2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[WuTang_OG]

As mentioned above, eight teams still had a chance to win the No. 1 pick before the last ball came out, but the Spurs had three potential outs. They had two extra because they won the Hawks’ pick this year from the Dejounte Murray trade. Here is the number, if it came out, that would have given each team the No. 1 pick:

Pelicans: 2; Nets: 3; Raptors: 4; Spurs: 5; Blazers: 6; Mavericks: 7; Bulls: 8; Kings: 9; Spurs (via the Hawks odds): 12 and 13.

Out came 7, and the Spurs had to settle for the second pick when another run of high numbers (12, 13, 11, 5) came out in their favor.

[bboyskinnylegs]

I think Tre is going to fun for whoever gets him.

[WuTang_OG]

I hope Philly takes Ace and he busts

[nowayguy]

Tre Johnson went 7 for 11 dunking and 60% at the rim on lower volume. The vertical doesn't translate in any functional way offensively.

Never forget Joe Wieskamp had a 42 inch max vertical.

[WuTang_OG]

Watch on YouTube

[Clutch0z24]

Well combine just isn't all that important compared to actual playstyle. Queen only had something like 3 less dunks than Fleming despite fleming being a long athletic type. Queen can get himself to the hoop, Fleming needs you to spoonfeed him an easy closeout to attack or pass to him wide open in the dunkers spot.

Not sure why you're comparing him to Fleming or how it's relevant since they play nothing alike.

His play style is exactly why there is concern, it's questionable how it translates over. He doesn't shoot well, is a bit undersized, unathletic and is going to need to score over NBA athletes that are way more athletic and longer than him.

Comparing him to Fleming because he's the prototype long athlete. Queen has all these athletic concerns in the combine yet he dunks the ball as much as the long athlete type people think can play smallball 5.

Ppl get too hyped on Measurements/Atheltic Abilities way too much in the drafting process....These things are not as big of a deal when you realize these are basketball players and not Olympic athletes or high jumpers....They matter to a certain extent....

What matters more to scouts/gms are what translates on the basketball court....And how good they look in a 5 on 5 setting....Masai will see all these guys in workouts how good they are at the game of basketball....And a guy like Queen is not going to wow you as an athlete but as soon as you see him in games in a 5 vs 5 setting you realize he is 1 step better than the athletic types because of his basketball skills + IQ...

These measurments and athletic tests mean nothing to me personally....What matters is how they look on the court...Not in an open gym but in a 5 vs 5 setting...Thats all that really matters at the end of the day.

[WuTang_OG]

koc

https://youtu.be/HgoiEdpdMxA?t=2929

[niQ]

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[Duffman100]

Jace is low key performing well. Guy is going to be good.

[Tripod]

Jace is low key performing well. Guy is going to be good.

I am abeliever, despite his actual height being really low.

[Clutch0z24]

Jace is low key performing well. Guy is going to be good.

He has to become a legit PG and we would have to develop him to be able to run the team but i would not be mad if we pick him at 9th....His basketball skills are not a question at all....He is high up there on my board at 9 if no one falls to you that you like....Also NBA dad so you know he was taught to play the right way.

[CazOnReal]

So thus far I guess this is where I stand on the guys who could be available at 9:

Happy with

Khaman Malauch: Poeltl replacement in the long-term, a feel-good story in the short-term given the f*cked up situation he's in. You can shout BPA over fit all you want but I think at 9 there's a very strong argument to be made it's either Queen or Malauch who are the best players on the board. It just depends on what skills you value that make one or the other the "best".

Derik Queen: The measurements more or less lock him into playing PF in my view which...probably for the best given his skillset. I like the fit with him and Scottie but that's under the basis that one or both develops an outside shot because while I think Queen's an underrated passer, I think there's only so much Barnes can do to cover up the presumed defensive issues Derik will have. Still, a bucket's a bucket and DQ can get those in droves on relatively decent efficiency.

Rasheer Fleming: That wingspan is fu*king ridiculous. Full stop. Almost as long as Malauch as a wing. His offense does leave me concerned, mind.

Top prospect that falls to us: A la Clingan last year, Gradey the year before or...do we still think Cam Whitmore is that great? Either way, BPA might just involve a few teams overthinking X or Y prospect. I'm personally skeptical Fears will fall to us (And frankly if you think Quickley isn't the future PG then I have news for you: Fears and Quickley have more or less the same AST/TO ratio with 1.2:1 and 1.19:1 respectively) but Dick Fears as a lineup is fun.

