2025 NBA Draft

[rjv]

Lol you guys feeling a bit negative lately, eh?

lately?

[stnick2261]

But someone told me it wasn't the Cooper Flagg draft.

Same as 2003 was the LeBron draft even though there were 4 hall of famers

[stnick2261]

I'd really like to hear some explanation how do you plan on being worse than those teams that will all be intentionally bad?

With all of those teams tanking, some of them have to win by the sheer fact that they'll be playing each other over the year.

Realistically, we can get in 8th-12th best odds range, hope to stay in top10 and then trade up a few spots to get the preferred player.
Obviously we're not trading up into top3, but going from let's say 9th to 5th should be easily doable with an additional FRP.

If we can get in the 8-12 range, as well as ATL and CHI (11-12)... we either get lucky with ping pong balls, or finally combine those picks, 2nd rounders and future firsts to move up into the top 5 to get Wemby's #2.

[LeBowen]

With all of those teams tanking, some of them have to win by the sheer fact that they'll be playing each other over the year.

Yeah, they'll win 15 to 25 games.

This year we won 22 with rookie Wemby being played out of position for a third of the season, then he played with heavy minutes restriction and in the end we sat most of the team.
We finally added a good perimeter defender, hopefully other young guys also improve, because Wemby is improving at an alarming pace.
I don't see how we win less than 35 games without intentional tanking or major injury trouble.
But we really don't want to piss of Wemby by shutting him down.

If we can get in the 8-12 range, as well as ATL and CHI (11-12)... we either get lucky with ping pong balls, or finally combine those picks, 2nd rounders and future firsts to move up into the top 5 to get Wemby's #2.

The problem is that teams simply don't trade away players projected as generational talent unless they're forced to do it (Wiggins-Love, forced by Lebron) or have absolute morons in their front office (Trae-Luka trade down).

I think 5th-7th is the most optmistic range, even with trade ups.

[spurraider21]

what's the consensus as to ATL picking ZR and how that will impact where their pick will land next year? Is tanking a strong possibility for them now, since passing on sarr?

sarr may have been the tanking option for them, since he is still pretty raw (albeit much more physically talented). clingan/risacher are more plug-and-play than Sarr was. the real question about what this upcoming season will look like is how they handle the backcourt. do they run it back for a third season? do they move Murray, and if so, is the return just picks, or is it closer to how the raptors got quickley/barrett when offloading OG

[RC_Drunkford]

this season will be a tankathon. Spurs should be a play-in team. We still have the ATL pick and the CHI pick might convert. Just move up in the draft and grab Wemby's co-star, simple as that. And if you can get Traore you get him. We play positionless basketball with multiple ball handlers over here, it doesn't matter who's the defacto PG. Castle can play 1 to 3.

Wemby, Castle, Vassell, Sochan and the 25 pick will be your core going forward. Then sign some free agents and make a trade for another All-Star and you got a juggernaut that can dominate the NBA.

[AFBlue]

I want VJ in a Spurs uni. Elite athlete, two-way guard with a fluid smooth game. Reminds me of Victor Oladipo coming out of Indiana.

[scott]

These super early mocks are my favorite because a year from now we'll look back on this and half these guys you'll be like "who?!?!?"

[Mr. Body]

These super early mocks are my favorite because a year from now we'll look back on this and half these guys you'll be like "who?!?!?"

Pretty much. I expect Cooper Flagg will do what every big white guy from Duke does and disappoint. He's been fully grown against high school kiddies and can't even shoot. He also seems to have an arrogant at ude. Life can come at him fast.

Fortunately the draft should be deep.

[KobesAchilles]

I’m hoping for Dylan Harper

[scott]

Lots of great prospects to keep an eye on in 2024-25. Some of these guys won't pan out, but the makings of a high end class are there. I wouldn't call it the Cooper Flagg draft just yet. There are definitely some other guys who could unseat him for that #1 slot.

[LeBowen]

I know nothing about these kids, I'd be happy with a 6'8-6'9 potentially elite shooter who's not a bad defender. Seems about right for mid-lottery pick.

[widowmaker]

Lebron got a grandkid we don’t know about?

The second coming of Jerry West.

