2025 NBA Draft Thread

[UconnU]

Is the Spurs build around Wemby, Steph, Fox, and Harper, they absolutely need a four who can shoot, as well as some shooting off the bench. Harper and Steph will also have to improve their shooting. But boy oh boy is that a lot of fun young talent.

That roster construction doesn’t make sense. 3 shooting guards who can’t shoot, Their window is now w Wemby on a rookie contact. Who knows if his camp is eyeing a bigger market.

Makes too much sense for them to move #2, Steph and some of their future picks for Giannis, and draft a lethal shooting wing at 14(Liam?).

 

[Matrim55]

Is Barnes out? Is Barnes a 4? I can't really remember.

Barnes is strictly a 4 and has been for a while. Decent defender, reliable 3-point shooter, and that's about it.

 

[TheHorde]

If the Spurs were to stick and pick at 2 and 14, and select Harper at 2, who would make the most sense for them to take at 14?

 

[HooperScooper]

That stinks. Already underwent surgery? Did they perform the surgery the second the MRI revealed the injury?

“According to a league source, the injury was confirmed when Tatum underwent testing Tuesday morning and the decision was made to operate immediately because swift action following Achilles’ injuries tends to lead to more favorable outcomes,” the Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach wrote.

Jayson Tatum Rumors: Celtics Get Some Good News Post-Surgery

The diagnosis for Jayson Tatum was worst-case scenario, but the Celtics got a little bit of good news after the star's surgery.

nesn.com

 

[navery12]

If the Spurs were to stick and pick at 2 and 14, and select Harper at 2, who would make the most sense for them to take at 14?

Probably Carter Bryant, assuming the shooting improvement the 2nd half of the year was legit. They're not in a great spot to look for a stretch 4, guys like Asa Newell, Rasheer Fleming, Danny Wolf are closer to late teens/early 20s. An intriguing option would be Derik Queen and moving Wemby to the 4, but I don't think that's ideal

 

[husky429]

Probably Carter Bryant, assuming the shooting improvement the 2nd half of the year was legit. They're not in a great spot to look for a stretch 4, guys like Asa Newell, Rasheer Fleming, Danny Wolf are closer to late teens/early 20s. An intriguing option would be Derik Queen and moving Wemby to the 4, but I don't think that's ideal

I'd guess they trade 14 and some other assets for a vets with a several years of good ball left in him. Help the yping guys develop

 

[Dogdeacon]

As a Celtics fan I'm hoping they will/expecting them to tank 2020-2021 Golden State-style.

Give Brown 45 games and shut him down. Find a fake injury to end White's season by mid-December. Give the rest of the minutes to Pritchard, Scheierman and high-upside projects.

We could very easily cook up a scenario in which we lose about 55-60 games.

The Mavs, San Antonio & 76ers all did better than the outright tankers - Mavs were in the play-in.

The current odds make the math of losing on purpose for draft picks very low reward akin to basing your offense on 16-21 ft jump shots. For the fans and new owner losing would be way more miserable than the likely gain. Next year's draft could very well be the same as this year's with only one franchise changing player available, 82 miserable games for an at best 14% chance at the one player?! No thanks.

 

[Samoo]

Agreed, it would be a bad move trading Castle, #2 pick, Vassell and future first rounders. The Spurs are the smartest luckiest organization out there and I don't see it happening.

FIFY

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'd guess they trade 14 and some other assets for a vets with a several years of good ball left in him. Help the yping guys develop

Sam Hauser and #32 for #14. Is that viable?

 

[Matrim55]

The Mavs, San Antonio & 76ers all did better than the outright tankers - Mavs were in the play-in.

The current odds make the math of losing on purpose for draft picks very low reward akin to basing your offense on 16-21 ft jump shots. For the fans and new owner losing would be way more miserable than the likely gain. Next year's draft could very well be the same as this year's with only one franchise changing player available, 82 miserable games for an at best 14% chance at the one player?! No thanks.

Lightning struck twice but 8 of the past 11 lotto winners were teams that had the highest % chance at getting the No. 1 pick.

 

[husky429]

Sam Hauser and #32 for #14. Is that viable?

I don't understand trade and player value in the league at all. I like Hauser though... perfect compliment to a star.

 

[Dogdeacon]

View attachment 109457

Lightning struck twice but 8 of the past 11 lotto winners were teams that had the highest % chance at getting the No. 1 pick.

Sure 8/11 sounds great, but only the last 6 years are relevant with current system.

The odds are exactly14%, but with new system ONE of the worst teams (3-4? with 14%) is hitting 66.67% of the time per above. So its paid better than the 42-56% but its a roulette game so the odds are the odds. 86% chance your tanking doesn't change your franchise trajectory via the first pick.
And that's not even taking into account the fact that #1 picks aren't a guarantee of success - ZERO NBA title winners in that 11 year #1 pick roster of teams.

 

[REB1094]

I don’t think we have to do any major analysis here. If you are one of the 3 worst teams in the league, you share the highest chance of getting #1 (14%). That is the end of it

I’m pretty sure in the old system, the worst team had a 25% chance and it went down after that. The new system drops your odds by 11 points and makes you share it with 2 other teams. If your sole objective is to get #1, tanking is much less effective than it used to be. Still the best option, but less effective

 

[HuskyHawk]

I don't understand trade and player value in the league at all. I like Hauser though... perfect compliment to a star.

My thinking was that he is an elite shooter, which the Spurs need, has good size and his D is pretty decent. Boston has the #2 2nd round pick and a late first and needs to get a young center, which can likely happen at 14, but not later. Hauser has a new deal starting next year at a reasonable $ amount.

Baylor S can probably pick up what Hauser does for them.

But I don't have a feel for NBA trade value either.

