2025 Draft prospects - thread 3

[nomorezorro]

jake fischer posted an item today saying there are "whispers" about us trying to trade up from 12 to target a big man. jibes with vecenie saying we've been linked to maluach. i could be down for that if the price is right; don't think i would like it for any other C prospect tho

although i also wouldn't be surprised if teams were just assuming everything we're doing is in pursuit of a center since that is an "obvious need"

[nomorezorro]

fischer also said queen and wolf are two guys to watch for the suns at 10...would be happy to see either one of them go off the board before us if we're sticking at 12

[sco]

jake fischer posted an item today saying there are "whispers" about us trying to trade up from 12 to target a big man. jibes with vecenie saying we've been linked to maluach. i could be down for that if the price is right; don't think i would like it for any other C prospect tho

although i also wouldn't be surprised if teams were just assuming everything we're doing is in pursuit of a center since that is an "obvious need"

I'm ok with Maluach at 12, but everything about him screams mediocrity, so giving up any firsts to move up to 8 or 9 seems like a bad idea (especially now since that POR 1st looks like it might convey).

[Jstock12]

fischer also said queen and wolf are two guys to watch for the suns at 10...would be happy to see either one of them go off the board before us if we're sticking at 12

Wolf at 10 is mind boggling

[nomorezorro]

i also am starting to think the raptors long-rumored interest in maluach might be overblown/a smokescreen. there's been a decent amount of rumors indicating maluach could fall to 9/is the most likely "top 8" guy to slip a little, and also a lot of stuff about the raptors being open for business at 9.

two things don't really mesh unless the raptors don't actually like him that much

[CobysHairpick]

Does Maluach really fit in Billy's high IQ uptempo offense? Not sure if his decision making and skills will be good enough to fit in this scheme. What good is it if he needs 4 years to develop? Might as well trade away Giddey and Coby now for max value to fit Maluach's timeline and we all know AK is not doing that. I think he'd be a better fit with the ball stopping PNR offense that we had no choice but to run with Demar and Zach as the primary ballhandlers. Just not sure Maluach can play the hub role that this scheme requires.

The only prospect I think is worth trading up for is Ace Bailey. That being said, the Bulls are in no position to trade away future assets. I fully expect AK to stay at 12 and simply pick who they believe is BPA which could easily be any of Queen, CMB, Essengue, Demin, or Jakucionis. I think this is the group of prospects they'll be picking from including those not listed such as Beringer, Coward, Bryant, even Wolf apparently.

[Red Larrivee]

I just think it's a hard proposition to add assets to move up for Maluach right now. It'd be a very bold move to say the least. Could it work out? Sure. Maluach could be a number of things. He definitely has franchise center potential, and if the jump shot is more than smoke and mirrors, he's a game breaker.

But, more and more I feel like this is the type of draft where you just need to be patient and see what falls to you.

[MrSparkle]

I don’t believe for a second that they’d move up for Malauch. He’s gonna be a project - big risk.

There will be safer picks with similar ceiling at #12.

[MrSparkle]

I’m still of the opinion that this 12th spot should be pretty easy. Let 6-11 make their bold reach picks.

Between Kasparas, Noa, Queen, CMB, Fears, Malauch, Bryant, Egor… opportunity for a talent to drop.

The CBS mock is making more sense to me than the rest, just in terms of lotto decisions. They have Queen dropping all the way to 15 (OKC); I could see it, and I also see Queen being the obvious steal in the scenario. I also imagine he’d be a disaster on the Bulls- player fit, Billy’s coaching, etc.

Bulls need to laser target the guy with the highest ceiling, regardless of fit and position. CBS has Noa going to Chicago. The potential is there, but this would be a very low floor and raw project afaict. I have zero issue with that- just don’t want a bust like Salaun. But Noa looks more fluid, in every way. And much better FG%. Ceiling seems very high.

CMB checks a lot of boxes. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but his non-existent 3-ball seems risky. Terry, Ayo, Patrick and Phillips are standing proof that a good shooting coach doesn’t turn these guys into quality spacers, let alone in 1-2 years. But same can be said for Queen, Noa, Fears, Egor. Honestly Queen has the best chances of developing his 3ball, imo. Seems like a confidence shooter. Put him in a role with the green light (OKC’s bench?) and he’ll surprise the pundits.

I wish we had 2 picks in the range. I really think there’s gonna be 1 star stud in the range, and it’d help to have another shot. Spurs and OKC are gonna get some talent at 14/15.

[Jcool0]

jake fischer posted an item today saying there are "whispers" about us trying to trade up from 12 to target a big man. jibes with vecenie saying we've been linked to maluach. i could be down for that if the price is right; don't think i would like it for any other C prospect tho

although i also wouldn't be surprised if teams were just assuming everything we're doing is in pursuit of a center since that is an "obvious need"

I'm ok with Maluach at 12, but everything about him screams mediocrity, so giving up any firsts to move up to 8 or 9 seems like a bad idea (especially now since that POR 1st looks like it might convey).

