2025 NBA Draft

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I have a question regarding Draft day trades. How do they normally work? Are there talks or even agreements between teams in the days/weeky before the Draft? Like Team A has an agreement in in principal with Team B, that if player X is available when they pick, we'll call and talk about a trade centered around our pick and/or player Y. Or do these trades happen on the fly?

Apologies if that's a stupid question, but I have to admit, I'm totally clueless about this...

Definitely agreed beforehand, at least the structure. I'm sure there are a dozen trade options for each team during the draft, it's just that most don't materialize. But take, for example, last year's trade of pick 8 to Minnesota - this didn't happen in the 5 minutes between pick announcements, with all the details like the swap, the protection of it, etc.

[pookenstein]

Depends. Sometimes teams workout a deal before the draft but it depends on if the player they want is on the board when on the clock. Or perhaps if a team wants out because the player they wanted is no longer available.

Other times teams will call while you are on the clock. A tactic to put pressure on you. It may or may not work but these General Managers learn a lot about each other in the process.

The Spurs trading up for Kawhi Leonard was an example of the 1st scenario. The pacers wanted out of the pick and Liked George Hill. The Spurs only wanted to trade up if Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson were still available. The deal was agreed upon before the draft.

The Spurs trading pick #8 last year was an example of scenario 2. Spurs were prepared to pick a player and the Timberwolves called while they were on the clock and made an offer the Spurs liked. I get the feeling Spurs didn’t feel overwhelmingly confident about the players on the board so the T-wolves bailed them out.

Makes sense. Thank you. Didn't know about the agreement with the Pacers before the Draft.

[Ice009]

Harper was already interviewed, you can rewind, I can't post a timestamp because it's still live.

Some clown in the chat says "Lakers select Dylan Harper", then someone tells him Lakers don't have a pick. lol.

[pookenstein]

Definitely agreed beforehand, at least the structure. I'm sure there are a dozen trade options for each team during the draft, it's just that most don't materialize. But take, for example, last year's trade of pick 8 to Minnesota - this didn't happen in the 5 minutes between pick announcements, with all the details like the swap, the protection of it, etc.

Good point.

[The Truth #6]

OKC and SA are the two most tight-lipped organizations in the league. I'm not buying any of their rumors or whispers.

[scott]

Yeah I really don’t buy that Wemby is going around flat-out claiming he doesn’t want to play center. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be relegated to only playing a traditional center-type role (I.e. stuck only being in the paint on defense, only being a roll guy on offense), but I seriously doubt he’s over there telling the Spurs’ FO they need to get a center because he’s not going to play that position

What's important (and someone else has pointed this out before, sorry I forget who) is that opposing centers are forced to guard Wemby... which means Sochan can't effectively play C on offense next to Wemby. Allowing guys like Brooks to guard Wemby is what gives him fits, we need a forward who is a credible enough offensive threat to force opposing forwards to guard that person while Wemby is left to pick apart their C.

Whether or not Wemby is a center or not... who cares. Call him PG if you want, it doesn't matter... Wemby is going to be Wemby, whatever that "position" is doesn't matter... just make sure that opposing Cs are forced to guard him so we can exploit that.

[baseline bum]

Harper is not better than Bailey.

Bailey has a good chance to be Alfrederick Hughes 2.0, no thanks. Especially not with this toxic at ude he's flashing to GMs about wanting to be the man and not working out for teams where he'd be a second or third option.

[SpurPadre]

So many analysts and sports sites badly want us to trade our second pick makes me want Harper all the more.

[LeBowen]

What's important (and someone else has pointed this out before, sorry I forget who) is that opposing centers are forced to guard Wemby... which means Sochan can't effectively play C on offense next to Wemby. Allowing guys like Brooks to guard Wemby is what gives him fits, we need a forward who is a credible enough offensive threat to force opposing forwards to guard that person while Wemby is left to pick apart their C.

Whether or not Wemby is a center or not... who cares. Call him PG if you want, it doesn't matter... Wemby is going to be Wemby, whatever that "position" is doesn't matter... just make sure that opposing Cs are forced to guard him so we can exploit that.

Yeah, we went over matchups many times.
Two key things need to happen long-term in that regard.

1) We can't take away guard positional size advantage Harper and Castle have just to keep everyone happy. Right now it's Vassell, eventually it will be Fox.

2) We can't take away mobility and spacing advantage Wemby has just because he'll never be a great screener. Forcing opposing bigs to match up with him will be a death sentence for most teams. I think that those reports about him not wanting to play C are completely off the mark because they refer to his offense. He'll never be a great screen-setter or a player who consistently fights for post positions. He'll be the biggest wing we've ever seen on offense. Which is fine in modern basketball, a lot of coaches would play without bigs if defense wasn't an issue.
If we're talking defense, very few traditional bigs will be able to stay on the floor because of Wemby. Most of those will be star bigs which Wemby obviously has to match up with on defense, we don't want to give them a free pass by matching them up with a weaker defender. And we don't want Wemby to match up with PFs that can shoot, preventing him from being near the rim.

