2025 NBA Draft

[RichCollab]

I’m the opposite. I’d keep both first-rounders and use the second-rounders as trade chips, though I do expect the team will end up moving one of those firsts.

Why would you want to keep these picks? So two more guys can join Jeff's other draft picks sitting the bench or barely contributing in the playoffs?

Here's how much Jeff's picks not named Paolo or Franz contributed in the 2025 playoffs by order of draft year:

Jonathan Isaac: 13.8 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg (one total blocked shot in five games)
Cole Anthony: 10.2 mpg, 2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.2 apg
Jalen Suggs: DNP/INJ
Caleb Houstan: 9.4 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Anthony Black: 17.8 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.0 apg (zero total assists in five games)
Jett Howard: only played in one game
Tristan da Silva: only played in two games, didn't score

You seriously want to add the #16 and #25 picks to that crew? We already have the highest percentage of our own draft picks still on our roster, and you can see how that worked out in the playoffs.

My answer to your question comes down to the idea that Weltman will actually trade these paid scrubs and take chances on other talent for once.

Yeah… I know… wishful thinking…

But yeah, I’d rather take a shot on Walter Clayton, Cedric Coward, or Jase Richardson for a few seasons on rookie scale contracts than pay Cole Anthony, Isaac, or a looming extension on Anthony Black for those piss poor playoff results.

Paying 3 Centers OK money is also kinda preposterous when you don’t have a starting point guard leading into the playoffs. Move one and draft someone for rookie money.

I’m fine with moving A pick for backcourt return. But the rookie scale deals will help with the cap situation when all these guys are paid.

Yeah, Jeff is mostly miss on the draft… but it’s better than watching the role players on this team flounder while getting paid real money.

You have no confidence in Jeff to draft but want to stay the course?

[VFX]

Why would you want to keep these picks? So two more guys can join Jeff's other draft picks sitting the bench or barely contributing in the playoffs?

Here's how much Jeff's picks not named Paolo or Franz contributed in the 2025 playoffs by order of draft year:

Jonathan Isaac: 13.8 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg (one total blocked shot in five games)
Cole Anthony: 10.2 mpg, 2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.2 apg
Jalen Suggs: DNP/INJ
Caleb Houstan: 9.4 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Anthony Black: 17.8 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.0 apg (zero total assists in five games)
Jett Howard: only played in one game
Tristan da Silva: only played in two games, didn't score

You seriously want to add the #16 and #25 picks to that crew? We already have the highest percentage of our own draft picks still on our roster, and you can see how that worked out in the playoffs.

My answer to your question comes down to the idea that Weltman will actually trade these paid scrubs and take chances on other talent for once.

Yeah… I know… wishful thinking…

But yeah, I’d rather take a shot on Walter Clayton, Cedric Coward, or Jase Richardson for a few seasons on rookie scale contracts than pay Cole Anthony, Isaac, or a looming extension on Anthony Black for those piss poor playoff results.

Paying 3 Centers OK money is also kinda preposterous when you don’t have a starting point guard leading into the playoffs. Move one and draft someone for rookie money.

I’m fine with moving A pick for backcourt return. But the rookie scale deals will help with the cap situation when all these guys are paid.

Yeah, Jeff is mostly miss on the draft… but it’s better than watching the role players on this team flounder while getting paid real money.

You have no confidence in Jeff to draft but want to stay the course?

I don't think they have a choice.

They have 3 picks in this years draft and they will undoubtedly move one of either #16 or #25.

With the upcoming Paolo extension they will have to utilize one or two of these picks for a rookie scale prospect for the next 4 seasons. The best bet is to move off some of these role players that have not contributed in the playoffs.

The money is important, but the talent is equally important. Orlando's roster is riddled with role players that just don't produce. I'm saying this when we are watching players like Aaron Nesmith drop 30 or NAW drop 18 off the bench in the conference finals.

Here are 3 tiers of players Orlando absolutely does not need to pay or can add into deals.

Tier 1: Unplayable in playoffs. Inconsistent role players.
Isaac (15m), Cole (13m), and Goga (8m). Thats $36m in cap space before adding anyone back. I'd rather keep Goga unless he's a part of a Lakers deal.