Neutral

Carter Bryant: Yup, that's a 3 & D wing alright...if you ignore the FT%. The turnovers are also really bad for someone who'd be on a pass-heavy team like Toronto. I think he's very much a "trade down" candidate rather than someone you take at 9 and feel good about but talking about trading up or down is a lot easier than, you know, making that deal. I'm pretty sure the Wizards moved up one spot and the Pacers only got 2 seconds out of it anyway so...big mileage may vary as to how likely this FO is to make such a move when they've literally never done that.

Kasparas Jakucionis: Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. I get a lot of people aren't sold on Quickley as the team's future PG or feel he's better suited to SG but him and Fears both worry me when it comes to being the floor general.

Noa Essengue: Probably the one draftee where their youth worries me because I do wonder if they'll be able to contribute to the rotation in their first year. He's in that "Can't teach size" camp like Fleming where the measurements can make you overlook the big questions around them minus the absurd wingspan.

Asa Newell: Another "in the trade down" category. High floor but the ceiling is...I dunno, bigger Onyeka Okongwu i.e. "is he a center or a PF"?

Dislike
CMB: The shooting is a huge red flag, he's not an elite athlete and his defense is not so good that he's worth burning a Top 10 pick on.

Jase Richardson: PG-sized without much passing. Yeah, hard pass.

Egor Demin: It was between neutral and dislike and I guess i'm in a hating mood.

Going to do a deeper dive into each but that's how I feel at the moment.

[CazOnReal]

Jace is low key performing well. Guy is going to be good.

Did he learn to pass while I wasn't looking?

[Clutch0z24]

So thus far I guess this is where I stand on the guys who could be available at 9:

Happy with

Khaman Malauch: Poeltl replacement in the long-term, a feel-good story in the short-term given the f*cked up situation he's in. You can shout BPA over fit all you want but I think at 9 there's a very strong argument to be made it's either Queen or Malauch who are the best players on the board. It just depends on what skills you value that make one or the other the "best".

Derik Queen: The measurements more or less lock him into playing PF in my view which...probably for the best given his skillset. I like the fit with him and Scottie but that's under the basis that one or both develops an outside shot because while I think Queen's an underrated passer, I think there's only so much Barnes can do to cover up the presumed defensive issues Derik will have. Still, a bucket's a bucket and DQ can get those in droves on relatively decent efficiency.

Rasheer Fleming: That wingspan is fu*king ridiculous. Full stop. Almost as long as Malauch as a wing. His offense does leave me concerned, mind.

Top prospect that falls to us: A la Clingan last year, Gradey the year before or...do we still think Cam Whitmore is that great? Either way, BPA might just involve a few teams overthinking X or Y prospect. I'm personally skeptical Fears will fall to us (And frankly if you think Quickley isn't the future PG then I have news for you: Fears and Quickley have more or less the same AST/TO ratio with 1.2:1 and 1.19:1 respectively) but Dick Fears as a lineup is fun.

Neutral

Carter Bryant: Yup, that's a 3 & D wing alright...if you ignore the FT%. The turnovers are also really bad for someone who'd be on a pass-heavy team like Toronto. I think he's very much a "trade down" candidate rather than someone you take at 9 and feel good about but talking about trading up or down is a lot easier than, you know, making that deal. I'm pretty sure the Wizards moved up one spot and the Pacers only got 2 seconds out of it anyway so...big mileage may vary as to how likely this FO is to make such a move when they've literally never done that.

Kasparas Jakucionis: Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. I get a lot of people aren't sold on Quickley as the team's future PG or feel he's better suited to SG but him and Fears both worry me when it comes to being the floor general.

Noa Essengue: Probably the one draftee where their youth worries me because I do wonder if they'll be able to contribute to the rotation in their first year. He's in that "Can't teach size" camp like Fleming where the measurements can make you overlook the big questions around them minus the absurd wingspan.

Asa Newell: Another "in the trade down" category. High floor but the ceiling is...I dunno, bigger Onyeka Okongwu i.e. "is he a center or a PF"?

Dislike
CMB: The shooting is a huge red flag, he's not an elite athlete and his defense is not so good that he's worth burning a Top 10 pick on.

Jase Richardson: PG-sized without much passing. Yeah, hard pass.

Egor Demin: It was between neutral and dislike and I guess i'm in a hating mood.

Going to do a deeper dive into each but that's how I feel at the moment.

Good list but i have a feeling both Maluach/Queen have a chance to be gone by 9th....I think its possible they go 6/7th and Fears falls to 8th and we have to choose Jak/Kon Or go off board with another guy Masai likes like Flemming...But yeah one of the Bigs to fall to us would be ideal...

[UnbelievablyRAW]

So thus far I guess this is where I stand on the guys who could be available at 9:

Happy with


Egor Demin: It was between neutral and dislike and I guess i'm in a hating mood.

