2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Hal14]

Hoopshype latest Mock has Boston getting Yaxel and Raynaud. I would be so pumped.

I'm down with getting 1 of them. But idk about both..seems a bit redundant.

There's some differences with them but they're both essentially bigs. Raynaud more of a pure 5, Yaxel more of a PF/small ball 5, but still a bit of overlap positionally.

The best teams in the league are playing a lot more double bigs lately so I don't think taking two bigs with different skill sets is a deal breaker. If anything, it's leaning into the current trend of the NBA.

If we're talking about 2 established veteran bigs, that's one thing.

I think it's too hard to draft 2 bigs in the same draft class and be able to find enough mins to effectively develop/optimize both of them at the same time.

Very hard for really good teams to find enough mins for 1 young player in their rotation, let alone 2...let alone 2 of them who are trying to prove themselves, compete for mins and develop who play the same position..

Brad has never drafted a big since taking over as POBO (unless you count Watson as a big). The last big the C's drafted was Rob, 7 years ago. I could be wrong but I'd be shocked if we take 2 of them in the same draft.

VERY rare for a team to take 2 bigs in the same draft. Happens what, like once every 5 years, maybe once every 10 yrs?

[playa-hater]

I'm down with getting 1 of them. But idk about both..seems a bit redundant.

There's some differences with them but they're both essentially bigs. Raynaud more of a pure 5, Yaxel more of a PF/small ball 5, but still a bit of overlap positionally.

The best teams in the league are playing a lot more double bigs lately so I don't think taking two bigs with different skill sets is a deal breaker. If anything, it's leaning into the current trend of the NBA.

If we're talking about 2 established veteran bigs, that's one thing.

I think it's too hard to draft 2 bigs in the same draft class and be able to find enough mins to effectively develop/optimize both of them at the same time.

Very hard for really good teams to find enough mins for 1 young player in their rotation, let alone 2...let alone 2 of them who are trying to prove themselves, compete for mins and develop who play the same position..

Brad has never drafted a big since taking over as POBO (unless you count Watson as a big). The last big the C's drafted was Rob, 7 years ago. I could be wrong but I'd be shocked if we take 2 of them in the same draft.

VERY rare for a team to take 2 bigs in the same draft. Happens what, like once every 5 years, maybe once every 10 yrs?

KP may he gone. Same for Kornet..Tatum is our starting 4 man.Al is old and a FA.. It seems to me. We will be definitely needing two big men right off the bat. And Brad really hasn't had that many draft picks anyhow. I say it can reasonably be done.

[ThePigeon]

I really like Ben Saraf. He is baller that gets you wins
Saw him all season at Ulm. The past week in the German playoff, he led his team eliminating Alba in 3 games. He is young but plays with confidence and knows how to get a basket (score, pass) and started to defend really well

One big and one wing in this draft please

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Some non-lottery guys that performed/are performing well this playoffs: Powell, Siakam, Robinson, Nembhard, Hart, Jokic, Draymond, White, Brunson, Caruso, etc.

The one trait they have in common (except maybe Robinson) is that they are all extremely smart basketball players. Which is why to me the most important trait late in the draft is basketball IQ and that's why I want Raynaud and to a lesser extent Gonzalez. Those guys know how to play.

[aim2please]

I am far from a draft expert. Been reading what a few smart people were writing about draft, watched some clips. Guys that are projected to be in the 20s or later that I like are: Saraf, Fleming, Proctor. Saraf and Fleming should be lotto picks IMO.

Proctor is mocked in the 50s so he should be available in the early 2nd.

Guys that won't be available for the C's whom I like are Murray-Boyles and Clayton Jr.. Clayton is only small guard in this class that I would bet on.

Overall, IMO this draft is pretty weak. If you remove Flagg and to an extent Harper, there's not a lot of guys that will change your franchise. Would hate to be a rebuilding team that lost 60 games and my future depends on one of these dudes that are ranked 3-10.

Other top 10 guys have massive question marks. Some of them will hit, but I'd bet 5-6 out of 3-10 group will be disappointments. Malauch and Tre Johnson scream bust to me. Bailey will put up empty stats and play on losers his whole career. Kon knows how to play but is drawing dead to be even a passable defender. Queen is Jahlil Okafor 2.0.

