2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft - Volume III

[76ciology]

That's not a mock.

Projection. Yeah, my bad. Almost same description for me.

[Covi_Marsh]

Ace and Cam Thomas ending up on the same team is gonna be hilarious. Sick tank potential. Especially with them being the big cap space team in a year with no free agents. They should collect assets as a trade facilitator taking on salary and tank hard.

If that's the case make sure we trade #3 for #8 and their own 26 first round pick.

I’d definitely need a Brooklyn future pick to move back. That ‘28 pick we sent them is top 7 protected then turns to a 2nd. If embiid is washed we can run this season give our pick to Thunder then have all our picks for the future in a rebuild effort.

[OleSchool]

Ace and Cam Thomas ending up on the same team is gonna be hilarious. Sick tank potential. Especially with them being the big cap space team in a year with no free agents. They should collect assets as a trade facilitator taking on salary and tank hard.

If that's the case make sure we trade #3 for #8 and their own 26 first round pick.

I’d definitely need a Brooklyn future pick to move back. That ‘28 pick we sent them is top 7 protected then turns to a 2nd. If embiid is washed we can run this season give our pick to Thunder then have all our picks for the future in a rebuild effort.

How does the pick we owe the Nets work? 2 years after the OKC pick is conveyed we owe the Nets but if it's not conveyed by 26 it converts to 2nds???

[M2J]

https://www.youtube.com/live/iMEzpSo6UXQ


Bleacher report with Jake Fischer saying a bunch of Philly stuff

Says teams assume Philly takes VJ (good job Daryl). He thinks Yabu is gone due to Grimes costing more than they assumed when trading for him.... But that's speculation based on 2nd Apron talk. Plus a bunch of other speculation


I think it would be stupid for Daryl to let Yabu or Grimes go due to 2nd Apron. That only matters at the end of the season if you're over the apron. Therefore you can play it out and build their value by playing them and trade them or trade someone else with some seconds or something to get under the apron if you want by the deadline.... Primarily Gordon and Andre

[Arsenal]

If that's the case make sure we trade #3 for #8 and their own 26 first round pick.

I’d definitely need a Brooklyn future pick to move back. That ‘28 pick we sent them is top 7 protected then turns to a 2nd. If embiid is washed we can run this season give our pick to Thunder then have all our picks for the future in a rebuild effort.

How does the pick we owe the Nets work? 2 years after the OKC pick is conveyed we owe the Nets but if it's not conveyed by 26 it converts to 2nds???

Yes it's now our 2028 1st to BKN since we're not conveying a 1st to OKC until 2026.

If our 28 1st is top 8 we keep it, otherwise it goes to BKN. Therefore it's not that valuable since we can just tank and keep it.

If that happens, we only owe BKN a 2nd instead.

[Jailblazers7]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

[76ciology]

https://www.espn.ph/nba/story/_/id/44888875/nba-draft-2025-projecting-30-best-prospects

Pelton got Kon and VJ over Dylan Harper in his latest projections.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs take VJ over Harper. VJ has a more promising shooting profile, with a better off the dribble jumper #s from both midrange and 3 compared to Harper. While he struggled early in the season, he turned it around during conference play, posting a 58% TS after the first two months.

Teams reportedly high on VJ
- Sixers
- Hornets
- Wizards
- Pelicans?

I think Jazz would like to join but they know VJ wont be available at their spot.

Pelton on Kon

Knueppel posted a .642 true shooting percentage on 35% usage in 2023, giving him the strongest projection based solely on EYBL play of any draft prospect who competed in either 2022 or 2023.

[youngcrev]

Why would we take Thabo Sefolosha at #8 in prospects = their NBA comp world?

One of the dumbest comparisons I've seen.

You must be really desperate to defend your boy VJ Melton.

Long athletic French wings with zero offensive skill? Just not a believer in his YouTube. Ugly offensive game and I just don't think he's big enough to do the things he does over there. If he had freakish measurements I could be in, but he doesn't. Shooting numbers stink.

I'm kinda surprised you'd be in as much as you are on him and be anti-VJ. I think a high end outcome (defensive role playing starter) is a lower end outcome for VJ.

I've pretty consistently said I'd trade down since I don't see the value of taking any of these guys at #3 even though I like some of them. That includes VJ. I also think staying at 3 and taking VJ is the most likely outcome, so I'm preparing myself for it.

