2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

A little food for thought:



Collin Murray-Boyles compares favorably to Draymond Green in every physical aspect except for a slightly slower lane agility. He is springier despite carrying more weight, and they have comparable wingspans.

Normally I consider it blasphemy to compare anyone to Draymond Green because nobody has ever been like Draymond Green defensively with his insane anticipation, but CMB is posting defensive numbers in college that at least make the comparison plausible.

To me, the Draymond Green comparison is a death knell. Draymond is one of one in terms of defensive versatility, motor, IQ, intensity, ball-skills for a small ball center. CMB has some similar traits but so have many others and it hasnt come close to working. It seems CMB has a cult following among stat geeks but watching the film, I saw hardly anything that translates offensively to an NBA floor. Also CMB's ball skills & passing are functional not special or elite. He's a face-up, straight line driver with a basic cross over, solid frame & good touch. Time and time again, I saw CMB take advantage of terrible defenses. I saw him in one game, receive (3) post entry passes (lobs) from the top of the key that he caught over a sealed off smaller defener for easy layups. When is that happening in the NBA? Draymond's jumper was also much further along in college. No one is guarding CMB outside of the paint.

I see an energy guy. Small ball C who will be matchup based and played off the floor against bigger front lines.

Somewhere between Jared Vanderbilt (who could also handle the rock abit coming out) and Montrezl Harrell is what I see him becoming.

I agree with Dat (usually the smart choice). Draymond Green is a one-of-generation kind of player. The only thing I can add is possibly encouraging.

Draymond Green was a round 2, 35th selection.

We've mentioned Queen, Sorber,and Wolf a bunch, but I don't see why Alex Condon or Grant Peterson couldn't be highly effective.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Watching the interview with Drake Powell during the Combine Scrimmage. I like him, he takes pride in his defense, says he wants to defend the other teams best player. Says he's ok with starting in the G league if he needs to develop more, says he's working on his shooting with Don Maclean. Not sure if he'd be available at 40, or could be in play at 18. He's a no brainer at 40 if he's there. Tested off the charts during the combine.

Watch on YouTube

[TGW]

Sooooo. I have flipped on 18 - I think we should go with Hansen Yang (if we don't take a big with 6). That would allow Sarr to move to PF.

I know, I know... but he is like a 4.5 for me now on the Dat scale.

What makes Yang better than Tristan?

[Benjammin]

I'm in on Maluach at 6 if he is more than a drop cover player on the pick and roll.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I like that Dat2U has Danny Wolf and Walter Clayton Jr. in Tier 5.

The way I see it, why draft a guy like Queen at #6 when Wolf will be there at #18? Likewise, don't draft Fears at #6 when Clayton will be there at #18. At #6, I want a guy BETTER than the guy I can draft at #18.

Fears is four years younger than Walter Clayton Jr. That's basically why you do it. I'll concede that Walter Clayton Jr has been quite good since his age 19-20 season with Iona in '22-'23, also much better than 3, but Fears doing everything he did as a newly minted 18 year old (he turned 18 like a month before the college season kicked off) at a big school like Oklahoma is just far, far more impressive to me. Otoh, Clayton was a stud for 3 of his 4 years, but as a freshman at Iona he was nothing compared to Fears.

The Queen Wolf thing is interesting, I'd prefer neither of them. Also worth noting, does anyone have a clue where Queen will go now? How far do you tumble after a combine like that, but also an NCAA tournament like that? Not sure.

He'll slide out of the lottery.

I think 20-30 are reasonable expectations now.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I like that Dat2U has Danny Wolf and Walter Clayton Jr. in Tier 5.

The way I see it, why draft a guy like Queen at #6 when Wolf will be there at #18? Likewise, don't draft Fears at #6 when Clayton will be there at #18. At #6, I want a guy BETTER than the guy I can draft at #18.

Fears is four years younger than Walter Clayton Jr. That's basically why you do it. I'll concede that Walter Clayton Jr has been quite good since his age 19-20 season with Iona in '22-'23, also much better than 3, but Fears doing everything he did as a newly minted 18 year old (he turned 18 like a month before the college season kicked off) at a big school like Oklahoma is just far, far more impressive to me. Otoh, Clayton was a stud for 3 of his 4 years, but as a freshman at Iona he was nothing compared to Fears.

The Queen Wolf thing is interesting, I'd prefer neither of them. Also worth noting, does anyone have a clue where Queen will go now? How far do you tumble after a combine like that, but also an NCAA tournament like that? Not sure.

One of the biggest mysteries of the night, I hope he doesn't suffer Green Room humiliation.

He should stay home even if he gets an invite.

[gambitx777]

Queen is average on defense at best and he's not a great athlete. He's skilled but he's gonna slip because teams fall in love t with athletic freaks mid draft. I would take Kon at 6. And hope to maneuver for Queen later on. Or abandon that and take hasen yang he's a stud.

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[closg00]

A team with the luxury to gamble is going to be happy to take Queen, the logic of upside potential applies to him like any other FRP. Queen can still turn into a low-block monster when he fills-out and turns fat into muscle, dropping out of the lottery will really motivate him to do so.

