2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[80sballboy]

Read on Twitter

I want no part of Kispert 2.0.

No way is he Kispert 2.0 other than he's white and can shoot the ball. I'm no Duke fan but I loved the way Kon, Flagg, Proctor, and Malauch played last season. Kispert is actually more athletic but Kon is a better defender, is built like a tank, ball handler, passer, and has a better BBIQ at 19 compared to Corey was coming out of Gonzaga. I just wouldn't take him at 6, but it's crazy that Charlotte is even interviewing him. I'd like to see where he'll be when he reshapes his body after a season. There's a little Luka to his game in terms of his build and shotmaking. Of course, I'm not saying he's a future All-Star and HOFer, but I think he can be pretty damn good. Might not be athletic but he's not some soft shooter that will just stand around the perimeter. He relishes contact.

[payitforward]

Ok... here's this morning's PIF-plan.

I trade 6, 18, 40 & a future R2 pick to the Nets for 8, 19, 27, & 36.

At 8, I take Maluach if he's there, otherwise I take Sorber.
At 19, I take Nolan Traore.
At 27, I take Yaxel Lendeborg.
At 36, I take Cedric Coward.

Thank you very much.

I thought Coward was the guy flying up into the late to mid 1st based on this month's hype train, is he really gonna last that far?

Oh, and zero chance I'd do that lol .

Coward's rising, you're right. I guess it'll have to be Drake Powell.

But the guy I'd really like, undrafted, is Mark Sears!

[TGW]

Coward is going in the 20's. Those are freakish measurements.

[mhd]

I'm 100% team trade down. We won't get a star at 6. Just trade down for more lotto tickets in the future. I'm looking at the teams who want Kon or Mualach. The Spurs (unprotected 2027 Hawks pick), Rockets (2027 Nets swap rights), and Magic (2026 Suns swap rights after us (basically, we'd potentially two lotto picks next year) have very enticing future 1st rounders.

[80sballboy]

I'm 100% team trade down. We won't get a star at 6. Just trade down for more lotto tickets in the future. I'm looking at the teams who want Kon or Mualach. The Spurs (unprotected 2027 Hawks pick), Rockets (2027 Nets swap rights), and Magic (2026 Suns swap rights after us (basically, we'd potentially two lotto picks next year) have very enticing future 1st rounders.

Not against that but only if the guys they want (Tre? Fears? Malauch? Edgecombe and Ace won't be there.) aren't there at 6. If they really want one of them, they might even trade up. But if they really like a guy at 13, eff it, trade down with Atlanta for 13 and 22 so you get 3 picks instead of 2.

[The Consiglieri]

Read on Twitter

I want no part of Kispert 2.0.

No way is he Kispert 2.0 other than he's white and can shoot the ball. I'm no Duke fan but I loved the way Kon, Flagg, Proctor, and Malauch played last season. Kispert is actually more athletic but Kon is a better defender, is built like a tank, ball handler, passer, and has a better BBIQ at 19 compared to Corey was coming out of Gonzaga. I just wouldn't take him at 6, but it's crazy that Charlotte is even interviewing him. I'd like to see where he'll be when he reshapes his body after a season. There's a little Luka to his game in terms of his build and shotmaking. Of course, I'm not saying he's a future All-Star and HOFer, but I think he can be pretty damn good. Might not be athletic but he's not some soft shooter that will just stand around the perimeter. He relishes contact.

I don't know if Frichuela is posting from the same perspective as mine, but the reason I linked him with Kon isn't that they're the same, I definitely think Kon is clearly a better prospect, it's that they're a floor pick. It's highly unlikely Kon is anything other than a complimentary 4th best guy on a good or great NBA team, he might be a 3rd good player on a solid to good team, but that looks like the ceiling. I don't see any chance of stardom with him (maybe better to say sub 5% chance), and as such, I have less than zero interest. We need stars, we already have an ever growing pile of 4th-6th best guys on a solid team, we just don't have any great or very very good players whatsoever (nobody on this team remotely looks like they have anything close to 3rd team NBA potential for instance, and Kon wouldn't either).

That's why I'm out. I'd only draft him as trade bait if I thought he'd be worth a good chunk in a trade, but I don't.

[80sballboy]

I want no part of Kispert 2.0.

