2025 NBA Draft Prospects

[WesPeace]

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Not to take anything away from Maluach, but a lot of these highlights are just misses. He’s nowhere close to affecting the shot

yeah, I was thinking the same.. kinda odd video to praise Maluach, besides blocks

[Jcool0]

It is all projection and potential and that's a risky game to play.

The greatest benefit of rookie contracts is you have a cheap cost-controlled player for 4 years. We're seeing more and more often that these project players are taking more than 4-years to really find their footing in the NBA.

You're often into a second contract and then definitely overpaying before you start getting actual meaningful contributions from these players.

If you're looking for value through on court contributions during a players rookie contract Maluach is probably not the move (granted this can be said about a lot of the highly projected players).

This isn't the NFL where having a QB on a rookie deal is your most valuable asset. I dont hear the Spurs talking: We have Wemby on a rookie deal we better get assets to start contenting now. Most teams wont even content with polished rookies until there rookie deals are up. Orlando gave Wagner a max deal before he had even won a playoff series.

What? The Spurs have added De'Aaron Fox, Chris Paul, and Harrison Barnes this year.

They've also traded current year draft picks for future year draft picks when they know their roster (read Wemby) will be much more expensive and they'll need cheap talent (read draft picks).

I agree that most teams won't contend until a player is beyond year 4. Most players aren't ready to make an impact like that so quickly.

Wemby is - and I think we'll continue to see the Spurs attempt to be aggressive with the two remaining years on his rookie deal.

Ant was - and Minnesota made big moves for Gobert and Conley

2019 Raptors sure benefited from Siakam, Powell and VanVleet all being on rookie deals

What does having Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have to do with anything?

[NecessaryEvil]

I believe we ultimately select Maluach if we stay where we currently are. He's already using Luol as a trainer. I like Queen or Aswell as backup plans but they don't fit AS well as KM does.

C Maluach
F Buzelis
F Giddey
G White
G Ball

Reserves :: Ayo, Zach Collins, Jalen Smith, Huerter, P Will, Tre Jones, Julian Phillips, Dalen Terry, Javon Carter, 2025 2nd rp

I'd likely make the U.C. my home again next season if this were to happen.

[Evil_Headband]

Is Queen’s rim protection and foot speed any better than Vuc’s?

[Jcool0]

Is Queen’s rim protection and foot speed any better than Vuc’s?

Foot speed i would say yes. Queen offers little rim protection.

[CROBulls]

Is Queen’s rim protection and foot speed any better than Vuc’s?

Queen is cheap while Vuc is overpaid bench player for who we gave our future for and basically build today's Orlando Magic.

[2weekswithpay]

Is he really a rim runner even? He can block shots but his numbers arent great there. He does catch lobs immediately over the basket. He doesn't really catch them in fast breaks even.

Duke asks Maluach to switch a lot which might suppress his block numbers a bit and while important, block numbers aren't always the best way to evaluate rim protection. Your concerns are legitimate though, Maluach is far from a sure thing defensively and plays on a stacked team that can cover for his deficiencies.

[sco]

More Maluach hate to spew...(not reall hate). I think what has me most concerned about Maluach is less about Maluach being a bad prospect, but more about the idea of drafting him is drafting based on his potential (age, limited years of playing, measurements). That sort of bet on the C position in the NBA just seems littered with mistakes, and a fools bet. Surely there are better options.

[Jcool0]

More Maluach hate to spew...(not reall hate). I think what has me most concerned about Maluach is less about Maluach being a bad prospect, but more about the idea of drafting him is drafting based on his potential (age, limited years of playing, measurements). That sort of bet on the C position in the NBA just seems littered with mistakes, and a fools bet. Surely there are better options.

In the draft range you have:

Kon Knueppel

Tre Johnson

Kasparas Jakucionis

Derik Queen

Jeremiah Fears

Asa Newell

Jase Richardson

Noa Essengue

Egor Demin

Collin Murray-Boyles

Each has there + and -, the Bulls aren't passing on a great player for an upside play and you probably aren't taking Maluach top 5. Also odds are Matas, Giddey and White will be on the team, also probably Huerter & Williams. Once you are out of the big time prospects which i would say 1-5 you can start drafting somewhat for fit. Whats the Bulls weakest sport, size and center position. Not saying that means Maluach should be the guy. But he has a clear path for minutes early on if Vuc is traded. The last over 7'+ upside center Bol Bol has mostly been good in the NBA (this year he is averaging 19.4/8.6 Per 36), he did grow up playing basketball, unlike Maluach. The problem with him has been health. Maluach as far as i know has no injury issues. I have seen enough to believe in his upside. I have no idea if he get there. We see with Matas he has a drive to be better & a belief in himself, so even though he wasn't good in the G League you knew he was going to work to get better. I haven't really listened to him being interviewed but Maluach is at a big time program & contributing and his teammates seem to like him. For whatever that is worth.

