2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 5

[Indeed]

Around 75% free throw, but not yet a consistent 3 point shooter.
Maluach, Bryant and Essengue are the high risk high reward type. Maluach and Bryant might have a better floor, while Essengue would be Banton in his floor, I suppose. I would have Bryant a big higher due to him shown better shooting.

A Banton floor? Ouch. We better walk away from this draft with better than that!

That is just a brief comparison, and that would be the floor.
Anyone we draft will have risk, such as Barnes who can have a high ceiling if he work hard in the off season to improve his skills (eg. footwork, shooting, etc.), but if he doesn't, he is stuck at the same skill set and being the floor.

[billy_hoyle]

A solid post on Egor Demin from Reddit. It transcribes an interview done with Egor’s father and the expectations they had this season.

If I’m not mistaken, Jerry Lucas lists Egor as potentially one of Masai’s guys.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/nn3kFVW9R6

Egor was only on version 1 which was very early in the college season, and he fell off quick after the first 5 games, once BYU started facing non-garbage teams. I don't even think he made it to version 2.

The latest (and possibly final) update I posted recently in a reply to PhilBlackson.

Interesting. I wonder if he’s still on Masai’s actually list based on our history with big guards like Scottie and Giddey.

Why call these guys big guards? They are playmaking wings. Demin will also be a playmaking wing.

You are not playing these guys with all forwards and/or centers. They can't defend other actual guards.

[Dalek]

A solid post on Egor Demin from Reddit. It transcribes an interview done with Egor’s father and the expectations they had this season.

If I’m not mistaken, Jerry Lucas lists Egor as potentially one of Masai’s guys.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/nn3kFVW9R6

Egor was only on version 1 which was very early in the college season, and he fell off quick after the first 5 games, once BYU started facing non-garbage teams. I don't even think he made it to version 2.

The latest (and possibly final) update I posted recently in a reply to PhilBlackson.

Interesting. I wonder if he’s still on Masai’s actually list based on our history with big guards like Scottie and Giddey.

I don't know about Demin. He is all flash with little actual impact. He is a quick decision-maker but I don't see any type of motor on defense, and his dribble is high and his shot was poor from college three. That makes for a lot of question marks. In reading that reddit post it confirmed a couple things for me, namely his lack of composure under pressure. The NBA is not kind to players who can't handle defensive pressure and without special shooting touch he has a hard case to make it.

[Psubs]

I can see the rationale for Carter Bryant. Real big wing size, borderline elite athleticism and a shot that looks pretty. If he hits it well in the pre draft shooting comps, i can see him rising to the point that the Raps consider him. I dont see much difference in quality of players 3 to 20 in this draft. I have CMB third and he might fall out of the lottery

Agreed, combine could help him and he could be as good a prospect as VJ Edgecombe but with ideal SF size.

Maybe he gets drafted where Devin Booker got drafted and he came off the bench and didn't have crazy numbers.

I can see Houston letting FVV walk and drafting Fears as the backup PG/SG and take time to win a starting spot. Thus Miami trades with us to nab Fears.

#11 Carter Bryant
#18 Rasheer Fleming

[Dalek]

I was thinking about Reed Sheppard as a case for drafting Jase Richardson:

Both have the undersized SG label and listed at 6'3" and both have NBA fathers that obviously impacted their basketball IQ level.

Sheppard had the outlier shooting season but his advanced stats align well with Richardson:

BPM
Richardson: 11.6
Sheppard: 11.4

DBPM
Richardson: 5.1
Sheppard: 5.0

STL%
Richardson: 1.9%
Sheppard: 4.6%

FTA Rate
Richardson: .418
Sheppard: .247

TS%
Richardson: .624
Sheppard: .699

AST%
Richardson: 14.4%
Sheppard: 24%

Usage
Richardson: 20%
Sheppard: 18%

Unguarded C&S 3s
Richardson: 50%
Sheppard: 57.4%

Guarded C&S 3s
Richardson 42%
Sheppard: 45.5%

At the rim%
Richardson: 69%
Sheppard: 65%

Sheppard had top 3 pick type of credentials with the elite shooting and defensive metrics. Jase was not at that exact level, but he is pretty close in most impact stats, and he became the clear number one option for Michigan State with an excellent FTR which is key for a lead guard.

I will say MSU is not a team that works hard on getting player defensive counting stats so blocks and steals are not as important as positioning. Jase is really in the right spots on defense and he has great hands.