[Covi_Marsh]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

Tre has a slow first step which can be helped with a pick and his shooting will force players to come over the screen and he has the playmaking to pass to the big if their big hedges. So I can see a fit but he has not shown anything outside of offense. I don’t even think Nurse cares about elite in ball defense. He wants disruption in passing lanes which Tre hasn’t even show a willingness to do. Doesn’t rebound a lick either. VJ is more of a Morey prospect just because of elite transition play which is high efficiency. He fits in Nurse disruptive defense. He’s athletic. And he does the non-box score elite plays.

Tre has slow lateral movement which is physical. He will always be food on defense. And the ppl that see upside in his defense or rim attacks but laugh at Ace who is faster and more agile then Tre is crazy.

[Foshan]

really not sure i'm comfortable moving back to 8 at this point. Maybe if something crazy happens and Tre slips... but i don't see it. I feel like a lot of the stuff that is getting posted now is just click bait stuff. 3-6 i can talk myself into the value we got taking 'our star' at 3, or trading down for extra value... but after 6 i'd really have a tough time.

[Covi_Marsh]

really not sure i'm comfortable moving back to 8 at this point. Maybe if something crazy happens and Tre slips... but i don't see it. I feel like a lot of the stuff that is getting posted now is just click bait stuff. 3-6 i can talk myself into the value we got taking 'our star' at 3, or trading down for extra value... but after 6 i'd really have a tough time.

I feel like if we move back to 8 it would be
1 Cooper
2 Harper
3 Bailey
4 Edgecombe
5 Tre
6 Fears
7 Khaman Maluach
8 Kon

[OleSchool]

I’d definitely need a Brooklyn future pick to move back. That ‘28 pick we sent them is top 7 protected then turns to a 2nd. If embiid is washed we can run this season give our pick to Thunder then have all our picks for the future in a rebuild effort.

How does the pick we owe the Nets work? 2 years after the OKC pick is conveyed we owe the Nets but if it's not conveyed by 26 it converts to 2nds???

Yes it's now our 2028 1st to BKN since we're not conveying a 1st to OKC until 2026.

If our 28 1st is top 8 we keep it, otherwise it goes to BKN. Therefore it's not that valuable since we can just tank and keep it.

If that happens, we only owe BKN a 2nd instead.

Ok I thought there was some weird protection where if it doesn't convey by 26 it turns to seconds.

Thanks for the clarification!

*edit*

Should've stopped be so damn lazy and googled it. According to ESPN

Brooklyn will receive Philadelphia's unprotected 2022 first-round pick, with the right to defer it to 2023, as well as a top-8-protected 2027 first-round pick, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. That pick would remain top-8 protected in 2028, and will turn into two second-round picks -- and $2 million in cash -- if it doesn't convey in either season, sources said.

[FlyingArrow]

What is the case for VJ over Tre?

There isn't one, it's the case where athleticism, and defense make people wonder if he'll be a superstar, just because he got better on offense in the last 2 years.

Tre Johnson is a generational shooter which every team in the league would covet. You can find good defenders a dime a dozen. VJ is not someone you take with the #3 pick when your team is on the brink of losing it's franchise star to injuries. You swing for the fences, I said the same about Ace, but he's a jackoff, Tre is the next best option. At worst he's a great 3 point shooter which every team can use. At best, he's one of the top scorers in the league.

I haven't followed the prospects at all, but Tre's passing highlights were enough to convince me. Even assuming the rest of his game has no other standout abilities - just "average for a top 5 pick", I'd choose him above Ace or VJ. (Or Harper, tbh. A guard should be a shooter.) If Tre's scoring is even better than his passing, then why isn't he consensus #2? I almost hesitate to talk about it, because I don't want to see San Antonio get any ideas.

[eyeatoma]

What is the case for VJ over Tre?

There isn't one, it's the case where athleticism, and defense make people wonder if he'll be a superstar, just because he got better on offense in the last 2 years.

Tre Johnson is a generational shooter which every team in the league would covet. You can find good defenders a dime a dozen. VJ is not someone you take with the #3 pick when your team is on the brink of losing it's franchise star to injuries. You swing for the fences, I said the same about Ace, but he's a jackoff, Tre is the next best option. At worst he's a great 3 point shooter which every team can use. At best, he's one of the top scorers in the league.

I haven't followed the prospects at all, but Tre's passing highlights were enough to convince me. Even assuming the rest of his game has no other standout abilities - just "average for a top 5 pick", I'd choose him above Ace or VJ. (Or Harper, tbh. A guard should be a shooter.) If Tre's scoring is even better than his passing, then why isn't he consensus #2? I almost hesitate to talk about it, because I don't want to see San Antonio get any ideas.

Because he doesn't drive, and he doesn't play a lick of d.

[eyeatoma]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

Tre also averaged 20 ppg in the hardest conference in the NCAA, and was not put in a good position on his team.