Tier 2: Unplayable prospect. Likely not an nba player.
Jett Howard ($5.5m)

Tier 3: Expiring, Nominal, or Redundant
Gary Harris ($7.5m)
Caleb Houstan ($2.1m)

[cedric76]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

[Idiosyncratic]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

Thunder redshirted Topic, Dillon Jones barely played. Ajay Mitchell 2nd round was a regular in the regular season.

Knicks barely played Dadiet and Kolek

Wolves barely played Shannon and Dillingham who they traded up for (pick 8!)

Pacers moved up a little for Furphy and he barely played. Made 2 more 2nd round picks

Cavs and Celtics both made 1st rounders who barely played. There is precedent for making picks for the future, especially in current CBA. Also given Suggs will probably get rest games and AB can play the 3 I think a guard definitely could get minutes. Add the fact that if we got Simons he usually misses about 20 games a year? Definitely room for some guard depth.

[VFX]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

[BadMofoPimp]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

To be fair, Cole wasn't arse all season as he had a few fantastic and solid games. It is not like everyone be spectacular every game. No player in the NBA is. He just wasn't consistent which is on par with most players in the NBA. Half the players fans here want to trade him for are just a bit more consistent, but if you look at them the entire season, they are bad almost as often. Nobody mentions how many 2-12 games Simons has or gets benched due to poor play. Not as often as Cole, but unless you have a star player, the role players are rarely consistent. Heck, Nembhard had a stretch where his best game was 1-7 shooting amidst a few 1-8 games.

Fans just think grass always greener on the other side then when they get the player they want, within a year they trashing that player wanting someone else. They only look at the highlight games, not the bad games those players have.

[VFX]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

To be fair, Cole wasn't arse all season as he had a few fantastic and solid games. It is not like everyone be spectacular every game. No player in the NBA is. He just wasn't consistent which is on par with most players in the NBA. Half the players fans here want to trade him for are just a bit more consistent, but if you look at them the entire season, they are bad almost as often. Nobody mentions how many 2-12 games Simons has or gets benched due to poor play. Not as often as Cole, but unless you have a star player, the role players are rarely consistent. Heck, Nembhard had a stretch where his best game was 1-7 shooting amidst a few 1-8 games.

Yeah Im just using him as an example. Its not to pile on him unnecessarily.

Replacing Isaac with Sorber
Replacing Cole with Clayton
Replacing Goga with Raynaud

Those are cap cutting moves that wouldn't have changed much at all in this years playoff series.
None of those guys showed up really whether due to performance, matchup, or Mosely.

If Orlando plans on trading for a starting point guard, while keeping KCP, then the draft picks are important because rookie scale roster spots are helpful as opposed to paying these guys.

[drsd]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

For me this logic is the reason to trade out of the draft and go for a Keon Ellis-type.

[basketballRob]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

To be fair, Cole wasn't arse all season as he had a few fantastic and solid games. It is not like everyone be spectacular every game. No player in the NBA is. He just wasn't consistent which is on par with most players in the NBA. Half the players fans here want to trade him for are just a bit more consistent, but if you look at them the entire season, they are bad almost as often. Nobody mentions how many 2-12 games Simons has or gets benched due to poor play. Not as often as Cole, but unless you have a star player, the role players are rarely consistent. Heck, Nembhard had a stretch where his best game was 1-7 shooting amidst a few 1-8 games.

Yeah Im just using him as an example. Its not to pile on him unnecessarily.

Replacing Isaac with Sorber
Replacing Cole with Clayton
Replacing Goga with Raynaud

Those are cap cutting moves that wouldn't have changed much at all in this years playoff series.
None of those guys showed up really whether due to performance, matchup, or Mosely.

If Orlando plans on trading for a starting point guard, while keeping KCP, then the draft picks are important because rookie scale roster spots are helpful as opposed to paying these guys.

Guess what? It's going to take those rookies a few years to get to the level of the vets. Both Sorber and Raynaud will be gone before the 22nd pick. Sorber can't currently hit a shot outside 10'

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[VFX]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

For me this logic is the reason to trade out of the draft and go for a Keon Ellis-type.

What is the fascination with Keon Ellis?

Keon Ellis is 25 and wont be on a rookie scale deal within a year.

[drsd]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

For me this logic is the reason to trade out of the draft and go for a Keon Ellis-type.

What is the fascination with Keon Ellis?

Keon Ellis is 25 and wont be on a rookie scale deal within a year.

