2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[Klomp]

I don’t see how he slips to the second round looking at some of the players mocked at the end of the first.

I was personally talking about using the DET pick on him, not the UTA pick.

[minimus]

I don’t see how he slips to the second round looking at some of the players mocked at the end of the first.

I was personally talking about using the DET pick on him, not the UTA pick.

We need Toumani Camara type of forward: 6'7” barefoot, 8'11” standing reach, 220.4 lbs and a 7'0.5” wingspan.

[winforlose]

I talked about the is elsewhere but here is our roster situation heading into next season

Guaranteed contracts

1. Ant
2. Rudy
3. Jaden
4. DDV
5. Mike
6. Dilly
7. TSJ
8. Clark

Non guaranteed contracts
9. Minott
10. Garza
11. Miller

UFAs
12. Randle
13. NAW
14. Naz

Picks

15. Detroit first
16. Pick 31 from Utah (not guaranteed, but likely a Hinkie special.)

Even if we drop Garza and trade Minott for picks (a risky move given that he has shown flashes of a legit NBA player,) we don’t have room for moves to balance the roster, we don’t have room for a tax payer MLE, or even for our 2nd. Either we are going to consolidate the picks, or make roster room for at least 2.

[minimus]

Yaxel Lendeborg reminds me of Kevon Looney and Paul Millsap, both 6'8" with 7'3" wingspan

Watch on YouTube

[shrink]

I talked about the is elsewhere but here is our roster situation heading into next season

Guaranteed contracts

1. Ant
2. Rudy
3. Jaden
4. DDV
5. Mike
6. Dilly
7. TSJ
8. Clark

Non guaranteed contracts
9. Minott
10. Garza
11. Miller

UFAs
12. Randle
13. NAW
14. Naz

Picks

15. Detroit first
16. Pick 31 from Utah (not guaranteed, but likely a Hinkie special.)

Even if we drop Garza and trade Minott for picks (a risky move given that he has shown flashes of a legit NBA player,) we don’t have room for moves to balance the roster, we don’t have room for a tax payer MLE, or even for our 2nd. Either we are going to consolidate the picks, or make roster room for at least 2.

Two things. Just to address the youth side of the roster building equation.

1. Most successful teams carry a certain percentage of youth, for sustainability and for financial reasons. Connelly has done this as well, steering more towards youth that can provide some help now, rather than distant prospects. Clark, Dilly, TSJ and maybe even the DET 1st if we don’t take a project, could be helpful. But that takes minutes, minutes we might not have available depending on who we retain and our season goals. I like the balance.

2. Just a note, that I don’t think we would get even a single 2nd for Minott. It’s not that he’s not a better prospect than a 2nd, but teams can keep their 2nd and still get him with little more than a vet min offer. Players like Minott will be the 14th or 15th priority on most rosters, one of dozens and dozens of borderline NBA players that have some potential. If a team misses out on him, there are many other names on the list that they can roll the dice with.

I’m reminded of Bronnie James. When critics would say he’s only in the NBA because of his father, that isn’t quite true. Many teams have a couple young kids who have shown flashes of potential, and Bronnie isn’t the worst of them with NBA contracts. However, of the 40-50 that are in the NBA, there are probably 200 equally deserving players in the G-League, college or playing internationally that could take that spot. Minott is like that - he’s got potential, but now, after four seasons, there are many others with potential that could be alternatives. I’d be surprised if we could trade Josh for any pick at this point.

[winforlose]

I talked about the is elsewhere but here is our roster situation heading into next season

Guaranteed contracts

1. Ant
2. Rudy
3. Jaden
4. DDV
5. Mike
6. Dilly
7. TSJ
8. Clark

Non guaranteed contracts
9. Minott
10. Garza
11. Miller

UFAs
12. Randle
13. NAW
14. Naz

Picks

15. Detroit first
16. Pick 31 from Utah (not guaranteed, but likely a Hinkie special.)

Even if we drop Garza and trade Minott for picks (a risky move given that he has shown flashes of a legit NBA player,) we don’t have room for moves to balance the roster, we don’t have room for a tax payer MLE, or even for our 2nd. Either we are going to consolidate the picks, or make roster room for at least 2.

Two things. Just to address the youth side of the roster building equation.

