2025 NBA Draft

[exstatic]

Age and height difference Spencer is 6'4 but Kon will measure smaller than his listed 6'7. Both play as guards with similar games and stats.

One is being mocked inside the top 10 and Spencer was drafted 53rd in the 2nd round. I don't believe Kon warrants such a high pick and should be mocked inside the top 10. Another case like sheppard being over valued although Kon has more upside and is better than Sheppard.

You absolutely cannot categorize a 19 and a 24 YO together. 19 year olds FAR outperform their draft spots compared to 24 year olds. There’s a growth and development curve left that 24 Year olds just don’t have.

[CGD]

They're German names. Knecht actually means knight in German.

Does Knuepple mean The Nipple in German?

[Dejounte]

Serious question, though. Like I’ve said many times before, I like Kon a lot, but how do you know that he’s not just an elite college player and that his game will actually translate to the next level, considering his relative lack of size and length?

Why do you think a guy who’s athletic and doesn’t have much skill has a better chance at making it in the NBA vs a guy who’s not as athletic but has a lot more skill? This is likely the two choices the Spurs will have come draft time. It’s easy to look at a list of guys who have “made it” and see that the guys who have had skill have found more success than their counterparts.

[rascal]

Why do you think a guy who’s athletic and doesn’t have much skill has a better chance at making it in the NBA vs a guy who’s not as athletic but has a lot more skill? This is likely the two choices the Spurs will have come draft time. It’s easy to look at a list of guys who have “made it” and see that the guys who have had skill have found more success than their counterparts.

The lack of athleticism can hurt you in a league full of athleticism(The NBA).

Kon should be a solid bench player and those players hold value to rosters.
Spurs should also be set at starting guard with Fox and Castle as the starters unless you get Harper or Edgecombe who have high all star upside potential.
I don't see Kon supplanting either Fox or Castle as a starter.

I'd rather shoot for a player with starter upside with what could be the Spurs last top 10 pick in a long time.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

The lack of athleticism can hurt you in a league full of athleticism(The NBA).

Kon should be a solid bench player and those players hold value to rosters.
Spurs should also be set at starting guard with Fox and Castle as the starters unless you get Harper or Edgecombe who have high all star upside potential.
I don't see Kon supplanting either Fox or Castle as a starter.
Somehow I agree with this. I want to gamble for size, athleticism and potential upside, like Mosenge, Carter Bryant, Fleming, Sorber. I fully understand anyone of them can be a bust.

I'd rather shoot for a player with starter upside with what could be the Spurs last top 10 pick in a long time.

Somehow I still agree with this. I want to gamble for size, athleticisms and high upside, like Mosenge, Carter Bryant, Fleming, Sorber. I fully understand anyone of these can be a bust.

[Mr. Body]

Does Knuepple mean The Nipple in German?

I didn't know that word but apparently means something like cudgel.

[Mr. Body]

Drafting athletes instead of basketball players is classic smooth brain behavior. Leave that to the Phoenix Suns and get real instead.

[Dejounte]

-Moved Demin down. His tournament play to me was disappointing
-Moved VJ down. His lack of urgency during the tournament was also disappointing
-Moved Fleming and Carter Bryant down for the same reason: I think the Spurs will aim for more “ready” guys



Tier 1 - No brainer
Flagg
Harper


Tier 2 - Oozing talent
Kon
Jase Richardson


Tier 3 - Talented & decent fit
Sorber
CMB


Tier 4 - Talented, but I have serious concerns
VJ Edgecombe
Fleming
Bailey
Tre Johnson
Saraf
Demin


Tier 5 - Talented, but the fit is terrible
Queen
Wolf


Tier 6a - High risk, high reward
Carter Bryant
Demin
DeLarrea
Hugo
Noa


Tier 6b - Safe picks
Riley
Kasparas
Maluach


Tier 7 - Meh
Asa Newell
Fears
Traore


Tier 8 - Bust
McNeeley

…Like I said in another thread… get one of either Kon or Jase and one of either Sorber or CMB and that to me, is a dream draft.

[John B]

…Like I said in another thread… get one of either Kon or Jase and one of either Sorber or CMB and that to me, is a dream draft.

I finally agree with you with these picks. Sorber getting hurt could be a blessing to land him at ATL pick. He easily could go top 10 otherwise.

[John B]

…Like I said in another thread… get one of either Kon or Jase and one of either Sorber or CMB and that to me, is a dream draft.

I finally agree with you with these picks. Sorber getting hurt could be a blessing to land him at ATL pick. He easily could go top 10 otherwise.

[Russ]

I finally agree with you with these picks. Sorber getting hurt could be a blessing to land him at ATL pick. He easily could go top 10 otherwise.

I second that.

(Sorry, you already seconded it.)

[Mr. Body]

In terms of a board for the Spurs, I'm somewhere like this:

Flagg
Harper
Edgecombe
Tre Johnson
Knueppel
Jakucionas
Richardson

I might slide Kneuppel above Edgecombe, although I think VJ has a ton of potential. Richardson may go above Jakucionas. Johnson may drop behind Kneuppel, too. I'm a KK believer at this point.

Maluach is interesting, but hard to take as a back-up. I have no big interest in Ace Bailey but at some point you have to take him, I guess.

