2025 Draft Thread - Part 3

[gambitx777]

I was on the Johnson train early . Love him. I compared him to a beal who's about 10 percent better at everything with a little bit of Chris Middleton in him!

This Riley kid is ok. He's got potential and legit size to play 2-4. He's tall and if he puts on lb he might have real potential as a swing 4!

Some potential big men at 43. For sure if wolf keeps falling maybe we get him tomorrow

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[closg00]

Why are people disappointed? Almost 6-9, and is a Will Dawkins special — a guy who had a massive growth spurt, from 5-9 as a high schooler til now. Which means he’s got guard skills.

He's not quick or fast.... We don't have anybody beyond CJ or AJ who can actually drive to the rim with any consistency... We don't have any defensive C.... Sarr is a 4 until he gets stronger.... .

Such a let down... Having skill with blah athleticism is not going to win us any titles... I'll wait and see but I'm starting to get underwhelmed by picking all these projects who aren't elite at anything.....

I'd rather have traded 18 to move up and get Ace....

I was coming to make these points, where is the grit and strength going to come from, who is our closer, we traded one to Utah. We got a shooter though in Johnson and still have Corey's dead weight contract. Oh-well, we'll have to see who we pick tomorrow before we can give a grade, but I'm giving it a C+

[The Consiglieri]

Maybe I'm trying to read his mind or something, but Ace didn't look thrilled to go to Utah. No doubt he was expecting to come here.

Him and CMB seemed quite unhappy.

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

[80sballboy]

I know we will eventually need a PG and another big or but it looks as though DA was right when he said that Bub is going to run the show at least for next season.

I think we've got to land a top 2 pick to land a PG next year. Most of the top rated guys are Wings, and 4's it sounds like, I think there are two combo guard prospects in the top 10ish for now, but I don't think either are regarded as traditional PG period.

So Bub is probably it unless we land a stud PG in '27 or trade for it or whatever.

We have 100M to spend in FA next season and there are potential trades with all the future picks and expiring contracts. I'm not worried. If Bub doesn't work out, we can find somebody. What we really need more than a PG and big is a star. That will be the most difficult to develop and find. Or get lucky and find the next Siakam and Haliburton.

[The Consiglieri]

Pretty frustrating draft. Still don’t have a franchise potential player sadly. Have a bunch of 3rd-5th options though.

I think its kind of --- backwards because we've had no luck whatsoever, missed Wemby by one ping pong ball apparently in '23, landed a guy with lots of upside, but who hasn't hit as a star, just a stud defender, '24 gave us two solid-good players potentially in Bub and George, and a guy with a lot of raw upside but a low floor in Sarr, but whereas most teams get their stars, and then fill in around them.....

We have got a bench and some interesting surround guys, but no stars whatsoever. I think Bilal, Tre, and Sarr could all potentially become stars if Bilal can get the 3 point piece down/offensive side, Sarr gets better inside, better hands (so odd to me to be so good in transition with his hands and so crap in the paint with his hands), add some more rebounding, Tre addss defending and drives to the hoop but this is still a lot of "if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle" type things....The good news is they are all super young kids, none are even 21 yet, none of them, so a lot could happen...but yeah, for now, no stars whatsoever, but it's possible we could get one out of this pile, maybe even Bub (not holding my breath there, he's smelling like a solid to pretty good player, not a great player)....it's just for now, there are no birds in the hand whatsoever. None. Just hopes, and future picks and pick swaps. Not great.

[dcPress]

So Ace wound up in one of his least desired destinations. At least he’ll get lots of PT

[TGW]

Why are people disappointed? Almost 6-9, and is a Will Dawkins special — a guy who had a massive growth spurt, from 5-9 as a high schooler til now. Which means he’s got guard skills.

He's not quick or fast.... We don't have anybody beyond CJ or AJ who can actually drive to the rim with any consistency... We don't have any defensive C.... Sarr is a 4 until he gets stronger.... .

