2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 8

[RaptorPride]

havent seen BPM stats for international guys until now

Hansen Yang is an NBA player.

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I’ll be so salty if we don’t find a way to get Yang.

Yang jerseys would do numbers in Toronto

[ArthurVandelay]

I always enjoy the Hoopshype redrafts….puts things in perspective. This one from 2020 is wild:

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2020-nba-re-draft-the-way-it-should-have-been/

[Mark_83]

Any Mark Sears fans on the board?

Had a rough final year but stood out at the combine. Shot 26 for 30 off the dribble at the combine (tied with Jase for 1st), 25 for 27 in the 3pt side (1st), 19 for 25 spot up (one off the lead), 16 for 25 in the 3pt star (6th).

I was hoping we could get him undrafted, but I think some team before the end of the draft will look at him and see a Jalen Brunson lite (with the caveat being he's much smaller). I see more of a Jameer Nelson with better shooting. There's even a bit of Mighty Mouse in his game too.

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[WuTang_CMB]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45470775/2025-nba-mock-draft-debating-30-round-1-picks-need-value-cooper-flagg

9. Toronto Raptors
Givony's pick that fills the biggest need:
Derik Queen, C, Maryland, Freshman | TS%: 60.0

It's hard to see where a rookie guard, wing or forward would fit into the Raptors' depth chart as currently constructed, as the team has at least eight players vying for minutes at those positions. The situation on the interior looks a lot more uncertain, with Jakob Poeltl entering the final guaranteed year of his contract and possessing a player option in 2026-27.

Enter Queen, the most skilled big man in this draft, capable of scoring facing the basket or with his back to it, with impressive passing ability to boot. His shooting will likely need to improve for him to operate effectively alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, but he brings something to this roster that the Raptors don't currently possess, with upside to grow into if his conditioning improves.

Woo's pick that gets the best value: Queen

The No. 9 spot is where the draft starts to flatten out a bit valuewise; this next group of prospects is a bit more eye-of-the-beholder, and they bring very different skill sets to the table.

For a team such as the Raptors, where there isn't necessarily a perfect fit on the board here, this spot could be one to simply swing on talent. Queen is the most offensively gifted big man in the class, and although he has several areas for improvement, particularly as a defender, Toronto has room to develop talent up front and could certainly justify a swing here.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25203841-2025-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-player-comps

[Gavin_TDThree]

I always enjoy the Hoopshype redrafts….puts things in perspective. This one from 2020 is wild:

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2020-nba-re-draft-the-way-it-should-have-been/

It's crazy looking what the top 5 was versus what it would be now. This happens with every day but 2020 specifically is so jarring how the best names in this draft were mostly outside the top 10

[WuTang_CMB]

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[navyblue]

I always enjoy the Hoopshype redrafts….puts things in perspective. This one from 2020 is wild:

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2020-nba-re-draft-the-way-it-should-have-been/

It's crazy looking what the top 5 was versus what it would be now. This happens with every day but 2020 specifically is so jarring how the best names in this draft were mostly outside the top 10

The COVID draft, where teams weren't allowed to bring in prospects for workouts, shortened college season etc.

[Psubs]

I always enjoy the Hoopshype redrafts….puts things in perspective. This one from 2020 is wild:

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2020-nba-re-draft-the-way-it-should-have-been/

It's crazy looking what the top 5 was versus what it would be now. This happens with every day but 2020 specifically is so jarring how the best names in this draft were mostly outside the top 10

The COVID draft, where teams weren't allowed to bring in prospects for workouts, shortened college season etc.

Haliburton was 50/40/90 with good A/T and good height even for a SG. He should've went top 5 for sure. This is kind of how I view Tre Johnson.

KD was also 50/40/90 at Texas. Nesmith had 1 good year at like 50/50/85 or something and that's kind of how I view Coward.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[niQ]

https://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft Updated.

