2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[Dalek]

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Finally some buzz for Asa Newell. I am sure he is killing it shooting in workouts.

[Basketball_Jones]

Newell is such a Miami Heat type of player and likely drafted around their pick too.

[Indeed]

It's not a set data filter, it's class dependent. So it's different if you are a Fr/Soph/Jr/Sr.

Every FRP Masai has made post-Bruno mistake (including both Koloko pick 33 and Mogbo pick 31 which I considered pseudo-FRPs as top 5 SRPs, so very early 2nds) is on the list retroactively, including OG.

This is because the creation of these queries in 2023 was aided by the pre-existing dataset of all 7 FRP selections Masai has made since the Bruno mistake in 2014, up until 2022 (Delon/Poeltl/Siakam/OG/Malachi/Scottie/Koloko).

Was wondering about Sorber, Fleming and Drake Powell, particularly, trading down.

Sorber, Fleming and Powell all are not Masai-type FRPs. I find it unfortunate in Sorber's case, because I personally really like him as a prospect.

Hey Jerry. In what ways was Koloko a Masai-type pick that Maluach isn't?

Maluach draft year (Fr):
AST%: 4.3
AST/TO: 0.7
USG: 16.8
STL%: 0.6

Koloko draft year (Jr):
AST%: 9.8
AST/TO: 0.9
USG: 20.6
STL%: 1.6

Sounds like a concern for trading down if there is no good bigs.

[Basketball_Jones]

Okay I’ve switched up my board again. Now it’s Coward with the 9th pick, we need the next JDub!

Coward
Mal
Noa
Bryant

[SpezNc]

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Bailey, Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, and Kon Knueppel are the four players most discussed in league circles as targets for the 76ers in this year's draft, sources said. Although there was talk of Khaman Maluach being a potential target for Philadelphia, that rumor has since led to a dead end. In recent days, rumors of Edgecombe being ahead of Bailey on the Sixers' draft board formed, especially after a private workout.

This too has led to rampant speculation about Morey's approach to the NBA Draft and creating the most value possible for his team's draft position. With just over one week until the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey still seems to be the player who would make the most sense as a long-term fit next to Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey. Then again, Edgecombe is right there with Bailey right now for being the third pick.

Bailey and Edgecombe are truly 50-50 at this very moment to be the third pick.

The 10th pick in this year's NBA Draft continues to be the target of multiple teams attempting to trade up, sources said. Rafael Stone and the Houston Rockets have been receptive to all offers coming their way, as they continue to be involved in Kevin Durant trade talks leading up to the draft. If the Phoenix Suns were to trade Durant to Houston, they would do so to retain this 10th pick, sources said.

There is also momentum building for Derik Queen, one of the best frontcourt prospects in this draft, to be selected in the 10-14 range. Queen has been linked the most to the Chicago Bulls with the 12th pick, yet league sources indicate that the Bulls are still evaluating a few other names in this spot to provide more athleticism and length to their roster.

Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, and Asa Newell are three players who have also come up in conversations about the Bulls.

Multiple sources have also relayed intel about Chicago exploring the possibility of moving up in this year's draft should Bailey be passed on by the 76ers, or another team that trades up, with the third pick.

How the Bulls could possibly move up from the 12th pick to have a chance at selecting Bailey would be the ultimate question should the Rutgers star fall in the top five.

None of the three rebuilding teams behind the 76ers' pick (Charlotte, Utah, and Washington) would hold much interest in anything Chicago has to offer except draft compensation in future years. It is tough to see a Bailey-Bulls scenario playing out in this year's draft.

Teams are also keeping a close eye on the Atlanta Hawks with the 13th and 22nd picks in this year's draft.

While some have suggested Atlanta should leverage these selections and try to move into the top 10, the Hawks appear to be comfortable adding two more young talents to build the future of their roster. Despite changes in their front office, the Hawks have not held serious Trae Young trade discussions, sources said.

