2025 NBA Draft

[Vienna]

McNeeley and Flagg looked like twins at Monteverde. exactly same height.
Flagg is at least 2" taller than Knueppel, mor likely 3"
while Flagg might have grown a bit till he got to Duke, but you get the argument:
McNeeley will turn out significantly taller than Knueppel at the combine.
the head to head comparison regarding the numbers sees Knueppel ahead, but considering the role and position in the NBA, I would go with McNeeley.

[ginobilized]

I imagine that the workouts and combine will change a lot of the outcomes. Kon is a polarizing player. Seeing him in a workout against a pro would be pretty telling. He could become the Jokic of SFs or out of the league in a couple of years. I see him as a couple of years away from doing much. I'd be ok with him replacing Branham, though. If we could land Reid, somehow, and draft Fleming, that would be a perfect mentor/rookie situation.

I do remember that the Spurs were rumored to be high on this draft class (pre-Fox trade) and their plan was to continue rebuilding with our picks this season.
They probably have been scouting a few of these guys for years already, like they did with Castle. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. Or, that was a CIA POP smokescreen and they'll trade their picks.

This lottery will be a bloodbath, sure to be some extreme winners/losers and some wheeling and dealing on draft day.

[Dejounte]

McNeeley and Flagg looked like twins at Monteverde. exactly same height.
Flagg is at least 2" taller than Knueppel, mor likely 3"
while Flagg might have grown a bit till he got to Duke, but you get the argument:
McNeeley will turn out significantly taller than Knueppel at the combine.
the head to head comparison regarding the numbers sees Knueppel ahead, but considering the role and position in the NBA, I would go with McNeeley.

Smh at both this post and Spurraiders

people are obsessed with height and missing the mark on the difference between Kon and Mcneely. They are nothing alike and are only being put in the same category because of skin color and the fact that both can shoot. Aside from these two aspects, they play nothing alike and people shouldnt say that height is the only difference. That’s a simpleton’s analysis.

[spurraider21]

Smh at both this post and Spurraiders

people are obsessed with height and missing the mark on the difference between Kon and Mcneely. They are nothing alike and are only being put in the same category because of skin color and the fact that both can shoot. Aside from these two aspects, they play nothing alike and people shouldnt say that height is the only difference. That’s a simpleton’s analysis.

i think mcneeley is a better movement shooter which is also more valuable from a 3. size/legnth absolutely matters if the expectation is you will have to defend other 3's. if mcneeley is slightly quicker and more athletic that also will make a world of difference

the things Kon does better involve handling/passing, which are probably not things we need all that much from the position anyway, on a team that already has fox/castle/wemby. its kind of the same issue i have with Queen. yes, he's remarkably skilled offensively. im not sure how much of that is really optimal for us anyway to make up for the defensive liability he is

[rankingtear]

I don't see much upside of Nipple in this team, he can shoot but his real value is as a secondary initiator as a ball screen player next to a rim runner. Between Fox and Castle I don't see the need to run Nipple on ball screens with Fox and/or Castle spotting up. I think you are running into the same problem with Devin where his on ball offense is devalued and he is pushed into playing more as a spot up and close out player, and in that role you kinda need someone with more size and POA defense.

According to Givony some coaches compared him to Reed Sheppard, which also loses a lot of value without ball screens. NBA defenses swallows up these players without a screener or roller generating the space. Maybe he could be Desmond Bane on a team built with a big with more traditional skill set.

[spurraider21]

yeah Bane is like the 100th percentile outcome for Kon

bane famously has a negative wingspan and isnt the best athlete. but even he is much better at moving defensively than Kon. kon is strong like Bane, but even slower footed

[rjv]

I don't see much upside of Nipple in this team, he can shoot but his real value is as a secondary initiator as a ball screen player next to a rim runner. Between Fox and Castle I don't see the need to run Nipple on ball screens with Fox and/or Castle spotting up. I think you are running into the same problem with Devin where his on ball offense is devalued and he is pushed into playing more as a spot up and close out player, and in that role you kinda need someone with more size and POA defense.

According to Givony some coaches compared him to Reed Sheppard, which also loses a lot of value without ball screens. NBA defenses swallows up these players without a screener or roller generating the space. Maybe he could be Desmond Bane on a team built with a big with more traditional skill set.

but Givony himself comped Kon to Klay Thompson.

[The Truth #6]

I don't expect either of them to be a starter anyway unless we make a trade.

[scott]

His athleticism is a lesser point of emphasis for me than him being a top 6 player in this draft. He would be one of the best fits there is on the Spurs and I disagree that he’d play SG, tbh. He’s a SF through and through

If he is a high IQ shooter, he'd be a rare unicorn in post Nephew San Antonio. I'm on board with it. Wouldn't be super excited about it... but honestly I don't feel much to be excited about with this draft unless we hit in the lotto.

[spurraider21]

i dont hate Kon. i just think he's going to be a bench SG, and if we are going to have 1 high pick, feels rich.

if he ends up being able to start alongside Fox/Castle (Vassell?)... then sure it would be a hit. with that said, after Ace Bailey... there arent really great SF/PF types. its a lot of these tweener PF/C types like Newell/Queen. Pure PF types like CMB, Essengue, or its just guards like Jakucionis, Fears, Richardson, Tre Johnson

its McNeeley, and Carter Bryant who are SF types that would fit here. i think Bryant would be a candidate with the Hawks pick, not our own though. Fleming/Bryant is an outcome i'd be cool with.

