2025 Draft prospects - thread 3

[kodo]

I don't hate the JK idea, but unless he sucks, it would spell the end of either Coby or Giddey, but if he's good enough to unseat one of them, I guess it is fine.

Not really. He's a three position player. Plenty of room at PG, SG and SF for KJ to get lots of minutes along with everyone else. Among guards and wings he's arguably the least likely to create logjams.

But lets also assume it is true. It doesn't matter. He's more talented than Coby and we'd still have Ayo. So trade Coby for more assets while also getting the better player.

As sco said, if he's that good and we have a problem, 1st world problems. OKC had that "problem" in that they had 3 playmakers that needed the ball, they were able to trade one of them for Alex Caruso who normally have gone for multiple 1st round picks (if AK had traded him a few months earlier).
'
This is why you draft BPA, redundant talent is still an asset while a rookie who positionally fits but is worthless isn't an asset and at worst could be a drain financially (patrick's 5 year contract). Of course, KC said AK is 100% drafting for fit

[kodo]

If anyone else is a gambler, I think the value on CMB taken at pick 12 at +650 is too good to pass up given all of the indications from KC/Cowley that hes our lead target. Think PHX will pass at 10 given they drafted a defense first guy last year in Ryan Dunn. Feel good about him being on the board for us, though I’d prefer KJ.

Might as well light your money on fire. I don't think any mock has gotten a Bulls pick right in AK's regime, if ever.
We don't pick high enough to make it somewhat accurate. All mocks are at least 1 player off, even very normal ones.
In 2023 every single mock had Cam Whitmore in the top 8, when he didn't go until 20 that blew every single mock. None of them were correct after about 6-8.

Last year Matas not going til 11 blew every mock up.

[League Circles]

Who do you guys think has the best (fit need) / (talent) ratio out of the main guys you want at 12?

IMO, the best fit for us among the guys plausibly available at 12 is probably Bryant. I can easily see him being a 3-4 position lockdown defender, routinely taking the best opposing perimeter player and knocking down threes and slashing for easy buckets. Doesn't scream star potential like CMB, Zikarsky or Mulauch might, but I'd be cool with any of them.

[CobysHairpick]

Givony with some updates that opens up a path for Maluach to fall to 12. The Pelicans GM is from the DMV area and his son was a GA on Maryland's staff. There are rumblings that they are very interested in Queen.

7. Pelicans - Queen
8. Brooklyn - Tre Johnson/whoever the Nets apparently know will be there at 8 (they also have Claxton, Sharpe, and Clowney on the roster already, although none of them should preclude the Nets from drafting a center i know)
9. Raptors - Essengue
10. Suns - Bryant/CMB, can also resign Nick Richards
11. Blazers - Drafted Clingan last year

12. Bulls - Maluach!

I'm not the biggest Maluach fan given how extremely raw and reliant on lobs he is, but I understand swinging for the fences. He showed some range during the Olympics so the jumpshot potential is there at least. Hard to get your hopes up I know, but if Maluach "slides" like Matas did then a Giddey, Coby, Matas, and Maluach core is probably as good as one could've asked for with the 11th and 12th picks the past two drafts.

[MrSparkle]

Givony with some updates that opens up a path for Maluach to fall to 12. The Pelicans GM is from the DMV area and his son was a GA on Maryland's staff. There are rumblings that they are very interested in Queen.

7. Pelicans - Queen
8. Brooklyn - Tre Johnson/whoever the Nets apparently know will be there at 8 (they also have Claxton, Sharpe, and Clowney on the roster already, although none of them should preclude the Nets from drafting a center i know)
9. Raptors - Essengue
10. Suns - Bryant/CMB, can also resign Nick Richards
11. Blazers - Drafted Clingan last year

12. Bulls - Maluach!

I'm not the biggest Maluach fan given how extremely raw and reliant on lobs he is, but I understand swinging for the fences. He showed some range during the Olympics so the jumpshot potential is there at least. Hard to get your hopes up I know, but if Maluach "slides" like Matas did then a Giddey, Coby, Matas, and Maluach core is probably as good as one could've asked for with the 11th and 12th picks the past two drafts.

If he slides to 12, I’m fine with the pick. Just not interesting in trading up for him.

[WesPeace]

Suns need center, Maluach goes #10 for sure if not earlier..

[boozapalooza]

If anyone else is a gambler, I think the value on CMB taken at pick 12 at +650 is too good to pass up given all of the indications from KC/Cowley that hes our lead target. Think PHX will pass at 10 given they drafted a defense first guy last year in Ryan Dunn. Feel good about him being on the board for us, though I’d prefer KJ.

