2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Kobblehead]

My ideal scenario would be to trade #6 to Brooklyn for #21, #24, and #26.

With those picks, we'd be able land both Carter Bryant and Miles Byrd. Two of the best three and D guys in the class. We'd also be able to land one of the playmaking Cs. Someone like Johni Broome, Danny Wolf, or Alex Condon.

I’m starting to think this wouldn’t be the worst move. Ideally, we move up to three in the lottery and the Nets desperately want Ace, so we trade with them for pick(s) this year and future pick(s). After the top two, we’re in role player territory, so it’d be better to punt to another year if a team is desperate enough for Ace.

I legtit think this is our best path. Thank you for bringing Myles Byrd to my attention. I think this guy is just what we need as a starting G/F

[Kobblehead]

Duke's Sion James seems to be a coach's player type. I see a cross between Justise Winslow and Andre Carter. Dude will never be a scorer, but he does all da little things.

[Negrodamus]

Duke's Sion James seems to be a coach's player type. I see a cross between Justise Winslow and Andre Carter. Dude will never be a scorer, but he does all da little things.

I imagine it’s the nature of having top flight recruits who score on the team, but his shooting numbers suggest he should be shooting a ton more. 60% 2FG, 40% 3FG, 80% FT. Let him cook.

[Kobblehead]

Seems like every prospect after the top 3 is smaller than listed.

In a general rule, subtract two inches (pause) from any official listing and you'll be closer to the truth.

So it would behoove us to only pay attention to guys listed at 6'6" (to assure they're at least 6'4" barefoot).

[Kobblehead]

Knueppel has my attention after his performance today carrying Duke to the win in the absence of Flagg. If he can take Duke the distance in the ACC as a creator, I'm on board.

At the end of the day, I'm confident in his size and abiltity to improve offensive symetry because he's a bomber from three. It wouldn't be the worst result for us to land him with our pick.

My pause would be, can he rebound well enough on the wing? And of course he's going to be picked on in a playoff series.

[Negrodamus]

Read on Twitter

Just a freak. Get him in the weight room this summer and work on that shot, you have an All Star.

[Arsenal]

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Just a freak. Get him in the weight room this summer and work on that shot, you have an All Star.

What about the other end? Wolf and Goldin put up huge numbers and dominated the boards. Then Queen got blown by for a layup by Donaldson in about 3 seconds to lose the game. The fancy moves look nice but bigs who can’t defend usually aren’t worth much in the pros.

[Negrodamus]

Read on Twitter

Just a freak. Get him in the weight room this summer and work on that shot, you have an All Star.

What about the other end? Wolf and Goldin put up huge numbers and dominated the boards. Then Queen got blown by for a layup by Donaldson in about 3 seconds to lose the game. The fancy moves look nice but bigs who can’t defend usually aren’t worth much in the pros.

Statistically, he does well defensively. He has the instincts for it. But you're right, he played poorly in this game on defense. From purely a draft evaluation standpoint, the fancy moves and Maryland's reliance on him to carry the scoring load for most the game is why he's an alluring prospect. He can work on his body and improve technique on defense, but he has skills that most NBA bigs could only wish they had.

[76ciology]

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Just a freak. Get him in the weight room this summer and work on that shot, you have an All Star.

Is he really a freak, though? That’s my concern. His length is just average for a 4/5. It reminds me of how Trayce Jackson-Davis or Okafor looked dominant in the NCAA but struggled to translate that dominance to the NBA.

With his heavy reliance on paint scoring, I think you need a freakish physique—like Giannis, Wemby, or Zion—to make it work at the next level, and I just don’t see that in Queen.

At best, he’d be like Paolo Banchero—putting up 20+ PPG on low-50s TS%, which doesn’t really move the needle on offense. Not because he’s a bad player, but because the opposing team’s offense (likely perimeter-generated) is just far more potent.

Can you imagine an NBA Finals where a team led by Derik Queen as the go-to guy is expected to keep up with a Kyrie-Luka duo or Tatum and the Celtics’ 5-out offense? It’s hard to see that working.

