Individual Daily Draft Prospect Discussion/Index

[Muzbar]

What's the difference between this thread and the draft thread? This feels redundant.

[Guru]

I havent watched enough Jace, can anyone who has compare him to Fears?

[Chi town]

I have Richardson much higher than most.

I just see a guy that at worst is a positive impact contributing role player, at best blossoms into a Brunson/Ben Gordon type player.

I like the safeness in feeling confident Jase won't be a bust nor will he take 4 years to make positive contributions on an NBA court.

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

[sco]

I have Richardson much higher than most.

I just see a guy that at worst is a positive impact contributing role player, at best blossoms into a Brunson/Ben Gordon type player.

I like the safeness in feeling confident Jase won't be a bust nor will he take 4 years to make positive contributions on an NBA court.

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

That's a tough call because do any of us know how much of Ayo's sucky play was due to injury?

I think that if they drafted Richardson that they'd be looking to trade Ayo by the deadline at the latest (probably would give him a chance to up his trade value while Richardson acclamates).

[Chi town]

I have Richardson much higher than most.

I just see a guy that at worst is a positive impact contributing role player, at best blossoms into a Brunson/Ben Gordon type player.

I like the safeness in feeling confident Jase won't be a bust nor will he take 4 years to make positive contributions on an NBA court.

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

That's a tough call because do any of us know how much of Ayo's sucky play was due to injury?

I think that if they drafted Richardson that they'd be looking to trade Ayo by the deadline at the latest (probably would give him a chance to up his trade value while Richardson acclamates).

I think Ayo looked damn good end of last season and then sputtered.

I’m excited to see Ayo with this Giddey because he run for days and he competes on D. I think he stays and we resign Tre. AK has said he expects more wins next season and a step… inferring playoffs. No way we can count on Zo. Hopefully he proves he’s healthy and we can move him for an asset.

I don’t think we will be drafting a G. More likely a wing or C.

Ayo Tre Coby Zo Giddey… Terry

Not a lot of mins there.

Tre had the upper hand in Ayo IMO as Tre is a legit PG that can set the team up and run an offense where Ayo is more like Coby and he’s not any good at that.

[sco]

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

That's a tough call because do any of us know how much of Ayo's sucky play was due to injury?

I think that if they drafted Richardson that they'd be looking to trade Ayo by the deadline at the latest (probably would give him a chance to up his trade value while Richardson acclamates).

I think Ayo looked damn good end of last season and then sputtered.

I’m excited to see Ayo with this Giddey because he run for days and he competes on D. I think he stays and we resign Tre. AK has said he expects more wins next season and a step… inferring playoffs. No way we can count on Zo. Hopefully he proves he’s healthy and we can move him for an asset.

I don’t think we will be drafting a G. More likely a wing or C.

Ayo Tre Coby Zo Giddey… Terry

Not a lot of mins there.

Tre had the upper hand in Ayo IMO as Tre is a legit PG that can set the team up and run an offense where Ayo is more like Coby and he’s not any good at that.

You're more optimistic that I am on Ayo (esp on defense). He was great as a rookie, but fell off to average the last couple years (I'm blaming his bulking-up and losing quickness as at least part of his fall off).

I like Tre more than Ayo. Would love to sign Tre and trade Ayo, if possible.

[2weekswithpay]

I havent watched enough Jace, can anyone who has compare him to Fears?

Fears is an initiator, and Jase is an off-ball guard. Fears ran PNRs, ISOs, and was the guy setting up scoring opportunities for teammates. Jase mainly ran off screens, shot spot-ups, attacked in transition, and scored off cuts/off-ball movement.

Two completely different roles on offense.

[Chi town]

That's a tough call because do any of us know how much of Ayo's sucky play was due to injury?

I think that if they drafted Richardson that they'd be looking to trade Ayo by the deadline at the latest (probably would give him a chance to up his trade value while Richardson acclamates).

I think Ayo looked damn good end of last season and then sputtered.

I’m excited to see Ayo with this Giddey because he run for days and he competes on D. I think he stays and we resign Tre. AK has said he expects more wins next season and a step… inferring playoffs. No way we can count on Zo. Hopefully he proves he’s healthy and we can move him for an asset.