Might as well light your money on fire. I don't think any mock has gotten a Bulls pick right in AK's regime, if ever.
We don't pick high enough to make it somewhat accurate. All mocks are at least 1 player off, even very normal ones.
In 2023 every single mock had Cam Whitmore in the top 8, when he didn't go until 20 that blew every single mock. None of them were correct after about 6-8.

Last year Matas not going til 11 blew every mock up.

I got Matas at 20/1 last year so obviously will be running it back. This year is far more wide open and challenging to discern. But theres enough CMB chatter combined with likelihood for him to be on the board that I’ll take a flyer.

[jnrjr79]

An 18 year old who worked tirelessly to reach the NBA, deciding to attend the NBA draft in person does not "look bad." It looks like a person making a perfectly reasonable decision for himself in a highly unique, once in a lifetime scenario.

Get back to me with reports about him dogging it in practice or refusing to run back on D.

I don't know. Abandoning your teammates when you are in the middle of the finals so. you can be in the green room and shake Adam Silver's hand seems a little off to me.

Not me, and there's a big difference between "a little off" and deciding he's so soft you remove him completely from your draft board. What he is doing is no different than quitting your job for a better one. Well, its actually much different. Because you also get to fulfill a singular lifelong dream of attending the draft. Its not a surprise that I have heard zero reports that NBA teams consider this a negative.

On the one hand, you see something like this with college players skipping bowl games, so I agree it's not a totally foreign concept.

On the other, it strikes me like leaving in the middle of a jury trial because you just got a job at Skadden.

[CobysHairpick]

Suns need center, Maluach goes #10 for sure if not earlier..

Yes the Suns are a major threat to draft Maluach if he's still on the board. That said, Givony wrote they are interested in Carter Bryant which makes sense since they had a good look at him playing at nearby Arizona. Although I wonder if they would really double up on 3&D wings after drafting Ryan Dunn last year but Bryant and CMB are apparently the frontrunners as of now.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

KJ redundant?

[Chi town]

Suns need center, Maluach goes #10 for sure if not earlier..

Raps won’t pass him up either.

[nomorezorro]

i think the raptors trade out, and if they don't i think there's a good chance they take essengue over maluach if both are on the board

just a lot of chatter about them being open for business the last few days, including some rumblings that they want to add an immediate roster upgrade. i could absolutely see them pushing hard for one of the boston guys

[Chi town]

Suns need center, Maluach goes #10 for sure if not earlier..

Yes the Suns are a major threat to draft Maluach if he's still on the board. That said, Givony wrote they are interested in Carter Bryant which makes sense since they had a good look at him playing at nearby Arizona. Although I wonder if they would really double up on 3&D wings after drafting Ryan Dunn last year but Bryant and CMB are apparently the frontrunners as of now.

I think Suns will go C with their later pick unless Maluach drops. CB or CMB sounds right.

[Chi town]

i think the raptors trade out, and if they don't i think there's a good chance they take essengue over maluach if both are on the board

just a lot of chatter about them being open for business the last few days, including some rumblings that they want to add an immediate roster upgrade. i could absolutely see them pushing hard for one of the boston guys

Yep. I think they trade back for OKC picks or BKN picks.

I think Noa is an awful fit there and don’t see how’d he gets mins behind Gradey Ingram Barret and Barnes.

Raps need shooting bad. Coward would be a great pick after a trade back for them.

[KissedByaRose1]

If we trade up for Ace Bailey i'd be so happy. Won't happen and he's got a lot of attitude issues maybe. But i don't care, so starved for talent that can get to the hoop.

[Chi town]

WT - Brown Trade

I can see Raps for 9 and filler. Celtics take KJ there.

[Jvaughn]

KC is doing way too much talking about KJ lately. To the point where I'm suspicious the infatuation might be a smokescreen to get someone to either take him before us or trade with us so we can move back.

[KissedByaRose1]

KC is doing way too much talking about KJ lately. To the point where I'm suspicious the infatuation might be a smokescreen to get someone to either take him before us or trade with us so we can move back.

that's not usually what happens when KC talks a ton about a guy. What happens is we take him, we're not clever enough for smokescreens lets be real. Back to back Lithuanians lol. Loved Matas, hope we get lucky twice.

[Chi town]

If we draft KJ I think we will see Zo moved for a late 1st and a big drafted.

[WesPeace]

WT - Brown Trade

I can see Raps for 9 and filler. Celtics take KJ there.

I dont think so.. Brown and White will remain with Celtics