2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Hal14]

I doubt Clayton is still there when we pick. He's very good. Should be gone in the top 20 picks, or at worst, top 25..

[Dogen]

Noceilings mock dropped today.
#28 - Walter Clayton
#32 - Cedric Coward

wow, on Coward jumping up to high 30's on no public news. wonder if that is based on intel?
https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2025-nba-mock-draft-v6

I like Clayton. But If Boston grabs two more smaller players, it will make me go crazy. I want more positional size and length. still hoping a BIG 4 or 5 man or at the very least a much taller Wing type. Still love versatility and switch-ability.

Though Clayton may be too good to pass up.

I know, it's odd to think that a group of those bigs will slip into the second round and we pass on all of them. OTOH, maybe Brad prefers to wait a year, and get Al onto one more year. The rotation isn't bad at all with Al, KP, Luke, and Queta coming on, but needs some development players. Thing is, none of these draft bigs will likely be ready within two years so Brad might be looking to trade/ free agency after Al leaves.

So basically, I'm OK with one of the picks being a wing. Coward looks like he could be a compliment to the current development pipeline with Scheierman and Walsh. Three very different players, but Coward may be the most "complete" offensively and defensively, having decent lateral movement and length and a silky smooth shot. Could be a late climber in the draft if his medicals pan out.

I'm not as high on Clayton. He could be groomed as an eventual Payton replacement, but we have a few prime years to worry about that. With one pick, I'd rather roll the dice on Labaron Philon developing his shot and being groomed into a Jrue replacement.

[Dogen]

I doubt Clayton is still there when we pick. He's very good. Should be gone in the top 20 picks, or at worst, top 25..

One would think a team like Brooklyn, with all those picks, would be drafting a combination of talent with some to contribute right away and others top develop. Clayton fits in the former category. He might not be the perfect fit for the Nets, but then again they don't really have an identity, so he could be a "safe" pick that they could flip to another team later in the year.

I like Clayton fine, but don't really see him getting minutes when we already have Pritchard. And like you mention, he can't really replace Hauser.

[Dogen]

Also, with Brooklyn having the two picks before Boston, it's conceivable that they could end up with Clayton and Philon, for example, and get a couple players with different skills and experience as they develop their future backcourt.

I suppose the Nets are the biggest threat to have me in "well, there goes my guy" mode on draft night. I wouldn't mind at all if Brad trades up in to # 21 or 22 and gets the BPA on Brad's board. Probably more likely he trades back though, and we'll have one second round player this year. If that's the case , the association with Coward makes sense in taking a guy with good potential that has some injury history but can be brought along slowly.

[phincsfan]

Playoff results will play a big part in this years draft decisions IMO.

[redslastlaugh]

I agree. Payton Pritchard becoming so good is gonna help Clayton big time imo. NBA decision makers are prone to reach for Tourney outperformers, reach for shooting and also chase the hot trends of whats working in the league. And Pricthard just won 6th man, is playing great in playoffs, and literally looking like he'd go lottery in a 2020 redraft. And Clayton is the PP clone in this draft.

And I'm not saying it to put down Walter Clayton because I like him and I don't think GMs are wrong. But I concur Clayton is 12-22 type of range, come draft night... If I'm prognosticating

I doubt Clayton is still there when we pick. He's very good. Should be gone in the top 20 picks, or at worst, top 25..

[redslastlaugh]

I know, it's odd to think that a group of those bigs will slip into the second round and we pass on all of them. OTOH, maybe Brad prefers to wait a year, and get Al onto one more year. The rotation isn't bad at all with Al, KP, Luke, and Queta coming on, but needs some development players. Thing is, none of these draft bigs will likely be ready within two years so Brad might be looking to trade/ free agency after Al leaves.

So basically, I'm OK with one of the picks being a wing. Coward looks like he could be a compliment to the current development pipeline with Scheierman and Walsh. Three very different players, but Coward may be the most "complete" offensively and defensively, having decent lateral movement and length and a silky smooth shot. Could be a late climber in the draft if his medicals pan out.