And if the argument is that he’d slide into a 3rd option role, doesn’t that kill a lot of his value? Most of what makes him appealing is his scoring ability—if that’s reduced, wouldn’t you be better off with a defensive-minded 4/5 with most of your scoring from the 1-2-3 positions fits more seamlessly in a playoff setting?

[76ciology]

If we’re gonna go for that draft and develop route, then we need to look at Maluach. 9’5” standing reach. Close to 7’7” wingspan. Can reach the rim without jumping. Showed some shooting skills against team USA.

Watch on YouTube

[Mik317]

you are banking on Queen's body developing in the nba is my guess. Has more range and passing chops than Okafor from what I have seen....Okafor was also a pretty stacked roster too.

[Negrodamus]

Read on Twitter

Just a freak. Get him in the weight room this summer and work on that shot, you have an All Star.

Is he really a freak, though? That’s my concern. His length is just average for a 4/5. It reminds me of how Trayce Jackson-Davis or Okafor looked dominant in the NCAA but struggled to translate that dominance to the NBA.

With his heavy reliance on paint scoring, I think you need a freakish physique—like Giannis, Wemby, or Zion—to make it work at the next level, and I just don’t see that in Queen.

At best, he’d be like Paolo Banchero—putting up 20+ PPG on low-50s TS%, which doesn’t really move the needle on offense. Not because he’s a bad player, but because the opposing team’s offense (likely perimeter-generated) is just far more potent.

Can you imagine an NBA Finals where a team led by Derik Queen as the go-to guy is expected to keep up with a Kyrie-Luka duo or Tatum and the Celtics’ 5-out offense? It’s hard to see that working.

And if the argument is that he’d slide into a 3rd option role, doesn’t that kill a lot of his value? Most of what makes him appealing is his scoring ability—if that’s reduced, wouldn’t you be better off with a defensive-minded 4/5 with most of your scoring from the 1-2-3 positions fits more seamlessly in a playoff setting?

In the literal sense, he is not a “freak” with a +7’7 wingspan or a +40 inch vert, you’re correct.

But if you’re watching that video and concluding he’s a paint scorer like Okafor or Trace, two back to the basket centers, then I don’t know what to tell you. He was scoring from the midrange and slashing the entire game. Also running point in transition similar to how Giannis frequently does.

You’re also correct that he’s not going to live up to one of those generational picks because it’s insane to have those expectations of him. There is one sure-fire all star in this draft, but after Flagg it’s betting on traits and stats that translate to the NBA.

Aren’t you a Senguin fan? Wouldn’t you agree that his value is worth a top 10, even top 5 valuation in this miserable draft? You mentioned Paolo, same question.

Final note, I think his value as a third option is his overall game. Most of the time he’s not even asked to be the alpha scorer. He’s usually a connective passer and effort rebounder. Recently he’s been called upon to score more. That type of skill set is about all you can hope for from a top ten pick in a draft top heavy with question marks.

[mjkvol]

Speaking of Okafor-like prospects, that is pretty much how I see Johni Broome. Broome is a better passer out of the post, and a better defender and rebounder on both ends, but Okafor had a better all around low post game. Broome is only 6'10", and doesn't shoot it well enough to be a 4.

Broome has no range outside of 8-10 feet and depends on beating guys up with his strength to get great position. He's not a lob threat, and is a terrible free throw shooter. He just strikes me as that great college big , like Okafor, whose game just doesn't translate to the next level.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I really want to like Derick Queen, but it's hard to fully get on board with him because I see a lot of the same flaws Jah had. The other question is do people think he's a decent pairing with Embiid? At this point in Embiids career, I don't see it.

[Negrodamus]

To be honest, I don’t even consider fit with Embiid as much as I consider it with Maxey/McCain. But I do think he can play with Embiid. Instead of Derik throwing entry passes to Angel Reese’s brother to brick at the rim, he’ll throw them to Embiid.

