2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 9

[RoteSchroder]

That's also a common comp for Asa. I do think of Jalen Johnson because he has a compact-ness to his game that Asa has as well, just quick gathers and elite dunks and leaping skills. Rewatching JJ's film he was a monster at Duke:

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=CollegeFilms

Ya, Clowney shot 65% FT in college, but shot 83% this past season and 33% from 3.

I think that Carter Bryant is more like Jalen Johnson that shoots the 3 better. He's 1 inch shorter but has more hops. I guess Bryant is a SF that can guard 1-4, while Jalen Johnson is a SF/PF that can guard 2-4.

Jalen is 10x the ball handler and playmaker that Carter is imo

Taller, longer, better jumping Ochai with worse perimeter D, better interior D would be my comparison

[Psubs]

That's also a common comp for Asa. I do think of Jalen Johnson because he has a compact-ness to his game that Asa has as well, just quick gathers and elite dunks and leaping skills. Rewatching JJ's film he was a monster at Duke:

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=CollegeFilms

Ya, Clowney shot 65% FT in college, but shot 83% this past season and 33% from 3.

I think that Carter Bryant is more like Jalen Johnson that shoots the 3 better. He's 1 inch shorter but has more hops. I guess Bryant is a SF that can guard 1-4, while Jalen Johnson is a SF/PF that can guard 2-4.

Jalen is 10x the ball handler and playmaker that Carter is imo

That was the knock on him too. He averaged 2.2 assists but had 2.5 turnovers.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jalen-johnson-24.html
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/carter-bryant-1.html

2pt FG% JJ = 53.8%, CB = 59.2%. Does this mean that CB is a better finisher at the rim in the half-court or his middy is better?

Stl/To JJ = 0.5 while CB is near 1. Looks like CB would be a better perimeter defender.

[Psubs]

Ya, Clowney shot 65% FT in college, but shot 83% this past season and 33% from 3.

I think that Carter Bryant is more like Jalen Johnson that shoots the 3 better. He's 1 inch shorter but has more hops. I guess Bryant is a SF that can guard 1-4, while Jalen Johnson is a SF/PF that can guard 2-4.

Jalen is 10x the ball handler and playmaker that Carter is imo

Taller, longer, better jumping Ochai with worse perimeter D, better interior D would be my comparison

Why worse perimeter D? I would say comparable.

[bboyskinnylegs]

I think Noa will definitely be in the mix for us if he's there.

[RoteSchroder]

Jalen is 10x the ball handler and playmaker that Carter is imo

Taller, longer, better jumping Ochai with worse perimeter D, better interior D would be my comparison

Why worse perimeter D? I would say comparable.

his lateral quickness is a bit lacking..he's a bit like Scottie, poor first step and unable to slash + not great at containing perimeter players. Gets blown by a lot when guarding the 3 point line, but he gives good effort on recovery. Fighting through screens is tough for any large wing as well. He likes to sink to the interior more, so maybe better suited as small ball PF.

I would say this is a good list of his strengths/weaknesses: https://fanspo.com/nba/draft-prospects/carter-bryant/5061568

Clunky lateral movement, relies of physicality to slow guys down

[SpezNc]

Arguably the most likely named for us (maybe not in same order)

I would probably switch Jakucionis with Knueppel in case Knueppel drop to 9.

Let’s say we add Knueppel to the list and one of that group of 7 is likely to be our pick .

[SpezNc]

Queen produced like a Masai-type and Maluach didn't.

My view is it's like 2016 when Masai chose Jakob Poeltl over Domantas Sabonis. There was a lot of debate on here which one would be the better pro and Masai focused on size and physicals over skill as he always does. In this draft, Maluach is the Poeltl type and Queen is the Sabonis type.

So you’re saying we should draft Queen this time around.

The thing is we cannot predict outcome that way. Looking at the history is usual but very rarely we can recreate the outcome

[RoteSchroder]

My view is it's like 2016 when Masai chose Jakob Poeltl over Domantas Sabonis. There was a lot of debate on here which one would be the better pro and Masai focused on size and physicals over skill as he always does. In this draft, Maluach is the Poeltl type and Queen is the Sabonis type.

So you’re saying we should draft Queen this time around.

The thing is we cannot predict outcome that way. Looking at the history is usual but very rarely we can recreate the outcome

Hard to make these comparisons.