No way is he Kispert 2.0 other than he's white and can shoot the ball. I'm no Duke fan but I loved the way Kon, Flagg, Proctor, and Malauch played last season. Kispert is actually more athletic but Kon is a better defender, is built like a tank, ball handler, passer, and has a better BBIQ at 19 compared to Corey was coming out of Gonzaga. I just wouldn't take him at 6, but it's crazy that Charlotte is even interviewing him. I'd like to see where he'll be when he reshapes his body after a season. There's a little Luka to his game in terms of his build and shotmaking. Of course, I'm not saying he's a future All-Star and HOFer, but I think he can be pretty damn good. Might not be athletic but he's not some soft shooter that will just stand around the perimeter. He relishes contact.

I don't know if Frichuela is posting from the same perspective as mine, but the reason I linked him with Kon isn't that they're the same, I definitely think Kon is clearly a better prospect, it's that they're a floor pick. It's highly unlikely Kon is anything other than a complimentary 4th best guy on a good or great NBA team, he might be a 3rd good player on a solid to good team, but that looks like the ceiling. I don't see any chance of stardom with him (maybe better to say sub 5% chance), and as such, I have less than zero interest. We need stars, we already have an ever growing pile of 4th-6th best guys on a solid team, we just don't have any great or very very good players whatsoever (nobody on this team remotely looks like they have anything close to 3rd team NBA potential for instance, and Kon wouldn't either).

That's why I'm out. I'd only draft him as trade bait if I thought he'd be worth a good chunk in a trade, but I don't.

That's fine. I just didn't see the Kispert comparison. I know not many 6-6, 220-pound Caucasian dudes without great athletic ability become more than a rotation player. I see a little more than that but maybe even after a year in the weight room, he might just be a more skilled Joe Harris. And no, I wouldn't pick him at 6. I like Tre Johnson, if he's available or then Maluach.

BTW, here is an AI comparison of KK.

Kon Knueppel, the Duke freshman forward, is being compared to Cam Johnson and Bojan Bogdanović due to his shooting prowess and versatility. He also has NBA comparisons to Chris Mullin and Jared Dudley.

[9 and 20]

Dallas might want Kon - friends with Flagg. Potential Lively trade? Not sure I'd make that trade though. Can't stomach helping them. Philly might want him if they think Embiid is healthy and they're not sold on Ace. Trade down?

Both those teams are probably contenders where the Knuper might fit well.

[The Consiglieri]

I'm 100% team trade down. We won't get a star at 6. Just trade down for more lotto tickets in the future. I'm looking at the teams who want Kon or Mualach. The Spurs (unprotected 2027 Hawks pick), Rockets (2027 Nets swap rights), and Magic (2026 Suns swap rights after us (basically, we'd potentially two lotto picks next year) have very enticing future 1st rounders.

Not against that but only if the guys they want (Tre? Fears? Malauch? Edgecombe and Ace won't be there.) aren't there at 6. If they really want one of them, they might even trade up. But if they really like a guy at 13, eff it, trade down with Atlanta for 13 and 22 so you get 3 picks instead of 2.

As a flag planting stance on just my opinion: I don't care who they like, eventually when you get screwed like this, you talk yourself into justifying taking the next best guy you like: you don't have the lifer contract that loyal fans do, your paycheck only lasts as long as your owners patience. As such, you run a huge risk trading out, or trading down/out. But they absolutely should do a trade which pays off primarily in futures, rather than pick at slot. Prioritize those futures from a team that's probably gonna have some lottery balls.

What I think is gonna happen, as I said earlier today is probably:

80-85% pick at slot
10-13% trade up or down
0-3% trade out entirely

But I would be ecstatic if we traded down to 10-15 and got a '26 or '27 future 1st in it, w/a reasonable chance of carrying lottery balls.

[The Consiglieri]

No way is he Kispert 2.0 other than he's white and can shoot the ball. I'm no Duke fan but I loved the way Kon, Flagg, Proctor, and Malauch played last season. Kispert is actually more athletic but Kon is a better defender, is built like a tank, ball handler, passer, and has a better BBIQ at 19 compared to Corey was coming out of Gonzaga. I just wouldn't take him at 6, but it's crazy that Charlotte is even interviewing him. I'd like to see where he'll be when he reshapes his body after a season. There's a little Luka to his game in terms of his build and shotmaking. Of course, I'm not saying he's a future All-Star and HOFer, but I think he can be pretty damn good. Might not be athletic but he's not some soft shooter that will just stand around the perimeter. He relishes contact.

