2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[nate33]

I think you're going to draft Essengue/Carter at #6 because they're elite glue guy types and will rub off on the other young guys. They can defend multiple positions and are willing passers who can finish on the break. They'd be protection in case the other young wings don't develop or could allow them to be packaged in a trade if necessary. I think you'll get your center at #18, likely Sorber, Yang, or Raynaud which will allow Sarr to play his preferred 4

Carrington-Johnson-Smart
George-Poole
Coulibaly-Middleton-Kispert
Sarr-Essengue/Carter
Sorber/Yang/Raynaud

I think they'll play the vets but just enough to prove they're healthy so they can try to flip them at the deadline. They can't play them too much or else you might win and jeopardize your protected 1-8 pick. So a steady diet of minutes to the kids and hope that some cream will rise to the top. A top 5 pick in the loaded 2026 draft is where you'll find your #1 franchise player and from then on it's go time. A real and genuine problem I see is that you'll simply have too much talent to tank successfully. All these kids are going to make substantial jumps and I know your fanbase doesn't seem nearly as high on them as I am, it's possible you'll already have a starting five plus depth of your contending core going forward. That plus high BBIQ and better vets on the team than last season just might be enough in a weak east to prevent losing even if you try. 2026 is going to have a lot of teams tanking so you're going to have competition.

Most mocks have Essengue and Bryant going in the teens. I doubt the Wizards take one of them at #6. We also already have 2 guys in that mold in Coulibaly and George (and also Champagne who may not have the length, but he has the heart).

If the Wizards don't trade back, and Bailey, Edgecombe and Johnson are already off the board, I suspect they will draft either Maluach or Fears. I would also expect them to be working the phones to either trade up for a guy they like, or trade back for more chances in the latter half of the lottery.

[nate33]

This is for doc,
...
Rim pressure makes all this outside shooting significantly easier, so why do you think so lowly of Fears?
...
Please enlighten me, how Tre replicating what Bub does, so that neither of our guards go to the rim, how does this really help this team out?

I had Fears on my list of players with the potential to be the best in the draft. Like not surprised if he's better than Harper, long term. 4th youngest in the draft since he re-classed to jump early. Carried his team in a tough conference. The fact that he is still growing helps eliminate the concern about size. And I think his frame will take muscle when his growth spurt slows. I see him as a potential Brunson 2.0. His game with the ball is too savvy, and his key weakness is the outside shot -- but with a 85% FT rate, that will even out over time. Same deal with his assist/TO issues. He's been the best player on the floor, trying to prove himself, so who is he going to pass to? Some of the passes he did try were creative and surprising so his teammates weren't ready for them. Yeah he forced the action at times but you like that kind of aggression. He's so young, so skilled already, he is going to get better.

Yeah, I'm coming around on Fears. He's not really an ideal fit given our personnel, but he does have legit star upside. He can get to the rim at will and the 85% FT% lets you know that the 3-ball is likely to come around in time.

He is 6'-2.5" with a 6'-5.25" wingspan. If he grows just a bit more and ends up 6'-3" with a 6'-6" wingspan he will be bigger than Jared Butler (6'-2.25" 6'-4" wingspan), about the same size as De'Aaron Fox (6'-2", 6'-6.5" wingspan) and just a smidge shorter than Jordan Poole (6'-3.5", 6'-6.75" wingspan).

[Frichuela]

This is for doc,
...
Rim pressure makes all this outside shooting significantly easier, so why do you think so lowly of Fears?
...
Please enlighten me, how Tre replicating what Bub does, so that neither of our guards go to the rim, how does this really help this team out?

I had Fears on my list of players with the potential to be the best in the draft. Like not surprised if he's better than Harper, long term. 4th youngest in the draft since he re-classed to jump early. Carried his team in a tough conference. The fact that he is still growing helps eliminate the concern about size. And I think his frame will take muscle when his growth spurt slows. I see him as a potential Brunson 2.0. His game with the ball is too savvy, and his key weakness is the outside shot -- but with a 85% FT rate, that will even out over time. Same deal with his assist/TO issues. He's been the best player on the floor, trying to prove himself, so who is he going to pass to? Some of the passes he did try were creative and surprising so his teammates weren't ready for them. Yeah he forced the action at times but you like that kind of aggression. He's so young, so skilled already, he is going to get better.

Yeah, I'm coming around on Fears. He's not really an ideal fit given our personnel, but he does have legit star upside. He can get to the rim at will and the 85% FT% lets you know that the 3-ball is likely to come around in time.