I'm not as high on Clayton. He could be groomed as an eventual Payton replacement, but we have a few prime years to worry about that. With one pick, I'd rather roll the dice on Labaron Philon developing his shot and being groomed into a Jrue replacement.

With KP injury history, Al age, and Luke Kornet lookin more bankable in the reg season than in the playoffs, I second the idea that I’d like a big. I mean, you’ve got Sorber, Beringer, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, all potentially draftable at #28 … and then you have some other guys maybe in the mix if we trade back later in the 2nd — Rocco Zikarsky, Vlad Goldin, Amari Williams, Viktor Lakhin, Grunloh, etc …

I’d prefer to come out of this draft with at least some front court talent. If we can’t get a true five man, then a Lendeborg or Markovic would be intriguing as well.

[phincsfan]

I know, it's odd to think that a group of those bigs will slip into the second round and we pass on all of them. OTOH, maybe Brad prefers to wait a year, and get Al onto one more year. The rotation isn't bad at all with Al, KP, Luke, and Queta coming on, but needs some development players. Thing is, none of these draft bigs will likely be ready within two years so Brad might be looking to trade/ free agency after Al leaves.

So basically, I'm OK with one of the picks being a wing. Coward looks like he could be a compliment to the current development pipeline with Scheierman and Walsh. Three very different players, but Coward may be the most "complete" offensively and defensively, having decent lateral movement and length and a silky smooth shot. Could be a late climber in the draft if his medicals pan out.

I'm not as high on Clayton. He could be groomed as an eventual Payton replacement, but we have a few prime years to worry about that. With one pick, I'd rather roll the dice on Labaron Philon developing his shot and being groomed into a Jrue replacement.

With KP injury history, Al age, and Luke Kornet lookin more bankable in the reg season than in the playoffs, I second the idea that I’d like a big. I mean, you’ve got Sorber, Beringer, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, all potentially draftable at #28 … and then you have some other guys maybe in the mix if we trade back later in the 2nd — Vlad Goldin, Amari Williams, Viktor Lakhin, Grunloh, etc …

I’d prefer at least to come out of this draft with at least some front court talent. If we can’t get a true five man, then a Lendeborg or Markovic would be intriguing as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sorber stays in school. If his foot injury is just a turf toe injury, that just needs some recovery. If healthy he's a lottery pick IMO. Staying in school another year could even get him in the top 10.

[djFan71]

ESPN Big board update.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

26. Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.9
27. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB | Age: 22.5
28. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22.1
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 20.7
30. Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's | Age: 20.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Barcelona (Spain) | Age: 18.8
32. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
33. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans (France) | Age: 20.2
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 23.2
35. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 22

Byrd at 51, Coward at 54, Sion James at 55.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I still think Fleming will be gone by the time we pick, but if he's still there, I'd be quite tempted. To me, a big 4 is a need. Then with the second pick, if we're making two picks, I wouldn't mind a PG prospect. So, either a big and PG, or a big 4 and a PG. Maybe one of Fleming/Kalkbrenner/Raynaud, and a PG. I suppose I like Clayton and Philon of the PGs I have actually watched so far. I expect Clayton to be gone by the time we pick, too. Kid made himself some money with that tremendous tournament run.

[playa-hater]

ESPN Big board update.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

26. Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.9
27. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB | Age: 22.5
28. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22.1
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 20.7
30. Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's | Age: 20.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Barcelona (Spain) | Age: 18.8
32. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
33. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans (France) | Age: 20.2
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 23.2
35. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 22

Byrd at 51, Coward at 54, Sion James at 55.

Man if only the draft fell like that. I would take Fleming and Raynaud So fast without hesitation you wouldn't be able to blink.

[brackdan70]

Reynaud hasn’t really been one of my guys, but I am warming up. Dude looks very skilled. Played well against top competition.
I am officially signing off on drafting him Brad. Make it so.

[Hal14]

ESPN Big board update.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

26. Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.9
27. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB | Age: 22.5
28. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22.1
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 20.7
30. Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's | Age: 20.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Barcelona (Spain) | Age: 18.8
32. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
33. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans (France) | Age: 20.2
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 23.2
35. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 22

Byrd at 51, Coward at 54, Sion James at 55.