I don't know if Frichuela is posting from the same perspective as mine, but the reason I linked him with Kon isn't that they're the same, I definitely think Kon is clearly a better prospect, it's that they're a floor pick. It's highly unlikely Kon is anything other than a complimentary 4th best guy on a good or great NBA team, he might be a 3rd good player on a solid to good team, but that looks like the ceiling. I don't see any chance of stardom with him (maybe better to say sub 5% chance), and as such, I have less than zero interest. We need stars, we already have an ever growing pile of 4th-6th best guys on a solid team, we just don't have any great or very very good players whatsoever (nobody on this team remotely looks like they have anything close to 3rd team NBA potential for instance, and Kon wouldn't either).

That's why I'm out. I'd only draft him as trade bait if I thought he'd be worth a good chunk in a trade, but I don't.

That's fine. I just didn't see the Kispert comparison. I know not many 6-6, 220-pound Caucasian dudes without great athletic ability become more than a rotation player. I see a little more than that but maybe even after a year in the weight room, he might just be a more skilled Joe Harris. And no, I wouldn't pick him at 6. I like Tre Johnson, if he's available or then Maluach.

BTW, here is an AI comparison of KK.

Kon Knueppel, the Duke freshman forward, is being compared to Cam Johnson and Bojan Bogdanović due to his shooting prowess and versatility. He also has NBA comparisons to Chris Mullin and Jared Dudley.

I shouldn't speak for him, especially since he knows Basketball 1000x more than me, but I really think a statement like that is more about the pick being a "floor secure" based decision, rather than an upside and ceiling based decision. We just simply can't afford to focus on more Jahad Dotson/Brian Robinson caliber analogies for the NBA, we actually need dynamic difference makers, and if they bust, big big big, so be it, it just makes our lottery balls even more secure. We need to risk swinging big, and ending up tumbling out of the batters box looking stupid because we swung out of our shoes and missed, rather than aiming for another Ichiro safe single (and I love Ichiro). Mixing too many sports here, but you probably get my point .

[Frichuela]

I want no part of Kispert 2.0.

No way is he Kispert 2.0 other than he's white and can shoot the ball. I'm no Duke fan but I loved the way Kon, Flagg, Proctor, and Malauch played last season. Kispert is actually more athletic but Kon is a better defender, is built like a tank, ball handler, passer, and has a better BBIQ at 19 compared to Corey was coming out of Gonzaga. I just wouldn't take him at 6, but it's crazy that Charlotte is even interviewing him. I'd like to see where he'll be when he reshapes his body after a season. There's a little Luka to his game in terms of his build and shotmaking. Of course, I'm not saying he's a future All-Star and HOFer, but I think he can be pretty damn good. Might not be athletic but he's not some soft shooter that will just stand around the perimeter. He relishes contact.

I don't know if Frichuela is posting from the same perspective as mine, but the reason I linked him with Kon isn't that they're the same, I definitely think Kon is clearly a better prospect, it's that they're a floor pick. It's highly unlikely Kon is anything other than a complimentary 4th best guy on a good or great NBA team, he might be a 3rd good player on a solid to good team, but that looks like the ceiling. I don't see any chance of stardom with him (maybe better to say sub 5% chance), and as such, I have less than zero interest. We need stars, we already have an ever growing pile of 4th-6th best guys on a solid team, we just don't have any great or very very good players whatsoever (nobody on this team remotely looks like they have anything close to 3rd team NBA potential for instance, and Kon wouldn't either).

That's why I'm out. I'd only draft him as trade bait if I thought he'd be worth a good chunk in a trade, but I don't.

Aye aye sir. This is pretty much my thinking in beautiful prose

[Frichuela]

In any case, given past experience, I would not be surprised if we see some trading by Dawkins & co come draft night.

It may be trading up to 3 with Philly or trading up from 18 to the late lottery. Odds are high something happens…

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I just love this kid. Is he a reach at 6? I've seen him mocked a few places in the top 10.

Watch on YouTube

I think my ideal draft right now ....

