2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Hal14]

Finally, Stevens may actually trade up in the Draft, perhaps in the Top 5...

Is the top of the draft any good other than flagg?

Harper is awesome. I would definitely trade for him if he's available. If we can get the 2nd pick.

I doubt it happens but maybe some sort of Harper for JB swap. Harper is more of a passer than JB. He's 9 years younger so we extend our window a lot more. Has less wear and tear, less injuries he's battled over the years that will keep popping up as he nears age 30.

Way cheaper contract.

Spurs would get a Big 3 of Wemby (big), JB (wing) and Fox (PG).

I doubt it happens but I'd be down.

Here's my article on Harper from earlier in the season.

https://the-center-hub.com/2024/11/20/prospect-breakdown-dylan-harper/

Note - since that article, I have moved Flagg back ahead of Harper for the no. 1 spot..mostly because Flagg got better as the season went on with his driving, off the dribble creation and shooting. Flagg is no. 1 but Harper is a stud as well.

[165bows]

Finally, Stevens may actually trade up in the Draft, perhaps in the Top 5...

Is the top of the draft any good other than flagg?

Harper is awesome. I would definitely trade for him if he's available. If we can get the 2nd pick.

I doubt it happens but maybe some sort of Harper for JB swap. Harper is more of a passer than JB. He's 9 years younger so we extend our window a lot more. Has less wear and tear, less injuries he's battled over the years that will keep popping up as he nears age 30.

Way cheaper contract.

Spurs would get a Big 3 of Wemby (big), JB (wing) and Fox (PG).

I doubt it happens but I'd be down.

Here's my article on Harper from earlier in the season.

https://the-center-hub.com/2024/11/20/prospect-breakdown-dylan-harper/

Note - since that article, I have moved Flagg back ahead of Harper for the no. 1 spot..mostly because Flagg got better as the season went on with his driving, off the dribble creation and shooting. Flagg is no. 1 but Harper is a stud as well.

He wouldn't land the 2nd pick but there's something to a KP/wemby front line that would be a fun couple years for them.

[djFan71]

I think Castle & #14 might be more realistic than #2.

Brown for Castle, #14, Barnes, Keldon and.... the 2028 DWhite swap rights back!

We clear $7M next year.
Barnes is expiring.
Keldon is movable - maybe with 28 this year even if we take a smaller expiring back. Or upgrade to Cam Johnson, 27 for Keldon, 14?

This would be the blow-up route and Jrue (Gafford/Klay) and KP (?) are most likely gone too.

[Fierce1]

I think Castle & #14 might be more realistic than #2.

Brown for Castle, #14, Barnes, Keldon and.... the 2028 DWhite swap rights back!

We clear $7M next year.
Barnes is expiring.
Keldon is movable - maybe with 28 this year even if we take a smaller expiring back. Or upgrade to Cam Johnson, 27 for Keldon, 14?

This would be the blow-up route and Jrue (Gafford/Klay) and KP (?) are most likely gone too.

Castle is bird in hand, so to speak.

I would be ecstatic if we get Castle instead of the #2 pick.

Right now I think Castle is more valuable than the #2 pick.

But if the Spurs prefer Castle for JB then pull the trigger, Brad!

[djFan71]

I think Castle & #14 might be more realistic than #2.

Brown for Castle, #14, Barnes, Keldon and.... the 2028 DWhite swap rights back!

We clear $7M next year.
Barnes is expiring.
Keldon is movable - maybe with 28 this year even if we take a smaller expiring back. Or upgrade to Cam Johnson, 27 for Keldon, 14?

This would be the blow-up route and Jrue (Gafford/Klay) and KP (?) are most likely gone too.

Castle is bird in hand, so to speak.

I would be ecstatic if we get Castle instead of the #2 pick.

Right now I think Castle is more valuable than the #2 pick.

But if the Spurs prefer Castle for JB then pull the trigger, Brad!

Yeah, I have a tough time valuing Brown. This might be too much to expect in return. But, for all the faults/$ he's still easily a top 20-25 player in the league that plays both sides of the ball and can get buckets during intense playoff series and has a championship pedigree.