Nothing screams mediocrity. He is a projected top 10 pick. If he pans out you are looking at a top 5 center in the NBA. If he really hits you could have your top 15 player.

[Jcool0]

I don’t believe for a second that they’d move up for Malauch. He’s gonna be a project - big risk.

There will be safer picks with similar ceiling at #12.

That just isn't true at all. AK probably wont trade up because he just doesn't make bold moves like that. But it would be nice to take that kind of swing.

[NecessaryEvil]

jake fischer posted an item today saying there are "whispers" about us trying to trade up from 12 to target a big man. jibes with vecenie saying we've been linked to maluach. i could be down for that if the price is right; don't think i would like it for any other C prospect tho

although i also wouldn't be surprised if teams were just assuming everything we're doing is in pursuit of a center since that is an "obvious need"

#12 and the Portland pick

I would be delighted

I knew we’d be linked to KM once I saw Luol training him.

[nomorezorro]

yeah i'd be OK with them giving up the portland pick or like, ayo or lonzo to move up a few spots

i would personally not handle things that way, but at this point i don't think those are particularly meaningful assets, and i don't foresee this front office leveraging them in a more effective way, so whatever. anything more (e.g. one of our own future picks) would pretty obviously be a bad idea

[Jcool0]

Does Maluach really fit in Billy's high IQ uptempo offense? Not sure if his decision making and skills will be good enough to fit in this scheme. What good is it if he needs 4 years to develop? Might as well trade away Giddey and Coby now for max value to fit Maluach's timeline and we all know AK is not doing that. I think he'd be a better fit with the ball stopping PNR offense that we had no choice but to run with Demar and Zach as the primary ballhandlers. Just not sure Maluach can play the hub role that this scheme requires.

The only prospect I think is worth trading up for is Ace Bailey. That being said, the Bulls are in no position to trade away future assets. I fully expect AK to stay at 12 and simply pick who they believe is BPA which could easily be any of Queen, CMB, Essengue, Demin, or Jakucionis. I think this is the group of prospects they'll be picking from including those not listed such as Beringer, Coward, Bryant, even Wolf apparently.

Picture Giddey making this play 3-4x a game

Watch on YouTube

[MrSparkle]

I don’t believe for a second that they’d move up for Malauch. He’s gonna be a project - big risk.

There will be safer picks with similar ceiling at #12.

That just isn't true at all. AK probably wont trade up because he just doesn't make bold moves like that. But it would be nice to take that kind of swing.

Trade assets on our asset starved team for a guy with zero shooting and ballhandling threat outside the paint?

The Portland asset just became a tangible piece. What else do we have to move up? If Vuc’s the piece, then that’s fine, but I don’t want to give up more picks to get a defensive specialist.

[nomorezorro]

the best way to fuel an uptempo offense is to have a really good defense that generates live-ball turnovers and stops that don't require you to take the ball out of the basket.

between his defense and his rim-running/screen-setting, it is incredibly easy to envision how an idealized version of maluach would fit in with the style we're trying to play. obviously it's up for debate how likely he is to realize that potential, but still.

i'm really hoping the way the finals played out made AK a little more defense-pilled than i have previously perceived him to be. you need stoppers to effectively play the way we want to play, and there are a lot of intriguing ones in our range

[jump]

Maluach seems to be work the risk of trading future assets. But if that deal is not available, I hope AK at least gets another pick in the 20s and grabs Kalkbrenner or Beringer or Reynaud. We need two new talents to keep this rebuild moving forward.

[jump]

Brooklyn needs a point guard, right. How about we sign and trade Tre Jones and #12 for #8. They can absorb his contract without having to send anything back, or they can send someone back if the deal needs that. Of course, since they can just sign him as a FA, I guess we would have to include the Portland pick. In any case, it seems like the Nets could be the best target for trading up.

[Jcool0]

I don’t believe for a second that they’d move up for Malauch. He’s gonna be a project - big risk.

There will be safer picks with similar ceiling at #12.

That just isn't true at all. AK probably wont trade up because he just doesn't make bold moves like that. But it would be nice to take that kind of swing.

Trade assets on our asset starved team for a guy with zero shooting and ballhandling threat outside the paint?

The Portland asset just became a tangible piece. What else do we have to move up? If Vuc’s the piece, then that’s fine, but I don’t want to give up more picks to get a defensive specialist.

To move up lets say 4 spots would cost Chicago 12 + a future top 10 protected first. Bulls need exactly what Malauch provides being 7'2", rim protection. He also has the upside to be more then just rim protection and rim running.

[Chi town]

I’d stay put and take Beringer over moving up for Maluach.