Give me Penda

Read on Twitter

He's 12th on my big board right now. So if we get him in like the 28-32 range, it's a steal.

Penda and Asa Newell are the guys where I would be all in on them if they somehow fall to our pick or if we trade up and they're still available..I've got Penda at 12 and Newell at 13.

Haugh is returning to Florida btw - not declaring for the draft..

Another side note - think it should be any day now we'll starting hearing about teams bringing in prospects for pre-draft workouts..

[djFan71]

ESPN Big board update.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

26. Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.9
27. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB | Age: 22.5
28. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22.1
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 20.7
30. Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's | Age: 20.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Barcelona (Spain) | Age: 18.8
32. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
33. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans (France) | Age: 20.2
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 23.2
35. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 22

Byrd at 51, Coward at 54, Sion James at 55.

Give me Penda

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

He's 12th on my big board right now. So if we get him in like the 28-32 range, it's a steal.

Penda and Asa Newell are the guys where I would be all in on them if they somehow fall to our pick or if we trade up and they're still available..I've got Penda at 12 and Newell at 13.

Haugh is returning to Florida btw - not declaring for the draft..

Another side note - think it should be any day now we'll starting hearing about teams bringing in prospects for pre-draft workouts..

Yeah, I'm board with both of those guys for sure. It feels like we have a pretty good chance of at least one, if not 2, of these guys:

Asa Newell
Rasheer Fleming
Carter Bryant
Noah Penda
Will Riley
Yaxel Lendeborg
Walter Clayton Jr
Nique Clifford

[djFan71]

Can someone sell me on McNeeley? He's pretty much always in the teens, but I don't see it. Wide open c&s 3% was really good (43.1%). Movement 3pt % was awful (28.6%) - #s from Ringer draft guide. Not great on D but could be passable I guess. Decent passing/ball handling, but neither are spectacular. Absolute ceiling seems to be maybe a slightly better Hauser and that's based on a lot of ifs that he improves across the board in all categories and shooting getting to elite. I don't like the chances of all that happening.

I hope somebody ahead of us takes the gamble and lets someone else drop.

[Hal14]

Can someone sell me on McNeeley? He's pretty much always in the teens, but I don't see it. Wide open c&s 3% was really good (43.1%). Movement 3pt % was awful (28.6%) - #s from Ringer draft guide. Not great on D but could be passable I guess. Decent passing/ball handling, but neither are spectacular. Absolute ceiling seems to be maybe a slightly better Hauser and that's based on a lot of ifs that he improves across the board in all categories and shooting getting to elite. I don't like the chances of all that happening.

I hope somebody ahead of us takes the gamble and lets someone else drop.

That tall (6'7" or taller) wing shooter with high feel, high IQ..seems to have a good hit rate. The guys of that archetype don't usually have a very high ceiling but very high floor..almost always guaranteed to go in like the 11-17 range in a re-draft (Hauser, Ingles, Huerter, Duncan Robinson, Kispert, Kennard, Gradey Dick, etc.).

Wieskamp didn't make it but this archetype usually hits - especially if they're good enough to be a 1st round pick after their freshman year (which is really just Gradey Dick, McNeeley, Johnny Furphy and maybe if you want to include Risacher in that).

I wouldn't take him top 10. Probably not in the lottery either but definitely worth a top 25 (probably even top 20) pick.

High FTr (over 40) and high usage % (over 25) for McNeeley are good indicators that there's some on ball juice there. Crazy high FT% and very good catch & shoot numbers point to good shooting ability, along with high 3PA volume.

Some of the efficiency numbers (FG%, FG% at rim, 3 FG%) aren't good but can partly be attributed to the fact that he went from being like a 3rd/4th option at Montverde to being the 1st option this season at Uconn as a freshman playing a tough schedule. Plus he had an ankle injury mid-season that hurt some of his numbers.

