2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[Rafael122]

For an organization that is supposedly tight lip, there are an awful lot of rumors of us trying to trade up.

[tontoz]

I LOVE that they are going after Harper. Outside of our future picks i would give up anything to get him.

I am also excited about possibly getting Ace.

Man it is going to be such a letdown if my top 5 guys are gone before we pick.

[TGW]

I LOVE that they are going after Harper. Outside of our future picks i would give up anything to get him.

I am also excited about possibly getting Ace.

Man it is going to be such a letdown if my top 5 guys are gone before we pick.

If they want Harper that badly, I think they need to trade for #3 (absorbing PG's contract), and then add sweetener from #3 to get to #2.

The article said suprising names. My guess is that it's Bilal if there's any truth to the rumor.

[tontoz]

For an organization that is supposedly tight lip, there are an awful lot of rumors of us trying to trade up.

It makes sense for the Spurs to put this out there to start a bidding war.

[NatP4]

For an organization that is supposedly tight lip, there are an awful lot of rumors of us trying to trade up.

Probably because the teams at 2&3 really want to trade down.

Little worried that “surprising names” might mean Coulibaly. Hopefully it’s Carrington. I’d do as much as Carrington, 6, and the OKC 2026 1st.

I do think it’s far more likely that we eat the PG contract and swap 3&2. Spurs might wanna swing on Bailey at 3.

[AFM]

Uh oh...

[PaulinVA]

Adridge did his update on the center prospects today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6435925/2025/06/20/nba-draft-confidential-bigs-centers-2025/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=7030725&source=dailyemail

I figured the "league opinions" on Queen would be the most clamored for here (NOTE: the comments on Maluach were GLOWING):

Derik Queen | 6-9 big | 20 years old | Maryland

Eastern Conference executive No. 1: I’ve been telling our guys, you watch him before the games, and he (seems) lackadaisical. He doesn’t show a serious side. And that’s a turnoff to some people. I’m like, think of Naz Reid when he was at LSU. It was the same damn thing. The games never get too big for (Queen).

College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Maryland): The skill is real. The knowledge of the game, and how to get to where he needs to go, crafty, is a real thing. He’s not jumping over a phone book. I worry about, can he guard? Who he’s going to guard is my question. I don’t worry about him at all on offense. But I don’t think he can guard fives. I don’t think he’s great in pick-and-roll defense, and I don’t think he can move well enough laterally to guard Giannis and Michael Porter Jr., these scorers. He tries on defense, I think. I just don’t think he moves well enough for it to be as good as it needs to be if he’s not going to be a guy who’s going to be super efficient on offense.

I like him a lot (though). He can pass. He’s a willing passer. He actually wants to pass. He can really see the floor. He can survey. He can get to his spot. He can make a shot off both feet. He can knock you off balance. He can get to the free-throw line. He’s a good rebounder. There’s a lot to like. The defensive part is where I have questions. Who’s he guarding? Can he guard (Mikal) Bridges? Can he guard Josh Hart? Can he guard Stew (Isaiah Stewart), the next tier of guys who aren’t the primary offensive option, but they know how to cut, how to go to the glass?

College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Maryland): I am not a Derik Queen guy. He can’t shoot. Look at his 3-point percentage and number of attempts. I don’t know who he’s going to guard. Very skilled with the ball, because he’s got great hands. Good from 15 feet on in. Doesn’t run fast or hard. But he hardly took any 3s. And the way the NBA game is right now, what are you gonna do? But he’s a great rebounder.

Western Conference scout No. 1: Nice kid. Heavy emphasis on kid. We interviewed him, and he’s 19 going on 14. He can do one thing: he can score. But you don’t want to have to rely on a rookie scoring for you to contribute.

[AFM]

Adridge did his update on the center prospects today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6435925/2025/06/20/nba-draft-confidential-bigs-centers-2025/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=7030725&source=dailyemail

I figured the "league opinions" on Queen would be the most clamored for here:

Derik Queen | 6-9 big | 20 years old | Maryland
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: I’ve been telling our guys, you watch him before the games, and he (seems) lackadaisical. He doesn’t show a serious side. And that’s a turnoff to some people. I’m like, think of Naz Reid when he was at LSU. It was the same damn thing. The games never get too big for (Queen).