[scott]

Yeah, we went over matchups many times.
Two key things need to happen long-term in that regard.

1) We can't take away guard positional size advantage Harper and Castle have just to keep everyone happy. Right now it's Vassell, eventually it will be Fox.

2) We can't take away mobility and spacing advantage Wemby has just because he'll never be a great screener. Forcing opposing bigs to match up with him will be a death sentence for most teams. I think that those reports about him not wanting to play C are completely off the mark because they refer to his offense. He'll never be a great screen-setter or a player who consistently fights for post positions. He'll be the biggest wing we've ever seen on offense. Which is fine in modern basketball, a lot of coaches would play without bigs if defense wasn't an issue.
If we're talking defense, very few traditional bigs will be able to stay on the floor because of Wemby. Most of those will be star bigs which Wemby obviously has to match up with on defense, we don't want to give them a free pass by matching them up with a weaker defender. And we don't want Wemby to match up with PFs that can shoot, preventing him from being near the rim.

This may just feed into my perceived hate of Sochan (which I actually don't hate Sochan... I just think he's still very much a work in progress)... but I think this illustrates why Sochan can't be on the court with Wemby. You're just giving the opposing team a free pass to put their C on Sochan and a better defender on Wemby.

What's best for Sochan (effectively playing C on offense) is not what's best for Wemby... and we need to prioritize what's best for Wemby.

[RC_Drunkford]

[The Truth #6]

What's important (and someone else has pointed this out before, sorry I forget who) is that opposing centers are forced to guard Wemby... which means Sochan can't effectively play C on offense next to Wemby. Allowing guys like Brooks to guard Wemby is what gives him fits, we need a forward who is a credible enough offensive threat to force opposing forwards to guard that person while Wemby is left to pick apart their C.

Whether or not Wemby is a center or not... who cares. Call him PG if you want, it doesn't matter... Wemby is going to be Wemby, whatever that "position" is doesn't matter... just make sure that opposing Cs are forced to guard him so we can exploit that.

I wrote that here after hearing Vecenie say it (others probably said it also), which is why I focused on Fleming, or his archetype, for who Wemby needs to play alongside. Can shoot 3s, defend 4s and even 5s in a pinch, and play like a stretch 4 who can also rebound well.

[Spurs Brazil]

[John B]

Harper was already interviewed, you can rewind, I can't post a timestamp because it's still live.

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed that a lot. Cooper’s defense from his peers is elite. My impression of Dylan hasn’t changed. The kid is an alpha dog, highly confident who knows he belongs, maybe a little too confident but I’m not going to fault him for his iness. His demeanor is very different with Stephon who is more reserved and let his game speaks for itself. Queen as the funniest and talks a lot on and off target. I didn’t know from him, a good locker room guy. Thomas Sorber is humble, very much like Timmy, but smart and composed. He watched Shaq and Hakeem among the bigs for footwork and physicality. Working a lot on his outside shots. Comp is Adebayo. I’d take that. Danny Wolf, very smart player. He talked about not missing a single shot in 3 minutes long-distance shooting but one. He talked about working on his weaknesses. He’s still one of my favorite players coming off this draft because of his guard skills. I can’t wait to see who the Spurs pick.

[PhantomDashCam]

There is going to be a really good player fall to #14. Wasserman suggesting that teams in top 10 are interested in Essengue, thinks he doesn’t fall out of the lottery.

As this draft cycle has gone along, and Spurs seemingly unwilling to part with 14; think they are definitely keeping the pick.

[Spurs Brazil]

Nets now with 5 1st round picks

[ace3g]

[scottspurs]

Ok so who could fall to 14 that would make the Nets trade us some of those picks?

Kasparas Jakucionis? Derik Queen?

[ace3g]

[SpursFan86]

With Atlanta adding KP, maybe makes them less likely to take a big at 13? Could help with us landing Sorber if that's the route the Spurs are wanting to go.

[Mugen]

Very curious how far the Nets can move up tomorrow tbh.

[baseline bum]

Ok so who could fall to 14 that would make the Nets trade us some of those picks?

Kasparas Jakucionis? Derik Queen?

Can't see any way Jaku is still there at 14. If so though I'd be asking for Cam.

[scottspurs]

Very curious how far the Nets can move up tomorrow tbh.

Smells like Utah to me. Danny Ainge loves his picks and more picks

[spurraider21]

Very curious how far the Nets can move up tomorrow tbh.

i think they are targeting #3 and will take on Paul George

[Mugen]

i think they are targeting #3 and will take on Paul George

Id imagine Cam goes to Philly in that scenario.

Would also be hilarious to have Ace and PG both on the Nets considering George just ripped him on his podcast today