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2025 NBA Draft

Moderators: Knightro, UCFJayBird, Def Swami, Howard Mass, ChosenSavior, UCF

What should we do?

Trade 1 of our picks for a Player
23
24%
Trade both of our picks for Player
38
39%
Trade both of our picks to move up in the draft
19
20%
Trade our picks for future 1sts
2
2%
Draft as is
15
15%
 
Total votes: 97

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#921 » by KillMonger » Fri Apr 25, 2025 3:21 pm

basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:
RookieStar wrote:
Well... we gotta trust what we saw with our eyes then. A 30% shooter cant magically be a 50% shooter on just a month or 2. Lol

or it might be the legit rumor every year....i remember back in 2012 it was damian lillard, all of a sudden you heard he was killing workouts....recently it was jalen williams, he was doing well in workouts.....it's one of the things i have a love/hate relationship with about the draft process
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/damian-lillard-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/walter-claytonjr-1.html

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yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#922 » by basketballRob » Fri Apr 25, 2025 3:30 pm

KillMonger wrote:
basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:or it might be the legit rumor every year....i remember back in 2012 it was damian lillard, all of a sudden you heard he was killing workouts....recently it was jalen williams, he was doing well in workouts.....it's one of the things i have a love/hate relationship with about the draft process
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/damian-lillard-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/walter-claytonjr-1.html

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yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
It's hard to pass on him because if he's exactly what we need if he pans out. He's also from near Orlando and stated he chose Florida in the transfer portal to be close to home.

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#923 » by KillMonger » Fri Apr 25, 2025 3:33 pm

basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:
basketballRob wrote:https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/damian-lillard-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/walter-claytonjr-1.html

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yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
It's hard to pass on him because if he's exactly what we need if he pans out. He's also from near Orlando and stated he chose Florida in the transfer portal to be close to home.

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my ideal is that he'll be there at 25 but......if he starts "killing workouts" we may have to pick him at 16
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#924 » by basketballRob » Fri Apr 25, 2025 3:39 pm

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#925 » by basketballRob » Fri Apr 25, 2025 7:59 pm

KillMonger wrote:
basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:or it might be the legit rumor every year....i remember back in 2012 it was damian lillard, all of a sudden you heard he was killing workouts....recently it was jalen williams, he was doing well in workouts.....it's one of the things i have a love/hate relationship with about the draft process
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/damian-lillard-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/walter-claytonjr-1.html

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yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
Mccollum was a 4 year college player, too.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cj-mccollum-1.html?__hstc=180814520.5052ba3effd91187d291f7c9cb088d48.1743198945584.1745593961746.1745611042921.79&__hssc=180814520.1.1745611042921&__hsfp=3214634162

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#926 » by RookieStar » Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:07 pm

KillMonger wrote:
RookieStar wrote:
KillMonger wrote:happens every year....you start hearing guys "killing workouts" some of it is smoke, some of it's legit


Well... we gotta trust what we saw with our eyes then. A 30% shooter cant magically be a 50% shooter on just a month or 2. Lol

or it might be the legit rumor every year....i remember back in 2012 it was damian lillard, all of a sudden you heard he was killing workouts....recently it was jalen williams, he was doing well in workouts.....it's one of the things i have a love/hate relationship with about the draft process


Yeah...but remember, these GMs supposedly have watched hundred of hours of tape of these guys playing. A 1 hour closed gym session where a guy magically shoots 20-25 3pt in a workout can't really sway them that much.

Isn't that the same logic why we drafted Paolo? We didn't even have him worked out compared to Jabari who was with us.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#927 » by RookieStar » Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:09 pm

basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:
basketballRob wrote:https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/damian-lillard-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/walter-claytonjr-1.html

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yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
Mccollum was a 4 year college player, too.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cj-mccollum-1.html?__hstc=180814520.5052ba3effd91187d291f7c9cb088d48.1743198945584.1745593961746.1745611042921.79&__hssc=180814520.1.1745611042921&__hsfp=3214634162

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Sometimes it pans out sometimes it won't. Its really a luck of the draw. I mean who here 4 months ago would have thought our FRP senior rookie TDS would get benched over our near-waived 2nd rounder Houstan?
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#928 » by KillMonger » Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:39 pm

