2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 7

[S.W.A.N]

if he was 6'5" he'd go top 5
has some harden in his game

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So the rumor has it that one draft prospect snuck orthopedics into his socks to juice his 'barefoot' numbers...

pretty sure that we know who it is.

[S.W.A.N]

It’s pretty clear we need good two way wings and two way centers all the remaining playoff teams have them. While Khaman/Bryant/Rasheer don’t scream star talent I think there is enough there at 9 to hope and pray for and they also fill a big void on this team. We still need a star offensive guard but I doubt Kasp and Kon are it.

That's the way I see it as well.

With the 9th pick I would like to see a player with enough length to play PF & C. Preferable to also have some range & switchable athleticism.

For the 2nd round pick you go with the best 3+D forward or C available.

These are the types of players this team will need moving forward. There is a pretty big hole in this area right now.

That only applies if you have all the options in the same tier. Otherwise you just take talent

[BoyzNTheHood]

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He is who I think we should grab for C prospect. He moves very well, seems to show that top of the key play making, and he has the most athletic combine stats compared to bother Queen and Maulach:

I like trading #9 for #13 and 22 and drafting Bryant or Fleming at #13 and would be good with drafting Yang at #22.

That’s an idea scenario for me,

Bryant/Fleming/Coward at 13
Yang at 22

[OakleyDokely]

Size wise, Coward/Lendeborg/Fleming are the closest wings/jumbo wings to Kawhi.

Combine measurements:

Kawhi L: 6'6.0 w/o shoes, 7'3 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.75 hand length, 227.4 lbs
Coward: 6'5.25 w/o shoes, 7'2.25 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 213.0 lbs
Lendeborg: 6'8.5 w/o shoes, 7'4 wingspan, 9'0.5 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 234.6 lbs
Fleming: 6'8.25 w/o shoes, 7'5.25 wingspan, 9'1 standing reach, 9.50 hand length, 232.4 lbs

[Walid]

He is who I think we should grab for C prospect. He moves very well, seems to show that top of the key play making, and he has the most athletic combine stats compared to bother Queen and Maulach:

I like trading #9 for #13 and 22 and drafting Bryant or Fleming at #13 and would be good with drafting Yang at #22.

That’s an idea scenario for me,

Bryant/Fleming/Coward at 13
Yang at 22

If Bryant is out, Yaxel and Yang.

[Mark_83]

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[Smalltown]

I don't buy Yang climbing all that much. I just don't see it. Bigger chance he'll be a draft day slide than a big climber.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I like trading #9 for #13 and 22 and drafting Bryant or Fleming at #13 and would be good with drafting Yang at #22.

That’s an idea scenario for me,

Bryant/Fleming/Coward at 13
Yang at 22

If Bryant is out, Yaxel and Yang.

Yaxel and Yang work for me too

[BoyzNTheHood]

Size wise, Coward/Lendeborg/Fleming are the closest wings/jumbo wings to Kawhi.

Combine measurements:

Kawhi L: 6'6.0 w/o shoes, 7'3 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.75 hand length, 227.4 lbs
Coward: 6'5.25 w/o shoes, 7'2.25 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 213.0 lbs
Lendeborg: 6'8.5 w/o shoes, 7'4 wingspan, 9'0.5 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 234.6 lbs
Fleming: 6'8.25 w/o shoes, 7'5.25 wingspan, 9'1 standing reach, 9.50 hand length, 232.4 lbs

The thing about Kawhi is you can get a guy who measures like him, which is special in itself, but the relentless work that Kawhi put in to get himself to an elite level is almost unheard of.

Coming into the draft there was zero signs that Kawhi would become what he is. He was a tweener. He looked like another guy who had potential to be a special defender, but little else. Nowadays you would argue that the 3 point shot could be developed because his free throw percentage was good, but a 3+D guy would be his potential ceiling. He was the Bruce Bowen replacement.

You also can’t factor in the mental aspect. There’s no way to simulate in game clutch moments, or anything of that nature.

I know I’m not saying anything new, but I say all of this to say, Kawhi was an anomaly.

[OakleyDokely]

Size wise, Coward/Lendeborg/Fleming are the closest wings/jumbo wings to Kawhi.

Combine measurements:

Kawhi L: 6'6.0 w/o shoes, 7'3 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.75 hand length, 227.4 lbs
Coward: 6'5.25 w/o shoes, 7'2.25 wingspan, 8'10 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 213.0 lbs
Lendeborg: 6'8.5 w/o shoes, 7'4 wingspan, 9'0.5 standing reach, 9.25 hand length, 234.6 lbs
Fleming: 6'8.25 w/o shoes, 7'5.25 wingspan, 9'1 standing reach, 9.50 hand length, 232.4 lbs

The thing about Kawhi is you can get a guy who measures like him, which is special in itself, but the relentless work that Kawhi put in to get himself to an elite level is almost unheard of.

Coming into the draft there was zero signs that Kawhi would become what he is. He was a tweener. He looked like another guy who had potential to be a special defender, but little else. Nowadays you would argue that the 3 point shot could be developed because his free throw percentage was good, but a 3+D guy would be his potential ceiling. He was the Bruce Bowen replacement.

You also can’t factor in the mental aspect. There’s no way to simulate in game clutch moments, or anything of that nature.

I know I’m not saying anything new, but I say all of this to say, Kawhi was an anomaly.

The only obvious sign about Kawhi coming out of college (other than the measurements) was his insane rebound rate. Boardman gets paid. But ya, there's only 1 Kawhi and there are hundreds of guys who might look like him, but they ain't him. But his physical profile combined with other plus skills is a nice start for a prospect at least.

[Mark_83]

Coward's maturity and personality screams Raptors.

[Son Goku 25]

Those Kawhi comparisons and couple of guys looking like brook Lopez I'm excited for the draft... It's all about development and situation a lot of times so I'm confident whoever we get will likely get top 5 in the class.

[SpezNc]

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Interesting

Do Cedric Coward is an option for the Raps at 9?

[Mark_83]

He won't be an option at 9 and is unlikely to be available at 39, but Nique Clifford is a dawg.

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[djsunyc]

so much noise by agents, media, etc. tough to filter who is a legit prospect and who is just hype.

[mtcan]

Coward's maturity and personality screams Raptors.

I like his mentality. Very mature. He gets it. I wonder if he is a reach at 9.

[mademan]

He is who I think we should grab for C prospect. He moves very well, seems to show that top of the key play making, and he has the most athletic combine stats compared to bother Queen and Maulach:

I like trading #9 for #13 and 22 and drafting Bryant or Fleming at #13 and would be good with drafting Yang at #22.

That’s an idea scenario for me,

Bryant/Fleming/Coward at 13
Yang at 22

Gimme Coward/Yang and Hugo Gonzalez in the 2nd round and i dont care what happens the rest of the offseason.

[Mark_83]

Coward's maturity and personality screams Raptors.

I like his mentality. Very mature. He gets it. I wonder if he is a reach at 9.

It's a bit of a reach (given the meteoric rise and limited game info we have), but so was Jalen Williams in his draft year.

[XTC]

if he was 6'5" he'd go top 5
has some harden in his game

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So the rumor has it that one draft prospect snuck orthopedics into his socks to juice his 'barefoot' numbers...

pretty sure that we know who it is.

Is there a source for this?

I could also see Tahaad Pettiford doing this. I was surprised with his measurements. I had a feeling Jase was around 6-0, but Pettiford looks tiny out there.

[Mark_83]

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