2025 NBA Draft Thread, Part 2 – Capture the Flagg

[Gant]

After the Durant trade, draft picks 1-12 are all owned by their original teams. From 13-30, only one team still has its own first round pick, the Celtics at #28.

[Dogen]

After the Durant trade, draft picks 1-12 are all owned by their original teams. From 13-30, only one team still has its own first round pick, the Celtics at #28.

Gant bringing the alpha once again!

[SparringPartner]

What am I missing with McNeely? Nothing jumps out to me when I watch his scouting videos.

Starting in the twenties I like:

Rasheer Fleming
Jase Richardson
Maxime Raynaud (My favorite)
Hansen Yang (Second favorite)
Sion James (Highest ceiling 2nd round?)
Ryan Nembhard
Hunter Sallis

[playa-hater]

What am I missing with McNeely? Nothing jumps out to me when I watch his scouting videos.

Starting in the twenties I like:

Rasheer Fleming
Jase Richardson
Maxime Raynaud (My favorite)
Hansen Yang (Second favorite)
Sion James (Highest ceiling 2nd round?)
Ryan Nembhard
Hunter Sallis

well they said he shot poorly in workouts. That and he didn't have a Huge sample size of being a true knock down shooter I guess.

[playa-hater]

Double post.. Sue me.

I'm thinking getting Simon means we wont be trading up for a PG and definitely not Jase.. so double win for me.

we still have 28 and 32.

Trade Sam + 32 and get another 1st rder.. Fleming at 20ish and at 28 Kalk or Raynaud and call it a day

[Dangit]

Jrue is gone

[ThePigeon]

Noa Essengue decided to go to the US for the draft instead of participating in the 4th playoff finals game, where if his team wins, they win the championship (and will probably miss game 5 if there will be one)
Ben Saraf decided to stay and play for Ulm (without any hesitation)

I wouldn't want Essengue on my team, as he clearly puts his success over the team success
What do you think?

[Hal14]

What am I missing with McNeely? Nothing jumps out to me when I watch his scouting videos.

https://the-center-hub.com/2025/05/12/prospect-breakdown-liam-mcneeley/

He was good this season..would've been better but he had an ankle injury mid season. And he was playing a role he was not used to..forced into being the no. 1 option for UConn, after he was the 3rd/4th option on his HS team (which was the best HS team on the planet, also had Flagg, Queen, Newell..)

McNeeley should go in the 20-30 range..

[winsomme2]

What am I missing with McNeely? Nothing jumps out to me when I watch his scouting videos.

https://the-center-hub.com/2025/05/12/prospect-breakdown-liam-mcneeley/

He was good this season..would've been better but he had an ankle injury mid season. And he was playing a role he was not used to..forced into being the no. 1 option for UConn, after he was the 3rd/4th option on his HS team (which was the best HS team on the planet, also had Flagg, Queen, Newell..)

McNeeley should go in the 20-30 range..

He seems like a bigger, more athletic version of Scheierman. He has solid ball handling skills and touch. I would really expect his shooting percentages to improve as a pro.

Scheierman is a workhorse but just in terms of skills and size, I think McNeeley would be hard to pass on if he's there. At the very least, he would be super tradable.

[Hal14]

What am I missing with McNeely? Nothing jumps out to me when I watch his scouting videos.

https://the-center-hub.com/2025/05/12/prospect-breakdown-liam-mcneeley/

He was good this season..would've been better but he had an ankle injury mid season. And he was playing a role he was not used to..forced into being the no. 1 option for UConn, after he was the 3rd/4th option on his HS team (which was the best HS team on the planet, also had Flagg, Queen, Newell..)

McNeeley should go in the 20-30 range..

He seems like a bigger, more athletic version of Scheierman. He has solid ball handling skills and touch. I would really expect his shooting percentages to improve as a pro.

Scheierman is a workhorse but just in terms of skills and size, I think McNeeley would be hard to pass on if he's there. At the very least, he would be super tradable.

I think it depends on whether Hauser gets moved before the draft or on draft night.

If we still have Hauser, as well as Scheierman (and even Peterson) I don't see the need for a guy like McNeeley and think there's probably someone else who will be available who could fit more of a need. Like a PF/C type, in particular..or a PG/SG type if Simons gets re-routed..

[winsomme2]

https://the-center-hub.com/2025/05/12/prospect-breakdown-liam-mcneeley/

He was good this season..would've been better but he had an ankle injury mid season. And he was playing a role he was not used to..forced into being the no. 1 option for UConn, after he was the 3rd/4th option on his HS team (which was the best HS team on the planet, also had Flagg, Queen, Newell..)

McNeeley should go in the 20-30 range..

He seems like a bigger, more athletic version of Scheierman. He has solid ball handling skills and touch. I would really expect his shooting percentages to improve as a pro.

Scheierman is a workhorse but just in terms of skills and size, I think McNeeley would be hard to pass on if he's there. At the very least, he would be super tradable.

