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2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1921 » by RaptorPride » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:42 pm

mtcan wrote:

I don't see Masai having any interest in Jalen Green...with that contract of his...unless Phoenix is attaching a pick. Suns couldn't possibly want RJ in that scenario.

I'm trading IQ for Green all day.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1922 » by Tha Cynic » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:46 pm

Love the way a player like Amen Thompson plays. If you're an elite defender and can use your body to get to the rim and have that aggressiveness, that's a win. I'll take the risk that CMB can't shoot
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1923 » by CazOnReal » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:46 pm

RaptorPride wrote:
mtcan wrote:

I don't see Masai having any interest in Jalen Green...with that contract of his...unless Phoenix is attaching a pick. Suns couldn't possibly want RJ in that scenario.

I'm trading IQ for Green all day.

That might be the worst trade Masai ever does if he pulled it off straight up
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1924 » by TimeForChange » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:48 pm

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1925 » by TimeForChange » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:49 pm

RaptorPride wrote:
mtcan wrote:

I don't see Masai having any interest in Jalen Green...with that contract of his...unless Phoenix is attaching a pick. Suns couldn't possibly want RJ in that scenario.

I'm trading IQ for Green all day.

omg stop :lol:
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1926 » by MavCarter » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:49 pm

The rockets were worse with jalen green on the floor so naturally we should trade the 9th pick and a starter for him
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1927 » by MoneyBall » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:49 pm

Grew wrote:
MoneyBall wrote:
Grew wrote:
But you didn't watch him play right? He's a guy you have to watch. The numbers can't tell his story, all they can do is caution you of his downside.

His elite skill is ballhandling. He might not be an elite vertical athlete, but he has elite speed with the ball.

He's got fine size to be a PG. He didn't shoot well numbers wise, but he believes in his shot and he can create his own. His percentage is lower in large part due to how many came off the bounce and in defenders faces. He can make those shots. He's not some guy who struggles to shoot 30 percent on wide open catch and shoot threes.

He's got that star aura. You have to watch him to see it. Preferably full games. He led a tournament team when he was suppose to still be in high school.

If you want upside, he's got it.

I have seen him play, and I've got serious reservations about the guy's upside. I can't draft a guy in the lottery primarily based on vibes and aura. How many smallish guards who can't shoot and have good but not great athleticism go on to become stars in the NBA? The success rate ain't good.


Then we just disagree. I believe in his shot. I believe in his speed with the ball being an elite athletic trait, lots of guys who are more athletic but can't get to spots because they can't handle it like Fears. I believe in his upside being among the highest in the draft, although I do recognize he has a lower floor compared to some people in his range. For me, he's a guy I absolutely would bet on, especially for an organization that has been looking for a game changing type talent. If he's there at 9, no way I pass him. There are more solid bets out there if all you want is a role player, but if Fears is on the board I would rather have him bust than use 9 on a solid 7th man type.

Fears can handle the ball, that's not up for debate. The problem is he's a poor finisher around the basket and can't rely on his jumper either. He turns the ball over a bunch and he's not a freakish athlete to overcome all those deficiencies. He's on the smaller side and he got picked on the defensive end.

I honestly can't think of a guard who got drafted in the lottery having all those weaknesses and still turned out to become an NBA star. I'm not trying to be cute here, I honestly can't think of anyone. You (or anyone else) could legit get me to reconsider if you can show me a list of players who meet that criteria.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1928 » by RaptorPride » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:50 pm

CazOnReal wrote:
RaptorPride wrote:
mtcan wrote:I don't see Masai having any interest in Jalen Green...with that contract of his...unless Phoenix is attaching a pick. Suns couldn't possibly want RJ in that scenario.

I'm trading IQ for Green all day.

That might be the worst trade Masai ever does if he pulled it off straight up

:lol:
I think Masai would do it for the upside. Green just needs better a mentor for his shot selection. Only thing we got way to many SG to do it. Maybe we can get a first along with green. I know PHX wants a PG.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1929 » by RaptorPride » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:52 pm

TimeForChange wrote:
RaptorPride wrote:
mtcan wrote:I don't see Masai having any interest in Jalen Green...with that contract of his...unless Phoenix is attaching a pick. Suns couldn't possibly want RJ in that scenario.