[Negrodamus]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

Tre also averaged 20 ppg in the hardest conference in the NCAA, and was not put in a good position on his team.

VJ played against more top 50 defenses. For all the hype of the SEC (and I’m one of the fan boys), they were pretty bad defensively comparatively speaking.

[the_process]

Morey has been far less imaginative and experimental as a GM than I expected. In a grand sense, we've made major roster moves (Horford/Simmons/Harden/George), but it's also been pretty telegraphed.

So what's a chalk off-season look like right now? Because that's what feels like Morey at this point to me.

Something really basic like draft VJ at 3, dump Gordon and/or Drummond's salary at the cost of a 2nd or 2 to get some apron flexibility (or do some manipulative Morey stuff to get them to opt out with false promises ), re-sign Grimes and Yabu, and then bring in some vet minimums.

G: Maxey, McCain, VJ, Grimes, Butler
F: Podcast, Yabu, Oubre, Edwards
C: Embiid, Bona, vet min guy

Pretty underwhelming. Gotta be more than that... Right?

All of Morey's big moves have been telegraphed a mile away, agreed.

I'd argue for this draft that means he's trading the pick. Most of the noise has been about being open for business.

Yabu can only be re-signed if he takes the TMLE. Otherwise, they can't hard cap themselves at the 1st apron with a lottery pick and Grimes to sign and then the potential for other trades. Because another telegraphed Morey move is chasing available stars. And there will be teams looking to move big money players.

[eyeatoma]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

Tre also averaged 20 ppg in the hardest conference in the NCAA, and was not put in a good position on his team.

VJ played against more top 50 defenses. For all the hype of the SEC (and I’m one of the fan boys), they were pretty bad defensively comparatively speaking.

People can throw all the stats out there, but the chasm in shooting from Tre and VJ is like comparing Nikola Jokic to Kelly Olynk. Yeah they're both good passing big men, but there are levels here.

Tre is 1 of 1, and Vj, is a good set shooter. Even in the most optimistic timelines VJ will not be a pure shooter. The sky is the limit for Tre as far as offense goes.

[Negrodamus]

Tre also averaged 20 ppg in the hardest conference in the NCAA, and was not put in a good position on his team.

VJ played against more top 50 defenses. For all the hype of the SEC (and I’m one of the fan boys), they were pretty bad defensively comparatively speaking.

People can throw all the stats out there, but the chasm in shooting from Tre and VJ is like comparing Nikola Jokic to Kelly Olynk. Yeah they're both good passing big men, but there are levels here.

Tre is 1 of 1, and Vj, is a good set shooter. Even in the most optimistic timelines VJ will not be a pure shooter. The sky is the limit for Tre as far as offense goes.

Big chasm in shooting, and VJ does everything else better. The shooting chasm between Lillard and Jimmy Butler is huge… because they’re different players. It’s a confusing point to make because shooting isn’t the only aspect of the game.

[Phillybul]

I love how we’ve got people on here saying there is no case for VJ over Tre. Many professional talent evaluators (including Daryl Morey possibly) have VJ over Tre. I’m totally open to the case for Tre at this point - in fact I think you can make a decent case for 3-4 different players at our draft slot.

Looking at season splits one thing to note:

Tre Johnson in conference play:
40% FG, 36% 3pt, 90% FT 3 apg, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 stocks

VJ Edgecombe in conference play:
45% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 3.3 apt, 2 TOV, 2.3 stocks

SEC is obviously a better conference so you've gotta mentally account for that but VJ faired better in conference play when scouting & talent level gets better.

Tre has a slow first step which can be helped with a pick and his shooting will force players to come over the screen and he has the playmaking to pass to the big if their big hedges. So I can see a fit but he has not shown anything outside of offense. I don’t even think Nurse cares about elite in ball defense. He wants disruption in passing lanes which Tre hasn’t even show a willingness to do. Doesn’t rebound a lick either. VJ is more of a Morey prospect just because of elite transition play which is high efficiency. He fits in Nurse disruptive defense. He’s athletic. And he does the non-box score elite plays.

Tre has slow lateral movement which is physical. He will always be food on defense. And the ppl that see upside in his defense or rim attacks but laugh at Ace who is faster and more agile then Tre is crazy.

Tre first step is about as good as Devin Bookers and James Harden. If Tre can buy in on defense and show a willingness to play it? I think he will be alright. That’s all you need really is a willingness to play defense. Shai, Tatum, Haliburton did it. If Tre is the gym rat they say he is. I see the potential to not be a cone/liability. I’m onboard the Tre wagon over VJ. Whether Morey does that or not I have no clue lol Gonna have to accept whomever he decides.