My 2 cents on the draft. (Probably not even worth thst much)
At 14, there are no sure things. Every player has questions.
My personal preference is Coward but he only played 6 games last year and he's older.
Bryant is younger and has potential but had limited usage at Arizona.
Essengue is somewhat of a project with a big upside.
As far as big men, if they go that route, I would prefer Sorber. Seems better on the defensive end.
I see the appeal of Wolfe but less than 60% FT% is a red flag for me.
Raynaud would be a reach at 14.
Personally, I think they are better off taking a big man in the second round or possibly move up into the late 1st.

Whatever happens, I am ready to get it and move forward. I trust the front office at this point.

So Boston got Simons and two seconds for 35 year old Jrue.

They definitely aren't having to attach a first round pick to get rid of Porzingis.

Sher Thing said:

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So Boston got Simons and two seconds for 35 year old Jrue.

They definitely aren't having to attach a first round pick to get rid of Porzingis.

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It's a wild trade. I don't understand it at all from Portland's viewpoint unless they think Jrue can teach Scoot how to suck less.

Jrue is in year 2 of a 4y135M contract. They got him taking up 17% of the cap the next three years.

What are they thinking? That contract is so gross.



If we made the trade before July 1, we could trade Keldon+Julian for Kristaps. Let's swap their 28th pick for our 38th pick for good measure.

That would save Boston: $3M from the 28th pick, Julian is unguaranteed so another $3M and Keldon drops to 17.5M. So the drop from Kristaps to Keldon is a savings of 13.2M, then 3M from cutting Julian, then 3M from not having the 1st. Saves them $19M off the cap.

I saw at least one mock draft that had Maluach falling to the Spurs at 14. Would yall take him if he's there?

jteagle said:

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I saw at least one mock draft that had Maluach falling to the Spurs at 14. Would yall take him if he's there?

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Sure, but no way he drops below Toronto at 9. Toronto wants to have Poeltl and Malauch and play them both 25mpg.

If for some reason Toronto didn't pick him, Chicago at 12 and Atlanta at 13 both need a rim protector.

Rumor is that Alienware is going to be the new jersey patch sponsor for the Spurs. Well played, Michael Dell.

The New York Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the team's head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Now three candidates – Nori and two former head coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins – have done formal interviews for the Knicks' vacancy.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

What a dumpster fire. They should have kept Thibs until they had a replacement lined up.

Vecenie has Coward at 14 and they say it is an absolute no brainer.

I'm really excited for the draft tomorrow. Seems like we are most linked to Sorber, Coward and Maluach. I feel like we don't know at the end of the day though. Everyone thought we were high on Carter last year and we traded the pick.

Yeah it never seems to be the guys who have too much smoke around them.

Although there may be some truth in Wemby indicating to the front office that he doesn't want to play exclusively at the 5; thus, the interest in drafting a big. I personally hope we go with Coward. You see this every year with certain guys who sky rocket up the draft boards after testing well and it's usually for good reason. He's also a proven shooter and has been a very productive college player.

Guitarsoup said:

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The New York Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the team's head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Now three candidates – Nori and two former head coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins – have done formal interviews for the Knicks' vacancy.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

What a dumpster fire. They should have kept Thibs until they had a replacement lined up.

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It's amazing they haven't tarred and feathered Dolan up there yet.

Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue is reportedly leaving his team, who lead 2-1 in the German League Finals, to attend the NBA Draft, per @BasketNews_com

“NBA Draft prospect Noa Essengue will miss the remainder of the German league finals to attend the NBA Draft ceremony, per… pic.twitter.com/nB4KmPNC07

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2025

Not a great look. I want dudes who want to win at all costs.

Yea. I really hope Coward is there at 14. I worry about Sorber's foot injury, I otherwise would pull the trigger there. I really don't want to draft a project (Beringer, Maluach, Essengue). It would be nice to get a bench rotation player.

West Texan said:

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Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue is reportedly leaving his team, who lead 2-1 in the German League Finals, to attend the NBA Draft, per @BasketNews_com

“NBA Draft prospect Noa Essengue will miss the remainder of the German league finals to attend the NBA Draft ceremony, per… pic.twitter.com/nB4KmPNC07

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2025

Not a great look. I want dudes who want to win at all costs.

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Meh. It's the German league.

