2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Indeed]

kasparas jakucionis could have the same type of year that JKW had where they started off strong and tapered off in 2nd half of year due to injury

6'6" with shoes
6'8" wingspan
35" max vert

I know the defense is a little suspect but this team desperately needs a creator at the top and get into the lane

And someone please explain how is Knueppell higher than Jakucionis?
I personally have Knueppell lower.

I think probably becuase Jak's shot disappeared (injury) and his turnovers were a huge problem. A player that is more leaning towards needing the ball in his hands.

Whereas Kon is someone who you can slot in easier off-ball and has an elite skill.

Both have similar upside to me.

Indeed, I see them in the same tier.
Their assist to turnover isn't that far. Knueppel has less turnover, but then he also plays with a super lob threat. While Jakucionis has a PG passing rate.

I think Jakucionis can be an off-ball threat, and most likely he will be one at the next level due to his limitation on creating for himself. Both of them should play the similar role.

[Potential]

Kon should be our number 1 choice. I won't be surprised if Maluach falls to the 2nd round

[LoveMyRaps]

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Ya this is why I'm not losing sleep over dropping to #9.

Kon, Kasp, Queen being drafted before 9. And Maluach, Fears, Bryant being drafted after 9 goes to show how much of a crapshoot this draft is.

Gun to your head - which aforementioned trio do you think will carve out better careers? My money would be on Maluach, Fears, and Bryant.

There is little to none separation outside of the top 4.

[Indeed]

kasparas jakucionis could have the same type of year that JKW had where they started off strong and tapered off in 2nd half of year due to injury

6'6" with shoes
6'8" wingspan
35" max vert

I know the defense is a little suspect but this team desperately needs a creator at the top and get into the lane

And someone please explain how is Knueppell higher than Jakucionis?
I personally have Knueppell lower.

Prolly the 3 point shooting....41 Percent from 3, And a 91 percent FT Shooter is very valuable in todays NBA where Jak is at 31 Percent...Turnover ratio may play a part....As he avrgs as many turnovers as he does Asts....

I think an elite shooter in todays NBA is more valuable than it would have been before...

Both are safe picks at 9 though...They might not have the best upsides but you know you are getting a solid rotation player out of both of them.

I don't have the exact spot up data, but Jakucionis has more unassisted from 3s (37%) vs Knueppel unassisted from 3s (90%), so I would not be surprised Jakucionis would have the same impact as a shooter, because before a midseason injury, he was shooting over 40% from three.

As for turnover ratio, Jakucionis has more assists.

[WuTang_CMB]

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Ya this is why I'm not losing sleep over dropping to #9.

Kon, Kasp, Queen being drafted before 9. And Maluach, Fears, Bryant being drafted after 9 goes to show how much of a crapshoot this draft is.

Gun to your head - which aforementioned trio do you think will carve out better careers? My money would be on Maluach, Fears, and Bryant.

There is little to none separation outside of the top 4.

9 is a good spot. You can pick a guy who falls from consensus (KM / Jak?) or choose from the front for a guy you really like in Bryant, Noa, Fleming etc

[Clutch0z24]

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Ya this is why I'm not losing sleep over dropping to #9.

Kon, Kasp, Queen being drafted before 9. And Maluach, Fears, Bryant being drafted after 9 goes to show how much of a crapshoot this draft is.

Gun to your head - which aforementioned trio do you think will carve out better careers? My money would be on Maluach, Fears, and Bryant.

There is little to none separation outside of the top 4.

Although it is just a mock draft and these guys are basically guessing like you or i would without any real knowledge....I find it hard to believe Jak gets picked this high....But i could be wrong and i would welcome that outcome....To me there are 5 players i like and 1 sleeper in our range...

Fears
Queen
Maluach
Kon
Jak

Sleeper-Traore

My DND
CMB

I am not sold on Carter Bryant/Noa/Flemming where we are drafting as i think there are better players on board at 9....If we trade Dick for a pick to grab one of them in the teens...Great....But at 9 is a little rich for me...And i think Masai goes BPA at 9 anyways..

