Event 2025 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY, COMBINE, AND DRAFT

[Cugel]

The rookies should be playing all 48 mins. No exceptions. This draft class warrants it. Bench the vets and send them off to Cabo. HAVE to be in the top 5.

 

[PCmor7]

The rookies should be playing all 48 mins. No exceptions. This draft class warrants it. Bench the vets and send them off to Cabo. HAVE to be in the top 5.

And if they die, they die.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yet I’d way rather have all 3 than Scoot..

Well duh

 

[tlongII]

 

[PCmor7]

Demin's slipped since the first month of the season and I think if someone gets him outside the top four or five they should be absolutely thrilled because he's got superstar potential. There are a lot of guys in this draft that I think will be very, very good NBA players, exceptional role players, but, if you're drafting in the top five, you want a difference-maker, not just a piece, and I see him as a potential difference-maker along with Flagg, Harper and Bailey.

 

[MickZagger]

Demin's slipped since the first month of the season and I think if someone gets him outside the top four or five they should be absolutely thrilled because he's got superstar potential. There are a lot of guys in this draft that I think will be very, very good NBA players, exceptional role players, but, if you're drafting in the top five, you want a difference-maker, not just a piece, and I see him as a potential difference-maker along with Flagg, Harper and Bailey.

I think the kid Jakuconius from Illinois should go 3rd.

Bailey reminds me of Jabari Smith Jr. Raw and all the tools. Can dominate the college game but not sure about the NBA game.

 

[PCmor7]

I think the kid Jakuconius from Illinois should go 3rd.

Bailey reminds me of Jabari Smith Jr. Raw and all the tools. Can dominate the college game but not sure about the NBA game.

I think Bailey's upside is parsecs ahead of Jabari Smith. And I liked Jabari Smith coming out, because Smith had a great shot.

Bailey has shots in his repertoire, though, that are for all intents and purposes undefendable. He can make tough shots and make them look normal more than anyone I've seen in the draft in a while. It's Kobe-esque.

I'm not saying he's Kobe. Kobe was honing that since he was practically a toddler and grew up around the game and got all the intangibles and Bailey doesn't have that kind of consistency. He's a scorer that can take over a game and score at all three levels, Flagg's better all around. Harper's so sound and consistent. But, if you asked me who could have a 40-point game as a rookie in 2025-26, it'd be Bailey. There are going to be some nights where he's just on and the only defense is to keep the ball away from him to throw hard double-teams at him immediately every time he touches the ball. He might drive you crazy with his off-nights, though.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Agreed!

 

[PCmor7]

Agreed!

Oh, geez. Aaron Fentress? I was just trying to eat.

 

[beast blazer]

The rookies should be playing all 48 mins. No exceptions. This draft class warrants it. Bench the vets and send them off to Cabo. HAVE to be in the top 5.

I think pretty much everyone in the universe wonders what Joe is doing. But it's not like Ayton/Simons/Grant actually do help us win...

 

[42N8Bounce]

After about halfway thru the season, here's a quick 'cheat sheet' I put together to look at some of the top prospects (not a mock draft):



As we've seen in previous years, multiple players come on strong at the end of the season and make a big name for themselves in the tournament.

If the Blazers land in the 5-8 range, who is a realistic target?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

My pick for bust potential (or, at best, Jalen Green flash-but-no-substance) is Ace Bailey. No thank you. Meanwhile, if Edgecombe falls the team that ends up with him will be very happy, a la Donovan Mitchell.

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

After about halfway thru the season, here's a quick 'cheat sheet' I put together to look at some of the top prospects (not a mock draft):

View attachment 69891

As we've seen in previous years, multiple players come on strong at the end of the season and make a big name for themselves in the tournament.

If the Blazers land in the 5-8 range, who is a realistic target?

I actually like the idea of trading down and get 2 targets.

Assume Portland gets #7 -> and trade that to the Spurs for #10 and #16. I'd target Fears at 10 and Flemming at 16.

I also really like Noa Essengue, Broome, Byrd, and Sergio de Larrea.

