2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[redslastlaugh]

I think he does (get a lot of intel), somewhere recently he mentioned how many of his former amateur scouts have been hired and now work for teams and that he gets a lot of info from teams.

That said he prob just stuck guys in where he expects them to be drafted knowing Boston's likelihood of trading out of at least one of those spots is my guess.

That's a good call, that's probably what happened.

[Hal14]

Obviously this latest draft from SBN is just a guess like everyone else but notice how this mock fell and how close Boston was the getting my 2 favorites in Wolf and Fleming, yet ended up drafting a player a clear notch below IMO. I know this is going to torture me if that happens.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2025/5/1/24420930/nba-mock-draft-2025-pre-lottery-update-changes-inside-top-10

Agreed that Kalkbrenner is a notch below. He makes Kornet look like an OLympic sprinter.

I wouldn't take him in the top 35 picks.

Then again Quinten Post looked slow as molasses last year, yet he started for the Warriors as a rookie..

[Hal14]

Coward is someone that I can't believe is going in the 2nd round, and is someone I would really consider. He just looks like he belongs in the NBA and could be a real game changing wing. Solid shooter, solid athlete, and can defend. If he was 2 years younger, I think he would be a late lotto pick honestly. He's not the best athlete, but he has the size and length to still be a positive on that end. He might stay at Duke if he doesn't get real 1st round looks, but I think he's deserving of it. Teams are going to regret letting him go to Duke, his injury isn't a leg injury, it's his shoulder, so i'm not worried about that too much.

Only played in 6 games last season. So basically his only experience is at the mid major level..older guy who has yet to play well vs good competition

Read on Twitter

I doubt he keeps his name in the draft..

[165bows]

The Athletic Sam Vecenie drops a big mock draft today. Some really interesting developments:
Tre Johnson going 3rd
Carter Bryant going 9th
Cedric Coward going first round 29th

Vecenie has the Celtics going against type and taking not one but two teenaged, smaller-framed guards.

28. Labaron Philon
32. Tahaad Pettiford

That would be an extremely interesting draft. I love the creativity of these picks, definitely wouldn't hate it but doesn't seem likely that we go this way. Brad likes his guards built stouter like White, Smart and Holiday and we also have team needs for size in the frontcourt.

Cedric Coward, like I said, went 29 in this mock. Kalkbrenner went 30. And this is the 2nd round, I am pasting:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA): Will Riley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
32. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Tahaad Pettiford | 6-0 guard | 19 years old | Auburn
33. Charlotte Hornets: Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-8 forward | 22 years old | UAB
34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Kam Jones | 6-5 wing | 22 years old | Marquette
35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome | 6-10 big | 22 years old| Auburn
36. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): Tyrese Proctor | 6-6 guard | 21 years old | Duke
38. San Antonio Spurs: Adou Thiero | 6-8 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas
39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland): Darrion Williams | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Texas Tech
40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix): Milos Uzan | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Houston
41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): John Tonje | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Wisconsin
42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Maxime Raynaud | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Stanford
43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old | Sydney Kings
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Bogoljub Markovic | 6-11 forward | 19 years old | Mega
45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento): Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 19 years old | Brisbane Bullets
46. Orlando Magic: Micah Peavy | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Georgetown
47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): Sion James | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Duke
48. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Dink Pate | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes
49. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Chaz Lanier | 6-5 wing | 24 years old | Tennessee
50. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State): Hansen Yang | 7-1 center | 20 years old | Qingdao
51. LA Clippers (via Minnesota): Mouhamed Faye | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Reggio Emilia
52. Utah Jazz (via LA Clippers): Max Shulga | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | VCU
53. Phoenix Suns (via Denver): Alijah Martin | 6-2 guard | 23 years old | Florida
54. Indiana Pacers: Koby Brea | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Kentucky
55. Los Angeles Lakers: Izan Almansa | 6-10 forward | 20 years old | Perth Wildcats
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston): Hunter Sallis | 6-5 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Ryan Nembhard | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Gonzaga
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Vladislav Goldin | 7-1 center | 22 years old | Michigan
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Amari Williams | 6-11 big | 23 years old | Kentucky
(Note: The New York Knicks have forfeited their 2025 second-round pick because of free-agency shenanigans.)

My man Sion James at 47 here.

[neno]

The Athletic Sam Vecenie drops a big mock draft today. Some really interesting developments:
Tre Johnson going 3rd
Carter Bryant going 9th
Cedric Coward going first round 29th

Vecenie has the Celtics going against type and taking not one but two teenaged, smaller-framed guards.