1. Most successful teams carry a certain percentage of youth, for sustainability and for financial reasons. Connelly has done this as well, steering more towards youth that can provide some help now, rather than distant prospects. Clark, Dilly, TSJ and maybe even the DET 1st if we don’t take a project, could be helpful. But that takes minutes, minutes we might not have available depending on who we retain and our season goals. I like the balance.

2. Just a note, that I don’t think we would get even a single 2nd for Minott. It’s not that he’s not a better prospect than a 2nd, but teams can keep their 2nd and still get him with little more than a vet min offer. Players like Minott will be the 14th or 15th priority on most rosters, one of dozens and dozens of borderline NBA players that have some potential. If a team misses out on him, there are many other names on the list that they can roll the dice with.

I’m reminded of Bronnie James. When critics would say he’s only in the NBA because of his father, that isn’t quite true. Many teams have a couple young kids who have shown flashes of potential, and Bronnie isn’t the worst of them with NBA contracts. However, of the 40-50 that are in the NBA, there are probably 200 equally deserving players in the G-League, college or playing internationally that could take that spot. Minott is like that - he’s got potential, but now, after four seasons, there are many others with potential that could be alternatives. I’d be surprised if we could trade Josh for any pick at this point.

In a waiver situation Minott could land anywhere. If he clears waivers then he could be signed dirt cheap. But, I disagree that there are enough 6’8 high motor, high athleticism, 3 point capable, prospects out there not to risk a 2nd for his RFA rights. Again those rights help secure additional cheap years, and Minott had some good looking stints against some good teams this year. Personally I could see him being a black eye for Finch and TC because he is likely a rotation ready player on a good team. He looked like it in the preseason, in the regular season (before Finch destroyed his confidence,) and again towards the end of the regular season (10 points in 12 minutes against Denver.) If it’s not Minott dumped it could be Miller (another black eye for Finch and TC if he plays well elsewhere,) and that is before you even talk about how Garza is not an NBA player. My point in posting the roster situation was to ask the question are we looking for 2-3 picks, or do we consolidate?

[Klomp]

In a waiver situation Minott could land anywhere. If he clears waivers then he could be signed dirt cheap. But, I disagree that there are enough 6’8 high motor, high athleticism, 3 point capable, prospects out there not to risk a 2nd for his RFA rights. Again those rights help secure additional cheap years, and Minott had some good looking stints against some good teams this year. Personally I could see him being a black eye for Finch and TC because he is likely a rotation ready player on a good team. He looked like it in the preseason, in the regular season (before Finch destroyed his confidence,) and again towards the end of the regular season (10 points in 12 minutes against Denver.) If it’s not Minott dumped it could be Miller (another black eye for Finch and TC if he plays well elsewhere,) and that is before you even talk about how Garza is not an NBA player. My point in posting the roster situation was to ask the question are we looking for 2-3 picks, or do we consolidate?

"Black eye" has to be a joke, right?! If that's a black eye for him then so is Jarred Vanderbilt.

Sometimes opportunities don't come for a player on the team that drafted them....especially when you're talking about second round picks. But the talent evaluation was spot on. That to me is more important than whether or not that talent is realized as a member of the franchise that drafted the player.

Think about the talents that Tim Connelly has identified in the second round....heck, I'll even leave Nikola Jokic out of this discussion because that just makes it unfair.

2017: Monte Morris, Vlatko Cancar
2018: Jarred Vanderbilt
2019: Bol Bol
2022: Josh Minott
2023: Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark

As far as second round draft records go for executives, that's a pretty successful run.

[winforlose]

In a waiver situation Minott could land anywhere. If he clears waivers then he could be signed dirt cheap. But, I disagree that there are enough 6’8 high motor, high athleticism, 3 point capable, prospects out there not to risk a 2nd for his RFA rights. Again those rights help secure additional cheap years, and Minott had some good looking stints against some good teams this year. Personally I could see him being a black eye for Finch and TC because he is likely a rotation ready player on a good team. He looked like it in the preseason, in the regular season (before Finch destroyed his confidence,) and again towards the end of the regular season (10 points in 12 minutes against Denver.) If it’s not Minott dumped it could be Miller (another black eye for Finch and TC if he plays well elsewhere,) and that is before you even talk about how Garza is not an NBA player. My point in posting the roster situation was to ask the question are we looking for 2-3 picks, or do we consolidate?

