NBA Draft Thread 2025

[BigGargamel]

First two picks are a lock. Gets a lot more interesting after that

#2 should not be a lock unless you have already decided to trade Fox

#2 is a lock because Harper is very clearly the #2 player in this class. There's really no one else that should be under consideration, despite positional need. You draft the best talent and figure out a way to use him later. Good problem to have. Spurs got fortunate.

[knicksfan974]

At 16 my realistic targets are 1 of
Murray Boyles
Jakucionis
Demin
Essengue

Coach Iisalo knows both the German and the French league well, so he must have good insight on both Essengue and Traore, and I wouldn't be surprised if Memphis took either one if still available at #16. Traore is an intriguing prospect still, a year ago he was considered a top5 pick.

[FarBeyondDriven]

First two picks are a lock. Gets a lot more interesting after that

#2 should not be a lock unless you have already decided to trade Fox

Harper is easily the 2nd best player after Flagg and a tier above anyone else. The Spurs are not a good enough team to be worrying about fit, they need to take BPA and worry about it later. All reports indicate that SA is set on Harper. And why do we have to trade Fox? Harper is a 6'6" PG who can play both positions (like Castle). Spurs will be fine.

except he's not. Not at all. He's also sub 6'4" not 6'6" so while he has good size he doesn't have elite size for the position. I think the 2024 class and Harper are going to irrevocably destroy draft "experts" reputations with how off they are with their takes.

[durden_tyler]

First two picks are a lock. Gets a lot more interesting after that

#2 should not be a lock unless you have already decided to trade Fox

It’s a lock.

[UcanUwill]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

[baldur]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

College basketball doesn't work that way. There are so many cases nobody was drafted from the ncaa tournament champion team for example.

[-Luke-]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

I don't know anything about college basketball. But from what I've heard, that Rutgers team was comically incompetent outside of Harper (and Bailey), especially the bigs.

[Wingy]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

I don't know anything about college basketball. But from what I've heard, that Rutgers team was comically incompetent outside of Harper (and Bailey), especially the bigs.

I called out a certain 1 overall pick missing the tourney as a red flag years ago. The guy peaked early, faced some injuries, and clearly ended up not having ‘it’ between the ears regardless of any physical fall off. It was Ben Simmons.

I do think it’s highly troubling that a consensus #2, and a supposed top 3-5 couldn’t get there. This is still the game where individual talent matters most.

As someone above noted, college ball has a lot of factors beyond pure talent though, but to me I’d be very concerned. I think Bailey in particular is screaming bust, and a lot of people agree.

[Bornstellar]

#2 should not be a lock unless you have already decided to trade Fox

Harper is easily the 2nd best player after Flagg and a tier above anyone else. The Spurs are not a good enough team to be worrying about fit, they need to take BPA and worry about it later. All reports indicate that SA is set on Harper. And why do we have to trade Fox? Harper is a 6'6" PG who can play both positions (like Castle). Spurs will be fine.

except he's not. Not at all. He's also sub 6'4" not 6'6" so while he has good size he doesn't have elite size for the position. I think the 2024 class and Harper are going to irrevocably destroy draft "experts" reputations with how off they are with their takes.

Except he is, and you're wrong tbh. He is also not "sub 6'4" - he measured 6'4.5" barefoot at the combine which puts him around 6'6" in shoes

There's a reason teams keep calling SA about the #2 pick

[UcanUwill]

Harper is easily the 2nd best player after Flagg and a tier above anyone else. The Spurs are not a good enough team to be worrying about fit, they need to take BPA and worry about it later. All reports indicate that SA is set on Harper. And why do we have to trade Fox? Harper is a 6'6" PG who can play both positions (like Castle). Spurs will be fine.

except he's not. Not at all. He's also sub 6'4" not 6'6" so while he has good size he doesn't have elite size for the position. I think the 2024 class and Harper are going to irrevocably destroy draft "experts" reputations with how off they are with their takes.

Except he is, and you're wrong tbh. He is also not "sub 6'4" - he measured 6'4.5" barefoot at the combine which puts him around 6'6" in shoes

There's a reason teams keep calling SA about the #2 pick

We will see who ends up being right, right now, none of us have guarantee facts, I appreciate people share not popular opinions here, as long as they not being just contrarian haters like some online dumbasses could be.

A lot of these surefire top 2 picks end up not living up to the hype to be fair. Like remember how hyped Lonzo Ball was, his impact stats in college and all that, and at the end of the day he was just Lonzo Ball in the NBA. We will see how it will go.

