2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[nate33]

Continued from here:

[Samuels1]

I haven't posted on here in years was locked out of my original Samuel's name. But I've been following the board still reading comments.

I think this team as currently constructed needs to add bigs whether it's a center like Muluach putting Sarr at PF or a guy like Essengue who I think will end up a PF that can switch on anybody. That kid looks like he is gonna be a problem defensively in everything I've watched.

Not a fan of Fears, Tre or Queen. I want guys locked in with atleast effort on both ends. No reason to draft liabilities based on currently needing shooting let them develop. I personally like Sorber alot more then Queen but I get a bunch of you are MD fans. Not a great athlete, tested poorly and don't play defense.

I don't want any parts of 1 way players and don't care who gets buckets right now. The fact that Sarr and Bub are so young either could eventually be a star by 22 years old. Fans gotta stay patient this isn't about next year and scoring its about 3+ years from now.

[payitforward]

Sooo... with the draft a little more than 2 weeks away, where are we on this board?

I. At #6 I would take Maluach.
But, if possible I would prefer to swap 6 & 18 for 8, 26 & 27.
Since I still feel confident of getting Maluach at 8, the trade amounts to an exchange of 18 for 26 & 27, which I view as advantageous. If I missed on Maluach, I take Essengue.

II. At 18, if we still have the pick (having gotten Maluach at 6), I would take Jaku, Traore or Demin if any of them are there. All of them seem to have very high ceilings. Yet, if Essengue is still on the board somehow... I can't resist!

OTOH... if my trade idea went through, then we don't have 18. Instead we have 26 & 27. What then? Jase Richardson, if he's still available (& he might be!) & 1 of the 3 pgs above if any is on the board. Or else CM-B, Rasheer Fleming, Drake Powell, or Hugo Gonzalez.

At 40, I'm conflicted -- even with Maluach on board I think Rocco Zikarsky would be a great pick. Or Niederhauser. Just try to add talent....

And, while we're at it, let's add Mark Sears undrafted.

5 rookies. We're rebuilding.

[nate33]

if possible I would prefer to swap 6 & 18 for 8, 26 & 27.

I think this is a terrible idea.

I don't mind trading down from #6 to #8, but I wouldn't also trade down from #18 all the way to #26 just to add one very late FRP. In this draft, it looks like there's a pretty big drop-off in talent right around #20. Losing that #18 really hurts.

I'd trade #6 for #8 and #27, but you can forget about the #18 for #26 part.

[nate33]

Somebody on the trade board suggested Smart + #40 for Rozier + #29. As part of a 3-way trade involving Phoenix. I like that idea. (Both Smart and Rozier are expiring.)

I wonder if we could work out a trade with Miami where we trade them Smart + #40 plus a 2026 2RP to move up to #20. It saves them $5M and upgrades them on the floor.

[mhd]

Somebody on the trade board suggested Smart + #40 for Rozier + #29. As part of a 3-way trade involving Phoenix. I like that idea. (Both Smart and Rozier are expiring.)

I wonder if we could work out a trade with Miami where we trade them Smart + #40 plus a 2026 2RP to move up to #20. It saves them $5M and upgrades them on the floor.

I don’t like that idea Nate. We’re already at a roster crunch as it is. With two rookies at 6 and 18. Rozier has super negative value considering the gambling allegations and the fact that Miami flat out benched him. Smart makes 4 million less and is a better defender. By all accounts he was a great teammate after the trade. I’d rather hold Smart until the deadline to see if we can get something better in a BOYD trade/a trade to a contender.

[nate33]

Somebody on the trade board suggested Smart + #40 for Rozier + #29. As part of a 3-way trade involving Phoenix. I like that idea. (Both Smart and Rozier are expiring.)

I wonder if we could work out a trade with Miami where we trade them Smart + #40 plus a 2026 2RP to move up to #20. It saves them $5M and upgrades them on the floor.

I don’t like that idea Nate. We’re already at a roster crunch as it is. With two rookies at 6 and 18. Rozier has super negative value considering the gambling allegations and the fact that Miami flat out benched him. Smart makes 4 million less and is a better defender. By all accounts he was a great teammate after the trade. I’d rather hold Smart until the deadline to see if we can get something better in a BOYD trade/a trade to a contender.

We are adding 3 rookies in this draft anyhow: #6, #18 and #40. Why not make it #6, #18 and #20?

Also, we have 5 picks in the 2026 draft (2 FRP's, 3 SRP's) so I'm actually trying to avoid the problem of too many young players that you are concerned about by unloading one of those SRP's now.