Ellis is a LLE to half-MLE player that can contribute RIGHT NOW. Nice third stringer and emergency backup player. i.e. Harris' replacment.
I would rather the Magic has that sort of player over any rookie.
Any rookie will be a waste of a roster slot when useful LLE players exist, in my opinion.

[BadMofoPimp]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

For me this logic is the reason to trade out of the draft and go for a Keon Ellis-type.

What is the fascination with Keon Ellis?

Keon Ellis is 25 and wont be on a rookie scale deal within a year.

Keon is a good bench player who half the time shoots less than 5 shots a game. But, he is a better shooter than anyone Magic currently have off the bench. Wouldn't trade a 1st for him tho. But, if people are thinking of an upgrade from Harris/Caleb, he would be in improvement. Seriously doubt the Kings move him being his low contract value.

[RookieStar]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

Thunder redshirted Topic, Dillon Jones barely played. Ajay Mitchell 2nd round was a regular in the regular season.

Knicks barely played Dadiet and Kolek

Wolves barely played Shannon and Dillingham who they traded up for (pick 8!)

Pacers moved up a little for Furphy and he barely played. Made 2 more 2nd round picks

Cavs and Celtics both made 1st rounders who barely played. There is precedent for making picks for the future, especially in current CBA. Also given Suggs will probably get rest games and AB can play the 3 I think a guard definitely could get minutes. Add the fact that if we got Simons he usually misses about 20 games a year? Definitely room for some guard depth.

I think what cedric failed to mention is that, our C has the oft injured WCJ who averages 20missed games a season, an oft-injured JI, a recovering MoeSwag and Goga... whoever our 3rd big would be will need to have both the "potential" and " immediate help" tag on him.

That rookie C needs to be able to play 30mins for 3 straight games, then expect to be DNP for 5, then some garbage time for the next 8 games, then again some quality 25mins/game for the next 10. Our regular Cs are too unpredictable.

So yeah, guys like Maxime, Wolf, Kalkbrenner-whatever , etc are perfect because they wont have the egos of FRP expecting heavy minutes, yet they can contribute when called upon.

[Skybox]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

Thunder redshirted Topic, Dillon Jones barely played. Ajay Mitchell 2nd round was a regular in the regular season.

Knicks barely played Dadiet and Kolek

Wolves barely played Shannon and Dillingham who they traded up for (pick 8!)

Pacers moved up a little for Furphy and he barely played. Made 2 more 2nd round picks

Cavs and Celtics both made 1st rounders who barely played. There is precedent for making picks for the future, especially in current CBA. Also given Suggs will probably get rest games and AB can play the 3 I think a guard definitely could get minutes. Add the fact that if we got Simons he usually misses about 20 games a year? Definitely room for some guard depth.

I think what cedric failed to mention is that, our C has the oft injured WCJ who averages 20missed games a season, an oft-injured JI, a recovering MoeSwag and Goga... whoever our 3rd big would be will need to have both the "potential" and " immediate help" tag on him.

That rookie C needs to be able to play 30mins for 3 straight games, then expect to be DNP for 5, then some garbage time for the next 8 games, then again some quality 25mins/game for the next 10. Our regular Cs are too unpredictable.

So yeah, guys like Maxime, Wolf, Kalkbrenner-whatever , etc are perfect because they wont have the egos of FRP expecting heavy minutes, yet they can contribute when called upon.

They "redshirted" Topic the way we redshirted Suggs

He had a torn ACL

[cedric76]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

Thunder redshirted Topic, Dillon Jones barely played. Ajay Mitchell 2nd round was a regular in the regular season.

Knicks barely played Dadiet and Kolek

Wolves barely played Shannon and Dillingham who they traded up for (pick 8!)

Pacers moved up a little for Furphy and he barely played. Made 2 more 2nd round picks

Cavs and Celtics both made 1st rounders who barely played. There is precedent for making picks for the future, especially in current CBA. Also given Suggs will probably get rest games and AB can play the 3 I think a guard definitely could get minutes. Add the fact that if we got Simons he usually misses about 20 games a year? Definitely room for some guard depth.

Exactly

[cedric76]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

For me this logic is the reason to trade out of the draft and go for a Keon Ellis-type.

2-3 year investment?
Fans r not patient enough, if the rookie doesn't deliver within year 1 he ll be called a bust, like suggs ab,Jett etc.....

You guys are not patient enough

[cedric76]

No rookie will break our 10 men rotation, so don't get too excited.

