2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft - Volume III

[the_process]

If Grimes had been drafted by the Sixers, the narrative would be so different.

I don't think he's going to be a star, but I do think he can absolutely be a solid starter whom maybe even flirts with an AS game or two going forward.

[Black Mage]

I realize this is very simplistic but I’m a simple person. Seems to me that moving past the Embiid/Podcast era we have 2, maybe three assets: Maxey, McCain and hopefully Q. All guards, none a true PG.

So why would we want another guard who isn’t a distributor? I realize BPA and all, but sheesh, we are going to load up on the same position that we already have three of?

And we have precious few draft pics moving forward as well.

We need so many young and cheap players. I think a trade down for Kon, KJ, Noa or Coward is ideal. If you can do two trade downs and get BKN pics, maybe you can get two of that list and have a pick or two moving forward.

Feel free to shoot this down, but it seems like picks in 8-12 plus a few more in the future fits our long term needs more than another guard who isn’t a distributor.

It’ll be fun to watch Tre or VJ in SL, but I’d rather have a few bigger wings with crazy upside (not Ace, because eff his loser energy) or a great passer, high IQ player like KJ, who fit the long term needs.

Just my $0.02…

It's a legitimate concern to have; but when picking inside the Top 5, the concern is less about roster fit and more about trying to find a franchise altering player. The Hawks traded out of Luka b/c they thought he was redundant to Trae Young. The Hawks would have had 2 tradable assets to replenish future picks by later trading one of Luke or Trae. If Sixers felt VJ was becoming the "real deal" they would have suitors for Maxey, McCain and Grimes.

Kon isn't solving your play creation/distributor issues either. He is heavily reliant on being set up and his on-ball shooting is highly suspect. Noa is like a concept car, he looks cool but is he ever gong to come to fruition? Coward, I like quite a bit, but seriously small sample size for a kid who is allegedly a late bloomer. KJ is probably the best play creator, but his shot was rough from 3 and there's real concern over his athleticism holding up against NBA athletes.

Just fyi I think it was either or with Trae and Luka. One went 3 and the other went 5. They could never have both. Agree with the general point though.

You are correct, I was thinking of another situation which now I'm drawing a blank on.

[Jailblazers7]

The player I’m most nervous about passing on is Kon. The stats are basically screaming that he will be a excellent player but there’s a potentially lazy assumption that he can’t guard anybody which isn’t helped by the fact that he’s white if we’re being honest.

His athletic testing was poor but his shuttle run and vertical were pretty good - potentially signaling that his short burst athleticism is good enough to player some solid defense.

If he turns into an all-star, I think we’ll look back and scratch our heads about why we weren’t higher in him given his statistical indicators.

[mjkvol]

The player I’m most nervous about passing on is Kon. The stats are basically screaming that he will be a excellent player but there’s a potentially lazy assumption that he can’t guard anybody which isn’t helped by the fact that he’s white if we’re being honest.

His athletic testing was poor but his shuttle run and vertical were pretty good - potentially signaling that his short burst athleticism is good enough to player some solid defense.

If he turns into an all-star, I think we’ll look back and scratch our heads about why we weren’t higher in him given his statistical indicators.

Some of us were and are very high on him. I'm not into grinding the numbers like many here, but I know a baller when I see one, and this kid has that in spades. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't become at the very least a solid rotation piece on a contender.

[Iverson Armband]

If Grimes had been drafted by the Sixers, the narrative would be so different.

I don't think he's going to be a star, but I do think he can absolutely be a solid starter whom maybe even flirts with an AS game or two going forward.

I’ll go a step further, if VJ ever has the kind of stretch Grimes had, there will be a whole ton of sh*t talking on this board.

[eyeatoma]

I'll be happy to be wrong on VJ and will eat humble pie, I just don't think he'll be that good.

[Arsenal]

The player I’m most nervous about passing on is Kon. The stats are basically screaming that he will be a excellent player but there’s a potentially lazy assumption that he can’t guard anybody which isn’t helped by the fact that he’s white if we’re being honest.

His athletic testing was poor but his shuttle run and vertical were pretty good - potentially signaling that his short burst athleticism is good enough to player some solid defense.

If he turns into an all-star, I think we’ll look back and scratch our heads about why we weren’t higher in him given his statistical indicators.

Kon basically gamed the system with low usage on a totally stacked team, which is inflating his efficiency compared to his peers who had the burden of shouldering the offense like Tre, KJ, Ace etc. Unlike others he had the luxury of only shooting wide open 3's, wide open driving lanes, and a premium lob threat.

His athletic testing was atrocious and on par for centers, not even close to NBA-level guards or wings. It's absolutely correct that he won't defend as he's a tweener, way too slow for guards and too small to guard forwards.

It has nothing to do with racism since everyone has acknowledged that his teammate Cooper Flagg is a tremendous athlete with excellent positional size. Crying "racism" for Kon is just another cope.

[76ciology]

Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.

[Negrodamus]

Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.

Maybe they’ll get the next KD at 10, Aces Bailey.

[76ciology]

Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.

Maybe they’ll get the next KD at 10, Aces Bailey.

KD serves as a placeholder while Jabari Smith Jr. continues to develop, and he could also play a valuable role as a mentor to him.

[mjkvol]

Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.

Much as I hate young, ascending teams trading for aging win-now pieces, this makes total sense for Houston. The only thing they really lacked was a go-to scorer in big spots, and if Durant stays healthy he fits that to a 'T'.

[Iverson Armband]

Great trade for Houston.

[mjkvol]

Not much chance this would happen, but it would make the draft for me. This is from the June 10 Bleacher Report 2-round mock.

35. Philadelphia 76ers: Chaz Lanier (Tennessee, SG)
Size: 6'4", 206 lbs
Age: 23
Nationality: USA
Pro Comparisons: Seth Curry, Alec Burks

Chaz Lanier finished second at the NBA combine in aggregate shooting, unsurprising based on his 229 made threes over the past two seasons. NBA teams that could use more offensive firepower will look past age and lack of versatility for such advanced shotmaking.


https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25203841-2025-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-player-comps

[Jailblazers7]

Makes a lot of sense for Houston. Frees up playtime for Reed Shepard, Eason, and Whitmore while adding Durant. Houston will be really good next year.

Also an interesting wrinkle to have KD in a Rockets jersey after he was the reason there was no title during the Harden era.

[the_process]

HOU did not give up either future PHX pick they're holding on to

[sodmoraes]

Someone knows if nba.com shows the draft for free or i have to pay for espn or league pass to see it? I only have Amazon here in brazil, but i want to see the draft. I think i will probably have to pay league pass for a month, or disney streaming to see it ( or look for a bootleg streaming )...

[sixers hoops]

If Ace is the BPA that's who we're taking, media slander campaign be damned. If someone else wants him, they need to PAY UP.

Yep. Morey is clearly the guy that won’t be scared off by this stuff. I just don’t know if they really like him anyway.

[OleSchool]

Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks.

Is that less than Memphis got for Bane?

[OleSchool]

Someone knows if nba.com shows the draft for free or i have to pay for espn or league pass to see it? I only have Amazon here in brazil, but i want to see the draft. I think i will probably have to pay league pass for a month, or disney streaming to see it ( or look for a bootleg streaming )...

I don't think you'll find anything for free unless u have a jailbroke fire stick.

Pay attention to twitter, here and Reddit.

**edit**

Maybe NBA. Com might have something?

[Iverson Armband]

HOU did not give up either future PHX pick they're holding on to

Their fans are delu. Some of them have the nerve to not like this deal