 

[Drame]

That roster construction doesn’t make sense. 3 shooting guards who can’t shoot, Their window is now w Wemby on a rookie contact. Who knows if his camp is eyeing a bigger market.

Makes too much sense for them to move #2, Steph and some of their future picks for Giannis, and draft a lethal shooting wing at 14(Liam?).

This is a horrble take. Wembys window is 12 years. Giannis has two years left of being a superstar. If they dont win now then they will have to blow it up in Wembys prime. Wemby is not going to want to leave SA. Theyre obviously one of the best run orgs. Tony Parker etc. Name me one superstar who was traded this late in his career and won a title. And dont say Anthony Davis to LA. Shortened bubble seasons dont count.

 

[navery12]

My thinking was that he is an elite shooter, which the Spurs need, has good size and his D is pretty decent. Boston has the #2 2nd round pick and a late first and needs to get a young center, which can likely happen at 14, but not later. Hauser has a new deal starting next year at a reasonable $ amount.

Baylor S can probably pick up what Hauser does for them.

But I don't have a feel for NBA trade value either.

I'd be pretty shocked if that got it done honestly. The #14 pick last year (along with Malcom Brogdon who is washed up) was traded for Deni Avdija last year, who is a much better player than Hauser

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'd be pretty shocked if that got it done honestly. The #14 pick last year (along with Malcom Brogdon who is washed up) was traded for Deni Avdija last year, who is a much better player than Hauser

Which is why I suggested adding another pick, could be the Celtic's first rounder #28. But who knows?

 

[navery12]

Which is why I suggested adding another pick, could be the Celtic's first rounder #28. But who knows?

I guess it could happen. 2nd rounders have become pretty useless in trades though, you can just trade a few million dollars for one and there's 15-20 traded every year. Just seems like the Spurs could do much better with #14

 

[Dogdeacon]

I don’t think we have to do any major analysis here. If you are one of the 3 worst teams in the league, you share the highest chance of getting #1 (14%). That is the end of it

I’m pretty sure in the old system, the worst team had a 25% chance and it went down after that. The new system drops your odds by 11 points and makes you share it with 2 other teams. If your sole objective is to get #1, tanking is much less effective than it used to be. Still the best option, but less effective

And the last #1 pick to stay with his team and lead them to a championship was Kyrie 2011 AND they needed one more #1 pick plus LeBron re-signing as free agent to get that championship. Before that 1997 Tim Duncan is the last evidence that tanking & #1 = championship.

Purposefully being worse is an insult to paying fans, fails more often than it works and #1 picks simply rarely result in championships even with the old 25% system. Draft still a crapshoot so its long odds on long odds. And no coincidence Sam Hinkie hasn't worked in the NBA for almost 10 years now.

 

[Brochacho]

This is a horrble take. Wembys window is 12 years. Giannis has two years left of being a superstar. If they dont win now then they will have to blow it up in Wembys prime. Wemby is not going to want to leave SA. Theyre obviously one of the best run orgs. Tony Parker etc. Name me one superstar who was traded this late in his career and won a title. And dont say Anthony Davis to LA. Shortened bubble seasons dont count.

KG and Ray Allen?

 

[Beowulf]

This is a horrble take. Wembys window is 12 years. Giannis has two years left of being a superstar. If they dont win now then they will have to blow it up in Wembys prime. Wemby is not going to want to leave SA. Theyre obviously one of the best run orgs. Tony Parker etc. Name me one superstar who was traded this late in his career and won a title. And dont say Anthony Davis to LA. Shortened bubble seasons dont count.

Now we’re guaranteeing Wemby has 12 elite years left? The guy most of you said was a twig and wouldn’t last? Now he’s invincible for the next decade plus?

He’s cheap for two more years. He’s already the best defender in the league. They just traded for Fox. It makes perfect sense to trade for a superstar who is in the midst of one of the best peaks ever. Seriously - look at his stats since 2017-2018. He’s point-Shaq.

Not saying you HAVE to go all-in (is it really all in if it doesn’t even cost you your 2, maybe 3, best players?). But superstars don’t become available everyday.

 

[superjohn]

Now we’re guaranteeing Wemby has 12 elite years left? The guy most of you said was a twig and wouldn’t last? Now he’s invincible for the next decade plus?

He’s cheap for two more years. He’s already the best defender in the league. They just traded for Fox. It makes perfect sense to trade for a superstar who is in the midst of one of the best peaks ever. Seriously - look at his stats since 2017-2018. He’s point-Shaq.

Not saying you HAVE to go all-in (is it really all in if it doesn’t even cost you your 2, maybe 3, best players?). But superstars don’t become available everyday.

It would be a mistake for the Spurs to make the trade, it's not going to happen.

 

[Beowulf]

It would be a mistake for the Spurs to make the trade, it's not going to happen.

Even if they can do it without giving up Castle? Or is this all working backwards. Is it a mistake if it’s 2, 14, vassell, Barnes, sochan and future picks?

Just trying to get this right. Adding the guy who averaged 31/12/6 And won a finals mvp over the last half decade is a mistake.

 

[superjohn]

Even if they can do it without giving up Castle? Or is this all working backwards. Is it a mistake if it’s 2, 14, vassell, Barnes, sochan and future picks?

Just trying to get this right. Adding the guy who averaged 31/12/6 And won a finals mvp over the last half decade is a mistake.

They would have to include Castle and the #2 pick.

They're not trading the finals MVP, 2 time MVP who averaged 31/12/6 for what you're suggesting.

 

[Beowulf]

They would have to include Castle and the #2 pick.

They're not trading the finals MVP, 2 time MVP who averaged 31/12/6 for what you're suggesting.

So trading Castle is what would make it a mistake for the Spurs? I’m just trying to figure out how it’s a mistake for the Spurs to add Giannis