2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[Jcool0]

Maluach is obviously an amazing athletic talent, but the tourney play worries me (and I cant help but think of James Wiseman, who was a smiler freak specimen that was more developed offensively and a huge bust - though there were even pre draft some work ethic questions raised about him, so…).

Maluach averaged 23 MPG with 11.5 ppg on 87% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first 4 tournament games.

In his last game he grabbed 0 rebounds in 21 Final Four minutes.

Against an older team that was a generational defensive team after just finding out he might be deported.

[MGB8]

I don’t really love any of the bigs. They all seem riskier to me than the wings.

Maluach is obviously an amazing athletic talent, but the tourney play worries me (and I cant help but think of James Wiseman, who was a smiler freak specimen that was more developed offensively and a huge bust - though there were even pre draft some work ethic questions raised about him, so…).

The rest all have warts. Queen has great natural offensive talent, and he has enough size to play the 5 (9’ 1.5” reach) and I also think that he is quicker than he tested - but you worry about the testing, role, and basketball character.

Kalkbrenner is really interesting to me - watched a few YouTubes and think he looks more nimble than reported and could be really good. Gives me some Hartenstein vibes (though need to see more how well he can defend in space). But he is older and apparently had a down year (though his stats look fine to me).

Sorber is “fine” and could be a WCJ type player - but not a huge fan of WCJ (though better at 12 than 7). Less reach than Queen. Good stats, especially for a frosh, but meh competition.

Not interested in Wolf though he may well be an nba rotation big (and he kinda reminds me of Vuc). Beringer has tons of talent but is raw.

The taller 4s - Newell, Fleming I have mixed feelings about. Saw some YouTubes, but the highlights focus on things I don’t care as much about - scoring aptitudes - seem like raw talent, boom / bust. Newell’s reach is 8’11.5 compared to Fleming’s (and Sorber’s) 9’1”.

Very hard to evaluate them, for me anyway.

Watch film on Raynaud. To me he is clearly the most offensively skilled big in the draft.

Another NBA player. But can he D? More athletic than Alex Len, but way skinny offensive centers…

[TheJordanRule]

Maluach averaged 23 MPG with 11.5 ppg on 87% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first 4 tournament games.

In his last game he grabbed 0 rebounds in 21 Final Four minutes.

Against an older team that was a generational defensive team after just finding out he might be deported.

He's not gonna be available. We're talking about a Top 7, arguably Top 5 prospect. He's a classic athletic center. He's a rim runner, good finisher, rim protector and good rebounder. We haven't really had anyone at his level since the Cartwright days, not that it matters. He will be long gone by the time we come up to make a pick. I'm just praying for a KJ or Traore.

[TheJordanRule]

Not a Sorber fan. The only non-mobile guy I’m interested in is Maluach who won’t be there.

I want runners.

Ouch. A surprising burn on Maluach from Duck. He's a big guy, but not lumbering like Vuce.

Watch on YouTube

These highlights are a little overhyped because they show Maluach hitting threes when in reality he has no perimeter game whatsoever, but those routine alley oop dunks should translate. He really CAN block, he really IS a rim runner.

[GuardianEnzo]

If by some chance Malauch is there, you'd be foolish not to take him. I don't think it's totally impossible but probably no more than a 15% chance.

[nomorezorro]

i feel like there's a weird dynamic with malauch where, if he's available at 12, then that probably inherently means he's not the caliber of prospect that some people are hyping him up to be, and i become a lot less into the idea of drafting him

not saying nba scouting is infallible, but it's hard to imagine 11 teams passing on a guy like malauch if they think there's even a halfway decent chance he can be more than an average starter

[CobysHairpick]

Duke center Khaman Maluach may be moving up draft boards after a “wildly positive” pro day in which he showcased his shooting touch, writes Jonathan Wasserman of Hoops HQ.

According to Wasserman, some NBA scouts believe that Maluach has a chance to be selected in the top five of this month’s draft, perhaps by the Hornets (No. 4) or Jazz (No. 5). The South Sudanese big man is ranked No. 6 on ESPN’s best available prospects list.

