2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

closg00 · Post #1001 » by **closg00** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:29 pm

As-of today, I believe we will end-up with Johnson, Fears and Bailey will be nabbed ahead of us. Also, I’ll be waiting to see if the player we selected is traded.

BMagic · Post #1002 » by **BMagic** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:30 pm

AFM wrote:Chat GPT asked me who my “nightmare pick” at 6 is and I said KK.

This was its response:

Kon Kneuppel

No, you absolutely do not have to explain why. But I’ll say it for the record:
• Unathletic gym rat vibes
• Looks like he was created in a Duke lab to sell insurance in four years
• Zero defensive upside
• Only thing he does well is shoot set shots… off-ball… on a team that can’t generate space
• Basically Corey Kispert 2.0, if Kispert had even less lateral quickness

If the Wizards take him at #6, it’ll be the most Wizards pick since Jan Veselý. Like, why go for upside when you can just draft a safe 8th man for a G-League team?

I didn’t mention Vesely or Kispert once, it just knows…

Read on Twitter

Troy highly doubts the FO is into Kon at all. Seems to be between Bailey/Fears/Tre. Maluach could be a dark horse, but his offensive skill set is so limited at this juncture.

tontoz · Post #1003 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:39 pm

awolfinwater wrote:As opposed to all the noise from various "sources", this is a look at the current betting market for each draft position for the first 6 picks.

3.
Edgecombe -250
Bailey +400
4.
Kneuppel +180
Bailey +300
5.
Johnson +180
Bailey +300
6.
Bailey +275
Fears +300
Maluach +400

So it seems like the Hornets are the only team interested in Kon. I guess they like him as a compliment to Lamelo and Miller.

JAR69 · Post #1004 » by **JAR69** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:39 pm

payitforward wrote:Doc -- in your picture, Maluach would pretty much have to go at 5; he isn't leapfrogging Flagg or Harper, & I can't see him off the board before Ace or Edge either.

But, Maluach isn't going to Utah at 5!
Utah already has a terrific young Center & played their rookie backup almost 1600 minutes as well.

So that's the danger -- that the Nets trade w/ Utah & leapfrog usl

But... we are better positioned than the Nets to trade w/ Utah. Our 6 & 18 for their 5 & 21.

Moreover, if we don't trade up with Utah, the Nets would be better off trading with us than the Jazz. Plus, a trade w/ us would cost less than a trade for 5.

Overall, since Maluach is *definitely* not going to Utah, Brooklyn & the Wiz will wind up deciding what he's worth. They aren't going to let Danny play them off against each other that's for sure!

(Obviously, somebody could come out of left field with an offer, but...)

This is about how I see the most likely version of the draft playing out. Hawkins has shown that he gets focused on a player, then is willing to trade up to get him. Ainge always wants more draft assets, and trading up one spot guarnatees Utah that they get their player of choice, or can trade down a second time. FWIW, I could see it playing out this way with Fears or Tre going earlier, then the Wizards trading up with Utah to get whichever one of Ace or Maluach they are targeting.

80sballboy · Post #1005 » by **80sballboy** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:42 pm

Rafael122 wrote:Latest ESPN mock:

6 - Ace Bailey
18 - Liam McNeeley
40 - Bogoljub Markovic

They have Queen going to OKC which would just be an embarrassment of riches.

I saw that and Queen to OKC would be fine if he has Chet next to him or even Hartenstein. I did like McNeeley coming out of HS. But the ankle injury did limit him last season and he'd be thought of, I guess, as a Corey Kispert replacement. He does have some potential as a secondary ballhandler and is 6-8 in shoes. Considering his season at UConn, he's barely a first-round pick.

But if they take Bailey, I assume they'd go big or take a point guard if one is available. I doubt they take another forward.

Post #1006 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:43 pm

TGW wrote:
NatP4 wrote:
TGW wrote:I can't wait for the collective implosion of this board when the Wizards take Kon Kneuppel.

Put me on record. I prefer Knueppel to Bailey, easily.

You're not the only one. There are several insiders (including Givony) who have Kon as their 4th/5th overall prospect. To say he's not someone they're considering at #6 is silly.

Kevin Pelton has him listed as #2 behind Flagg. Personally, I'm more impressed with Essengue but I've been wrong far more than I've been right trying to buck conventional wisdom about draftees.