[neno]

Can someone sell me on McNeeley? He's pretty much always in the teens, but I don't see it. Wide open c&s 3% was really good (43.1%). Movement 3pt % was awful (28.6%) - #s from Ringer draft guide. Not great on D but could be passable I guess. Decent passing/ball handling, but neither are spectacular. Absolute ceiling seems to be maybe a slightly better Hauser and that's based on a lot of ifs that he improves across the board in all categories and shooting getting to elite. I don't like the chances of all that happening.

I hope somebody ahead of us takes the gamble and lets someone else drop.

This hoopshype article says he's a gym rat who might have highest basketball IQ and also possibly be the best shooter in the draft
Best rank: 11 / Worst rank: 27
Agent: CAA
Statistics: 14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.2 bpg, 38.1% FG, 31.7% 3P in 27 games this season

McNeeley might be the smartest player in the class. He spaces the floor, makes sharp passes, and never forces the issue. He’s not a lockdown athlete, but he competes defensively and gets winning basketball – a coach’s dream role player, scrappy gym rat.

Scout’s Notes:

An assistant coach told HoopsHype on McNeeley: “Sniper. This kid might end up being the best shooter in the class – textbook form, deep range, and he doesn’t need plays called for him. What I love is he’s not just a spot-up guy; he’s got that sneaky off-ball movement and can attack closeouts. Needs to get stronger defensively, but his offensive IQ is already pro-level. Worst case he’s a better Joe Harris
https://hoopshype.com/lists/liam-mcneeley-nba-draft-scouting-report/

[phincsfan]

Can someone sell me on McNeeley? He's pretty much always in the teens, but I don't see it. Wide open c&s 3% was really good (43.1%). Movement 3pt % was awful (28.6%) - #s from Ringer draft guide. Not great on D but could be passable I guess. Decent passing/ball handling, but neither are spectacular. Absolute ceiling seems to be maybe a slightly better Hauser and that's based on a lot of ifs that he improves across the board in all categories and shooting getting to elite. I don't like the chances of all that happening.

I hope somebody ahead of us takes the gamble and lets someone else drop.

I’m a big fan of McNeeley. Definitely more athletic than Hauser. Has better ability to create for himself at this age compared to when Sam left school.

I’d be surprised if he gets passed 22. If he falls after that I’d be interested in a trade up for him. 23 is possible to get with 28 and 32 imo.

[Hal14]

The Celtics worked out 40 prospects ahead of last year's draft.

2 of them they ended up drafting - Scheierman and Watson.

These ones are eligible for this year's draft, ranked in order of where I have them on my big board:

Noah Penda
Nique Clifford
Alex Karaban (has not declared yet so may return to UConn for senior yr)
Payton Sandfort
Coleman Hawkins
Toby Okani (he kind of sucks, highly doubt he gets drafted but he's auto eligible this year)

Will be interesting to see if Boston brings back some of these guys for a pre-draft workout for a second year in a row. That would probably mean they liked what they saw enough in last year's workout and like what they've seen from them this season as well.

I would think Penda, Clifford and Sandfort will be brought back in..Karaban too, if he declares. Possibly Hawkins as well..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

ESPN Big board update.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

26. Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.9
27. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB | Age: 22.5
28. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22.1
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 20.7
30. Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's | Age: 20.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Barcelona (Spain) | Age: 18.8
32. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
33. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans (France) | Age: 20.2
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 23.2
35. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 22

Byrd at 51, Coward at 54, Sion James at 55.

Give me Penda

Read on Twitter

He's 12th on my big board right now. So if we get him in like the 28-32 range, it's a steal.

Penda and Asa Newell are the guys where I would be all in on them if they somehow fall to our pick or if we trade up and they're still available..I've got Penda at 12 and Newell at 13.

Haugh is returning to Florida btw - not declaring for the draft..

Another side note - think it should be any day now we'll starting hearing about teams bringing in prospects for pre-draft workouts..

Not surprised. During the U19 world cup in 2023, Penda often looked like the most disruptive defender on a team that included Risacher and Sarr (and finish second to Spain after knocking out team USA along the way). Even at that level the offense was really rough though. I don't believe he'll get his shooting up to NBA standards but if a front office believes they can get him there, I'm not really sure how you can pass on him in the late first round.