Poeltl is less lengthy than Malauch, but was more skilled with higher IQ

Sabonis is less lengthy, but more skilled than Queen and was described as having smart/good positional defense with good mobility

If we're making this analogy, the answer is to find out who is this draft's Siakam

[Jay_Hawk]

Beringer over Malauch for me. I think the atl trade down and we take Beringer at 13 and Flemming or Traore or someone that slips at 20ish the second atl pick

I have said this for a while now. They are both inexperienced to a similar degree, but for me when I watch KM he looks like he can't start/stop in an efficient way. High effort but less control. Beringer is a much more like Derek Lively/Jarrett Allen being really nimble on his feet. I think KM ends up more of a drop big, whereas Beringer you can see he can slide his feet and be a switch big.

I agree. The way KM moves laterally reminds me of Boucher; they both kind of slip instead of coming to full stops. It’s part of why I’m not sold on KM’s perimeter defense.

[Reeko]

At this stage if Maluach isn't there at 9 they should take Carter Bryant. He has a 3 and D baseline as a player and I believe he has room to be much more than that. I get that Queen is a talented player but his lack of shooting from 3 and his questionable defense make me question what kind of player he'll be at the next level.

[mtcan]

At this stage if Maluach isn't there at 9 they should take Carter Bryant. He has a 3 and D baseline as a player and I believe he has room to be much more than that. I get that Queen is a talented player but his lack of shooting from 3 and his questionable defense make me question what kind of player he'll be at the next level.

Ya...it's Maluach or Bryant for me. I think Maluach is probably gone by the time #9 comes along.

[Pointgod]

My view is it's like 2016 when Masai chose Jakob Poeltl over Domantas Sabonis. There was a lot of debate on here which one would be the better pro and Masai focused on size and physicals over skill as he always does. In this draft, Maluach is the Poeltl type and Queen is the Sabonis type.

So you’re saying we should draft Queen this time around.

The thing is we cannot predict outcome that way. Looking at the history is usual but very rarely we can recreate the outcome

Or maybe we prioritize skill over length and measurements

[Indeed]

Taller, longer, better jumping Ochai with worse perimeter D, better interior D would be my comparison

Why worse perimeter D? I would say comparable.

his lateral quickness is a bit lacking..he's a bit like Scottie, poor first step and unable to slash + not great at containing perimeter players. Gets blown by a lot when guarding the 3 point line, but he gives good effort on recovery. Fighting through screens is tough for any large wing as well. He likes to sink to the interior more, so maybe better suited as small ball PF.

I would say this is a good list of his strengths/weaknesses: https://fanspo.com/nba/draft-prospects/carter-bryant/5061568

Clunky lateral movement, relies of physicality to slow guys down

His comparison maybe closer to Shawn Marion, maybe not as good first step, but should be a better shooter.
Another comparison would be Rashard Lewis if his shooting lives up.

[S.W.A.N]

At this stage if Maluach isn't there at 9 they should take Carter Bryant. He has a 3 and D baseline as a player and I believe he has room to be much more than that. I get that Queen is a talented player but his lack of shooting from 3 and his questionable defense make me question what kind of player he'll be at the next level.

Ya...it's Maluach or Bryant for me. I think Maluach is probably gone by the time #9 comes along.

I have a big like list but

Maluach Bryant Noa are my top 3 of guys I really want. I'm also kinda open to a trade down with Hawks or Thunder if we confident we can get at least one guy we love in the top 15.

[S.W.A.N]

So you’re saying we should draft Queen this time around.

The thing is we cannot predict outcome that way. Looking at the history is usual but very rarely we can recreate the outcome

Or maybe we prioritize skill over length and measurements

Or maybe we prioritize guys that play D

[Indeed]

So you’re saying we should draft Queen this time around.

The thing is we cannot predict outcome that way. Looking at the history is usual but very rarely we can recreate the outcome

Hard to make these comparisons.

Poeltl is less lengthy than Malauch, but was more skilled with higher IQ

Sabonis is less lengthy, but more skilled than Queen and was described as having smart/good positional defense with good mobility

If we're making this analogy, the answer is to find out who is this draft's Siakam

I think Queen is more skilled than Sabonis, particularly, guard skills in ball penetration from perimeter. Sabonis was younger (half a year younger), I believe.