[kodo]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

Rutgers is the first NCAA team in history to miss the tournament with two top 5 recruits, so yes. Happened 9 times in the past and all the other teams at least made the tournament.

However, the other 9 times were all with top tier programs. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky. I don't think Rutgers was ranked that high before the season.

[UcanUwill]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

Rutgers is the first NCAA team in history to miss the tournament with two top 5 recruits, so yes. Happened 9 times in the past and all the other teams at least made the tournament.

However, the other 9 times were all with top tier programs. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky. I don't think Rutgers was ranked that high before the season.

Is is good uni, because I have never heard of it honestly, why did two super prospects chose that? I imagine Harper's dad was from Rutgers?

[ChumboChappati]

Harper is easily the 2nd best player after Flagg and a tier above anyone else. The Spurs are not a good enough team to be worrying about fit, they need to take BPA and worry about it later. All reports indicate that SA is set on Harper. And why do we have to trade Fox? Harper is a 6'6" PG who can play both positions (like Castle). Spurs will be fine.

except he's not. Not at all. He's also sub 6'4" not 6'6" so while he has good size he doesn't have elite size for the position. I think the 2024 class and Harper are going to irrevocably destroy draft "experts" reputations with how off they are with their takes.

Except he is, and you're wrong tbh. He is also not "sub 6'4" - he measured 6'4.5" barefoot at the combine which puts him around 6'6" in shoes

There's a reason teams keep calling SA about the #2 pick

Teams are calling SA about the #2 pick because they know SA recently got Fox, who plays the same position. So they know it is pretty stupid to draft Fox's replacement so soon. Harper at #2 only makes sense if SA already does not believe in Fox, which is like backstabbing of high order as Fox choose SA to be traded to.

[Black Jack]

#2 pick is the woat, almost always a disappointment.

My theory is #1 guys usually a clear winner (unless its a bad year) but the team picking #2 is always pushed a consensus guy based on reputation who doesn't have the real elite skillset. And a GM would need to be really really comfortable with his job to not just take the consensus second-best player instead of saying "nah I want SGA" or whatever.

[Blame Rasho]

19th pick has been used and moved more than a town bicycle.

[Blame Rasho]

I hope that Harper ends up being the 2nd best player in this draft but historically speaking there is always some random player even in the teens or later than ends up being better than even the top pick.

I think people underrate the amount the busts there always are in the top portion of the draft. I just hope Harper isn’t one. I look at Bailey and it seems like he just screams bust.

I think Johnson can be one of the better players because of his shooting.

[okboomer]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

Rutgers is the first NCAA team in history to miss the tournament with two top 5 recruits, so yes. Happened 9 times in the past and all the other teams at least made the tournament.

However, the other 9 times were all with top tier programs. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky. I don't think Rutgers was ranked that high before the season.

Is is good uni, because I have never heard of it honestly, why did two super prospects chose that? I imagine Harper's dad was from Rutgers?

It's not a good school for basketball, Harper is from New Jersey so it makes sense as it was close to where he went to high school. Ace went there because of NIL. I think Harper will be very good, I dont see it at all from Ace from an offensive perspective.

[FarBeyondDriven]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

it's because the college game is dominated by guard play and bigs and Rutgers lacked the big and Harper is vastly overrated. Any truly elite point guard prospect, no matter the surrounding cast, should be good enough to will his team to the tournament. We've seen it throughout history from conferences big and small. Harper just isn't that guy no matter the narrative from draft "gurus" crafted 18 months ago. He's good but definitely not "easily the 2nd best player in the draft" good.

[okboomer]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best prospect, and another top 5 prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

it's because the college game is dominated by guard play and bigs and Rutgers lacked the big and Harper is vastly overrated. Any truly elite point guard prospect, no matter the surrounding cast, should be good enough to will his team to the tournament. We've seen it throughout history from conferences big and small. Harper just isn't that guy no matter the narrative from draft "gurus" crafted 18 months ago. He's good but definitely not "easily the 2nd best player in the draft" good.

Arizona State didnt make the tournament in Hardens's freshman year. Carry on though.

[DreamTeam09]

this probably been asked before, but how come a team with second best * freshman prospect, and another top 5 freshman prospect, didn't even make the tournament? Isn't that at all a red flag of sorts?

Duke had 3 top 10 freshman picks including the #1 & got to the final 4 /

The team that won it their best prospect is a Sr going in the 15-25 range