2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[TNRaps4life]

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[DG88]

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This is a bot by the way.

[Raptorfan2012]

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LOL if its RJ to the Kings to bring Demar back. We do save like $2M, and if we are serious about making the playoffs, I guess Demar is better than RJ right now.

[bboyskinnylegs]

not sure how credible that is but it makes sense, we tried to trade him for Ingram then had to pivot to expirings+pick, so we're definitely discussing deals for him. I wonder if those teams make their pick(s) available in an RJ trade (12, 13, 14). Not sure what the Kings offer for him.

[JCP11]

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?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

This dude's abilities are just off the charts, some of the stuff he does you can't teach. A 6'6 guy that blocks a lot of shots, gets tons of rebounds, stuffing high flyers at the rim, that's Kawhi esque. I know he's not Kawhi but man he has a lot things you want in a prospect. In this video you can already see how much he improved his handle, he still has ways to go but the work ethic is there.

[DonDoolie]

Gradey would go top 10 in a redraft of his class. Trading him for 16 is asinine.

No the **** he wouldn't go top 10 what are you smoking?

Wemby
Miller
Scoot
Amen
Asur
George
GG jackson
Lively
Podz
Wallace
Bilal

List is not in order thats just off the top of my head. No shot he goes over any of these guys in a redraft right now. Maybe if things change next year but right now absolutely ZERO chance.

GG jackson and Keyonte George? And I'm smoking? Stop.

Nah you need to take off the homer goggles. George is quite literally better at everything than Gradey is. And GG jackson is younger and shown he was better before injuries hit.


anyways I am not going to derail this thread any longer. have a good day

[Grew]

No the **** he wouldn't go top 10 what are you smoking?

Wemby
Miller
Scoot
Amen
Asur
George
GG jackson
Lively
Podz
Wallace
Bilal

List is not in order thats just off the top of my head. No shot he goes over any of these guys in a redraft right now. Maybe if things change next year but right now absolutely ZERO chance.

GG jackson and Keyonte George? And I'm smoking? Stop.

Nah you need to take off the homer goggles. George is quite literally better at everything than Gradey is. And GG jackson is younger and shown he was better before injuries hit.


anyways I am not going to derail this thread any longer. have a good day

GG averaged 7 points on less than 40 percent. Keyonte was on one of the biggest tankers, averaged 17 on under 40. You're reaching. Even guys like coulibaly, scoot and ausar would be discussions. None of those guys have proven much of anything. It's super early to redraft Gradeys draft, but your emphatic argument is as ridiculous as those who would trade him for 16 in this draft. Good day to you aswell sir.

[Tripod]

With a high end draft pick you go with dynamic kinda scorers as long as they are not horrible on defense.....3&D kinda role players are always available in the later parts of drafts and also easier to add via trade if you need one...

If Masai thinks one of the guys at 9 has dynamic scoring upside i think that should be the more important trait high up in the draft...

I am against this philosophy, at this point in college, pretty much all dynamic scorer suck at defense because they haven't play defense in their life. The unicorns that can do both go top 3-5. So is the dynamic scorer always the best player? History is full of dynamic scorers whose team fell in love with the empty scoring and set them back YEARS trying to make it work.

Id rather grab Jase/Coward for example than a Bryant/Noa.....Because Jase/Coward both show they can get their own shots....But also hold their own on D....Thats what i mean when i say go for the players that show flashes they can be LEGIT two way players rather than a utility player...

Yup.

If you are going for the big swing, gotta go for guys comfortable with the ball in their hands already.

Give me either!

[Buff]

With a high end draft pick you go with dynamic kinda scorers as long as they are not horrible on defense.....3&D kinda role players are always available in the later parts of drafts and also easier to add via trade if you need one...

If Masai thinks one of the guys at 9 has dynamic scoring upside i think that should be the more important trait high up in the draft...

I am against this philosophy, at this point in college, pretty much all dynamic scorer suck at defense because they haven't play defense in their life. The unicorns that can do both go top 3-5. So is the dynamic scorer always the best player? History is full of dynamic scorers whose team fell in love with the empty scoring and set them back YEARS trying to make it work.

