2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[gesa2]

Weirdly I have been coming around to Kon just as the board is hating even more than before. He’ll be a better connector/second side guy than Bojan. Ceiling is something like Bane which would be great at 6, and if Bojan is his floor that’s still a multi year starter on a good team.
I’ve been a Fears backer, and his ceiling is higher IMO. But if he doesn’t get to that top 15% outcome what will he be? Someone who can only operate with the ball but isn’t elite enough to drive good offense - so a bench player.
I’m still not a Maluach believer despite believing in Doc, Nate, PIF et al more than my own eyes.
Hoping Ace falls to us somehow or we are able to trade back. The draft is so flat in talent after 3 or 4.

[NatP4]

This scuttlebutt about the Zards moving up in the draft has me excited…but I’m not overly optimistic that that will happen.

It would be great if the Zards could be in position to draft Harper but I don’t think it’s in the cards. A more likely scenario is that they move into a position to draft Bailey. I’d like that because there’s a good chance Ace will end up being one of the top 3 players in this draft.

Talk me into Bailey, Zards.

Call me superstitious but there is ALWAYS a bust (or major disappointment relative to draft position) in the top 3 picks. I’m confident Harper and Flagg will not bust.

Some common comparisons out there, like Tatum, Banchero, MPJR, and Wiggins, were all better in college. There are such few examples of bad college players becoming impact NBA players. Jaylen Brown was just as bad, but seems like a rare exception.

A lot more examples of these kind of players not working out. Patrick Williams, Cody Williams, Cam Reddish, Kuminga, Kevin Knox.

[tontoz]

Weirdly I have been coming around to Kon just as the board is hating even more than before. He’ll be a better connector/second side guy than Bojan. Ceiling is something like Bane which would be great at 6, and if Bojan is his floor that’s still a multi year starter on a good team.
I’ve been a Fears backer, and his ceiling is higher IMO. But if he doesn’t get to that top 15% outcome what will he be? Someone who can only operate with the ball but isn’t elite enough to drive good offense - so a bench player.
I’m still not a Maluach believer despite believing in Doc, Nate, PIF et al more than my own eyes.
Hoping Ace falls to us somehow or we are able to trade back. The draft is so flat in talent after 3 or 4.

I am not buying the comps to Bane and Reaves. Kon hasn't shown the ability to shoot off the dribble, something both of those guys do very well.

Kon shot 21 3s off the dribble at duke, making only 3.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

This elite level analysis from this board. First step is absolutely the most valuable asset on all of offensive basketball. Big hands is huge too. This board really starting to think like wolves instead of sheep.

Hence why I was intrigued by Fears, he probably has the best 1st step in this class....

Fears, VJ & Tre are the guys worth taking. 18/19 y/o kids with talent and drive cant be ruled out. These guys make so much money and have access to coaching, training, nutrition, etc. that if they have work ethic and process the game fast enough, there is always a chance to be a really good player.

Fears is also going to be rough in his first year, which is perfect for us as we can give him minutes/reps while losing enough games to retain our 2026 pick.
Fears @ 6 & Beringer @ 18 would definitely represent a swing.
This draft really falls off around ~35. I hope we make a small trade (Smart?) that allows us to move up from 40 => 25-30 so we can net one of Penda, Hugo, Powell, Thiero, Broome, Yang, etc.

I like your thinking.

Fears, Beringer, Powell would be an ideal draft for the Wizards IMO.

[tontoz]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

[NatP4]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

Same. Fears is Jaden Ivey.

The NC guys keep saying Fears is going to NOP at 7.

[80sballboy]

Not a lot of talk about Edgecombe here, but I'd trade up for him.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/washington_wizards_could_reportedly_trade_up_to_get_baylor_standout_per_1_insider/s1_17382_42322377

[tontoz]

Not a lot of talk about Edgecombe here, but I'd trade up for him.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/washington_wizards_could_reportedly_trade_up_to_get_baylor_standout_per_1_insider/s1_17382_42322377

If we trade up i am all for it regardless of who they pick. Ive had the same top 5 for months and i think there is a significant fall off after 5.

Flagg
Harper
Ace
Tre
VJ

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

[Dat2U]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

I would take Fears over Maluach and I don't love Fears. I'm getting to the point where I might take Beringer over Maluach. Its not I that I hate Maluach as a prospect, I've just not seen anything that sold me on him. I remember watching Embiid at Kansas and saying he's clearly the best C to enter the league since Shaq. The offensive skill was apparent. With Maluach, I watch him and none of my questions are answered.

[nate33]

I believe the Wizards really want either Bailey or Edgecombe. They want defense, length and athleticism first, and figure they can teach basketball skills over time.

My guess is that they are exploring all avenues to move up, but nothing is going to materialize until draft day. Teams that trade down always expect an absurdly high return and don't back off their asking price until the last minute.

[80sballboy]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

I would take Fears over Maluach and I don't love Fears. I'm getting to the point where I might take Beringer over Maluach. Its not I that I hate Maluach as a prospect, I've just not seen anything that sold me on him. I remember watching Embiid at Kansas and saying he's clearly the best C to enter the league since Shaq. The offensive skill was apparent. With Maluach, I watch him and none of my questions are answered.

I hear what you're saying, but If he was the next Embiid, he'd be No. 1 or 2. He's not, but I think he shows promise with that three-point shot but at 7-2, 250+ who wants him to jack up a ton of threes? What sells me, and I'm not saying I'd take him over Tre, Edge or Ace if they were there, is his intelligence. He will get better, but he will also have growing pains which is fine for a team that needs to tank one more year. BTW, Embiid was 20 coming out of Kansas and Maluach is just 18 until September.