For better or worse, I think Queen plays more like Embiid than Okafor. My biggest concern is his ability to get in elite shape and pick up his motor, which isn’t a small concern.

[Arsenal]

To be honest, I don’t even consider fit with Embiid as much as I consider it with Maxey/McCain. But I do think he can play with Embiid. Instead of Derik throwing entry passes to Angel Reese’s brother to brick at the rim, he’ll throw them to Embiid.

For better or worse, I think Queen plays more like Embiid than Okafor. My biggest concern is his ability to get in elite shape and pick up his motor, which isn’t a small concern.

If we’re building around Maxey and McCain (which I agree with), everyone in the front court needs to be a stud defender. I don’t see it with Queen.

[Negrodamus]

To be honest, I don’t even consider fit with Embiid as much as I consider it with Maxey/McCain. But I do think he can play with Embiid. Instead of Derik throwing entry passes to Angel Reese’s brother to brick at the rim, he’ll throw them to Embiid.

For better or worse, I think Queen plays more like Embiid than Okafor. My biggest concern is his ability to get in elite shape and pick up his motor, which isn’t a small concern.

If we’re building around Maxey and McCain (which I agree with), everyone in the front court needs to be a stud defender. I don’t see it with Queen.

His advanced numbers are actually decent on defense; but looks lazy when out there. Ben and Markelle had a similar situation. I think the defensive instincts are there and he’s very nimble on his feet, but he’s clearly being asked not to get into foul trouble since he’s very important on offense.

I also don’t really see an alternative for a solid defensive player to match with those guys. Edgecombe is basically the same size. Ace is also a question mark on defense. The rest are zeros on defense or are role players.

[sixers hoops]

To be honest, I don’t even consider fit with Embiid as much as I consider it with Maxey/McCain. But I do think he can play with Embiid. Instead of Derik throwing entry passes to Angel Reese’s brother to brick at the rim, he’ll throw them to Embiid.

For better or worse, I think Queen plays more like Embiid than Okafor. My biggest concern is his ability to get in elite shape and pick up his motor, which isn’t a small concern.

If we’re building around Maxey and McCain (which I agree with), everyone in the front court needs to be a stud defender. I don’t see it with Queen.

I read an article the other day that discussed trading the pick, if it is in the 4, 5, 6 range, for a better fit than what is available in the draft. The one player they mentioned was Jabari Smith.

I don’t know if there are any players worthwhile. I liked this idea, but trading for a player who is closer to an extension probably isn’t prudent while we are stuck with three max contracts.

[sixers hoops]

To be honest, I don’t even consider fit with Embiid as much as I consider it with Maxey/McCain. But I do think he can play with Embiid. Instead of Derik throwing entry passes to Angel Reese’s brother to brick at the rim, he’ll throw them to Embiid.

For better or worse, I think Queen plays more like Embiid than Okafor. My biggest concern is his ability to get in elite shape and pick up his motor, which isn’t a small concern.

If we’re building around Maxey and McCain (which I agree with), everyone in the front court needs to be a stud defender. I don’t see it with Queen.

I read an article the other day that discussed trading the pick, if it is in the 4, 5, 6 range, for a better fit than what is available in the draft. The one player they mentioned was Jabari Smith.

I don’t know if there are any players worthwhile. I liked this idea, but trading for a player who is closer to an extension probably isn’t prudent while we are stuck with three max contracts.

This was the article I referenced, but I am having trouble opening it on my phone.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-first-round-pick-protection-okc-thunder-daryl-morey-nba-offseason-trade-rumors-mock-draft-tankathon/

[Kobblehead]

I read an article the other day that discussed trading the pick, if it is in the 4, 5, 6 range, for a better fit than what is available in the draft. The one player they mentioned was Jabari Smith.

I don’t know if there are any players worthwhile. I liked this idea, but trading for a player who is closer to an extension probably isn’t prudent while we are stuck with three max contracts.

Ausar Thompson. He can play the Warrior Iguodala role.