2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[2weekswithpay]

Considering that 10-15 players drafted in the first round are busts, I think there's a decent chance Kalkbrenner returns a top 15 value. Kalkbrenner has great indicators for a prospect however, you don't want to overdraft a prospect by 10+ spots. Trading down and getting more assets would be ideal.

[Chi town]

Watching more Drake as AK always signals his moves. He’s def more than Dalen Terry as an athlete, shooter and scorer. I see more like Aaron Nesmith as elite defender on and off ball and a good transition player. I like how he shoots 3 when contested without hesitating. He has the athleticism for some future on ball get your own shot juice. Also think he could draw alot of fouls. His go to move is the double pull through and go ala Jimmy G Buckets. He def has more JDub in his game than Coward but Coward id much better player right now with a higher shooter ceiling but lower floor on ball.

I can totally see AK making life difficult on himself and drafting him at 12. I’m hoping he’s sending those signals so someone jumps ahead of us and drafts him and Demin.

Good video.

https://youtu.be/39Goae2zLu8?si=rn3kl5yOo1jDk2q1

If we’re going for this player type I prefer Bryant.

I was thinking that too but I wouldn’t go for Bryant. I’d pick Drake over him. His tape looks way better playing out of position for a mess of a UNC team. Bryant was given a very small defined role and didn’t do much at all with it. He showed nothing on ball. Drake can at least get his own shot with a couple moves and knows how to create space.

[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.

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.

Think he will go late 1st/early 2nd.

[boozapalooza]

Watching more Drake as AK always signals his moves. He’s def more than Dalen Terry as an athlete, shooter and scorer. I see more like Aaron Nesmith as elite defender on and off ball and a good transition player. I like how he shoots 3 when contested without hesitating. He has the athleticism for some future on ball get your own shot juice. Also think he could draw alot of fouls. His go to move is the double pull through and go ala Jimmy G Buckets. He def has more JDub in his game than Coward but Coward id much better player right now with a higher shooter ceiling but lower floor on ball.

I can totally see AK making life difficult on himself and drafting him at 12. I’m hoping he’s sending those signals so someone jumps ahead of us and drafts him and Demin.

Good video.

https://youtu.be/39Goae2zLu8?si=rn3kl5yOo1jDk2q1

The upside is high enough that I don’t mind him at all at 12. Probably needs a year or two to bulk up and develop, but he seems to have another gear of explosiveness thats hard to find. Has the tools to be an elite defender with a solid offensive game if the shot translates.

I like Coward too but we might look back at it and say why did we take the 22 year old with 6 games of legit D1 hoops experience under his belt over the athletic, high upside consensus 5 star recruit from UNC.

[WesPeace]

Drake Powell interesting prospect, wouldnt mind him at #12..

Also I would be happy with Kalkbrenner in 2nd round, but I think he goes before #45

[Jvaughn]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

[Rose2Boozer]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

It would be like drafting a more athletic Dalen Terry.

[Jvaughn]

I like Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Don't know if he will last to pick 45 tho. Athletic rim runner and shot blocker.

I'd definitely buy a pick if he's available in the late 30s. I know you're not supposed to draft for need, but I want to come out of this draft with one of the following bigs.

Kalkbrenner
Neiderhauser
Beringer
Raynaud
Rocco

[Jvaughn]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

It would be like drafting a more athletic Dalen Terry.

Yep. I said it a few pages back, but I don't see anything he brings that Dalen/Phillips don't currently do for us. Seems like another Dalen reach, where the FO is going to convince themselves that they're drafting a guy who would be a lottery pick in the following draft. Then he shows up and you realize there's not as much room for growth as they thought. Definitely would feel like a waste of a pick to me.

[League Circles]

To me any draft prospect being older than 20 or more than two years post high school experience is a big red flag. I wouldn't say I'd never ever draft a junior or senior, but I'd be very hesitant. You gotta ask yourself WHY they're behind the normal development curve for a modern, quality NBA player, which is only one year post high school.

[DuckIII]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

It would be like drafting a more athletic Dalen Terry.

He can shoot it. That’s a difference. Problem is I don’t trust the shot and the rest of the offense looked mechanical. Maybe he was used wrong, it happens. But really when watching the tape I was surprised he was a 5 star recruit.