[AFM]

Does anyone in front of us want Kispert? (potentially)

[pcbothwel]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

Same. Fears is Jaden Ivey.

The NC guys keep saying Fears is going to NOP at 7.

I dont see it. Ivey was elite in all the surface level athletic measurables (Ht/Wt/Wing/Speed/Vert), but he had poor vision, body control, and processing.
Fears first step is pretty special, but other than that its all the deeper traits. His handle/creativity and body control/deceleration are MUCH better. Fears had roughly the same stat line while playing a tougher schedule, with worse teammates, and will be 19 for his entire rookie year
Ivey played with Trevion Williams & Zach Edey and turned 21 his rookie year.

In college you can overwhelm lesser athletes, while in the NBA its much more about pace, control, and creativity. All things Fears is better at.
I think Fear will be a little better than Ivey, and Ivey just put up a per36 of 21/5/5 on a TS of 57% will starting all 30 games before he got injured and just turned 23.
If Fears puts up those numbers in his 3rd year I wont be upset.

[payitforward]

...I would love a big swing draft and trade down and end up with a 1-5 of Traore - Coward - Bryant - Essengue - Beringer....

Ya think?

[pcbothwel]

I would take Maluach over Fears, and i am not a fan of Maluach.

I would take Fears over Maluach and I don't love Fears. I'm getting to the point where I might take Beringer over Maluach. Its not I that I hate Maluach as a prospect, I've just not seen anything that sold me on him. I remember watching Embiid at Kansas and saying he's clearly the best C to enter the league since Shaq. The offensive skill was apparent. With Maluach, I watch him and none of my questions are answered.

Same. And I want to love Maluach, but Im not sure what I see. Myles Turner had better touch and shot blocking instincts. Maybe he becomes Brook Lopez at best?
Dream scenario is the teams in front of us stick with their board and pick, and someone like Ace falls to us and some team like Brooklyn offers us great value for 6...

[payitforward]

This elite level analysis from this board. First step is absolutely the most valuable asset on all of offensive basketball. Big hands are huge too. I noticed ace doesn't have alot lower body strength to maintain his angle after getting by his man. He usually gets bullies ofd the angle created by his first step. His high center of gravity while attacking the rim prevents him from controlling a defenders hips unlike SGA who can accelerate and still maintain low center of gravity and hence high volume and high efficiency. He can always create with is his first step using either hand and he can stay low with power and knock an out of position defender trying to recover from the vloe by first step...off balance because he is so low to ground and create separation. Basically what jordan would have become on perimter if he had an elite off hand speed dribble ( not slow jordan bounces).. classic byron russell knee guard championship shot because russell could keep his chest in front MJ poor lateral movement. Dedender throws out his knee to slow down dedender because they cant get chest in front..knee damage wear and tear. SGA constantly punishes defender because he can stop on a dime and keep low dribble and body control at 6'6...and he his elbow to control a defenders hip..which controls the defenders knees and exposes poor dedense. Locks dedenders hip with elbow check to hip and then pull up separation. Jumper or zero to 100 acceleration after hip check..and he stop and goes with his off hand...super elite low speed dribble. Now if he was fears size, he would be much less efficient doing the same thing. Fears and SGA same game except one has point guard size.. and cant defend sgs. This board really starting to think like wolves instead of sheep.

Man it's fun having you on this board!

[NatP4]

I dont see it. Ivey was elite in all the surface level athletic measurables (Ht/Wt/Wing/Speed/Vert), but he had poor vision, body control, and processing.
Fears first step is pretty special, but other than that its all the deeper traits. His handle/creativity and body control/deceleration are MUCH better. Fears had roughly the same stat line while playing a tougher schedule, with worse teammates, and will be 19 for his entire rookie year
Ivey played with Trevion Williams & Zach Edey and turned 21 his rookie year.

In college you can overwhelm lesser athletes, while in the NBA its much more about pace, control, and creativity. All things Fears is better at.
I think Fear will be a little better than Ivey, and Ivey just put up a per36 of 21/5/5 on a TS of 57% will starting all 30 games before he got injured and just turned 23.
If Fears puts up those numbers in his 3rd year I wont be upset.

That’s just a 30 game sample size in which Ivey was still one of the worst defenders in the league and only posted a 4.8/3.6 A/TO. 5500 minutes with a 53.8% TS over his career. Fears seemingly has some of the same issues, he’s more of a combo guard, major defensive liability…and much worse 3pt shooting.

Sexton was another high usage freshman guard, poor shooting, high turnovers, more of a secondary playmaker, liability on defense.

[payitforward]

...Dream scenario is the teams in front of us stick with their board and pick, and someone like Ace falls to us and some team like Brooklyn offers us great value for 6...

!!!

[Dat2U]

I believe the Wizards really want either Bailey or Edgecombe. They want defense, length and athleticism first, and figure they can teach basketball skills over time.

My guess is that they are exploring all avenues to move up, but nothing is going to materialize until draft day. Teams that trade down always expect an absurdly high return and don't back off their asking price until the last minute.

Yeah I'm seeing enough scuttlebutt where there's a good chance Ace, VJ & Tre are gone despite the mocks. If Philly takes VJ at 3, maybe Charlotte does something stupid and take Kon but Utah seems to want Bailey with Tre as a fallback.