Id rather grab Jase/Coward for example than a Bryant/Noa.....Because Jase/Coward both show they can get their own shots....But also hold their own on D....Thats what i mean when i say go for the players that show flashes they can be LEGIT two way players rather than a utility player...

So I guess you prefer generalist over specialist. I prefer really good at something with swing skill that is often shooting. In other words, if Bryant is an OG
level defender I'd be cool if he sticks his corner threes and delighted if he can hit above the break. With the Jase/Coward you *could* be risking getting a nice player that's not great at everything. That's assuming that CB is truly special (KM fits that mold for me as well). Also not saying that Coward can not be event better defensively than CB, I like him a lot.

Just trying to make the point.

[Got Nuffin]

At his age, he needs more than measurement.
At #9, he needs to able to create for himself, which I don't find that. He is a low risk high-end 3&D to me. If people see Carter Bryant being a high-end 3&D at 20, maybe he could be drafted a slot or two above him.

Agree with this. The fact that he is going to be 22 and handles the ball like a power forward gives me a lot of pause at #9. Are we drafting Trevor Ariza? Even Anunoby had better handle at that age and we all know he can’t create much for himself.

I am higher on Essengue (sp?) as this type of high end role player. He is legitimately one of the youngest in this class and already producing at a high level. Can’t shoot? He has a much better chance of improving that than Coward with his piss poor handles at their respective ages.

Not saying Coward wouldn’t be a fantastic addition to any team right away, but I feel like we should be going for upside here rather than just drafting Ingram’s long term back up.

I'm not sold on Essengue at 9 besides his age, I just don't see anything special beside his motor. I don't think he will be able to guard wings and he's too skinny to play 5. There's way more projection than Coward, I would actually rather take a chance on Bryant. I have to admit I'm warming up to Coward but I'm not married to the idea of taking him. All I'm saying is that he already has a lot going for him shot wise and physically. He's already a great shooter both 3pt and mid range just that alone can open up driving lanes for him to use his frame and finish strong. He's not crazy athletic but he doesn't need to be either with his shot. If he develops his handle more he could be a very good player in this league.

I don't mind a pick for Bryant at all but I think we could possibly trade down and still get him?

As far as Essengue, his feet look pretty damn fast for his size so not sure why he wouldn't guard wings? Not strong enough? We're talking about the second youngest player in the entire draft. What he looks like 4 years from now may be a completely different player to what we see now as he builds skill on top of skill and really grows into his body.

Coward in 4 years will be 26 and considered a veteran, and unfortunately his ball handling is at such a rudimentary level now that it's just hard to see him improving it as much as say Derozan who was also a teenager when he was drafted.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Biggest reason I’m on the trade Gradey wave is because he’s up for extension and if that number is any where near 15-20 million a year then he’s a lot less tradeable.

If I'm not mistaken, he's extension eligible after his 3rd year, so after next season. They still got some time to figure out what to do with him.

I don’t want to keep letting him play annd decrease his value. If we don’t move him before he’s due for extension, given our track record, we’re going to overpay to keep him.

I don’t like Gradey over RJ or Walter. It seems the FO might be trying to solve the SG logjam problem by trading Barrett but I think he’s going to be better than Gradey long term. The shooting is decent in certain contexts but he isn’t a sniper nor has he been good putting the ball on the floor. The defense is worst on the team.

I think Gradey on his rookie deal with a year left before he’s a RFA is the utmost peak of his current value. He still has the “recent lottery pick” shine. It’s either going to fall from here or go up rapidly if he turns it around and becomes a player he hasn’t been thus far.

I don’t think he’s a starter on a playoff team or a 6th man. If we can get a guy that solves a need (I.e. trade for Kessler or for a pick high enough to get Sorber/Wolf/Fleming/Yang) for Gradey who doesn’t solve much of anything, I’m doing the trade.

There is a risk he blossoms but far too often we hold onto guys until they suck and/or are overpaid before we trade them. We end up with guys like Boucher or GTJ have their contracts expire and we get nothing for them.

[Basketball_Jones]

Coward looks pretty decent, probably a dark horse if Mal/Bryant/Rasheer are off the board.