[BackHome]

This draft is stacked and not even looking at Flagg as they are some other highly gifted players;

For me I will be looking at.

PG - To draft a PG next year it would only be for these two kids.
* Nolan Traore - If he continues with his development I don't think we have a chance since will will go top 3.
* Egor Demin - I am not to sure what position he would play but the kid can play will definitely want to see what he bring to BYU.​

SG - This is probably the deepest class when it comes to SG as you have a multiple players who could be our second best player.

* Tre Johnson - Will be fun to watch him at Texas the kid is just smooth and can get you buckets pretty easy
* Dylan Harper - I think he goes in top 5 he is someone you can build a team around my only concern he seems very ball dominate.
* Hugo Gonzalez - Plays the right way can do everything and would fit into the team concept pretty easy

SF - Not a strong class but a few guys I like

* Airious Bailey - Very interested in seeing how his games grows at Rutgers he has the athletic part down lets see if he can put the whole package together
* Liam Mcneeley - I forgot the Poster who put me on to this kid but I 100% agree I think he would be a perfect fit as our starting SF. The kid can shoot and he is not bad on defense he would feast with Wemby getting all the attention

PF - Again not a strong draft for PF but a couple will be there if we get multiple picks.

* Noa Essengue - Have not watched a lot but I have liked what I have seen so far he is someone who I think would also be a great fit and someone who can battle for starting minutes sooner rather then latter
* Michael Ruzic - He is a little smaller maybe a tweener SF/PF - But I like his game it will be interesting to see how he develops

[SpursBills]

If he produces similarly in college compared to how he was in HS, McNeeley should 100% be one of the two picks. Castle has a lot of strengths and if developed properly will be a great two way player, but will almost definitely only be a league average or slightly better shooter. McNeeley is the best shooter in the class and more importantly a movement shooter. Hurley will probably use him as a 6'7" Jordan Hawkins/Cam Spencer and if he succeeds in that role will provide the gravity that the spurs desperately need while still possessing good playmaking and defense to not be a liability. It also allows them to get a true scoring wing with their other pick without having to worry about being a dead-eye shooter. The double 6'6" Castle/Vassell backcourt allows you to play two other wings next to Wemby without sacrificing a lot of rebounding or size.

[Obstructed_View]

This tbh

As much as I hate the perspective of another season of soft tanking, it could really be worth it.

As for Traore, let's wait and see what Castle shows us, who knows, maybe it's true that UCONN's system limited his offensive game

At this point, can it be avoided?

[heyheymymy]

This draft is stacked and not even looking at Flagg as they are some other highly gifted players;

For me I will be looking at.

PG - To draft a PG next year it would only be for these two kids.
* Nolan Traore - If he continues with his development I don't think we have a chance since will will go top 3.
* Egor Demin - I am not to sure what position he would play but the kid can play will definitely want to see what he bring to BYU.​

SG - This is probably the deepest class when it comes to SG as you have a multiple players who could be our second best player.

* Tre Johnson - Will be fun to watch him at Texas the kid is just smooth and can get you buckets pretty easy
* Dylan Harper - I think he goes in top 5 he is someone you can build a team around my only concern he seems very ball dominate.
* Hugo Gonzalez - Plays the right way can do everything and would fit into the team concept pretty easy

SF - Not a strong class but a few guys I like

* Airious Bailey - Very interested in seeing how his games grows at Rutgers he has the athletic part down lets see if he can put the whole package together
* Liam Mcneeley - I forgot the Poster who put me on to this kid but I 100% agree I think he would be a perfect fit as our starting SF. The kid can shoot and he is not bad on defense he would feast with Wemby getting all the attention

PF - Again not a strong draft for PF but a couple will be there if we get multiple picks.

* Noa Essengue - Have not watched a lot but I have liked what I have seen so far he is someone who I think would also be a great fit and someone who can battle for starting minutes sooner rather then latter
* Michael Ruzic - He is a little smaller maybe a tweener SF/PF - But I like his game it will be interesting to see how he develops

Great list, pretty much all my tentative targets at this point.

Would be cool to get the Nunez/Gonzales duo for the chemistry. Kinda worry that a lot of those SGs are redundant to Vassell. I like T. Johnson but too much overlap with Dev?

