2025 NBA Draft (2)

[76ciology]

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This western team is the Pels BTW

[Negrodamus]

Think I'm pretty firmly down to Tre, VJ and Ace.

That's bleak **** right there.

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

Trade down. Get Kasparas or Noa.

[Black Mage]

That's bleak **** right there.

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

Trade down. Get Kasparas or Noa.

I'd add Kon and Maluach to that list depending on where that trade down is. However, I'm anti-trade down. I don't think the return to move down is sufficient to give up 3rd overall. If you're that certain on Noa, just take him 3.

[Iverson Armband]

So I went back and watched Morey’s presser after drafting McCain last year hoping to find any kind of insight in to what he values in a prospect.

It was actually pretty interesting and a few things stood out to me, but I encourage everyone to watch it again and form their own conclusions. Full disclosure, I’m biased and think the Sixers should pretty obviously draft Tre Johnson. After listening to him here I’m almost positive that’s who he’ll take with Ace being a lesser possibility, but we’ll see in a few weeks.

-Mentions shooting is probably the singular most important skill a player can have (Tre)

-Mentioned he liked McCain because he’s a big game player and had multiple 30 point performances (Tre led all freshman in scoring)

-Mentioned he liked McCain because his shooting will allow him to get playing time early. Says he wanted a player that can contribute now, but still has tons of upside (Tre or Ace)

-Says they always take BPA. Nobody looks back, gives you a pass and says “such n such was blocked”, they look back and say they obviously should have taken “x” player. He’s right.

-When asked about defensive issues, says he looks for improvement throughout the year and Jared got better as year went on. Says he’ll always bank on players who show strong work ethic (Tre’s defense has been bad to put it mildly, but apparently he’s a gym rat)

https://www.youtube.com/live/eBnrukw1qTk?si=QFRHpJlTVlbnrUtS

[76ciology]

Kneuppel didn’t hit many off-the-dribble 3s this past season, but how realistic is it that he can eventually become effective in that area? I think there’s a strong case. He attempted more of those shots in high school, he has solid percentages on off-the-dribble 2s, and he’s shown reliable ball-handling and pick-and-roll scoring. He was also a prolific scorer in high school. Altogether, he has a solid foundation to build that skill over time.

When evaluating Kneuppel and Maluach, their time at Duke highlights their high floors..showing what they can bring to a winning team in defined, narrow roles. But their true upside is more evident in their pre-Duke careers, where they displayed a broader skill set and a more diverse shot profile.

[Negrodamus]

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

Trade down. Get Kasparas or Noa.

I'd add Kon and Maluach to that list depending on where that trade down is. However, I'm anti-trade down. I don't think the return to move down is sufficient to give up 3rd overall. If you're that certain on Noa, just take him 3.

I just don't see a difference in Tre, VJ, Ace, Kasparas, or Noa other than personal preference. None of them blast off the paper like Flagg or Harper. So if you can trade down dangling VJ, Tre, or Ace as the creme de la creme, then fleece one of these sorry ass teams and get some assets.

[76ciology]

I don’t get the hype around Noa. Have people really asked themselves what his best-case scenario looks like? At best, I see something like Jaden McDaniels. He’s shooting just over 20% from three, and most of his scoring comes from put backs, as a roll man or in transition. If he develops his shooting, maybe someone like Christian Wood perhaps?

Yes, he has a great combination of length and athleticism, and an impressive 80% free throw rate, but let’s not ignore the inconsistency. Take his recent 22–14 game, which got a lot of attention. It was impressive, but in 5 of his last 10 games, he scored in single digits, 3 of those with 5 points or less.

[Negrodamus]

I don’t get the hype around Noa. Have people really asked themselves what his best-case scenario looks like? At best, I see something like Jaden McDaniels. He’s shooting just over 20% from three, and most of his scoring comes from put backs, as a roll man or in transition. If he develops his shooting, maybe someone like Christian Wood perhaps?

Yes, he has a great combination of length and athleticism, and an impressive 80% free throw rate, but let’s not ignore the inconsistency. Take his recent 22–14 game, which got a lot of attention. It was impressive, but in 5 of his last 10 games, he scored in single digits, 3 of those with 5 points or less.

I'll give a better answer later this week if he's above 6'10 without shoes. I can be convinced with those numbers of a guy nearly 7ft tall playing faceup 4.

