Following Potential 2025 Draftees

[NUMBERICA]

Essengue is a high level defensive wing with play finishing as an 18 y.o. If you're going to give Fears the benefit of doubts, you kind of have to do the same with Noa.

And he can’t shoot.

 

[bigmike]

Kon’s measurements scare the crap out of me. 6’5, + 1 wingspan, and plays with “meh” athleticism.

He’s got great strength, balance, and body control but I worry he just gets gobbled up by long athletic wings.

Zero interest in Kon at #5.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

And he can’t shoot.

when you're 6'11" and just turned 18, is 30% from three against better competition than any college player really that bad? saying he "can't shoot" (in general and if it fits, i otherwise have no problem with that phrase) doesn't seem quite fair.

 

[Bodhi]

And he can’t shoot.

If you have watched him shoot.......he can shoot. His form isnt bad at all. Hes a giraffe growing into an elite NBA body.

He's my huge upside bet in this draft.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

If you have watched him shoot.......he can shoot. His form isnt bad at all. Hes a giraffe growing into an elite NBA body.

He's my huge upside bet in this draft.

what's crazy about Essengue too, is for a guy with monster potential, i actually think his floor is pretty high as well. iow, he might be one of the lowest risk guys in the draft just based on his production at such a young age at a high level in europe.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Kon’s measurements scare the crap out of me. 6’5, + 1 wingspan, and plays with “meh” athleticism.

He’s got great strength, balance, and body control but I worry he just gets gobbled up by long athletic wings.

Zero interest in Kon at #5.

I think it's a concern. There are plenty of really good players who aren't the most athletic, but I'm not sure if Kon is quite a crafty as them.

I think there is also probably a baseline athleticism you need as a non big playing in the NBA. I think Kon probably just barely passes that threshold, but it's not 100% that he does. I put very little stock in to combine athletic testing, but getting Kon's numbers would have been nice.

 

[Bodhi]

what's crazy about Essengue too, it's for a guy with monster potential, i actually think his floor is pretty high as well. iow, he might be one of the lowest risk guys in the draft just based on his production at such a young age at a high level in europe.

100% agree. Look at his passing as an example of his BBIQ and feel.

He's not a dummy with insane length and athleticism. I will get roasted for this but he gives me early Giannis vibes.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

what's crazy about Essengue too, it's for a guy with monster potential, i actually think his floor is pretty high as well. iow, he might be one of the lowest risk guys in the draft just based on his production at such a young age at a high level in europe.

It feels like there have been a ton of similar prospects to him that have busted. I could be wrong as I haven't followed the draft that closely for that many years.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

100% agree. Look at his passing as an example of his BBIQ and feel.

He's not a dummy with insane length and athleticism. I will get roasted for this but he gives me early Giannis vibes.

He's averaging 1.1ast and 1.0 turnovers.

FWIW, I think I see the upside, I just don't think he's a safe pick at all, especially not at 5.

 

[KqWIN]

Kas isn't unathletic for the NCAA, but he'll be an average athlete in the NBA, so maybe what he did in college won't translate as well? Or maybe that will be offset by the NBA being even more rewarding to foul baiters like Kas.

These are great questions for which I don't have greats answers to. It would be interesting to look back at the history on guys like VJ and Kas to see if there's a trend.

What I do know is that the college game is way more about forcing it at the rim. Rim% usually increases at the NBA level, but the frequency drops. FTr also typically drops. NBA rewards the foul baiters, but college players just foul a ton.

 

[NUMBERICA]

100% agree. Look at his passing as an example of his BBIQ and feel.

He's not a dummy with insane length and athleticism. I will get roasted for this but he gives me early Giannis vibes.

Yes you will; Giannis was playing point guard.

There are about 100 more examples of Coulibalys than Giannises.

 

[Bodhi]

He's averaging 1.1ast and 1.0 turnovers.

FWIW, I think I see the upside, I just don't think he's a safe pick at all, especially not at 5.

My comment had nothing to do with his number of assists. It was in reference to some high level reads and the ability to identify an advantage.

I think we get caught on this board a lot with "here are his stats now at 18, so thats all he will be at 24 with NBA development".