Here are a few more draft rumors from Wasserman:

- Stanford center Maxime Raynaud was one of the big winners of the pre-draft process, excelling in the first day of scrimmages and measuring better than some other big men in the class. While scouts initially thought Raynaud had moved himself into late first-round territory after the combine, they now think he could be selected in the teens or early 20s, Wasserman writes.
- Penn State big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser is another player who shined during the pre-draft process, particularly at the G League Elite Camp. According to Wasserman, Niederhauser was largely off NBA radars a month ago, but now teams believe he will receive legitimate consideration late in the first round. There have been rumors that the Swiss center may have received a promise after he decided to keep his name in the draft, Wasserman notes, though that hasn’t been confirmed. Niederhauser is ranked No. 34 on ESPN’s board.
- Cedric Coward, the 29th-ranked prospect on ESPN’s list, appears to have a wide draft range. Some NBA personnel Wasserman has spoken to have a lottery projection for the Washington State wing, while others think he’s only a potential first-round pick. Coward only played six games for the Cougars due to an injury and was relatively unheralded until this season, but he had excellent physical measurements and tested very well at the combine, making him the “ultimate high-risk, high-reward” prospect, per Wasserman.

I'm still skeptical of Maluach but seems like he's unlikely to be available at 12. I just don't see a big difference between him and Mo Bamba and Maluach wasn't even protecting the rim as well as Bamba did at Texas. Perhaps he proves me wrong but I wouldn't miss sleep over not drafting him.

Raynaud continues to creep up boards and I continue to wonder why he wasn't ranked that high to begin with.

Coward seems to have some doubters in the league. I wonder how the Bulls view him.

[DuckIII]

Not a Sorber fan. The only non-mobile guy I’m interested in is Maluach who won’t be there.

I want runners.

Ouch. A surprising burn on Maluach from Duck. He's a big guy, but not lumbering like Vuce.

Watch on YouTube

These highlights are a little overhyped because they show Maluach hitting threes when in reality he has no perimeter game whatsoever, but those routine alley oop dunks should translate. He really CAN block, he really IS a rim runner.

To be clear, I when I said non-mobile and wanting runners what I meant was full court, up and down, full speed runners to keep up with Giddey, Ball, Matas, Ayo, Coby, etc. Hair on fire runners.

That is not Maluach, who I would make an exception for. I do agree he is quite mobile for his size especially in the half court. That is why I believe in his upside.

[Dan Z]

Not a Sorber fan. The only non-mobile guy I’m interested in is Maluach who won’t be there.

I want runners.

Ouch. A surprising burn on Maluach from Duck. He's a big guy, but not lumbering like Vuce.

Watch on YouTube

These highlights are a little overhyped because they show Maluach hitting threes when in reality he has no perimeter game whatsoever, but those routine alley oop dunks should translate. He really CAN block, he really IS a rim runner.

To be clear, I when I said non-mobile and wanting runners what I meant was full court, up and down, full speed runners to keep up with Giddey, Ball, Matas, Ayo, Coby, etc. Hair on fire runners.

That is not Maluach, who I would make an exception for. I do agree he is quite mobile for his size especially in the half court. That is why I believe in his upside.

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

[DuckIII]

Ouch. A surprising burn on Maluach from Duck. He's a big guy, but not lumbering like Vuce.

Watch on YouTube

These highlights are a little overhyped because they show Maluach hitting threes when in reality he has no perimeter game whatsoever, but those routine alley oop dunks should translate. He really CAN block, he really IS a rim runner.

To be clear, I when I said non-mobile and wanting runners what I meant was full court, up and down, full speed runners to keep up with Giddey, Ball, Matas, Ayo, Coby, etc. Hair on fire runners.

That is not Maluach, who I would make an exception for. I do agree he is quite mobile for his size especially in the half court. That is why I believe in his upside.

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

I’m not married to drafting a center in this draft at all. But there are plenty of very mobile “bigs” that can play a full court brand of basketball.

[Indomitable]

In his last game he grabbed 0 rebounds in 21 Final Four minutes.

Against an older team that was a generational defensive team after just finding out he might be deported.

He's not gonna be available. We're talking about a Top 7, arguably Top 5 prospect. He's a classic athletic center. He's a rim runner, good finisher, rim protector and good rebounder. We haven't really had anyone at his level since the Cartwright days, not that it matters. He will be long gone by the time we come up to make a pick. I'm just praying for a KJ or Traore.

Rim protector,good finisher, rim runner.

What does any of that have to do with Cartwright.

[76ciology]

From what I’ve observed, Maluach struggles with establishing position, especially on the defensive glass and in shot-blocking situations. Most of his rebounds and blocks come from his sheer length or when he has time and space to load up, they fall into his radius rather than being the result of good positioning (strength+technique issues). I think defensive rebounding is going to be an issue for him in Year 1, in some match-ups, unless he makes significant improvement this offseason. That said, I still believe he’ll be a good defensive player overall.

Offensively, he’s elite on the boards, mainly because his defender is often out of position, either helping at the rim or trying to hedge between him and the ball handler, giving him the space to crash for lobs or putbacks.

