2025 Draft Thread - Part 2

[The Consiglieri]

Interesting idea on trading out the draft entirely. Might be worth it if we get an unprotected pick back from another team.

One other thought I had about Maluach (if he's as good as he might be) - Poole would probably look a lot better throwing lobs to Maluach and maybe we could then trade Poole for something good at the deadline or next off-season.

I am also in favor of drafting a guy named Coward, but mostly just for the name. I know nothing about the player. Send him up to represent us at the lottery next year and have him just staring at Silver the whole time.

Oh I'd keep 18. But yeah, my #1 objective would be to try to send 6 to Utah, Charlotte, or New Orleans, maybe even Toronto, Portland or Brooklyn, for an unprotected '26 first, something like that. I have no interest in the 6 pick. Unless we trade down for Fears, or Maluach, there's no point to the selection, especially in comparison to ramping up the odds w/multiple '26 firsts. We've got 18, just get some prospect with that, and load up on '26, which is at least through top 3-4, better than this class anyway.

[nate33]

I’m picking Fears at 6. Most upside. Got to the free Throw line at an absurd rate.

Queen combine was a disaster. Maluch zero agility

I am beginning to settle on Fears as-well, assuming that Bailey, Johnson, & VJ are gone.

Queen is going to be a dropper and will have to work hard wherever he lands.
https://www.reddit.com/r/torontoraptors/comments/1klubi6/derik_queens_historically_bad_combine_score/?rdt=45287

Cool, if he falls to 18 he's a bargain.

With a mediocre wingspan and a frighteningly bad lane agility, he is going to be unplayable defensively. He’s a slower Thomas Bryant with 5 less inches of wingspan.

[tontoz]

Listening to Zach Lowe today (nice to have him back) and he said Coward is getting a lot of buzz among the front office guys he talks to. Might be worth considering at 18.

[nate33]

I had to go back 10 years to find an NBA rotation player with a 3/4 sprint slower than Queen’s time of 3.52. It was Bobby Portis in 2016 with a 3.56. Every other slower player in the last decade was a bust.

I could not even find an NBA rotation player with lane agility slower than Queen’s 12.45 time.

[closg00]

I had to go back 10 years to find an NBA rotation player with a 3/4 sprint slower than Queen’s time of 3.52. It was Bobby Portis in 2016 with a 3.56. Every other slower player in the last decade was a bust.

I could not even find an NBA rotation player with lane agility slower than Queen’s 12.45 time.

No one was expecting him to do this poorly, too-bad he can't play another year of college hoops to prove himself.

[doclinkin]

Anybody have a link to an updated combine list? NBA.com is being pokey with the data.

[mhd]

Queen cannot be the pick if we stay at 6. He'l be unplayable on defense. I want to trade out and get multiple unprotected future firsts. Just game the system. I don't think anyone picked at 6 would get PT next year anyways with Bub, Poole, and AJ (with Smart) getting the guard minutes, Champenie, Bey, Kispert, Bilal, and George getting the wing minutes, and Sara getting the C minutes. Just take best big available at 18 and tank harder next year.

[80sballboy]

I understand people abandoning ship. I watched almost every game but I DVR them so I FF when the games got out of hand, which happened often. Life happens, but I'm not running away from this team. I didn't do it when we had Tommy and Ernie, wtf would I do with Dawkins and Winger? Not saying they are West and Riley, but they are compared to that sh-t show. Getting rid of Beal, adding a No. 18 pick this season, yes, there are major growing pains, but they've tried like hell to get out of the shadows of TS/EG and add Ted's incompetence as an owner. At least Ted is now letting these guys cook.

It's a long process and we got f-cked yesterday, but I do have confidence that we'll get two good rotation players (again). Just not sure we'll get that star without luck and I doubt we'll ever get a big-time FA to come here. So yeah, it seems like we're stuck in a rut and I hope that one of our guys develops into big-time players. But it will take time.

