2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[Syd-TK3]

I don't get the love with Sorber all of sudden....I have many bigs over him....Asa Newell/Khaman/Queen/Flemming are all better than Sorber.....Sorber is the same height as Queen/Newell....But also less skilled....Sorber is the definition of an old school big man....I would like him if we were in the 17-22 range but at 9 there will be better bigs on the board....Is it just the wingspan? Because skill wise i think hes a tier below the bigs up top...

I think it's because he doesn't have the glaring weaknesses of a bunch of those guys. He probably doesn't have the outlier potential of some of them (isn't as skilled as Queen, doesn't have the size of Maluach), so his upside is likely lower, but he probably has a higher floor than all of them.

And I'm not sure I'd say that those guys are "better" than him. He's way more skilled than Maluach at the moment, and given the measurements we're seeing, I'm not sure that Newell will ever really be able to be a full time center. Sorber doesn't have the footspeed of Newell, but I think he's actually more skilled at the moment in terms of positioning and footwork. He's also better defensively than Queen.

I'm not sure he's who I'd target, but I like him, and can see the appeal as a "safer" pick at #9 if people think most of the star potential players are gone. I think that's why he's being mentioned now.

I see Sorber as a Al Horford type of big, not a star but a very reliable player that understands the game defends well and stretches the floor

[Clutch0z24]

I don't get the love with Sorber all of sudden....I have many bigs over him....Asa Newell/Khaman/Queen/Flemming are all better than Sorber.....Sorber is the same height as Queen/Newell....But also less skilled....Sorber is the definition of an old school big man....I would like him if we were in the 17-22 range but at 9 there will be better bigs on the board....Is it just the wingspan? Because skill wise i think hes a tier below the bigs up top...

Newell with a short wingspan may not be effective at C nor enough skill to be PF, so I have him lower.
It depends if you project Sorber to shoot the 3, which would be a tier above Flemming due to better passing / read.
Queen is definitely above him with self creation, while Sorber is the next tier in terms of passing big.

I guess but i feel at 9 is a little high.....I think he goes 15-19 range....Just better players will be on the board at 9....And Masai said hes going BPA....I could see why people say Sorber is more skilled than Khaman but at 9 i think Khaman is a better pick due to upside...

[BoyzNTheHood]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

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Embiid was making people rethink Wiggins as a lock for #1

[Indeed]

“When you go into these things, just everything that comes out at you — hey, this is luck. It's a lottery,” said Ujiri just off the stage in a ballroom turned into a TV set. “It can go every way. You put yourself in position to think every single way. But before it happens, most of it is you hope … you just hope that you get it (the No.1 pick). I'm one of those people, people that when these kind of things come, I've just been through so much, there's no high or low. I know exactly how to feel."

Which is, on to the next: “Honestly, it doesn't (change anything). We have all our picks going forward. I think we continue this rebuild and grow as a team. And honestly, I'm as optimistic as I was earlier,” Ujiri said.

“You hope and pray that you, you get a No. 1 or No. 2 or you jump. (But) if there's one thing I'm confident about, it's us picking in the draft. I'm very, very confident. This draft is a good draft. From three to about 12, it's who you like or how you like it. So we'll figure out how we like it and how to manoeuvre.”

As i said earlier, after the first few guys, theres that next tier all bunched up. We will either pick from someone who falls like a KM or choose from Bryant, Noa, Fleming

I feel Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe, Bailey, Johnson, Fears are pretty much set in the top 6

Queen (PF), Riley (SG), Bryant (SF), Maluach (C), Essengue (PF), Jakucionis (PG) are the next 6, but also depends on their workout.
Queen - questionable on defense, can he get quicker? (+ in workout)
Riley - poor wingspan (or average for SG), can he get bigger & quicker? (+ in workout)
Bryant - his ball handling is weak, can he create for hemself?
Maluach - other than visa, biggest concern is his passing / basketball IQ, can he improve his passing and read?
Essengue - unsure he can create for himself, and can he improve his shooting?
Jakucionis - lack of quickness, can he always shoot at high level to compensate his lack of quickness on both end? (+ in workout)

[nowayguy]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

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Embiid was making people rethink Wiggins as a lock for #1

Yep.

