2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[tontoz]

I mentioned the Dikembe comp maybe a month ago.
Except Mutombo wasn't a 3 pt shooter. Maybe Maluach
isn't either. Or maybe he is.

As a freshman Deke averaged 8 blocks per 40, 3 times as many as Maluach.

That obviously such a huge difference I would want
to dig deeper. I know Maluach played under 20 mpg
IIRC

All the more reason for him to play with effort when he was out there. He didn't have to worry about foul trouble or fatigue.

[penbeast0]

I hate fears

Tell us how you really feel...

Id be torn on drafting him at 18. If at 18 fears slips and we are sitting there I would rather reach and draft yang .

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If Fears slips to 18, there will be a real reason for it rather than just normal variance so that would matter a lot.

[penbeast0]

He would be one of the first potential stars to ever actually want Washington.

Sarr?

Truth be told, I've always wondered why foreign players, especially those for whom English is a second language, didn't have more interest in Washington. There are embassies here from even the smallest countries, lots of expat communities, more of a world view.

[closg00]

I hate fears

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Fears and Queen are the most polarizing picks in the lottery, we shall see who turns-out to be right.

[nate33]

I hate fears

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Fears and Queen are the most polarizing picks in the lottery, we shall see who turns-out to be right.

It's interesting. I don't really think of them as polarizing in that I believe there is fairly broad agreement how those players will fare in the NBA. I think most believe both Fears and Queen will be good on offense and bad on defense. I'm less certain about Fears' offense because of the turnovers, though I'm also less concerned about his defense because it's a little easier to cover for a bad defensive guard than it is a bad defensive wing. I'm quite certain Queen will be a good offensive player, but I'm absolutely terrified about his ability to defend at the critical center position.

Ultimately, I don't think the dispute is on how those guys will play. It's more about one's general philosophy on the importance of individual defense, and whether one believes a team can cover for a bad defender. People that are skeptical on Queen and Fears are the ones who believe that a single weak link on a defensive team is a fatal flaw. People that are optimistic on Queen and Fears think that teammates can cover for a bad defender and it's really not that much of a problem.

[DCZards]

I’m a defense first guy and it’s easy for me to feel that one weak defensive link can be fatal.

OTOH, if that weak link has the potential to be an exceptional offensive player (which I believe Fears can be) and you already have 3-4 very good defenders (which I believe the Zards have in Sarr, Bilal, and George) then you might take a chance on that offensive talent in the draft.

[JAR69]

He would be one of the first potential stars to ever actually want Washington.

Sarr?

Truth be told, I've always wondered why foreign players, especially those for whom English is a second language, didn't have more interest in Washington. There are embassies here from even the smallest countries, lots of expat communities, more of a world view.

This isn't the place for this (is there a team marketing thread?), but I've thought for a long time that this is the way for the Wizards to market themselves to players. We don't have a great tradition of winning, the arena is often filled with fans of other teams, our front office has traditionally been weak (better now), DC isn't a top-tier destination city like LA, NYC, or Miami, and we don't even have the Texas/Florida tax advantage. What we have is that DC is one of the most international cities in the US, for many of the reasons penbeast0 lays out. And we alreafy have a burgeoning international team with Sarr, Bilal, and George (also Vukcevic).

On the marketing side, I would start by changing the name to Inter DC or Inter DMV. Make the logo a basketball globe. Deeply involve the embassies - have every home game be for a different country, host foreign officials and leaders when they come to town, create a special lounge. Make the arena signs in 10 languages. Change the concessions to international food court-type. There is lots to do to push the international image and international friendliness.

On ther basketball side, I would get the Wizards involved in every internationl basketball outreach program there is. Sponsor a team in the BAL, send players and coaches to Africa and Asia and Latin America to run camps, play preseason games overseas, etc. Make it so that kids and fans associate Inter DC with international NBA basketball. Get the next Giannis or Luka or Wemby or Maluach to be an Inter DC fan.

None of this is likely to make a huge difference with players, but maybe a good player or two thinks they would rather be in an international city rather than, say, Milwaukee or San Antonio or Memphis. The important thing is building a winning team, but it could help on the margins.

[nate33]

I’m a defense first guy and it’s easy for me to feel that one weak defensive link can be fatal.

OTOH, if that weak link has the potential to be an exceptional offensive player (which I believe Fears can be) and you already have 3-4 very good defenders (which I believe the Zards have in Sarr, Bilal, and George) then you might take a chance on that offensive talent in the draft.

I think that could plausibly work for Fears, except that I don't really think he has Brunson-tier offensive ability.

I don't think it will work at all for Queen because it's just too hard to get your center enough touches on offense to offset his deleterious effect on D. Queen isn't Jokic. He is, at best, a poor man's Jokic, which really means something similar to Sengun or Sabonis. Sabonis has a USG% of just 21.6%. He is quite efficient, but at that volume, he isn't offsetting his negative impact on D. Sengun's has a bit higher usage at 26.2% but his efficiency suffers because he is taking tougher shots (TS% is just .546).

It's just real hard to get consistent post touches, preferably against mismatches. It's virtually impossible to get your center a 30% usage unless he has the ball-handling skills and savant court vision (to avoid double teams) of Jokic or he can dribble and slash his way into his possession more like a wing does (like Giannis).

[DCZards]

DC is an international city that should definitely be able to attract international players and the DMV is a basket-talent laden area with a lot of hardcore bball fans.

No name change or approach is necessary for the Zards to draw int. players and fans to Cap One.

The solution is easy and obvious—just win baby.

[DCZards]

I’m a defense first guy and it’s easy for me to feel that one weak defensive link can be fatal.