I don’t think we will be drafting a G. More likely a wing or C.

Ayo Tre Coby Zo Giddey… Terry

Not a lot of mins there.

Tre had the upper hand in Ayo IMO as Tre is a legit PG that can set the team up and run an offense where Ayo is more like Coby and he’s not any good at that.

You're more optimistic that I am on Ayo (esp on defense). He was great as a rookie, but fell off to average the last couple years (I'm blaming his bulking-up and losing quickness as at least part of his fall off).

I like Tre more than Ayo. Would love to sign Tre and trade Ayo, if possible.

We absolutely suck when Giddey is not on the floor. He’s our only PG with Zo and Tre out. Tre makes us much better than Ayo because he’s a legit PG.

I think Ayo could look really good with Giddey in transition and give more on D when he’s playing with Coby and Giddey and not scoring as much.

[drosestruts]

I have Richardson much higher than most.

I just see a guy that at worst is a positive impact contributing role player, at best blossoms into a Brunson/Ben Gordon type player.

I like the safeness in feeling confident Jase won't be a bust nor will he take 4 years to make positive contributions on an NBA court.

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

I like Ayo- partiuclarly his speed in the open court and his finishing at the rim.

Jase could be a luxury with our guard depth, granted with all that depth we still ended the year with Ayo, Ball, and Jones on the shelf. Any rookie drafted will also be under team control for 4 years, whereas we don't know if any of the above will even be here next year, let alone two years from now.

I'd advocate for not passing over a good talent just because you think you're set at a spot in the present.

If you compare both players you mentioned in their freshmen seasons you have:

Richardson - 12/3/2 per game, 41% 3PFG%, 62% TS%, 11.6 BPM

Dosunmu - 14/4/3 per game, 35% 3PFG%, 53% TS% 4.8 BPM

Richardson was far more efficient and impactful in terms of winning during both players freshmen seasons.

[sco]

I think Ayo looked damn good end of last season and then sputtered.

I’m excited to see Ayo with this Giddey because he run for days and he competes on D. I think he stays and we resign Tre. AK has said he expects more wins next season and a step… inferring playoffs. No way we can count on Zo. Hopefully he proves he’s healthy and we can move him for an asset.

I don’t think we will be drafting a G. More likely a wing or C.

Ayo Tre Coby Zo Giddey… Terry

Not a lot of mins there.

Tre had the upper hand in Ayo IMO as Tre is a legit PG that can set the team up and run an offense where Ayo is more like Coby and he’s not any good at that.

You're more optimistic that I am on Ayo (esp on defense). He was great as a rookie, but fell off to average the last couple years (I'm blaming his bulking-up and losing quickness as at least part of his fall off).

I like Tre more than Ayo. Would love to sign Tre and trade Ayo, if possible.

We absolutely suck when Giddey is not on the floor. He’s our only PG with Zo and Tre out. Tre makes us much better than Ayo because he’s a legit PG.

I think Ayo could look really good with Giddey in transition and give more on D when he’s playing with Coby and Giddey and not scoring as much.

I disagree. I think Ayo shrinks when he's on the floor with other scorers and his defense isn't good enough to offset that. In our 5th starter spot, my ranking is Tre/Ball/Huerter before Ayo.

[burlydee]

9 G-Jase Richardson-Michigan St 4/21/2025

SCOUTING REPORT BY Danny Chau
Jase didn’t inherit his father Jason’s dunk-contest-winning explosiveness, but a childhood spent in and around NBA circles has definite advantages. Richardson has a high-level understanding of the game and his place in it—an aptitude that has all but forced longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to play his star freshman in big minutes during the final stretch of the NCAA season even though he’s famously youngblood averse. Should he declare, Jase would be only the fifth one-and-done Spartan since 1952.

Richardson’s season is a case study in how teams can approach his floor and ceiling. In a lower-usage role to start the year, Jase made the most of his time by working diligently off the ball. He’s crisp and decisive in his movement and relocation, with the legitimate deep range and accuracy to apply pressure on the defense in subtle ways. While on the smaller side as a combo guard, his instincts, hand-eye coordination, and motor make him an effective off-ball defender. At the very least, Richardson projects as a no-nonsense two-way role player next to a bigger initiator.

