2025 NBA Draft

[CFAN38]

I haven't been able to watch many college games this season and have had very little focus on this years draft but the past week I have started looking to see if anyone projected in the late 1st/early 2nd stands out to me as potential Celtics picks.

The two guys who stand out so fare are

Eric Dixon from Villanova, he is about as old of a college NBA prospect as you will see at 24.4 on draft night. This is historically a red flag but for a Celtics team that will be looking for cheap plug in role players Dixon is an interesting fit. His shooting splits are elite for any position let along a 6'8 (with out shoes), 265lb, 7'ws big man. He is currently shooting 42% from 3 on 7 attempts and 84% from FT on just under 6 attempts! He is the same level of shooting prospect out of college that Scheierman was last draft. His ability to defend will be the question but that is typically not an issue for Villanova prospects.

Maxime Raynaud from Stanford, he is a 7'1 french center who is having a statistically dominate senior season at 20pts 11rb. At 7'1 he is very effective dribbling, passing and shooting at the college level. That coupled with his international experience/success playing for the French junior team makes him a high floor big man prospect on my board. If Luke leaves as a FA he is a nice developmental option to plug into the big rotation who may yield a higher than expected ceiling, in much the same way Santi Aldama has surprised for Memphis.

[perks-a-beast]

A couple guys I like in our range

Johni Broome. C. Auburn. Strong canidate for player of the year. 6"10 center who can pass, defend, handle the ball, and shoot a little bit. From what i've seen he's a little Horford-esque.

Darrion Williams. SF. Texas Tech . Seasoned senior with a well rounded game. Looks like this years Terrence Shannon Jr.

Ryan Kalkbrenner. C. Creighton. Baylor Scheiermans former teammate at Creighton. Huge center, a force on defense and can step out and shoot the three a bit. Brook Lopez-light.

I like this draft a lot. I really wouldnt mind seeing the Celtics do something like the T-Wolves did last year and try to trade up into the lottery, where there are a multitude of promising players. Asa Newell, Derek Queen, Collin Murray-Boyles, Danny Wolf are guys i like a ton...we need a big!!!

[Goldstar88]

Will have a better idea next month, during the tournament. Have really only been watching Duke games for Flagg. According to Tankathon mock, the Blue Devils will have 3 players taken in the top 10.

[Boss_D]

1st Round  :
Big - Rasheer Fleming / Alex Condon  / Johni Broome / Danny Wolf
Wing - Adou Thiero / Nique Clifford
 
(whoever is still available) 


2nd Round : Rocco Zikarsky / Ryan Kalkbrenner / Miles Byrd (whoever is still available, probably ends up in Maine squad) or those considered first rounder but not drafted.

Undrafted : Grant Nelson

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Brad Stevens at the St John's vs Arkansas game.

Boogie Fland is the Arkansas PG that is projected in the draft around our 1st round pick. Adou Thiero is Arkansas' wing/forward in the second round. So is their big Ivisic.

Most drafts don't have a prospect from St. John's, but I confess I like their big Ejiofer. He's undersized, but reminds me a bit of Achiuwa. Needs to develop his skills though.

I've also really like Johnell Davis, who was part of FAU's deep tourney runs the last few years until he transferred to play for Callipari. His shooting is down this year, but he's just a smart player that does a lot of things well.

[CFAN38]

Brad Stevens at the St John's vs Arkansas game.

Boogie Fland is the Arkansas PG that is projected in the draft around our 1st round pick. Adou Thiero is Arkansas' wing/forward in the second round. So is their big Ivisic.

Most drafts don't have a prospect from St. John's, but I confess I like their big Ejiofer. He's undersized, but reminds me a bit of Achiuwa. Needs to develop his skills though.

I've also really like Johnell Davis, who was part of FAU's deep tourney runs the last few years until he transferred to play for Callipari. His shooting is down this year, but he's just a smart player that does a lot of things well.

FLand is an interesting prospect because the league just doesn't seem interested in drafting sub 6'3 200lbs guards. I believe last draft 3 players that size where drafted. I think he is an NBA caliber player but much like JD he needs to find a team with a role available and those are few and fare between in todays NBA.

Adou Thiero is a great stocks guy (steals and blocks) but at 21 yrs old and without great shooting projections its hard for me to see him as a Celtic. Walsh was a pick in the similar mold but two years younger at the time of the draft.

Z Ivisic is a guy I really liked before the start of last season when he was with UK. His per min shot blocking is really good and he can shoot the ball. If you just watch his FIBA play he looks like a lock to be a 1st rd pick. I assume he stays in college for the NIL $$ but should he (or his twin brother) declare I could see them as a nice trade back option to be signed to a 2-way. Much like Raynaud I like the idea of the Cs taking shots at these 3pt shooting 7'+ bigs as a building block for the post Al/KP years.

[Who]

A couple guys I like in our range

Johni Broome. C. Auburn. Strong canidate for player of the year. 6"10 center who can pass, defend, handle the ball, and shoot a little bit. From what i've seen he's a little Horford-esque.

Broome sounds a bit like Trayce Jackson Davis from a couple of years ago based on descriptions of him. I am not sure Broome is as good of an athlete as TJD was though (judging from highlight vids).

[Phantom255x]

I would love Wolf or Broome 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I would love Wolf or Broome 

Wolf is the guy I like in the 1st round.

[Phantom255x]

I would love Wolf or Broome 

Wolf is the guy I like in the 1st round.

[SHAQATTACK]

I?ll go with whoever Liam picks , he seems to have knack for picking

 

[CFAN38]

A couple guys I like in our range

Johni Broome. C. Auburn. Strong canidate for player of the year. 6"10 center who can pass, defend, handle the ball, and shoot a little bit. From what i've seen he's a little Horford-esque.

Broome sounds a bit like Trayce Jackson Davis from a couple of years ago based on descriptions of him. I am not sure Broome is as good of an athlete as TJD was though (judging from highlight vids).

Very very similar production but like you said TJD is the more explosive athlete. Like TJD I see Broome as a 8pt 5rb a game back up maybe Theis like?

[CFAN38]

JT Toppin


I have been wavering all season on Toppin and now I think I am leaning towards including him in my top 20 for this draft.

Pros: highly productive as a young (20yr old) soph on a good team
        +5 wingspan
        elite rebounder
        NBA athlete
        strong frame (for a wing)
        good STOCKS guy (steals and blocks)

Cons: currently a 6'7 (without shoes) center
         needs to show he can consistently shoot from outside
         question marks on how he defends smaller perimeter players


Interesting comps:

At 6'7 with a 7' wingspan his height and length and stats are very similar to college Kevin Love

He measured at the combine last year almost identical to Jaylen Brown. He is 1/4" taller with 1/2" longer wingspan. While he isn't the top 1% athlete that Jaylen is he still an elite vertical athlete.



My bottom line: I am moving to a point where I think JT is worth a 1st round pick. If he shoots the 3 he becomes a big strong wing and a valuable role player for a contending team.

[Boss_D]

I like.. 

Johni Broome @28 and Caleb love @2nd round

or

Alex Condon @28 and Maxime Reynaud@2nd round


*** Walter Clayton Jr might not be available @28

[Phantom255x]

There is a future Celtic balling out in this game

Michigan vs Auburn. Wolf or Broome