28. Labaron Philon
32. Tahaad Pettiford

That would be an extremely interesting draft. I love the creativity of these picks, definitely wouldn't hate it but doesn't seem likely that we go this way. Brad likes his guards built stouter like White, Smart and Holiday and we also have team needs for size in the frontcourt.

Cedric Coward, like I said, went 29 in this mock. Kalkbrenner went 30. And this is the 2nd round, I am pasting:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA): Will Riley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
32. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Tahaad Pettiford | 6-0 guard | 19 years old | Auburn
33. Charlotte Hornets: Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-8 forward | 22 years old | UAB
34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Kam Jones | 6-5 wing | 22 years old | Marquette
35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome | 6-10 big | 22 years old| Auburn
36. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): Tyrese Proctor | 6-6 guard | 21 years old | Duke
38. San Antonio Spurs: Adou Thiero | 6-8 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas
39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland): Darrion Williams | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Texas Tech
40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix): Milos Uzan | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Houston
41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): John Tonje | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Wisconsin
42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Maxime Raynaud | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Stanford
43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old | Sydney Kings
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Bogoljub Markovic | 6-11 forward | 19 years old | Mega
45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento): Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 19 years old | Brisbane Bullets
46. Orlando Magic: Micah Peavy | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Georgetown
47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): Sion James | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Duke
48. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Dink Pate | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes
49. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Chaz Lanier | 6-5 wing | 24 years old | Tennessee
50. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State): Hansen Yang | 7-1 center | 20 years old | Qingdao
51. LA Clippers (via Minnesota): Mouhamed Faye | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Reggio Emilia
52. Utah Jazz (via LA Clippers): Max Shulga | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | VCU
53. Phoenix Suns (via Denver): Alijah Martin | 6-2 guard | 23 years old | Florida
54. Indiana Pacers: Koby Brea | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Kentucky
55. Los Angeles Lakers: Izan Almansa | 6-10 forward | 20 years old | Perth Wildcats
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston): Hunter Sallis | 6-5 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Ryan Nembhard | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Gonzaga
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Vladislav Goldin | 7-1 center | 22 years old | Michigan
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Amari Williams | 6-11 big | 23 years old | Kentucky
(Note: The New York Knicks have forfeited their 2025 second-round pick because of free-agency shenanigans.)

Read on Twitter

Saw this comparison of Guards frequency of getting to rim sn completion
Philion gets 2 rim twice as much but has about same completion rate

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Coward is someone that I can't believe is going in the 2nd round, and is someone I would really consider. He just looks like he belongs in the NBA and could be a real game changing wing. Solid shooter, solid athlete, and can defend. If he was 2 years younger, I think he would be a late lotto pick honestly. He's not the best athlete, but he has the size and length to still be a positive on that end. He might stay at Duke if he doesn't get real 1st round looks, but I think he's deserving of it. Teams are going to regret letting him go to Duke, his injury isn't a leg injury, it's his shoulder, so i'm not worried about that too much.

Only played in 6 games last season. So basically his only experience is at the mid major level..older guy who has yet to play well vs good competition

Read on Twitter

I doubt he keeps his name in the draft..

My Prediction: He's going to Duke, will blow up and be a Lottery Pick next season. Unless, some team really sees a lot of potential in him and gives him a Late First Round promise.

[Dogen]

Not gonna lie, if Tahaad Pettiford is there at 32 and Brad takes him, I will be smiling.

I understand he's young, undersized, blah blah blah. But to develop on 2-Way next year and see what we got with a roll of the dice (assuming he stay in the draft)... the dude just... got "it".

If the first rounder is a safer pick with a guaranteed contract, I'd go riskier for the 2nd. Pettiford has more upside than Davison & Madar, imo. He has a chance to be a special talent. Some Maxey vibes -- although Pettiford is even smaller -- it's nice to have guy that can get to wherever he wants on the floor.

Edit: also some mini-Halliburton vibes. That irrational confidence in passing and shooting.

[Dogen]

Coward is someone that I can't believe is going in the 2nd round, and is someone I would really consider. He just looks like he belongs in the NBA and could be a real game changing wing. Solid shooter, solid athlete, and can defend. If he was 2 years younger, I think he would be a late lotto pick honestly. He's not the best athlete, but he has the size and length to still be a positive on that end. He might stay at Duke if he doesn't get real 1st round looks, but I think he's deserving of it. Teams are going to regret letting him go to Duke, his injury isn't a leg injury, it's his shoulder, so i'm not worried about that too much.

Only played in 6 games last season. So basically his only experience is at the mid major level..older guy who has yet to play well vs good competition

I doubt he keeps his name in the draft..