People were freaking out at how quickly Embiid improved at Kansas and by the end of the year he would have gone #1 without the injuries.

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/ryen-russillos-nba-draft-confidential-real-scouts-on-wiggins-randle-embiid-and-parker/

[Yallbecrazy]

I don't know if the French league has changed, but I'm a little skeptical of players putting up stats in that league as defense seems to be optional.

I don't know enough about Traore or Essengue, but they are options.
With Sorber the stats were great, but sample size was small and against poor competition and with the foot injury I'm not comfortable taking him top 10. Fleming and Bryant seem like they will be decent pros, but I'm not sure on the upside.
I am very meh on Queen, a lot of things have to go right for him to be a good player in the league in my opinion and he's at least semi likely to be flawed on the defensive end (there's some hope).

I can't get behind Malauch at all, and don't want Tre Johnson either.

Jak had an injury, but he fell apart late in the year and it's hard to put all the blame on the injury.

No thanks to Demin in the lottery either.

I was intrigued by Jase, but a 6'1 guard that isn't really a point guard?

Fears is okay as he's young, but the defense, turnovers, and lack of shooting scare me a lot.

Essengue played in Germany. It's a much worse league than the one Traore played in, and he was more of a role player for them. Traore will retain a lot of hype because of his ranking earlier in the year and that he was given a lot of responsibility at his age, which is rare.

Of the 3 French players that Grange cited we looked at, I think Beringer is the most interesting. He hadn't even touched a basketball in 2021. One month older than Flagg and Essengue. Looks like he can think the game and pick up skill.

French teams are better than German ones, but the French league was a run and gun league for a while with a faster tempo and I found stat lines in the French league had less predictability as there were more easy baskets and open looks.

[Indeed]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

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I posted that before, Embiid was able to create for himself, so the difference is way off.

[Yallbecrazy]

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I think Chinleyu had a +11 wingspan at the G league combine. 6'9 barefoot with 7'8 wingspan.

[raptor jesus]

Embiid was dream-shaking defenders out of their shoes in college. It's a struggle for Maluach to catch the ball down low, let alone string together a post move.

[WuTang_CMB]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

Read on Twitter

Embiid was making people rethink Wiggins as a lock for #1

Many teams had him number 1 if it werent for injuries

[Clutch0z24]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

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I posted that before, Embiid was able to create for himself, so the difference is way off.

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I mean if Maluach is doing this when he comes into the league i would be utterly shocked....I don't think he has this high potential or the offensive skillset to ever reach Embiid level...But if hes available at 9 and his Visa issues are fixed....Take him because he has the best upside available.

[Prestige]

I think the pick will come down to this group, assuming nobody else (Fears, Johnson, Queen) surprisingly falls to us:

1- Khaman Maluach
2- Carter Bryant
3- Nolan Traore
4- Noa Essengue
5- Rasheer Fleming

[ATLTimekeeper]

Embiid was dream-shaking defenders out of their shoes in college. It's a struggle for Maluach to catch the ball down low, let alone string together a post move.

The post was from a coach who worked with both of them at 17. I think Embiid really picked it up, but he also was older than Maluach in college. At the time I criticized Embiid's poor basketball movement as a major injury risk. Obviously he was worth the pick, but I was dead right about how careless he was with his body. Maluach actually moves like a basketball player, but I think his hands are just so-so and he doesn't have any ballhandling confidence at all. I think he is mostly a defensive prospect that might be able to pick and pop, a la Myles Turner.

[WuTang_CMB]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

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I posted that before, Embiid was able to create for himself, so the difference is way off.

Watch on YouTube

I mean if Maluach is doing this when he comes into the league i would be utterly shocked....I don't think he has this high potential or the offensive skillset to ever reach Embiid level...But if hes available at 9 and his Visa issues are fixed....Take him because he has the best upside available.