College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Maryland): The skill is real. The knowledge of the game, and how to get to where he needs to go, crafty, is a real thing. He’s not jumping over a phone book. I worry about, can he guard? Who he’s going to guard is my question. I don’t worry about him at all on offense. But I don’t think he can guard fives. I don’t think he’s great in pick-and-roll defense, and I don’t think he can move well enough laterally to guard Giannis and Michael Porter Jr., these scorers. He tries on defense, I think. I just don’t think he moves well enough for it to be as good as it needs to be if he’s not going to be a guy who’s going to be super efficient on offense.

I like him a lot (though). He can pass. He’s a willing passer. He actually wants to pass. He can really see the floor. He can survey. He can get to his spot. He can make a shot off both feet. He can knock you off balance. He can get to the free-throw line. He’s a good rebounder. There’s a lot to like. The defensive part is where I have questions. Who’s he guarding? Can he guard (Mikal) Bridges? Can he guard Josh Hart? Can he guard Stew (Isaiah Stewart), the next tier of guys who aren’t the primary offensive option, but they know how to cut, how to go to the glass?

College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Maryland): I am not a Derik Queen guy. He can’t shoot. Look at his 3-point percentage and number of attempts. I don’t know who he’s going to guard. Very skilled with the ball, because he’s got great hands. Good from 15 feet on in. Doesn’t run fast or hard. But he hardly took any 3s. And the way the NBA game is right now, what are you gonna do? But he’s a great rebounder.

Western Conference scout No. 1: Nice kid. Heavy emphasis on kid. We interviewed him, and he’s 19 going on 14. He can do one thing: he can score. But you don’t want to have to rely on a rookie scoring for you to contribute.

East Coast Amateur Scout No. 1: He somehow both has pockets fatter than Dairy Queen, and he turns the low post to a scary scene. Plus his footwork is very mean. Pairs well with Washington’s Paris teens.

[Rafael122]

I LOVE that they are going after Harper. Outside of our future picks i would give up anything to get him.

I am also excited about possibly getting Ace.

Man it is going to be such a letdown if my top 5 guys are gone before we pick.

If they want Harper that badly, I think they need to trade for #3 (absorbing PG's contract), and then add sweetener from #3 to get to #2.

The article said suprising names. My guess is that it's Bilal if there's any truth to the rumor.

Agreed, it's a two prong approach. Something like Holmes, Middleton, and 6 for George and 3.

[prime1time]

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[nate33]

There is another big difference between Bailey and MPJ. MPJ really has to load up to shoot his jumper. He bends way down with the ball and then goes up which gives the defender time to close out on him.

Bailey is a quick strike artist. People talk about him not creating space off the dribble before he shoots. Most of the time he doesn't need to because his release is so quick.

Check out this vid. I only watched the start of it but look at the move he makes at the 55 second mark. He looks so smooth it is easy to miss that he shot it left handed. He made random moves like this inside that made me go .

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Good point about Bailey's left hand. He made a few of those in that video. With that kind of touch with either hand, he should evolve into a very good finisher as his handle improves.

[nate33]

For an organization that is supposedly tight lip, there are an awful lot of rumors of us trying to trade up.

Probably because the teams at 2&3 really want to trade down.

Little worried that “surprising names” might mean Coulibaly. Hopefully it’s Carrington. I’d do as much as Carrington, 6, and the OKC 2026 1st.

I do think it’s far more likely that we eat the PG contract and swap 3&2. Spurs might wanna swing on Bailey at 3.

I'd do #6 plus #18 plus Carrington.

[tontoz]

Ordinarily i prefer they drive a hard bargain in negotiations, in contracts or trades, but not in this case. I would trade 6+18 and anyone to get Harper, or 6+ any two players.