Going to do a deeper dive into each but that's how I feel at the moment.

I feel like Kasp would be best utilized as a Derrick White/Nembhard type guard who can initiate sets but mostly plays with another ball handler. I think our offense is a bit more egalitarian and pass heavy than a traditional offense which is why we have so many assists in the last few years. I feel like you could argue if he didn't come back after the forearm injury in January, he'd still be mocked top 8

Demin I've felt the same way you have but his passing is real (with less turnovers) and he is much larger. If he can be developed he might have a pathway to be Giddey which allows for some lineup versatility. Not good enough to be taken 8, more of a guy that can be targeted around 20 if we can re enter the first round.

[PushDaRock]

Not sure why you're comparing him to Fleming or how it's relevant since they play nothing alike.

His play style is exactly why there is concern, it's questionable how it translates over. He doesn't shoot well, is a bit undersized, unathletic and is going to need to score over NBA athletes that are way more athletic and longer than him.

Comparing him to Fleming because he's the prototype long athlete. Queen has all these athletic concerns in the combine yet he dunks the ball as much as the long athlete type people think can play smallball 5.

Ppl get too hyped on Measurements/Atheltic Abilities way too much in the drafting process....These things are not as big of a deal when you realize these are basketball players and not Olympic athletes or high jumpers....They matter to a certain extent....

What matters more to scouts/gms are what translates on the basketball court....And how good they look in a 5 on 5 setting....Masai will see all these guys in workouts how good they are at the game of basketball....And a guy like Queen is not going to wow you as an athlete but as soon as you see him in games in a 5 vs 5 setting you realize he is 1 step better than the athletic types because of his basketball skills + IQ...

These measurments and athletic tests mean nothing to me personally....What matters is how they look on the court...Not in an open gym but in a 5 vs 5 setting...Thats all that really matters at the end of the day.

I don't expect him to wow anyone with his athleticism but testing out bottom tier like this does not help his outlook in any way. I posted the list of his comparables in testing, it wasn't a list you want to be on. Maybe he's an outlier and can overcome the physical limitations but history tells us these things do tend to matter.

[niQ]

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[MoneyBall]

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.

This guy is a baby Luka. The 3pt % are a bit deceiving, because he also had to take a lot of forced shots and was consistently the focal point of the offense. Key thing is he can create and break down defenses. Something IQ is not good at. As much as we have paid big money for IQ last off season, the dude needs to be traded. People will realize in two years that he is the bottleneck for this team.

I do see what you mean by "Baby Luka." I think many European guards idolize Luka because he is a superstar and try to emulate his signature moves. Jaku drives me a bit nuts with it, because he seems to only resort to step-back in game. It is a weird shot diet.

Still, if he irons out the shot, he can possibly be a starter. He is not a weak guard, has great footwork and shifty handle, and is not afraid of contact. He reminds me most of Goran Dragic but his downside is that of Greivis Vasquez.

Wow, Dragic is literally *the* guy I had in mind as my best comparison for Jaku... a taller version, of course.

[Clutch0z24]

Comparing him to Fleming because he's the prototype long athlete. Queen has all these athletic concerns in the combine yet he dunks the ball as much as the long athlete type people think can play smallball 5.

Ppl get too hyped on Measurements/Atheltic Abilities way too much in the drafting process....These things are not as big of a deal when you realize these are basketball players and not Olympic athletes or high jumpers....They matter to a certain extent....

What matters more to scouts/gms are what translates on the basketball court....And how good they look in a 5 on 5 setting....Masai will see all these guys in workouts how good they are at the game of basketball....And a guy like Queen is not going to wow you as an athlete but as soon as you see him in games in a 5 vs 5 setting you realize he is 1 step better than the athletic types because of his basketball skills + IQ...

These measurments and athletic tests mean nothing to me personally....What matters is how they look on the court...Not in an open gym but in a 5 vs 5 setting...Thats all that really matters at the end of the day.

I don't expect him to wow anyone with his athleticism but testing out bottom tier like this does not help his outlook in any way. I posted the list of his comparables in testing, it wasn't a list you want to be on. Maybe he's an outlier and can overcome the physical limitations but history tells us these things do tend to matter.

I judge the players with what they do on the court and how they look in a 5 vs 5 setting....That matters to me more than how high a player can jump....You don't need to be an athlete to be a good smart basketball player....Does it help to be athletic sure...But its not something that defines you as a basketball player...

[PushDaRock]

Jace is low key performing well. Guy is going to be good.

Was my fav prospect leading up to the combine, damn hard to overlook his height though unless Masai thinks he can be a PG or at the very least a combo guard. I do think he plays much bigger than his height out there.