However, as his role expanded in East Lansing, flashes of high-level self-creation became more and more common. Jase has a compact frame that seems destined to add on muscle in the coming years, but he relies on delicate footwork to create leverage against the defense. He also has the lower-body range of motion, as well as the excellent stop-start ability, to create seamless stepbacks and complex dribbling chains. While he doesn’t exactly have top-tier vision or creativity as a facilitator, he does show poise and timing running the pick-and-roll. All it takes is one team to see the vision of him as a lead guard—there have been plenty of franchises that have tried to craft point guards from players with lesser shooting and handling talent.

Richardson’s lack of size for his position is a clear concern, but the league has gotten better at understanding intrinsic value and is less beholden to familiar shapes and molds. There is a versatility and scalability in Richardson’s skill set that presents a high enough floor to bet on.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Richardson has major red flags to me and I would not draft him in the top 20. I think unathletic, 2s who lacks size and length is not attractive traits. Bane is the absolute best case scenario, and Bane is a bodybuilder who came in as a can't miss shooter. I prefer other prospects at 12.

[2weekswithpay]

Drafting Jase feels like a luxury for us, and not just because we have so many guards. Our offense is easy to game plan against. We push the pace and run so much because we don't have a legit scoring threat in the half-court. The Heat took away our transition game and forced Coby and Giddey to create in the half-court, and neither player was effective. Not being able to defend hurt us here as well, since we had to inbound the ball.

What issues on either end does Jase fix?

[Rose2Boozer]

I was not high on Derik Queen the first time I watched him play. That being said, sometimes you have to throw everything away and believe what your eyes is seeing. I watched Queen be the best player on the floor at the McDonald's game. I saw him play against top five projected prospects at the college level, and be the best player on the court. A big that can catch the ball on the perimeter, dribble and put a guard in jail, and then attack the rim is special. Derik Queen is special. I have him projected as a power forward at the NBA level. On my mock, I have Queen going to San Antonio.

My NBA comps for Derik Queen

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Guru]

10 W-Kon Kneuppel-Duke 4/22/2025

SCOUTING REPORT BY J. Kyle Mann
High-level floor spacers who can knock down shots from beyond the arc in a variety of ways do not typically come in a brawny, bully-ball body type, but Knueppel has a chance to be one of the best of a rare bunch. He won’t consistently splash shots moving side to side with a phone booth’s worth of space, but he’s a major threat after setting a screen, and he’s money spotting up as a spacer (47 percent on spot-up 3s on the season). That shooting prowess, combined with his ability to consistently make basic reads and the flashes of creating his own shot in the midrange, have had my mind spinning about what else he could become.

Before this college basketball season, I wondered aloud whether Knueppel would wind up being Duke’s primary ball handler. While I still think he has some real potential in that area, I was probably a little ahead of myself on the timeline. Knueppel has polished footwork and shot mechanics in the midrange, but he’s still in the process of feeling comfortable burrowing his way into the paint with a live dribble and administering contact while staying balanced. The question going forward will be how much of a difference added strength and tightening the handle make because he has the tools to immobilize a defense with his ballhandling.

Knueppel is a high-feel player. Defenses pick him up beyond the arc because of his shooting ability, and the vast majority of the time, he forces his defender to chase him over screens. Once inside the second level of the floor, he’s repeatedly shown a sense for how the defense is tilting to take away his primary passing options, which, if we’re being honest, are among the best in college basketball. Very few teams are equipped to combat both a gargantuan rim-running lob target like Khaman Maluach and a springy and savvy forward like Cooper Flagg, and that creates a vending machine of kick-out opportunities. On the season, Knueppel is posting a 1.15 points-per-possession efficiency (93rd percentile) when the help defense is forced to commit to taking away his rolling big man.