OTOH, if that weak link has the potential to be an exceptional offensive player (which I believe Fears can be) and you already have 3-4 very good defenders (which I believe the Zards have in Sarr, Bilal, and George) then you might take a chance on that offensive talent in the draft.

I think that could plausibly work for Fears, except that I don't really think he has Brunson-tier offensive ability.

I don't think it will work at all for Queen because it's just too hard to get your center enough touches on offense to offset his deleterious effect on D. Queen isn't Jokic.

I wasn’t making a case for Queen…only Fears.

Prior to Brunson being drafted by Dallas, I argued strenuously with another poster who had Brunson rated as a “do not draft.”

Although I didn’t think that he’d be this good, I always thought that Brunson had the craftiness and old-school PG caginess to be a good NBA player, despite not having the athleticism, size or quickness that you’d like to see. I saw Brunson as having a game similar to that of Andre Miller.

Fears is nothing like Brunson, who often bullies his way to easy hoops.

Fears will be an offensive threat based on his elite handle, quickness, and ability to get to the rim (or any other spot on the floor) off the dribble.

[closg00]

I’m a defense first guy and it’s easy for me to feel that one weak defensive link can be fatal.

OTOH, if that weak link has the potential to be an exceptional offensive player (which I believe Fears can be) and you already have 3-4 very good defenders (which I believe the Zards have in Sarr, Bilal, and George) then you might take a chance on that offensive talent in the draft.

I think that could plausibly work for Fears, except that I don't really think he has Brunson-tier offensive ability.

I don't think it will work at all for Queen because it's just too hard to get your center enough touches on offense to offset his deleterious effect on D. Queen isn't Jokic.

I wasn’t making a case for Queen…only Fears.

Prior to Brunson being drafted by Dallas, I argued strenuously with another poster who had Brunson rated as a “do not draft.”

Although I didn’t think that he’d be this good, I always thought that Brunson had the craftiness and old-school PG caginess to be a good NBA player, despite not having the athleticism, size or quickness that you’d like to see. I saw Brunson as having a game similar to that of Andre Miller.

Fears is nothing like Brunson, who often bullies his way to easy hoops.

Fears will be an offensive threat based on his elite handle, quickness, and ability to get to the rim (or any other spot on the floor) off the dribble.

I saw in some old threads that Brunson had supporters here. The wisdom of the board can be as-good or better than the conventional wisdom, there was near unanimity in opposing the selection of Jan Vesely for example.

[NatP4]

I really wanted the Wizards to S&T Kuzma for Brunson whenever he was a RFA/being shopped by Dallas.

I think we ended up trading for Monte Morris instead…

[closg00]

https://youtu.be/dHb88bvcxUo?si=SEzZytr4-fBmu1qp

This guy wouldn't touch Ace.

Great journalism and recap of the current situation.I was not aware that Ace had gotten 3 technicals in his one season, it confirms my gut reaction about him, he is not like able as a teen and I would not want to see what kind of man he turns into, red flags for a potential Michael Beasley-type headache’player.

[nate33]

https://youtu.be/dHb88bvcxUo?si=SEzZytr4-fBmu1qp

This guy wouldn't touch Ace.

Great journalism and recap of the current situation.I was not aware that Ace had gotten 3 technicals in his one season, it confirms my gut reaction about him, he is not like able as a teen and I would not want to see what kind of man he turns into, red flags for a potential Michael Beasley-type headache’player.

Yeah, it's definitely a concern. But that's also why a player with so much talent might actually be available at #6. If he had VJ's mindset, he'd be going #3 at worst. The question is, can his iffy decision-making and attitude be chalked up to immaturity, or is it a permanent feature? We just don't know enough from our vantage point. It's up to our scouts to do their due diligence. The guy is 18 years old. In the right environment with proper role models, he might turn out just fine.

[Hidden Eye]

I wouldn't worry about Ace and his "baggage" coming into draft. It's not even major red flags and he would be a good fit for the squad. Nobody can get their own bucket/has any gravity besides Poole.

Wouldn't pass him up at 6.

[penbeast0]

I wouldn't worry about Ace and his "baggage" coming into draft. It's not even major red flags and he would be a good fit for the squad. Nobody can get their own bucket/has any gravity besides Poole.

Wouldn't pass him up at 6.

Agree, but would be unhappy if they deal #6 + Sarr or Coulibaly to move up to 3 to get him.

[closg00]

I wouldn't worry about Ace and his "baggage" coming into draft. It's not even major red flags and he would be a good fit for the squad. Nobody can get their own bucket/has any gravity besides Poole.

Wouldn't pass him up at 6.

Agree, but would be unhappy if they deal #6 + Sarr or Coulibaly to move up to 3 to get him.

Compare and contrast Ace with the young players the FO has carefully assembled, Ace may not be a good culture fit IMO, for lack of a better word he appears to be a bit of a knucklehead, and possible locker room cancer if he isn’t getting enough touches and playing time. OTOH, I would not want to be like the 84 Blazers who passed on Michael Jordan.

[tontoz]

I wouldn't worry about Ace and his "baggage" coming into draft. It's not even major red flags and he would be a good fit for the squad. Nobody can get their own bucket/has any gravity besides Poole.

Wouldn't pass him up at 6.

Yeah there was no talk about his "baggage" during the season. He is a positive, energetic guy even when he is on the bench.

There were people questioning his shot selection but there was never any "cancer" talk.

[dobrojim]

The thing in that video is that he ranks on Ace not only
for his personality but his numbers ie accomplishments
on the court too. His highlights look awesome but
the total package is not impressive. He was extraordinary
in HS. Not so much at the next level. He's young which
is a rationale/excuse for his approach. And a reason
to hope he'll get better. But there are definitely concerns
and or questions. I'm not sure I would trade up for him without a whole lot of due diligence.

[PaulinVA]

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