Bailey & Mcneeley would fill current PF depth issues but surely that could be addressed before then? I like the UCONN connections with Mcneeley after seeing Dan Hurley apparently in consultation with PATFO for Castle.

Ruzic seems like the Bertans/Sammich mold SA loves so much.

I like Egor Demin if Tre Jones or Blake Wesley are out or both, would backfill with Castle at PG nicely.

[Robz4000]

Every lottery pick in '25 would've gone #1 this past draft tbh. The obvious targets are Flagg, Ace, and Traore, but Harper and Johnson have sky-high potential too imo.

[RC_Drunkford]

all we need is a pick in the top 10 and we have our future core. I'm against trading any of the picks in this draft since we could then package them and move up or draft 2 players.

[Pauleta14]

At this point, can it be avoided?

I guess not but still lot of time fo stuff to happen tbh

Even unwittingly the Spurs could reach the play-in just bc of Vic's defensive impact, so why not go "all-in" and try to get the best ranking possible? (all while focusing on developement, it's not uncompatible)

There are opportunities that need to be seized NOW (Lauri for ex, u don't trade now you might never get him)

The Graham's deadline extention makes me think something big could happen before the 13/7

edit/ I went a bit out of topic haha

[AFBlue]

This draft is stacked and not even looking at Flagg as they are some other highly gifted players;

For me I will be looking at.

PG - To draft a PG next year it would only be for these two kids.
* Nolan Traore - If he continues with his development I don't think we have a chance since will will go top 3.
* Egor Demin - I am not to sure what position he would play but the kid can play will definitely want to see what he bring to BYU.​

SG - This is probably the deepest class when it comes to SG as you have a multiple players who could be our second best player.

* Tre Johnson - Will be fun to watch him at Texas the kid is just smooth and can get you buckets pretty easy
* Dylan Harper - I think he goes in top 5 he is someone you can build a team around my only concern he seems very ball dominate.
* Hugo Gonzalez - Plays the right way can do everything and would fit into the team concept pretty easy

SF - Not a strong class but a few guys I like

* Airious Bailey - Very interested in seeing how his games grows at Rutgers he has the athletic part down lets see if he can put the whole package together
* Liam Mcneeley - I forgot the Poster who put me on to this kid but I 100% agree I think he would be a perfect fit as our starting SF. The kid can shoot and he is not bad on defense he would feast with Wemby getting all the attention

PF - Again not a strong draft for PF but a couple will be there if we get multiple picks.

* Noa Essengue - Have not watched a lot but I have liked what I have seen so far he is someone who I think would also be a great fit and someone who can battle for starting minutes sooner rather then latter
* Michael Ruzic - He is a little smaller maybe a tweener SF/PF - But I like his game it will be interesting to see how he develops

I wouldn't leave off VJ Edgecombe. IMO he's a more well-rounded prospect than Tre Johnson with higher upside.

[rascal]

I want VJ in a Spurs uni. Elite athlete, two-way guard with a fluid smooth game. Reminds me of Victor Oladipo coming out of Indiana.

Spurs need to add some elite athleticism to the core.

[BackHome]

I wouldn't leave off VJ Edgecombe. IMO he's a more well-rounded prospect than Tre Johnson with higher upside.

Yeah, I left him off the list because I actually think he goes 1 or 2, him and Flagg fighting for the top spot. So just trying to be a little realistic .lol

[exstatic]

Yeah, I left him off the list because I actually think he goes 1 or 2, him and Flagg fighting for the top spot. So just trying to be a little realistic .lol

To get any of these players, we or ATL would have to jump into the top 4. There’s not an enormous difference between the odds for 1 and the odds for 4 from the mid lottery. If you really want to be “realistic”, just strike the top 4 prospects from your list. That would make more sense.

[TD 21]

This'll go hundreds of pages and well into the 100k's of views, only for them to end up with two picks around 10ish (own and Hawks), fail to trade up for Traore who they'll probably be rumored to and legitimately have their eye on, then trade one for an unprotected '75 1st (no roster space for two lottery picks on this loaded roster) and culminate in the usual: perceived choir boy who lack outlier tools (skill and/or physical) and a defined job description.