NBA Draft 2025

I hope RJ's agents weren't being deceptive or delusional to him. This shouldn't really be a surprise.

I'm not really sure Utah is a great spot for RJ either, but obviously hoping for the best. They've used the number five overall pick on a guy who plays a similar position, a top ten pick on Cody Williams last year, a top 20 pick on Keyonte George. Those are guys that they have more built-in incentive to try to develop. Ainge is also a deal maker, so who knows if he'll last there.

Of course if he plays well, most of this is moot.
 
You wonder how many games NBA scouts were in attendance for to see kids who played in far flung players and got drafted. Certainly at best it's limited. When you can watch US players over (a) season(s), their flaws become a lot more evident, especially when they play games against an overall higher lever of talent than say Australia or some other leagues around the world. Certainly it makes the G league a necessity to sort it all out.

No matter how you slice it, at best it's putting on a good game face on a disappointing night for our Johnnies.
 
Beasts of the East said:
You wonder how many games NBA scouts were in attendance for to see kids who played in far flung players and got drafted. Certainly at best it's limited. When you can watch US players over (a) season(s), their flaws become a lot more evident, especially when they play games against an overall higher lever of talent than say Australia or some other leagues around the world. Certainly it makes the G league a necessity to sort it all out.

No matter how you slice it, at best it's putting on a good game face on a disappointing night for our Johnnies.
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It was not disappointing, it was not only perfectly predictable it went as predicted by basically everyone in the business. So it was only disappointing for folks with unrealistic expectations.

The St John's kids will have an opportunity to play their way into the league or to make a living playing basketball elsewhere.

And NBA teams are not throwing darts at dartboards when they make draft picks, they thoroughly scout everyone, "maybe they didn't see enough of a kid who played in Australia or France" is farcical.
 
Beasts of the East said:
You wonder how many games NBA scouts were in attendance for to see kids who played in far flung players and got drafted. Certainly at best it's limited. When you can watch US players over (a) season(s), their flaws become a lot more evident, especially when they play games against an overall higher lever of talent than say Australia or some other leagues around the world. Certainly it makes the G league a necessity to sort it all out.

No matter how you slice it, at best it's putting on a good game face on a disappointing night for our Johnnies.
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I think most (not all) the euro or other foreign picks are stabs in the dark, and most don't pan out. So, I don't get when these teams try to look like they are smarter than everyone else by taking many of these foreign kids. Yes, the scouting of them is easier and more prevalent now. I'd much rather take a flyer on a kid like Dixon, RJ, Kadary et al than one of these other kids, mostly on hearsay. But that's just me...
 
The foreign guys are scouted thoroughly. If colleges can do it, why do we think NBA teams aren't?

The big advantage they have, such as the guy the Knicks drafted, is that they -- generally -- can be expected to be "stashed" abroad for a few years. It evades the salary cap, keeps them under team control, and they can still develop. I also think the cultural difference helps as well, they're more used to developmental programs where they do wait their turn and play their roles.
 
dk423 said:
The foreign guys are scouted thoroughly. If colleges can do it, why do we think NBA teams aren't?

The big advantage they have, such as the guy the Knicks drafted, is that they -- generally -- can be expected to be "stashed" abroad for a few years. It evades the salary cap, keeps them under team control, and they can still develop. I also think the cultural difference helps as well, they're more used to developmental programs where they do wait their turn and play their roles.
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Excellent point on stashing players abroad a few years and playing the “upside”, a prevalent trend.
 
lawmanfan said:
Requiem for RJ

Oh you started out playing for Frank Martin
But eventually it became you departing
For greener pastures here in Jamaica
Where the Hall of Famers was happy to take ya

At first it was an unfortunate coincidence
That your season was derailed by those shin splits
But after that your star began to rise
With the Big East title as the grand prize

Now you're off to try to make the big show
And we'll all be rooting for you as you go
You've come a long long way since U Mass
Just remember - sometimes it's ok to pass!
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shane-shane-gillis.gif
 
dk423 said:
The foreign guys are scouted thoroughly. If colleges can do it, why do we think NBA teams aren't?

The big advantage they have, such as the guy the Knicks drafted, is that they -- generally -- can be expected to be "stashed" abroad for a few years. It evades the salary cap, keeps them under team control, and they can still develop. I also think the cultural difference helps as well, they're more used to developmental programs where they do wait their turn and play their roles.
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The fact that the NBA is full of international players substantiates that. The Frederick Weiss days are long gone although the Knicks haven't got a great record with their overseas picks to date.
 
redmanwest said:
Most never to be heard from again.
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Most second rounders are the same way though. And, especially with the convoluted CBA, these cap-free assets can be helpful in getting trades over the hump since they could be valued as a second round pick. If you draft a guy like RJ, you're expected to sign them & its a much more complicated NBA trade asset.
 
91law said:
The Knicks once again passed on the local star RJ for Mohamed Diawara, a 20-year-old power forward from Paris. Do is hear the ghost of Frederik Weiss ?
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Think Diawara looks like RJ on steroids. And 2 years younger. Cant fault them here as cool as it would have been to see him on the Knicks.
 
On RJ- I had a feeling that once he declared he was not being drafted. He needed to show more than 1 good year as he was not a "can't miss prospect" like these lottery guys are. Like others have mentioned, I don't get why he signs with the Jazz with the young talent they just imported. Only way it even somewhat makes sense is if Ace Bailey really does not want to suit up for them so there is one less player to compete with. Other teams could have been better fits and better organizations to develop in. For example, Boston is rebuilding but Scott can perhaps run with that as its a solid org with a good GM that has a history of developing talent. Will see what happens, hopefully RJ lights up summer league and can try to carve a Champagnie path for himself.
 
Amaseinyourface said:
Think Diawara looks like RJ on steroids. And 2 years younger. Cant fault them here as cool as it would have been to see him on the Knicks.
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I would have taken a chance on Dixon. Most here more in the know think he is not an NBA player (and he reminds me of the Sweetney kid the Knicks drafted out of GU years ago who was a great college player but bust in the NBA). But, I think he is a hard worker, a winner and someone who improved every year he played. I guess who / how he would defend in the pros is an issue, but he NBA "hides" a lot of guys who can't or won't or don't play defense..
 
redmanwest said:
I would have taken a chance on Dixon. Most here more in the know think he is not an NBA player (and he reminds me of the Sweetney kid the Knicks drafted out of GU years ago). But, I think he is a hard worker, a winner and someone who improved every year he played. I guess who / how he would defend in the pros is an issue, but he NBA "hides" a lot of guys who can't or won't or don't play defense..
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imho the only thing Dixon brings that translates to the NBA is his three point shooting skill. He wouldn't be able to defend anyone and his ability to muscle in down low for baskets wouldn't fly in the NBA - he is just too small. Very different league than the one Sweetney (and Barkley) played in. However, Lakers gave him a two way contract so you may prove to be correct.
www.si.com

Lakers Land Eric Dixon With Two-Way Contract Post NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers have added Villanova star Eric Dixon to a two-way deal after the 2025 NBA Draft. ESPN's Shams Charania shared via X. Dixon was the top
www.si.com www.si.com
 
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L J S A said:
Starting to believe the speculation that he was trying to influence the draft by skipping meeting teams and acting immature.

Utah got in the way of his Nets plan.
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Maybe there’s a contingency deal in place between Utah and Brooklyn. Perhaps that’s why the Nets drafted so many players, particularly point guards.
Maybe 2 of these guys are ticketed to the Jazz. Maybe that’s why no teams dealt with the Nets for their first rounders.
I know that’s a lot of maybes. But that’s what conspiracy theorists do.
 
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