[pad300]

@ Dejounte,
Where do you fit Jeremiah Fears? Yaxel Lendeborg?

[TD 21]

Once Fox was acquired, Wembanyama was shut down for the season and their range came into focus, Knueppel followed by Maluach were always the most logical targets. The problem is, they're unlikely to be available and I'll believe the Spurs trading up when I see it.

The only current consensus top 7 pick who I don't see them taking at 8 or thereafter is Johnson.

They're German names. Knecht actually means knight in German.

Are you German? Speaking as someone who is part, it's not exactly the most aesthetic language.

[John B]

I’d be thrilled with Kon for Spurs own pick, and Sorber/CMB/Wolf for ATL pick. If Wolf is my consolation price as my big (and he is not projected Top 15) then I’m good. If Spurs are trying to be cute, they could trade down and get extra picks to get him. Wolf is a high Bball IQ, with handles, passing, 7 footer 250 lbs. Wemby is a great help defender to swat anything Wolf slows down. He averages almost 2blks and almost 10 rebounds. He’s not really a pushover on defense.

By the end of the day, they get a shooter SF and a big. It’s a successful draft for me. A backup PG in the 2nd round will be a bonus.

[Vienna]

They're German names. Knecht actually means knight in German.

no it doesn‘t. Knecht means farm hand or farm servant. „Jemanden knechten“ means to opress someone, or to hold someone under.
„Landsknecht“ was a German mercenary in the 15th century, he was on foot and carried a pike, not to confuse with a knight.

[Mr. Body]

You're right, Ritter is knight.

[SpursBills]

The lack of athleticism can hurt you in a league full of athleticism(The NBA).

Kon should be a solid bench player and those players hold value to rosters.
Spurs should also be set at starting guard with Fox and Castle as the starters unless you get Harper or Edgecombe who have high all star upside potential.
I don't see Kon supplanting either Fox or Castle as a starter.

I'd rather shoot for a player with starter upside with what could be the Spurs last top 10 pick in a long time.

Real talk who do you have higher on your board, Knueppel or Tre Johnson and why? Or would you take Rasheer Fleming over both of them?

[rascal]

Real talk who do you have higher on your board, Knueppel or Tre Johnson and why? Or would you take Rasheer Fleming over both of them?

I would take Fleming over both of them. He's a better fit for the Spurs. His shooting is just as good as the guards for the position. Fleming could be a starter with the spurs. Spurs need a starting SF and PF.

It's a toss up between Johnson and Knueppel. I see Johnson more as a primary scorer/gunner than Knueppel, Knuepple as a better complimentary player. Fleming is a better fit than either one.

[heyheymymy]

Easily taking Knueppel over Tre Johnson at this stage and I like Tre Johnson.

Kon Knueppel has shown himself to be such an intuitive player and I love his potential right now.

[spurraider21]

Why do you think a guy who’s athletic and doesn’t have much skill has a better chance at making it in the NBA vs a guy who’s not as athletic but has a lot more skill? This is likely the two choices the Spurs will have come draft time. It’s easy to look at a list of guys who have “made it” and see that the guys who have had skill have found more success than their counterparts.

the short version is you can find a kid with great athleticism and limited skill and reasonably expect his skill to improve with time. on the other hand, taking a guy with high skill but low athleticism, you are a lot closer to being tapped out as athletic ability is a much less malleable attribute than skill

but to your point, we've seen hyper athletic guys who flame out because they never develop either the requisite skill or bbiq, but at the same time we have also seen high skill guys who are just sub-par NBA ahtletes that arent able to carve out a career either.

[rascal]

the short version is you can find a kid with great athleticism and limited skill and reasonably expect his skill to improve with time. on the other hand, taking a guy with high skill but low athleticism, you are a lot closer to being tapped out as athletic ability is a much less malleable attribute than skill

but to your point, we've seen hyper athletic guys who flame out because they never develop either the requisite skill or bbiq, but at the same time we have also seen high skill guys who are just sub-par NBA ahtletes that arent able to carve out a career either.

Exactly

Lower level athletes are closer to being tapped out on how good they can be.

The high level athletes have the higher potential.

[exstatic]

the short version is you can find a kid with great athleticism and limited skill and reasonably expect his skill to improve with time. on the other hand, taking a guy with high skill but low athleticism, you are a lot closer to being tapped out as athletic ability is a much less malleable attribute than skill

but to your point, we've seen hyper athletic guys who flame out because they never develop either the requisite skill or bbiq, but at the same time we have also seen high skill guys who are just sub-par NBA ahtletes that arent able to carve out a career either.

Yeah, there’s a reason that Flagg is #1, and it’s the combination of his athleticism and skills. Those guys always go 1-2. After that,it’s a philosophical choice. My thought is that if you’re drafting an undeveloped player at a young age, and most lottery teams do, you have a better chance to hit the jackpot if you draft a guy with some skills and loads of athleticism than if you draft a guy with mega skills and limited athleticism.

[BackHome]

I don't want a Deer "Athlete", I want a baller someone who understands the game and actually loves the game. I am hoping we get someone who has good court vision and can actually shot

[Gibbz]

I don't want a Deer "Athlete", I want a baller someone who understands the game and actually loves the game. I am hoping we get someone who has good court vision and can actually shot

Sounds like Knueppel