2025 NBA Draft Thread 2.0

[bigshawn]

If the argument is that Penda is an all-defense dual F in time, then I can buy that..

But that means the da Silva pick was a waste at #18 considering he's older and on a rookie deal which is important.

He's not going to displace any of the larger contract players and he's duplicative of the rookie scale deal we just drafted positionally.

I don't understand the Da Silva comment. So you're saying because you drafted someone last year and he is so-so at best, you shouldn't draft someone who could be potential be better and cheaper?

I like the both picks and Penda looks like a certified dawg. I also like the new Weltman. Using that way of thinking, we wouldn't have traded for Bane because we signed KCP and he would have to publicly acknowledge it was a mistake. He pivoted and moved on from KCP and traded for Bane which was better for us.

Sometimes things don't work out, so you have to make a new plan and pivot away from mistakes.

[Bensational]

I guess we found our new JI

Steep price

some late 2nds is a steep price?

4 second round picks to move up 14 spots for a second round pick is steep

I don’t mind it but it is steep

There's really nothing steep about the price of a bunch of picks you can get for cash considerations. The fact they consolidated those into a pick for a player who has 1st round talent is arguably closer to a bargain than a steep price, IMO.

[fendilim]

Read on Twitter

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[fendilim]

Love the pick. Are we sure he's going to be in Orlando this year, and not going to play in France another year?

Yeah, during broadcast Jonathan Givony did say this.

Read on Twitter

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[3ddman23]

One thing is for sure. This front office is always so lack luster with 2 way contracts.

[VFX]

If the argument is that Penda is an all-defense dual F in time, then I can buy that..

But that means the da Silva pick was a waste at #18 considering he's older and on a rookie deal which is important.

He's not going to displace any of the larger contract players and he's duplicative of the rookie scale deal we just drafted positionally.

I don't understand the Da Silva comment. So you're saying because you drafted someone last year and he is so-so at best, you shouldn't draft someone who could be potential be better and cheaper?

I like the both picks and Penda looks like a certified dawg. I also like the new Weltman. Using that way of thinking, we wouldn't have traded for Bane because we signed KCP and he would have to publicly acknowledge it was a mistake. He pivoted and moved on from KCP and traded for Bane which was better for us.

Sometimes things don't work out, so you have to make a new plan and pivot away from mistakes.

This is a lengthier discussion on how teams maximize assets based on their overall needs and cap space.

I’m fine with Penda in a vacuum if Weltman is super high on him enough to trade multiple seconds to move up and take him. They’ve scouted him and other teams liked him too. He seems like a glue guy that fits the teams identity and Mosely will love him.

I have to preface this because people here aren’t capable of holding two different positions when talking about a decision. Now that being said…

Yeah, I don’t like last years draft in retrospect. In theory da Silva and Penda can share a floor. However, that’s also banking on two things simultaneously.

The first being that every other backup forward on this team is expendable. They just spent 2/3 picks in the last two drafts on backups for Paolo and Franz who play 90% of games. Yeah, it’s good to have depth. Ideally it’s better to have that depth in places you know you are thin at minutes-wise.

Second, that any other possible option in both drafts weren’t a bigger priority. There are 3 guards on this roster. None of them are point guards. There are 3 Centers on this roster. 1 is currently injured and 1 is due to miss 20-25 games this season. None are “starting quality”. Thats a position worth taking a shot on considering how much money is tied up into it currently.

It’s not remotely the same level of thinking as Bane and KCP. Those guys are known quantities on enormous contracts. We have data on them and they aren’t rookie scale deals. That “mistake” needed a first just to move off to make regardless. Or they could have drafted Bane with the 30th instead of an undersized guard in 2020.

These draft decisions with late picks are about finding role players to round out the roster. It seems like nothing but it really isn’t considering the CBA, roster spots, and cap realities. Also, this team is very injury prone.

