2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 4

[Ell Curry]

Half-watching Duke vs UNC.

Maluach - Enormous, looked comfortable hitting a 3. Not super fluid or co-ordinated, like you don't expect him to get rebounds that don't come to him, but he's also not looking to score and having a big impact on the game. I would like a Brook Lopez/Myles Turner kinda guy, if we can play 5 out and have a giant at center on D, that's a good recipe for the next decade to be competitive at least, and if Scottie Barnes is gonna thrive on O, it's gotta be with a 5 who can shoot. It's not for sure that Maluach can, but it seems more likely than not if he keeps working at it for the next few years. Don't really think he'll be able to attack closeouts, but it's nice at the end of the shot clock and it seems plausible he could drag opposing centers out of the lane if he finds a couple spots he can hit 3s from. I like how team-centric he seems. Happy to set actual picks, doesn't try to dribble or force anything, rolls hard. I don't think he's Embiid, but maybe a less athletic Patrick Ewing. That's still a good starting center.

Powell - He just stands in the corner in their O to space the floor. I have no idea how good he is, and that's probably not his fault. Just the usual small college veteran guards making it hard to tell how good their frontcourt teammates are on O. He does look like an NBA SF, though. Not a big one, but he looks bigger than the 2-guard sized guys like Tre Johnson and Jakucionis and such.

[DreamTeam09]

Half-watching Duke vs UNC.

Maluach - Enormous, looked comfortable hitting a 3. Not super fluid or co-ordinated, like you don't expect him to get rebounds that don't come to him, but he's also not looking to score and having a big impact on the game. I would like a Brook Lopez/Myles Turner kinda guy, if we can play 5 out and have a giant at center on D, that's a good recipe for the next decade to be competitive at least, and if Scottie Barnes is gonna thrive on O, it's gotta be with a 5 who can shoot. It's not for sure that Maluach can, but it seems more likely than not if he keeps working at it for the next few years. Don't really think he'll be able to attack closeouts, but it's nice at the end of the shot clock and it seems plausible he could drag opposing centers out of the lane if he finds a couple spots he can hit 3s from. I like how team-centric he seems. Happy to set actual picks, doesn't try to dribble or force anything, rolls hard. I don't think he's Embiid, but maybe a less athletic Patrick Ewing. That's still a good starting center.

Powell - He just stands in the corner in their O to space the floor. I have no idea how good he is, and that's probably not his fault. Just the usual small college veteran guards making it hard to tell how good their frontcourt teammates are on O. He does look like an NBA SF, though. Not a big one, but he looks bigger than the 2-guard sized guys like Tre Johnson and Jakucionis and such.

We've never seen Scottie with a Lob threat vertical spacer before, I agree a floor spacer would be cool, but a lob threat will unlock the game as well. He works well with Jak because Jak can finish those pocket passes with the best of em, having a rim rolling put the ball anywhere and go get it C will help him get down hill & to the rim even more.
Maluach being a 75% FT shooter also is a bonus as well

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

lane violation might cost UNC game

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

yaxel 7 reb 3 ast 2 blk in first 6.5 mins of game

[Indeed]

I've been a huge fan of D Queen. My biggest thing is if he can hold down the center position, I think his jumpshot will come and he's smart enough to be able to defend decent.

I like him, and I feel he can be a PF if he lose some weight.
Hope he measures well on his wingspan to play both PF and C spots on defense, that would be a good fit for us.

[RoteSchroder]

Half-watching Duke vs UNC.

Maluach - Enormous, looked comfortable hitting a 3. Not super fluid or co-ordinated, like you don't expect him to get rebounds that don't come to him, but he's also not looking to score and having a big impact on the game. I would like a Brook Lopez/Myles Turner kinda guy, if we can play 5 out and have a giant at center on D, that's a good recipe for the next decade to be competitive at least, and if Scottie Barnes is gonna thrive on O, it's gotta be with a 5 who can shoot. It's not for sure that Maluach can, but it seems more likely than not if he keeps working at it for the next few years. Don't really think he'll be able to attack closeouts, but it's nice at the end of the shot clock and it seems plausible he could drag opposing centers out of the lane if he finds a couple spots he can hit 3s from. I like how team-centric he seems. Happy to set actual picks, doesn't try to dribble or force anything, rolls hard. I don't think he's Embiid, but maybe a less athletic Patrick Ewing. That's still a good starting center.

I thought Maluach’s selling point was his mobility, seems a lot more mobile than Lopez

With Cooper out (a high impact defender), it’s a good time to evaluate Maluach though

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

lendeborg just had a god tier game against east carolina

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

That Lendeborg dude is intriguing

[DreamTeam09]

Video game numbers

[PhilBlackson]

We're not getting Maluach.

It's gonna be one of Queen or Fleming, might as well book it at this point.

[bballsparkin]

Is Fears really 6 foot 4. He doesn't look it to me in that game vs UK. His offence is impressive but will he be a sieve in the NBA defensively?

[Psubs]

lendeborg just had a god tier game against east carolina

Their PF is 6'3, 210 lbs. Their other starting big is 6'8, 214 lbs.

At least he had 8 assists and 0 turnovers, with 5 steals and 4 blks.

Maybe he's a better prospect than JT Toppin?