Enzo The Baker said:

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West Texan said:

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Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue is reportedly leaving his team, who lead 2-1 in the German League Finals, to attend the NBA Draft, per @BasketNews_com

“NBA Draft prospect Noa Essengue will miss the remainder of the German league finals to attend the NBA Draft ceremony, per… pic.twitter.com/nB4KmPNC07

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2025

Not a great look. I want dudes who want to win at all costs.

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Meh. It's the German league.

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He's already missed the combine to keep playing, so it's not like it's something that will improve his draft stock. Go help your team win a championship. Leaving them to shake Adam Silver's hand is pretty crappy imo.

The San Antonio Spurs have shown interest in Kristaps Porziņģis, per @JakeLFischer

“The Spurs, sources say, have held some exploratory talks about trading for the 7-foot-2 center. That would certainly be a fascinating outcome for Porziņģis if he were to land with the… pic.twitter.com/M7UVT9YMQQ

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2025

Move up and get Raynaud or Kalkbrenner at 28.

It's not the worst gamble if the Spurs are looking to unload some guys. Find it hard seeing Boston do a deal with us without wanting their pick swap back though.

Yea definitely don't want to give up a pick swap for an injury prone big that couldn't breath in the playoffs.

I wouldn't give back the swap for a 1y rental of Kristaps. If they can find someone to cut more than $19 million in salary next year for a better deal, they can take it.

For that reason I am offering them Malaki instead of Julian if I am the Spurs

Biblical levels of greed. I can get behind it though.

Didn't we learn this lesson watching both Dallas and NY end up with a flaming pile of dog poop in him? No thanks.

Go find a big in the draft.

If the Celtics are desperate to move $ then maybe they'll dump Hauser on us for Branham + 38.

Sher Thing said:

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If the Celtics are desperate to move $ then maybe they'll dump Hauser on us for Branham + 38.

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We could accept Hauser into our MLE for cash considerations.

FTAG 2000 said:

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Didn't we learn this lesson watching both Dallas and NY end up with a flaming pile of dog poop in him? No thanks.

Go find a big in the draft.

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You don't have to choose. We could trade Keldon for Kristaps, sign Kornet with the MLE and draft Cedric Coward. Then give LaRavia the BAE. Use the Celtics pick to take Raynaud.

Wemby - Kornet - Raynaud
Kristaps - Barnes - FA with what's left of MLE (Prince, Yabusale?)
Coward - Sochan - LaRavia
Castle - Vassell - Branham
Fox - Harper - Wesley

I have to say I really appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the NBA. You need to get a job at ESPN or call into 97.5 here in town

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

Can confirm that Spurs have shown interest for Boston's Kristaps Porzingis with talks intensifying over the last 24 hours. Boston is purging salaries. No details on what the Spurs are offering. KP is on a 1 year $30 million expiring contract. I'm thinking Barnes would have to be…

— Don Harris (@DonHarris4) June 24, 2025

Guitarsoup said:

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The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

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Seems like a very neutral trade.

Barnes + Branham + 2nd rounders for KP and Hauser. Celts should save adequate $$$ and could use Barnes with Tatum out for the year. Spurs really not giving up much here. Even if KP doesn't work out past the season you still get Hauser on a team friendly deal. I think he's a better option than LaRavia.

HtownWilly12 said:

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I have to say I really appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the NBA. You need to get a job at ESPN or call into 97.5 here in town

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Thanks, I appreciate it. I've had a job offer in the NBA and used to work for a major media outlet. Working on sports is fun, but unless you are a top guy, you get paid poorly and work awful hours. Not what I want as a dad.

I don't think I have the statistical or basketball background to do the things I would actually want to do.

Sher Thing said:

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Barnes + Branham + 2nd rounders for KP and Hauser. Celts should save adequate $$$ and could use Barnes with Tatum out for the year. Spurs really not giving up much here. Even if KP doesn't work out past the season you still get Hauser on a team friendly deal. I think he's a better option than LaRavia.

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I would do that but to make the money work you would have to make the Hauser trade separate and accept him into the mid-level exception. That would make it tough to sign a backup center, unless we draft it and think the Rookie is ready. Maybe there's a way to wrap the S&T of Kornet in there too? I'll play with that when I get home

I would also really like to keep Harrison Barnes if possible. If we're trading for one of the most injury prone players, it would be nice to have one of the toughest players on the roster

Yea. I'd like to keep Barnes as well. Would want him over Keldon.

Could sub Keldon for Barnes.

Yeah, not sure I'd want to use the MLE on Hauser but it's not a bad gamble if you think KP can actually stay healthy.