Young Center Prospects to Consider

Post #361 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Apr 25, 2025 6:16 pm

Alex Len, Brook Lopez, Lauri Markkanen...the comps for this kid are all over the place.

Maxime Raynaud (Stanford, C)

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Size: 7'1", 250 lbs
Age: 21
Nationality: France
Pro Comparison: Alex Len

A loss to Kent State in the NIT ended an outstanding season for Maxime Raynaud, who made the second-most threes for a 7-footer in a season behind Lauri Markkanen.

He also averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds using his massive frame, touch with both hands, expanding shotmaking skill and capable ball-handling in space. Regardless of what teams think about his defensive projection or passing, Raynaud's production and scoring versatility have become too strong to nitpick this late.

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Post #362 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Apr 25, 2025 11:55 pm

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jayu70 · Post #363 » by **jayu70** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 6:36 pm

Duke freshman Khaman Maluach — one of two every-game starters for the Blue Devils, and a key piece of the team’s Final Four run — has officially declared for the NBA Draft, the school announced Sunday.

The 7-foot-2 Maluach — who was born in South Sudan but grew up in Uganda before joining the NBA Academy Africa — is a projected lottery pick and one of the best bigs available in this class. In The Athletic’s most recent mock draft, NBA Draft expert Sam Vecenie had Maluach being selected No. 14 by the Atlanta Hawks.

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Post #364 » by **HMFFL** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:58 pm

jayu70 wrote:Duke freshman Khaman Maluach — one of two every-game starters for the Blue Devils, and a key piece of the team’s Final Four run — has officially declared for the NBA Draft, the school announced Sunday.

The 7-foot-2 Maluach — who was born in South Sudan but grew up in Uganda before joining the NBA Academy Africa — is a projected lottery pick and one of the best bigs available in this class. In The Athletic’s most recent mock draft, NBA Draft expert Sam Vecenie had Maluach being selected No. 14 by the Atlanta Hawks.

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18 years old and has a bright future.
I would like to see him develop some range.

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atlantabbq99 · Post #365 » by **atlantabbq99** » Mon Apr 28, 2025 4:37 am

Yaxel Lendeborg would be the best pick, and Khaman Maluach would be the safe pick.

I hope the Hawks can trade down with the Wolves, Nets, Magic, Wiz, or Celtics

Rebound Mound · Post #366 » by **Rebound Mound** » Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:10 am

We shouldn't add more young players to the team, unless it is one called Cooper Flagg. Although this serbian player who plays PF at 6-11 with handling skills is really a gem.
We should organize a/some trade/s in which we can send out our picks for veterans and 2nd round picks where we can risk with intriguing prospects. We need tall guys with experience.

Post #367 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 3:58 pm

Thoughts on Jalen Duren as an option if Detroit goes in a different direction at C?

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Post #368 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:20 pm

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Post #369 » by **dms269** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:32 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Thoughts on Jalen Duren as an option if Detroit goes in a different direction at C?

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He would be great with Trae on the pick and roll due to his finishing skills. If Jalen can be more consistent from deep, it could be a solid option. Though his defense (especially on stretch bigs) and foul issues need to be improved on.

Post #370 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:36 pm

dms269 wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Thoughts on Jalen Duren as an option if Detroit goes in a different direction at C?

He would be great with Trae on the pick and roll due to his finishing skills. If Jalen can be more consistent from deep, it could be a solid option. Though his defense (especially on stretch bigs) and foul issues need to be improved on.

Interesting.

Would you be in favor of him as starter?
...off the bench?

In a platoon with Okongwu?
...or as an OO replacement?

Post #371 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:54 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Thoughts on Jalen Duren as an option if Detroit goes in a different direction at C?

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The Pistons would have won the series already if they allowed Duren to have some attempts on offense.

He's an elite talent that won't be going anywhere. We need to find someone like him in the draft.

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Post #372 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu May 1, 2025 3:18 pm

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Post #373 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu May 1, 2025 6:11 pm

DQ is a flawed prospect but projects to be a difference maker.
If he falls to #13, he's a steal.

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Post #374 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri May 2, 2025 2:56 am

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Geaux_Hawks · Post #375 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Fri May 2, 2025 3:22 pm

Rebound Mound wrote:We shouldn't add more young players to the team, unless it is one called Cooper Flagg. Although this serbian player who plays PF at 6-11 with handling skills is really a gem.
We should organize a/some trade/s in which we can send out our picks for veterans and 2nd round picks where we can risk with intriguing prospects. We need tall guys with experience.

