2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[boozapalooza]

Throw pre-draft rankings out and he's exactly who a team like the Thunder would draft. Shades of JDub dare I say.

Powell crushed the combine. After digging deeper I’m in on this kid. The tools are impressive, if he stayed another year at UNC he would be drafted top 10. He was projected top 10 pick coming into the year too. Looks like an athletic freak, great defender, and can shoot it.

He wasn't a project lottery pick coming into the year. Powell was outside the top 10 in recruiting rankings. He shot an okay 37% from 3 on 2.6 attempts but was 64% from the line. So not sure he will shoot well in the NBA. Even his D was pretty bad this year, not sure why you called him great. It's all projections with him based on physical gifts. Think Patrick Williams 2.0.

Sorry, #11 on 247, #13 on rivals, #14 on ESPN. Consensus 5 star with each site. Same thing. He was projected as a lotto pick going into the year but didnt have a chance to showcase his game or have a defined role at UNC. The shooting form is solid and he should continue to improve there. I think hes one of the more underrated guys in the draft.

Hes got a much higher ceiling, and lower floor, than PWill. High risk high reward type of pick.

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[sco]

Powell crushed the combine. After digging deeper I’m in on this kid. The tools are impressive, if he stayed another year at UNC he would be drafted top 10. He was projected top 10 pick coming into the year too. Looks like an athletic freak, great defender, and can shoot it.

He wasn't a project lottery pick coming into the year. Powell was outside the top 10 in recruiting rankings. He shot an okay 37% from 3 on 2.6 attempts but was 64% from the line. So not sure he will shoot well in the NBA. Even his D was pretty bad this year, not sure why you called him great. It's all projections with him based on physical gifts. Think Patrick Williams 2.0.

Sorry, #11 on 247, #13 on rivals, #14 on ESPN. Consensus 5 star with each site. Same thing. He was projected as a lotto pick going into the year but didnt have a chance to showcase his game or have a defined role at UNC. The shooting form is solid and he should continue to improve there. I think hes one of the more underrated guys in the draft.

Hes got a much higher ceiling, and lower floor, than PWill. High risk high reward type of pick.

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If he's an elite defender, I guess I could get there but his shooting form isn't smooth and I don't think it will translate. Gotta think there are better options at 12...still I'd take him over Queen. I think I might take Demin over him...depends how good of a defender he is.

[CobysHairpick]

Powell certainly looks interesting. Seems like the exact sort of guy that you can slot between Giddey & Coby if that’s the long term combo they want to look at.

Giddey and Coby are definitely the long term combo (plus Matas) based on AK's comments during the end of season presser. I honestly think Powell would be the perfect player to grow alongside them. A good wing defender with good off ball offense including C&S, cutting, and even some shot creation if needed. He's also a willing passer should the opportunity present itself. Just a good team player who will help with winning.

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When KC name drops…I listen. First I’ve really heard of Drake Powell and 12 seems like a reach….

Definitely was not a high impact guy in his only season at UNC, but I do like that he was a 5-star recruit ranked around #10 in the freshman class I suppose

Throw pre-draft rankings out and he's exactly who a team like the Thunder would draft. Shades of JDub dare I say.

Powell crushed the combine. After digging deeper I’m in on this kid. The tools are impressive, if he stayed another year at UNC he would be drafted top 10. He was projected top 10 pick coming into the year too. Looks like an athletic freak, great defender, and can shoot it.

Quite literally what the core of Giddey, Coby, and Matas need in terms of another wing player. 3&D with 99% athleticism and some shot creation that can be further developed. I kinda want him to be the pick and see if Billy can develop him.

bro do not tell me we are considering using the #12 pick on a guy who put up a 7/4/1 line in college

Crazy athlete great tools defensively and a nice stroke. Star potential. Would be a big swing on talent but if it hits he could be one the drafts best.

I’m not happy with Hubert Davis at UNC he’s not developing talent as he should be. Powell isn’t the first recruit to be underwhelming at UNC I think Hubert Davis is definitely on the hot seat if next season is another let down.