I'm trading IQ for Green all day.

omg stop :lol:

:lol: :lol:
You gotta risk it for the biscuit
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1930 » by WuTang_CMB » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:53 pm

Tha Cynic wrote:Love the way a player like Amen Thompson plays. If you're an elite defender and can use your body to get to the rim and have that aggressiveness, that's a win. I'll take the risk that CMB can't shoot

winning players
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1931 » by ForeverTFC » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:54 pm

grant101 wrote:
LoveMyRaps wrote:
grant101 wrote:
Ooof! Selecting Josh Minott 2.0 in the lottery in a strong draft sets this team back years.


lol I think I’ll trust Masai over you.


Or you could take a look at the tape and stats and decide for yourself. Masai has a good eye but is not infallible and often falls in love with projects.


He and Tolzman are still the best drafting FO of the past decade. I'm confident that they i) have more tape than you and I have access to, ii) can better interpret the tape better than you or I can, and iii) can better project off that data than you and I will ever be able to.

Also, you call it falling in love with projects, some will call it taking calculated risks and living with the results. For every Bruno, there is a Pascal Siakam.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1932 » by WuTang_CMB » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:54 pm

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1933 » by TimeForChange » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:55 pm

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someone has a promise...
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1934 » by WuTang_CMB » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:57 pm

Derik Queen came to Toronto and chose to do the evaluation only and not the workout

tf?

red flag
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1935 » by TimeForChange » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:58 pm

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1936 » by TimeForChange » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:59 pm

WuTang_OG wrote:Derik Queen came to Toronto and chose to do the evaluation only and not the workout

tf?

red flag

Read on Twitter


:lol:

DO NOT WANT
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1937 » by WuTang_CMB » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:59 pm

not sure if true

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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1938 » by ForeverTFC » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:59 pm

TimeForChange wrote:
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Suns makes too much sense, no?
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1939 » by mtcan » Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:59 pm

TimeForChange wrote:
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someone has a promise...

If he shows up in a Raptors red or purple suit...it will be all but confirmed.
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Re: 2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9 

Post#1940 » by Grew » Tue Jun 24, 2025 10:00 pm

MoneyBall wrote:
Grew wrote:
MoneyBall wrote:I have seen him play, and I've got serious reservations about the guy's upside. I can't draft a guy in the lottery primarily based on vibes and aura. How many smallish guards who can't shoot and have good but not great athleticism go on to become stars in the NBA? The success rate ain't good.


Then we just disagree. I believe in his shot. I believe in his speed with the ball being an elite athletic trait, lots of guys who are more athletic but can't get to spots because they can't handle it like Fears. I believe in his upside being among the highest in the draft, although I do recognize he has a lower floor compared to some people in his range. For me, he's a guy I absolutely would bet on, especially for an organization that has been looking for a game changing type talent. If he's there at 9, no way I pass him. There are more solid bets out there if all you want is a role player, but if Fears is on the board I would rather have him bust than use 9 on a solid 7th man type.

Fears can handle the ball, that's not up for debate. The problem is he's a poor finisher around the basket and can't rely on his jumper either. He turns the ball over a bunch and he's not a freakish athlete to overcome all those deficiencies. He's on the smaller side and he got picked on the defensive end.

I honestly can't think of a guard who got drafted in the lottery having all those weaknesses and still turned out to become an NBA star. I'm not trying to be cute here, I honestly can't think of anyone. You (or anyone else) could legit get me to reconsider if you can show me a list of players who meet that criteria.


He also has had a different trajectory than most anyone in recent memory. I'm not really the guy who compiles lists of what people did in college to compare them, the NBA is different.

There is no one who came out of high school early, was the leader on a tournament team from the best conference maybe in college basketball history, who had the highest useage of any freshman in the country.

I would rather bet on his ability to grow, to cut down on turnovers, improve his shot efficiency, and get stronger.

He has the tools to be something special if he puts in the work like he says he wants to.

If he didn't turn it over, shot 35 from 3 on the type of shots he took, and finished at the rim at a top of class type rate... Then he would go 2 ahead of Harper.

If I can get those tools and upside at 9. I'm pulling the trigger 10/10 times.
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