NBA Draft June 25, 2025 8 PM EST With The 55th Pick

According to the RookieWire we brought in a bunch of St John's guys in RJ Luis (Junior, second round), Kadary Richmond (super senior, undrafted), Aaron Scott (senior, second round/undrafted). All three grade out well on the advanced stats and I think each could be good pickups.

RJ Luis is a 6'7" wing with a good handle and ability to get to the hoop. 75% from the line and 33% from three on 5 attempts. Good rebounder. ORB% 7, DRB% 17, STL% 2.5, BLK% 2.1 (numbers are bit like DFS coming out of college)



Kadary Richmond looks like a big point guard out there, 6'5" good handle and can get to his spots. His jumper needs a lot of work (he does this wind up thing) and is turnover prone. Led the Big east in Defensive Rating for the last two years and led Big east in defensive Box Plus/Minus. ORB% 4.1, DRB% 17, AST% 29.4, STL% 3.5, BLK% 3.1 (Not so far off from Caruso numbers wise but not the same level of athlete, almost reminds me of a smaller Artest on offense)




Aaron Scott is a 6'7" wing with 3-D potential. Shot 81% at the line and 30% on 5 attempts from three last year, so there's maybe some potential to improve the 3pt shooting. ORB% 7.2, DRB% 9.7, STL% 3, BLK% 2.5

 

1 day and 4 hours to go

 

Finally some moves happening. Should be interesting to see how we build this year’s team.

 

19 hours left

 

55. Los Angeles Lakers

Viktor Lakhin, C, Clemson, super senior

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...t-first-second-round-predictions-all-59-picks


Viktor Lakhin · Class. Senior · HT/WT. 6' 11", 245 lbs · Birthplace. Anapa, Russia. Follow. 2024-25 season stats. PTS. 11.4. 150+. REB. 6.4.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4701192/viktor-lakhin

 

If Joan Beringer slips some, we might be able, to slide into the 20's and snag him. Im sure Luka would love that.

 

Less than 10 hours to go, buy one of the Nets picks you cowards!

 

I have to think the Nets are trying to move up. Their picks may be for sale as we get closer to the start of the draft, but I'm assuming they're currently making calls to try and package a few of them. Hoping they fail and sell one of their picks in the 20s for pennies on the dollar. I'm not all that interested in making that pick, but if the only cost is $$$, then I'd be willing to package that with our 2031 1st for someone like Kessler - assuming Ainge would bite.

 

very curious about this one. nobody wants three first rounders in the same year, imo, much less 5. you'll know they had no plan if they start selling them for heavily protected future picks.

 

Good prep material going into tonight and tomorrow night

 

@audiosway >>>

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https://apple.news/AhFAiJiiWTbG_81uxK4ETzQ

Wall Street Journal article today.

Cooper Flagg Can Do Almost Everything. Will He Save the NBA’s Biggest Punchline?

The Dallas Mavericks will select the Duke prodigy with the No. 1 pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft. He could make fans forget all about a certain other superstar.

 

do you think that guy is there? i'm not as high on maluach as some are, and a lot of the other center prospects just seem really similar to each other--enough that i don't trust my gut on who i'd target. but i guess that's why you pay the scouts, and ours have been good.

that neiderhauser guy seems really interesting, that said. and he's in the mold of some recent mid-first round centers who have played well early (lively, missi, ware). he doesn't have quite the same mobility as those three from what i've seen on film, though.

 

i don't see how it's an either/or prospect. we might be able to get into the late first/early second without giving up a whole lot, and that guy can learn behind a veteran for a year.

not to beat a dead horse, but i'd rather get capela or lopez on a low-risk tpmle than squander all our assets on a mediocre center.

too many buyers there right now, at least based on the reporting. but we'll see if the market cools a bit.

 

I don't really see any contributors next year at center in this draft. Each seems to have their warts. I'm sure in a few years I'll be wrong and there will be some starting centers from this class. If I had a 1st rounder I'd go for one of the two French bigs if they dropped out of the lottery. The main prospects are:

1st rounders

• Malauch - 7'2" with long reach, lob threat and rim protector with potentially a 3pt shot, will go top 10 but I'm not all that convinced either
• Queen - 6'10" good size and offensive skill but many question his defence and motor
• Essengue - 6'11" international big, high upside with his athleticism and defence but a few years away from contributing
• Beringer - 7" international big, another high upside play but a few years away
• Sorber - 6'10" with long reach, good rim protector and rebounder with a developing offensive game
• Wolf - 6'11" more of a PF I think, can shoot and handle may slide into the second round
• Reynaud - another 7' French big man who's got game, legit 3pt shot, high level rebounder, competitor, played at Stanford but his team was bad

2nd rounders

• Kalkbrenner - 7 foot super senior, legit three point shot and shot blocker, being that he's older I guess he has a limited ceiling
• Yang - 7'2" with great footwork, soft hands, and offensive skill but not a lob threat or rim protector and rebounding is questionable
• Neiderhauser - 7 footer and one the best athletes at the combine, still very raw offensively and feet can be a bit slow, but is a lob threat and rim protector, the main comp I've seen for him is funny enough Jaxson Hayes
• Zikarsky - 7'4" Edie-sized big man, haven't watched many highlights but didn't really stand out
• Williams - 7' skilled big, excellent passer/facilitator, lob threat, rim protector but non existent jumper (good 2way)
• Izan Almansa - 6'11" Spanish big, good rebounder, can hit the three plays D but inconsistent motor reminds me of Claxton (I think he's a good project)
  
• Goldin - 7' old school big played at Michigan his final year, decent rebounder and rim protector but had a bad combine

Undrafted

• Norchad Omier - 6'7" 240 (not a center) but really skilled PF enforcer-type with elite rebounding, rim protection and also a lob threat, similar advanced stats to Camara on Portland, non-existent jumper (this is who I want on a 2way)
• Oumar Diallo - 7' powerful big with soft touch around the hoop, rebounds well and can pass but his conditioning is poor (good 2way)

 

yeah, it's tough to argue that any of them are going to be better than jaxson hayes next year, right? maybe most not even close?

i think they're all projects. maybe sorber can do some stuff right away?

and sure, one or two of them is bound to do something; we just have to hope we nab the right one. but is anyone screaming "trade a future first (or knecht) to get this guy now"? i don't see it.

 

I agree, I think a lot of it will depend on the situation some of these 1st rounders end up in. I think there is a lot of value in the second round with guys like Chaz Lanier Jamir Watkins, Johnnie Broome, Micah Peavy, RJ Luis, Javon Small, Tamar Bates. We just don't really go for bigs in the draft outside of Bynum and Jordan Hill?? So I'll be happy if we grab one or two of these 4 year 3-D prospects at the guard or wing and keep shopping for a cheap young center with Knecht or promise Capela all the minutes! (with Hayes backing him up and Koloko 3rd String) Capela's seems to be on the decline but is an upgrade to our rebounding and rim protection and Jaxson can still be the lob threat. That still leaves some assets for the trade deadline. Sounds like Olivari is ready for a deal too..