[payitforward]

I see Fears as a poor man's Dame, assuming things go well.

Who was a #6 pick, btw....

[payitforward]

copied the above into the r2 thread.

[nate33]

Watching the interview with Drake Powell during the Combine Scrimmage. I like him, he takes pride in his defense, says he wants to defend the other teams best player. Says he's ok with starting in the G league if he needs to develop more, says he's working on his shooting with Don Maclean. Not sure if he'd be available at 40, or could be in play at 18. He's a no brainer at 40 if he's there. Tested off the charts during the combine.

Watch on YouTube

THE Don MacClean?

[nate33]

I see Fears as a poor man's Dame, assuming things go well.

Who was a #6 pick, btw....

Dame was one of the best pull-up 3-point shooters of all time. Fears shot 28% from 3-point range from the college line.

The guy that actually looks much more comparable to Lillard is Walter Clayton Jr. He is Lillard but with a much lower FTA rate (which is, admittedly, a pretty big caveat).

[Frichuela]

If Queen drops to #18 you take him and party. He would be definitely worth a gamble at #18.

[DCZards]

There are legit concerns about Maluach. The 3 or 4 times I’ve seen him play his reaction time seemed a step slow and his rebounding and shot blocking was not at all that impressive for a player his size.

Having said that, I’m thinking more and more that he’d be a good get at 6 if VJ, Ace and Johnson are gone at 3-5. Maluach is new to the game and maybe 2-3 years of NBA seasoning is what he needs to understand and process the game to the point that he becomes an outstanding rebounder and shot blocker. As they say, “you can’t teach height” and Khaman already has that in abundance.

If I’m going to reach at 6 it would be for Carter Bryant. Been checking out some of his videos the last couple of days. Very impressive. Athletically he reminds me of Jalen Johnson of ATL, who I loved when he came out of Duke a few years ago.

Bryant is an absolutely unreal defender…great size, length, and strength. Teamed with Bilal, George, and Sarr, Bryant would make life miserable for perimeter players.

He has a sweet, quick, high shooting stroke. I expect him to be an above average 3 pt shooter.

Bryant isn’t much of a ball handler or playmaker. He’d be almost a no-brainer at 6, imo, if he were a better ball handler and playmaker, and showed more signs of being able to create his own offense.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Watching the interview with Drake Powell during the Combine Scrimmage. I like him, he takes pride in his defense, says he wants to defend the other teams best player. Says he's ok with starting in the G league if he needs to develop more, says he's working on his shooting with Don Maclean. Not sure if he'd be available at 40, or could be in play at 18. He's a no brainer at 40 if he's there. Tested off the charts during the combine.

Watch on YouTube

THE Don MacClean?

The one and only! He’s now a big time shooting coach for hire.


Not to be confused with…

Watch on YouTube

[Hibachi_0]

Carter Bryant's situation reminds me of 2020's Draft with Patrick Williams

[nate33]

Carter Bryant's situation reminds me of 2020's Draft with Patrick Williams

[TGW]

There are legit concerns about Maluach. The 3 or 4 times I’ve seen him play his reaction time seemed a step slow and his rebounding and shot blocking was not at all that impressive for a player his size.

Having said that, I’m thinking more and more that he’d be a good get at 6 if VJ, Ace and Johnson are gone at 3-5. Maluach is new to the game and maybe 2-3 years of NBA seasoning is what he needs to understand and process the game to the point that he becomes an outstanding rebounder and shot blocker. As they say, “you can’t teach height” and Khaman already has that in abundance.

If I’m going to reach at 6 it would be for Carter Bryant. Been checking out some of his videos the last couple of days. Very impressive. Athletically he reminds me of Jalen Johnson of ATL, who I loved when he came out of Duke a few years ago.

Bryant is an absolutely unreal defender…great size, length, and strength. Teamed with Bilal, George, and Sarr, Bryant would make life miserable for perimeter players.

He has a sweet, quick, high shooting stroke. I expect him to be an above average 3 pt shooter.

Bryant isn’t much of a ball handler or playmaker. He’d be almost a no-brainer at 6, imo, if he were a better ball handler and playmaker, and showed more signs of being able to create his own offense.

Agreed with all of this. I think this is what Dawkins is thinking as well...take the youngest, physically freakish (but raw) players he can. That way, it won't hurt the tank. I wouldn't take Bryant at #6 but hopefully he's still there at #18, or maybe they can try and move up to get him.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Carter Bryant's situation reminds me of 2020's Draft with Patrick Williams

Kind f reminds me of Trey Murphy. Young and not very productive in college, so we pass on him and end up with Kispert.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

If I’m going to reach at 6 it would be for Carter Bryant. Been checking out some of his videos the last couple of days. Very impressive. Athletically he reminds me of Jalen Johnson of ATL, who I loved when he came out of Duke a few years ago.

Bryant is an absolutely unreal defender…great size, length, and strength. Teamed with Bilal, George, and Sarr, Bryant would make life miserable for perimeter players.

He has a sweet, quick, high shooting stroke. I expect him to be an above average 3 pt shooter.

Yes!!!