2025 Draft prospects - thread 3

[Chi town]

So AK board is

Maluach
CMB
Noa
Beringer

Sure feels like one of them will be there. KJ could also be there as well.

At the end of the day, "Not Demin and Not Queen" I'm fine.

Me too brother!!!

[nomorezorro]

I get he's allegedly the best defensive prospect in the draft, but I'm not seeing the offensive upside.

the upside is that he is an elite interior scorer despite the lack of outside shot. he made 2pt fgs at a very high rate despite not being a maluach-esque dunks-only guy. obviously it's fair to question how well that translates at the nba level, but basically everyone has questions about how key parts of their game will translate to a higher level of competition

putting it simply: it's better to be good at something at the college basketball level than to be bad at something. murray-boyles was good offensively in college.

[TheJordanRule]

So AK board is

Maluach
CMB
Noa
Beringer

Sure feels like one of them will be there. KJ could also be there as well.

At the end of the day, "Not Demin and Not Queen" I'm fine.

Please let this be the case! KJ / Maluach / Beringer type of draft would be a lot to celebrate tonight!

[HomoSapien]

cowley:

All signs point to the Bulls selecting a frontcourt player with defensive specialist Collin Murray-Boyles in the lead out of the gate, especially if they feel good about a Williams deal happening. Noa Essengue and Asa Newell are also possibilities.

If Karnisovas opts to go guard — like a Kasparas Jakucionis or an Egor Demin — it’s safe to say that Ball or White will be on the move.

also throws cold water on the ace rumors.

i am honestly perfectly content with cmb/essengue/newell as our shortlist. i've gotten weirdly antsy about guys with potential defensive shortcomings over the past few days

Putting it all together…

Bulls considering Maluach if the trade up price isn’t steep. I believe it will be and they will stay where they are.

Vecenie mocked Beringer to us based on what he is hearing.

KC and Cowley both saying CMB or Noa.

I like how Cowley says Williams would need to be dealt if CMB picked as there won’t be the mins. I think CMB and Noa will both play the 5 in the future.

Did I miss something? Is there a Williams trade rumor floating about?

[TheJordanRule]

I want us to double dip in this one. It's too deep to ignore the opportunity. Imagine the ultimate "push us forward" type draft with KJ AND Maluach. Shoot, I'd even be over the moon if it was a Noah + Beringer type draft. Neither of which is gonna happen, but a man can dream, can't he?

[nomorezorro]

Did I miss something? Is there a Williams trade rumor floating about?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/06/24/could-bulls-have-aces-up-the-sleeve-nba-draft-approaches

basically the gist of it is that cowley says we really want to move williams but it's not likely we find a suitor

[Chi town]

cowley:



also throws cold water on the ace rumors.

i am honestly perfectly content with cmb/essengue/newell as our shortlist. i've gotten weirdly antsy about guys with potential defensive shortcomings over the past few days

Putting it all together…

Bulls considering Maluach if the trade up price isn’t steep. I believe it will be and they will stay where they are.

Vecenie mocked Beringer to us based on what he is hearing.

KC and Cowley both saying CMB or Noa.

I like how Cowley says Williams would need to be dealt if CMB picked as there won’t be the mins. I think CMB and Noa will both play the 5 in the future.

Did I miss something? Is there a Williams trade rumor floating about?

Supposedly AK’s #1 priority according to Cowley. AK has lowered asking price in trades… most likely for Vuc and Pat and maybe Zo too

[Chi town]

I want us to double dip in this one. It's too deep to ignore the opportunity. Imagine the ultimate "push us forward" type draft with KJ AND Maluach. Shoot, I'd even be over the moon if it was a Noah + Beringer type draft. Neither of which is gonna happen, but a man can dream, can't he?

We def need a 2nd pick. BKN has 4 1sts now after getting ATL’s.

6 teams have more than one first. This should lower the price to get one.

POR pick is perfect to trade for a 20s pick.

[HomoSapien]

Did I miss something? Is there a Williams trade rumor floating about?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/06/24/could-bulls-have-aces-up-the-sleeve-nba-draft-approaches

basically the gist of it is that cowley says we really want to move williams but it's not likely we find a suitor

Thanks, This is a wild quote from that article:

Considering Karnisovas made a desperate attempt to motivate Williams with the security of a five-year, $90 million contract extension last summer,

[Red Larrivee]

I get he's allegedly the best defensive prospect in the draft, but I'm not seeing the offensive upside.

the upside is that he is an elite interior scorer despite the lack of outside shot. he made 2pt fgs at a very high rate despite not being a maluach-esque dunks-only guy. obviously it's fair to question how well that translates at the nba level, but basically everyone has questions about how key parts of their game will translate to a higher level of competition

putting it simply: it's better to be good at something at the college basketball level than to be bad at something. murray-boyles was good offensively in college.

Also, to put things in perspective:

Half Court - Shots at the Rim:

Queen: 62.6% FG, 53.9% Unassisted
Murray-Boyles: 65% FG, 45.2% Unassisted
Newell: 60.6% FG, 32.5% Unassisted
Sorber: 66% FG, 22.4% Unassisted
Maluach: 81% FG, 6.4% Unassisted

Some people keep talking about he was just playing bully ball. If that's the case, why aren't players bigger than him not putting up the same numbers at the rim with the same level or better unassisted %? South Carolina is in the SEC. It's not like you can just beat up on bums in that conference, especially last year when 14 teams made the tournament.

At some point, people have to acknowledge that CMB is very skilled at getting his own off the bounce and that projects very well for the next level. He can't shoot from 3, but that doesn't mean that he's bad at offense. He's actually quite good at offense.