I agree that Smart is better and cheaper than Rozier. But we don't have salary issues and we aren't trying to be good so that's no concern to us. And it's why Miami considers the trade.

[AFM]

Gonna check this out....

Watch on YouTube

[DCZards]

if possible I would prefer to swap 6 & 18 for 8, 26 & 27.

I think this is a terrible idea.

I don't mind trading down from #6 to #8, but I wouldn't also trade down from #18 all the way to #26 just to add one very late FRP. In this draft, it looks like there's a pretty big drop-off in talent right around #20. Losing that #18 really hurts.

I'd trade #6 for #8 and #27, but you can forget about the #18 for #26 part.

I’m with you regarding hanging on to the 18th pick…or using it to move up in the draft. There are some very appealing players who might still be on the board at 18, like Richardson and Sorber, but might not be there at 26 or 27

If the Zards go with Malauch at 6 I’d love to see them draft Richardson at 18, if he’s available.

OTOH, if they go with Fears or Johnson at 6, Sorber would be a great pick at 18, imo. I think there’s a good chance that Sorber will be as good or better than Maluach.

[NatP4]

Would be happy with any two of CMB, Richardson, Traore, Essengue. Should be pretty easy to get one of them at #18, or trade up a couple of spots to get one.

Think all four of them are top 10 talents that are worth aggressively going after. CMB and Richardson seem to have the higher floors as elite role players. Traore and Essengue have the higher upside. At this stage, probably makes more sense for the Wizards to swing for the fences with Traore&Essengue.

Saraf would be my 18-30 range Podziemski-type sleeper.

[NatP4]

I fully expect them to trade up with Philly though. Hoping it’s for Edgecombe instead of Bailey.

[nate33]

I fully expect them to trade up with Philly though. Hoping it’s for Edgecombe instead of Bailey.

The trade that makes sense to me is Middleton + Kispert + #6 for Paul George + #3.

Then we flip Paul George to Phoenix for Beal (turning George's 3-year contract into Beal's 2-year contract) and then buy out Beal.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I haven't posted on here in years was locked out of my original Samuel's name. But I've been following the board still reading comments.

I think this team as currently constructed needs to add bigs whether it's a center like Muluach putting Sarr at PF or a guy like Essengue who I think will end up a PF that can switch on anybody. That kid looks like he is gonna be a problem defensively in everything I've watched.

Not a fan of Fears, Tre or Queen. I want guys locked in with atleast effort on both ends. No reason to draft liabilities based on currently needing shooting let them develop. I personally like Sorber alot more then Queen but I get a bunch of you are MD fans. Not a great athlete, tested poorly and don't play defense.

I don't want any parts of 1 way players and don't care who gets buckets right now. The fact that Sarr and Bub are so young either could eventually be a star by 22 years old. Fans gotta stay patient this isn't about next year and scoring its about 3+ years from now.

I'm a Maryland fan who likes Queen a ton.

However, the logical move is to trade back and select Sorber. He's another Al Horford, IMO. His youth, length, stocks and him being a perfect fit next to Sarr make him a best fit.

If possible, draft both Queen and Sorber because Derik will be a bucket off the bench. Queen with Sorber will be a lot more successful than Queen with JuJu Reese.

People are far too negative on Queen. I think Sorber fits the Wizards needs better, but I won't be at all surprised if Queen starts as a rookie and averages 16 ppg.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Somebody on the trade board suggested Smart + #40 for Rozier + #29. As part of a 3-way trade involving Phoenix. I like that idea. (Both Smart and Rozier are expiring.)

I wonder if we could work out a trade with Miami where we trade them Smart + #40 plus a 2026 2RP to move up to #20. It saves them $5M and upgrades them on the floor.

This seems too good for Wizards and not good enough for the Heat.

[nate33]

if possible I would prefer to swap 6 & 18 for 8, 26 & 27.

I think this is a terrible idea.

I don't mind trading down from #6 to #8, but I wouldn't also trade down from #18 all the way to #26 just to add one very late FRP. In this draft, it looks like there's a pretty big drop-off in talent right around #20. Losing that #18 really hurts.

I'd trade #6 for #8 and #27, but you can forget about the #18 for #26 part.

I’m with you regarding hanging on to the 18th pick…or using it to move up in the draft. There are some very appealing players who might still be on the board at 18, like Richardson and Sorber, but might not be there at 26 or 27

If the Zards go with Malauch at 6 I’d love to see them draft Richardson at 18, if he’s available.

OTOH, if they go with Fears or Johnson at 6, Sorber would be a great pick at 18, imo. I think there’s a good chance that Sorber will be as good or better than Maluach.

