2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 5

[KillaSham23]

My tier list for raps
Flagg
Harper
VJ
Ace, Queen, fears, Tre Johnson

I'd be happy with any of those. Too much of a bust potential for Maluach.

[Got Nuffin]

He shot 20%...But yes the 3 point shot will be a big thing for Queen at the next level....But you suggest the 3 pointer will be the only thing these 2 need to get good at to succeed...I disagree....Queen has much less things to develop at the next level than Maluach.....Maluach needs to develop a whole slew of things.....If you want him to be as good or better than Queen.....For Queen it will def be his 3 point shooting , Defensive positioning....He already has good hands and has a good steal rate...Just needs to get his body in better shape so he can move his feet quicker to get better positioning....

For Maluach you need to develop a whole offensive game.....Or hes just Rob Williams...Good player but you could do better with a top 7 pick.

If Maluach is a Tyson Chandler, with or without 3pt range he could be starter on a team because of his defensive traits. Even if he only develops to Poeltl-level, that is still a starter in this league on a lot of teams.

Without 3pt range Queen is not a starter and more like maybe a Naz Reid off the bench scorer type. His defence is poor and he cannot protect the rim, so he's not a 5 but without shooting range and stronger foot speed he is not a 4 either. So thats' a guy you can bring off the bench and that's not worthy of a high pick either.

That is how I look at it. But that's looking negatively - they both have pretty high upside as well.

Like i said, if Maluach improves his range that could be an amazing / rare player at his size.

If Queen can effectively play and guard the 4 instead of 5, that's also a really great role player / offensive hub to have on the team.

Tyson Chandler with 3 point shooting is his ceiling.
If his average case is Mark Williams with an average 3 point shooting, is he that appearing to you? His block rate may not indicate he will be at that level.

Mark Williams is allergic to defence despite his blocks and is a pretty terrible comp for Maluach. So no, that would not be appealing and would be terrible lol.

Williams is probably not someone you can win with playing matador defence at the 5. Probably should make you more weary of Queen if anything.

In all honesty i like both prospects Maluach and Queen, but they both have potential to end up just as decent role players. Hope not, but you can’t be blind to it.

[Godaddycurse]

The question for Queens is where is he playing on D? Can he defend perimeter and switch adequately as a 4? Can he become an effective rim protector as a 5? I am wary of the 4/5 who cant defend either.

[Brinbe]

Queen's defense isn't as bad as people say. They see the body type and immediately think one thing but he was actually a decent rim protector, he can block shots and with his agility/footwork it's not out of the question that he brings that on the defensive end too as he gets more experience and pro-level development.

[Indeed]

If Maluach is a Tyson Chandler, with or without 3pt range he could be starter on a team because of his defensive traits. Even if he only develops to Poeltl-level, that is still a starter in this league on a lot of teams.

Without 3pt range Queen is not a starter and more like maybe a Naz Reid off the bench scorer type. His defence is poor and he cannot protect the rim, so he's not a 5 but without shooting range and stronger foot speed he is not a 4 either. So thats' a guy you can bring off the bench and that's not worthy of a high pick either.

That is how I look at it. But that's looking negatively - they both have pretty high upside as well.

Like i said, if Maluach improves his range that could be an amazing / rare player at his size.

If Queen can effectively play and guard the 4 instead of 5, that's also a really great role player / offensive hub to have on the team.

Tyson Chandler with 3 point shooting is his ceiling.
If his average case is Mark Williams with an average 3 point shooting, is he that appearing to you? His block rate may not indicate he will be at that level.

Mark Williams is allergic to defence despite his blocks and is a pretty terrible comp for Maluach. So no, that would not be appealing and would be terrible lol.

Williams is probably not someone you can win with playing matador defence at the 5. Probably should make you more weary of Queen if anything.

In all honesty i like both prospects Maluach and Queen, but they both have potential to end up just as decent role players. Hope not, but you can’t be blind to it.