[Grew]

Something about watching Coward almost had me wishing Maluach won't drop so we could pick him. It's hard to wrap my mind around him being the pick because of his lack of rim pressure and being older while playing weaker competition. He just has that aesthetic to his game, especially his mid range jumper, that reminds of Kawhi. His measurements are like a SG version of Kawhi too and he sounds great in interviews. Just so scary taking a guy that looked like good value at 39, 9th because he shot up due to a combine.

Also I've already been thinking Carter Bryant is a handle away from being a possible all star type talent. He's younger and more athletic. If I'm banking on someone developing a handle in this draft I would think it has to be Carter over Coward.

It's tough to logically put Coward at the top of my board at 9, but I kind of want to... He's either going to make someone look really smart or really dumb for taking him if he goes lotto.

[JCP11]

Agree with this. The fact that he is going to be 22 and handles the ball like a power forward gives me a lot of pause at #9. Are we drafting Trevor Ariza? Even Anunoby had better handle at that age and we all know he can’t create much for himself.

I am higher on Essengue (sp?) as this type of high end role player. He is legitimately one of the youngest in this class and already producing at a high level. Can’t shoot? He has a much better chance of improving that than Coward with his piss poor handles at their respective ages.

Not saying Coward wouldn’t be a fantastic addition to any team right away, but I feel like we should be going for upside here rather than just drafting Ingram’s long term back up.

I'm not sold on Essengue at 9 besides his age, I just don't see anything special beside his motor. I don't think he will be able to guard wings and he's too skinny to play 5. There's way more projection than Coward, I would actually rather take a chance on Bryant. I have to admit I'm warming up to Coward but I'm not married to the idea of taking him. All I'm saying is that he already has a lot going for him shot wise and physically. He's already a great shooter both 3pt and mid range just that alone can open up driving lanes for him to use his frame and finish strong. He's not crazy athletic but he doesn't need to be either with his shot. If he develops his handle more he could be a very good player in this league.

I don't mind a pick for Bryant at all but I think we could possibly trade down and still get him?

As far as Essengue, his feet look pretty damn fast for his size so not sure why he wouldn't guard wings? Not strong enough? We're talking about the second youngest player in the entire draft. What he looks like 4 years from now may be a completely different player to what we see now as he builds skill on top of skill and really grows into his body.

Coward in 4 years will be 26 and considered a veteran, and unfortunately his ball handling is at such a rudimentary level now that it's just hard to see him improving it as much as say Derozan who was also a teenager when he was drafted.

After watching Essengue a bit more today I gotta admit I was wrong he does have pretty good feet. I still think he's a role player in the NBA tho but a good one especially if he improves the shot . As for Coward I would say don't let the age distract you from his tools. He already shoots the ball like a pro, gets blocks and rebounds at an insane clip for a 6'6 guard. He already improved his handle a lot and knows he has ways to go. He's also very strong and jump 38'5 vert. What's your projection for Essengue?

[AkelaLoneWolf]

not sure how credible that is but it makes sense, we tried to trade him for Ingram then had to pivot to expirings+pick, so we're definitely discussing deals for him. I wonder if those teams make their pick(s) available in an RJ trade (12, 13, 14). Not sure what the Kings offer for him.

is that true. wasn't olynyk traded to the pels who was not an expiring contract which is a choice we made as keeping him would've put us in the tax and then mitchell was traded to the heat.

[Clutch0z24]

I am against this philosophy, at this point in college, pretty much all dynamic scorer suck at defense because they haven't play defense in their life. The unicorns that can do both go top 3-5. So is the dynamic scorer always the best player? History is full of dynamic scorers whose team fell in love with the empty scoring and set them back YEARS trying to make it work.

Id rather grab Jase/Coward for example than a Bryant/Noa.....Because Jase/Coward both show they can get their own shots....But also hold their own on D....Thats what i mean when i say go for the players that show flashes they can be LEGIT two way players rather than a utility player...

So I guess you prefer generalist over specialist. I prefer really good at something with swing skill that is often shooting. In other words, if Bryant is an OG
level defender I'd be cool if he sticks his corner threes and delighted if he can hit above the break. With the Jase/Coward you *could* be risking getting a nice player that's not great at everything. That's assuming that CB is truly special (KM fits that mold for me as well). Also not saying that Coward can not be event better defensively than CB, I like him a lot.

Just trying to make the point.