Siakam comparison could be CMB.

[Indeed]

Draft is less than 2 weeks away so this should be the last Aggregate Mock they publish for this year's draft cycle. Should also be the last time I update my tier list too (link to previous list: https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=118738490#p118738490).



Tier 1) Will not be available at Pick #9 (Worst rank no lower than 8):
Cooper Flagg
Dylan Harper
VJ Edgecombe
Tre Johnson

Tier 2) Could be available at Pick #9 but not guaranteed (Best rank no lower than 9 and Worst rank is lower than 9):
Jeremiah Fears
Ace Bailey
Kon Knueppel
Khaman Maluach
Derik Queen
Collin Murray-Boyles
Kasparas Jakucionis
Egor Demin
Nolan Traore
Noa Essengue
Carter Bryant

Tier 3) Other Masai-type FRPs that are probably mocked too low to be realistic options at Pick #9 (Best rank is lower than 9):
Asa Newell (Best rank is 11)
Jase Richardson (Best rank is 11)
Adou Thiero (Best rank is 20)

Thanks JL
- What is the data filter again for Masai type?
- Did OG produce like one?

It's not a set data filter, it's class dependent. So it's different if you are a Fr/Soph/Jr/Sr.

Every FRP Masai has made post-Bruno mistake (including both Koloko pick 33 and Mogbo pick 31 which I considered pseudo-FRPs as top 5 SRPs, so very early 2nds) is on the list retroactively, including OG.

This is because the creation of these queries in 2023 was aided by the pre-existing dataset of all 7 FRP selections Masai has made since the Bruno mistake in 2014, up until 2022 (Delon/Poeltl/Siakam/OG/Malachi/Scottie/Koloko).

Was wondering about Sorber, Fleming and Drake Powell, particularly, trading down.

[nivisi9]

With the #9 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select...

Him or Maluach are my hopes for the Raps at 9, but I’m thinking there’s a good chance they’re both off the board by then

Essengue is playing better lately, but being 203 lbs and 6'10 is not inspiring. He doesn't have a bag like Brandon Ingram, so if he is scoring off cuts and others creating for him, it will be tough to finish in the NBA. He is kind of like Chris Boucher size/weight wise.

Effort gets you far, but Noa is going to get thrown around like a ragdoll in the NBA if he isn't at least 220 lbs. Beringer who is also 18 like Noa and measured at 234 lbs which is more inline with NBA standards for his position. Noa has a SG weight.

they said the same about Holgren (he's a stick!) but turns out hes an elite player.

Its over thought the "gets pushed around and cant play" narrative..

PLUS Esseengue is a killer, plays with intensity, grit, fiesty, good rebounder, always attacking the basket..I dont think this will matter especially in 2-4 yrs as his body develops/he gets stronger.

I actually think its another reason he's being undervalued

He's 100% the type guy you look back at this draft and see why he became one of the few stars.

I know hes not a generationally skilled big like Holgren, but Noa's skill is also VERY UNDERRATED, he's not just a Rim Runner hes a true Wing/big combo.

If youre shooting for the stars at 9# , which I guess should always somewhat be the intention he should be the pick.

[nivisi9]

Would you swap CMB for Barrett if you could?

I think I would.

The only true knock on CMB is the spacing and hes arguably elite almost everywhere else especially within some high value areas..

elite Wing defense, efficient inside scoring, versatility, elite passing big, could destroy some opposing bigs if he can hold up (even in spurts) as a small ball 5


I also can see CMB slipping way too far, not really sold on him at 9# but with a second 1st would be an awesome steal.

how fun and versatile would a CMB / Mogbo bench big duo be?

especially if Mogbo can develop a passable corner 3PT (which he has the skills to do, just needs to start taking them more).

You could also plug CMB everywhere and have him lockdown opposing Wings, sounds like a lethal weapon when considering the offensive upside.

[S.W.A.N]

Arguably the most likely named for us (maybe not in same order)

I would probably switch Jakucionis with Knueppel in case Knueppel drop to 9.

Let’s say we add Knueppel to the list and one of that group of 7 is likely to be our pick .

This list makes me want to trade down. lol

We guaranteed to get 1 of them at 13 if Atlanta wanted to move up.