2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[Mark_83]

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Sion James looks like he's gonna be a steal in the 2nd round.

[Basketball_Jones]

I don’t think we can pass up the potential on guys like Maluach and Bryant, even if they are very unproven offensively. Whichever one is there at 9 is probably who we take.

[bboyskinnylegs]

all these withdrawals are making me a bit concerned about who will still be available with our 2nd rounder

[Clutch0z24]

Just as a random thought but Carter Bryant really reminds of all the types of players that make OKC great as a team, just saying.

But they also have the MVP of the league which is a top 3 player in the league maybe top 2.....He had 34 points, 8, 7 .....We don't have a player that comes close to Shai in talent....We need to find our Shai first before we build with 3&D role players....Unless you think Barnes can be Shai level one day...

OKC are not great because they have Caruso/Lu Dort....ofc that makes them alot better but they are great because they have the best young trio in the league with one of them thats the MVP.....Hard to replicate that when you don't have a Shai...or even a Chet level prospect big man...Id say Barnes could be on the same tier as Jalen Williams as a player.....But thats not quite good enough to just be drafting for role players imo....We need stars...

[Clutch0z24]

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Jase is still my pick...Even if hes shorter he has top 5 talent in this draft....Should not pass that up....Especially at 9th....He will shock alot of people if hes picked late in this draft as one of them players people passed on that should not have.....Just too much talent/skill overall to base his outcome as a player on his height...Hes 6'2" in shoes....While not the best hes still not tiny with a 6'6" Wingspan and a way above average athlete.....And could still grow an inch while in the league...Makes me not too concerned about his height when he can finish in the paint with the best of them in this class....

To me he has the best 3 level scoring + upside left at 9th...Can hold his own on the defensive end while also having 1st option shot creator upside...

But i get it for people who don't like him due to size....But just remember size is not everything we have seen many 6'7" guys flame out while the more skilled smaller guys succeed...

to put it in perspective Hes the same height as Kyrie Irving but Kyrie wingspan at 6'3" And Jase 6'6" Wingspan....Kyrie had a great career even if hes not the biggest because he has amazing basketball skills and great finisher at the rim....No reason to think Jase can not succeed cause hes "Short" When he is a better athlete than Kyrie and has a longer wingspan than Kyrie....Not comparing his skill level to Kyrie im just pointing out a player who has less athletic/shorter wingspan at that height can succeed so its dumb to say Jase can't succeed due to height when he will be just fine...

[hellrazor04]

I like Drake Powell, but I dont see him slipping to 39. NBA will open up his game and allow his athleticism and instincts show.
He's got real defensive ability. He covers so much ground and recover ability on switches and block attempts is elite. Shot needs to improve especially at the FT line, but 37.9% 3pt on 2.6 attemps is not the worst.

[Indeed]

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Sion James looks like he's gonna be a steal in the 2nd round.

We already worked out with him.

[OakleyDokely]

Given all of the recent NBA draft withdrawals, I'd like to announce that I'm officially entering the 2025 NBA draft.

I have PG size, but have a C style game. My range only extends to 12ft but I'm a beast in transition until I get tired, which is usually after 5 mins. I have no problem sitting on the bench and handing out towels and Gatorade. I prefer to play somewhere hot because I'm sick of the cold.

[Got Nuffin]

He anchored one of the best defenses in the country. One that got *worse* with him off the floor.

I heard the on/off stats is otherwise, not much of a difference. You have reference that it was worse when he is off the floor?

It's a myth people spew out to make him look better.

Duke had a:

DRTG of 94.6 when he was on the court
DRTG of 94.3 when he was off the court

Duke had an alltime great defense whether Maluach was on the floor or not.

Source: https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025/04/duke-mens-basketball-khaman-maluach-development-final-four-jon-scheyer-offense-defense-rebounding-alley-oop

"Duke’s defensive rating, which measures points allowed per 100 possessions, did not change significantly from when Maluach was on the floor (94.6) to when he sat (94.3)"

If Maluach was anchoring the defense, the stats would reflect it. Maluach is a prime example of coulda, woulda, shoulda. I don't think people realize how bad his underlying numbers are. A 6.8 block percent for a guy this big is worrisome. I think the only guy who had a bad block percentage and became a legit rim protector where Brook Lopez, and Jarrett Allen.

Edit -
More stats... Opponents shot:

49% at the rim when Maluach was on the floor

55% at the rim when Maluach was off the floor

The anchor for this Duke team was Cooper Flagg, and Dukes defensive scheme.

Not sure whose numbers are correct, but I've heard the below numbers referenced on multiple NBA podcasts about him as a prospect-

https://theswishtheory.com/scouting-reports/khaman-maluach/#:~:text=Duke's%20defense%20has%20a%20ridiculous%2086.7%20defensive,too%20(numbers%20versus%20top%20100%20teams%20only).

Khaman Maluach's presence on the court has a significant positive impact on Duke's defensive rating. When he's playing, Duke's defensive rating is 86.7, a considerable improvement from 90.1 when he's off. This means Duke allows fewer points per 100 possessions with Maluach on the court. Furthermore, opponents' rim shooting percentage decreases by 12 points when Maluach is on the court.

