2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Dogen]

If Tahaad Pettiford declares for the draft, I hope the Celtics bring him in for a workout.

[ConstableGeneva]

What an epic choke by Duke. Proctor flat out sucked. Awful loss.

Flagg probably drops to 28 after missing the potential game winner though.

He can join his fellow choker Dukie on the Celtics for all I care.

[phincsfan]

I’m not a Duke hater, but I’m happy for Kelvin Sampson. He gets the most out of his players. He’s done a good job with Grimes, Sasser and Shead. Someone on this years roster should make an NBA team this year. Bunch of undersized guys but their dawgs for sure.

[165bows]

I'm a fan of Clayton. Passes the eye test easy. Everything he's been doing should translate. He's got "it."

He's a senior but his overall numbers/production has been highly consistent over the past three seasons...point #1 being, he has already been doing this, point #2 being that year to year consistency can be a good indicator of professionalism.

Yup interesting guy prospect wise.

Also congrats to Hal on the Thomas Haugh call, def a guy to have on the radar that wasn’t on any mock draft or even starting.

[winsomme2]

Clayton is really good. Entertaining game between Auburn and Florida.

I don't care if we need another PG or not. I want Clayton.

You beat me to it Clayton is an absolute perfect Celtic in my opinion I feel he is a more athletic D White Josh Hart hybrid.

And since I'm always requesting Boston to take their 2 draft picks and trade up I would easily trade up for him. He can replace Jrue in our lineup and save us a ton of money.

Someone mentioned Fred Van Vleet as a potential comp for him.

He definitely has that big shot maker vibe and solid ball handling skills.

I wonder about his ability to defend but he absolutely could be an impactful offensive player.

[playa-hater]

Clayton is really good. Entertaining game between Auburn and Florida.

I don't care if we need another PG or not. I want Clayton.

You beat me to it Clayton is an absolute perfect Celtic in my opinion I feel he is a more athletic D White Josh Hart hybrid.

And since I'm always requesting Boston to take their 2 draft picks and trade up I would easily trade up for him. He can replace Jrue in our lineup and save us a ton of money.

Someone mentioned Fred Van Vleet as a potential comp for him.

He definitely has that big shot maker vibe and solid ball handling skills.

I wonder about his ability to defend but he absolutely could be an impactful offensive player.

6 ft to 6'4

[phincsfan]

Clayton is really good. Entertaining game between Auburn and Florida.

I don't care if we need another PG or not. I want Clayton.

You beat me to it Clayton is an absolute perfect Celtic in my opinion I feel he is a more athletic D White Josh Hart hybrid.

And since I'm always requesting Boston to take their 2 draft picks and trade up I would easily trade up for him. He can replace Jrue in our lineup and save us a ton of money.

T. rex arms though. I think he is too small.

His body type reminds me of Springer.

[165bows]

Pessimistic take of the day number 28 and Xavier Tillman for number 45 and a future second if we’re lucky

[Celts17Pride]

Pessimistic take of the day number 28 and Xavier Tillman for number 45 and a future second if we’re lucky

Like I said before, Stevens is going to need 2nd round picks to move players like Tillman, maybe Walsh so I’m expecting Stevens to do what he did a few years ago and keep trading down from #28 collecting 2nd round picks.

Celtics will probably end up with #31 and something like #38.

That’s what I’m expecting.

[redslastlaugh]

Pessimistic take of the day number 28 and Xavier Tillman for number 45 and a future second if we’re lucky

We can probably do better than that, I think
Danny moved #30 for 2 future seconds and Memphis taking Enes Kanter contract which was one year, $5 million.
Xavier Tillman is only one year, $2.5 million.

Honestly, I think if we move a big salary in the offseason to cut costs, we'd just add Tillman to that deal and get him off the books that way
In the 2nd apron, if you make a trade, you can aggregate salaries if as a result of that trade, you drop down below the 2nd apron

[165bows]

Lakhin: ‘I Don’t Get Hurt’

More I look into this guy the more I like him.

