2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[PushDaRock]

I would have trouble projecting a successful comparable for Queen in today's game with a similar skillset and measurables. I think there's quite a bit of bust potential really, it's way more easier for me to see him being the next Okafor and Sullinger than becoming a successful outlier. The more optimistic projections for me are still more of an old school big like a Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph type. Fairly questionable whether either would do well present day without a massive evolution in their games.

[PushDaRock]

Yeah IMO this absolutely screams Derik Queen.

Dark horse is CMB to me. His physical measurements are most similar to Draymond, a C in small ball lineups.

I’m surprised more people aren’t seeing Queen as being a Raps FO darling. He embodies so much of what they’ve looked for in a draft prospect the last few years: high bball IQ, processing speed, toughness, passer/playmaker. I think he’d fit right in with Darko’s system.

Alot of posters here prolly didn't watch much of Queen and on highlight tapes his game doesn't eye pop you like a player like Carter Bryant would.....Alot of Posters here also seem to take Draft combine/Athletic ability as a pretty high trait a player must need to be good in the NBA....

Measurements are always a talking point with prospects on RealGm....With Queen you have to watch lots of tape to understand how good he is and why hes ranked so high....His awareness, Feel for the game, IQ , Angles, Skills for his size are all hard to see on a highlight package.....

Ofc his body transformation will be helpfull in the NBA but he will be fine....You don't need to jump the highest or be a body builder to play basketball....Queen can just play the game at a very high level....And im sure if we draft him everyone who hates him will turn to love him fast once he starts playing.

It has little to do with how aesthetic his game is and more to do with projecting out whether the way he is scoring over smaller and less athletic players in college translates over to the pros.

[Yallbecrazy]

I would have trouble projecting a successful comparable for Queen in today's game with a similar skillset and measurables. I think there's quite a bit of bust potential really, it's way more easier for me to see him being the next Okafor and Sullinger than becoming a successful outlier. The more optimistic projections for me are still more of an old school big like a Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph type. Fairly questionable whether either would do well present day without a massive evolution in their games.

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

[PoundTown]

I made that comparison a few draft threads back.

I see some Jermaine O'Neal like qualities in his game.

He has that old school meat and potatoes game with a little bit of the modern element mixed in. I think he’s the best big in the draft, but that’s without lingering foot issues.

I’ve come a long way on him because I was totally off his bandwagon mid season because of his performances against the top competition, but it seems like a bit of an overplayed argument to me.

He's hard for me. The top competition is worrisome for me, because my biggest fear with him is that he's a big that doesn't finish well around length, and in the NBA, that length is going to be more common and more athletic. Even though he likes to step out and shoot the 3 here and there it's not yet part of his game, but if he gets there, that'll help him big time. Can use his passing high post, pick and pop, hand offs, etc if he's a threat from deep. Lot of variables for him I think, but he could end up being really solid overall.

[PushDaRock]

I would have trouble projecting a successful comparable for Queen in today's game with a similar skillset and measurables. I think there's quite a bit of bust potential really, it's way more easier for me to see him being the next Okafor and Sullinger than becoming a successful outlier. The more optimistic projections for me are still more of an old school big like a Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph type. Fairly questionable whether either would do well present day without a massive evolution in their games.

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

Yeah, I'm just not really seeing the Sengun comparison. He looks worse than Sengun at everything and doesn't project to do anything better than him either IMO. I would have needed to see much more college dominance to be convinced given his age as an older Freshman and size advantage he had over everyone too.

Honestly, what even makes him a better prospect than Jahlil Okafor or Jared Sullinger were when they came out?

[Clutch0z24]

I would have trouble projecting a successful comparable for Queen in today's game with a similar skillset and measurables. I think there's quite a bit of bust potential really, it's way more easier for me to see him being the next Okafor and Sullinger than becoming a successful outlier. The more optimistic projections for me are still more of an old school big like a Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph type. Fairly questionable whether either would do well present day without a massive evolution in their games.

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

Yeah, I'm just not really seeing the Sengun comparison. He looks worse than Sengun at everything and doesn't project to do anything better than him either IMO. I would have needed to see much more college dominance to be convinced given his age as an older Freshman and size advantage he had over everyone too.