He is 6'-2.5" with a 6'-5.25" wingspan. If he grows just a bit more and ends up 6'-3" with a 6'-6" wingspan he will be bigger than Jared Butler (6'-2.25" 6'-4" wingspan), about the same size as De'Aaron Fox (6'-2", 6'-6.5" wingspan) and just a smidge shorter than Jordan Poole (6'-3.5", 6'-6.75" wingspan).

If we stay at #6, and Fears is there (I suspect Utah may take him), I think he is the pick. To contend, you need top tier ball handlers that can create their own shot.

Bust potential but high ceiling too.

[Frichuela]

In any case, I have the sneaky feeling Dawkins will be trying hard to trade up to #3 and take Ace Bailey. He has obvious flaws but the potential to be a #1 option. At the same time, looks like Philly has incentives to trade down to either get additional assets to beef up their depth or dump the 3 years left of Paul George…

So, given we we are as a franchise, we need to go for the highest possible ceiling, which, after the unobtainable Flagg and Harper, is either Ace or Fears…

[tontoz]

I think trading up a definitely a good option given the number of young guys we already have. In Philly's position can they really afford to draft Bailey and wait on him to develop?

[tontoz]

Great minds think alike.

[nate33]

It'll be interesting to see how this draft shakes out because the order of the mocks doesn't very well match up to the needs of the teams that are drafting. In particular, I'm not convinced that San Antonio will take Harper. He is really a bad fit there because they already have a very expensive Fox at PG and ROY Castle at the other guard position, and neither are really ideal as off-ball floor spacers to spread the floor for Harper.

I expect San Antonio to shop the pick at least a little. Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson seem like better fits in San Antonio with their ability to score off ball and spread the floor. What would a team need to offer to move up? Notably, the teams holding the #3 (PHI) and #4 (CHA) picks aren't really in dire need of a ball-dominant PG either.

I could see San Antonio drafting Harper at #2, making a lot of noise about how happy they are, and then quietly listening to offers to trade him to a team picking a bit later - particularly if a guy they like (Tre Johnson?) is still on the board.

[payitforward]

I'm starting to like the "trade up for Bailey" path. Now... that depends on the cost of the deal -- e.g. no way I'm giving up 18 to go from 6 to 3.

How's this:
18, 40, & a future R2 pick to the Nets for 26, 27 & 36
6 & 27 to the sixers for 3.

Leaving us with 3, 26, & 36

Bailey at 3
Drake Powell or Cedric Coward or Lendeborg at 26
Hansen Yang or Rocco Zikarsky at 36

[dckingsfan]

It'll be interesting to see how this draft shakes out because the order of the mocks doesn't very well match up to the needs of the teams that are drafting. In particular, I'm not convinced that San Antonio will take Harper. He is really a bad fit there because they already have a very expensive Fox at PG and ROY Castle at the other guard position, and neither are really ideal as off-ball floor spacers to spread the floor for Harper.

I expect San Antonio to shop the pick at least a little. Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson seem like better fits in San Antonio with their ability to score off ball and spread the floor. What would a team need to offer to move up? Notably, the teams holding the #3 (PHI) and #4 (CHA) picks aren't really in dire need of a ball-dominant PG either.

I could see San Antonio drafting Harper at #2, making a lot of noise about how happy they are, and then quietly listening to offers to trade him to a team picking a bit later - particularly if a guy they like (Tre Johnson?) is still on the board.

I kinda wonder if our FO and many others are equally "confused" by this draft.

I think SA will KNOW that Harper is the BPA. I could see them trade for Giannis (for example). But it does cause confusion.

Or if our FO's player is above below or they don't see the player(s) they want (or they see those players as duplicates of what they have).

Or if you are OKC and don't see a player that can contribute.

I think it is going to be a wild draft. Even PIF is looking to trade up.

[nate33]

I'm starting to like the "trade up for Bailey" path. Now... that depends on the cost of the deal -- e.g. no way I'm giving up 18 to go from 6 to 3.

How's this:
18, 40, & a future R2 pick to the Nets for 26, 27 & 36
6 & 27 to the sixers for 3.

Leaving us with 3, 26, & 36

Bailey at 3
Drake Powell or Cedric Coward or Lendeborg at 26
Hansen Yang or Rocco Zikarsky at 36

I'm not seeing the motivation for Philly to randomly trade down from #3 to #6. Ace Bailey is a pretty good fit there as a long term piece around Maxey and McCain.

Philly might contemplate a trade, but what they would be looking for in return isn't necessary more, later picks. They would want a win-now piece at a forward position, and/or the ability to shed Paul George's horrific contract off the payroll.

Interestingly, if we hadn't traded Deni he would be the perfect piece. Deni and Middleton for the #3 and Paul George would have worked out spectacularly to fit the needs of Philly.