[Brinbe]

Speaking of hoopshype, I think this is pretty useful as we get into the final few weeks

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-nba-draft-workout-tracker-where-are-prospects-working-out/

[ATLTimekeeper]

I always enjoy the Hoopshype redrafts….puts things in perspective. This one from 2020 is wild:

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2020-nba-re-draft-the-way-it-should-have-been/

It's crazy looking what the top 5 was versus what it would be now. This happens with every day but 2020 specifically is so jarring how the best names in this draft were mostly outside the top 10

Also interesting to look at drafts in waves, because at one point Ben Simmons lived up to the hype. It's always interesting to see who has longevity, who can keep getting better. Norm Powell is now arguably a top 6 player from the 2015 draft. Montrazl Harrell is playing in Australia.

[WuTang_CMB]

vecenie

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

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[Mark_83]

https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/toronto-raptors-to-work-out-ryan-nembhard-ahead-of-nba-draft

Toronto Raptors Take Close Look at Canadian Ryan Nembhard Ahead of NBA Draft
The Toronto Raptors are reportedly working out Canadian point guard Ryan Nembhard ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft as they explore backcourt options

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Dalek]

Any Mark Sears fans on the board?

Had a rough final year but stood out at the combine. Shot 26 for 30 off the dribble at the combine (tied with Jase for 1st), 25 for 27 in the 3pt side (1st), 19 for 25 spot up (one off the lead), 16 for 25 in the 3pt star (6th).

I was hoping we could get him undrafted, but I think some team before the end of the draft will look at him and see a Jalen Brunson lite (with the caveat being he's much smaller). I see more of a Jameer Nelson with better shooting. There's even a bit of Mighty Mouse in his game too.

Watch on YouTube

I think he is a skilled PG, but his draft stock took a hit when he measured 5'10 3/4 without shoes and 183 lbs with a 6'2 wingspan. That is pretty small in terms of NBA guards, but he is pretty strong.

I think he ends up undrafted in the end. I like his scoring production last year so I think he can maybe get a two-way with a strong summer league, but he has to produce against NBA size.

If we are restocking the 905, my first preference is still Ryan Nembhard. He was the best player on the floor in the draft combine scrimmage, and he will end up a rotation guy like Sears because he can run an offense. I might like his defense a bit better than Sears, but that also might be me thinking he is a mini-version of his brother.

[RapsFanInOhio]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45470775/2025-nba-mock-draft-debating-30-round-1-picks-need-value-cooper-flagg

9. Toronto Raptors
Givony's pick that fills the biggest need:
Derik Queen, C, Maryland, Freshman | TS%: 60.0

It's hard to see where a rookie guard, wing or forward would fit into the Raptors' depth chart as currently constructed, as the team has at least eight players vying for minutes at those positions. The situation on the interior looks a lot more uncertain, with Jakob Poeltl entering the final guaranteed year of his contract and possessing a player option in 2026-27.

Enter Queen, the most skilled big man in this draft, capable of scoring facing the basket or with his back to it, with impressive passing ability to boot. His shooting will likely need to improve for him to operate effectively alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, but he brings something to this roster that the Raptors don't currently possess, with upside to grow into if his conditioning improves.

Woo's pick that gets the best value: Queen

The No. 9 spot is where the draft starts to flatten out a bit valuewise; this next group of prospects is a bit more eye-of-the-beholder, and they bring very different skill sets to the table.

For a team such as the Raptors, where there isn't necessarily a perfect fit on the board here, this spot could be one to simply swing on talent. Queen is the most offensively gifted big man in the class, and although he has several areas for improvement, particularly as a defender, Toronto has room to develop talent up front and could certainly justify a swing here.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25203841-2025-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-player-comps

I think I’m buying into Queen more, assuming Maluach isn’t there at 9. I think he’s big enough to play some center and he seems like a pretty good fit as a guy they can develop behind Poeltl, who I think will be here for a while. His defensive flaws are overstated and at some point, you just have to pick talent. His offensive game is super intriguing and he probably has about as much upside as anyone at 9. I’m on board.

[OakleyDokely]

The problem with Sears isn't the size, people already knew he was small, it's that his shooting fell off a cliff compared to last year. He went from 50 fg / 43 3pt to 40 fg /34 3pt. Inefficent and small isn't a winning combo in the NBA. But he's probably still worth a shot if he goes undrafted based on what he did the previous season.