[dsg2021]

A bunch of people who don't scout prospects angry about a pick. Same reaction after our Franz pick lol

This

[yoyojw17]

A bunch of people who don't scout prospects angry about a pick. Same reaction after our Franz pick lol

This

+1

[pepe1991]

Second rounds picks are often irrelevant, for Magic especially irrelevant since Magic, even during 10 years of rebuilding never showed any desire nor ability to find and play talent there. You have to go to 2003 and Zaza to find last solid Magic second round pickup.

Penda is 3 and D guy without 3, even by FIBA standards and 22 feet 3 point line.

Last year he spent playing in B division basketball in France, and shot 26% for 3. (31/117).

This year he plays for Le Mans. It is very important to say he plays PF. Shooting touch still isn't there really (31/106= 29%). Overall efficiency 53,8% TS / 49,6% eFG.

Energy, defense, hustle, sometimes flashes of great passing. But limited size for PF, not most athletic person and can't shoot.

Why pick another forward on team that has Franz, Paolo,Black, Jett, Da Silva, Isaac all playing SF-PF ? I have no clue. It's not like roster ever makes any sense with Weltman so what's another grain of sand in Sahara?

Him and Jase will spend more time in G league than in nba. Neither will play much or at all next year, so i guess it's irrelevant pick for near future.

[dsg2021]

Sorry I love so many of you…but so many of you are not recognizing the real worth in this draft.

7…SEVEN…separate team forums were all dying to draft Penda as he is reliable, has amazing instincts, and has that dog in him that teams pray for. He is an incredibly hard worker. This team is creating a “hardest worker in the room” identity and he fits right in.

So many other teams were pissed we got him. Chill and enjoy this.

Wow

[dsg2021]

Wow, we got Penda. When I listed the guys I wanted most of the non greenroom invites I had Jase #1 and Penda #2. Had him ranked firmly as a 1st rounder and ahead of all 2nd round bigs, including Fleming.

Beyond thrilled with what Weltman has done. A+ draft IMO. Actually kind of surreal.

What do you like most about penda?

Sent from my [Sidekick 5G] using RealGM mobile app

Defense and feel, connective passer. Just looks like a championship type role player to me. Arguably the best perimeter defender in the class right now. Makes smart quick decisions moving the ball and will occasionally wow you with a pass. Shot needs to improve, but I think the form looks fine and he can become solid on spot ups.

Basically we presumably have our stars, so high feel role players that can get the ball moving on offense are what I liked for this team to add. The fact that he is a stud on defense on top of that makes me very excited about him.

I feel like there is a former Magic player who matches with a lot of this, but I can't put my finger on it.

[cedric76]

I wanted Raynaud, but you guys will LOVE Noah, awesome job by JEFF.

finally another frenchy on this team

[RookieStar]

I wanted Raynaud, but you guys will LOVE Noah, awesome job by JEFF.

finally another frenchy on this team

Another? I thought we were soured on the french with our last experience in "mr. Dont google"

[RookieStar]

Second rounds picks are often irrelevant, for Magic especially irrelevant since Magic, even during 10 years of rebuilding never showed any desire nor ability to find and play talent there. You have to go to 2003 and Zaza to find last solid Magic second round pickup.

Penda is 3 and D guy without 3, even by FIBA standards and 22 feet 3 point line.

Last year he spent playing in B division basketball in France, and shot 26% for 3. (31/117).

This year he plays for Le Mans. It is very important to say he plays PF. Shooting touch still isn't there really (31/106= 29%). Overall efficiency 53,8% TS / 49,6% eFG.

Energy, defense, hustle, sometimes flashes of great passing. But limited size for PF, not most athletic person and can't shoot.

Why pick another forward on team that has Franz, Paolo,Black, Jett, Da Silva, Isaac all playing SF-PF ? I have no clue. It's not like roster ever makes any sense with Weltman so what's another grain of sand in Sahara?

Him and Jase will spend more time in G league than in nba. Neither will play much or at all next year, so i guess it's irrelevant pick for near future.

