2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 5

[Raps in 4]

I told y’all it’s gonna be one of Maluach or Queen.

I know some others agreed but a lot of people were picking other positions. It seemed pretty obvious when they almost refused to find a legit backup C lol I like Queen but my money is on them selecting Maluach.

Maluach has bust written all over him. Queen has a better feel for the game, but I don't think he's a super exciting prospect either. I really don't think we're picking either of them, unless Masai sees something we're missing.

I don't think him saying we need a bignan means we're drafting one with our top pick (unless it's Flagg). He wouldn't share that information publicly because it weakens our draft position.

It really doesn't weaken our position, especially if the teams around us aren't really taking bigs.
Totally disagree about him being a busy too, he played against team USA at 17 & was 7 3 1 in minimal minutes. I'll take similar production from my rookie back-up 5

It does because it means teams ahead of us can bluff and say they're picking the player we want, in an attempt to extract assets from Masai in a pick trade. No GM will ever publicly announce who they're targeting in the draft, unless it's to misdirect.

[dohboy_24]

If the Raptors FO prefers a big, there are a lot of good ones to choose from that will probably be selected in the first round:

Khaman Malauch
Derik Queen
Thomas Sorber
Alex Condon
Asa Newell
Rasheed Fleming
Joan Beringer
Collin Murray-Boyles

[Raps in 4]

Anybody similar to Desmond Bane? Holy crap that guy is good. Maybe Tre Johnson minus the defense.

Passed on this guy for Malachi Flynn because Bane has dino arms. Absolutely ridiculous oversight by Masai.

Absolutely ridiculous oversight by 29/30 GMs, since they all passed on Bane.

[Yallbecrazy]

I think CMB is a sleeper if we stay 7th or fall.

I feel like CMB overlaps Scottie and Mogbo too much (undersized power forward); he better be able to play some SF and show off his 3 point stroke in workouts. I don't doubt CMB will be a good player; just not so sure he will fit the Raptors current line up.

I understand the issue with CMB and Scottie, I think you don't worry about Mogbo as he's not at the level where you need to find him anything more than spot minutes.
I am happy with Harper and Edgecombe too, and think VJ is a great fit, but anyone else and you are drafting purely for fit and not BPA as the gap is too great.

[mademan]

That's your opinion & I don't agree with it.

He was able to start on the most heralded program in college basketball & did a good job doing so. He will continue to develop now over the summer & of course as he continues on he'll only get better. Actually wouldn't surprise me if he made a noticeable jump even by the end of his rookie season as I think he'd get the most 1 on 1 training/high level development he's ever received. I don't buy for a second he couldn't give this team 15 solid minutes, the kid can start on Duke, he can find a way to give you support minutes lol especially when he has an obvious role that most athletic bigs can do (be a rim runner which he was ELITE at and protect the rim) and that's at bare minimum -- again I'd expect that he'd actually add a bit more before the season is over.

Again I'm favoring Queen BUT I think many of you are overly downplaying Maluach just because you don't personally like him for our pick.

He's playing with other 18-20 year olds where being 7'2 is a huge advantage. Thats a lot different than going up against 6'10, 6'11, 7 footers who outweigh him by 50 pounds. Do people actually think Malauch isnt a project and would be able to play real nba minutes today for a team looking to make the playoffs?

Sure, its my opinion that he's a project, but thats also the opinion of basically every person ive seen project this draft

95% of 18 year olds drafted aren't ready to play significant minutes at a winning level for a playoff contending team so I'm not sure why you're pounding the drum here about that.

Im not. People are saying because Masai said we need a big, that we would draft one. Im saying that if we draft Malauch, we're still gonna need a big because he's not playing if we're looking to make the playoffs

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I think CMB is a sleeper if we stay 7th or fall.

I feel like CMB overlaps Scottie and Mogbo too much (undersized power forward); he better be able to play some SF and show off his 3 point stroke in workouts. I don't doubt CMB will be a good player; just not so sure he will fit the Raptors current line up.

I understand the issue with CMB and Scottie, I think you don't worry about Mogbo as he's not at the level where you need to find him anything more than spot minutes.
I am happy with Harper and Edgecombe too, and think VJ is a great fit, but anyone else and you are drafting purely for fit and not BPA as the gap is too great.

I moved VJ down my board some because he is too much of a role player. He doesn't have the bag (or size) necessary to take full advantage of his vertical athleticism unfortunately.

Probably ends up like vince williams jr+

[Clutch0z24]

I think CMB is a sleeper if we stay 7th or fall.

I feel like CMB overlaps Scottie and Mogbo too much (undersized power forward); he better be able to play some SF and show off his 3 point stroke in workouts. I don't doubt CMB will be a good player; just not so sure he will fit the Raptors current line up.

I understand the issue with CMB and Scottie, I think you don't worry about Mogbo as he's not at the level where you need to find him anything more than spot minutes.
I am happy with Harper and Edgecombe too, and think VJ is a great fit, but anyone else and you are drafting purely for fit and not BPA as the gap is too great.

To me its not just Barnes....Its the fit with Yak/Barrett as well...It would be tough to put him in a lineup with players that don't space the floor much....Barnes/Barrett/Yak/CMB would all operate in the same areas on the court and it would not look good...

I do like CMB but on this current Raptors team idk.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Anybody similar to Desmond Bane? Holy crap that guy is good. Maybe Tre Johnson minus the defense.

Passed on this guy for Malachi Flynn because Bane has dino arms. Absolutely ridiculous oversight by Masai.