"Black eye" has to be a joke, right?! If that's a black eye for him then so is Jarred Vanderbilt.

Sometimes opportunities don't come for a player on the team that drafted them....especially when you're talking about second round picks. But the talent evaluation was spot on. That to me is more important than whether or not that talent is realized as a member of the franchise that drafted the player.

Think about the talents that Tim Connelly has identified in the second round....heck, I'll even leave Nikola Jokic out of this discussion because that just makes it unfair.

2017: Monte Morris, Vlatko Cancar
2018: Jarred Vanderbilt
2019: Bol Bol
2022: Josh Minott
2023: Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark

As far as second round draft records go for executives, that's a pretty successful run.

JV and Bol Bol both have had serious injury issues. I could be wrong but aren’t both centered around the feet? Minott has shown flashes and cannot get run. Miller was a high 2nd we traded up for who cannot get on the court. Even when guys were out Finch said that Garza in a slump was so much better than Miller, that Miller does not deserve the opportunity to even play 1 real minute. Clark was a defensive player of the year who slipped because of injury, not exactly a great find, more of a league wide blunder in not grabbing him higher. I guess in Clark’s case people thought he would be slower off the injury and never amount to anything. Still in the context of this discussion Minott could be a rotation player somewhere else because we knew what we had but didn’t give him opportunities. Clark is gonna be in the same boat if we keep NAW in that we are too heavy on 1-3 and Clark cannot play 4-5. Miller has not shown to be worth anything and if he does show it elsewhere that is an indictment on both Finch and TC on playing Garza over him.

Your point is that TC is great at finding talent, but if that talent doesn’t play for us or develop here that suggests something else. It suggests that Finch is a really bad coach, and TC is a bad GM for allowing a bad coach to fail to develop talented players.

[Klomp]

JV and Bol Bol both have had serious injury issues. I could be wrong but aren’t both centered around the feet? Minott has shown flashes and cannot get run. Miller was a high 2nd we traded up for who cannot get on the court. Even when guys were out Finch said that Garza in a slump was so much better than Miller, that Miller does not deserve the opportunity to even play 1 real minute. Clark was a defensive player of the year who slipped because of injury, not exactly a great find, more of a league wide blunder in not grabbing him higher. I guess in Clark’s case people thought he would be slower off the injury and never amount to anything. Still in the context of this discussion Minott could be a rotation player somewhere else because we knew what we had but didn’t give him opportunities. Clark is gonna be in the same boat if we keep NAW in that we are too heavy on 1-3 and Clark cannot play 4-5. Miller has not shown to be worth anything and if he does show it elsewhere that is an indictment on both Finch and TC on playing Garza over him.

Your point is that TC is great at finding talent, but if that talent doesn’t play for us or develop here that suggests something else. It suggests that Finch is a really bad coach, and TC is a bad GM for allowing a bad coach to fail to develop talented players.

This isn't the Charlotte Bobcats. They're not stuck getting DNP-CDs behind Primoz Brezec or Adam Morrison.

This is what happens while building a good roster. Talented players do not get into the regular rotation. It doesn't mean the young players are busts or not developing.

[winforlose]

JV and Bol Bol both have had serious injury issues. I could be wrong but aren’t both centered around the feet? Minott has shown flashes and cannot get run. Miller was a high 2nd we traded up for who cannot get on the court. Even when guys were out Finch said that Garza in a slump was so much better than Miller, that Miller does not deserve the opportunity to even play 1 real minute. Clark was a defensive player of the year who slipped because of injury, not exactly a great find, more of a league wide blunder in not grabbing him higher. I guess in Clark’s case people thought he would be slower off the injury and never amount to anything. Still in the context of this discussion Minott could be a rotation player somewhere else because we knew what we had but didn’t give him opportunities. Clark is gonna be in the same boat if we keep NAW in that we are too heavy on 1-3 and Clark cannot play 4-5. Miller has not shown to be worth anything and if he does show it elsewhere that is an indictment on both Finch and TC on playing Garza over him.

Your point is that TC is great at finding talent, but if that talent doesn’t play for us or develop here that suggests something else. It suggests that Finch is a really bad coach, and TC is a bad GM for allowing a bad coach to fail to develop talented players.