I think dynamic scorers are more valuable than a utility player....For example....What does Bryant for example do better on the court than Coward/Jase.....How many things can you name he is better at?....

Bryant has height (Has nothing to do with on court production)....Maybe a little tad bit better defense....But its not like Bryant has best wing defender in the league upside here....

Now lets see what he doesn't have....Does not attack the basket, Does not have a good handle to get past or break down defenders, Does not get to the FT line, Can not really self create at all....

Now so many negatives ^ Hes also not a better shooter than Jase or Coward....So you can't use that one....So what does Bryant do better on the basketball court exactly?....If a good defender lets say Alex Caruso/Jaden McDaniels etc takes away Bryants 3 point shot?....What does he have in his offensive bag to combat that?....He does not have the ball handling skills to put the ball on the floor against these type of defenders or a mid range game...And is horrible at finishing in the paint ...(Fast break dunks not included or cutting dunks im talking about self created finishing in the paint)

So at that point he becomes kind of useless on the court and a fast break guy....Our teams been the worst in Half court offense, Offense in general....Bryant does not really help our negatives enough to warrrent picking him 9th when there could be a guy available that can help them...

Thats my thought process on it anyways...

[CPT]

Gradey is tough to figure out, because he’s a worse shooter than expected, but better than expected everywhere else (offensively). He’s a disaster defensively, but there are some signs that it might not always be that way. I don’t know that any of it is “good” at this point, and he doesn’t really look like a player that will be useful on a playoff team.

The hope is he gets back to being more of a shooter, but one who is now more comfortable doing a bit of creating when necessary after getting some experience doing that. Defensively, hopefully he gains the strengths needed to provide some level of resistance, as he’s too easy to just kind of ignore and go through.

2 years in, I don’t blame anyone looking for a reroll, hopefully on a player who would fit the roster better. 16 specifically seems a bit low, but probably not by much. It’s hard to imagine teams above that range thinking “we could pick any remaining player in this draft, but what we really want is Gradey Dick.”

[AkelaLoneWolf]

Gradey is tough to figure out, because he’s a worse shooter than expected, but better than expected everywhere else (offensively). He’s a disaster defensively, but there are some signs that it might not always be that way. I don’t know that any of it is “good” at this point, and he doesn’t really look like a player that will be useful on a playoff team.

The hope is he gets back to being more of a shooter, but one who is now more comfortable doing a bit of creating when necessary after getting some experience doing that. Defensively, hopefully he gains the strengths needed to provide some level of resistance, as he’s too easy to just kind of ignore and go through.

2 years in, I don’t blame anyone looking for a reroll, hopefully on a player who would fit the roster better. 16 specifically seems a bit low, but probably not by much. It’s hard to imagine teams above that range thinking “we could pick any remaining player in this draft, but what we really want is Gradey Dick.”

doesn't really make sense to trade dick at this time. he's a good cost controlled contract. he's going into this third year 'the evaluation year'. this will be the year he shows whether he's huerter or herro. just as importantly, he was filling a role last year he was not suited for and he was exposed.
lets see how he does coming off the bench and playing next to BI and taking advantage of their gravity.

[RoteSchroder]

GG jackson and Keyonte George? And I'm smoking? Stop.

Nah you need to take off the homer goggles. George is quite literally better at everything than Gradey is. And GG jackson is younger and shown he was better before injuries hit.


anyways I am not going to derail this thread any longer. have a good day

GG averaged 7 points on less than 40 percent. Keyonte was on one of the biggest tankers, averaged 17 on under 40. You're reaching. Even guys like coulibaly, scoot and ausar would be discussions. None of those guys have proven much of anything. It's super early to redraft Gradeys draft, but your emphatic argument is as ridiculous as those who would trade him for 16 in this draft. Good day to you aswell sir.

There's an argument for top 10 in his own draft if you like his shooting potential, but Gradey, GG, Keyonte still have to prove they are rotation worthy on a good team.

he would probably go after 20 in this draft..zero chance people take a look at Rasheer Fleming..a long, athletic 3+D player and take Gradey, who looks to be a defensive liability barring some major improvements

[CazOnReal]

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Cris Davis is not a reporter, they're a Twitter user who paid for their checkmark and throws sh&t at the wall to see what gets attention

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