[76ciology]

Spoiler:

So I went back and watched Morey’s presser after drafting McCain last year hoping to find any kind of insight in to what he values in a prospect.

It was actually pretty interesting and a few things stood out to me, but I encourage everyone to watch it again and form their own conclusions. Full disclosure, I’m biased and think the Sixers should pretty obviously draft Tre Johnson. After listening to him here I’m almost positive that’s who he’ll take with Ace being a lesser possibility, but we’ll see in a few weeks.

-Mentions shooting is probably the singular most important skill a player can have (Tre)

-Mentioned he liked McCain because he’s a big game player and had multiple 30 point performances (Tre led all freshman in scoring)

-Mentioned he liked McCain because his shooting will allow him to get playing time early. Says he wanted a player that can contribute now, but still has tons of upside (Tre or Ace)

-Says they always take BPA. Nobody looks back, gives you a pass and says “such n such was blocked”, they look back and say they obviously should have taken “x” player. He’s right.

-When asked about defensive issues, says he looks for improvement throughout the year and Jared got better as year went on. Says he’ll always bank on players who show strong work ethic (Tre’s defense has been bad to put it mildly, but apparently he’s a gym rat)

https://www.youtube.com/live/eBnrukw1qTk?si=QFRHpJlTVlbnrUtS

If I’m being honest, Kasparas and Kneuppel check more boxes. Morey tends to prioritize high-efficiency scorers, and both fit that mold better right now. Tre Johnson struggles with finishing at the rim and getting to the free throw line, that hurts his TS%. Sure, there’s room for improvement, and that potential might factor into his consideration.

[M2J]

Think I'm pretty firmly down to Tre, VJ and Ace.

That's bleak **** right there.

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

This is such a good draft. The lottery is going to be littered with starters and some sleepers. I get for some (not me) the issues with not knowing who is worthy of being a top selection.... But I feel confident many in the lottery will get a real player.

[76ciology]

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[Negrodamus]

That's bleak **** right there.

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

This is such a good draft. The lottery is going to be littered with starters and some sleepers. I get for some (not me) the issues with not knowing who is worthy of being a top selection.... But I feel confident many in the lottery will get a real player.

I feel the opposite. It’s a fine draft at the top; Cooper aside, no easily identifiable superstars. Bad draft from beyond lottery. I'm notorious for not knowing who should be the top selection, so this year should be no different.

[M2J]

Why? All 3 have something to offer, all 3 have some holes.

Apologies, but I forgot who you're pegging in your final 2 or 3 guys. Who were they again?

This is such a good draft. The lottery is going to be littered with starters and some sleepers. I get for some (not me) the issues with not knowing who is worthy of being a top selection.... But I feel confident many in the lottery will get a real player.

I feel the opposite. It’s a fine draft at the top; Cooper aside, no easily identifiable superstars. Bad draft from beyond lottery. I'm notorious for not knowing who should be the top selection, so this year should be no different.

To clarify, you saying up to 14 is bad, or after 14. I might agree that it has gotten a weaker after the lottery. At so many different players have decided to stay due to NIL.

[76ciology]

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What would you be willing to add to the #3 pick to move up to #2? Would you include McCain in the deal? The 2028 first from the Clippers?

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I would offer the Clippers first in order to move up a spot for the chance to take Harper.

[Stanford]

Add me to the list of posters in favor of trading the Clippers pick to move up to two.

[zaz102]

I wouldn't trade McCain, but definitely would trade the LAC pick to move up to #2.

[76ciology]

Do teams ever do any cognitive testing when bringing players in for a workout? I would think that testing something like processing speed would be super valuable.

I can also imagine that players and the union are sensitive about taking these tests, which is why they probably don’t happen.

They really grill them in the pre draft interviews. They don't have a standardized test I wouldn't think like the NFL ended up getting rid of theirs too. But there's definitely questions you can ask to get the answers on intellect.

The one thing I wished it be actually did do or could do would prospects and I'm not sure that they can is break down film with them. The NFL I believe allows that, the NBA process not so much.... But in personal workouts some situation stuff can be brought up too.

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Maluach

[sodmoraes]

I wouldnt give Mccain for Harper. Not that high on him anyways.

[Kobblehead]

I would be thrilled if the Spurs took a shooter at #2 and Harper fell to us at #3. I don't want to trade up for him, though. I'm not 100% convinced he's going to have a better NBA career than Tre Johnson (even though he's a more well-rounded player right now).