Honestly, what even makes him a better prospect than Jahlil Okafor or Jared Sullinger were when they came out?

You can say the same for any prospect in our range though....Every one of them have worrying weaknesses that you can convince yourself not to draft them for that reason....Can't look at the players you personally like and say they are 100 percent going to reach their peaks....All have issues..

Its about what Masai sees at the end of the day and there have been legit reports he likes multiple bigs in this class at the 9th pick (Queen is obv on that list)....And he scouted Queen multiple times this year in person where Queen had big performances....So its not hard to imagine theres some interest there...

[Mark_83]

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Move up? Their pick is already right around where he's expected to go. Unless they mean moving up with one of their later picks so they could have two in the top 10.

[PushDaRock]

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

Yeah, I'm just not really seeing the Sengun comparison. He looks worse than Sengun at everything and doesn't project to do anything better than him either IMO. I would have needed to see much more college dominance to be convinced given his age as an older Freshman and size advantage he had over everyone too.

Honestly, what even makes him a better prospect than Jahlil Okafor or Jared Sullinger were when they came out?

You can say the same for any prospect in our range though....Every one of them have worrying weaknesses that you can convince yourself not to draft them for that reason....Can't look at the players you personally like and say they are 100 percent going to reach their peaks....All have issues..

Its about what Masai sees at the end of the day and there have been legit reports he likes multiple bigs in this class at the 9th pick (Queen is obv on that list)....And he scouted Queen multiple times this year in person where Queen had big performances....So its not hard to imagine theres some interest there...

Sure and I just happen to think Queen's weaknesses are most glaring of the bunch.

[WuTang_CMB]

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

Yeah, I'm just not really seeing the Sengun comparison. He looks worse than Sengun at everything and doesn't project to do anything better than him either IMO. I would have needed to see much more college dominance to be convinced given his age as an older Freshman and size advantage he had over everyone too.

Honestly, what even makes him a better prospect than Jahlil Okafor or Jared Sullinger were when they came out?

You can say the same for any prospect in our range though....Every one of them have worrying weaknesses that you can convince yourself not to draft them for that reason....Can't look at the players you personally like and say they are 100 percent going to reach their peaks....All have issues..

Its about what Masai sees at the end of the day and there have been legit reports he likes multiple bigs in this class at the 9th pick (Queen is obv on that list)....And he scouted Queen multiple times this year in person where Queen had big performances....So its not hard to imagine theres some interest there...

What do you think about his defensive tape?
Masai likes talented saavy bigs that can play. If Queen is a stat stuffer even if he has defensive issues, I still think Masai would take him especially with his skill set in a Darko system.

[DreamTeam09]

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Move up? Their pick is already right around where he's expected to go. Unless they mean moving up with one of their later picks so they could have two in the top 10.

Or maybe Pelicans take him at 7 seeing how Murray is injured or maybe Wash likes him at 6

[Jim Todd Jr.]

I want Danny Wolf and i know its irrational

[Clutch0z24]

Yeah, I'm just not really seeing the Sengun comparison. He looks worse than Sengun at everything and doesn't project to do anything better than him either IMO. I would have needed to see much more college dominance to be convinced given his age as an older Freshman and size advantage he had over everyone too.

Honestly, what even makes him a better prospect than Jahlil Okafor or Jared Sullinger were when they came out?

You can say the same for any prospect in our range though....Every one of them have worrying weaknesses that you can convince yourself not to draft them for that reason....Can't look at the players you personally like and say they are 100 percent going to reach their peaks....All have issues..

Its about what Masai sees at the end of the day and there have been legit reports he likes multiple bigs in this class at the 9th pick (Queen is obv on that list)....And he scouted Queen multiple times this year in person where Queen had big performances....So its not hard to imagine theres some interest there...

What do you think about his defensive tape?
Masai likes talented saavy bigs that can play. If Queen is a stat stuffer even if he has defensive issues, I still think Masai would take him especially with his skill set in a Darko system.

Hes not going to be elite defender but he also won't be horrible....He can hold his own with his elite hands for deflections, and he has a good standing reach so he can wall up pretty good, Positioning is good enough and with more conditioning his foot speed will improve...

