2025 Draft Thread

[J-Ves]

Each of us has our favorites but ultimately we stand to get a damn good player from this draft no matter where we fall in the top 6. I can watch enough footage to convince myself on anybody. Tre is a nice scorer, adds razzle dazzle. Queen gives muscle up front. Maluach is too big to fail. Fears is a prodigy. CMB is a fierce defender. Sorber is better than he's mocked. Somebody good is available.

I'm more concerned about Memphis trying to tank to keep their draft pick. I fully expect them to lose to the W's, then face the winner of the Kings/Mavs game. Dallas is wounded but if Davis is healthy and playing well they can beat anyone. The Kings are kind of an awkward mess, but the Grizz have been deliberately dropping games with questionable roster moves. Their 3rd string G Leaguers are decent enough to beat other team's back-ups, but their new coach has job security and nothing to prove. I'm sure he'd like extra talent. If they can lose, I bet they'll try, with line-ups and rotations. That team builds with the draft. They want the pick back. I think we miss out.

I’m more worried Ja does something stupid to get suspended vs the Mavs/Kings game than the coaches intentionally throwing

[nate33]

Personally I want the #2 pick again. I like Coop and would take him #1 but I think Dylan is more skilled as a ballhandler and shot creator.

He reminds me a lot of Malcolm Brogdon in the way he goes north-south, but he also has some of Jalen Brunson's ball-handling shiftiness and nifty footwork. Brogdon was ROTY, albeit as a 24-year-old. Harper might have a similar impact as a 19-year-old, and then build from there.

Harper's floor is already very high even if he doesn't improve much. But what's exciting is that he does what he does despite an unreliable jumper. If he hones his perimeter shot, he'll be a monster.

[doclinkin]

don't know if veteran players really think much about draft position. They have to assume that, by the time any pick is developed enough to be a useful player, that veteran may have already moved on to a different team. Memphis might lose because they're a generally demoralized team, but I doubt they will lose strategically to gain a pick.

Players play to win. They don’t care about draft picks who might take their job. Organizations tank. Coaches follow the guidance of their GMs. That means they’ll play rotations that are less effective. Stick with a lineup too long. Etc. Or just give up and declare everyone injured. Memphis held out all of their players vs Dallas.

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies

Resting players for the playoffs? Trying to get a match up they liked in the first round? Hoping to face the Ws? Or throwing in the towel on the season.

They have talented guys who might win anyway with effort and activity against the right team. But not against a motivated Warriors team that is hungry for a championship for Jimmy.

Dallas. Nico has something to prove to try to redeem the trade. And recent postseason success. They’ll try to win. The Kings probably lose to Dallas since their roster is poorly constructed.

I agree with your prediction. I expect the Grizz play their strongest lines against the Ws and lose anyway. Then sabotage the 2nd game. Probably vs Dallas. And lose.

Nice for management to get revenue from an extra home game. But getting steamrolled by OKC is not worth losing a draft pick.

[dckingsfan]

Personally I want the #2 pick again. I like Coop and would take him #1 but I think Dylan is more skilled as a ballhandler and shot creator.

I am with you for some teams. Toronto, SA, Portland, Dallas and Chicago (for example).

For this team? I would love to see a pick for a C that defensive rebounding and rim protecting potential and to move Sarr to PF and then to have a small forward like Flagg next to them.

But I wouldn't be unhappy with Dylan and that C given our abundance of forwards especially if we move Sarr to PF. I think that our group of players is "challenged" on the defensive boards.

So, why would you want Dylan over Flagg? What is your thinking on this?

Either way, dancing in the streets if we get either #1 or #2 and the Memphis pick stays with us.

[The Consiglieri]

I'm more concerned about Memphis trying to tank to keep their draft pick. I fully expect them to lose to the W's, then face the winner of the Kings/Mavs game. Dallas is wounded but if Davis is healthy and playing well they can beat anyone. The Kings are kind of an awkward mess, but the Grizz have been deliberately dropping games with questionable roster moves. Their 3rd string G Leaguers are decent enough to beat other team's back-ups, but their new coach has job security and nothing to prove. I'm sure he'd like extra talent. If they can lose, I bet they'll try, with line-ups and rotations. That team builds with the draft. They want the pick back. I think we miss out.

