2025 NBA Draft

[Mitch Cumsteen]

Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the 80s pretty much killed the league and if not for MJ, who knows what would've happened.

Not to get off topic here... but by killed the league, do you mean rescued it from the nether regions of the nation's consciousness and from tape delayed playoff games? I've seen a lot of takes on this board, but you can literally point to the exact time when Bird and Magic entered the league as the launching pad for the league's popularity. There are still people who look at that time period as the absolute zenith of the league.

[LeBowen]

Not to get off topic here... but by killed the league, do you mean rescued it from the nether regions of the nation's consciousness and from tape delayed playoff games? I've seen a lot of takes on this board, but you can literally point to the exact time when Bird and Magic entered the league as the launching pad for the league's popularity. There are still people who look at that time period as the absolute zenith of the league.

In short, it made people pay attention to the NBA again, but it was counter productive for the rest of the league because from Magic's first finals up until the Bulls made it, just 5 teams played made the finals.
Most of the league had nothing to play for, especially in the West.
I still remember that interview with Ice when the interviewer told him how he was the original KD if we talk playstyle and he replied that he could've also done a KD, but where would the fun be if he joined Magic and Kareem.

Yes, the Bulls dominated, but conference finals and finals had way more variety.

[jesterbobman]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/594...gg-ace-bailey/

New Vecenie big board.

Has Kasparas up to #5, and I think he'll be up there near the end, so it seems like the SpursBills and I dream is likely dead unless we have lottery luck. I think that was only a matter of time. Jase Richardson is up to 15. That guy knows how to play, it will be interesting to see what happens as he takes on more and more offensive load, and if he gets targeted more as a average athlete without huge size.

[BackHome]

Yeah the more time goes it looks like Atlanta pick will be 21 and will be around low 20’s

Probably start looking at:

SG/SF - Hugo Gonzales - Athletic guy who plays defense may slip because not getting playing time in a deep Spain Team
SF - Alex Karaban - Not the most athletic but he can shoot and plays smart basketball just a solid player which fits his draft range

PF - Mackenzie Mgbako - Another solid player could be a good backup to Sochan
C - Ryann Kalkbrenner - If we not in lottery then we need to add a good free agent so making it win sooner so probably need a good backup to Wemby

[exstatic]

Yeah the more time goes it looks like Atlanta pick will be 21 and will be around low 20’s

Dude, it’s December 3rd.

[onechance87]

Dude, it’s December 3rd.

exactly....Now imagine when teams are really trying to tank by at the trade deadline and end of season.Atl will be one of the
top teams in the east.

[heyheymymy]

9 DUKE
2 AUB

8:15 PM CST
WED DEC 4
ESPN

[intlspurshk]

It is stupid that SPURS don't tank in this year when so many good players are in top 10 and SPURS don't even develop its big 3.

[TrainOfThought5]

It’s depressing watching you guys talk about progressively worse prospects as the picks look worse and worse.

[baseline bum]

In short, it made people pay attention to the NBA again, but it was counter productive for the rest of the league because from Magic's first finals up until the Bulls made it, just 5 teams played made the finals.
Most of the league had nothing to play for, especially in the West.
I still remember that interview with Ice when the interviewer told him how he was the original KD if we talk playstyle and he replied that he could've also done a KD, but where would the fun be if he joined Magic and Kareem.

Yes, the Bulls dominated, but conference finals and finals had way more variety.

Gotta disagree man. I went to plenty of Spurs games in the 80s and no one in Hemisfair looked at it like the Spurs having nothing to play for. It was a really fun time to be a fan.

[baseline bum]

It’s depressing watching you guys talk about progressively worse prospects as the picks look worse and worse.

IDK, it means the team is looking better than we thought it would be. Flagg is the only prospect I think is good enough to warrant a tank for. But with Area 51 here plus Vassell and Sochan looking pretty good I'll take the wins over an at best 14% chance at Flagg.

[baseline bum]

9 DUKE
2 AUB

8:15 PM CST
WED DEC 4
ESPN

Thanks, will def be checking that to see Flagg, Maluach, and Knueppel tonight.

[scott]

Thanks, will def be checking that to see Flagg, Maluach, and Knueppel tonight.

