2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Hal14]

Penda is growing on me.

Not quite the same players, But I am flipping back and forth on Penda and Yaxel if both were to be available.

Biggest differences between them:

-Penda is over 2 years younger
-Yaxel played 0 games this season vs a high major conference team. All his games were vs mid majors/low majors which (in addition to being 22 yrs old) makes his stats & film look better than they are..Penda meanwhile played 33 games vs some of the top pro competition in Europe

No question to me that Penda is the better prospect.

Other main difference is they're slightly different positions. Yaxel is a PF/small ball 5 type. Penda is a SF/PF combo..

Edit: Penda is over 2 years younger..i said older at first, that was a typo..

[djFan71]

Click bait warning!!!!!!!

I haven't listened yet (and probably won't), but for you dreamers out there:

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/flagg-pulling-an-eli-playoff-jimmy-a-myth--game-7-preview--the-kevin-oconnor-show-172718646.html

KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh on this INSANE edition of The Kevin O'Connor Show. The guys both think it's well within the realm of possibilities that COOPER FLAGG could pull an Eli Manning, and demand his way to the Boston Celtics. Kevin has sources that told him Flagg met with the Celtics at the Draft Combine in Chicago!

[fallguy]

Click bait warning!!!!!!!

I haven't listened yet (and probably won't), but for you dreamers out there:

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/flagg-pulling-an-eli-playoff-jimmy-a-myth--game-7-preview--the-kevin-oconnor-show-172718646.html

KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh on this INSANE edition of The Kevin O'Connor Show. The guys both think it's well within the realm of possibilities that COOPER FLAGG could pull an Eli Manning, and demand his way to the Boston Celtics. Kevin has sources that told him Flagg met with the Celtics at the Draft Combine in Chicago!

The Eli Manning thing is a joke. They don't think it's real.

Per the ep - the C's have been interviewing top-10 guys at the combine. That's not unusual as this spring is the last time they can formally hold talks with them before they get drafted. So teams do reconnaissance for future decisions. But who knows? Maybe they love someone in the top-10. (Tre Johnson was mentioned as a guy they've talked to).

[redslastlaugh]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/flagg-pulling-an-eli-playoff-jimmy-a-myth--game-7-preview--the-kevin-oconnor-show-172718646.html

KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh on this INSANE edition of The Kevin O'Connor Show. The guys both think it's well within the realm of possibilities that COOPER FLAGG could pull an Eli Manning, and demand his way to the Boston Celtics. Kevin has sources that told him Flagg met with the Celtics at the Draft Combine in Chicago!

The Eli Manning thing is a joke. They don't think it's real.

Per the ep - the C's have been interviewing top-10 guys at the combine. That's not unusual as this spring is the last time they can formally hold talks with them before they get drafted. So teams do reconnaissance for future decisions. But who knows? Maybe they love someone in the top-10. (Tre Johnson was mentioned as a guy they've talked to).

They also say teams only get 13 interview requests at the combine. So to spend two of them on Cooper Flagg and Tre Johnson, that's not nothing. They don't get infinite opportunities to talk to the prospects.

I've been saying that the Mavs situation is an awful situation for Cooper to walk into. That's how I see it, not saying that Fagg's team sees it that way. But if they do, I wouldn't be surprised if some machinations go on between now and 5/28 collegiate withdrawal deadline if Flagg and his team prefer to wind up with another franchise. Not saying he's gonna go back to Duke, but that some machinations are likely to go down behind the scenes because of how much leverage Flagg has.

[fallguy]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/flagg-pulling-an-eli-playoff-jimmy-a-myth--game-7-preview--the-kevin-oconnor-show-172718646.html

The Eli Manning thing is a joke. They don't think it's real.

Per the ep - the C's have been interviewing top-10 guys at the combine. That's not unusual as this spring is the last time they can formally hold talks with them before they get drafted. So teams do reconnaissance for future decisions. But who knows? Maybe they love someone in the top-10. (Tre Johnson was mentioned as a guy they've talked to).

They also say teams only get 13 interview requests at the combine. So to spend two of them on Cooper Flagg and Tre Johnson, that's not nothing. They don't get infinite opportunities to talk to the prospects.

