2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[Jcool0]

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[2weekswithpay]

I still don’t get the Fleming love. Admittedly, I haven’t done a ton of research on the kid, but I watched a few breakdowns.

I saw him airmailing passes and hitting corner 3’s. He was solid on defense. Is he better than Julian Philips? Let’s take a chance on someone who’s elite at something and not another bench role player guy.

The main appeal is he's 6'8 with a 7'5 wingspan and showed enough promise as a shooter by hitting 3s. Players with comparable size and athleticism aren't common, and Felming potentially has enough shooting not to be a liability on offense. If Phillips was this big, his on-court impact could increase significantly.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I still don’t get the Fleming love. Admittedly, I haven’t done a ton of research on the kid, but I watched a few breakdowns.

I saw him airmailing passes and hitting corner 3’s. He was solid on defense. Is he better than Julian Philips? Let’s take a chance on someone who’s elite at something and not another bench role player guy.

The main appeal is he's 6'8 with a 7'5 wingspan and showed enough promise as a shooter by hitting 3s. Players with comparable size and athleticism aren't common, and Felming potentially has enough shooting not to be a liability on offense. If Phillips was this big, his on-court impact could increase significantly.

Thanks friend, I appreciate the point of view. I guess I just don't see him ever being a star. He's got a lot of good traits, but nothing that's blowing my socks off. But I also have very limited research on most of these players so I could definitely be missing key points.

I don't see him as an AKME pick because he doesn't have the ball skills of the players that we have drafted recently. I honestly don't think there's a chance that he is AKME's guy.

[Rose2Boozer]

New week new lottery mock

Mavs: Cooper Flagg
Spurs: Dylan Harper
Sixers: Ace Bailey
Hornets: Tre Johnson
Jazz: VJ Edgecombe
Wizards: Derik Queen
Pelicans: Kon Knueppel
Nets: Jeremiah Fears
Raptors: Khaman Maluach
Rockets: Egor Demin
Blazers: Asa Newell
Bulls: Thomas Sorber
Hawks: Kasparas Jakucionis
Spurs: Collin Murray-Boyles

[Senor Chang]

Thanks friend, I appreciate the point of view. I guess I just don't see him ever being a star. He's got a lot of good traits, but nothing that's blowing my socks off. But I also have very limited research on most of these players so I could definitely be missing key points.

I don't see him as an AKME pick because he doesn't have the ball skills of the players that we have drafted recently. I honestly don't think there's a chance that he is AKME's guy.

I think most who want fleming also believe he will not be a star, at least offensively. However his decent shooting and 7’5” wingspan give him the potential to be a really good defensive player. Going for a play-in spot this past season we essentially forfeited our chance at a star barring coin-toss luck. At #12 it’s a win to walk away with someone who can help bolster our defense because let’s be real everyone at our pick’s range has some major flaw to their game.

Our 3 core guys seem to be Coby, Giddey, and Matas. Even if all three hit their peak we still need to fill the roster with some defensive studs. To me that’s where prospects like Coward and Flemming come in. Is #12 too high to draft Fleming? Probably.


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[Muzbar]

Out of curiosity. If the Blazers said they'd give the Bulls their 11th pick in this draft in exchange for their future pick back.

Would you do it?

[Dan Z]

Out of curiosity. If the Blazers said they'd give the Bulls their 11th pick in this draft in exchange for their future pick back.

Would you do it?

I would, but why would the Blazers? The pick is protected 1-14 through 2028. Are you thinking they'd do it because they'd like to have future picks available for a potential trade?

[Muzbar]

Out of curiosity. If the Blazers said they'd give the Bulls their 11th pick in this draft in exchange for their future pick back.

Would you do it?

I would, but why would the Blazers? The pick is protected 1-14 through 2028. Are you thinking they'd do it because they'd like to have future picks available for a potential trade?

Future picks to trade and clears up any doubt over their Milwaukee pick swap in the future.

I get obviously why they wouldn't do it, it was more a hypothetical.

[Donkedave]

Out of curiosity. If the Blazers said they'd give the Bulls their 11th pick in this draft in exchange for their future pick back.

Would you do it?

I would, but why would the Blazers? The pick is protected 1-14 through 2028. Are you thinking they'd do it because they'd like to have future picks available for a potential trade?

Future picks to trade and clears up any doubt over their Milwaukee pick swap in the future.

I get obviously why they wouldn't do it, it was more a hypothetical.