I am unsure his defense / rebounding is better than Mark Williams. Keep in mind that he was terrible against Houston with zero rebound.
Again, that is a pretty fair average case scenario for Maluach. Your Chandler comparison is high end, that is the assumption that he improves his defense and rebounding to that level.

[Got Nuffin]

Tyson Chandler with 3 point shooting is his ceiling.
If his average case is Mark Williams with an average 3 point shooting, is he that appearing to you? His block rate may not indicate he will be at that level.

Mark Williams is allergic to defence despite his blocks and is a pretty terrible comp for Maluach. So no, that would not be appealing and would be terrible lol.

Williams is probably not someone you can win with playing matador defence at the 5. Probably should make you more weary of Queen if anything.

In all honesty i like both prospects Maluach and Queen, but they both have potential to end up just as decent role players. Hope not, but you can’t be blind to it.

I am unsure his defense / rebounding is better than Mark Williams. Keep in mind that he was terrible against Houston with zero rebound.
Again, that is a pretty fair average case scenario for Maluach. Your Chandler comparison is high end, that is the assumption that he improves his defense and rebounding to that level.

Hmm not sure how much of Maluach you have watched then, unless you just watched the last game (Houston) when he heard he was about to be deported. There us no way you could think that of you watched his previous games closely. He is an extraordinary defender for some one who has only been playing a few years and switchable too.

Mark Williams doesn’t really play any defence so.. if Maluach plays anything like him then yeah you’re right no one should draft him He won’t even be in the league.

[TimeForChange]

Hopefully the lotto gods bless the raps and move them into the top 4.

I am really in love with the top 4 guys in this draft.

[Clutch0z24]

Queen's defense isn't as bad as people say. They see the body type and immediately think one thing but he was actually a decent rim protector, he can block shots and with his agility/footwork it's not out of the question that he brings that on the defensive end too as he gets more experience and pro-level development.

I think its his body imo....He needs to get in the gym and tone up...Get more lean so he can move his feet faster....But yeah hes not as bad as people think....He has quick hands and good timing....Just i feel hes not in the tip top shape he could be in so he trys to reserve his energy on the defensive end because he wants to be great on the offensive end.....But if Raptors draft him im sure they will get him on a strict diet plan and work on it....

Hes also a better rebounder than Maluach even if Maluach has the Size advantage.

[Clutch0z24]

My tier list for raps
Flagg
Harper
VJ
Ace, Queen, fears, Tre Johnson

I'd be happy with any of those. Too much of a bust potential for Maluach.

Good list thats my first tier as well thing is i could see all 7 being gone if we move down to 8/9th....And then you have to look at the 2nd tier guys which is

Maluach
Kon
CMB
Jase
Newell
Carter Bryant
Jak
Demin

At that point id be fine with W/E Masai goes with.

[DreamTeam09]

I'm not buying the fears hype, he easily could be looking like scoot Henderson for the next few years. No jumper & 184 doesn't screen star franchise PG

[TimeForChange]

Would you guys be upset if the raps took Jak if they end up staying between 7-10?

Easily one of the highest IQ's in the draft. Think he could seamlessly fit with IQ or Shead in the back court.

[M3tro]

I personally dont understand the love with Queen. Its much much harder to build a contender when your C is not a defensive anchor.

Watch on YouTube

Just take the time and watch this whole video....And study the things hes able to do as a 6 foot 10 big man....Its rare you find a big man with this level of basketball skills....I would rather try and trade for an already established defensive big man than draft one that is so raw who could end up being a bust....Its like a gamble not worth taking for me....Id rather take Queen so you add a player you know already has NBA level offense to his game and you can teach him defensive positioning better sort of like a Jokic....You could use trade assets like RJ to try and get a defensive big man...I think we also still need a big man who can score because right now we have Mogbo/Yak....Both bigs who score off of other players setting them up or put back hustle plays....

Every team needs a big man they can give the ball to in the post or on the block and say get me some easy buckets and also make the right pass like Queen is able to do...We have zero players like that as well.....For me i just think Queen has the way less likely chance to be a bust because his offensive game is so polished.