This isn't the Charlotte Bobcats. They're not stuck getting DNP-CDs behind Primoz Brezec or Adam Morrison.

This is what happens while building a good roster. Talented players do not get into the regular rotation. It doesn't mean the young players are busts or not developing.

You saw talented players getting minutes on winning teams to develop them this season. You saw rookie Wells starting for Memphis, you saw rookies and young players in the rotation for GSW. Finding minutes is sometimes about playing the best players less and still winning. We are so poorly coached we lost to a lot of bad teams with our best players. This held back Dilly, TSJ, and Minott from developing. As for the decision to keep and use Garza over Miller, that is inexcusable. Especially If you believe Miller has a higher ceiling than Garza and you understand the roster crunch next year. Developing young players to then leave and play against you while you bring in more expensive talent is not a winning formula. Your point is he hit on many 2nd round guys for us (Miller, Minott, Clark,) but if Miller and Minott blow up elsewhere how did drafting them benefit us?

[younggunsmn]

Pistons beat the Raptors tonight and that pick will officially convey as they will clinch a top=6 seed.

[minimus]

Pistons beat the Raptors tonight and that pick will officially convey as they will clinch a top=6 seed.

Awesome

[minimus]

Looking at Sorber, I get Gorgui Dieng vibes from hm. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I get Dieng vibes when I look at Maluachi

[shrink]

JV and Bol Bol both have had serious injury issues. I could be wrong but aren’t both centered around the feet? Minott has shown flashes and cannot get run. Miller was a high 2nd we traded up for who cannot get on the court. Even when guys were out Finch said that Garza in a slump was so much better than Miller, that Miller does not deserve the opportunity to even play 1 real minute. Clark was a defensive player of the year who slipped because of injury, not exactly a great find, more of a league wide blunder in not grabbing him higher. I guess in Clark’s case people thought he would be slower off the injury and never amount to anything. Still in the context of this discussion Minott could be a rotation player somewhere else because we knew what we had but didn’t give him opportunities. Clark is gonna be in the same boat if we keep NAW in that we are too heavy on 1-3 and Clark cannot play 4-5. Miller has not shown to be worth anything and if he does show it elsewhere that is an indictment on both Finch and TC on playing Garza over him.

Your point is that TC is great at finding talent, but if that talent doesn’t play for us or develop here that suggests something else. It suggests that Finch is a really bad coach, and TC is a bad GM for allowing a bad coach to fail to develop talented players.

This isn't the Charlotte Bobcats. They're not stuck getting DNP-CDs behind Primoz Brezec or Adam Morrison.

This is what happens while building a good roster. Talented players do not get into the regular rotation. It doesn't mean the young players are busts or not developing.

You saw talented players getting minutes on winning teams to develop them this season. You saw rookie Wells starting for Memphis, you saw rookies and young players in the rotation for GSW. Finding minutes is sometimes about playing the best players less and still winning. We are so poorly coached we lost to a lot of bad teams with our best players. This held back Dilly, TSJ, and Minott from developing. As for the decision to keep and use Garza over Miller, that is inexcusable. Especially If you believe Miller has a higher ceiling than Garza and you understand the roster crunch next year. Developing young players to then leave and play against you while you bring in more expensive talent is not a winning formula. Your point is he hit on many 2nd round guys for us (Miller, Minott, Clark,) but if Miller and Minott blow up elsewhere how did drafting them benefit us?

Yeah if you play undeveloped youth over vets, it may only cost you 2-3 games this year .. not important in the standings, right?

MEM and GSW played some of their youth when they had injuries - exactly what Finch did, and discovered Jaylen Clark.

I don’t know if it’s your dislike for Finch, or specific love for Minott that leads you to this opinion. I read the exact opposite opinion from a neutral fan on the General board, praising how Finch has developed young players over the last three years.

[Norseman79]

Looking at Sorber, I get Gorgui Dieng vibes from hm. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I get Dieng vibes when I look at Maluachi

An athletic, 7 ft 2 in Dieng would have been a very, very different monster.

[winforlose]

This isn't the Charlotte Bobcats. They're not stuck getting DNP-CDs behind Primoz Brezec or Adam Morrison.

This is what happens while building a good roster. Talented players do not get into the regular rotation. It doesn't mean the young players are busts or not developing.