[_txchilibowl_]

Is Queen’s rim protection and foot speed any better than Vuc’s?

Queen is cheap while Vuc is overpaid bench player for who we gave our future for and basically build today's Orlando Magic.

Not much of a future if all it builds is the Orlando Magic...

[Muzbar]

Is Queen’s rim protection and foot speed any better than Vuc’s?

Queen is cheap while Vuc is overpaid bench player for who we gave our future for and basically build today's Orlando Magic.

Not much of a future if all it builds is the Orlando Magic...

Yeah, it must suck to have a 23 and 22 year old average 24ppg and 25ppg, the same 2 players also lead their team to the 5th seed in the East last year and took their opponent to 7 games.

Sounds horrible.

[drosestruts]

This isn't the NFL where having a QB on a rookie deal is your most valuable asset. I dont hear the Spurs talking: We have Wemby on a rookie deal we better get assets to start contenting now. Most teams wont even content with polished rookies until there rookie deals are up. Orlando gave Wagner a max deal before he had even won a playoff series.

What? The Spurs have added De'Aaron Fox, Chris Paul, and Harrison Barnes this year.

They've also traded current year draft picks for future year draft picks when they know their roster (read Wemby) will be much more expensive and they'll need cheap talent (read draft picks).

I agree that most teams won't contend until a player is beyond year 4. Most players aren't ready to make an impact like that so quickly.

Wemby is - and I think we'll continue to see the Spurs attempt to be aggressive with the two remaining years on his rookie deal.

Ant was - and Minnesota made big moves for Gobert and Conley

2019 Raptors sure benefited from Siakam, Powell and VanVleet all being on rookie deals

What does having Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have to do with anything?

They're veteran players actively contributing to success/wins for San Antonio

Chris Paul has a higher WS/48 than Wemby. The second highest VORP on the Spurs (would be third highest on the Bulls).

Chris Paul has played in every game this season, and when on the court is actively contributing to San Antonio winning basketball games.

You claimed the Spurs haven't made any moves to help win now due to having Wemby. I named three players they've acquired that would suggest that your statement is incorrect.

[drosestruts]

Queen is cheap while Vuc is overpaid bench player for who we gave our future for and basically build today's Orlando Magic.

Not much of a future if all it builds is the Orlando Magic...

Yeah, it must suck to have a 23 and 22 year old average 24ppg and 25ppg, the same 2 players also lead their team to the 5th seed in the East last year and took their opponent to 7 games.

Sounds horrible.

Listen this is another "grass is always greener on the other side" thing to me.

Bulls went to the playoffs in 2022, lost in 5 and everyone here was upset about the direction and potential of the franchise.

Magic make the playoffs, lose in 7 games, and this is viewed as good.

Yes they did win two more games.

The team the played in the first round went on to lose 4-1 in the 2nd round in a rather non-competitive series.

The team the Bulls lost to in the playoffs, won the championship the year before, and would go on to lose in a 7-game series vs Boston who represented the East in the Finals.

There's so much context missing here and saying "Orlando made the playoffs and had a 7 game series so things there are good" is just way too simplistic

[pipfan]

I like the idea of Newell. Matas plays the 3 long term, and we're huge up front

[Muzbar]

Not much of a future if all it builds is the Orlando Magic...

Yeah, it must suck to have a 23 and 22 year old average 24ppg and 25ppg, the same 2 players also lead their team to the 5th seed in the East last year and took their opponent to 7 games.

Sounds horrible.

Listen this is another "grass is always greener on the other side" thing to me.

Bulls went to the playoffs in 2022, lost in 5 and everyone here was upset about the direction and potential of the franchise.

Magic make the playoffs, lose in 7 games, and this is viewed as good.

Yes they did win two more games.

The team the played in the first round went on to lose 4-1 in the 2nd round in a rather non-competitive series.

The team the Bulls lost to in the playoffs, won the championship the year before, and would go on to lose in a 7-game series vs Boston who represented the East in the Finals.