I’d keep it for next year, draft seems deeper next year. They could be pick 12,13,14 who knows. Showed some improvement towards the later part of the season. Plus if Giannis does get traded that pick swap portion makes it hold more value.

Wouldn’t think they try stay in lottery for 5 years just to keep a 1st?

[Almost Retired]

Thanks friend, I appreciate the point of view. I guess I just don't see him ever being a star. He's got a lot of good traits, but nothing that's blowing my socks off. But I also have very limited research on most of these players so I could definitely be missing key points.

I don't see him as an AKME pick because he doesn't have the ball skills of the players that we have drafted recently. I honestly don't think there's a chance that he is AKME's guy.

I think most who want fleming also believe he will not be a star, at least offensively. However his decent shooting and 7’5” wingspan give him the potential to be a really good defensive player. Going for a play-in spot this past season we essentially forfeited our chance at a star barring coin-toss luck. At #12 it’s a win to walk away with someone who can help bolster our defense because let’s be real everyone at our pick’s range has some major flaw to their game.

Our 3 core guys seem to be Coby, Giddey, and Matas. Even if all three hit their peak we still need to fill the roster with some defensive studs. To me that’s where prospects like Coward and Flemming come in. Is #12 too high to draft Fleming? Probably.


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With Fleming it's the fit with our roster and his excellent measurements. That wingspan is freakish for a guy that's 6'9". He can rebound. He can defend 4 positions and even give you spot minutes as a small ball "5". He's built well at close to 235 pounds. He played in a second tier conference so the learning curve will be huge. But he's got a great foundation to build on. He's deadly from the corner "3". An eventual lineup of Coby, Giddey, Matas, Fleming and Smith would give some teams fits with their length.

[Chi town]

I would, but why would the Blazers? The pick is protected 1-14 through 2028. Are you thinking they'd do it because they'd like to have future picks available for a potential trade?

Future picks to trade and clears up any doubt over their Milwaukee pick swap in the future.

I get obviously why they wouldn't do it, it was more a hypothetical.

I’d keep it for next year, draft seems deeper next year. They could be pick 12,13,14 who knows. Showed some improvement towards the later part of the season. Plus if Giannis does get traded that pick swap portion makes it hold more value.

Wouldn’t think they try stay in lottery for 5 years just to keep a 1st?

Think it’s lottery protected 1-14.

No way they’d give a pick inside that.

I could only see Ayo and a 2nd to remove it and give us 11 this year which I don’t see happening either.

[rosenthall]

Watch on YouTube

Right now I think Carter Bryant is my ultimate "meh" pick. And I think AKME would take him. He's the closest thing to Dalen Terry since.....Dalen Terry.

However, the reason why I'm not outright against taking him is that he's clearly a better version of Dalen if you look close enough. He shoots threes at twice the rate on higher volume. He has outlier defensive playmaking stats, right alongside CMB. He draws more fouls on higher usage. So the comparison between the two is apt, but it doesn't quite do CB justice.

Him and Drake Powell are grouped heavily together in my mind. Think I prefer Coward if we have to choose between the toolsy wings.

[TheJordanRule]

KJ looks like by far and away the best prospect who *could* fall in that range. I pray he does. I would trade up if it means we can be assured of landing him.

[Dan Z]

Watch on YouTube

Right now I think Carter Bryant is my ultimate "meh" pick. And I think AKME would take him. He's the closest thing to Dalen Terry since.....Dalen Terry.

However, the reason why I'm not outright against taking him is that he's clearly a better version of Dalen if you look close enough. He shoots threes at twice the rate on higher volume. He has outlier defensive playmaking stats, right alongside CMB. He draws more fouls on higher usage. So the comparison between the two is apt, but it doesn't quite do CB justice.

Him and Drake Powell are grouped heavily together in my mind. Think I prefer Coward if we have to choose between the toolsy wings.

He didn't play a lot so that makes him difficult to gauge. It also means that he could be a steal because teams haven't seen his full potential. Coward is similar in that way.

Darius Garland only played 5 games in college and ended up being one of the best players in his draft class. However, James Wiseman only played 3 games in college and look at how his NBA career turned out.

[Dan Z]

NBAdraft.net has a new mock.