Gamble on that instead of Queen hopefully getting on the Ozempic

I'm not a UNC fan so I don't follow them all that closely, but this tracks with what I've read about Powell so far. UNC was very guard heavy and Powell agreed to slide down to the 4 to help the team. He was basically playing out of position and can do much more with a higher usage%. I think he's a prime candidate to have a JDub like development considering their similar stats and game as freshmen.

bro do not tell me we are considering using the #12 pick on a guy who put up a 7/4/1 line in college

Research never hurts. He had a low 13% usage rate because he accommodated for UNC's guard heavy lineup and essentially played as an undersized stretch 4. He's a pure wing that can do more with the ball in his hands. Regardless, his stats are very similar to JDub's stats as a freshman and has a similar overall game. A 3&D wing with potential for shot creation and passing should never be overlooked in today's NBA. I'd be happy if he's the pick.

[nomorezorro]

jdub was very notably not drafted after his freshman season, though

[kodo]

jdub was very notably not drafted after his freshman season, though

Jalen also was the complete opposite profile of Powell.

Jalen was a very high skill player who could shoot the 3 off the dribble (40%), NBA level on ball creation who could get to the line, and good enough to operate as a big PG. The reason he didn't go top 8 was because his (perceived) athleticism was poor.

Powell is shooting up based almost purely on athleticism, he's considered very raw and his advanced ballhandling and off the dribbling shotmaking are very questionable.

If there's a moral to the Jalen Williams draft, it's that athleticism doesn't count for that much but advanced shooting & on-ball creation should count for more...which would lead to one not drafting Powell with a high pick.

[HomoSapien]

Shame about Bittle withdrawing. He would have been a good target at 45.

[rosenthall]

Powell crushed the combine. After digging deeper I’m in on this kid. The tools are impressive, if he stayed another year at UNC he would be drafted top 10. He was projected top 10 pick coming into the year too. Looks like an athletic freak, great defender, and can shoot it.

He wasn't a project lottery pick coming into the year. Powell was outside the top 10 in recruiting rankings. He shot an okay 37% from 3 on 2.6 attempts but was 64% from the line. So not sure he will shoot well in the NBA. Even his D was pretty bad this year, not sure why you called him great. It's all projections with him based on physical gifts. Think Patrick Williams 2.0.

Sorry, #11 on 247, #13 on rivals, #14 on ESPN. Consensus 5 star with each site. Same thing. He was projected as a lotto pick going into the year but didnt have a chance to showcase his game or have a defined role at UNC. The shooting form is solid and he should continue to improve there. I think hes one of the more underrated guys in the draft.

Hes got a much higher ceiling, and lower floor, than PWill. High risk high reward type of pick.

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I dunno......he's clearly a good run/jump athlete with good length and motor. But his fine motor skills look lacking to me, which would prevent him from being more than a role player on offense.

And this might not be a fair perspective, but this org has a history of reaching for toolsy, underperforming wings and having it not work out.

[CobysHairpick]

jdub was very notably not drafted after his freshman season, though

Jalen also was the complete opposite profile of Powell.

Jalen was a very high skill player who could shoot the 3 off the dribble (40%), NBA level on ball creation who could get to the line, and good enough to operate as a big PG. The reason he didn't go top 8 was because his (perceived) athleticism was poor.

Powell is shooting up based almost purely on athleticism, he's considered very raw and his advanced ballhandling and off the dribbling shotmaking are very questionable.

If there's a moral to the Jalen Williams draft, it's that athleticism doesn't count for that much but advanced shooting & on-ball creation should count for more...which would lead to one not drafting Powell with a high pick.

Keep in mind that Powell's role was limited, played out of position, and he didn't have two more seasons at UNC to showcase his true game like JDub did. It's nearly impossible to say that they have complete opposite games when Powell simply didn't have the opportunity to show what he can do in a featured role. Would be hard to describe JDub as you did if he declared for the draft after his freshman year like Powell.

Powell also has some intriguing off dribble shotmaking and I don't see why his 3s can't improve over time like many other Bulls on the roster:

In the shooting drills, Powell went 21 for 30 off-dribble and 10 for 25 in spot up. He knocked down 11 of 25 shots in the three-point star drill, and in the three-point side drill, he went 11 for 24. Powell went 10 for 10 in the free throw drill.