Elaboration:

Duke's defensive rating with Maluach on: 86.7
Duke's defensive rating with Maluach off: 90.1
Opponent rim shooting percentage with Maluach on: 45%
Opponent rim shooting percentage with Maluach off: 57

If those numbers are true, that is a MASSIVE difference when he is on court or off.

[Buff]

Given all of the recent NBA draft withdrawals, I'd like to announce that I'm officially entering the 2025 NBA draft.

I have PG size, but have a C style game. My range only extends to 12ft but I'm a beast in transition until I get tired, which is usually after 5 mins. I have no problem sitting on the bench and handing out towels and Gatorade. I prefer to play somewhere hot because I'm sick of the cold.

How would taxes affect your desicion? Do you have a promise?

[OakleyDokely]

Given all of the recent NBA draft withdrawals, I'd like to announce that I'm officially entering the 2025 NBA draft.

I have PG size, but have a C style game. My range only extends to 12ft but I'm a beast in transition until I get tired, which is usually after 5 mins. I have no problem sitting on the bench and handing out towels and Gatorade. I prefer to play somewhere hot because I'm sick of the cold.

How would taxes affect your desicion? Do you have a promise?

I have a 3rd round promise so far.

[Thaddy]

My targets are cutting down to Maluach, Fleming, or Essengue in the draft. We need shooting and size very bad. There isn't a single strong shooter above 6'8 on our team that can play PF or C.

I hope we go with the highest potential and best character out of those three. That feels like it would be Fleming, potential wise it would probably be Essengue. I don't like that Essengue plays in a weak league and he looks awkward, it limits him as a creator. Fleming seems under rated and listed as "old". Maluach is likely out of range.

Flagg | Harper | Edgecombe | Bailey | Johnson | Fears | Kon | Fleming | Maluach | Essengue | Traore | Queen | Jakucionis | Newell | Bryant

[WuTang_OG]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25193838-updated-2025-nba-mock-draft-after-early-entrant-withdrawal-deadline

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[Buff]

Given all of the recent NBA draft withdrawals, I'd like to announce that I'm officially entering the 2025 NBA draft.

I have PG size, but have a C style game. My range only extends to 12ft but I'm a beast in transition until I get tired, which is usually after 5 mins. I have no problem sitting on the bench and handing out towels and Gatorade. I prefer to play somewhere hot because I'm sick of the cold.

How would taxes affect your desicion? Do you have a promise?

I have a 3rd round promise so far.

I've been looking into launching a record label, how do you feel about that? I mean, I was your supporter from day one, it is only fair.

[WuTang_OG]

Not so bad

2nd round thinned out but i think we get a decent enough prospextbat 39


Adou staying

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[HumbleRen]

You have to be so damn good as a 6 footer to even just start in the league.

I’m not sure Jase is able to reach that ceiling with his current skillset. Feel awful for him because if he was like 2-3 inches taller lol .. generational wealth would be coming his way.

[Psubs]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25193838-updated-2025-nba-mock-draft-after-early-entrant-withdrawal-deadline

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Tre Johnson had the 2nd fastest lane agility time at the combine. Why would anyone take VJ over Tre? One injury like Livingston or Oladipo and VJ is an MLE player. If Tre gets injured he still could be an allstar level player.

[Psubs]

You have to be so damn good as a 6 footer to even just start in the league.

I’m not sure Jase is able to reach that ceiling with his current skillset. Feel awful for him because if he was like 2-3 inches taller lol .. generational wealth would be coming his way.

Jason Richardson earned $105 million so let's say $50 million. If he managed his money right, they should be fine for generations.

Even if Jase is a late 1st pick and makes $5 million during his rookie contract and is an MLE player for the next 10 years after that he'll up earning as much as dad did. Him and future generations will be aight.

[HumbleRen]

You have to be so damn good as a 6 footer to even just start in the league.

I’m not sure Jase is able to reach that ceiling with his current skillset. Feel awful for him because if he was like 2-3 inches taller lol .. generational wealth would be coming his way.

Jason Richardson earned $105 million so let's say $50 million. If he managed his money right, they should be fine for generations.

Even if Jase is a late 1st pick and makes $5 million during his rookie contract and is an MLE player for the next 10 years after that he'll up earning as much as dad did. Him and future generations will be aight.

I don’t know, Richardson came from a time where NBA athletes weren’t as money savvy as this current Gen.

They were going BROKE in a hurry.

That 5M is really like 1.5M after taxes, etc etc. nothing to scoff at but clearly different from making IQ money vs potentially being a journeyman player in the NBA cause you weren’t 2-3 inches taller.

[ArthurVandelay]

Given all of the recent NBA draft withdrawals, I'd like to announce that I'm officially entering the 2025 NBA draft.

I have PG size, but have a C style game. My range only extends to 12ft but I'm a beast in transition until I get tired, which is usually after 5 mins. I have no problem sitting on the bench and handing out towels and Gatorade. I prefer to play somewhere hot because I'm sick of the cold.

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