Absolutely ridiculous oversight by 29/30 GMs, since they all passed on Bane.

Masai is better than 99% of them so no, we don’t give them all the same treatment as the Messiah.

[Yallbecrazy]

I feel like CMB overlaps Scottie and Mogbo too much (undersized power forward); he better be able to play some SF and show off his 3 point stroke in workouts. I don't doubt CMB will be a good player; just not so sure he will fit the Raptors current line up.

I understand the issue with CMB and Scottie, I think you don't worry about Mogbo as he's not at the level where you need to find him anything more than spot minutes.
I am happy with Harper and Edgecombe too, and think VJ is a great fit, but anyone else and you are drafting purely for fit and not BPA as the gap is too great.

I moved VJ down my board some because he is too much of a role player. He doesn't have the bag (or size) necessary to take full advantage of his vertical athleticism unfortunately.

Probably ends up like vince williams jr+

Had him #2 and dropped him to #4 behind Harper and CMB because of his half court creation and rim finishing issues. Still think he has tremendous upside on both sides of the ball.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I understand the issue with CMB and Scottie, I think you don't worry about Mogbo as he's not at the level where you need to find him anything more than spot minutes.
I am happy with Harper and Edgecombe too, and think VJ is a great fit, but anyone else and you are drafting purely for fit and not BPA as the gap is too great.

I moved VJ down my board some because he is too much of a role player. He doesn't have the bag (or size) necessary to take full advantage of his vertical athleticism unfortunately.

Probably ends up like vince williams jr+

Had him #2 and dropped him to #4 behind Harper and CMB because of his half court creation and rim finishing issues. Still think he has tremendous upside on both sides of the ball.

VJ has shown me almost 0 improvement in his game between HS and now.

[Yallbecrazy]

I moved VJ down my board some because he is too much of a role player. He doesn't have the bag (or size) necessary to take full advantage of his vertical athleticism unfortunately.

Probably ends up like vince williams jr+

Had him #2 and dropped him to #4 behind Harper and CMB because of his half court creation and rim finishing issues. Still think he has tremendous upside on both sides of the ball.

VJ has shown me almost 0 improvement in his game between HS and now.

His usage and percentages went up significantly from the beginning of the year to the end.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Had him #2 and dropped him to #4 behind Harper and CMB because of his half court creation and rim finishing issues. Still think he has tremendous upside on both sides of the ball.

VJ has shown me almost 0 improvement in his game between HS and now.

His usage and percentages went up significantly from the beginning of the year to the end.

That doesn't move me, it was all mostly transition and off-ball stuff with him having actions run for him to get him going downhill where he rarely finishes off 2 feet and has horrendous touch at rim. His shooting splits just leveled out back to what was expected and more importantly his event creation fell off significantly vs. conf opp. Again, between Luhi and end of season at Baylor he added almost nothing to his bag.

[MainEvent]

Anybody similar to Desmond Bane? Holy crap that guy is good. Maybe Tre Johnson minus the defense.

Passed on this guy for Malachi Flynn because Bane has dino arms. Absolutely ridiculous oversight by Masai.

Absolutely ridiculous oversight by 29/30 GMs, since they all passed on Bane.

pretty crazy when you go back and look at his stats. 44% from 3 on 6.5 attempts. 6 boards 4 assist 1.5 steals

Across 141 college games shot 43% from 3

[HangTime]

Passed on this guy for Malachi Flynn because Bane has dino arms. Absolutely ridiculous oversight by Masai.

Absolutely ridiculous oversight by 29/30 GMs, since they all passed on Bane.

Masai is better than 99% of them so no, we don’t give them all the same treatment as the Messiah.

It's also the Tampa year, there way more stuff to deal with any other team.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Absolutely ridiculous oversight by 29/30 GMs, since they all passed on Bane.

Masai is better than 99% of them so no, we don’t give them all the same treatment as the Messiah.

It's also the Tampa year, there way more stuff to deal with any other team.

99% of this board had Bane. The GOAT Masai should’ve had it too.

[Psubs]

Masai is better than 99% of them so no, we don’t give them all the same treatment as the Messiah.

It's also the Tampa year, there way more stuff to deal with any other team.

99% of this board had Bane. The GOAT Masai should’ve had it too.

I was driving that bus. Posted article about his life with his grandma raising him.

I get the same feeling from Carter Bryant who measures more ideal physically.

[PhilBlackson]

Doubtful he'll be available with the POR pick but he'd be a damn good pickup if so...

Watch on YouTube

[WuTang_CMB]

Watch on YouTube

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[Basketball_Jones]

Khaman at 7 is a bit of a reach imo but if Queen and Fears are off the board it’s cool with me. I think he’ll definitely be able to contribute and will surely improve throughout the year as a backup big. His offense is so limited though it’s hard to see star potential.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Khaman at 7 is a bit of a reach imo but if Queen and Fears are off the board it’s cool with me. I think he’ll definitely be able to contribute and will surely improve throughout the year as a backup big. His offense is so limited though it’s hard to see star potential.

.736 TS% at 16.1 USG with 147.3 ORTG

What you mean is that the manner in which he is utilized on offense is somewhat limited. His efficiency within the context of that utilization was elite for 18 y/o college player.

Quite frankly as it pertains to the Raptors they already have multiple play drivers, getting someone w/ lb for lb elite play finishing is exactly what doctor ordered if Masai were to be right about quickley/ingram/barnes long term. The mold of 5 he can be could definitely make him an analytical star and help franchise win games.