But with that no longer an option, the best I can see is to trade them Middleton for Paul George as the primary incentive. And then figure out the picks part afterward. Is #18 plus Middleton for George and #3 fair? We are spending $110M to buy that pick so that's a lot. But is Philly willing to blatantly sacrifice picks to save money?

[Dat2U]

This is for doc,
...
Rim pressure makes all this outside shooting significantly easier, so why do you think so lowly of Fears?
...
Please enlighten me, how Tre replicating what Bub does, so that neither of our guards go to the rim, how does this really help this team out?

I had Fears on my list of players with the potential to be the best in the draft. Like not surprised if he's better than Harper, long term. 4th youngest in the draft since he re-classed to jump early. Carried his team in a tough conference. The fact that he is still growing helps eliminate the concern about size. And I think his frame will take muscle when his growth spurt slows. I see him as a potential Brunson 2.0. His game with the ball is too savvy, and his key weakness is the outside shot -- but with a 85% FT rate, that will even out over time. Same deal with his assist/TO issues. He's been the best player on the floor, trying to prove himself, so who is he going to pass to? Some of the passes he did try were creative and surprising so his teammates weren't ready for them. Yeah he forced the action at times but you like that kind of aggression. He's so young, so skilled already, he is going to get better.

Yeah, I'm coming around on Fears. He's not really an ideal fit given our personnel, but he does have legit star upside. He can get to the rim at will and the 85% FT% lets you know that the 3-ball is likely to come around in time.

He is 6'-2.5" with a 6'-5.25" wingspan. If he grows just a bit more and ends up 6'-3" with a 6'-6" wingspan he will be bigger than Jared Butler (6'-2.25" 6'-4" wingspan), about the same size as De'Aaron Fox (6'-2", 6'-6.5" wingspan) and just a smidge shorter than Jordan Poole (6'-3.5", 6'-6.75" wingspan).

I like Nolan Traore probably a little more (he's a better distributor than Fears yet for some reason, in most mocks, he's 8 to 10 spots lower.

[NatP4]

I think Traore at #18 is a much better value than Fears/Johnson at #6.

[Dat2U]

This is for doc,
...
Rim pressure makes all this outside shooting significantly easier, so why do you think so lowly of Fears?
...
Please enlighten me, how Tre replicating what Bub does, so that neither of our guards go to the rim, how does this really help this team out?

I had Fears on my list of players with the potential to be the best in the draft. Like not surprised if he's better than Harper, long term. 4th youngest in the draft since he re-classed to jump early. Carried his team in a tough conference. The fact that he is still growing helps eliminate the concern about size. And I think his frame will take muscle when his growth spurt slows. I see him as a potential Brunson 2.0. His game with the ball is too savvy, and his key weakness is the outside shot -- but with a 85% FT rate, that will even out over time. Same deal with his assist/TO issues. He's been the best player on the floor, trying to prove himself, so who is he going to pass to? Some of the passes he did try were creative and surprising so his teammates weren't ready for them. Yeah he forced the action at times but you like that kind of aggression. He's so young, so skilled already, he is going to get better.

I'm fine if they take him. And due to all that ^^^ and the fact that the Wiz have already worked him out, I don't doubt that this front office could go that way.

I also think the point is moot. Intel suggests Ainge takes him at 5 and sells him to Brooklyn for a haul. He's a perfect fit for the NY market. Brooklyn will sell a ton of merchandise on the Fearless kid. And they have the assets to drop a huge bribe to Ainge who never passes up a 4-for-1 deal. Even if some of those picks aren't this year.

As for here. I want to trade up for Ace. I think he's an ideal fit for what this team needs, and despite the fact that we fell we kinda sorta lucked out, in that the teams who might pick him are also not necessarily great landing spots for what he does best. So we could potentially end up with a top 3 pick anyway, if we shift some resources around.

Yep, as far as fit goes, Ace strikes me as the best fit for the current roster... and I know supposedly you dont consider fit near the top of the draft, but maybe we should. The key for him is just maturing and unlocking his handle because the limitations of the handle contributes to forcing bad decisions including really tough shots and making off-the-mark passes when on the ball. I dont see 1st option scoring, but I see a guy who could be a very good 2nd option off another star - see Jaylen Brown

[DCZards]

Most mocks have Essengue and Bryant going in the teens. I doubt the Wizards take one of them at #6. We also already have 2 guys in that mold in Coulibaly and George (and also Champagne who may not have the length, but he has the heart).

I hope the Zards FO is paying little to no attention to the mock drafts or who is currently on the team when deciding who to draft.