[nate33]

Adridge did his update on the center prospects today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6435925/2025/06/20/nba-draft-confidential-bigs-centers-2025/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=7030725&source=dailyemail

Khaman Maluach | 7-1 big | 18 years old | Duke

College head coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): I actually think he has the biggest upside of anybody in the draft. … He’s huge. And he’s long. He’s a good athlete. And I think he has natural defensive instincts. He shoots the ball better than I think, maybe, he was able to show this year. He’s a live body. He’s enthusiastic about playing. It seems he loves the process, is not afraid of it. He’s competitive. He’s not afraid. He’s ready to mix it up if he needs to. His length, size and athleticism, and then when you add those other things, I think the only thing that could stop him is injury.

Western Conference executive No. 1: Guys like him are only in one place for 11 to 13 years, and they’re starters. What’s the worst scenario he could be? Clint Capela? If you watched him in FIBA, offensively, it’s two completely different talents than he showed at Duke. In FIBA, he’s shooting 3s. At Duke … no. But there were a couple of times where he did do it and you’re like, ah, that’s what I saw at FIBA. He plays hard. He seems like a great kid. Rebounds. And Duke bigs — (Dereck) Lively was undervalued, and he’s turned out to be damned good. Mark Williams. The general manager who has enough (guts) to take him earlier than Tre, maybe even Edgecombe, I could see him being the under the radar (pick) that nobody’s really pinpointing to maybe screw up the (draft) order a little bit.

College assistant coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): I got up next to the kid. He’s huge. And he’s untapped. He’s got a world of potential. He goes after everything. He rebounds. And offensively, he’s untapped.

[NatP4]

Ordinarily i prefer they drive a hard bargain in negotiations, in contracts or trades, but not in this case. I would trade 6+18 and anyone to get Harper, or 6+ any two players.

I’m guessing the offer is Bilal+#6

But #3+Carrington+#18 or 2026 OKC 1st is probably a better offer for the Spurs. They can draft Bailey and have a starting 5 of Fox-Carrington-Castle-Bailey-Wemby.

The Wizards aren’t parting with Carrington though.

[DCZards]

Ordinarily i prefer they drive a hard bargain in negotiations, in contracts or trades, but not in this case. I would trade 6+18 and anyone to get Harper, or 6+ any two players.

I’m guessing the offer is Bilal+#6

But #3+Carrington+#18 or 2026 OKC 1st is probably a better offer for the Spurs. They can draft Bailey and have a starting 5 of Fox-Carrington-Castle-Bailey-Wemby.

The Wizards aren’t parting with Carrington though.

I don’t think the Zards FO would have any problem trading Bub if it landed them the second pick and Harper.

[nate33]

Ordinarily i prefer they drive a hard bargain in negotiations, in contracts or trades, but not in this case. I would trade 6+18 and anyone to get Harper, or 6+ any two players.

I’m guessing the offer is Bilal+#6

But #3+Carrington+#18 or 2026 OKC 1st is probably a better offer for the Spurs. They can draft Bailey and have a starting 5 of Fox-Carrington-Castle-Bailey-Wemby.

The Wizards aren’t parting with Carrington though.

I don’t think the Zards FO would have any problem trading Bub if it landed them the second pick and Harper.

Agreed. It's a no-brainer.

The issue with Carrington is that he is slightly undersized at the SG position. If he remains there, he will be a below-average starter at best. Carrington's best-case scenario is if he hones his penetration skills and fashions himself into a full-time PG. That definitely could happen, but it won't happen while alongside Harper. Carrington's other outcome is to be a 6th man who plays both positions. That's also a very nice outcome, but I'd much rather trade away a future 6th man than a future starting forward like Bilal.

[AFM]

If we trade Bub, that would mean Deni for Harper. We could then permanently lock that Deni thread and I’ll stop losing my hair.

[FAH1223]

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[J-Ves]

The Wiz FO is coming across as desperate. Wonder if there’s added pressure to get this rebuild off the ground from Ted