I've been saying that the Mavs situation is an awful situation for Cooper to walk into. That's how I see it, not saying that Fagg's team sees it that way. But if they do, I wouldn't be surprised if some machinations go on between now and 5/28 collegiate withdrawal deadline if Flagg and his team prefer to wind up with another franchise. Not saying he's gonna go back to Duke, but that some machinations are likely to go down behind the scenes because of how much leverage Flagg has.

Dallas IS in a weird situation. They've tripled down on the 'trying to win a title with defense now' rhetoric. And nobody with a brain believes that's possible given their roster. Even Niko. Maybe it's a Giannis play.

[phincsfan]

Anyway to find out who they interviewed in 2024 besides Rico?

[Hal14]

Anyway to find out who they interviewed in 2024 besides Rico?

These are the 40 players the C's worked out ahead of last year's draft..and of course, you interview any player when you bring them in for a workout:

Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
Pacome Dadiet, Ratiopharm ULM
Enrique Freeman, Akron
Ryan Dunn, Virginia
Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
Tristen Newton, UConn
Jalen Bridges, Baylor
Trentyn Flowers, Adelaide 36ers
Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
Anton Watson, Gonzaga
Keshad Johnson, Arizona
Cameron Christie, Minnesota
Dillon Jones, Weber State
Justin Edwards, Kentucky
Armel Traoré, ADA Blois
Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
Jesse Edwards, West Virginia
Tristan Enaruna, Cleveland St
AJ Johnson, Illawarra Hawks
Judah Mintz, Syracuse
Blake Hinson, Pitt
Jaylin Williams, Auburn
Mantas Rubstavicius, NZ Breakers
Babacar Sane, G League Ignite
Cormac Ryan, UNC
Marcus Domask, Illinois
Jaelen House, New Mexico
Chris Ledlum, St. John’s (N.Y.)
Kyle Rode, Liberty
Malevy Leons
Moses Wood, Washington
Anthony Dell’Orso, Campbell
Coleman Hawkins, Illinois
JT Toppin, New Mexico
Payton Sandfort, Iowa
Nique Clifford, Colorado State
Alex Karaban, UConn
Toby Okani, Illinois-Chicago
Noah Penda, France
Andrija Jelavic, KK Mega Bemax

[Dogen]

Click bait warning!!!!!!!

I haven't listened yet (and probably won't), but for you dreamers out there:

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/flagg-pulling-an-eli-playoff-jimmy-a-myth--game-7-preview--the-kevin-oconnor-show-172718646.html

KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh on this INSANE edition of The Kevin O'Connor Show. The guys both think it's well within the realm of possibilities that COOPER FLAGG could pull an Eli Manning, and demand his way to the Boston Celtics. Kevin has sources that told him Flagg met with the Celtics at the Draft Combine in Chicago!

[phincsfan]

I know who they worked out, was wondering about those 13 interview requests at the combine. No lottery picks on that 24’ workout list, but two interviews from lottery players this year is interesting for sure.

This draft could have major trades involving lottery teams. IMO, there are 5 teams in the lottery who could be playoff teams next season and may want to make moves for impact veterans.

[djFan71]

I wonder if Dallas would consider moving 1 for 2, then taking what they get for that and salary and going and getting the best player they could.

Say they get 2, 14, and a future 1st from SAS.
Draft Harper.
Send some combo of PJ, Klay, Gafford, 14, future 1st to get X that helps them win this year.

Harper & X could be more valuable in the next year or 2, than Cooper. Harper esp with Kyrie out.

Dumb move long term, most likely, but kinda splits the middle a little bit for the next few.

[playa-hater]

I wonder if Dallas would consider moving 1 for 2, then taking what they get for that and salary and going and getting the best player they could.

Say they get 2, 14, and a future 1st from SAS.
Draft Harper.
Send some combo of PJ, Klay, Gafford, 14, future 1st to get X that helps them win this year.

Harper & X could be more valuable in the next year or 2, than Cooper. Harper esp with Kyrie out.

Dumb move long term, most likely, but kinda splits the middle a little bit for the next few.

If Dallas trades Cooper for anyone not named Giannis, Nico won't get out alive. PR Nightmare 2X in one season ??

[djFan71]

I wonder if Dallas would consider moving 1 for 2, then taking what they get for that and salary and going and getting the best player they could.

Say they get 2, 14, and a future 1st from SAS.
Draft Harper.
Send some combo of PJ, Klay, Gafford, 14, future 1st to get X that helps them win this year.

Harper & X could be more valuable in the next year or 2, than Cooper. Harper esp with Kyrie out.

