The 2025 Rookie Class

closg00 · Post #181 » by **closg00** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 9:41 pm

tontoz wrote:
GoneShammGone wrote:At what point is it reasonable to say that Cooper Flagg was over-hyped?

At what point do you start to adjust expectations for him?

When they actually play him as a forward for awile instead of pg. Then we can see what he can actually do. No idea what possessed them to play him that way but it's idiotic. I said months ago that would never work. His handles are just ok, not nearly good enough to be a lead ball handler.

I agree with this, but I also said that there could be several players from the class that will have a greater impact when we exam the group 3-4 years from now, Cooper will be fine.

dobrojim · Post #182 » by **dobrojim** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 10:33 pm

In addition to his defensive shortcomings, for a guy
who was hyped for shooting, he(CK) is only sorta okay.

payitforward · Post #183 » by **payitforward** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 11:53 pm

prime1time wrote:
Kanyewest wrote:
closg00 wrote:Kon has been solid, outperforming his classmate Cooper, an asterisk is needed because of the Mavs PG situation.

Read on Twitter

He seems to be beating the Corey Kispert comp allegations.

Better player than Kispert and it's not close tbh.

No kidding!

9 and 20 · Post #184 » by **9 and 20** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 9:19 am

Cooper Flagg is really, really good. Especially for such a young player.

I've been watching Ace Bailey box scores and that dude is struggling.

Coward had 17 and 6 again last night but in a loss.

Nets rooks continue to show nothing.

Dat2U · Post #185 » by **Dat2U** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 4:32 pm

Kanyewest wrote:
closg00 wrote:Kon has been solid, outperforming his classmate Cooper, an asterisk is needed because of the Mavs PG situation.

Read on Twitter

He seems to be beating the Corey Kispert comp allegations.

Defensively, no. Offensively, yes, he's far more aggressive in looking for his shot.

Dat2U · Post #186 » by **Dat2U** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 4:41 pm

9 and 20 wrote:Cooper Flagg is really, really good. Especially for such a young player.

I've been watching Ace Bailey box scores and that dude is struggling.

Coward had 17 and 6 again last night but in a loss.

Nets rooks continue to show nothing.

They playing Coop out of position. I see what they are going for and he's good enough to compensate somewhat but I think long term he is 4 who can play the 3. With AD & PJ at the 4 that's not happening so it kinda sucks for him in the short term.

Nets draft stunk in most eyes on draft night. I don't think anyone is surprised at how it looks so far. The only guy I liked was Wolf and they don't give him any burn. Egor was a reach but they need to move him to the 'Joe Ingles' template and get him stronger so he can eventually slide to the 3 to try to salvage the situation. Traore is a project but need to give him Saraf's minutes. Saraf & Powell might not last their rookie contracts or beyond.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #187 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 5:12 am

Derek F'n Queen beeches.

Derek Queen took over with Zion Williamson out.

[NBA] CHA @ NOP, Final : 112 : 116
https://www.thescore.com/nba/events/2447903

Trailing by two at halftime, Charlotte opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run to take a lead it held all the way until Alvarado dribbled right and pulled up for his go-ahead shot.

Rookie Derik Queen then came up with his fourth steal of the game after Charlotte inbounded , and Murphy made two free throws to make it 115-112. Bridges missed a tying 3-point attempt and Bey made a free throw to close the scoring.

Queen scored all of his 12 points in the final quarter and also had eight rebounds and seven assists in 18 minutes.

Queen had 12 /8 / 7/ 4 in 18 minutes.

However, he "needs to get in shape or he will be out of the league."

Right.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #188 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 5:59 am

Read on Twitter

I wonder what might have been had the Wizards traded down and drafted Queen and Riley?

Kanyewest · Post #189 » by **Kanyewest** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:04 am

Dat2U wrote:
Kanyewest wrote:
closg00 wrote:Kon has been solid, outperforming his classmate Cooper, an asterisk is needed because of the Mavs PG situation.
Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

He seems to be beating the Corey Kispert comp allegations.

Defensively, no. Offensively, yes, he's far more aggressive in looking for his shot.

He is also pulling down a decent number of boards 20 points, along with 12 rebounds in the last game. Still needs to clean up some turnovers and raise that free throw percentage but a pretty good start for a rookie - although this draft is looking good with some other players as well.

closg00 · Post #190 » by **closg00** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:32 am

Piggybacking off CCJ, the kid is so skilled for a young big, and he’s just getting started, NO will be able to rebuild around Queen/Fears and save Dumars behind.
Ps. The fans are hating Poole.

Read on Twitter

AFM · Post #191 » by **AFM** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 11:44 am

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

Read on Twitter

I wonder what might have been had the Wizards traded down and drafted Queen and Riley?

What a beast.

closg00 · Post #192 » by **closg00** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 1:30 pm

AFM wrote:
Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

Read on Twitter

I wonder what might have been had the Wizards traded down and drafted Queen and Riley?

What a beast.

Can you re-post the DQ scary scene T shirt image? :thumbsup:

AFM · Post #193 » by **AFM** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 1:39 pm

He deserves a better one than this

Maybe one with half his face and the other half Shaq's ala Ted and MLK "double bottom line life"

Dat2U · Post #194 » by **Dat2U** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 3:42 pm

Derik Queen's body control & footwork for someone his size is just unreal. NO paid far too much to get him but he's strictly a C IMO. At least right now. I think you play him & Zion together and pray it works defensively because offensively, i can see the makings of something special. Jokic, no but Sengun is a possible outcome for him if Queen begins to show up defensively on a consistent basis.

prime1time · Post #195 » by **prime1time** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 4:17 pm

Read on Twitter

Queen's defense has been impressive. Small sample size but I think the hate on the kid pre-draft was overdone. And kudos to him. He's clearly lost a lot of weight.

Kanyewest · Post #196 » by **Kanyewest** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 8:17 pm

https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-nov-6-2025

Not how I would have them ranked but this top 10 looks better than last year's top 10 (at least on the offensive end).

Kanyewest · Post #197 » by **Kanyewest** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 3:17 am

Edgecombe helping Embiid up

https://streamable.com/1u2ae9

FarBeyondDriven · Post #198 » by **FarBeyondDriven** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 1:22 pm

lots of these "highlights" and production conveniently coming against the worst teams in the league (Nets, Hornets, Pelicans, Wizards, etc)

DukeLecker · Post #199 » by **DukeLecker** » Sat Nov 8, 2025 8:39 am

The hornets looking like they really won the 2025 draft. Kon dropped a 30 spot. James, who I don’t know how he fell to round 2, looks great. Explosive, great size for a SG, shooting lights out. And kalkbrenner starting and posting great efficiency.

closg00 · Post #200 » by **closg00** » Sat Nov 8, 2025 4:14 pm

DukeLecker wrote:The hornets looking like they really won the 2025 draft. Kon dropped a 30 spot. James, who I don’t know how he fell to round 2, looks great. Explosive, great size for a SG, shooting lights out. And kalkbrenner starting and posting great efficiency.

The Cats rookies are getting more PT than many other teams with young players, but the early showing of all of their picks looks outstanding, they hit on every pick. OTOH, they overdrafted badly on Tidjane Saladin.