I agree with the premise, but a long, mobile, and athletic center would be a welcoming addition. Particularly if it's a Maluach

Post #376 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun May 4, 2025 11:30 pm

D Queen is going to get buckets in this league. He's built like Derrick Coleman but plays like Boogie Cousins.

He's a got a solid chance of being a better player than Jalen Johnson. He does have some warts -- poor conditioning, lack of athleticism, limited shooting range, porous defense.

If he's available at #13...he's worth the gamble.

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jayu70 · Post #377 » by **jayu70** » Mon May 5, 2025 11:59 pm

2025 NBA Draft: Hansen Yang Is Not a Sleeper, He Might Be a Future All-Star

Chinese center Hansen Yang is a well-known name among ardent NBA Draft followers, and doubts remain about whether or not his dominance in the Chinese Basketball Association will translate to the NBA. His potential ceiling should not be questioned.

Yang is averaging 16.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game on 58/30/66 shooting splits. There should be next to zero doubts about Yang’s ability to have a long NBA career, and there’s an argument that he has future all-star potential in the NBA. The way Yang dominates the game in the CBA is far different than former Chinese big Zhou Qi. Looking at old pre-draft film of Qi, his problems were obvious. He was frail, got pushed around by smaller players, and was a mostly stationary half-court player. A lot of his points came from easy transition opportunities where he was too tall for anyone to make a play on him. Yang could not be more different. He has NBA size and strength, coming in at 7-foot-1 and roughly 250 pounds. He is immovable in the CBA. He dominated the backboards at both ends by getting into whatever rebounding position he wanted, and opponents often have to hope the ball doesn’t bounce his way.

On offense, he is regularly the fulcrum of his teams' actions and plays. On most of his possessions, he catches the ball at the top of the arc, similar to the likes of Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, and others. He even brings the ball up the court sometimes if his teammates are being pressured full court. From the top, he evaluates and looks to either attack his man, quickly move the ball to a teammate on the perimeter or in the post (his teammate, Jordan Mickey, works well with him in high-low offense), or initiate a dribble handoff that looks unguardable. His size makes it very difficult for opposing guards to get around him, and if they or the big guarding him cheat too much, he attacks or finds an open teammate.

On the defensive end, there are some clear limitations for Yang. He defends every pick and roll in drop coverage and usually opts for deep drop. He does not switch onto the perimeter, and it doesn’t look like that’s a skill he’ll ever have. He does have good anticipation skills, though; he sees the whole floor and makes use of his size and strength to deter all opponents at the rim. He’s not an elite shot-blocker, but he does offer resistance and closes possessions with his rebounding prowess. Yang is a stud. NBA teams should be comfortable selecting him anywhere after the lottery. His game is polished for his age, with clear room to grow. He’s a skilled big man with a modern skillset that projects to translate to the NBA comfortably. The defense is not perfect but definitely passable, and long-term concerns about him should be rooted in the potential challenges his defensive limitations will pose in assembling a contender around him. He will likely require a secondary big alongside him who provides mobility and additional rim protection while also spacing the floor at the other end. Those players don’t grow on trees in the NBA and are highly sought after by practically every team in the league. But a talent like Yang should make any team talented enough to have some time to find the right pieces to fit around his skillset.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/2025-nba-draft-hansen-yang-no-sleeper-future-star

Post #378 » by **HMFFL** » Tue May 6, 2025 1:32 am

Jamaaliver wrote:

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Thanks for posting these.

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atlantabbq99 · Post #379 » by **atlantabbq99** » Tue May 6, 2025 9:10 am

Most draft have Khaman Maluach now as a top 10 pick. Hawks would be lucky if he slips to 13.

If Khaman and Queen are not there, Hawks need to trade the pick for a vet Center like Mitchell Robinson, Daniel Gafford, Jonas Valanciunas, Jalen Duren, because Hawks need to win now as Trae will be turning 28

jayu70 · Post #380 » by **jayu70** » Tue May 6, 2025 11:43 am

atlantabbq99 wrote:Most draft have Khaman Maluach now as a top 10 pick. Hawks would be lucky if he slips to 13.

If Khaman and Queen are not there, Hawks need to trade the pick for a vet Center like Mitchell Robinson, Daniel Gafford, Jonas Valanciunas, Jalen Duren, because Hawks need to win now as Trae will be turning 28

There's no way you trade the 13th pick for any of Robinson. Gafford or Valanciunas. Only Duren would be worth it, but why would Detroit?

Which Big Man would you like to see Hawks pursue in this year's draft?