 

[HailBlazers]

Flemmings stats are quite impressive.

 

[MickZagger]

Nbadraft.net is a joke these days

They have Jakunious as the 16th pick. There’s no way he goes outside top 5. The guy is the real deal. Confident, smart, size, athleticism. If no Flagg or Harper I like him the most in the draft.

 

[Cugel]

So OKC has a a shot at Flagg. Nice. If you are presti do you make an all in trade this year and blow some of those frp?

 

[HailBlazers]

Nbadraft.net is a joke these days

They have Jakunious as the 16th pick. There’s no way he goes outside top 5. The guy is the real deal. Confident, smart, size, athleticism. If no Flagg or Harper I like him the most in the draft.

You want
https://nbadraftroom.com/2025-nba-mock-draft/

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Suddenly everyone's using the phrase "ethical basketball" - when did this become a thing and what the fuck does it mean?

 

[JDC]

So OKC has a a shot at Flagg. Nice. If you are presti do you make an all in trade this year and blow some of those frp?

That pick is protected 1-6

 

[MickZagger]

Thomas Sorber is a guy I’ve watched a few times and really impresses me.

 

[JDC]

Thomas Sorber is a guy I’ve watched a few times and really impresses me.

Yeah he's likely a lottery guy for me.

Wish he was a little more explosive and he doesn't have a bankable offensive role imo but really like his mix of motor, physicality and versatility.

Wendell Carter Jr vibes

 

[Freshtown]

We need to find a way to get another pick in this draft.

 

[MickZagger]

Yeah he's likely a lottery guy for me.

Wish he was a little more explosive and he doesn't have a bankable offensive role imo but really like his mix of motor, physicality and versatility.

Wendell Carter Jr vibes

He’s very smooth for 6’10”. Very raw as well. Plenty of room to improve. Plus he has my favorite attribute of a draft prospect;

The game comes easy to him.

 

[cheesehoff]

He’s very smooth for 6’10”. Very raw as well. Plenty of room to improve. Plus he has my favorite attribute of a draft prospect;

The game comes easy to him.

Big leap since last year. Should mean he continues to improve for many more years.
I like guys who can impact games without having to score, or at least don't have to get a lot of shots. Especially rebounding and defense. Scoring is usually much easier to find.

 

[JDC]

First look at Henri Veesaar from Arizona for me vs Baylor...

I don't know if Henri comes out this year but if he continues to play like how has to start conference play, I think he'll have some first round intrigue. Was good as a freshman in limited minutes then out all last year with a dislocated elbow, but is still roughly sophomore aged with a March 2004 birthday.

Active...moves very well. Impactful around the rim and has some real bounce...look fairly fluid comfortable handling the ball facing up and in DHO's....aaaannnd he might be able to shoot down the line? Came in wanting to get another look at VJ who I hadn't seen in a while and also key in more on Carter Bryant and Robert Wright but my eye's were always drawn back to Veesaar.

One game, but very impressed.

 

[cheesehoff]

Haven't seen this guy yet, but everything about him looks like an NBA player. He has a throwback feel when I watch his highlights.
Also, he's very impressive in his interviews. Very well spoken and definitely a student of the game. He has great knowledge of past (and present) players and sounds like he studies the good ones.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Haven't seen this guy yet, but everything about him looks like an NBA player. He has a throwback feel when I watch his highlights.
Also, he's very impressive in his interviews. Very well spoken and definitely a student of the game. He has great knowledge of past (and present) players and sounds like he studies the good ones.

I’d be interested to know the origins of his last name.

 

[MickZagger]

Haven't seen this guy yet, but everything about him looks like an NBA player. He has a throwback feel when I watch his highlights.
Also, he's very impressive in his interviews. Very well spoken and definitely a student of the game. He has great knowledge of past (and present) players and sounds like he studies the good ones.

He looks nice. And he started his career at Willamette university!

 

[THE HCP]

I’d be interested to know the origins of his last name.

I’d be scared to ask!