As a Maryland fan since the 70s, the program reminded me of the Wizards some. Boring and basically irrelevant since the 2022 title team. Queen, along with Rice and others, brought them back to life, even if it was for one season. But I watched them the entire season. DQ is a very talented big man, but there are issues on defense. I didn't expect him to test that poorly, but I also knew that he wasn't a great athlete. Either way, he's a 8-14 type of player for me. Not a No. 6. Same with Kon Kneuppel, who I see some mocks have us drafted him. He didn't work apparently due to an ankle injury, but he's another guy, like Queen, who is very skilled with a good IQ, but not sure about being quick enough for the NBA.

I like what Queen gave Md, but I could separate what the Wiz need at 6 and I'm taking Tre Johnson if he's available (doubt it) or Malauach. It's early so we will all likely change our opinion for the next 5-6 weeks. Yes, I'd rather have a Duke guy than a Md guy and looking at the Terps' very few recent successes in the NBA, it's probably a wise move.

[AFM]

Sorber is not going 6 though. Queen might. If you want Sorber I think you package 18 and something else (Kispert) if you have to move up. Then again the mock draft I just looked at has Sorber going 28th, so who knows where he'll be drafted at come next month.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-mock-draft-10-the-mavericks-won-the-cooper-flagg-sweepstakes-heres-how-every-pick-could-play-out-now-234814117.html

Sorber is going 6 if we take him 6. His measurements came out huge. He has the wingspan of JaVale or DeAndre Jordan, with a brick wall frame. Watch as the mocks start to re-shuffle after the measurements and testing are officially up.

As for here: One of the younger players in the draft, playing with a veteran presence on defense in the 2nd hardest position to learn in basketball (after lead ballhandling floor general). Positional size, smarts, youth, defense. Remember this front office thinks you can add a jumpshot quicker than you can learn defense. Show me who fits the profile at 6 better than him. Or who is miles better at their position. Then recall Bilal was mocked in the 20's. IMO the only reason Sorber is mocked that low is because it takes up to 12 months for a player to recover from turf toe surgery. But we don't have to get instant production out of him and can play it slow.

You dont necessarily have to sell me on Sorber. I'm just saying its poor asset management to take him at 6. If Dawkins thinks that's the guy, I'd much rather trade down.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Anybody have a link to an updated combine list? NBA.com is being pokey with the data.

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nba/news/nba-draft-combine-results-height-wingspan-measurements/cc328a555b744275ba6c7166

[TGW]

Someone said Jokic's combine score would hypothetically be in the teens, even though he didn't participate in all the drills.

[tontoz]

Sorber is not going 6 though. Queen might. If you want Sorber I think you package 18 and something else (Kispert) if you have to move up. Then again the mock draft I just looked at has Sorber going 28th, so who knows where he'll be drafted at come next month.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-mock-draft-10-the-mavericks-won-the-cooper-flagg-sweepstakes-heres-how-every-pick-could-play-out-now-234814117.html

Sorber is going 6 if we take him 6. His measurements came out huge. He has the wingspan of JaVale or DeAndre Jordan, with a brick wall frame. Watch as the mocks start to re-shuffle after the measurements and testing are officially up.

As for here: One of the younger players in the draft, playing with a veteran presence on defense in the 2nd hardest position to learn in basketball (after lead ballhandling floor general). Positional size, smarts, youth, defense. Remember this front office thinks you can add a jumpshot quicker than you can learn defense. Show me who fits the profile at 6 better than him. Or who is miles better at their position. Then recall Bilal was mocked in the 20's. IMO the only reason Sorber is mocked that low is because it takes up to 12 months for a player to recover from turf toe surgery. But we don't have to get instant production out of him and can play it slow.

You dont necessarily have to sell me on Sorber. I'm just saying its poor asset management to take him at 6. If Dawkins thinks that's the guy, I'd much rather trade down.

I don't think the asset management thing applies here. Once Bailey/VJ/Tre come off the board I think there is a big drop off in the level of prospects.

If none of those guys are on the board at 6 then I don't think there is a huge gap between the prospects expected to go 6-18. If there are a few guys we like at 18 then just pick one at 6 and one at 18.

[Dat2U]

I had to go back 10 years to find an NBA rotation player with a 3/4 sprint slower than Queen’s time of 3.52. It was Bobby Portis in 2016 with a 3.56. Every other slower player in the last decade was a bust.

I could not even find an NBA rotation player with lane agility slower than Queen’s 12.45 time.

