2025 NBA Draft (2)

[Iverson Armband]

I’d also add that trading down from #3 to like #7 or #8 is a lot different than going from #8 to #12 for example, even though they’re both 4 spots.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Well we did trade Keith Van Horn (#2 pick) to the Nets for Tim Thomas (#7 pick). Safe to say we lost that trade, although KVH did eventually end up playing for us a few years later.

Yeah. So ultimately it matters how well Morey evaluates players. I'd be willing to bet that in nearly all of these cases where a team traded down, a player was available after the pick that would have changed the balance of the trade. If McGrady had been selected instead of Tim Thomas, that's an obvious win.

You can construct hypothetical trades in every draft where trading down would have been beneficial. It really just comes down to intel and player evaluation. Can you identify the best player and can you accurately predict if that player will be available at the spot you're trading down to. All this other stuff is pretty useless.

I agree. Evaluating talent only goes so far. After that most of it is up to the player in terms of how they develop. Obviously situations/atmosphere/circumstances play a part, but in my opinion it's entirely up to the player once it's time to go.

[Kobblehead]

I wish Drake Powell had a better projected 3p%.

Because damn...19 year old 5 star recruit with a 7 foot wingspan and excellent defense. If he can become a better shooter, he'd be a phenominal cog in a 5 man-unit to help erase the defensive shortcomings of Maxey and McCain.

[Snotbubbles]

We also won the Dario Saric (#12) for Elfrid Payton (#10) trade down in 2014.

There were a bunch of these where the guys had pretty similar careers or neither guy was very good. In the case of Saric and Payton, they have so similar career numbers that you'd have to give the edge to the Sixers here since they got extra assets.

As someone pointed out, the specific teams ability to evaluate talent is really the big factor. Like the Doncic trade. The Hawks getting Trae Young and a 2019 1st was good value. If in 2019, the Hawks selected, say Tyler Herro (who went 13th) at #10, instead of Cam Reddish, we might have a different opinion on that trade.

[Snotbubbles]

I’d also add that trading down from #3 to like #7 or #8 is a lot different than going from #8 to #12 for example, even though they’re both 4 spots.

Depends on the draft.

[Iverson Armband]

I’d also add that trading down from #3 to like #7 or #8 is a lot different than going from #8 to #12 for example, even though they’re both 4 spots.

Depends on the draft.

Everyone is saying the consensus #3 to #8 is all the same. Based off history, I’m willing to bet any amount of money there will be atleast one player drafted in that range that is clearly better than the rest.

[mjkvol]

My top options at No. 3 right now are Kasparas, Tre, and Kneuppel. They’re ranked 3rd, 4th, and 5th on my big board, and I’m comfortable with any of them.

It's Kasparis, Kon, and Tre for me as the top 3. Watching Tre a few times this season, he often came off to me as a pure chucker who was useless other than when he had the ball in his hands - little off ball movement, always looking for his own shot, a zero defensively, etc. But in listening to his interviews and watching some of the vids you guys provided, he seems like a gym rat who works relentlessly on his game. Pure shot makers don't grow on trees, and if this kid lands in the right spot and isn't thrown into a system where he becomes a 'tank commander' type on bad teams (Cam Thomas?), the potential is clearly there for him to be an all-star level winning player.

[Jojothewhale]

I’m going to steal a talking point from Trill here because I think it fits really well — NBA teams tend to have much stronger scouting convictions than fans. We don’t interact with these players or talk to the people around them to really have the option of doing it to the same degree.

There are going to be teams who have clear #3s on their boards. There are also going to be teams that may not have Harper at 2. We have to remember that consensus does not in any way mean unanimous.

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

[Jojothewhale]

Watching Tre a few times this season, he often came off to me as a pure chucker who was useless other than when he had the ball in his hands - little off ball movement, always looking for his own shot, a zero defensively, etc. But in listening to his interviews and watching some of the vids you guys provided, he seems like a gym rat who works relentlessly on his game.

For what it’s worth, multiple draft guys have said scouts told them he has some Jimmy Butler to him from an approach perspective. That’s not a name to invoke lightly. The work ethic is downright psychopathic.

I know some people will love that and others hate it, but if you’re a put in the work guy, I think he should be pretty high on your board for 3.

[Kobblehead]

VJ is a baller. Rebounds for a G (which I love) and will be a defensive asset in a playoff series. Having a hard time with the lack of wingspan, though.

[KramerDSP]

KOC’s latest mock has Noa Essengue and Cedric Coward moving into the top 10.

In his mock, #3 for #6 and #18 gets us our pick of Fears/Coward/Noa at #6 and Queen at #18.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/mock/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall

[76ciology]

KOC’s latest mock has Noa Essengue and Cedric Coward moving into the top 10.

In his mock, #3 for #6 and #18 gets us our pick of Fears/Coward/Noa at #6 and Queen at #18.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/mock/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall

With how that mock is going.. at #6 & #18, we’re very likely going for Kneuppel and CMB.

[Jojothewhale]

Daryl may try (and fail) to do a cartwheel if CMB is on the board with him up in the teens.

[76ciology]

Daryl may try (and fail) to do a cartwheel if CMB is on the board with him up in the teens.

He might be happier ending up with CMB than being able to draft Cooper Flagg with the 6th pick

He’d be like.. “this guy is like a blend of Chuck Hayes, Robert Covington and Royce White all into one”

[Snotbubbles]

I’d also add that trading down from #3 to like #7 or #8 is a lot different than going from #8 to #12 for example, even though they’re both 4 spots.

Depends on the draft.

Everyone is saying the consensus #3 to #8 is all the same. Based off history, I’m willing to bet any amount of money there will be atleast one player drafted in that range that is clearly better than the rest.

But there's the rub, you don't which player it's going to be. I could be the guy drafted a #3 or the guy drafted at #8. It's easy to determine looking back, but it's impossible without hindsight.

[FireMorey]

You increase your chances picking that one the higher you are and with more options available.

[76ciology]

Every draft has its own story.

If the Cavs had traded down with the Bucks in 2013.. Giannis could’ve ended up in Cleveland.

[Negrodamus]

Maxey, Springer, McCain were all fairly stocky dudes in college. Broad shoulder, look like they can add weight.

VJ and Ace don't seem too stocky, although they aren't prohibitively tiny. Fears is bordering on tiny. Tre looks like he has a gigantic frame, just needs to put weight on. Kon also has a pretty stocky frame.

Not saying this will be the deciding factor for Morey, but just something I noticed and seems to track with past drafts: Petrusev, Hartelstein, Paul Reed, Dillon Brooks, Bassey, even Isaiah Joe has wide shoulders despite being a shrimp at Arkansas.

[Negrodamus]

I think Morey will have a long, hard look at Tre. He plays how Harden does now in the NBA but without the foul baiting (which is a deeply important part of his game). I think Morey also clearly values sicko gym rats who only care about ball.

I don't know how hard Morey is going to value defense. Harden was a sicko at generating steals at ASU. He also grabbed rebounds which Tre is allergic to.