Such a let down... Having skill with blah athleticism is not going to win us any titles... I'll wait and see but I'm starting to get underwhelmed by picking all these projects who aren't elite at anything.....

I'd rather have traded 18 to move up and get Ace....

I was coming to make these points, where is the grit and strength going to come from, who is our closer, we traded one to Utah. We got a shooter though in Johnson. We'll have to see who we pick tomorrow before we can give a grade, but I'm giving it a C+

If they wanted a guard that doesn't drive, misses inside the arc, and doesn't play defense, they should have just kept Poole. Johnson literally does nothing except shoot the three well. Mediocre to terrible at everything else.

As for Riley...he's 6'9 with 6'8 wingspan. Uh ok sure. Don't you already have a similar player in George? He's just another guy.

So far, Dawkins is 0/7 in finding an actual franchise player this team can built around in the first round. I was told he's a draft guru but I'm not impressed at all.

[NatP4]

How did a 6’8 wing only manage 9 steals in an entire season?

[dobrojim]

I wouldn't dismiss all our 19-20 yo kids as eventual
closers. It's hard to say where they will be in 2-3 years.

[J-Ves]

How did a 6’8 wing only manage 9 steals in an entire season?

Negative wingspan

[AFM]

New wizards record: only took 22 minutes after the draft ends to proclaim our picks now as 0/7.

I'd say maybe let them play a game first, but they aren't even back to their hotel rooms yet.

[WallToWall]

I trust in Dawkins. But I must say, I dont understand our 2nd pick.

[The Consiglieri]

Let me add, the big scary thing is that the '26 class is strong primarily in the area's where we already have invested the bulk of our high picks, 2's, 3's and 4's. It's weak in the top 10 at PG, and Centers. And we got neither out of this draft, so Bub better be him, and I don't think he is (though I like Bub more than a lot of people here).

[DCZards]

He's not quick or fast.... We don't have anybody beyond CJ or AJ who can actually drive to the rim with any consistency.... We don't have any defensive C.... Sarr is a 4 until he gets stronger....

Such a let down... Having skill with blah athleticism is not going to win us any titles... I'll wait and see but I'm starting to get underwhelmed by picking all these projects who aren't elite at anything.....

I'd rather have traded 18 to move up and get Ace....

I suggest you check out the video of Riley posted on this page. A lot of the highlights are of him getting to the rim off the dribble.

[J-Ves]

These two guys will kill it in Summer league. Get Bub, Kyshawn, and Sarr on the team and it will be bombs away from deep all game

[NatP4]

Riley gives Johnny Davis vibes, minus the defense

[smoothSeph]

I like Tre and don’t mind Riley, but I question if Dawkins has the ability to get what he wants.

I’m sure we’ll hear in the press conference that those were our guys and that this is a long process. But what good are all these tradable assets, picks and cap flexibility if you can’t move up 1 spot for a high upside player that WANTS to play for you? Or 3-5 picks in the middle of the 1st for a center that fits and plays in your backyard? (2 actually)

[AFM]

I like Tre and don’t mind Riley, but I question if Dawkins has the ability to get what he wants.

I’m sure we’ll hear in the press conference that those were our guys and that this is a long process. But what good are all these tradable assets, picks and cap flexibility if you can’t move up 1 spot for a high upside player that WANTS to play for you? Or 3-5 picks in the middle of the 1st for a center that fits and plays in your backyard? (2 actually)

Well it took NO an unprotected first and #23 to move up to #13. It seems like the price to move up is just too high. It basically cost them a lottery pick unless you think Zion Poole and Queen are making any noise next year

[80sballboy]

I trust in Dawkins. But I must say, I dont understand our 2nd pick.

I see comparisons to Kyshawn, which would be fine. I guess I doubted that pick as well, but why draft his doppleganger and at least George has a 6-11 wingspan at 6-8.