Yeah, like you said yesterday, If we want a skilled big, we can go for Danny Wolf at 18. Or maybe even Raynaud or Yang later. Queen at 6 is beginning to look a little too risky for me.

If Tre goes before 6, I'm really sort at a loss for what to do atm. I guess Fears? I like him, think he's an NBA player. Not sure he's a star. For example, I like Rob Dillingham more than him and Dilly was an afterthought in Minny this season. Fears can be good, I don't think he's a special prospect in terms of athleticism or skill considering the high standard of the NBA. Like I mentioned before, he gives me Devin Harris vibes at his peak.

I guess I could definitely be talked into Maluach in this scenario.

[dobrojim]

Honestly, I'd do it. Who gives a ---- about pick 6, like, at all. If you can give it to a team that will be bottom 8ish next year, it will up our lottery balls dramatically in a draft that appears 4 deep or at worst 3 deep in studs, instead of this years 2 deep, plus 2 question marks.

I have less than zero interest in the sixth pick.

Here’s why you should give a ———about pick 6.

Lillard a 6th pick.
Jamal Murray a 7th pick.
Julius Randle a 7th pick.
Deni a 9th pick.
SGA an 11th pick.
Haliburton a 12th pick.
Jalen Williams a 12th pick.
Devin Booker a 13th pick.
Donovan Mitchell a 13th pick.
Leonard a 15th pick.
Giannis a 15th pick.
Sengun a 16th pick.
Brunson a 33rd pick.

Also, just look at the 8 remaining teams.
Many of them have been built without a lot
of #1#1s (off the top of my head)

NYK has 1 (KAT) and he hasn't been their best player
BOS has several high picks but probably won't make
the ECFs.
IND, no high lottery picks
CLE, also no high lottery picks (about to be eliminated if not already)

DEN, Gordon is probably their highest pick
MIN has ANTMan. And Conley who a million years ago
was maybe a 3rd overall pick
GSW have Curry, famously a 7th overall pick
OKC has Holmgren 2nd overall

That's not a lot of high picks left in the playoffs.

So yeah, DAL getting Flagg has a bad smell.
We got screwed but all hope is not lost forever.

Good mgmt has been shown to overcome other
disadvantages.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I had to go back 10 years to find an NBA rotation player with a 3/4 sprint slower than Queen’s time of 3.52. It was Bobby Portis in 2016 with a 3.56. Every other slower player in the last decade was a bust.

I could not even find an NBA rotation player with lane agility slower than Queen’s 12.45 time.

No one was expecting him to do this poorly, too-bad he can't play another year of college hoops to prove himself.

Queen cannot be the pick if we stay at 6. He'l be unplayable on defense. I want to trade out and get multiple unprotected future firsts. Just game the system. I don't think anyone picked at 6 would get PT next year anyways with Bub, Poole, and AJ (with Smart) getting the guard minutes, Champenie, Bey, Kispert, Bilal, and George getting the wing minutes, and Sara getting the C minutes. Just take best big available at 18 and tank harder next year.

Queen might still be on the board at 18,

As reactionary as so-called experts are, he could slide to round two. This has been a disastrous day for DQ. He lost millions.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

He's 6-0 1/2 .... I love his game but that kinda kills my enthusiasm unless he shows he can play the PG position full time and I didn't see that in his handle tbh.

I understand downgrading Jase Richardson because of his size but I’m not dropping him out of my top 20.

Kid just knows how to play the game and showed some big kahunas at times. Plus he has that NBA pedigree in his blood.

Jase will figure out how to have an impact at the next level…just as the smallish Jalen Brunson did.

Big Cajones! The Spanish word for testicles.

Kahuna is a mystical, shaman like figure in traditional Hawaiian culture, and it is offensive to them when we say, for example, someone is a big Kahuna. Though I doubt we have many Hawaiians on this board…

I've lived in Oahu for 25 years. I've heard big black kahuna before jokingly from my sister.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I understand people abandoning ship. I watched almost every game but I DVR them so I FF when the games got out of hand, which happened often. Life happens, but I'm not running away from this team. I didn't do it when we had Tommy and Ernie, wtf would I do with Dawkins and Winger? Not saying they are West and Riley, but they are compared to that sh-t show. Getting rid of Beal, adding a No. 18 pick this season, yes, there are major growing pains, but they've tried like hell to get out of the shadows of TS/EG and add Ted's incompetence as an owner. At least Ted is now letting these guys cook.