[RC_Drunkford]

i think mcneeley is a better movement shooter which is also more valuable from a 3. size/legnth absolutely matters if the expectation is you will have to defend other 3's. if mcneeley is slightly quicker and more athletic that also will make a world of difference

the things Kon does better involve handling/passing, which are probably not things we need all that much from the position anyway, on a team that already has fox/castle/wemby. its kind of the same issue i have with Queen. yes, he's remarkably skilled offensively. im not sure how much of that is really optimal for us anyway to make up for the defensive liability he is

Kon is a better defender and finisher at the rim, plus he‘s ambidextrous. McNeeley is a better rebounder, but struggles to finish. Kon is the better movement shooter while McNeeley is a catch and shoot guy. McNeeley’s numbers shooting off the dribble aren’t good at all. They are quite different as Dejounte pointed out.

[Uriel]

How would Duke fare in a matchup against the Wizards?

[LeBowen]

How would Duke fare in a matchup against the Wizards?

Poole would score 60 on them.

[spurraider21]

Kon is a better defender and finisher at the rim, plus he‘s ambidextrous. McNeeley is a better rebounder, but struggles to finish. Kon is the better movement shooter while McNeeley is a catch and shoot guy. McNeeley’s numbers shooting off the dribble aren’t good at all. They are quite different as Dejounte pointed out.

by movement shooter i dont mean pulling up off the dribble (which kon is that great at anyway)... it is inclusive of some catch and shoot opportunites, curling off screens, reposotioning, etc. just means its not a stationary catch and shoot

belinelli was a phenomenal movement shooter, for all his warts. its something champagnie has struggled with. mcneeley also looks like a better straight line athlete than kon which to me thinks he'll have a better time in the NBA when it comes to attacking closeouts, even if Kon is a more skilled handler/passer. mcneeley does a lot more of the hectic "run around until he gets a crack of daylight" off ball stuff. kon, not as much

[Uriel]

Poole would score 60 on them.

With Cooper Flagg guarding him?

[LeBowen]

With Cooper Flagg guarding him?

It's a 5v5 game and Duke has maybe one more player who's NBA ready right now.
College teams are garbage compared to even the worst NBA rosters.

[spurraider21]

How would Duke fare in a matchup against the Wizards?

wizards break a lot of records. offensively, defensively, everything

[rjv]

yeah, the wizards would trounce duke. not even close.

[SpursBills]

the G league is filled with guys who were all-conference during their college career who now have been getting better for 5 or more years and who still can't sniff the NBA. Oscar Tshiebwe just put up 37 points and 26 rebounds in the G league and has played a total of 160 NBA minutes over 2 seasons. So yes, there is not a question that the worst NBA team would destroy the best D1 teams, it's not even a question.

[RC_Drunkford]

by movement shooter i dont mean pulling up off the dribble (which kon is that great at anyway)... it is inclusive of some catch and shoot opportunites, curling off screens, reposotioning, etc. just means its not a stationary catch and shoot

belinelli was a phenomenal movement shooter, for all his warts. its something champagnie has struggled with. mcneeley also looks like a better straight line athlete than kon which to me thinks he'll have a better time in the NBA when it comes to attacking closeouts, even if Kon is a more skilled handler/passer. mcneeley does a lot more of the hectic "run around until he gets a crack of daylight" off ball stuff. kon, not as much

true, I'm fine with both, although I see them more as 7th man than starters

[scott]

I think we should all start getting used to the idea that there aren't any instant starters in the ranges we will likely be picking, and maybe not even until year 3 for some of these guys if they hit.

[spurraider21]

true, I'm fine with both, although I see them more as 7th man than starters

yeah i agree. particularly as rookies, i dont see either displacing Castle/Vassell as starters.

now, if the spurs next year decide to start Fox/Vassell, and have Castle be the 3rd guard coming off the bench in some 3 man rotation, or have Vassell be the 6th man scorer off the bench, or if one of them eventually gets moved (and i'd assume it would be Devin before Castle), then I think its more likely that McNeeley slots in as the next starter than Kon.

between Keldon (who is suddenly playing well), and Champagnie who is fine but hasn't really taken his shooting to the level we need, i think theres more of an opening at F than G

despite Dejounte's take, i dont see Kon as a SF at all

if the spurs go with a bigger player with their earlier pick, whether it be Murray Boyles, Newell, Fleming, etc... i'd really like Carter Bryant with the Hawks pick

[BackHome]

Do you see Bryant as a true SF or more hybrid SF/PF?

[rascal]

by movement shooter i dont mean pulling up off the dribble (which kon is that great at anyway)... it is inclusive of some catch and shoot opportunites, curling off screens, reposotioning, etc. just means its not a stationary catch and shoot

belinelli was a phenomenal movement shooter, for all his warts. its something champagnie has struggled with. mcneeley also looks like a better straight line athlete than kon which to me thinks he'll have a better time in the NBA when it comes to attacking closeouts, even if Kon is a more skilled handler/passer. mcneeley does a lot more of the hectic "run around until he gets a crack of daylight" off ball stuff. kon, not as much

Also Kon will cost you the spurs pick if he's even there and with some luck you can get McNeeley with the Atlanta pick. McNeeley is the better value.

[LeBowen]

I think we should all start getting used to the idea that there aren't any instant starters in the ranges we will likely be picking, and maybe not even until year 3 for some of these guys if they hit.

Is anyone even thinking that we'll draft a starter outside of top3?
We need a high end starting PF, backup PG (depends on CP3), backup wing (depends on Devin, Keldon) and backup big.

As someone who doesn't follow college ball closely, looking at these prospects in #7-12 range, I'd honestly just take Maluach.