In it Bailey drops to 7th (New Orleans), Traore goes 6th and the Bulls pick Nique Clifford (I'd be disappointed because KJ is still on the board).

https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-extended-mock-draft-6-0/

[nomorezorro]

one thing watching that carter video made me think - the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the traits AK likes is probably "plus passers," but for all the emphasis we've put on that in our roster construction, i don't really think of "good passing" as part of the identity of this team at any point under this front office, particularly in the halfcourt. giddey is a good passer, and lonzo is (was?) a good passer (albeit largely as a transition guy), but there's no great-ball-movement connective tissue that's fueled our offense.

but you know what has been the source of some of our best stretches as a team under AK, and the closest thing to an "identity" that feels worth getting behind? transition offense, particularly when it's fueled by a plus defense, particularly when that defense is generating turnovers. it's easy to think of pre-injury lonzo as a primarily offensive weapon, but this team was at its best when he and caruso were wreaking havoc defensively and shooting the gaps in passing lanes so we could get out and run. likewise, it's easy to think of this year's post-ASB run as a primarily offensive thing led by giddey and coby going on heaters, but we also dropped a weak link when we traded lavine and started playing like a top 10 defense, too.

given all that, i would be much more inclined to go after a plus defender and plus athlete who projects as an iffy on-ball piece than i would a plus passer who projects as an iffy defender.

[HomoSapien]

I'm going to randomly share some thoughts on a few prospects as we get closer to the draft, starting with Thomas Sorber who I've been watching a ton of lately.

A week or so ago, I put him on my "do not draft" list. Since then, I've removed him from that list. There's a lot to like about him. He's an analytics darling. As a freshman he scores and rebounds well, but beyond that he averages 2.4 apg, 2bpg, and 1.5 spg. You really get the sense that he's going to find ways to impact the game even when he's not scoring. He's a really smart and skilled passer. Averaging 2.4 apg as a freshmen center is pretty impressive, and given the type of passes he makes, it's easy to envision him developing into a hub center.

I think the most intriguing part of Sorber's game is his defensive potential. His 7'6" wingspan and bulk allow him to clog the paint really well, but beyond that, he's mobile and does a great job of switching on defense. He challenges everything, but in a smart way. I don't think he's an impact defender in the way Mutombo or Mourning were, but I think he'd positively raise our defensive potential from day one.

Sorber really plays within his strengths. He takes the shots he can make, and makes them at a high rate. The dude has great hands. He catches everything, is patient, and gets good shots. This guy knows how and when to pump fake. His offensive game isn't elitely polished, but he gets the job done. He currently doesn't have a three-point shot, but he shot fairly well at the free-throw line (72%) which maybe gives you some hope there.

There's two things that give me pause on him. The first is that he had season-ending foot surgery (turf toe if I'm not mistaken). It's not the worst foot injury to have and he's expected to make a full recovery, but big men with foot issues really worry me. Those guys always seem to break down fast. The other thing that I don't love is his athleticism. He's not a great leaper, isn't a fast twitch leaper, etc. WIth Giddey, I really would love an athletic lob threat here, but his soft hands and touch around the the rim offset some of the athleticism issues.

I'm not really sure where I'd put him on the draft list. Between the big-name centers (Queen, Maluach, and Sorber) in this draft, I think it's easiest for me to envision him being a 10 year+ starter in the league. Queen has more star potential, Maluach has more defensive potential, but Sorber has the least bust factor of the three. I don't think I see a star in him, but it's not hard to see him being Al Horford with less range. That's still a really valuable piece to add to the puzzle.

In our situation, I think you have to take a swing for a star which is why he's not high on my list. That said, if we were to acquire a 2nd pick and/or trade down, I'd be more open to him.

[boozapalooza]

NBAdraft.net has a new mock.

In it Bailey drops to 7th (New Orleans), Traore goes 6th and the Bulls pick Nique Clifford (I'd be disappointed because KJ is still on the board).

https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-extended-mock-draft-6-0/

If Bailey really slides out if the top 5….I’d seriously hope we try to move up for him. Worth the gamble. Not sure what the cost would be to go from 12 up to 6/7…

[GuardianEnzo]

NBAdraft.net has a new mock.

In it Bailey drops to 7th (New Orleans), Traore goes 6th and the Bulls pick Nique Clifford (I'd be disappointed because KJ is still on the board).

https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-extended-mock-draft-6-0/

That would be a huge reach.

[Muzbar]

NBAdraft.net has a new mock.

In it Bailey drops to 7th (New Orleans), Traore goes 6th and the Bulls pick Nique Clifford (I'd be disappointed because KJ is still on the board).

https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-extended-mock-draft-6-0/

I'd be disappointed if they pass on Maluach at 12 (he goes 13 in their current mock).

Nbadraft.net literally just throw **** at the wall to see what sticks around this time, closer to the draft they seem to get a better feel of what it may end up as and seem more accurate.