My Prediction: He's going to Duke, will blow up and be a Lottery Pick next season. Unless, some team really sees a lot of potential in him and gives him a Late First Round promise.

If I was him, I'd stay in another year. He didn't get a chance to show much in 6 games. Unless there is a clear guarantee, why not build your brand and maybe get in that lottery next year?

[neno]

Not gonna lie, if Tahaad Pettiford is there at 32 and Brad takes him, I will be smiling.

I understand he's young, undersized, blah blah blah. But to develop on 2-Way next year and see what we got with a roll of the dice (assuming he stay in the draft)... the dude just... got "it".

If the first rounder is a safer pick with a guaranteed contract, I'd go riskier for the 2nd. Pettiford has more upside than Davison & Madar, imo. He has a chance to be a special talent. Some Maxey vibes -- although Pettiford is even smaller -- it's nice to have guy that can get to wherever he wants on the floor.

Edit: also some mini-Halliburton vibes. That irrational confidence in passing and shooting.

Undersized athletic guard who can't shoot= Ainge special
One who can shoot=
Ainge' s dream
Nbadraft.net has Ainge scooping him at 21
If he's really any good Miami will probably take him at 20

[phincsfan]

Not gonna lie, if Tahaad Pettiford is there at 32 and Brad takes him, I will be smiling.

I understand he's young, undersized, blah blah blah. But to develop on 2-Way next year and see what we got with a roll of the dice (assuming he stay in the draft)... the dude just... got "it".

If the first rounder is a safer pick with a guaranteed contract, I'd go riskier for the 2nd. Pettiford has more upside than Davison & Madar, imo. He has a chance to be a special talent. Some Maxey vibes -- although Pettiford is even smaller -- it's nice to have guy that can get to wherever he wants on the floor.

Edit: also some mini-Halliburton vibes. That irrational confidence in passing and shooting.

Undersized athletic guard who can't shoot= Ainge special
One who can shoot=
Ainge' s dream
Nbadraft.net has Ainge scooping him at 21
If he's really any good Miami will probably take him at 20

I bet Miami trades their picks this year

[neno]

With 4 1st rd pics the Brooklyn could net a
Coward Wolf Fears Byrd draft

[Hal14]

We've got our first intel reported on a player working out for the Celtics!

Read on Twitter

Of course it's a someone who is NOT 1 of the60+ players who's been mentioned in this thread lol

I hadn't really paid much attention to Haggerty this season. I've seen him play a little bit..heard about him a bit.

But thought he was an upperclassmen who hadn't really been talked about much till this season, playing in a mid major conference, kind of a small guard who seemed good but not great. So I didn't really dig research him much.

But idk, seems like he could be pretty good. Not *that* small at 6'3". Had 42 points in a game this season. Seems to be a good shooter (low-ish 3PA volume this season though) but good FT% last couple years. Young for an upperclassman. Just turned 21, so played the entire season at age 20. Decent playmaking numbers but seems like a good shooter, and also a good driver (very high FTr) and averaged just over 23 pts per 40 mins which is very high and the TS% is pretty good, considering the high volume of scoring and high usage %.

So seems like a score-first guard..who can shoot and can drive. With some playmaking ability. Not too old, not super young. Kind of small.

Idk, I guess he's worth kicking the tires on. He's testing the draft waters, so may return to school.

Projected to be a mid to late 2nd round pick, or undrafted.

The weekend coming up and next game not till Monday..I wouldn't be surprised if there's a few other guys being brought in for workouts by Boston this weekend..

[playa-hater]

Not gonna lie, if Tahaad Pettiford is there at 32 and Brad takes him, I will be smiling.

I understand he's young, undersized, blah blah blah. But to develop on 2-Way next year and see what we got with a roll of the dice (assuming he stay in the draft)... the dude just... got "it".

If the first rounder is a safer pick with a guaranteed contract, I'd go riskier for the 2nd. Pettiford has more upside than Davison & Madar, imo. He has a chance to be a special talent. Some Maxey vibes -- although Pettiford is even smaller -- it's nice to have guy that can get to wherever he wants on the floor.

Edit: also some mini-Halliburton vibes. That irrational confidence in passing and shooting.

Undersized athletic guard who can't shoot= Ainge special
One who can shoot=
Ainge' s dream
Nbadraft.net has Ainge scooping him at 21
If he's really any good Miami will probably take him at 20

So a small guard who can't shoot??? how many work out well like that?? please no.

[playa-hater]

My feeling on Broome is that he probably can step right in and play, but is his high floor-low Ceiling the player I want first and foremost? No, but won't cry about it either.

[Hal14]

Not gonna lie, if Tahaad Pettiford is there at 32 and Brad takes him, I will be smiling.