He almost looks like a less athletic version of scottie that went to big man camp and didn't try to play like a guard. If I had to name a comp it'd be sengun. I agree he's most likely gone after 5.

I see a young, pre-injury DeMarcus Cousins.

[DreamTeam09]

Would you guys be upset if the raps took Jak if they end up staying between 7-10?

Easily one of the highest IQ's in the draft. Think he could seamlessly fit with IQ or Shead in the back court.

He'd look much better as a 15th pick compared to a 7th-8th pick. Defensively I'm not buying him at all, and he may struggle with seperation/athletism/

[billy_hoyle]

My tier list for raps
Flagg
Harper
VJ
Ace, Queen, fears, Tre Johnson

I'd be happy with any of those. Too much of a bust potential for Maluach.

I agree with this.

That said, if Masai actually picks Maluach, I'll immediately think my evaluation was off and be very optimistic about his chances of hitting his ceiling.

[Duffman100]

Would you guys be upset if the raps took Jak if they end up staying between 7-10?

Easily one of the highest IQ's in the draft. Think he could seamlessly fit with IQ or Shead in the back court.

At this point I'm not sure I'd be upset with anyone in our range. Seems like they all have pros and cons

[God Squad]

I hate this part of the draft cycle. We've already discussed these prospects at nasueam, and it's gotten stale. The lottery will be the first domino, but combine/workouts are when it gets sweet.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I hate this part of the draft cycle. We've already discussed these prospects at Nasueam, and it's gotten stale. The lottery will be the first domino, but combine/workouts are when it gets sweet.

Nobody wants to talk about Johni Broome even though it was a nonstop circle jerk over Dalton Knecht at this time last year. The difference between these older guys is one can successfully scale down and the other can't.

This draft is loaded up the rear with a number of older guys who almost certainly will return t20 class vorp.

[Buff]

Yeah ofc that is an amazing player....Chandler was one heck of a big man for his time....Its just hard for me to see Maluach being anything more than a Lob threat P&R guy....We can say he will be Chandler with a 3 pointer but he still has so much to develop in his game that he could also be the bust of the draft....And end up another Thon Maker/Thabeet/Darko.....Like i said i won't mind the swing at 9th...If we are choosing between CMB/Maluach/Kasparas/Kon ...Im prolly going Maluach....But at 7/8 if any of Tre/Queen/Fears are still on the board im prolly taking them respectfully.

A championship teams needs a defensive anchor. Tyson Chandler got Dirk his campionship. Gasol got us ours, mind you, without blocking a ton of shots. I will not pretend to know but IF Maluach can be that, well, that is a piece. Not every player on the team are going to be amazing at everything.

[Potential]

The Maluach clips against team usa has now changed my mind. Maybe he's good

[Dalek]

Would you guys be upset if the raps took Jak if they end up staying between 7-10?

Easily one of the highest IQ's in the draft. Think he could seamlessly fit with IQ or Shead in the back court.

At this point I'm not sure I'd be upset with anyone in our range. Seems like they all have pros and cons

The guy that would shock a lot people and I low key expect from Toronto is Nolan Traore. He has had pretty poor shooting numbers in the French League currently, but against his peers he played at a high level.

He has NBA type burst off a standstill and reads the game at another level. He also is a basketball lifer playing since six years old and he has been in INSEP the French b-ball system for youth. He's a lot like Tony Parker. Speaks English comfortably as well.

At Nike Hoops Summit 2024 against Flagg and with International guys like VJ, Dyabantsa and Maluach he managed to stand out and lead his team with sharp passing, tough finishing with both hands, and outside shooting. He finished with 18 points and 4 assists but also he dominated in practices.

Watch on YouTube

Then he had the AGNT 2024 tournament which exploded his hype with 45 points in the finals against Barca.

Watch on YouTube

After last summer I had him as a top three talent but now I am not sure after watching his game in France. He still averages 10 and 5 but he struggles shooting. He has similar numbers in the past two years.