KM is a project. I think if he reaches his ceiling he's a Brook Lopez type but its going to be a while until he gets there.

[Indeed]

I still am in awe of Jaku's numbers:
6’4 ¾ barefoot, 205.2 lbs with a 6’7 ¾" wingspan and 8’4" standing reach

Dylan's Harper by comparison:
6’4 1/2 barefoot, 213.2 lbs with a 6’10 ½" wingspan and 8’6" standing reach

Considering he shot similarly on threes and is likely a better passer it isn't a terrible fallback at 9.

My guy Will Riley gained weight since last year. Riley at 6’8 ¼ barefoot, 185.6 lbs with a 6’8 ¾" wingspan and 8’8” standing reach is gaining momentum for me. He has star upside if he can add the weight to his frame. If we trade out of 9 he is a worthy pick.

Riley should go higher, I have him over Jakucionis, because he is able to create off the dribble with his herky-jerky.
After 12th pick, there are only a few who can create and not hurt your defense that much, and Riley would be one.

[PhilBlackson]

I don't get the love with Sorber all of sudden....I have many bigs over him....Asa Newell/Khaman/Queen/Flemming are all better than Sorber.....Sorber is the same height as Queen/Newell....But also way less skilled....Sorber is the definition of an old school big man....I would like him if we were in the 17-22 range but at 9 there will be better bigs on the board....Is it just the wingspan? Because skill wise i think hes a tier below the bigs up top...

I don’t like Newell over him but everybody else, yes.

If we really liked him that much we better trade down with ORL for their picks and they’ll take Kon. But honestly I think I’d just begrudgingly draft one of Bryant, Fleming or Traore if neither of Queen or Malauch are available. Sucks that we just so happened to slide to point where there is a significant chance we miss out on both bigs.

I think one of Queen/Maluach are possibly on the board at 9....Either one of them or Kon/Tre/Fears fell to you....I think the top 9 is pretty solid and no need to go off board if you don't have too...I always liked 9 players in this draft as BPA....Asssuming Masai Stays true to going BPA i think there is a clear cut top 9 but i think that top 9 could be jumbled up in many diff ways...Where any of Kon/Mal/Queen/Fears are there at 9...

I would be fine with most of the other names that you listed besides Kon. Sorry I’m not a believer in his upside. Don’t get me wrong, I think he could really solid and more the player the team thought they were getting with Gradey. But I’d look to trade down or out (for a bigger trade) if all the others off the board.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Yallbecrazy]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

Read on Twitter

Embiid was making people rethink Wiggins as a lock for #1

Embiid started playing basketball a year before he went to Kansas and showed so much improvement as the year progressed that he was their best player by a decent margin at the end of the season (better than #1 pick Wiggins), and he missed the tourney with his injury which lead to them getting beat in the 2nd round.

So Malauch may have been 10x better as a 17 year old, but Embiid was 5x better as a 18 year old.

[Indeed]

I posted that before, Embiid was able to create for himself, so the difference is way off.

Watch on YouTube

I mean if Maluach is doing this when he comes into the league i would be utterly shocked....I don't think he has this high potential or the offensive skillset to ever reach Embiid level...But if hes available at 9 and his Visa issues are fixed....Take him because he has the best upside available.

KM is a project. I think if he reaches his ceiling he's a Brook Lopez type but its going to be a while until he gets there.

I am unsure he will have post moves. The biggest question mark for me is his basketball IQ, which his passing doesn't indicate he has a high one. Capella with an average 3 is more my comparison.

[LoveMyRaps]

I urge people to watch Embiid in college and first year with Sixers

Read on Twitter

Embiid was making people rethink Wiggins as a lock for #1

To this day, Embiid is the most impressive player I’ve seen in college. He was must see basketball. His growth over the course of the season was extraordinary. Kid as raw him shouldn’t have been doing dream shakes on a nightly basis.