I was thinking about the same thing last night. I figure the players do in fact want to play in the playoffs, particularly if they don't have to face OKC. So they'll try hard in the first play-in game where, if they beat Golden State, they'll get the 7th seed and face an inexperienced Houston matchup. Unfortunately, Golden State is better than them so Memphis will probably lose that first play-in. In the second play-in, they might be thinking they don't want to be embarrassed by OKC in a 4-0 sweep and it would be better to just lose the game and thereby keep their pick.

All that said, I'm thinking like a fan about this, not like a player. I don't know if veteran players really think much about draft position. They have to assume that, by the time any pick is developed enough to be a useful player, that veteran may have already moved on to a different team. Memphis might lose because they're a generally demoralized team, but I doubt they will lose strategically to gain a pick.

I don't think the players are gonna quit at all. The problem is, they've been a sub .500 team since the trade with us. 13-17. They aren't good, period. The question is, are they better than the team or teams they have to beat to escape this pit fall. Not really sure. If they get to play Dallas, I'm pretty confident they can beat them, but the other two opponents are definitely a concern, really, all 3 to varying degrees. Really, really quite frustrating we could lose this pick .

But yeah, I don't think there's any chance the players try to tank, see Bub yesterday, the players had no idea and/or didn't care about the lottery consequences, and that will be even more present w/regards to the playoffs. They spent the past 11 months building towards the playoffs, they aren't going to just quit, now that they're in the play in. I just worry that what they want doesn't matter nearly as much as their total collapse in confidence and quality play.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'm more concerned about Memphis trying to tank to keep their draft pick. I fully expect them to lose to the W's, then face the winner of the Kings/Mavs game. Dallas is wounded but if Davis is healthy and playing well they can beat anyone. The Kings are kind of an awkward mess, but the Grizz have been deliberately dropping games with questionable roster moves. Their 3rd string G Leaguers are decent enough to beat other team's back-ups, but their new coach has job security and nothing to prove. I'm sure he'd like extra talent. If they can lose, I bet they'll try, with line-ups and rotations. That team builds with the draft. They want the pick back. I think we miss out.

I was thinking about the same thing last night. I figure the players do in fact want to play in the playoffs, particularly if they don't have to face OKC. So they'll try hard in the first play-in game where, if they beat Golden State, they'll get the 7th seed and face an inexperienced Houston matchup. Unfortunately, Golden State is better than them so Memphis will probably lose that first play-in. In the second play-in, they might be thinking they don't want to be embarrassed by OKC in a 4-0 sweep and it would be better to just lose the game and thereby keep their pick.

All that said, I'm thinking like a fan about this, not like a player. I don't know if veteran players really think much about draft position. They have to assume that, by the time any pick is developed enough to be a useful player, that veteran may have already moved on to a different team. Memphis might lose because they're a generally demoralized team, but I doubt they will lose strategically to gain a pick.

I don't think the players are gonna quit at all. The problem is, they've been a sub .500 team since the trade with us. 13-17. They aren't good, period. The question is, are they better than the team or teams they have to beat to escape this pit fall. Not really sure. If they get to play Dallas, I'm pretty confident they can beat them, but the other two opponents are definitely a concern, really, all 3 to varying degrees. Really, really quite frustrating we could lose this pick .

But yeah, I don't think there's any chance the players try to tank, see Bub yesterday, the players had no idea and/or didn't care about the lottery consequences, and that will be even more present w/regards to the playoffs. They spent the past 11 months building towards the playoffs, they aren't going to just quit, now that they're in the play in. I just worry that what they want doesn't matter nearly as much as their total collapse in confidence and quality play.

What in the heck is going on there?? I thought everyone was raving about Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells! Plus I know they have Jay Huff and Marvin Bagley… And of course Ja Morant!

