The Official 2025 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

Catchall · Post #81 » by **Catchall** » Tue Apr 15, 2025 6:14 pm

SoCalJazzFan wrote:
Catchall wrote:Minnesota's pick comes in at #21. I'd expect the Jazz to go big wing: Carter Bryant, Noa Essengue or Rasheer Fleming.

Depending on who the Jazz select with their first pick, getting Rasheer Fleming would be amazing with the Minn pick. You could potentially play him alongside Markk or Flip and he would provide enough rim/paint protection that you could be small ball with size, switching capability. At this early stage, he would be my first choice with that pick (unless the Jazz draft Flagg, then you probably need to look at another positional need with the Minn pick).

At the moment, the Jazz don’t have a long-term starter at the 1 or 2 that they fully believe in. That changes if they draft Harper, Bailey, Johnson or Edgecombe, obviously. There just isn’t a guard I see at #21 that changes that outlook.

I like Sergio de Larrea, but the Jazz could trade back a few spots and likely get him.

Fleming just declared.

SoCalJazzFan · Post #82 » by **SoCalJazzFan** » Tue Apr 15, 2025 6:36 pm

Catchall wrote:At the moment, the Jazz don’t have a long-term starter at the 1 or 2 that they fully believe in. That changes if they draft Harper, Bailey, Johnson or Edgecombe, obviously. There just isn’t a guard I see at #21 that changes that outlook.

I like Sergio de Larrea, but the Jazz could trade back a few spots and likely get him.

Fleming just declared.

I'm not very familiar with de Larrea- is he the player whose calling card is defense? Maybe I'm confusing him with another Euro player.

Do you view Ace as a SG? I view him as a skinny forward. I love his length, ability to hit difficult/contested shots and weakside rim protection, but am concerned about his slender frame, ability to get those shots off in the NBA (and hopefully not have the other side of his coin of really bad misses) and his lack of handle and playmaking. He also lacks defensive awareness (I swear he is lost so often on team defensive schemes) and I'm not sure what position he guards best. As you can see, I'm really torn on him.

Post #83 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Tue Apr 15, 2025 6:44 pm

While the playing style is a bit different, I see Bailey as a somewhat similar player to Markkanen in terms of their strengths and weaknesses on offense.

Catchall · Post #84 » by **Catchall** » Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:40 pm

SoCalJazzFan wrote:
Catchall wrote:At the moment, the Jazz don’t have a long-term starter at the 1 or 2 that they fully believe in. That changes if they draft Harper, Bailey, Johnson or Edgecombe, obviously. There just isn’t a guard I see at #21 that changes that outlook.

I like Sergio de Larrea, but the Jazz could trade back a few spots and likely get him.

Fleming just declared.

I'm not very familiar with de Larrea- is he the player whose calling card is defense? Maybe I'm confusing him with another Euro player.

Do you view Ace as a SG? I view him as a skinny forward. I love his length, ability to hit difficult/contested shots and weakside rim protection, but am concerned about his slender frame, ability to get those shots off in the NBA (and hopefully not have the other side of his coin of really bad misses) and his lack of handle and playmaking. He also lacks defensive awareness (I swear he is lost so often on team defensive schemes) and I'm not sure what position he guards best. As you can see, I'm really torn on him.

You're probably thinking of Noah Penda as the defensive wing. Sergio de Larrea is a Spanish guard who is similar to Kasparas Jakucionis. Bailey is probably more naturally a 3, but he can play at the 2. It's similar to Lauri being more naturally a 4, though he plays at the 3.

AingesBurner · Post #85 » by **AingesBurner** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 3:40 am

Now our butts can pucker for May 12. I did have a dream we got the number one pick and Jerry Sloan was in the dream so good omen, hopefully.

Catchall · Post #86 » by **Catchall** » Wed Apr 16, 2025 10:29 pm

Here are some highlights of Sergio de Larrea. I see him as the value-pick version of Kasparas in this draft, though he might actually be better. I think he's a nice pick at #21.

Watch on YouTube

Post #87 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 6:18 pm

Read on Twitter

AingesBurner · Post #88 » by **AingesBurner** » Wed Apr 23, 2025 2:37 am

Inigo Montoya wrote:

Read on Twitter

We need the ghosts of LHM and Sloan to help us.

Post #89 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Wed Apr 23, 2025 1:14 pm

Now the Jazz need to win the lottery and hope he doesn't change his mind and pull out.