Knueppel’s margin for error on the defensive end will be much slimmer. Despite having respectable size at 6-foot-7 and a lower body like a Humvee, Knueppel’s ability to navigate off-ball actions or contain ball handlers on an island in the NBA is a real question mark. It’s never an issue of effort or technique; instead, it seems like his feet, hips, and legs are stuck in mud whenever he tries to turn the corner and chase his man. Physical improvement, specifically lateral mobility and strength, will be on the docket in the pros, but his mastery of smaller details, such as a familiarity with his team’s scheme and the opposition, will likely make the difference between whether he’ll sink or swim on that end of the floor.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[sco]

10 W-Kon Kneuppel-Duke 4/22/2025

SCOUTING REPORT BY J. Kyle Mann
High-level floor spacers who can knock down shots from beyond the arc in a variety of ways do not typically come in a brawny, bully-ball body type, but Knueppel has a chance to be one of the best of a rare bunch. He won’t consistently splash shots moving side to side with a phone booth’s worth of space, but he’s a major threat after setting a screen, and he’s money spotting up as a spacer (47 percent on spot-up 3s on the season). That shooting prowess, combined with his ability to consistently make basic reads and the flashes of creating his own shot in the midrange, have had my mind spinning about what else he could become.

Before this college basketball season, I wondered aloud whether Knueppel would wind up being Duke’s primary ball handler. While I still think he has some real potential in that area, I was probably a little ahead of myself on the timeline. Knueppel has polished footwork and shot mechanics in the midrange, but he’s still in the process of feeling comfortable burrowing his way into the paint with a live dribble and administering contact while staying balanced. The question going forward will be how much of a difference added strength and tightening the handle make because he has the tools to immobilize a defense with his ballhandling.

Knueppel is a high-feel player. Defenses pick him up beyond the arc because of his shooting ability, and the vast majority of the time, he forces his defender to chase him over screens. Once inside the second level of the floor, he’s repeatedly shown a sense for how the defense is tilting to take away his primary passing options, which, if we’re being honest, are among the best in college basketball. Very few teams are equipped to combat both a gargantuan rim-running lob target like Khaman Maluach and a springy and savvy forward like Cooper Flagg, and that creates a vending machine of kick-out opportunities. On the season, Knueppel is posting a 1.15 points-per-possession efficiency (93rd percentile) when the help defense is forced to commit to taking away his rolling big man.

Knueppel’s margin for error on the defensive end will be much slimmer. Despite having respectable size at 6-foot-7 and a lower body like a Humvee, Knueppel’s ability to navigate off-ball actions or contain ball handlers on an island in the NBA is a real question mark. It’s never an issue of effort or technique; instead, it seems like his feet, hips, and legs are stuck in mud whenever he tries to turn the corner and chase his man. Physical improvement, specifically lateral mobility and strength, will be on the docket in the pros, but his mastery of smaller details, such as a familiarity with his team’s scheme and the opposition, will likely make the difference between whether he’ll sink or swim on that end of the floor.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I don't hate Knueppel (although it will be another name I'll spend half a season misspelling). He might be a Huerter type guy (who would be a keeper for us if he wasn't so inconsistent with his 3 ball).

[wolffy]

The Bulls need something at PG, neither Giddey or White defend it well.

The offense runs thru Giddey so shooting and defensive is more important than facilitation. Jace offers both so it makes sense in that way.

Despite all the guards they have, they don't have anyone who offers both consistently.

Id prefer Jones but there's no way they can sign him.

The other real concern is should anyone even care about fit with white or Giddey?

[Chi town]

The Bulls need something at PG, neither Giddey or White defend it well.

The offense runs thru Giddey so shooting and defensive is more important than facilitation. Jace offers both so it makes sense in that way.

Despite all the guards they have, they don't have anyone who offers both consistently.

Id prefer Jones but there's no way they can sign him.

The other real concern is should anyone even care about fit with white or Giddey?

I do.

Jase can defend PGs but not play PG. that’s not his game much like Ayo.

Jones and Zo can both defend and play PGs.

Don’t see Jase as a fit.

[MGB8]

I have Richardson much higher than most.

I just see a guy that at worst is a positive impact contributing role player, at best blossoms into a Brunson/Ben Gordon type player.

I like the safeness in feeling confident Jase won't be a bust nor will he take 4 years to make positive contributions on an NBA court.

Do you think Jase will be better than Ayo?

Would he get mins over Ayo?