After watching the OKC defense dominate the NBA all season long, I am convinced that you can’t have too many long, tall, active defenders with 3pt range…and Carter Bryant fits that mold to a T.

Not saying that taking Bryant at 6 is the way to go but I wouldn’t rule it out.

[dckingsfan]

I had Fears on my list of players with the potential to be the best in the draft. Like not surprised if he's better than Harper, long term. 4th youngest in the draft since he re-classed to jump early. Carried his team in a tough conference. The fact that he is still growing helps eliminate the concern about size. And I think his frame will take muscle when his growth spurt slows. I see him as a potential Brunson 2.0. His game with the ball is too savvy, and his key weakness is the outside shot -- but with a 85% FT rate, that will even out over time. Same deal with his assist/TO issues. He's been the best player on the floor, trying to prove himself, so who is he going to pass to? Some of the passes he did try were creative and surprising so his teammates weren't ready for them. Yeah he forced the action at times but you like that kind of aggression. He's so young, so skilled already, he is going to get better.

Yeah, I'm coming around on Fears. He's not really an ideal fit given our personnel, but he does have legit star upside. He can get to the rim at will and the 85% FT% lets you know that the 3-ball is likely to come around in time.

He is 6'-2.5" with a 6'-5.25" wingspan. If he grows just a bit more and ends up 6'-3" with a 6'-6" wingspan he will be bigger than Jared Butler (6'-2.25" 6'-4" wingspan), about the same size as De'Aaron Fox (6'-2", 6'-6.5" wingspan) and just a smidge shorter than Jordan Poole (6'-3.5", 6'-6.75" wingspan).

I like Nolan Traore probably a little more (he's a better distributor than Fears yet for some reason, in most mocks, he's 8 to 10 spots lower.

I don't buy the shot as much. Either from the FT line or 3 over time (at the end of the year, he shot near 40% three-point shooter, so there is that). I also don't see him as crafty as Fears. But he is a good passer for sure.

If I needed a backup PG - I think he will be a solid rotational player. I wish I knew if he was actually 6'4 with a 6'8" wingspan.

[dckingsfan]

I think Traore at #18 is a much better value than Fears/Johnson at #6.

I have seen him mocked as high as 9th and as low as 28th. I feel he won't be there at 18, but at this point

[The Consiglieri]

Consig, I think most here would agree that talent and not positional fit or need should be the priority for the Zards.

Having said that, if, for example, Maluach is the #6 pick, I would not want the Zards to pick another big like Sorber with the 18th pick.

Be kinda hard to try to develop Sarr, Maluach and Sorber simultaneously. I would prefer to take a swing at a guard like Richardson or a SF/PF like Fleming or Coward or Riley with that 18th pick.

I'd view Sorber as an asset to be flipped. He's also injured, which makes it easier to baby his development.

I’d rather have a player to be developed rather than flipped. At pick 18, I believe this FO can come away with an important piece of the rebuild.

I'd rather get the best players available period, and work with that.

If Sorber's the best guy at slot, I'm going to take him. That being said, there are justifications to move in a different direction if you have say Sorber inside the tier, and Traore inside the same tier right next to him, or much loathed guys like Kasparas etc.

#1 in my objective is the best guy, I'm flexible inside tiers, but not flexible outside of them.

[payitforward]

All good points, nate.

What if we work in Jordan Poole's contract -- bad but not as bad PG's...?

[Rafael122]

Most mocks have Essengue and Bryant going in the teens. I doubt the Wizards take one of them at #6. We also already have 2 guys in that mold in Coulibaly and George (and also Champagne who may not have the length, but he has the heart).

I hope the Zards FO is paying little to no attention to the mock drafts or who is currently on the team when deciding who to draft.

After watching the OKC defense dominate the NBA all season long, I am convinced that you can’t have too many long, tall, active defenders with 3pt range…and Carter Bryant fits that mold to a T.

Not saying that taking Bryant at 6 is the way to go but I wouldn’t rule it out.

I actually think Coward fits the mold in what Dawkins is looking for. 6'5 with a 7'2'' wingspan, he's leveled up everywhere he's been. The shooting seems to be there, 38% career 3 point shooter, 83% from the line. Carter still doesn't have a consistent jump shot. The only way Dawkins takes him 6th is if he thinks he won't be there at 18. My ideal draft would be Johnson and Coward.

[nate33]

All good points, nate.

What if we work in Jordan Poole's contract -- bad but not as bad PG's...?

I can't see one with Poole, unless it's a 3-way where Poole goes somewhere else. Philly wouldn't want Poole. They already have plenty of perimeter offense who are bad/undersized defenders in Maxey and McCain.