[2weekswithpay]

If you're going to draft Powell, do it in the 2nd round. Drafting a wing with a usage < 15% is unheard of.

[Jcool0]

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[Bulldog23]

AK is poor at constructing teams. The Bulls front line has no length or standing reach. Just a poor profile. Pacers who play a system similar to what the Bulls want to play, but just have a better profile on their front line. I can only dream that Flemming is a player that the Bulls select and another big that has length and mobility.

[nomorezorro]

not going to be sold on drafting a guy by quoting a report that he shot 40% in an open gym spot-up drill (the third worst mark of anyone at the combine)

3pt star drill was also 5th worst at the combine. even his off-dribble number is just t-20th among guards/wings

[CobysHairpick]

not going to be sold on drafting a guy by quoting a report that he shot 40% in an open gym spot-up drill (the third worst mark of anyone at the combine)

3pt star drill was also 5th worst at the combine. even his off-dribble number is just t-20th among guards/wings

How about 49% for spot up shots during games?

Powell’s freshman season at North Carolina wasn’t statistically dominant—7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across 24 starts—but context matters. Playing alongside veterans like RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram, he embraced a complementary role, shooting 48.3% from two and 49.2% on spot-up opportunities.

[Muzbar]

Perhaps the Bulls are eyeing a 2nd late FRP in order to draft Powell? Or a trade back that gets them 2 firsts?

[Chi town]

Powell is 2nd round talent. AKME is looking at Powell for defense? His defensive metrics are awful.

But he can jump really high...

I didn't say anything from Powell this year that leads me to believe he would add anything that Phillips/Terry don't already bring. Better be for a second round pick. Maybe someone they'd like to see on a 2 way contract.

Fully agree. Powell doesn’t provide anything much more than Terry and Phillips.

Just take Coward at 12. He can flat out shoot it and has the 7’2 wingspan. He’s a good fit with Coby and Giddey.

[Red Larrivee]

Keep in mind that Powell's role was limited, played out of position, and he didn't have two more seasons at UNC to showcase his true game like JDub did. It's nearly impossible to say that they have complete opposite games when Powell simply didn't have the opportunity to show what he can do in a featured role. Would be hard to describe JDub as you did if he declared for the draft after his freshman year like Powell.

For every Jalen Williams there are a ton of Cam Reddish players. Let's not chase anomaly player development arcs in the lottery.

[Chi town]

Perhaps the Bulls are eyeing a 2nd late FRP in order to draft Powell? Or a trade back that gets them 2 firsts?

Powell at 12 would be a travesty.

I could see Magic trading up to get a shooter like Jase. They have 16 and 26 I think.

[Muzbar]

Perhaps the Bulls are eyeing a 2nd late FRP in order to draft Powell? Or a trade back that gets them 2 firsts?

Powell at 12 would be a travesty.

I could see Magic trading up to get a shooter like Jase. They have 16 and 26 I think.

16 and 25*

But that's something I could get behind. Pick Sorber at 16 and then Powell at 25 (is what I'd do if targeting Powell), adds a bunch of length to the team.

Jase I think would fit well on that Magic team, fits well next to Suggs, doesn't have to be the primary playmaker and can play off of Banchero and Wagner.

[Chi town]

Perhaps the Bulls are eyeing a 2nd late FRP in order to draft Powell? Or a trade back that gets them 2 firsts?

Powell at 12 would be a travesty.

I could see Magic trading up to get a shooter like Jase. They have 16 and 26 I think.

16 and 25*

But that's something I could get behind. Pick Sorber at 16 and then Powell at 25 (is what I'd do if targeting Powell), adds a bunch of length to the team.

Jase I think would fit well on that Magic team, fits well next to Suggs, doesn't have to be the primary playmaker and can play off of Banchero and Wagner.

I’m only moving back if my guys don’t fall.

KJ Noa Coward. If they are off the board I’d move back.

[Chi town]

I’d take Penda over Powell everyday.

He is bigger and stronger and provides way more on offense.