Lakhin maintained he was suffering from cramps more than anything.

“Got banged up, cramped a little bit,” Lakhin said. “What you would expect from a center. It’s physical down there, so you can imagine.”

One thing that shouldn’t be questioned is Lakhin’s ability to play through discomfort. Earlier this month, the 6-foot-11 center played several games dealing with an illness.

While it might have had an impact on his production, Lakhin was still on the court and he insists he will continue to be, no matter what.

“For a week or so, it was pretty difficult,” Lakhin added. “But I have a responsibility to the team and it doesn’t really matter how I feel. We just need to keep winning and if it takes for me to play when I am not feeling the best, that is what it takes. And I am willing to make that sacrifice for us to make the tournament and a run there.”

https://www.theclemsoninsider.com/2025/01/23/lakhin-i-dont-get-hurt/

[phincsfan]

Rooting for DA/ Hardy, Lee to get Flagg. Outside of those two teams, Flagg will definitely help the Spurs and Raps next season.

[Hal14]

I'm a fan of Clayton. Passes the eye test easy. Everything he's been doing should translate. He's got "it."

He's a senior but his overall numbers/production has been highly consistent over the past three seasons...point #1 being, he has already been doing this, point #2 being that year to year consistency can be a good indicator of professionalism.

Yup interesting guy prospect wise.

Also congrats to Hal on the Thomas Haugh call, def a guy to have on the radar that wasn’t on any mock draft or even starting.

Yeah. Haugh has really come on strong these past 2 or 3 games deep in the tourney. Looking like a legit. late 1st/early 2nd round pick.

Could be in play for Boston in that 28-32 range.

Will be interesting to see if he declares or goes back to Florida for another year.

As for Clayton, he's awesome. He's up to around 16 on my big board at this point. I doubt he's still on the board when we pick. And I doubt we'd take a guy who's kind of a Pritchard clone in the 1st round.

[djFan71]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

[phincsfan]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

It’ll happen more often than not for players like him who are making some NIL cash but still have a good chance to move up the draft boards in future drafts.

[Hal14]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

He's still testing the draft waters and going through the draft process. It's just that if he does decide to go back to school, it'll be at Michigan rather than UAB.

[165bows]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

Get on the Viktor Lakhin train, solid back up big at 2nd round draft pick/2-way pricing.

Really good defensive metrics and great steal/good block rates, tough guy, a little bit mobile, hitting some threes. If I squint he's the bigger Russian Theis so just blend Theis with Dolph Lundgren.

[winsomme2]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

He's still testing the draft waters and going through the draft process. It's just that if he does decide to go back to school, it'll be at Michigan rather than UAB.

Hopefully someone makes him a draft promise to keep him in.

[winsomme2]

You beat me to it Clayton is an absolute perfect Celtic in my opinion I feel he is a more athletic D White Josh Hart hybrid.

And since I'm always requesting Boston to take their 2 draft picks and trade up I would easily trade up for him. He can replace Jrue in our lineup and save us a ton of money.

Someone mentioned Fred Van Vleet as a potential comp for him.

He definitely has that big shot maker vibe and solid ball handling skills.

I wonder about his ability to defend but he absolutely could be an impactful offensive player.

6 ft to 6'4

Even better!

Although if he measures that big, good chance someone grabs him before he gets to us. Might get picked higher regardless because he's been that good on the biggest stage.

[djFan71]

Yaxel to Michigan. Meryl Streep boo.

He's still testing the draft waters and going through the draft process. It's just that if he does decide to go back to school, it'll be at Michigan rather than UAB.

What, I gotta read the whole article not just the headline? boo.

Hopefully someone makes him a draft promise to keep him in.

Yeah, my first thought was he wants a 1st round promise. Works for us either way if he gets one. Either it's us, or one more player falls to 28 or 31.