2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[Stromile12]

Want Fears
don't Kon
Will be essengue

[Veepy]

I hope they take the best player. Bottom tier teams without a real core should never draft on fit. If it's CMB, take him and figure out the rest later.

Yes true. Scottie/Ingram/IQ/RJ/Jak/Gradey... That's bottom tier/fake core.

You draft CMB, definitely the BPA. Lucky the 8 teams infront of us don't see it, as there has been close to no interest in him from those teams. Lucky us.

We punt our 31st pick last year Mogbo into the sun. Look to figure a trade for Scottie down the line. This could work. This direction makes sense.

Bizarre. Seems like there’s some emotional attachment to a 30 win team and players with consistency issues here.

[WuTang_CMB]

Yang betta

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

In a vacuum i agree. If they take him they believe his upside will be AT LEAST Poeltl’s ceiling. Anything more than that, its gravy. If theres one guy who can project KM better than anyone its Masai so i’ll trust it.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

In a vacuum i agree. If they take him they believe his upside will be AT LEAST Poeltl’s ceiling. Anything more than that, its gravy. If theres one guy who can project KM better than anyone its Masai so i’ll trust it.

Poeltl’s ceiling is underrated. It would be a huge win if Maluach reaches 90% of what Jak is. But I definitely agree that Masai is the guy to project it properly.

The only issue I have with Masai is him not being committed enough to his guys to pull the trigger on deals. Two MVP’s (that we know of) who he let other teams get because he wasn’t willing to pay the price.

[Grew]

I hope they take the best player. Bottom tier teams without a real core should never draft on fit. If it's CMB, take him and figure out the rest later.

Yes true. Scottie/Ingram/IQ/RJ/Jak/Gradey... That's bottom tier/fake core.

You draft CMB, definitely the BPA. Lucky the 8 teams infront of us don't see it, as there has been close to no interest in him from those teams. Lucky us.

We punt our 31st pick last year Mogbo into the sun. Look to figure a trade for Scottie down the line. This could work. This direction makes sense.

Bizarre. Seems like there’s some emotional attachment to a 30 win team and players with consistency issues here.

I wouldn't mind seeing how the team actually meshes when they are healthy. Best scorer on that team didn't even suit up. Do I want to overlap the skillset of the player we are building around? No.

Is CMB the BPA? No. Would it be really annoying to watch a tanking season just to draft rich mans mogbo with the 9th pick? Yes.

[WuTang_CMB]

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

In a vacuum i agree. If they take him they believe his upside will be AT LEAST Poeltl’s ceiling. Anything more than that, its gravy. If theres one guy who can project KM better than anyone its Masai so i’ll trust it.

Poeltl’s ceiling is underrated. It would be a huge win if Maluach reaches 90% of what Jak is. But I definitely agree that Masai is the guy to project it properly.

The only issue I have with Masai is him not being committed enough to his guys to pull the trigger on deals. Two MVP’s (that we know of) who he let other teams get because he wasn’t willing to pay the price.

Separate convo but ya. He’s a patient builder. I just like the way we’ve operated since last year’s draft with the picks and the Sac trade and BI. Just gotta keep adding to this group and let it grow.

Masai can flat out draft so we should all be excited for wednesday either way. *reversejinx*

[Grew]

Yang betta

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

Tough to say. If maluach ends up being some type of Gorbert and Yang ends up being more of a rasho nesterovic... Well I want Maluach at 9. I didn't include Rasho on the best franchise Cs for a reason

Really hard for me to evaluate what Yang will be.

[RapsFanInOhio]

Yang betta

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

I would be floored if they trade down and Maluach is on the board. If he’s there, he’s the pick.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

Tough to say. If maluach ends up being some type of Gorbert and Yang ends up being more of a rasho nesterovic... Well I want Maluach at 9. I didn't include Rasho on the best franchise Cs for a reason

Really hard for me to evaluate what Yang will be.

Those comparisons work both ways. If they both become solid bigs in the NBA I’d rather take the guy who I can get later. To me, Maluach projects as a rim runner. You’ll never throw it to him for an easy basket unless it’s a dunk, but he can’t go get his own offense. And when you throw it to him you have to worry about him actually catching it.