6.. Carter Bryant
18. Thomas Sorber
40. Drake Powell


At 6 I could also be on board with Tre or Fears

At 18 I also like Asa Newell and Rasheer Fleming. I could also be on board with Beringer, Penda, Egor, or Powell.

At 40 I could roll with Niederhauser, Yang, Raynaud, Thiero, Kalkbrenner, Pettiford

Watch on YouTube

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Reminder the Combine is on NBATV tonight and tomorrow night at 9pm!

[AFM]

In any case, given past experience, I would not be surprised if we see some trading by Dawkins & co come draft night.

It may be trading up to 3 with Philly or trading up from 18 to the late lottery. Odds are high something happens…

Agreed. On this and on Kon.

[closg00]

2025 NBA Draft Combine: Day 1 Standouts
NBA Draft Combine Day 1 Recap: Tahaad Pettiford Steals the Show with 23-Point Masterclass

Chicago, IL – May 15, 2025

The opening day of NBA Draft Combine scrimmages in Chicago, delivered a standout performance from Tahaad Pettiford, who controlled tempo, made plays for others, and scored with efficiency in front of a gym packed with NBA personnel. The Auburn freshman racked up 23 points, 8 assists, and just 1 turnover — asserting himself as the most dynamic guard on the floor and one of the day’s biggest stock risers.

Pettiford’s quickness, live dribble creativity, and decision-making stood out from the jump. He dissected defenses in pick-and-roll, got downhill at will, and consistently created clean looks for teammates. His competitive edge and polish were on full display, and in a field where many prospects sat out, he seized the opportunity.

Yaxel Lendeborg had a strong showing with 13 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, answering some of the questions about how his game would translate against NBA Draft-level competition. He brought energy and physicality on the glass, stayed active defensively, and showed more control than in past outings. He continues to build his case as a potential first-rounder — he faces a tough decision with a lucrative return to college at Michigan still on the table.

Hunter Sallis scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. He was effective in the midrange, ran the floor well, and rebounded outside his area. While scouts still question his strength and physicality at the next level, Sallis brought real value with his length, athleticism, and versatility on both ends.

Miles Byrd hit 3-of-6 from deep and finished with 11 points. He showed clean mechanics and a smooth release, along with some off-ball movement and a transition dunk. Byrd’s fluidity and size continue to make him an intriguing floor spacer, but strength limitations and defensive concerns still cloud his projection.

Eric Dixon scored 15 points and knocked down 3-of-6 from three. He played with poise, used his strength to carve space inside, and stepped out confidently as a stretch option. Concerns about his ability to finish over length and switch defensively remain, but his offensive versatility was on display.

Javon Small of West Virginia didn’t score much — finishing with 6 points — but ran the offense effectively and posted a game-high 7 assists to just 1 turnover. He played with control, made good decisions out of pick-and-roll, and delivered timely passes. His ability to manage pace and facilitate without forcing shots was a clear positive.

Otega Oweh scored 10 points and showed solid physicality and athleticism. He attacked downhill with force, absorbed contact, and gave consistent effort on the defensive end. While still developing as a shooter, his frame, toughness, and energy continue to give him value as a two-way wing prospect.


Mackenzie Mgbako led his team with 14 points and went 3-of-7 from three. He looked confident shooting off the catch and handled contact well inside. Defensive lapses and shot selection still linger, but the offensive tools were evident.

Hansen Yang scored 12 points and showed intriguing feel at 7 feet tall. He made quick passes, positioned well inside, and flashed soft touch. His blend of size and composure makes him a potential long-term development big.

Alijah Martin scored 10 points, hitting 2-of-5 from three. He found clean looks in rhythm, attacked closeouts, and played within himself offensively. His strength and compact frame allow him to compete physically, though questions about his consistency remain.

Dink Pate scored 11 but showed ongoing inconsistency in reads, shot decisions, and defensive effort.

Alex Toohey turned in one of the day’s most efficient shooting displays, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from three. He moved well off the ball, found space within the flow of the offense, and knocked down shots when open. Questions remain about his ability to create against length and defend in space, but his polish and shooting feel stood out in a structured setting.

https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-combine-day-1-standouts/

[Dat2U]

The C group is really deep this year and has a couple of sleepers. Its also pretty damn easy to find a drop coverage big albeit not one as big as Maluach.