NatP4 · Post #1007 » by **NatP4** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:45 pm

McNeeley would be a terrible pick at 18. Stay far away

80sballboy · Post #1008 » by **80sballboy** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:54 pm

All the mocks now seem to have Bailey in the 5-8 range. Yahoo (KOC) has Tre Johnson at 6 and CMB at 18.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall

CBS has Ace to us and Asa Newell at 18.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2025-nba-mock-draft-tre-johnson-moves-up-ace-bailey-plummets-in-latest-projections/

SB Nation -Tre Johnson to us and Egor at 18.
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2025/6/23/24451800/nba-mock-draft-2025-updated-projection-with-nba-finals-now-over

Consensus Ace, Fears and Tre all at No. 6, at three apiece in 10 updated mock drafts.
https://www.nba.com/news/2025-consensus-mock-draft

TGW · Post #1009 » by **TGW** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:17 pm

BMagic wrote:
Troy highly doubts the FO is into Kon at all. Seems to be between Bailey/Fears/Tre. Maluach could be a dark horse, but his offensive skill set is so limited at this juncture.

Troy Haliburton is getting fed alot of misinformation purposefully in my opinion. Someone told him they were attempting to trade up to draft Fears or Queen...total nonsense but he reports it like it's credible.

Post #1010 » by **Rafael122** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:20 pm

TGW wrote:
BMagic wrote:
Troy highly doubts the FO is into Kon at all. Seems to be between Bailey/Fears/Tre. Maluach could be a dark horse, but his offensive skill set is so limited at this juncture.

Troy Haliburton is getting fed alot of misinformation purposefully in my opinion. Someone told him they were attempting to trade up to draft Fears or Queen...total nonsense but he reports it like it's credible.

I mean trading up from 18 to get Queen is not out of the realm of possibility.

TGW · Post #1011 » by **TGW** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:21 pm

Rafael122 wrote:
TGW wrote:
BMagic wrote:
Troy highly doubts the FO is into Kon at all. Seems to be between Bailey/Fears/Tre. Maluach could be a dark horse, but his offensive skill set is so limited at this juncture.

Troy Haliburton is getting fed alot of misinformation purposefully in my opinion. Someone told him they were attempting to trade up to draft Fears or Queen...total nonsense but he reports it like it's credible.

I mean trading up from 18 to get Queen is not out of the realm of possibility.

That's entirely true (I originally thought he meant from #6, because that's what he was asked). I still think he's getting fed bad info IMO.

NatP4 · Post #1012 » by **NatP4** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:33 pm

TGW wrote:
BMagic wrote:
Troy highly doubts the FO is into Kon at all. Seems to be between Bailey/Fears/Tre. Maluach could be a dark horse, but his offensive skill set is so limited at this juncture.

Troy Haliburton is getting fed alot of misinformation purposefully in my opinion. Someone told him they were attempting to trade up to draft Fears or Queen...total nonsense but he reports it like it's credible.

He said we are “locked in on Fears”. Does anyone believe that is actually the case?

NatP4 · Post #1013 » by **NatP4** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 6:28 pm

Read on Twitter

AFM · Post #1014 » by **AFM** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 6:34 pm

NatP4 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Queen at 6 and Fears at 18????

NatP4 · Post #1015 » by **NatP4** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 7:13 pm

This would be a great outcome:

Read on Twitter

tontoz · Post #1016 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 7:21 pm

Tankathon just updated their mock and they have Kon at 4 as well.

NatP4 · Post #1017 » by **NatP4** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 7:55 pm

Yeah, this is looking like the Wiz are locked in with Ace.

Utah is not taking him. They are going Fears or Tre. NOP will take whichever one falls.

Dallas: Flagg
SAS: Harper
Philly: VJ
Charlotte: Kon
Utah: Tre/Fears
Washington: Ace
NOP: Fears/Tre

Both Utah&Washington have been smoke screening to try and get NOP or BKN (both have multiple 1sts) to move up for Fears.

closg00 · Post #1018 » by **closg00** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:48 pm

I don't want Essengue @18, I hope he is selected earlier.

tontoz · Post #1019 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:14 pm

Fwiw this is from the sixers board. If they stay at 3 and pick vj I think things are looking good for us.

Kanyewest · Post #1020 » by **Kanyewest** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:24 pm

penbeast0 wrote:
TGW wrote:
NatP4 wrote:
Put me on record. I prefer Knueppel to Bailey, easily.

You're not the only one. There are several insiders (including Givony) who have Kon as their 4th/5th overall prospect. To say he's not someone they're considering at #6 is silly.

Kevin Pelton has him listed as #2 behind Flagg. Personally, I'm more impressed with Essengue but I've been wrong far more than I've been right trying to buck conventional wisdom about draftees.

Sam Vecenie has him #3 as well in his draft guide. Has Fears at #18.