Richardson is smart and a versatile scorer who competes on defense, but lacks plus athleticism. From my POV, he would be more a hedge on Coby - and an off the bench scorer if Coby continues growth as a lead - as compared to anything with Ayo. Honestly, not factoring Ayo much into thinking about Bulls future

Ayo will be in the last year of his deal and hasn’t solidified a clear role, yet. Despite scoring a bunch in college as a junior, the scoring hasn’t really translated. He very well could have a role as a 3&D+ guard/wing next to Coby or another lead scoring guard (Coby-Ayo-Giddey-Matas) - but the 3 has been come and go, and he seems most comfortable on-ball, high isn’t ideal because he doesn’t have quite that level of on-ball offensive talent.

Maybe Ayo steps up in a big way - he has flashed at times - but the lack of consistency makes him (at least at this point) a guy that is hard to “count on” in terms of planning for the future.

[MGB8]

10 W-Kon Kneuppel-Duke 4/22/2025

SCOUTING REPORT BY J. Kyle Mann
High-level floor spacers who can knock down shots from beyond the arc in a variety of ways do not typically come in a brawny, bully-ball body type, but Knueppel has a chance to be one of the best of a rare bunch. He won’t consistently splash shots moving side to side with a phone booth’s worth of space, but he’s a major threat after setting a screen, and he’s money spotting up as a spacer (47 percent on spot-up 3s on the season). That shooting prowess, combined with his ability to consistently make basic reads and the flashes of creating his own shot in the midrange, have had my mind spinning about what else he could become.

Before this college basketball season, I wondered aloud whether Knueppel would wind up being Duke’s primary ball handler. While I still think he has some real potential in that area, I was probably a little ahead of myself on the timeline. Knueppel has polished footwork and shot mechanics in the midrange, but he’s still in the process of feeling comfortable burrowing his way into the paint with a live dribble and administering contact while staying balanced. The question going forward will be how much of a difference added strength and tightening the handle make because he has the tools to immobilize a defense with his ballhandling.

Knueppel is a high-feel player. Defenses pick him up beyond the arc because of his shooting ability, and the vast majority of the time, he forces his defender to chase him over screens. Once inside the second level of the floor, he’s repeatedly shown a sense for how the defense is tilting to take away his primary passing options, which, if we’re being honest, are among the best in college basketball. Very few teams are equipped to combat both a gargantuan rim-running lob target like Khaman Maluach and a springy and savvy forward like Cooper Flagg, and that creates a vending machine of kick-out opportunities. On the season, Knueppel is posting a 1.15 points-per-possession efficiency (93rd percentile) when the help defense is forced to commit to taking away his rolling big man.

Knueppel’s margin for error on the defensive end will be much slimmer. Despite having respectable size at 6-foot-7 and a lower body like a Humvee, Knueppel’s ability to navigate off-ball actions or contain ball handlers on an island in the NBA is a real question mark. It’s never an issue of effort or technique; instead, it seems like his feet, hips, and legs are stuck in mud whenever he tries to turn the corner and chase his man. Physical improvement, specifically lateral mobility and strength, will be on the docket in the pros, but his mastery of smaller details, such as a familiarity with his team’s scheme and the opposition, will likely make the difference between whether he’ll sink or swim on that end of the floor.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I don't hate Knueppel (although it will be another name I'll spend half a season misspelling). He might be a Huerter type guy (who would be a keeper for us if he wasn't so inconsistent with his 3 ball).

The draft profile screams Huerter on both ends. Bulls already have Huerter (on a contract that is hard to trade).

[wolffy]

The Bulls need something at PG, neither Giddey or White defend it well.

The offense runs thru Giddey so shooting and defensive is more important than facilitation. Jace offers both so it makes sense in that way.

Despite all the guards they have, they don't have anyone who offers both consistently.

Id prefer Jones but there's no way they can sign him.

The other real concern is should anyone even care about fit with white or Giddey?

I do.

Jase can defend PGs but not play PG. that’s not his game much like Ayo.

Jones and Zo can both defend and play PGs.

Don’t see Jase as a fit.

Do you need a PG offensively if you have Giddey? He's a good catch and shoot scorer that seems to fit with this team.