[Fierce1]

I think Castle & #14 might be more realistic than #2.

Brown for Castle, #14, Barnes, Keldon and.... the 2028 DWhite swap rights back!

We clear $7M next year.
Barnes is expiring.
Keldon is movable - maybe with 28 this year even if we take a smaller expiring back. Or upgrade to Cam Johnson, 27 for Keldon, 14?

This would be the blow-up route and Jrue (Gafford/Klay) and KP (?) are most likely gone too.

Castle is bird in hand, so to speak.

I would be ecstatic if we get Castle instead of the #2 pick.

Right now I think Castle is more valuable than the #2 pick.

But if the Spurs prefer Castle for JB then pull the trigger, Brad!

Yeah, I have a tough time valuing Brown. This might be too much to expect in return. But, for all the faults/$ he's still easily a top 20-25 player in the league that plays both sides of the ball and can get buckets during intense playoff series and has a championship pedigree.

Talent of JB is elite level.

Problem is Joe is too lenient on JB and JT.

The Jays are too undisciplined on offense because Joe gives them too much leeway.

A different coach might be good for JB's career.

[leper-con]

I’d try and trade for Derick lively now that Dallas has cooper and AD

[gammajamma]

I’d try and trade for Derick lively now that Dallas has cooper and AD

If they maximize win now window and defense approach

Jrue

For

Washington
Lively
Martin
Prosper


Would cs need to add a pick?

Gives them top 6 rotation of
Jrue
Kyrie
Flagg
Ad
Gafford
6th man Klay

[Fierce1]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280389/Spurs-Could-Explore-Trade-Options-With-No-2-Overall-Pick

That article is right, Fox and Castle are PGs, so only makes sense the Spurs trade the #2 pick.

Right now JB is still the better option if the 3rd best player in the draft is Ace Bailey.

[Hal14]

I’d try and trade for Derick lively now that Dallas has cooper and AD

Gafford is the one they may be open to moving.

Dallas knows AD is getting old and is injury prone..is not going to be their long term.

Long term, their future is Flagg at the 4, Lively a the 5.

Short term, they'll sometimes play Flagg at the 3, AD at the 4, Lively at the 5..other times they will rotate those 3 guys in and out to keep them fresh/healthy so 1 will be on the bench with the other 2 on the floor. AD misses lots of games, and you can't overdo it with his mins..plus Flagg will just be a rookie so you don't want to overload his mins either..there will be plenty of mins to go around for them in the short term.

[Hal14]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280389/Spurs-Could-Explore-Trade-Options-With-No-2-Overall-Pick

That article is right, Fox and Castle are PGs, so only makes sense the Spurs trade the #2 pick.

Right now JB is still the better option if the 3rd best player in the draft is Ace Bailey.

What does Ace Bailey being the 3rd best player in the draft have to do with the Spurs possibly moving the 2nd pick?

I doubt it happens, but again, I would be open to some sort of deal with JB for 2nd pick (Harper) as the framework..

[Fierce1]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280389/Spurs-Could-Explore-Trade-Options-With-No-2-Overall-Pick

That article is right, Fox and Castle are PGs, so only makes sense the Spurs trade the #2 pick.

Right now JB is still the better option if the 3rd best player in the draft is Ace Bailey.

What does Ace Bailey being the 3rd best player in the draft have to do with the Spurs possibly moving the 2nd pick?

I doubt it happens, but again, I would be open to some sort of deal with JB for 2nd pick (Harper) as the framework..

If the Spurs pass on Harper because they already have Fox and Castle, the next best player is Ace.

JB or Ace Bailey, if you're the Spurs?

[Larry_Russell]

I’d try and trade for Derick lively now that Dallas has cooper and AD

If they maximize win now window and defense approach

Jrue

For

Washington
Lively
Martin
Prosper


Would cs need to add a pick?

Gives them top 6 rotation of
Jrue
Kyrie
Flagg
Ad
Gafford
6th man Klay

Jrue for Washington and Gafford might make a lot of sense for both teams.

