward-scouting-report

Reading this later, yeah this guy is a first rounder lol, def should be on our radar as he is an archetype this team absolutely loves.

I’m a total idiot I didn’t see how few games he’s played at a high level lol.