[HomoSapien]

I get he's allegedly the best defensive prospect in the draft, but I'm not seeing the offensive upside.

the upside is that he is an elite interior scorer despite the lack of outside shot. he made 2pt fgs at a very high rate despite not being a maluach-esque dunks-only guy. obviously it's fair to question how well that translates at the nba level, but basically everyone has questions about how key parts of their game will translate to a higher level of competition

putting it simply: it's better to be good at something at the college basketball level than to be bad at something. murray-boyles was good offensively in college.

Also, to put things in perspective:

Half Court - Shots at the Rim:

Queen: 62.6% FG, 53.9% Unassisted
Murray-Boyles: 65% FG, 45.2% Unassisted
Newell: 60.6% FG, 32.5% Unassisted
Sorber: 66% FG, 22.4% Unassisted
Maluach: 81% FG, 6.4% Unassisted

Some people keep talking about he was just playing bully ball. If that's the case, why aren't players bigger than him not putting up the same numbers at the rim with the same level or better unassisted %? South Carolina is in the SEC. It's not like you can just beat up on bums in that conference, especially last year when 14 teams made the tournament.

At some point, people have to acknowledge that CMB is very skilled at getting his own off the bounce and that projects very well for the next level. He can't shoot from 3, but that doesn't mean that he's bad at offense. He's actually quite good at offense.

I mean, even if he is bully ball that’s a skillset we don’t have. I like having more muscle, athleticism, and defense on this team.

[Chi town]

https://youtu.be/9QmeZLlxYe4?si=jvGVaI2GqorsSRNs

[MrSparkle]

I get he's allegedly the best defensive prospect in the draft, but I'm not seeing the offensive upside.

the upside is that he is an elite interior scorer despite the lack of outside shot. he made 2pt fgs at a very high rate despite not being a maluach-esque dunks-only guy. obviously it's fair to question how well that translates at the nba level, but basically everyone has questions about how key parts of their game will translate to a higher level of competition

putting it simply: it's better to be good at something at the college basketball level than to be bad at something. murray-boyles was good offensively in college.

Also, to put things in perspective:

Half Court - Shots at the Rim:

Queen: 62.6% FG, 53.9% Unassisted
Murray-Boyles: 65% FG, 45.2% Unassisted
Newell: 60.6% FG, 32.5% Unassisted
Sorber: 66% FG, 22.4% Unassisted
Maluach: 81% FG, 6.4% Unassisted

Some people keep talking about he was just playing bully ball. If that's the case, why aren't players bigger than him not putting up the same numbers at the rim with the same level or better unassisted %? South Carolina is in the SEC. It's not like you can just beat up on bums in that conference, especially last year when 14 teams made the tournament.

At some point, people have to acknowledge that CMB is very skilled at getting his own off the bounce and that projects very well for the next level. He can't shoot from 3, but that doesn't mean that he's bad at offense. He's actually quite good at offense.

6% unassisted is a crazy number. I’d like Malauch in the middle of the draft, but anyone considering him in the top-10 is in for a rough ride (imo). And I like the guy a lot! But you’re playing with fire. If for some reason he’s unable to keep up with the physicality of the NBA, and there isn’t a superstar PG (ala Luka) you’ve got yourself a completely unplayable C.

[Chi town]

The “Straight Up Winners” of this draft that have the intangibles and little things to win while making others better… Seem to be

- Flagg
- KJ
- CMB

[Kuro]

I think I need to try and start accepting the fact that CMB will be the pick, so I'm not REALLY disappointed tomorrow.

This is going to suck (for me).

(and for me)

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[BullsSD]

It's so obvious when people have half assed scouting a player.

On the contrary sir I’ve done a deep dive into all of these potential first round picks as well as fringe second round.

I don’t like his size and I don’t think his game translates to NBA level. If he can have a dawg mentality he will have a career, but there are far less risky picks and far better players who fit a BD system.

I’d counter it’s obvious when someone sets their heart on a player and is unwilling to objectively look at criticisms.

If you did a "deep dive" into CMB then you decided to misrepresent what you saw by saying he clangs it from 4 feet and airballs his FTs (which I believe he shoots at over 70%). Not sure why.

He does airball from free throw range as evidenced in the combine and throws consistent bricks up from anywhere between a layup and the elbow. It’s ugly. Outside of the key, if he shoots it, it needs to be accompanied with a prayer.

Not sure why I’m wasting my energy on this conversation? I can’t be the only one who’s watched his tape and the combine shooting against no defenders

[Truebiscuit]

So who do we want? This is the least invested I've been in a draft class in ages.

[Muzbar]

Whenever I look at Collin Murray-Boyles I see Thomas Robinson.

[Kuro]

On the contrary sir I’ve done a deep dive into all of these potential first round picks as well as fringe second round.

I don’t like his size and I don’t think his game translates to NBA level. If he can have a dawg mentality he will have a career, but there are far less risky picks and far better players who fit a BD system.

I’d counter it’s obvious when someone sets their heart on a player and is unwilling to objectively look at criticisms.

If you did a "deep dive" into CMB then you decided to misrepresent what you saw by saying he clangs it from 4 feet and airballs his FTs (which I believe he shoots at over 70%). Not sure why.

He does airball from free throw range as evidenced in the combine and throws consistent bricks up from anywhere between a layup and the elbow. It’s ugly. Outside of the key, if he shoots it, it needs to be accompanied with a prayer.

Not sure why I’m wasting my energy on this conversation? I can’t be the only one who’s watched his tape and the combine shooting against no defenders

I'm with you, I've been trying to like him for months but just can't get there. I'll just be manifesting KJ falling to pick 12 instead

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[Jo Jo English]

Like a lot of you, I would love Jakucionis, but expect him to be gone. There are a handful of guys I like that are realistic options. Just hoping for the best.

(Best = KJ. Make it happen, AK.)