Yeah, I'm of the same general opinion.

I only differ in that I favor Wolf over Sorber. Sorber is fine, but since he is neither a vertical lob threat nor a 3-point shooter, he might be a bit of a liability on offense. You can live with that at center in the regular season, but those guys get harder to play the later you go into the playoffs. Teams start cheating off those guys to jam up your other actions. Generally speaking, they're rotation players, not full time starters. I like Sorber's floor, but I don't think the ceiling is very high.

I like Wolf more because of his higher ceiling. Yeah, he has higher bust potential because I'm less certain about how he will hold up defensively, but if he does hold up, he might be a an actual weapon on offense.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Somebody on the trade board suggested Smart + #40 for Rozier + #29. As part of a 3-way trade involving Phoenix. I like that idea. (Both Smart and Rozier are expiring.)

I wonder if we could work out a trade with Miami where we trade them Smart + #40 plus a 2026 2RP to move up to #20. It saves them $5M and upgrades them on the floor.

I don’t like that idea Nate. We’re already at a roster crunch as it is. With two rookies at 6 and 18. Rozier has super negative value considering the gambling allegations and the fact that Miami flat out benched him. Smart makes 4 million less and is a better defender. By all accounts he was a great teammate after the trade. I’d rather hold Smart until the deadline to see if we can get something better in a BOYD trade/a trade to a contender.

Character matters. Pass on Rozier. Smart is a good guy.

Another reason to pass is that the #20 FRP is a guaranteed contract. The #40 SRP is not guaranteed. I'm quite confident about finding a good player at #40.

Cedric Coward at #40 might be the steal of the draft.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think this is a terrible idea.

I don't mind trading down from #6 to #8, but I wouldn't also trade down from #18 all the way to #26 just to add one very late FRP. In this draft, it looks like there's a pretty big drop-off in talent right around #20. Losing that #18 really hurts.

I'd trade #6 for #8 and #27, but you can forget about the #18 for #26 part.

I’m with you regarding hanging on to the 18th pick…or using it to move up in the draft. There are some very appealing players who might still be on the board at 18, like Richardson and Sorber, but might not be there at 26 or 27

If the Zards go with Malauch at 6 I’d love to see them draft Richardson at 18, if he’s available.

OTOH, if they go with Fears or Johnson at 6, Sorber would be a great pick at 18, imo. I think there’s a good chance that Sorber will be as good or better than Maluach.

Yeah, I'm of the same general opinion.

I only differ in that I favor Wolf over Sorber. Sorber is fine, but since he is neither a vertical lob threat nor a 3-point shooter, he might be a bit of a liability on offense. You can live with that at center in the regular season, but those guys get harder to play the later you go into the playoffs. Teams start cheating off those guys to jam up your other actions. Generally speaking, they're rotation players, not full time starters. I like Sorber's floor, but I don't think the ceiling is very high.

I like Love more because of his higher ceiling. Yeah, he has higher bust potential because I'm less certain about how he will hold up defensively, but if he does hold up, he might be a an actual weapon on offense.

Love? Or Wolf?

Danny Wolf has skills similar to those of Kevin Love.

[payitforward]

if possible I would prefer to swap 6 & 18 for 8, 26 & 27.

I think this is a terrible idea.

I don't mind trading down from #6 to #8, but I wouldn't also trade down from #18 all the way to #26 just to add one very late FRP. In this draft, it looks like there's a pretty big drop-off in talent right around #20. Losing that #18 really hurts.

I'd trade #6 for #8 and #27, but you can forget about the #18 for #26 part.

Well, you bet -- I too would drop two spots to pick up another R1 pick, albeit a low one. But, I can't imagine giving up that pick to move up those two spots. From 4 to 2 in this draft you bet. But not from 8 to 6.

I'll try to keep tabs on results for this proposed move by tracking who was taken (or available) at these spots & how they work out. It'll be interesting to see how the value tracks either side of this analysis.

It would also be interesting to look at a number of drafts to determine whether 6 & 27 would have made a better result possible than 8 & 18.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think Sorber will be good enough on offense to pass instead of forcing long threes.

Today, I like Maluach or Sorber along with Clifford or Fleming at 6 and 18. I don't care that Nique Clifford is essentially 24 years old.

In round two, I hope Coward is on the board at 40. I'm sure Broome will be gone. My other pick would be Eric Dixon.

Dixon is probably better right now than Queen.

What?!?@

Anything for a response on a slow Sunday.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'll be happy if the Wizards draft two bigs.