This is why I want Raynaud, we need a 3rd big with potential.

A guy like coward, Jase or Clayton wouldn't get enough minutes to develop

Thunder redshirted Topic, Dillon Jones barely played. Ajay Mitchell 2nd round was a regular in the regular season.

Knicks barely played Dadiet and Kolek

Wolves barely played Shannon and Dillingham who they traded up for (pick 8!)

Pacers moved up a little for Furphy and he barely played. Made 2 more 2nd round picks

Cavs and Celtics both made 1st rounders who barely played. There is precedent for making picks for the future, especially in current CBA. Also given Suggs will probably get rest games and AB can play the 3 I think a guard definitely could get minutes. Add the fact that if we got Simons he usually misses about 20 games a year? Definitely room for some guard depth.

I think what cedric failed to mention is that, our C has the oft injured WCJ who averages 20missed games a season, an oft-injured JI, a recovering MoeSwag and Goga... whoever our 3rd big would be will need to have both the "potential" and " immediate help" tag on him.

That rookie C needs to be able to play 30mins for 3 straight games, then expect to be DNP for 5, then some garbage time for the next 8 games, then again some quality 25mins/game for the next 10. Our regular Cs are too unpredictable.

So yeah, guys like Maxime, Wolf, Kalkbrenner-whatever , etc are perfect because they wont have the egos of FRP expecting heavy minutes, yet they can contribute when called upon.

Exactly, and Raynaud is 22 yrs, he was the 2nd best player in the acc last year behind cooper

#16+#25 for #19+#26+#27

Draft Raynaud at #19
Draft lanier/brea at #46

Cole + Jett + #26 + #27 + #57 for simons

Goga for O'Neil

Suggs, ab, cojo
Simons, kcp, lanier
Franz, O'Neil, TDS
Paolo,JI, O'Neil
Wcj, Moe, Raynaud

[drsd]

Keon is a good bench player who half the time shoots less than 5 shots a game. But, he is a better shooter than anyone Magic currently have off the bench. Wouldn't trade a 1st for him tho. But, if people are thinking of an upgrade from Harris/Caleb, he would be in improvement. Seriously doubt the Kings move him being his low contract value.

I also do not think the Magic should trade a FRP for an Ellis-type player. What I do think is that the Magic should package their FRPs for a new starting guard and sign an Ellis-type in what would have been the roster slot for a rookie.

For the 2025/26 season, Ellis is MUCH better than any rookie the Magic can get. By a long, long way. But from an asset managment perspective, an Ellis-type is a low-end FA aquisition and not a guy to trade anything for.

[drsd]

2-3 year investment?
Fans r not patient enough, if the rookie doesn't deliver within year 1 he ll be called a bust, like suggs ab,Jett etc.....

You guys are not patient enough

Orlando needs to make round 2 of the playoffs next year and be a marginal Championship contender for 2026/27. Not sure what you think the window is here.

[GelbeWand09]

Yeah it’s not necessarily about rookies getting immediate playing time… obviously…

It’s about developing prospects that CAN earn minutes as opposed to paying a bunch of mid to bad role players that have regressed or suck.

Like are people going to argue they would rather watch Cole Anthony look like **** all season for $13m rather than Walter Clayton on a rookie deal?

It’s a 2-3 year investment that fills roster spots because the money is going to get tighter.

To be fair, Cole wasn't arse all season as he had a few fantastic and solid games. It is not like everyone be spectacular every game. No player in the NBA is. He just wasn't consistent which is on par with most players in the NBA. Half the players fans here want to trade him for are just a bit more consistent, but if you look at them the entire season, they are bad almost as often. Nobody mentions how many 2-12 games Simons has or gets benched due to poor play. Not as often as Cole, but unless you have a star player, the role players are rarely consistent. Heck, Nembhard had a stretch where his best game was 1-7 shooting amidst a few 1-8 games.

Fans just think grass always greener on the other side then when they get the player they want, within a year they trashing that player wanting someone else. They only look at the highlight games, not the bad games those players have.

The problem with Cole is, that his playertype requires scoring/eff. constancy, because thats the only reason those guys are in a NBA rotation. The defense & playmaking is just too bad for having 2 out of 10 solid scoring games. Such player types need to have 3 good scoring games out of 5 games to make them playable.
Nembhard does much more positive things outside of scoring. Thats why he is playable even on off nights. Cole is not.