Catchall · Post #90 » by **Catchall** » Fri Apr 25, 2025 2:24 am

Sergio de Larrea is staying in Spain and skipping the draft. He would have been high on my list for #21. If I were the Jazz, I'd try to trade a player and #21 to move up. I'd probably chase after Carter Bryant.

Catchall · Post #91 » by **Catchall** » Fri Apr 25, 2025 4:56 pm

Outside the lottery, this draft isn't very compelling, imo.

Flagg, Harper, Ace, Tre, VJ, Fears, Kon, Queen, Essengue, Maluach, Kasparas, Bryant, CMB, maybe McNeeley....then I start to lose interest.

If the Jazz don't move up from #21, I'd be looking at guys with standout measurables & athleticism, e.g., guys like Beringer and Thiero. I'm assuming Rasheer Fleming and Nolan Traore end up in the top 20. Guys like Noah Penda and Labaron Philon would offer some functional value.

Catchall · Post #92 » by **Catchall** » Sat Apr 26, 2025 6:13 pm

His name is Knueppel and he looks like a character from Harry Potter, but he's probably the best shooter in the draft and he's got some real playmaking, like a bigger, chunkier Hornacek. He also moves his feet on defense. I'm probably underestimating this guy. I think he has to go ahead of Fears. He could challenge for the top 5 if something goes wrong with one of the other guys.

Read on Twitter

MalonesElbows · Post #93 » by **MalonesElbows** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 2:07 pm

Catchall wrote:His name is Knueppel and he looks like a character from Harry Potter, but he's probably the best shooter in the draft and he's got some real playmaking, like a bigger, chunkier Hornacek. He also moves his feet on defense. I'm probably underestimating this guy. I think he has to go ahead of Fears. He could challenge for the top 5 if something goes wrong with one of the other guys.

Read on Twitter

He is a safe pick. If the Jazz miss out on Flagg and Harper, would be fine with Kon. I think he's more 6'6" than 6'7". He has a lengthier, younger brother Kager currently in high school.

Post #94 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:20 pm

If the Jazz draft Knueppel with a top 5 pick I'd be be disappointed and will consider this to be a wasted season and a failure. Yes, he'll probably be a decent NBA player but that's not what you're after at that range and why the Jazz tanked the season. He lacks the upside to justify the tank.

Catchall · Post #95 » by **Catchall** » Mon Apr 28, 2025 12:20 am

Inigo Montoya wrote:If the Jazz draft Knueppel with a top 5 pick I'd be be disappointed and will consider this to be a wasted season and a failure. Yes, he'll probably be a decent NBA player but that's not what you're after at that range and why the Jazz tanked the season. He lacks the upside to justify the tank.

I would take Flagg, Harper, Bailey and Johnson ahead of Kon. However, I'm willing to entertain a debate between him and VJ Edgecombe if the Jazz fall to #5.

Flagg and Harper should be on-ball star players who help define the franchise.
Bailey and Johnson are probably off-ball, Option B types, though they might be elite at it and have All Star potential.
Edgecombe and Knueppel are probably your 3rd-option type, and it becomes a question of what kind of player you want stylistically in that role.

VJ is probably going to score in the league similar to the way Colin Sexton scores -- at the rim, mid-range pull-up jumper, 3pt shots with his feet set. The difference is that Sexton beats people with effort and Edgecombe will beat people with his superior athleticism. If Edgecombe becomes more advanced off the dribble, then his game can open up more. Even if he doesn't though, he should be able to get you 18/5/4, similar to Sexton. Defensively, he'll have an impact, similar to a Josh Okogie or maybe Larry Hughes.

Kon is bigger, shoots better, and has more handle/passing/playmaking, though he'll probably just get by defensively.

Probably VJ wins this debate due to his higher ceiling, but it's still a debate worth entertaining, imo.

Daddy 801 · Post #96 » by **Daddy 801** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:20 pm

I think the Jazz will trade the 21st pick and Lauri to move up or get another unprotected pick next year. Especially if the draft doesn’t have players the Jazz love at #21.

Catchall · Post #97 » by **Catchall** » Fri May 2, 2025 7:26 pm

I think it's interesting that both Drake Powell and Ian Jackson are leaving UNC after their freshman season, albeit with different destinations. I think Drake Powell has some on-ball ability that he didn't get to show this year. I also don't think he's really as passive as he looked. He has some potential as a big, athletic defensive combo-guard. If things go well for him, he might turn out similar to Quentin Grimes. I think he'd probably go later than #21, but it wouldn't shock me if he went that high. (FWIW, Grimes was a #25 pick.)