RookieStar wrote:
basketballRob wrote:
KillMonger wrote:yeah i have to keep reminding myself that dame was a 4 year college player......this is why you can't rule out seniors man you just never know.....clayton is definitely one of my favorites in this draft for us
Mccollum was a 4 year college player, too.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cj-mccollum-1.html?__hstc=180814520.5052ba3effd91187d291f7c9cb088d48.1743198945584.1745593961746.1745611042921.79&__hssc=180814520.1.1745611042921&__hsfp=3214634162

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Sometimes it pans out sometimes it won't. Its really a luck of the draw. I mean who here 4 months ago would have thought our FRP senior rookie TDS would get benched over our near-waived 2nd rounder Houstan?

i mean to be fair, houstan been playing on a higher level than TDS for a while......he's more experienced
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#929 » by RookieStar » Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:45 pm

KillMonger wrote:
RookieStar wrote:



Sometimes it pans out sometimes it won't. Its really a luck of the draw. I mean who here 4 months ago would have thought our FRP senior rookie TDS would get benched over our near-waived 2nd rounder Houstan?

i mean to be fair, houstan been playing on a higher level than TDS for a while......he's more experienced


True. But I did say 4 months ago. Houstan was racking DNPs while TDS was practically a starter with one of Paolo/Franz out. Just saying that getting a senior/rookie is really just blind luck.

Here's hoping TDS has Houstan's work ethic though. IF he does, he will be better.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#930 » by T-Cat » Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:47 pm

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#931 » by KillMonger » Sat Apr 26, 2025 3:29 am

it's hard for me to get behind drafting a center that can't stretch the floor.....it becomes even more evident watching this lakers series watching gobert, who is one of the best big defenders and a good rebounder get played off the court
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#932 » by pepe1991 » Sat Apr 26, 2025 6:42 am

KillMonger wrote:it's hard for me to get behind drafting a center that can't stretch the floor.....it becomes even more evident watching this lakers series watching gobert, who is one of the best big defenders and a good rebounder get played off the court


Than watch Clippers and Zubac, guy legit looks like top 3 C in playoffs.

It's not about not shooting 3s, problem with Gobert is that he is flat out useless on offense. Period.

He has stone hands, isn't getting rebounds ( especially not offensive one) , can't catch ball, can't make FTs, can't pass. You flat out can't pass ball in his direction in fear of his reaction. God forbid giving him post ups, his body coordination is something else.

I watched so much Utah over years and Gobert to me was always unplayable deep in playoffs. Years ago there was whole Gobert or Mitchell debate. I never felt like there was debate to be made. Imo Edy Tavares is better basketball player than Gobert. Gobert ended up making $300M in nba, Tavares couldn't stick in nba due lack of actual chance to play.

Segun looks fine. To me Duren looks good , but needs to foul less.

Jackson , Edey, Turner ( in this one) simply don't. Bottom line, center has to have 2 main features: skill and will power/mental drive. You need skill above all, but your C can't be soft and shy away from contact. Jackson for example defends like a C, but on offense guy is mental midget who fears to post up Caruso. Edey is simply soft and hates to bang down low. Guy is being boxed out by 6'3 guards.
Turner turned himself into 3 point shooter. It's good when it goes in ( game 1) it looks horrible when he is off ( game 3).
All 3 of those guys can't rebound for s***. Again- lack mental fortitude to put your body on the line.

I mean, current version of Giannis is defacto C. If i have opportunity to build team around Giannis, i would always play him at C.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#933 » by Skybox » Sat Apr 26, 2025 12:37 pm

Zubac is precisely what I want…not some finesse guy hanging on the perimeter getting pushed around. If we had more backcourt scoring (which has to be on the way :banghead: this summer), a guy like that will feast on drop offs & putbacks…making 3’s would be nice, but really not that critical, imo…I’d rather focus on a physical bully who grabs boards on both ends if you dare cheat off of him and who can finish with certainty at the rim. Carter, despite really showing up and battling impressively in this series still seems undersized and unreliable. I’d love to have WCJ backing up 4&5, with a solid throwback guy like Poeltl or Hartenstein or a young, physical marvel like Maluach or Missi being built in Mose’s lab, to take over in a year.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#934 » by tiderulz » Sat Apr 26, 2025 12:52 pm