You saw talented players getting minutes on winning teams to develop them this season. You saw rookie Wells starting for Memphis, you saw rookies and young players in the rotation for GSW. Finding minutes is sometimes about playing the best players less and still winning. We are so poorly coached we lost to a lot of bad teams with our best players. This held back Dilly, TSJ, and Minott from developing. As for the decision to keep and use Garza over Miller, that is inexcusable. Especially If you believe Miller has a higher ceiling than Garza and you understand the roster crunch next year. Developing young players to then leave and play against you while you bring in more expensive talent is not a winning formula. Your point is he hit on many 2nd round guys for us (Miller, Minott, Clark,) but if Miller and Minott blow up elsewhere how did drafting them benefit us?

Yeah if you play undeveloped youth over vets, it may only cost you 2-3 games this year .. not important in the standings, right?

MEM and GSW played some of their youth when they had injuries - exactly what Finch did, and discovered Jaylen Clark.

I don’t know if it’s your dislike for Finch, or specific love for Minott that leads you to this opinion. I read the exact opposite opinion from a neutral fan on the General board, praising how Finch has developed young players over the last three years.

Shrink we lost a lot of games anyway. Plenty of them to player fatigue or disinterest. We also went 5-8 with guys out. Dilly is not developed enough to sniff the playoffs. Minott has shown all season with confidence he can play meaningful minutes, without it, he can fail. Playing Garza over Miller (something I talked about quite a bit,) is another baffling move when Garza is doubtful to be in long term plans and Miller is likely to be in long term plans. I could go on, but my point is next year we have a roster crunch and need to decide how many players we bring in. We also need to realize that at least Dilly, Minott, and Miller have poor relationships with Finch, and that we need to correct the roster balance while ideally saving money.

[Slim Tubby]

Walter Clayton Jr. is the only answer with the DET pick IMO despite our need for a backup C. Grab Broome, Sarver or Kalkbrenner at 31 and let's get to work.

I have zero doubt Clayton Jr will be one of the 7 best players to come out of this Draft. His clutch gene is unteachable.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[cmoss84]

I'd be happy to score some baskets with Deri Queen.

[shangrila]

Latest mock from BR:
https://www.nba.com/news/bleacher-report-2025-nba-mock-draft-final-four

19. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Nolan Traore
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Jazz): Maxime Raynaud

But I rather take Sorber (22) or Wolf (21) or Rasheer Fleming (25) AND Bennett Stirtz (33) or Milos Uzan (35) or Adou Thiero (40)

I had another thought about this actually, less so about the actual prospects but in the scope of our impending financial crunch.

Taking someone like Traore would allow us to delay the cost of the pick another year as we leave him overseas for next season. Specifically for Traore as well, it allows Mike to play out his last season and then have Nolan come over for a possible backup position behind Dillingham.

I don't think I'd pencil in anyone at 31 either. There's always someone who drops, like last season with Furphy and Filipowski, so I'd honestly just take whoever that ends up being this year.

[younggunsmn]

I talked about the is elsewhere but here is our roster situation heading into next season

Guaranteed contracts

1. Ant
2. Rudy
3. Jaden
4. DDV
5. Mike
6. Dilly
7. TSJ
8. Clark

Non guaranteed contracts
9. Minott
10. Garza
11. Miller

UFAs
12. Randle
13. NAW
14. Naz

Picks

15. Detroit first
16. Pick 31 from Utah (not guaranteed, but likely a Hinkie special.)

Even if we drop Garza and trade Minott for picks (a risky move given that he has shown flashes of a legit NBA player,) we don’t have room for moves to balance the roster, we don’t have room for a tax payer MLE, or even for our 2nd. Either we are going to consolidate the picks, or make roster room for at least 2.

I hate to break it to you but no other team wants Miller or Minott and the fact that neither could get a single minute on the court when both Gobert and Randle were out speaks volumes about their future here.

One of Randle/NAW/NAZ will probably not be back.
With glaring holes at backup center and backup PG, we probably add one veteran free agent at each position.

IMHO at least 2 of 3 of Minott/Garza/Miller will not be back and we will replace them with more talented players at 17 and 31.
With 3 projects already in Dilly/TSJ/Clark, plus 2 draft picks, we aren't going to carry 2 more in Minott and Miller who don't have the BBIQ to stay on the court.