Most of the guys mocked in the middle of the 1st round project to be backups, Richardson, Sorber, Wolf, Clifford, Riley. Demin and McNeeley are not NBA players.

Some of these guys will be outliers that will make big improvements, but overall meh draft.

For the C's, they will probably use 28 and 32 to move Porzingis so this exercise might be in vain. Would love to get Fleming. Perfect role playing big (forward) to put around Tatum.

[winsomme2]

Brad has to take a serious look at Drake Powell, doesn't he?

6'7" with a 7' wingspan and a 43" vertical.

I'm not sure why he wasn't more productive at UNC but he is a lottery level athlete.

[165bows]

Speaking of measurements…

My man Sion James has a little case of alligator arms, that’s sad. He did kill all the movement drill times so he’s kind of a smallish thick fast guy which is interesting.

Other one that pops is Sorber is freak long which kind of fits how he looks like he’s not that big but bigger than everyone else at the same time. Bam comp I had for him earlier fits a bit better now as well.

[brackdan70]

So Coward is staying. Super interesting.

[165bows]

So Coward is staying. Super interesting.

I’m getting dangerously close to Coward or bust in the first round lol.

[brackdan70]

So Coward is staying. Super interesting.

I’m getting dangerously close to Coward or bust in the first round lol.

Yeah…if he is there, hard to pass at 28.

[brackdan70]

Brad has drafted two very highly rated recruits as freshmen that didn’t show great at college and dropped out of the first round.
Powell fits the bill…..

[Hal14]

Brad has drafted two very highly rated recruits as freshmen that didn’t show great at college and dropped out of the first round.
Powell fits the bill…..

Not a good success rate in boston though for Walsh and JD.

Better success rate in Boston for guys like Pritchard, Scheierman, Grant, Hauser..all played 3+ college seasons, all were excellent college players..

[Hal14]

So Coward is staying. Super interesting.

I’m getting dangerously close to Coward or bust in the first round lol.

Yeah…if he is there, hard to pass at 28.

We just brought him in for a workout:

Updated list of prospects we've worked out..only 5 of them so far:



Seems like Coward is projected in like the 14-24 range, though. Perhaps a target if we trade up..The vision with Coward would be, you keep building long term around the Jays and hope that Coward can be a legit 3rd wing..who could come off the bench behind the Jays..or possibly you might eventually start all 3 of them together (at the 2, 3 and 4 spots)..and with Tatum out next season, that allows Coward to get lots of development reps as a rookie.

Of course, in this scenario Hauser probably gets traded at some point, opening up more of a role for Coward..

It's not wise to base too much on these empty gym workouts, but man, he looks smooth as butter here:

Read on Twitter

Also, they interviewed him at the combine a week ago..he presented himself very well..I was blown away by this interview. He seems very confident in himself, yet humble at the same time. Really just comes across like a dude who's ready to get drafted. Skip to around the 59:50 mark:

Watch on YouTube

[redslastlaugh]

Plus, Brad has a very specific type of big he's been interested in, which is the Kelly Olynyk, Al Horford, Daniel Theis, skilled-shooter big with a floor game and some rim protection. Yes, Brad acquired Luke Kornet, Noah Vonleh, Neemias Queta bigs but these were fliers at the minimum for backup minute eaters.

In this draft, there are lots of bigs with a chance at a good career. But, like Adem Bona last year, Brad is not going to consider drafting frontcourt players who don't fit the Celtics playstyle/scheme.

edit: this draft is even more loaded with bigs (outside the lottery) than I realized. 2025 Draft prob has 13 bigs who could be drafted, including Queen/Maluach in the lottery, with 11 possibilities to fall to C's pick.
1. Sorber
2. Beringer
3. Danny Wolf
4. Raynaud
5. Hansen Yang
6. Kalkbrenner
7. Zikarsky
8. Yanic Konan Niederhauser
9. Vlad Goldin
10. Amari Williams
11. (Probly not staing in: Alex Condon)
this is a strong center class. >5 of these guys could have 12 yr careers.