[niQ]

No idea who this is but this spicy take showed up on the time line

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[Indeed]

kasparas jakucionis could have the same type of year that JKW had where they started off strong and tapered off in 2nd half of year due to injury

6'6" with shoes
6'8" wingspan
35" max vert

I know the defense is a little suspect but this team desperately needs a creator at the top and get into the lane

And someone please explain how is Knueppell higher than Jakucionis?
I personally have Knueppell lower.

because Kon is a better payer and had a significantly better season.

Before Jakucionis got injured, he was shooting better than Knueppel.
I am unsure how Knueppel is better, and even as you claimed to be significant, because stats wise he isn't.

[Clutch0z24]

No idea who this is but this spicy take showed up on the time line

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Thats a pretty hot take....Not far fetched because i think they are banking on Ace being a bust but if Ace hits even close to his ceiling hes the better player ...

[niQ]

kasparas jakucionis could have the same type of year that JKW had where they started off strong and tapered off in 2nd half of year due to injury

6'6" with shoes
6'8" wingspan
35" max vert

I know the defense is a little suspect but this team desperately needs a creator at the top and get into the lane

Yea, I thought the same regarding early production before injury. If we don't land a big, I like the idea of a jumbo creator that can shoot. Yes, his defense still needs work but his size kind of makes up a bit for it. He's also one of the best passers in the draft.

Also open to Nolan Traore. Team seems to be interested having scouted him multiple times..

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Duffman100]

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I'm not totally convinced that after Flagg and Harper, that there is a ton separating out 3-10.

Obviously I think Edgecombe and Bailey's potential are higher, but I could see a lot of people in that range end up being a better pro. Should be a really interesting redraft in 3-5 years.

[TheRealDeal]

I don’t like the idea of reaching for a player at 9. If there’s a guy Masai really likes I hope they find a way to move down or move up a few spots

[CoinTossRoss31]

So one of Fears/Kon/Maluach should be available at our pick is what I am thinking

1. Flagg
2. Harper
3. VJ
4. Ace
5. Tre
6. Queen (Thinking WAS goes with Queen here)

[Landomar]

I was all aboard the Kasparas train earlier this season, and at one point I liked him as much as Harper. After his injury, his play fell off, and I became much less interested in him. My main question now is how much of his struggles were due to that injury. If the guy we saw at the start of the year is who he really is, then whatever team drafts him is getting a really good player.

[CoinTossRoss31]

I don’t like the idea of reaching for a player at 9. If there’s a guy Masai really likes I hope they find a way to move down or move up a few spots

9 for 13 and 22 from Atlanta is what I am hoping for

[DreamTeam09]

This draft isn't that good, a lot of parity in these guys rankings, anywhere from like 3-12 might be interchangeable depending on who is drafting at that slot.
I'm out on Queen after the combine stuff
KM
Kon
Flemming
Carter Bryant

Are my new short list candidates

[pilkoids]

No idea who this is but this spicy take showed up on the time line

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Everything on X is engagement bait these days

[TheRealDeal]

I asked chat gpt for a list of players who weren’t projected to go top 10 but ended up sneaking into the top 10 late in the process. Not a bad list.

2023:
Bilal Coulibaly rose rapidly late in the process from outside the top 20 to being drafted 7th overall by the Pacers (traded to Wizards).
Taylor Hendricks was largely off preseason boards and ended up going 9th to the Jazz.
2022:
Jalen Williams (Santa Clara) was seen as a late first or second-rounder until workouts and combine; he went 12th (just outside top 10, but same pattern).
Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite) was not a lock for top 10 early in the year but rose to 8th overall.
2021:
Josh Giddey wasn’t a consensus top-10 pick early but climbed due to international performance and OKC’s interest, going 6th.
Franz Wagner was mocked in the 10–15 range most of the year but ended up 8th.
2020:
Patrick Williams was a mid-to-late first-round prospect in early mocks, went 4th overall after rising through combine and workouts.