Other quick information regarding certain draftees with rising stocks entering the 2025 NBA Draft:

Jeremiah Fears is unlikely to fall past the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 8 pick. The New Orleans Pelicans, sources said, are one of a few teams interested in Fears.
Multiple lottery teams have expressed interest in Cedric Coward. Keep an eye on the Oklahoma City Thunder being a destination for Coward, should they actually use this pick on a non-international prospect.
There continues to be a high belief that Carter Bryant (Arizona) will be one of the first 14 players to hear his name called by Adam Silver on draft night.
Joan Beringer from France has quietly been rising on draft boards across the league over the last two weeks, sources said. His ceiling is now viewed as a late-lottery talent, as the French big man has some fans who are valuing him higher than Queen as the second-best center in this draft class behind Maluach.

Is it be or there was not much news about Toronto except the typical don’t expect Maluach to go past 9?

Some tidbits :

-Queen *might* not go top10

-some value Beringer ahead of Queen and *could* he late lottery

-don’t expect Knueppel to be available at 10

-don’t expect Fears to go past 8

-Brooklyn likes Essengue but unclear for which pick

-Teams with picks in the 4-10 range of this year's draft have been putting more of an emphasis on scorers and wings

“It is hard to imagine Maluach falling past the Toronto Raptors with the ninth pick, assuming he is still on the board. Teams with picks in the 4-10 range of this year's draft have been putting more of an emphasis on scorers and wings, which is why Maluach could fall to the Nets or Raptors with the eighth or ninth picks, respectively”

[SpezNc]

At this point, I'm not even getting too excited about any particular player....it feels like the FO is hellbent on using it to trade for a "star".

I understand to be ready for all scenarios to avoid being too disappointed but I still think it’s unlikely the pick is traded.

We will know soon enough.

[OakleyDokely]

Has Masai ever traded a pick on draft day or close to the draft?

Every year, we hear rumors about the pick being traded or getting moved up or down, and every year, we just make the picks we have.

[grant101]

Has Masai ever traded a pick on draft day or close to the draft?

Every year, we hear rumors about the pick being traded or getting moved up or down, and every year, we just make the picks we have.

He's traded for one on draft night a couple of times, but has never moved up or down as far as I recall. If ever there was a draft to do it, this is the one. Unless someone slips, there's a lot of parity 8-25 or so. It's a lot of eye-of-the-beholder type prospects. If we can snag a couple of picks in this range in exchange for 9, or perhaps a future 1st, I would do it.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

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Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN's mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership. He appears to be "the leader in the clubhouse" currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.

The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front-office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.

sengue's predraft process has stalled because his successful season in Germany remains ongoing. Ulm advanced to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) Finals against Bayern Munich, a best-of-five series that began Monday and could very well run into the draft, with a potential Game 4 slated for June 24, and Game 5 on June 26. Essengue (as well as teammate and draft prospect Ben Saraf) might be unable to conduct private workouts stateside prior to draft night. What does help is that this week, Essengue, 18, measured well officially at 6-10 barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan, underscoring his excellent physical profile across frontcourt positions.

Toronto has largely been linked to frontcourt targets at pick No. 9, including Maluach, who is no guarantee to be on the board. The Raptors are also one of several teams in this range said to be involved in trade talks around their pick, considering the possibility of moving back in the draft to add talent to next season's roster.

Essengue's blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production has drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range, and he fits an archetype Raptors brass has often targeted if they stay put here. -- Woo

[niQ]

Ace Bailey stock dropping.

Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.
The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front-office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.

Bailey's predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range. Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.

[mtcan]

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Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN's mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership. He appears to be "the leader in the clubhouse" currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.

The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front-office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.

sengue's predraft process has stalled because his successful season in Germany remains ongoing. Ulm advanced to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) Finals against Bayern Munich, a best-of-five series that began Monday and could very well run into the draft, with a potential Game 4 slated for June 24, and Game 5 on June 26. Essengue (as well as teammate and draft prospect Ben Saraf) might be unable to conduct private workouts stateside prior to draft night. What does help is that this week, Essengue, 18, measured well officially at 6-10 barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan, underscoring his excellent physical profile across frontcourt positions.