Yes finally our expert in Euros speaks. I kinda was waiting to hear from what you think of this guy. Someone 99% here hasnt even hear of probably.

Although gotta disagree with your Zaza take... Marcin Gortat was way more valuable and recent srp for us.

Other than that, I agree him and Jase are probably either in GL or warming up 11th and 12th benchnseat

[pepe1991]

I didn't include Gortat because Suns drafted him and traded him out for cash

[KillMonger]

The Ringer scouting take on Penda

SCOUTING REPORT BY Danny Chau
In a French league populated with former NBA talents and grizzled basketball lifers, it’s the 20-year-old Penda who leads the league in combined steals and blocks per game—his “stock” rates edging out even those of Andre Roberson, the former NBA ace defender. But Penda hasn’t reached those heights just by having young legs; more often than not, he wins on defense with advanced pattern recognition and hand-eye coordination. That’s not to say he isn’t athletic—his functional strength and movement skills serve as the chassis for his processor. He is comfortable diagnosing plays on the spot, communicating assignments, and seamlessly rotating and recovering to fill gaps on defense. There is immense value in simply knowing where to be and how to get there as urgently as possible.

Penda’s spatial awareness is one of his greatest gifts on offense, too. He makes quick decisions both with the ball in his hands as a driver and on the catch as a cutter, passing into open windows for easy buckets. He’ll never be confused for a full-time point forward, but Penda has the vision and instincts to keep the wheels greased on offense as a connective arm.

The defining question in his evaluation: How will he score at the next level? Penda has yet to prove that he can consistently shoot from 3 at respectable levels (although, to his credit, he’s improved his accuracy this season and isn’t shy with his attempts). He has a confident handle and the power to work his way into the lane, but there’s a degree of inflexibility in his forays, a lack of the decelerative capacity that usually serves as the basis for most power-based drivers. Having some reliable form of offense will be essential if he’s to have a place in a lineup. Penda has all the ancillary skills; as is so often the case, how he develops his jumper will determine just how much of an impact he can make.

[GelbeWand09]

Seems like he is "only" a 3pointshot away from becoming a potential high level roleplayer. I'm absolutely OK gambling that a young player improves his shooting in the 2nd round when he checks so many other boxes.
Is it super likely? No, history and especially Magic history says no but it's a 2nd round pick.

He again shows that the long athlete stuff is fan fiction. Weltman drafted mainly bad to good athletes but almost never really good athletes.
This team is sneaky unathletic and he didn't address that again. The TDS pick looks worse now. He seems to become the better version of the Weltman special of drafting bad athletes who arent skilled enough to compensate the lack of athletism like Chuma and Jett.
I really like high iq, highly skilled non athletes but his tries are just not skilled enough so far.

In a vacuum I like both picks and both more than TDS but the roster composition is still a mess and the draft doesn't really helped.

[Skin]

I just wanna know if he knows Kung Fu so we can call him Kung Fu Penda.

[RookieStar]

Does the Orlando zoo missing any cuddly bears? Cuz.... i Noah Penda *badum tschk*

[Skybox]

If the argument is that Penda is an all-defense dual F in time, then I can buy that..

But that means the da Silva pick was a waste at #18 considering he's older and on a rookie deal which is important.

He's not going to displace any of the larger contract players and he's duplicative of the rookie scale deal we just drafted positionally.

I don't understand the Da Silva comment. So you're saying because you drafted someone last year and he is so-so at best, you shouldn't draft someone who could be potential be better and cheaper?

I like the both picks and Penda looks like a certified dawg. I also like the new Weltman. Using that way of thinking, we wouldn't have traded for Bane because we signed KCP and he would have to publicly acknowledge it was a mistake. He pivoted and moved on from KCP and traded for Bane which was better for us.

Sometimes things don't work out, so you have to make a new plan and pivot away from mistakes.

I’m higher than ever on TdS and they appear to be very different players…and both multi-positional.