[PhilBlackson]

I honestly don't see us even strongly considering Fears.

I personally like him....but he dominates the ball, I highly doubt the FO wants to take ball out of all of Scottie, BI, RJ and IQ's hands just to build up a rookie who would also be vying for IQ and Shead's minutes which would also mean there would be very little playing time for him and a pretty big waste of a lottery pick.

You can say he would replace IQ long term but he'd still have to build his way up to that point and I don't think when Masai is due for his next contract that he's letting his latest lottery pick be buried in the 3rd string.

[S.W.A.N]

We're not getting Maluach.

It's gonna be one of Queen or Fleming, might as well book it at this point.

I'd say he's actually the most likely pick. The tiers seem to sorting themleves out now. A top 5-6 guys and then it eye of the beer holder.

Cooper

Harper
VJ
Ace

Tre
Yak

Kon
Kaman
Fears

If 76ers are picking right in front of us Kaman probably gone, but
other them I don't see Brooklyn or Spurs going Kaman

[PhilBlackson]

We're not getting Maluach.

It's gonna be one of Queen or Fleming, might as well book it at this point.

I'd say he's actually the most likely pick. The tiers seem to sorting themleves out now. A top 5-6 guys and then it eye of the beer holder.

Cooper

Harper
VJ
Ace

Tre
Yak

Kon
Kaman
Fears

If 76ers are picking right in front of us Kaman probably gone, but
other them I don't see Brooklyn or Spurs going Kaman

I wouldn't rule out the Spurs, remember they did want to bring Poeltl back so they could have Wemby at PF which would actually likely result in him being a healthier player long term, so don't rule it out.

I do think they will look to add some shooting to open up the court for Fox & Castle more so I would assume Kon, Liam will be one of their targets BUT they do have ATL's pick too, McNeeley might still be available then which would allow them to address another need early on. I mean Wemby/Khaman would be like a Mobley/Allen on steroids -- that would be pretty damn intriguing to me if I were in the Spurs FO....would only be fitting too that he's taken right before our pick by our old draft pick friends the Spurs.

But yeah I don't think BKN will go that route. I think they'll try to find someone a little more dynamic whether that's Tre, Kasp or Fears. I do think the Nets will look to add a player that they think can help excite their fans during another long tank next year. One way or the other though, I no longer think we're gonna get Khaman because we're just falling too far outta reach and that we'll ultimately be deciding between Queen or Fleming where the FO will either go BPA with Queen to be a possible successor to Yak AND much needed C depth oooor the think they can get more out of Fleming and he's damn near an ideal fit with Scottie, BI & even Yak.

[LoveMyRaps]

Traore over Fears any day of the week.

[Son Goku 25]

Traore over Fears any day of the week.

Traore being compared to Lonzo I can def see our FO being interested in him. Raps been after Lonzo in the past.

[RoteSchroder]

Is Fears really 6 foot 4. He doesn't look it to me in that game vs UK. His offence is impressive but will he be a sieve in the NBA defensively?

If we take a guard, I think you go Jase over Fears under any circumstance and just live with the consequences. EDIT: Also need to consider Jase's measurements. It's between Traore/Jase/Fears.

We clearly need a PF/C or pure C, but if Jase is the BPA at 7-10, you take him. If he's gone, we take a big over Fears..there are plenty available in that range.

At 7-10, we may be looking at something like:

Maluach
Derik Queen
CMB
Traore
Asa Newell
Fears

Sleepers:
Noa Essengue - don't think he has potential beyond an elite role player, but he has a good motor and Masai likes long players
Jase
Alex Condon

2nd round (based off the available players in a few mocks):
Bogoljub Markovic
Joan Beringer
Ryan Kalkbrenner
Sergio De Larrea

[Ell Curry]

Half-watching Duke vs UNC.

Maluach - Enormous, looked comfortable hitting a 3. Not super fluid or co-ordinated, like you don't expect him to get rebounds that don't come to him, but he's also not looking to score and having a big impact on the game. I would like a Brook Lopez/Myles Turner kinda guy, if we can play 5 out and have a giant at center on D, that's a good recipe for the next decade to be competitive at least, and if Scottie Barnes is gonna thrive on O, it's gotta be with a 5 who can shoot. It's not for sure that Maluach can, but it seems more likely than not if he keeps working at it for the next few years. Don't really think he'll be able to attack closeouts, but it's nice at the end of the shot clock and it seems plausible he could drag opposing centers out of the lane if he finds a couple spots he can hit 3s from. I like how team-centric he seems. Happy to set actual picks, doesn't try to dribble or force anything, rolls hard. I don't think he's Embiid, but maybe a less athletic Patrick Ewing. That's still a good starting center.

I thought Maluach’s selling point was his mobility, seems a lot more mobile than Lopez

With Cooper out (a high impact defender), it’s a good time to evaluate Maluach though

He doesn't look as mobile to me as say Missi did last year, but he moves better than Brook Lopez, yeah. I meant more so in the sense of solid defensive anchor at center who can hit 3s, which has been a pre-requisite for most of the champions lately (Jokic - you can quibble with the D but the metrics aren't bad and obviously the spacing/3pt are elite - and then Draymond, Lopez, Horford/KP, AD, Marc Gasol/Ibaka).