It's a long process and we got f-cked yesterday, but I do have confidence that we'll get two good rotation players (again). Just not sure we'll get that star without luck and I doubt we'll ever get a big-time FA to come here. So yeah, it seems like we're stuck in a rut and I hope that one of our guys develops into big-time players. But it will take time.

As a Maryland fan since the 70s, the program reminded me of the Wizards some. Boring and basically irrelevant since the 2022 title team. Queen, along with Rice and others, brought them back to life, even if it was for one season. But I watched them the entire season. DQ is a very talented big man, but there are issues on defense. I didn't expect him to test that poorly, but I also knew that he wasn't a great athlete. Either way, he's a 8-14 type of player for me. Not a No. 6. Same with Kon Kneuppel, who I see some mocks have us drafted him. He didn't work apparently due to an ankle injury, but he's another guy, like Queen, who is very skilled with a good IQ, but not sure about being quick enough for the NBA.

I like what Queen gave Md, but I could separate what the Wiz need at 6 and I'm taking Tre Johnson if he's available (doubt it) or Malauach. It's early so we will all likely change our opinion for the next 5-6 weeks. Yes, I'd rather have a Duke guy than a Md guy and looking at the Terps' very few recent successes in the NBA, it's probably a wise move.

After yesterday and today, I don't care.

Whatever.

F it.

[Northwest Roddy]

That the Lottery system is designed to prevent teams from tanking is a lie. The Jazz still tanked hard. The Sixers tanked hard. The Wiz have a multi year tanking strategy, Teams have no choice but to keep tanking. The incentive remains.

The lottery system is designed so the NBA can engineer generational talent to the preferred teams of their choosing. It's a multi multi billion dollar business. it is just reality.

Dallas goes to the NBA finals and wins the draft lottery the next year. How is that system fair?

[Northwest Roddy]

I understand downgrading Jase Richardson because of his size but I’m not dropping him out of my top 20.

Kid just knows how to play the game and showed some big kahunas at times. Plus he has that NBA pedigree in his blood.

Jase will figure out how to have an impact at the next level…just as the smallish Jalen Brunson did.

Big Cajones! The Spanish word for testicles.

Kahuna is a mystical, shaman like figure in traditional Hawaiian culture, and it is offensive to them when we say, for example, someone is a big Kahuna. Though I doubt we have many Hawaiians on this board…

I've lived in Oahu for 25 years. I've heard big black kahuna before jokingly from my sister.

We may be neighbors. I'm moving to Honolulu this summer. If you don't mind, maybe I can reach out for advice/suggestions at some point.

[pcbothwel]

I had to go back 10 years to find an NBA rotation player with a 3/4 sprint slower than Queen’s time of 3.52. It was Bobby Portis in 2016 with a 3.56. Every other slower player in the last decade was a bust.

I could not even find an NBA rotation player with lane agility slower than Queen’s 12.45 time.

Yeah, like you said yesterday, If we want a skilled big, we can go for Danny Wolf at 18. Or maybe even Raynaud or Yang later. Queen at 6 is beginning to look a little too risky for me.

If Tre goes before 6, I'm really sort at a loss for what to do atm. I guess Fears? I like him, think he's an NBA player. Not sure he's a star. For example, I like Rob Dillingham more than him and Dilly was an afterthought in Minny this season. Fears can be good, I don't think he's a special prospect in terms of athleticism or skill considering the high standard of the NBA. Like I mentioned before, he gives me Devin Harris vibes at his peak.

I guess I could definitely be talked into Maluach in this scenario.

I just think the prospects at 18 are just as good. Is queen really a better prospect that Wolf? Both have a similar skill set, but Wolf is bigger, or athletic, slightly better statistically, and only six months older.
Similarly, is Maluach really better prospect than Beringer? Maluach has better shooting upside , but Beringer is much more athletic with better defensive instincts/upside who would fit perfectly next to our.
I would not hesitate to trade down 10 to 15 spots and pick up another first next year in the late lotto.
OKC, BKN, and Utah are all in that range have plenty of picks