Send Brown to Spurs for the #2, Vassell and Barnes.

PG: Harper/Pritchard
SG: White/Schierman
SF: Vassell/Hauser
PF: Washington/Barnes
C: Kristaps/Gafford

Look to offlead Kristaps somewhere for a pick/depth or something, Develop Gafford, Develop Vassell, Develop HArper and then when Tatum returns....Boom...New Dynasty.

Gret defensive versatility as any of Vassell, White, Harper can guard anyone elses pg-sf. So switchability is great. Washington can do the heavy defensive lifting when Tatum returns.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I highly doubt Jrue's contract would be seen as positive value by any team in the league. We'd probably have to give up positive assets to get off it.

[Dogen]

Not gonna happen. He's a Maverick

He'll be in a great situation there..

You may be right that it'll never happened.

I don't know that the Mavs are a great situation tho. Kyrie tore his ACL. AD is the most unreliable star and his agent, Rich Paul, is a meddlesome agent who never had the teams interest at heart. The owners are hated in Texas. Nico Harrison is hated even more than the owners. After trading luka, Nico moved Quentin Grimes who blew up in Philly. You are pick negative over this draft pick window even after adding draft capital in the Luka trade. There are no young dudes on the team other than Lively and Christie...

Mavs are kind of a crap situation, if we're being honest

The Mavs just need their vets to stay healthy and Flagg potentially goes deep into the playoffs as a rookie. Not a crap situation at all, and better than being "the man" on a team that's not likely to sniff the playoffs for a few years.

[Patsfan1081]

Brad isn’t trading JB unless he asks out. Not sure why fans would want that either. So we can watch a middling team next season? Then watch a disgruntled JT come back to a lottery team? We know who will be on the way out. Move up and hope to god you can hit on a big man in the early twenties. Then spend next season trying to integrate your pick/Baylor/whoever into the lineup.

[Dogen]

Finally, Stevens may actually trade up in the Draft, perhaps in the Top 5...

Is the top of the draft any good other than flagg?

Harper is awesome. I would definitely trade for him if he's available. If we can get the 2nd pick.

I doubt it happens but maybe some sort of Harper for JB swap. Harper is more of a passer than JB. He's 9 years younger so we extend our window a lot more. Has less wear and tear, less injuries he's battled over the years that will keep popping up as he nears age 30.

Way cheaper contract.

Spurs would get a Big 3 of Wemby (big), JB (wing) and Fox (PG).

I doubt it happens but I'd be down.

Here's my article on Harper from earlier in the season.

https://the-center-hub.com/2024/11/20/prospect-breakdown-dylan-harper/

Note - since that article, I have moved Flagg back ahead of Harper for the no. 1 spot..mostly because Flagg got better as the season went on with his driving, off the dribble creation and shooting. Flagg is no. 1 but Harper is a stud as well.

This draft cycle has been so Cooper dominated that there are bound to be a surprise or two in the lottery. Spurs could be good trade partners as they have 2 lottery picks and could use some more vet help as Wemby ascends.

Atlanta and Houston also possible trade partners. Time for Brad to do his thing.

[cloverleaf]

The C's need one or more smart, young, athletic bigs, and 2026 is the draft for that.

[NYCelticsfan136]

Brad isn’t trading JB unless he asks out. Not sure why fans would want that either. So we can watch a middling team next season? Then watch a disgruntled JT come back to a lottery team? We know who will be on the way out. Move up and hope to god you can hit on a big man in the early twenties. Then spend next season trying to integrate your pick/Baylor/whoever into the lineup.

You think next year they will compete? It’s a throwaway year and i have no problem with it. I want them to be in the lottery.

[Patsfan1081]

I highly doubt Jrue's contract would be seen as positive value by any team in the league. We'd probably have to give up positive assets to get off it.

Pretty sure most teams recognized he’s had to take a backseat to everyone else offensively, and his defense is still on an elite level. He’s not someone who relies on their athleticism either. I don’t see a good return for him whoever I doubt he’ll cost assets to move.