As I mentioned in reference to Queen, I think there's better C value at 18 and in the 2nd roiund.

Joan Beringer is just as young and raw as Maluach but a freaky athlete at 6-10 and truly switchable. Ryan Kalkbrenner has the size, hands & offensive efficiency of Maluach and he may be available in the 2nd. Hansen Yang is a sneaky good looking prospect who could surpriae.

And do you think there’s no chance he’s more than just a drop big and lob threat? Admittedly, he failed my eye test. Slow to jump with little lift. Reactive as a shot blocker with poor anticipation and an overall lack of feel for the game. Plus, Duke really limited his minutes. Or is he so young there is time for him to develop some of those offensive skills he showed in Africa?

He's drop big. Hes a smooth mover and very fluid fof his size but his effort is more activity than effectiveness although that could change with experience.

Offensively, he's got really good touch and hands so I could see him being Daniel Gafford-like in finishing everything around the rim. I don't buy him as a volume 3pt shooter, anytime in the near future. The passing instincts also arent there so even if he did become an offensive weapon to an extent, he has shown no ability to weaponize it.

[tontoz]

Is Fears better than AJ at getting to the rim and finishing? I doubt it. Fears shot 47% at the rim against half court defense.

4.1 assists, 3.4 turnovers isn't great either.

Do you think SA is going to pass-up taking Harper while having Fox and ROY Castle?
Brogdon is gone, Bub is not a PG, and AJ is 20. Fears is only 18 and he’s a better prospect with a sky high ceiling IMO, I like AJ too BTW

Harper is on a different tier than anyone they have other than Wemby. On a different tier from anyone in this draft other than Cooper. I don't see fears that way.

After the top 5 there are lot of guys with big question marks/flaws. Fears is small, struggles to shoot, struggles to finish and is turnover prone. He isn't in the same zip code as Harper.

[DCZards]

Some of y’all ain’t gonna like this...but there's a lot of truth in what's written here.

Read the full article at the link below

Take a deep breath: Things aren’t as bleak for the Wizards as it seems
The Wizards’ NBA Draft Lottery drop is disappointing but far from a disaster.
By Ben Becker

The Washington Wizards dropping to sixth in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery wasn’t the outcome fans were hoping for. With the second-best odds, dreams of landing Cooper Flagg or even Dylan Harper were real. So yeah, the immediate sting was understandable.

But the reactions that followed — full-on despair, talk of curses, existential dread — have felt downright histrionic.

Wizards fans carry scars from the decades of #SoWizards ineptitude that trained them to see the world with a jaundiced eye. But this isn’t the same old Wizards. The arrival of Michael Winger, Will Dawkins, and their management team finally marked a new era with a true rebuild — one rooted in competitive ambition, patience, and discipline.

The outrage over landing the sixth pick ignores the math. The Wizards had just a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick, and about a 1-in-4 shot at the top two. In contrast, they had a 47% chance of landing either five or six — essentially coin flip probability. Sixth specifically was their second-most likely outcome (20%), behind only fifth (27%).

It’s a bummer, it’s not some cosmic injustice. It’s just how the NBA lottery works as it’s currently structured. If you’re playing the odds, you prepare for this and you build anyway.

Fans treat the top of the draft like it’s the only place to find stars, but the current NBA playoffs paint a far different picture. Take a look at the final eight teams in these playoffs. Among the 24 top-three players on those rosters, only seven were drafted in the top five: Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Chet Holmgren, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Mobley. And only two of those teams (Boston and Minnesota) have a clear number one option who was a top-five pick.

Now look at these players likely to make All-NBA this year: Nikola Jokic (41st), Giannis Antentokounpo (15th), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th), Donovan Mitchell (13th), Jalen Brunson (33rd), Alperen Şengün (16th), Jalen Williams (12th).

The lesson? Star talent can be found in every tier of the draft if you know how to look — and the Wizards leadership has shown that they do.

https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/5/14/24430388/washington-wizards-nba-draft-lottery-analysis

[payitforward]

Thanks Zards -- Becker is right on the money!

To me (& to you, I think), this is a great time to be a Wizards fan. The dusty old premisses have been swept out, there's a lot going on, & we see a clear, determined focus on the future.

I'm having a hell of a good time, & I can't figure out why anyone wouldn't feel that way.

Well done!