Toronto has largely been linked to frontcourt targets at pick No. 9, including Maluach, who is no guarantee to be on the board. The Raptors are also one of several teams in this range said to be involved in trade talks around their pick, considering the possibility of moving back in the draft to add talent to next season's roster.

Essengue's blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production has drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range, and he fits an archetype Raptors brass has often targeted if they stay put here. -- Woo

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

[BoyzNTheHood]

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Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN's mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership. He appears to be "the leader in the clubhouse" currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.

The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front-office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.

sengue's predraft process has stalled because his successful season in Germany remains ongoing. Ulm advanced to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) Finals against Bayern Munich, a best-of-five series that began Monday and could very well run into the draft, with a potential Game 4 slated for June 24, and Game 5 on June 26. Essengue (as well as teammate and draft prospect Ben Saraf) might be unable to conduct private workouts stateside prior to draft night. What does help is that this week, Essengue, 18, measured well officially at 6-10 barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan, underscoring his excellent physical profile across frontcourt positions.

Toronto has largely been linked to frontcourt targets at pick No. 9, including Maluach, who is no guarantee to be on the board. The Raptors are also one of several teams in this range said to be involved in trade talks around their pick, considering the possibility of moving back in the draft to add talent to next season's roster.

Essengue's blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production has drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range, and he fits an archetype Raptors brass has often targeted if they stay put here. -- Woo

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

It depends. If their guy is on the board at 9 and they don’t think he’ll make it to 13 they’d probably do it.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

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Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN's mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership. He appears to be "the leader in the clubhouse" currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.

The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front-office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.

sengue's predraft process has stalled because his successful season in Germany remains ongoing. Ulm advanced to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) Finals against Bayern Munich, a best-of-five series that began Monday and could very well run into the draft, with a potential Game 4 slated for June 24, and Game 5 on June 26. Essengue (as well as teammate and draft prospect Ben Saraf) might be unable to conduct private workouts stateside prior to draft night. What does help is that this week, Essengue, 18, measured well officially at 6-10 barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan, underscoring his excellent physical profile across frontcourt positions.

Toronto has largely been linked to frontcourt targets at pick No. 9, including Maluach, who is no guarantee to be on the board. The Raptors are also one of several teams in this range said to be involved in trade talks around their pick, considering the possibility of moving back in the draft to add talent to next season's roster.

Essengue's blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production has drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range, and he fits an archetype Raptors brass has often targeted if they stay put here. -- Woo

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

If Maluach is there, they might since he's not getting past Chicago.

[niQ]

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

It depends. If their guy is on the board at 9 and they don’t think he’ll make it to 13 they’d probably do it.

I feel like ATL would only do that if Maluach is still on the board. But then again, I also feel like he's the same guy we're eyeing.

[mtcan]

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

It depends. If their guy is on the board at 9 and they don’t think he’ll make it to 13 they’d probably do it.

I feel like ATL would only do that if Maluach is still on the board. But then again, I also feel like he's the same guy we're eyeing.

And I feel like we are only trading out of #9 if Maluach is gone by the time it gets there.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Would Atlanta trade #13 and #22 for #9 if we really are looking to trade down?

It depends. If their guy is on the board at 9 and they don’t think he’ll make it to 13 they’d probably do it.

I feel like ATL would only do that if Maluach is still on the board. But then again, I also feel like he's the same guy we're eyeing.

That might be true, but if he’s the guy I’m all for trading down.

[WuTang_CMB]

Ace seems like he doesn't have it between the ears. Sure he has the talent to be at least a marvin williams but if he doesn't mature, this guy going to do a big zero

[mtcan]

Ace seems like he doesn't have it between the ears. Sure he has the talent to be at least a marvin williams but if he doesn't mature, this guy going to do a big zero

He may be this draft's Cam Whitmore.