They should easily be a playoff team!

[dobrojim]

I think Wells is (still?) hurt. I've seen Edey play recently so he's probably available.

If JJJ, Bane and Morant play well they should beat the winner of SAC/DAL. Probably.

[AFM]

Morant better go f'n crazy and drop 50. If we lose this pick against all odds that would really suck ass.

[The Consiglieri]

It's been nuts, I'm pretty sure they were the 2 seed when February started, and they finished 8th, for now, kinda nuts.

[BearlyBallin]

Wells broke his wrist on that frightening fall when he hit his head. I doubt he can play.
Even if he could I’m not sure it would make a difference. If I gambled I’d put money on Curry and the Warriors.

It’s all on Ja to beat either Dallas or Sacramento. Here’s his chance to tell his haters, Kiss this box score! Problem is if he can keep his head on straight for the next 4 days.

[pcbothwel]

Morant better go f'n crazy and drop 50. If we lose this pick against all odds that would really suck ass.

Question for the board. Would you rather get the 2nd pick and Memphis gets the last play-in spot (We get 18th pick), or we get the 1st overall pick and we Memphis loses play-in and keeps the pick?
Basically, how much do you value Cooper over Harper?
... Im taking the latter.

[payitforward]

Common sense says go with 2 & the lower pick, b/c it's so difficult to know w/ any certainty what Flagg's true ceiling is, whereas Harper looks so verty solid.

Look at a slightly different scenario -- what if it were 3 & the Memphis pick vs. 2 w/o it? I.e. you're facing the Ace Bailey question....

[J-Ves]

Morant better go f'n crazy and drop 50. If we lose this pick against all odds that would really suck ass.

Question for the board. Would you rather get the 2nd pick and Memphis gets the last play-in spot (We get 18th pick), or we get the 1st overall pick and we Memphis loses play-in and keeps the pick?
Basically, how much do you value Cooper over Harper?
... Im taking the latter.

Give me Flagg

[SUPERBALLMAN]

This is going to be a tedious month, waiting to see what happens with Memphis to find out if we have another 1st round pick or not. And then waiting to see what ping pong ball comes up for us.

Kind of hard to talk about the draft until we know the outcomes.

Noteworthy to follow who declares for the draft and who opts to return to school in the meantime...

[Frichuela]

This is going to be a tedious month, waiting to see what happens with Memphis to find out if we have another 1st round pick or not. And then waiting to see what ping pong ball comes up for us.

Kind of hard to talk about the draft until we know the outcomes.

Noteworthy to follow who declares for the draft and who opts to return to school in the meantime...

In the meantime let’s all Tankathon together…

In 5 attempts: 4, 1, 2, 5, 2. Not too shabby!

The way I see things: 1 is Flagg, 2 is Harper and 3 is Bailey.

After that, it’s a crapshoot to be honest…gotta trust our front office expertise.

[doogie_hauser]

Celtics fan here. Really rooting for you guys to win the lotto (or at least jag a top 3 pick,)

Bullets/Wiz fans have suffered enough, and it's actually refreshing to see you now have a front office that actually knows what it's doing.

The whole NBA community does feel sorry for Bobcats/Hornets fans, but tend to get forgot how rough DC fans have had it since your one and only Championship.

[9 and 20]

I did the lotto a few times and got mad each time. Spurs, 76ers, Utah, Dallas, New Orleans each won once. Lotto is rigged.

I'd be perfectly happy with 2, even 3, but if Dallas wins or one of these other ridiculous teams, I will Stephen A. Smith lose my damn mind. Wiz been down for 50 years, we can't catch a break for once?

[JAR69]

It's been nuts, I'm pretty sure they were the 2 seed when February started, and they finished 8th, for now, kinda nuts.

The bunching from 3-8 in the West is so tight. They finished only 2 games behind LAL in 3rd. Yes, they stunk a bunch after the trade, but they are still a good team at 48-34.

[AFM]

Well the game is tonight. 10 PM EST. I'll probably stay up to watch.

[closg00]

Today's sim:

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