Dumb move long term, most likely, but kinda splits the middle a little bit for the next few.

If Dallas trades Cooper for anyone not named Giannis, Nico won't get out alive. PR Nightmare 2X in one season ??

It worked great for Danny. Until Romeo, lol.

[Hal14]

I know who they worked out, was wondering about those 13 interview requests at the combine. No lottery picks on that 24’ workout list, but two interviews from lottery players this year is interesting for sure.

This draft could have major trades involving lottery teams. IMO, there are 5 teams in the lottery who could be playoff teams next season and may want to make moves for impact veterans.

Read on Twitter

[redslastlaugh]

Hal, who is Brett Seigel whose tweet you've quoted. Is Brett Seigel saying there are 70 players who go through combine testing and each team is randomly assigned 13 prospects to interview?

If that's what he's saying ... I doubt that's correct

I know who they worked out, was wondering about those 13 interview requests at the combine. No lottery picks on that 24’ workout list, but two interviews from lottery players this year is interesting for sure.

This draft could have major trades involving lottery teams. IMO, there are 5 teams in the lottery who could be playoff teams next season and may want to make moves for impact veterans.

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

Hal, who is Brett Seigel whose tweet you've quoted. Is Brett Seigel saying there are 70 players who go through combine testing and each team is randomly assigned 13 prospects to interview?

If that's what he's saying ... I doubt that's correct

I know who they worked out, was wondering about those 13 interview requests at the combine. No lottery picks on that 24’ workout list, but two interviews from lottery players this year is interesting for sure.

This draft could have major trades involving lottery teams. IMO, there are 5 teams in the lottery who could be playoff teams next season and may want to make moves for impact veterans.

Read on Twitter

Yes, that's correct.

They probably do that so it's fair for all of the prospects and all of the teams.

NBA teams can control which prospects they bring into their own building for private pre-draft workouts (where they also interview the prospects when they bring them in). But the combine is an NBA event, put on by the NBA at a facility that is not owned by any NBA team. So the 30 NBA teams show up and get to talk to only the prospects who the NBA assigns them.

Brett is an NBA reporter/inside for Clutchpoints with a blue check mark and over 20K twitter followers. He's not Shams but he's in the know, has contacts/sources within the league and for various teams..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Full measurements and drill results from the draft combine : https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine
165bows' guy Sion James shows up very well with the best time in the three quarter sprint among all prospects and a 40 inch vertical.

[redslastlaugh]

Yes, that's correct.

They probably do that so it's fair for all of the prospects and all of the teams.

...

Brett is an NBA reporter/inside for Clutchpoints with a blue check mark and over 20K twitter followers. He's not Shams but he's in the know, has contacts/sources within the league and for various teams..

I'm not gonna get on twitter and ask Brett Siegel to confirm but Im surprised that's how they would do it.

If we arranged to interview Cooper through his agent or if the NBA assigned him to us to do an interview, either way, I think we should get Cooper Flagg.

[playa-hater]

I think under this current situation. Brad really has to hit some home runs with this draft.

[NYCelticsfan136]

Drake Powell is a guy i would take a chance witj in the draft. Didn’t live up to expectations at unc.

[Hal14]

Should be an interesting draft for us.

-There's rumors we could trade Jrue. And so far we've had 4 prospects in for a pre-draft workout..all 4 are guards so perhaps we'll take a guard

-Of course, our biggest need may be a PF/C type, with Kornet a FA..Al a FA (possibly retiring but probably not retiring yet), KP could get moved but even if he stays, he's always injured/sick..Queta is still pretty raw and Joe didn't have the confidence in him or Tillman to play them in the playoffs - or very much late in the reg season either

-Or we could focus on a wing..with Tatum out next season..Tatum also plays a bit at PF so perhaps we go for someone there - ideally a PF who can also play C..or maybe a PF who can also play SF - like Penda

We really could go in any direction. Think we'll work out lots of guys (now that we've been eliminated from the playoffs, I expect the amount of guys coming in for workouts to pick up a bit) and just try and pick someone who embodies Celtics basketball..Brad seems to really target high character guys, who seem like good dudes off the court, who would fit well in the locker room..Ashley Battle said on a broadcast they focus on that kind of stuff almost as much as what the player brings on the court with player acquisitions. Think we'll also try and get someone who can shoot, based on what people like Sam Vecenie have said and based on the way Mazzulla likes to play.