I understand he's young, undersized, blah blah blah. But to develop on 2-Way next year and see what we got with a roll of the dice (assuming he stay in the draft)... the dude just... got "it".

If the first rounder is a safer pick with a guaranteed contract, I'd go riskier for the 2nd. Pettiford has more upside than Davison & Madar, imo. He has a chance to be a special talent. Some Maxey vibes -- although Pettiford is even smaller -- it's nice to have guy that can get to wherever he wants on the floor.

Edit: also some mini-Halliburton vibes. That irrational confidence in passing and shooting.

Undersized athletic guard who can't shoot= Ainge special
One who can shoot=
Ainge' s dream
Nbadraft.net has Ainge scooping him at 21
If he's really any good Miami will probably take him at 20

So a small guard who can't shoot??? how many work out well like that?? please no.

Pettiford can shoot. I think neno was saying that since he's a small guard who can shoot, Ainge would be even more interested in him..

Main issue with Pettiford is he's only like 6'0".

[playa-hater]

Undersized athletic guard who can't shoot= Ainge special
One who can shoot=
Ainge' s dream
Nbadraft.net has Ainge scooping him at 21
If he's really any good Miami will probably take him at 20

So a small guard who can't shoot??? how many work out well like that?? please no.

Pettiford can shoot. I think neno was saying that since he's a small guard who can shoot, Ainge would be even more interested in him..

Main issue with Pettiford is he's only like 6'0".

OK now that you cleared that up... still no !

[Hal14]

My feeling on Broome is that he probably can step right in and play, but is his high floor-low Ceiling the player I want first and foremost? No, but won't cry about it either.

I agree that he's high floor, low ceiling. If we look at the top 30 or so bigs in the league and even extend to to like top 40, Broome would be older when drafted than pretty much all of them.

Pretty much the whole list would be guys who were age 18-20 when drafted. Then you've got Walker Kessler who was 21.

For really old guys it's mainly just Kornet, Edey, Jay Huff, Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

That's the main drawback with Broome and why I would not take him in the top 20..probably not top 25. After that, he could end up being good value.

[phincsfan]

IMO, drafting Rico last year with the plan of development was an indication that the bench will be a target for moves this offseason. I think he developed well enough that he can slide into a rotational role for sure.

I see this draft as a continuation of that.

2nd apron is 207mil for 25/26

I just don't see the core 6 being broken up (unless AL decided to hang em' up) if they're going for the dynasty. B*lls to the wall with the core and hope the bench can pick up some slack.

[165bows]

My feeling on Broome is that he probably can step right in and play, but is his high floor-low Ceiling the player I want first and foremost? No, but won't cry about it either.

I agree that he's high floor, low ceiling. If we look at the top 30 or so bigs in the league and even extend to to like top 40, Broome would be older when drafted than pretty much all of them.

Pretty much the whole list would be guys who were age 18-20 when drafted. Then you've got Walker Kessler who was 21.

For really old guys it's mainly just Kornet, Edey, Jay Huff, Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

That's the main drawback with Broome.

Not to disagree/invalidate what you are saying, but the combo of the extra covid year Sr and NIL money likely has some influence there. Especially guys in that category of elite college but not lotto talent NBA players.

[djFan71]

IMO, drafting Rico last year with the plan of development was an indication that the bench will be a target for moves this offseason. I think he developed well enough that he can slide into a rotational role for sure.

I see this draft as a continuation of that.

2nd apron is 207mil for 25/26

I just don't see the core 6 being broken up (unless AL decided to hang em' up) if they're going for the dynasty. B*lls to the wall with the core and hope the bench can pick up some slack.

I agree. And I think if you do something to save money, you can move Hauser.

BOS: Hauser, 28, 32 for 18 and 45.
ATL: 22 and Niang for Hauser
WAS: 18 and 45 for 22, 28, 32 and take in Niang’s $8.5M expiring

We save tax money galore, get in range for guys I like more than at 28. Get a later 2nd round swing for a 2 way.
Do one more run with most of the core, figure out 2nd apron next summer. If you have to move Jrue, he's got one less year.
Maybe sign Taurean Prince to a min if possible.

ATL and WAS both already have lottery picks, so they are still getting their guy.
ATL gets a lotto guy, then add Hauser as a surefire win now guy instead of a gamble at 22. They want to try to win more next year and getting JJ back and adding Hauser would help a lot more than Niang and 22.'
Possible snag would be SAC jumping to top 4 and keeping their pick instead of it going to ATL.

WAS turns 1 pick into 3 by sliding down 4 spots and taking on Niang salary.