Skybox wrote:Zubac is precisely what I want…not some finesse guy hanging on the perimeter getting pushed around. If we had more backcourt scoring (which has to be on the way :banghead: this summer), a guy like that will feast on drop offs & putbacks…making 3’s would be nice, but really not that critical, imo…I’d rather focus on a physical bully who grabs boards on both ends if you dare cheat off of him and who can finish with certainty at the rim. Carter, despite really showing up and battling impressively in this series still seems undersized and unreliable. I’d love to have WCJ backing up 4&5, with a solid throwback guy like Poeltl or Hartenstein or a young, physical marvel like Maluach or Missi being built in Mose’s lab, to take over in a year.

maybe Goga with more playing time and seasoning
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#935 » by basketballRob » Sat Apr 26, 2025 3:22 pm

Which 2 roster spots will our 2 1st-round picks take?

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#936 » by Skybox » Sat Apr 26, 2025 3:27 pm

basketballRob wrote:Which 2 roster spots will our 2 1st-round picks take?

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depends mostly on which team trades for the picks
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#937 » by Skybox » Sat Apr 26, 2025 3:57 pm

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Interesting...especially if he drops to #25...him or Sorber would be a nice bet for a defensive big at that spot. Not feeling comfortable with him at #16, but I really don't know. Very young, could still be growing quite a bit. Big frame.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#938 » by eyriq » Sat Apr 26, 2025 4:25 pm

basketballRob wrote:Which 2 roster spots will our 2 1st-round picks take?

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I want McNeely and Clayton. Team options are Moritz, Gary, Cory, and Caleb. I think Moritz is cut and resigned for a cheaper but long-term contract. Gary and Cory are gone. Caleb is a must keep imo.

Final answer, Gary and Cory are replaced by the two rookies.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#939 » by basketballRob » Sat Apr 26, 2025 4:33 pm

eyriq wrote:
basketballRob wrote:Which 2 roster spots will our 2 1st-round picks take?

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I want McNeely and Clayton. Team options are Moritz, Gary, Cory, and Caleb. I think Moritz is cut and resigned for a cheaper but long-term contract. Gary and Cory are gone. Caleb is a must keep imo.

Final answer, Gary and Cory are replaced by the two rookies.
That's possible. They did it to Ingles last year.

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft 

Post#940 » by KillMonger » Sat Apr 26, 2025 10:07 pm

pepe1991 wrote:
KillMonger wrote:it's hard for me to get behind drafting a center that can't stretch the floor.....it becomes even more evident watching this lakers series watching gobert, who is one of the best big defenders and a good rebounder get played off the court


Than watch Clippers and Zubac, guy legit looks like top 3 C in playoffs.

It's not about not shooting 3s, problem with Gobert is that he is flat out useless on offense. Period.

He has stone hands, isn't getting rebounds ( especially not offensive one) , can't catch ball, can't make FTs, can't pass. You flat out can't pass ball in his direction in fear of his reaction. God forbid giving him post ups, his body coordination is something else.

I watched so much Utah over years and Gobert to me was always unplayable deep in playoffs. Years ago there was whole Gobert or Mitchell debate. I never felt like there was debate to be made. Imo Edy Tavares is better basketball player than Gobert. Gobert ended up making $300M in nba, Tavares couldn't stick in nba due lack of actual chance to play.

Segun looks fine. To me Duren looks good , but needs to foul less.

Jackson , Edey, Turner ( in this one) simply don't. Bottom line, center has to have 2 main features: skill and will power/mental drive. You need skill above all, but your C can't be soft and shy away from contact. Jackson for example defends like a C, but on offense guy is mental midget who fears to post up Caruso. Edey is simply soft and hates to bang down low. Guy is being boxed out by 6'3 guards.
Turner turned himself into 3 point shooter. It's good when it goes in ( game 1) it looks horrible when he is off ( game 3).
All 3 of those guys can't rebound for s***. Again- lack mental fortitude to put your body on the line.

I mean, current version of Giannis is defacto C. If i have opportunity to build team around Giannis, i would always play him at C.
A big like zubac wouldn't fit with Paolo and Franz in my opinion, I would rather a big like a brook Lopez type

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