2024 was a deep center draft & had 9 centers picked: (clingan, edey, ware, missi, flip, bona, post, chomche, hukporti)
2023 had very few centers taken: (wemby, lively, nnaji) and maybe 3 more PF-C (Vukcevic, Gueye, TJD) who are really forwards

If we are looking for value, this is the year where taking two bigs could actually make sense.

If we're talking about 2 established veteran bigs, that's one thing.
I think it's too hard to draft 2 bigs in the same draft class and be able to find enough mins to effectively develop/optimize both of them at the same time.
Very hard for really good teams to find enough mins for 1 young player in their rotation, let alone 2...let alone 2 of them who are trying to prove themselves, compete for mins and develop who play the same position..

Brad has never drafted a big since taking over as POBO (unless you count Watson as a big). The last big the C's drafted was Rob, 7 years ago. I could be wrong but I'd be shocked if we take 2 of them in the same draft.

[redslastlaugh]

I didn't think Sion James measurement was that bad, a little lacking in length but nothing too disqualifying.
The player his measurements were most similar too was Dillon Brooks in 2017, somewhat surprisingly.

Brooks was 6-5 barefoot, 220lbs, with 6-6 wingspan and 8-4.5 reach
James was 6-4.5 barefoot, 218lbs, with 6-6.5 wingspan and 8-4 reach

edit:
Also looked up Lu Dort measurements from 2019
Dort was 6-2.75 barefoot, 222lbs, with a 6-8.5 wingspan and 8-3.5 reach

Speaking of measurements…

My man Sion James has a little case of alligator arms, that’s sad. He did kill all the movement drill times so he’s kind of a smallish thick fast guy which is interesting.

[lon3lytoaster]

So Coward is staying. Super interesting.

I’m getting dangerously close to Coward or bust in the first round lol.

Yeah…if he is there, hard to pass at 28.

Guessing if he’s staying in, he has a promise somewhere before 25. Easy low risk, high reward pick after that. I’d not be upset if he was a part of a trade up for us, either including Jrue or KP.

Easily the guy I’m most intrigued by. Maybe even in the draft outside of the top two. Wolf and lendeborg also interesting to me, particularly the later at 28.

[redslastlaugh]

nice... he'd be a fun player to develop. hope he lasts to #28, admittedly that's looking pretty unlikely

We just brought him in for a workout...only 5 of them so far:

Seems like Coward is projected in like the 14-24 range, though. Perhaps a target if we trade up..The vision with Coward would be, you keep building long term around the Jays and hope that Coward can be a legit 3rd wing..who could come off the bench behind the Jays..or possibly you might eventually start all 3 of them together (at the 2, 3 and 4 spots)..and with Tatum out next season, that allows Coward to get lots of development reps as a rookie.

[165bows]

I didn't think Sion James measurement was that bad, a little lacking in length but nothing too disqualifying.
The player his measurements were most similar too was Dillon Brooks in 2017, somewhat surprisingly.

Brooks was 6-5 barefoot, 220lbs, with 6-6 wingspan and 8-4.5 reach
James was 6-4.5 barefoot, 218lbs, with 6-6.5 wingspan and 8-4 reach

edit:
Also looked up Lu Dort measurements from 2019
Dort was 6-2.75 barefoot, 222lbs, with a 6-8.5 wingspan and 8-3.5 reach

Speaking of measurements…

My man Sion James has a little case of alligator arms, that’s sad. He did kill all the movement drill times so he’s kind of a smallish thick fast guy which is interesting.

Hmm hadn’t thought of that Brooks comp at all that’s a pretty interesting one. Especially how similar they are in measurements.

[playa-hater]

I really like Ben Saraf. He is baller that gets you wins
Saw him all season at Ulm. The past week in the German playoff, he led his team eliminating Alba in 3 games. He is young but plays with confidence and knows how to get a basket (score, pass) and started to defend really well

One big and one wing in this draft please

Isn't he more of a PG or Combo guard??

[Kalela]

Every mock draft having the Celtics draft Kalkbrenner annoys me. Despite his size and shooting ability, I can't stand him as a player.