If you draft Queen you are drafting him for his elite offensive potential and how he fits Darkos system as a big man to a T.....Potential stat stuffer....He can beat many bigs in the half court game and he will be a bucket getter....Which could give us a good dynamic for a big man since we have not had that type of big in a long time...

I do understand the red flags some posters have of him but every prospect at 9 has red flags....If Masai picks Queen i will trust his judgement as i will if he drafts any other prospect....Masai has earned our trust when it comes to drafting.

[TGM]

Might be a stretch at 9. But I think Sorber moves up leading to the draft. His combination of size and skill and composure is pretty good. Can see him end up being like a Sengun type of guy. He has good feet and hands. Add in that crazy wingspan I think he good be the best C. A lot of balance. The 7’6 wingspan makes me think of guys like Robert Williams, JJJ. He is less athletic, but he his decent bball IQ

[bballsparkin]

With Thomas Sober, Does anyone else see a young "bulkier" Bosh.

Reminds me of Al Horford

Those are big words. Draft him.

[bballsparkin]

I would have trouble projecting a successful comparable for Queen in today's game with a similar skillset and measurables. I think there's quite a bit of bust potential really, it's way more easier for me to see him being the next Okafor and Sullinger than becoming a successful outlier. The more optimistic projections for me are still more of an old school big like a Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph type. Fairly questionable whether either would do well present day without a massive evolution in their games.

McNeeley gonna be one of the steals of the draft. Nobody talking about him. Too vanilla. Yet a functional fit in the League.

[Yallbecrazy]

I went back and watched CMB vs UT who was a top 3 defense in the country, if not #1. It was one of CMB's worst statistical games of the season and it got me a little lower on him defensively, but much higher on him offensively. He will still be a great defender in my opinion, but maybe not Draymond like in his rookie season. He went 3 for 7 for 7 points and 0/3 from 3. Tennessee essentially built a wall around the paint and sent soft doubles with a 3rd guy waiting under the basket every time he had the ball. The attention paid to him is crazy, he had people fully helping from the strong side on his drives with another waiting under the basket and the 4th and 5th looking at him from the other side of the paint because no one respected the shooting of his teammates. The other big got a bunch of easy baskets from being ignored and CMB still managed to go 3/4 in the paint including one where he got a layup going 1 vs 5. USC actually hung around at UT for most of the game too because they didn't pay any attention to any of his teammates.

He is so quick, agile, and strong. The combination of having a very good bbiq, being an absolutely elite athlete, with good coordination and fundamaentals allowed him to score well in college with 0 spacing against good competition. He was also directing all his teammates of where to be on the court. Calipari is a great recruiter and identifier of talent, but is probably the worst in game coach in college basketball and look at what he did vs Arkansas because they didn't know how to play against him the first time. The 2nd time they adapted and he still was pretty dominant. I think I'm going to move him above Harper to #2 on my board.

[bballsparkin]

I want Danny Wolf and i know its irrational

At 9? IDK about that. He made some big gaffes when I watched him in the tourney. He also had some nice stuff no doubt. He's a draft in the teens at earliest IMO.

[bballsparkin]

It has little to do with how aesthetic his game is and more to do with projecting out whether the way he is scoring over smaller and less athletic players in college translates over to the pros.

He's got moves though. Good body control for someone his size. And an edge. That's were the Zach comparisons come in. I personally wouldn't draft him but I think he could have a Randolph like career. Needs to cut out Mickie D's though hah.

[Psubs]

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Queen looks a big sluggish probably due to not being in good enough shape but the skill level pops out.

Can he defend well enough to be a Center in the NBA? He'd fill a massive hole as a backup C

He reminds me of Angel Reese at LSU.

[bballsparkin]

People are comparing him to Sengun, but Sengun was a full two years younger putting up significantly better stats playing in a top 3 European league that had the Euroleague champions playing in it.


Queen also had great spacing and guards that were really good so it was essentially a 4 out offense. He didn't even have the best obpm on his team.

It's funny when he said that comment that was something along the line of: If I was European I'd probably go first. When Sabonis and Segun didn't go anywhere near first. But at the same time you said it right there in your post. Perhaps if you build around him the team can do well. Not bad value at #9 if so. But then again maybe he flops. He likely needs to be excellent offensively to be a plus player.\

edit: not to mention neither of those drafts had a player at Flagg's level.