Sheppard ended up having a quiet rookie year because he was on a stacked Houston team. In 3 starts where he averaged 36 mins, he had 49/52/100 with 20/5/3 averages. In the G-League he was elite in his 3 game run where he averaged 30 points. I just think we are in a high level basketball era where size isn't the only determining factor.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

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[God Squad]

Read on Twitter

This is my guy. I'm probably in the minority but from 7-9, I'd give him a strong look.

[Dalek]

Read on Twitter

This is my guy. I'm probably in the minority but from 7-9, I'd give him a strong look.

He is the ultimate upside swing for me. He is so lanky and loves to dunk the ball. Not sure what else to expect from him, but he's a lot like Coulibaly just gaining late momentum.

[God Squad]

Read on Twitter

This is my guy. I'm probably in the minority but from 7-9, I'd give him a strong look.

He is the ultimate upside swing for me. He is so lanky and loves to dunk the ball. Not sure what else to expect from him, but he's a lot like Coulibaly just gaining late momentum.

Agreed. He has good defensive indicators with his steal%, good offensive indicators with TS 64% and effective FG 60%. While only being 18 years old is crazy good. The ceiling that I love comes from adding weight to his frame, a stronger handle (if you believe he's more than a 4), and a more consistent 3-point shooter. Hopefully that'll round out to around 34-36% with added weight.

I'm a fan, but it seems not many are lol.

[WuTang_CMB]

love the length, moves really good in the open floor. Gaining momentum on his 3's towards end of year.

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[OakleyDokely]

Top 10 picks held in Raps franchise history:

#1 - 2006
#2 - 1996
#3 - N/A
#4 - 1998 / 2003 / 2021
#5 - 1999 / 2011
#6 - N/A
#7 - 1995 / 2005
#8 - 2004 / 2012
#9 - 1997 / 2009 / 2016
#10 - N/A



Would be a great time to get their first 3rd pick.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[PoundTown]

This is my guy. I'm probably in the minority but from 7-9, I'd give him a strong look.

He is the ultimate upside swing for me. He is so lanky and loves to dunk the ball. Not sure what else to expect from him, but he's a lot like Coulibaly just gaining late momentum.

Agreed. He has good defensive indicators with his steal%, good offensive indicators with TS 64% and effective FG 60%. While only being 18 years old is crazy good. The ceiling that I love comes from adding weight to his frame, a stronger handle (if you believe he's more than a 4), and a more consistent 3-point shooter. Hopefully that'll round out to around 34-36% with added weight.

I'm a fan, but it seems not many are lol.

I believe he also played pretty well when going against NBA competition in preseason. He is a tough one for me. Hard for me to see him being a star, but I do see some nice tools there, and better vision than I'd previously seen.

[Grew]

Yeaaa watching these Essengue clips, he definitely looks like a Masai guy. Wouldn't be surprised if we picked him with Queen and Fears still on the board. I wouldn't like it, but he does look like an interesting player. He has a Giannis before the roids type vibe to him, Masai could still be chasing that type of player.

He looks like he has great potential to be a 2 way guy, guard multiple positions. He has a good feel for the game on both ends judging by the highlights. Looks like a much better shooter than someone like Dalano Banton, don't really think that's a good floor comparison.

Not sure if he is the most exciting choice for next season. I don't think he makes an immediate impact like Queen would, but who knows, I didn't think Scottie would be the type of rookie he was.

[PhilBlackson]

I really don’t like Noa’s shooting percentages for a wing.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I really don’t like Noa’s shooting percentages for a wing.

Against mediocre competition too. He’s a big time project, but definitely fits the Raptor mold.

[RomaniaLuvTR]

Read on Twitter

This is my guy. I'm probably in the minority but from 7-9, I'd give him a strong look.

Yep I would not be shocked to see him high on Masai's list

[Boardbreaker]

Essengue looks like what you'd get if you put Scottie's brain in Ingram's body

[Dalek]

Watch on YouTube

Dylan Harper is the perfect player for Toronto. I might even like him better than Flagg because of the fit as we need a dynamic handler who attacks the paint and can finish.

Also, he seems like a really level-headed guy thanks to his good family. Perfect, hardworking culture player who comes from an NBA family.

He'd be a dream to be selected, but a top two pick would be very lucky as we only have a 7.8% chance.