[Grew]

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

Tough to say. If maluach ends up being some type of Gorbert and Yang ends up being more of a rasho nesterovic... Well I want Maluach at 9. I didn't include Rasho on the best franchise Cs for a reason

Really hard for me to evaluate what Yang will be.

Those comparisons work both ways. If they both become solid bigs in the NBA I’d rather take the guy who I can get later. To me, Maluach projects as a rim runner. You’ll never throw it to him for an easy basket unless it’s a dunk, but he can’t go get his own offense. And when you throw it to him you have to worry about him actually catching it.

He did well enough on lobs, I believe he will convert around 90 percent of them in the NBA, that's better than Jak's 10 foot pushshot. Maluach is just that type of athletic rim runner/rim protector we never have on this team, I would really like to have that veritcal spacing option as well as the possibility of a defensive anchor.

Yang is more of a hub type, I do like him.

Just everyone always saying we can get one of these athletic rim runners later, thennnn we never do. Oh we can trade for one, then they are too valuable to be had for anything palatable in a deal. This fanbase has been thinking about how to aquire Capela or Okongwu since they entered the league, is Mal a 7'2 version? I would just take the plunge at 9.

If we drafted Carter at 9 and then grabbed another first for Ochai to get Yang, I would be quite happy with it. Again we always think we can trade back into the late first, and we never do it.

[WuTang_CMB]

https://waitforthescreen.substack.com/p/the-misunderstanding-of-khaman-maluachs

[WuTang_CMB]

so sad for hali man
makes it even more important we hit on this pick. cant count on the rookie(s) to contribute but still, east is wide open anything will help

[UnbelievablyRAW]

https://waitforthescreen.substack.com/p/the-misunderstanding-of-khaman-maluachs

Been saying this all draft cycle. Parallels a lot with Cody Williams being mocked top 8 solely off his measurements and what people project of him. The numbers and actual production don’t really match the hype. Zero stretches of dominance this passed year either

I’d rather Coward and trade back into the first to get Yang or another young big. Khaman isn’t necessarily a sure bet

[Raptorfan2012]

Trade with the Nets and get back Cam. RJ and 9 for 19 and 26. Add whatever is needed to make it work.

[Kreamy]

https://waitforthescreen.substack.com/p/the-misunderstanding-of-khaman-maluachs

I really hope he goes before our pick. I think he has the biggest bust potential in the top 10. If the Raps are determined to draft a big, please take Queen. At least he's shown he can play and put up numbers against the best college teams.

[KillaSham23]

https://waitforthescreen.substack.com/p/the-misunderstanding-of-khaman-maluachs

Been saying this all draft cycle. Parallels a lot with Cody Williams being mocked top 8 solely off his measurements and what people project of him. The numbers and actual production don’t really match the hype. Zero stretches of dominance this passed year either

I’d rather Coward and trade back into the first to get Yang or another young big. Khaman isn’t necessarily a sure bet

Khaman Malauch is definitely all hype. I could be wrong, but from the duke games I've watched it seemed like they made their runs with him on the bench.

Want: Jaku & fears or trade down for Traore & flemming
Okay with: kon or Queen
Don't want: Malauch, CMB, Bryant or Coward.
I say Coward because there isn't enough of a sample size

[NotMyKawhi]

Its a top 7 and khaman kas or Queen arent in it. Figure it out

[WuTang_CMB]

Look how much young depth both teams have. Indiana loses their best player and they insert and keep coming at you

Raps trending this way.

Dick
JKW
Shead
Mogbo
Battle
Ochai

Let's find more gems this week !

[Ari_Emanuel]

I’m glad we didn’t we didn’t trade for Durant. We need to continue being patient and add young cheap talent to our roster.

Hoping we get another 1st rounder and walk away with 2 of Coward, Essengue, Fleming, or Yang.

Assuming Kon or Malauch don’t fall to us.

[Tripod]

I like Yang. Alot of scouts seem to think he's not NBA ready. He doesn't use all that size in a physically dominant way. Interesting player though. Maluach has a more direct path to NBA success IMO.

In my opinion, you trade down to gain additional assets instead of spending a top 10 pick on a player of Maluach’s calibre.

I would be floored if they trade down and Maluach is on the board. If he’s there, he’s the pick.

Especially now with the Suns owning #10...they need a C