2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[bboyskinnylegs]

what makes Maluach a better prospect than Mo Bamba was when he was drafted? I worry that the benefits of drafting him are theoretical based on his physical tools and are baking in the assumption that he will develop his skills and ability to read the game without really having demonstrated that so far. Where in the draft is that risk/reward worth it?

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[mademan]

what makes Maluach a better prospect than Mo Bamba was when he was drafted? I worry that the benefits of drafting him are theoretical based on his physical tools and are baking in the assumption that he will develop his skills and ability to read the game without really having demonstrated that so far. Where in the draft is that risk/reward worth it?

Watch on YouTube

Mo Bamba, statistically, was a much better prospect. He also had shooting upside, but, unlike KM, was a rebounding and shot blocking machine

[JCP11]

what makes Maluach a better prospect than Mo Bamba was when he was drafted? I worry that the benefits of drafting him are theoretical based on his physical tools and are baking in the assumption that he will develop his skills and ability to read the game without really having demonstrated that so far. Where in the draft is that risk/reward worth it?

Watch on YouTube

Apparently Mo didn't "love" basketball and the word on Maluach is that he has tremendous work ethic and wants to get better. Maluach plays with way more passion and wants to win, Mo was seen as 'just happy to be here" type that's why he never really got much better after getting drafted.

[mdenny]

Beat me to it.

Capturing the Flagg means my baby Cooper will be scheduled for delivery on February 12, 2026

Wifey better be ready!

Congrats! Best thing in life.

[Godaddycurse]

what makes Maluach a better prospect than Mo Bamba was when he was drafted? I worry that the benefits of drafting him are theoretical based on his physical tools and are baking in the assumption that he will develop his skills and ability to read the game without really having demonstrated that so far. Where in the draft is that risk/reward worth it?

Watch on YouTube

i tend to think orlando back in the days were pretty bad at developing their prospects. They had a really rough stretch prior to wagner. i have alot more trust in our staff than theirs

[Indeed]

KM has way more potential on defense than Queen

The other way around, Queen has way more potential on offense than Maluach.

the issue here tho is that with queen he has to be a focal point. If we needed a hub then the choice would be obvious, I don't think he's good enough for the type of usage for him to be effective. Where as with Maluach, his skillset fits a lot easier into most situations.

Not seeing he has to be a focal point, particularly, his 3 point shooting should be transferable to average or above average based on his long 2s.

I am not saying we have to draft Queen, but Queen is someone we need more than Maluach, where most likely he can attract double teams. None of our players can do that at the moment, maybe Barrett or Ingram. Last year we clearly have no offense without Barrett, and Quickley only has that when his floater came back (kinda).

I don't think we are at the stage to acquire a 3&D at the moment until proven.

[God Squad]

Slightly hot take. Depending on where we land (top 4), I'm locking in on Noa Essengue. I've liked him for too long, and can't find a reason why we shouldn't just take him.

[WuTang_CMB]

There are players projected to be taken in the late lottery that the Raptors have made multiple trips to Europe to keep tabs on. These players, Noa Essenge, Nolan Traore and Joan Beringer, to name three, are lower-profile prospects who could be late movers in the draft. After all, the lottery ball can bounce the wrong way too: there is the potential for the Raptors to slide all the way back to 10th, although there is just a 1.3 per cent chance of that.

[earthtone]

what makes Maluach a better prospect than Mo Bamba was when he was drafted? I worry that the benefits of drafting him are theoretical based on his physical tools and are baking in the assumption that he will develop his skills and ability to read the game without really having demonstrated that so far. Where in the draft is that risk/reward worth it?

Watch on YouTube

Valid question, but you can play that game with any lotto bust.

What makes VJ Edgecombe a better prospect than Kris Dunn? What makes Dylan Harper a better prospect than RJ Barrett? What makes Tre Johnson a better prospect than Coby White?

No matter where you’re picking from 1-60, you’re betting on potential and on your organization’s ability to develop skills at the NBA level

[earthtone]

Slightly hot take. Depending on where we land (top 4), I'm locking in on Noa Essengue. I've liked him for too long, and can't find a reason why we shouldn't just take him.

Yah, I think Essengue is going to solidify as a Top 10 prospect once his season ends and he starts the workout process state side.

Euro guys usually don’t rise in mocks until closer to the draft, I think Noa, Ben Saraf and Hugo Gonzales are all going to get increasingly more hype as we get closer to the draft

[Appostis]

MU himself representing Toronto tonight.

[mademan]

There are players projected to be taken in the late lottery that the Raptors have made multiple trips to Europe to keep tabs on. These players, Noa Essenge, Nolan Traore and Joan Beringer, to name three, are lower-profile prospects who could be late movers in the draft. After all, the lottery ball can bounce the wrong way too: there is the potential for the Raptors to slide all the way back to 10th, although there is just a 1.3 per cent chance of that.

Just keeping options open, i think. Real possibility if we jump into the top 4 but not the top 2 that we trade back to a team like the Spurs for 8 and 14. Maybe if we stay at 7 we trade back with the Hawks for their 2 picks

[Dalek]

Slightly hot take. Depending on where we land (top 4), I'm locking in on Noa Essengue. I've liked him for too long, and can't find a reason why we shouldn't just take him.

It's a spicy take taking him in the top 10. I think as an 18 year-old he is interesting because he looks tall in that league and he is relatively productive, but he is fairly unproven.

Why I am not in favor of NE is the self-creation aspect. He doesn't show a strong handle or ability to get into a dribble jumper. That can limit is positional value. Is he more of strict PF/C? Then size and weight become a bigger question.

For the draft lotto, I value self-creation quite highly because the modern NBA isn't for stiffs who can only shoot and/or defend. The offense is way more complex and defenses stop simple pick and rolls so just having a rim runner or a guy sitting in the corner shooting threes is less important.

For such a high lotto pick you want someone you can really build around, IMO.

[DG88]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

[Dalek]

MU himself representing Toronto tonight.

This is interesting. He is the most persuasive man in Toronto sport's history. Maybe he can even influence ping-pong balls with his magnetism.

Anyway, I am glad because he is the architect of this and this next step can spin us into a number of different trajectories depending on luck.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

Masai wears his emotions on his sleeve. His face may be very telling.

[WuTang_CMB]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

Masai wears his emotions on his sleeve. His face may be very telling.

phones locked up

masai wont know lol

[Son Goku 25]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

Masai wears his emotions on his sleeve. His face may be very telling.

If he's a little too pumped that means we didn't move into top 4. Hell go into the it's us vs the world mode and pump himself up.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

Masai wears his emotions on his sleeve. His face may be very telling.

phones locked up

masai wont know lol

I have a feeling that he’ll figure it out somehow

[niQ]

Bobby will know an hour before Masai whether we move up into the top 4, stay put, or fall back.

Masai wears his emotions on his sleeve. His face may be very telling.

phones locked up

masai wont know lol

Doesn't matter.

Masai rips off his mask, it's Cooper Flagg.