Watch for Johni Broom, PF/C for Auburn as well. He's jumped up the boards after his performance in the Maui Invitational. Currently mocked in the early 20s

[heyheymymy]

Yeh I'm watching Johni Broome closely

6'10 240 big body forward which I still say SA has a hole for in the roster

Kinda intrigued by what K Man is, too

[Uriel]

Is Nolan Traore the player most likely to be taken by the Spurs? The fact that he’s French, plays a position of need, is within the Spurs’ projected draft range, and has drawn comparisons to Tony Parker makes me think so.

[stnick2261]

Is Nolan Traore the player most likely to be taken by the Spurs? The fact that he’s French, plays a position of need, is within the Spurs’ projected draft range, and has drawn comparisons to Tony Parker makes me think so.

Sometimes, I like to go into Tankathon and sort by Assists per 36min. Traore is first with 8.3. I thought he was known as a good shooter, but is shooting poorly right now (maybe why he's falling?). Egor Demin is tied for 3rd place with 7.1 assists per 36min. If we win a top 4 pick and somehow got both players, we could play both of them along with Castle and Vassell... keeping 3 on the court at all times at 36minutes each.

Looking at assists though, I see Kam Jones at mock pick #27. 6'5" SG with 7.4 assists per 36min. He looks like he's doing a bit of everything. As a senior, he'd probably come into the NBA ready to play.

[exstatic]

Sometimes, I like to go into Tankathon and sort by Assists per 36min. Traore is first with 8.3. I thought he was known as a good shooter, but is shooting poorly right now (maybe why he's falling?). Egor Demin is tied for 3rd place with 7.1 assists per 36min. If we win a top 4 pick and somehow got both players, we could play both of them along with Castle and Vassell... keeping 3 on the court at all times at 36minutes each.

Looking at assists though, I see Kam Jones at mock pick #27. 6'5" SG with 7.4 assists per 36min. He looks like he's doing a bit of everything. As a senior, he'd probably come into the NBA ready to play.

He’s not a great shooter, but:
Traore 25.5% from 3
Flagg 24.2% from 3

He’s blur quick, and dimes like no one’s business. He’s also 6’3” and is 9th in the French league in blocks.

[LeBowen]

We said it last season, then Castle exceeded all expectations as a shooter, but I really think he was the last subpar shooter we could've afforded to draft.
We need a high volume, high efficency shooter in this draft, no other way around it.

[exstatic]

We said it last season, then Castle exceeded all expectations as a shooter, but I really think he was the last subpar shooter we could've afforded to draft.
We need a high volume, high efficency shooter in this draft, no other way around it.

So, would you not draft Flagg?

[scott]

According to Vencenie's last podcast, Traore has looked pretty bad this season, and he expects him to fall a little bit. I have watched exactly 0.0 minutes or tape of Traore so I have no opinion of my own. I do see he's now mocked to us at 12 on Tankathon.

On a side note, on Planet Tank it is interesting to note that almost all of the current lottery teams, and certainly all of them if you exclude the play-in teams of PHX and MIN, are teams that hold their own pick. Every time that has traded away their pick is at least in the play-in or better as of right now. The invisible hand of tank incentives at work.

[LeBowen]

So, would you not draft Flagg?

Flagg looks like a tier better prospect than everyone else, Traore doesn't.
If we're talking Flagg, if we somehow win the jackpot yet again, one of the two scenarios would have to happen, imo:
1) Trade down. I'm sure offers would be flying in. I'd accept something like Herb+pick from NOLA or Coulibaly+pick from Washington if they land in #3-6 range.
2) Trade Jeremy. Would become redundant with Flagg on the roster.

[LeBowen]

Someone start the topic!

[scott]

There's AJ Dybantsa to the Spurs Buzz...

[exstatic]

Flagg looks like a tier better prospect than everyone else, Traore doesn't.
If we're talking Flagg, if we somehow win the jackpot yet again, one of the two scenarios would have to happen, imo:
1) Trade down. I'm sure offers would be flying in. I'd accept something like Herb+pick from NOLA or Coulibaly+pick from Washington if they land in #3-6 range.
2) Trade Jeremy. Would become redundant with Flagg on the roster.

Flagg looks like a white Sochan.

[scott]

Flagg looks like a white Sochan.

Danny Ainge gonna beat off to your post later, ex