He does have a promising shooting profile, but I don’t think it’s quite there yet to make him a legitimate stretch 5 in Year 1, I’d put his shooting at sub-30% right now. They tried to hype it up with those workouts, but I don’t think the shot looked that good.

That said, he moves well for his size, and he’s the kind of player who could do more individually but is willing to narrow his role to help the team win. He seems smart and has a strong work ethic, which makes it hard to imagine him not eventually becoming at least a big who can protect the rim, switch onto the perimeter, catch lobs, and maybe stretch the floor down the line.

[Jcool0]

Not a Sorber fan. The only non-mobile guy I’m interested in is Maluach who won’t be there.

I want runners.

Ouch. A surprising burn on Maluach from Duck. He's a big guy, but not lumbering like Vuce.

Watch on YouTube

These highlights are a little overhyped because they show Maluach hitting threes when in reality he has no perimeter game whatsoever, but those routine alley oop dunks should translate. He really CAN block, he really IS a rim runner.

He has some perimeter game:

2023-24 BAL: 31.6 3P% (18/57)

2023-24 BAL: 71.4 FT% (30/42)

2024-25 Duke: 75.4 FT% (52/69)

[drosestruts]

To be clear, I when I said non-mobile and wanting runners what I meant was full court, up and down, full speed runners to keep up with Giddey, Ball, Matas, Ayo, Coby, etc. Hair on fire runners.

That is not Maluach, who I would make an exception for. I do agree he is quite mobile for his size especially in the half court. That is why I believe in his upside.

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

I’m not married to drafting a center in this draft at all. But there are plenty of very mobile “bigs” that can play a full court brand of basketball.

Duck - you sound like a perfect candidate to join the Kai Jones bandwagon

[drosestruts]

He's not the mobile big some are looking for (though I don't thinks hes bad in that regard) - but I still think Kalkbrenner is the best center in this draft.

Will protect the paint. Can score in the post, score off the pick and roll, good lob catcher and finisher. Decent 3-point shot.

Watch on YouTube

[othawhitemeat]

He's not the mobile big some are looking for (though I don't thinks hes bad in that regard) - but I still think Kalkbrenner is the best center in this draft.

Will protect the paint. Can score in the post, score off the pick and roll, good lob catcher and finisher. Decent 3-point shot.

Watch on YouTube

Would love if we traded down to get 2 picks and Kalk is one of them.

[Jvaughn]

He's not the mobile big some are looking for (though I don't thinks hes bad in that regard) - but I still think Kalkbrenner is the best center in this draft.

Will protect the paint. Can score in the post, score off the pick and roll, good lob catcher and finisher. Decent 3-point shot.

Watch on YouTube

Would love if we traded down to get 2 picks and Kalk is one of them.

Do you think he'll last to early 2nd? I'd buy a pick. It should be a productive few bigs available past the first.

[DuckIII]

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

I’m not married to drafting a center in this draft at all. But there are plenty of very mobile “bigs” that can play a full court brand of basketball.

Duck - you sound like a perfect candidate to join the Kai Jones bandwagon

I like him as a physical specimen. I hope he can pull himself together.

[League Circles]

To be clear, I when I said non-mobile and wanting runners what I meant was full court, up and down, full speed runners to keep up with Giddey, Ball, Matas, Ayo, Coby, etc. Hair on fire runners.

That is not Maluach, who I would make an exception for. I do agree he is quite mobile for his size especially in the half court. That is why I believe in his upside.

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

I’m not married to drafting a center in this draft at all. But there are plenty of very mobile “bigs” that can play a full court brand of basketball.

And Jalen Smith should be very much in consideration. He can run, can shoot threes, has a lot of positives IMO. He's the reason we shouldn't be desperate to reach for a C in theory - he's a recent #10 pick that's producing after all.

[DuckIII]

The problem is...how many players fit that description? Then out of those players how many of them might reasonably be available? Gafford (because they have Lively)? I don't know why they'd trade Gafford, especially when you consider Lively's health. Someone else?

I haven't looked at the draft close enough, but nobody fits that description that I've seen (but as you point out someone like Malauch might be good for other reasons).

I’m not married to drafting a center in this draft at all. But there are plenty of very mobile “bigs” that can play a full court brand of basketball.

And Jalen Smith should be very much in consideration. He can run, can shoot threes, has a lot of positives IMO. He's the reason we shouldn't be desperate to reach for a C in theory - he's a recent #10 pick that's producing after all.

I agree with this 100%. I don't really talk about him much though because BD stopped playing him and I really have zero idea why. Not a BD hater (or lover), but I didn't understand his use of Smith in the second half of the season. Sure we added Collins, but by then Pat was either injured or significantly demoted. I don't get it. The opportunities were there.