Nice defense though.

[HomoSapien]

We've reached on two college bench players who couldn't average double figures on that level and they don't really know how to do it on the pro level either. I'll be pretty incensed if we go down tbis route again. I get the intrigue with both Powell and Bryant but there's something to be said about drafting players that have shown some sort of lead quality before being drafted. Those two misses over two more obvious candidates (Haliburton and Kessler) probably cost us a championship run. We can't whiff on picks anymore.

[Jvaughn]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

It would be like drafting a more athletic Dalen Terry.

He can shoot it. That’s a difference. Problem is I don’t trust the shot and the rest of the offense looked mechanical. Maybe he was used wrong, it happens. But really when watching the tape I was surprised he was a 5 star recruit.

Nice defense though.

That hitch in that shot is worrisome. Not saying it's impossible to fix. Any good shooting coach is going to make that more fluid, but I don't trust the results to translat still. This is a lazy comparison, but I see a lot of Nassir Little in him.

[Chi town]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

I agree. No way I take him at 12. Most mocks have him early 2nd round.

[Chi town]

We've reached on two college bench players who couldn't average double figures on that level and they don't really know how to do it on the pro level either. I'll be pretty incensed if we go down tbis route again. I get the intrigue with both Powell and Bryant but there's something to be said about drafting players that have shown some sort of lead quality before being drafted. Those two misses over two more obvious candidates (Haliburton and Kessler) probably cost us a championship run. We can't whiff on picks anymore.

I agree a lot with this. Guys have to show more production. This goes for Demin too.

Drake was playing out of position at PF for UNC last year. The whole team was a mess. I believe he plays for a team in his normal spot he’d probably put up better numbers.

[jump]

I think the Bulls are going to draft Sorber at 12 and figure they have their C set for the next 10 years. Then trade Vuc for a vet 3 n D wing. Then use 45 for reach or a Euro draft and stash. There’s an outside chance they try to trade up to early 2nd round for someone they feel is a steal.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Yeah. No way before 25. Trade for a late 1st. I do think he goes late 1st.

If Kalkbrenner is a "no way before 25", why does Maluach get top 10 love? Just because he is 4 years younger? From all I have seen you would wish that Maluach could be in 4 years what Kalkbrenner is now, no? (not saying you are propping up Maluach, just honestly don't understand the difference in mock positions)

Ages 19-23 are important in a player's development. I think front offices underrate older prospects, but it's worth mentioning that many older prospects are passed over by their younger peers within 2-3 years. Maluach is better than Kalkbrenner was at the same age. I wouldn't rule out Maluach being better than Kalkbrenner by year 3.

Definitely agree. I like Kalkbrenner quite a bit, but he's a 23-year-old playing mostly against 19-20 year olds in a lesser league. His numbers are going to be somewhat inflated as compared to Maluach.

I would certainly take a flyer on him in the late 1st or 2nd round.

[2weekswithpay]

To me any draft prospect being older than 20 or more than two years post high school experience is a big red flag. I wouldn't say I'd never ever draft a junior or senior, but I'd be very hesitant. You gotta ask yourself WHY they're behind the normal development curve for a modern, quality NBA player, which is only one year post high school.

Some players develop at a slower pace than others. They need more time to improve their skills or develop physically. Sometimes, they don't get the feedback they wanted from scouts, so they stay another year. If I'm projected to be drafted in the second round, why not stay another year for the NIL money?

Being a year or 2 behind isn't that big of a deal. A few of the 19-20 year old prospects aren't good, but are being drafted off of potential. Carter Bryant, Powell, Fears, Ace, and Demin all struggled in college.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I gotta say there aren't many scenarios that I would hate more than drafting Drake Powell at 12.

It would be like drafting a more athletic Dalen Terry.

He can shoot it. That’s a difference. Problem is I don’t trust the shot and the rest of the offense looked mechanical. Maybe he was used wrong, it happens. But really when watching the tape I was surprised he was a 5 star recruit.

Nice defense though.

Watching that video, I was totally loving the kid. Feisty defender, high IQ on defense and off-ball offense. Then you see that shot and you cringe a little each time you see that hitch.

I'm not sure where he should go in the draft. I guess you take him hoping he turns into a SGA clone.

[dawhizz]

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