I think it depends on whether Hauser gets moved before the draft or on draft night.

If we still have Hauser, as well as Scheierman (and even Peterson) I don't see the need for a guy like McNeeley and think there's probably someone else who will be available who could fit more of a need. Like a PF/C type, in particular..or a PG/SG type if Simons gets re-routed..

Agreed. McNeeley wouldn't be an ideal pick for many reasons. So many moving parts at this point.

On a side note, a couple of guys that might be better fits seem like they are rising in interest. Kinda feeling like Kalkbrenner and Powell might go before our pick.

[Hal14]

I was on a podcast where we did a mock draft..we just did the 1st round..I picked Markovic for us at 28. Picked him over Kalkbrenner, Lanier, Beringer and Riley..

Read on Twitter

[redslastlaugh]

I like the Bogi swing. I'd have a tough time passing on Beringer if he was there though

I was on a podcast where we did a mock draft..we just did the 1st round..I picked Markovic for us at 28. Picked him over Kalkbrenner, Lanier, Beringer and Riley..

[playa-hater]

Most of you keep looking at players late RD1... I am telling you, mid-early first you better do your homework... Brad is getting err dun!

[Hal14]

I like the Bogi swing. I'd have a tough time passing on Beringer if he was there though

I was on a podcast where we did a mock draft..we just did the 1st round..I picked Markovic for us at 28. Picked him over Kalkbrenner, Lanier, Beringer and Riley..

I can see the case for either of them. I am just higher on Markovic. Think Beringer is more raw, more of a project. And it seems like Brad is leaning more towards prospects who are older and more developed, less of a raw project.

Plus, it seems like Brad/Joe prefers bigs who can dribble/pass/shoot. Markovic can do all of those things. Beringer can do none of them.

[ThePigeon]

I like the Bogi swing. I'd have a tough time passing on Beringer if he was there though

I was on a podcast where we did a mock draft..we just did the 1st round..I picked Markovic for us at 28. Picked him over Kalkbrenner, Lanier, Beringer and Riley..

I can see the case for either of them. I am just higher on Markovic. Think Beringer is more raw, more of a project. And it seems like Brad is leaning more towards prospects who are older and more developed, less of a raw project.

Plus, it seems like Brad/Joe prefers bigs who can dribble/pass/shoot. Markovic can do all of those things. Beringer can do none of them.

Kornet?
Queta?

There is room for all kinds of bigs
Look at how OKC used Hartenstein
We need a shot stopper - rim runner like an uninjured Rob

[Hal14]

I like the Bogi swing. I'd have a tough time passing on Beringer if he was there though

I can see the case for either of them. I am just higher on Markovic. Think Beringer is more raw, more of a project. And it seems like Brad is leaning more towards prospects who are older and more developed, less of a raw project.

Plus, it seems like Brad/Joe prefers bigs who can dribble/pass/shoot. Markovic can do all of those things. Beringer can do none of them.

Kornet?
Queta?

There is room for all kinds of bigs
Look at how OKC used Hartenstein
We need a shot stopper - rim runner like an uninjured Rob

Kornet can pass very well. So can Hartenstein. Both of them are extremely high IQ bigs. Beringer is low IQ and can't pass. He's kind of like Queta. But Queta got less playing time as the season went on in both of his seasons here, was glued to the bench in the playoffs.

And Queta at least has some semblance of post moves, can kind of pass. And when we got him he was 24, had already been in the league for 2 years, we only gave him a 2-way deal so that is very little risk, very little investment for a raw big with limited dribble/pass/shoot ability.

With a 1st round pick, that's a big investment, bigger risk. Beringer is raw and only 18 yrs old. Can't dribble, pass or shoot. I'd prefer Markovic.

Read on Twitter

[165bows]

I could see it I suppose. Kind of skinny though.

Feeling like they go back to Alabama and take Broome. Not sure what to make of that but they have been looking for a 4/5 combo guy that can score.

[brackdan70]

Noa Essengue decided to go to the US for the draft instead of participating in the 4th playoff finals game, where if his team wins, they win the championship (and will probably miss game 5 if there will be one)
Ben Saraf decided to stay and play for Ulm (without any hesitation)

I wouldn't want Essengue on my team, as he clearly puts his success over the team success
What do you think?

Yeah that’s a curious choice.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Noa Essengue decided to go to the US for the draft instead of participating in the 4th playoff finals game, where if his team wins, they win the championship (and will probably miss game 5 if there will be one)
Ben Saraf decided to stay and play for Ulm (without any hesitation)

I wouldn't want Essengue on my team, as he clearly puts his success over the team success
What do you think?

Ntilikina had a similar thing happen where the winner takes all game 5 of the French league finals was the day after the draft and he also decided to attend. But he at least made it back in time to play in game 5 (where his club somehow managed to lose the finals for the FIFTH straight year). Still I can't imagine it was ideal prep.