There's so much context missing here and saying "Orlando made the playoffs and had a 7 game series so things there are good" is just way too simplistic

So kind of like saying the Magic build is somehow not good despite their core players being young whilst the Bulls players were on the older end, I'd be just as impressed if the Magic won the same amount of games. They were young and had up and coming players (21 & 22) laed the way whereas the Bulls were lead by 31, 30 and 26 year old player with many seasons under their belt.

That's far more impressive to me.

[Jcool0]

What? The Spurs have added De'Aaron Fox, Chris Paul, and Harrison Barnes this year.

They've also traded current year draft picks for future year draft picks when they know their roster (read Wemby) will be much more expensive and they'll need cheap talent (read draft picks).

I agree that most teams won't contend until a player is beyond year 4. Most players aren't ready to make an impact like that so quickly.

Wemby is - and I think we'll continue to see the Spurs attempt to be aggressive with the two remaining years on his rookie deal.

Ant was - and Minnesota made big moves for Gobert and Conley

2019 Raptors sure benefited from Siakam, Powell and VanVleet all being on rookie deals

What does having Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have to do with anything?

They're veteran players actively contributing to success/wins for San Antonio

Chris Paul has a higher WS/48 than Wemby. The second highest VORP on the Spurs (would be third highest on the Bulls).

Chris Paul has played in every game this season, and when on the court is actively contributing to San Antonio winning basketball games.

You claimed the Spurs haven't made any moves to help win now due to having Wemby. I named three players they've acquired that would suggest that your statement is incorrect.

SA is winning 43% of there games & they are 8-10 since the All Star break. What success are they contributing to? Chris Paul is 39, on a 1 year 10M contract and scoring 8.8 points a game with a 15.3 PER (the 2nd lowest in his career & 8th on the team), He also has a negative on court rating for the 1st time since 2006. In his last game he scored 2 points on 1-4 shooting (0-3 from 3) in 22 minutes. He is in SA to be a vet mentor for Wemby not to help complete for a title.

[Guru]

I like the idea of Newell. Matas plays the 3 long term, and we're huge up front

In my watching of Newell I saw a guy who didn't have the dog. Low motor, tall and athletic but not really interested in trying to dominate. I see him as just another big who gets lost when everyone is tall and athletic. '

My favorite is by far Rasheer Flemming. A Legit 6-9 with a 7-4 wing span. A very good shooter, can handle a bit. ALWAYS moving. This is why Huerter and Collins and Jones have been great. They don't stop moving. When a shot goes up they try to rebound it. He would do that. His length makes him a great help defender and his athleticism makes him great on ball. He will run very well with Ball and White and Giddey and Buz. He fits that crew perfectly. Honestly he reminds me of exactly what we want Patrick Williams to be. He has that skillset with a winner mentality.

[Chi town]

I like the idea of Newell. Matas plays the 3 long term, and we're huge up front

In my watching of Newell I saw a guy who didn't have the dog. Low motor, tall and athletic but not really interested in trying to dominate. I see him as just another big who gets lost when everyone is tall and athletic. '

My favorite is by far Rasheer Flemming. A Legit 6-9 with a 7-4 wing span. A very good shooter, can handle a bit. ALWAYS moving. This is why Huerter and Collins and Jones have been great. They don't stop moving. When a shot goes up they try to rebound it. He would do that. His length makes him a great help defender and his athleticism makes him great on ball. He will run very well with Ball and White and Giddey and Buz. He fits that crew perfectly. Honestly he reminds me of exactly what we want Patrick Williams to be. He has that skillset with a winner mentality.

How do you see him playing? C? 4 and backup 5?

Billy normally plays very small. I don’t believe he will ever play a real PF at PF.

[Jcool0]

Really good breakdown

Read on Twitter

[Guru]

I like the idea of Newell. Matas plays the 3 long term, and we're huge up front

In my watching of Newell I saw a guy who didn't have the dog. Low motor, tall and athletic but not really interested in trying to dominate. I see him as just another big who gets lost when everyone is tall and athletic. '

My favorite is by far Rasheer Flemming. A Legit 6-9 with a 7-4 wing span. A very good shooter, can handle a bit. ALWAYS moving. This is why Huerter and Collins and Jones have been great. They don't stop moving. When a shot goes up they try to rebound it. He would do that. His length makes him a great help defender and his athleticism makes him great on ball. He will run very well with Ball and White and Giddey and Buz. He fits that crew perfectly. Honestly he reminds me of exactly what we want Patrick Williams to be. He has that skillset with a winner mentality.

How do you see him playing? C? 4 and backup 5?

Billy normally plays very small. I don’t believe he will ever play a real PF at PF.

I think he's a 3/4 just like Buz and Williams