As a Hornets fan I hope we keep it simple, take Edgecombe if he's available and if not take Knueppel

If Flagg's as good as advertised Dallas could be the best chance to challenge OKC next season

And Interesting times if Spurs end up with Harper, adding to Castle, Fox and Vassell

I'm an advocate of taking the best player available but thats a logjam and a group that doesn't seem to complement too well.

So we're looking at Alex Toohey, Tyrese Proctor, Rocco Zikarsky and Lachlan Olbrich all getting drafted?

quite possibly yes

I'll stick my neck out and say that only the first two will be, much as I’d love to see all four get drafted.

Anyone who thinks that Rocco might be drafted so that he could compete with Wemby are dreaming - he doesn’t have the foot speed or body control or strength or mongrel to even get on the court.

Lachie might be an outside chance, but there are too many of similar size with better athleticism and skills. He would be a good project player.

Toohey is projected to go anywhere from pick 35-49 (45 by ESPN)

Zikarsky's projected to go from 41-52 (41 by ESPN).

Olbrich projections 49-N/A (50 by ESPN).

Proctor projects 30-46 (36 by ESPN).

So that seems likely all four will be getting drafted, perhaps Olbrich the only one that could miss out.

I'll be curious to see if their NBA teams sign them or farm them out, could be quite possible Olbrich gets drafted and still ends up back at the Hawks.

Whoops the link:

https://nbl.com.au/news/the-australian-and-nbl-stars-in-nba-mocks-drafts

Givony has a good YouTube review of these four,

Alex Toohey scouts like his IQ [played point guard in junior Green & Gold teams] and his off ball skills and he measured really well at the combine, shooting has not advanced as much as some scouts expected but has been worked out by a few interested team and done everything everyone has asked.

Proctor proven shooter also clearly high IQ, not all scouts convinced he has worked hard enough to get his body NBA ready

Olbrich top hustler, worker and rebounder, but question marks over his shooting and ability to defend NBA post players, but participated in everything, performed well in all trials, and has done workouts continuously as his schedule has allowed.

Zikarsky noted as a poor defender in NBL, just never got into anything like stance or blocked anywhere near enough shoots for someone of his length. Has refused to do workouts with everyone. Either has a specific team interested [who told him not to work out], or has something to hide. But yeah unusual advice from manager.

None are expected first round, predicted to be middle of second round now that so many have pulled out of this draft. Largely most of them are going back to college. With the standard of US College ball returning, fewer players are now getting drafted on potential, scouts are now looking for more finished products in the draft. Unless Rocco has a promised destination, its not looking that great for him was the implication. But if he has a team interested in developing him... we wait to find out.....

One off the Ulm players left ulm in game four of best off five series with home court advantage to fly to the draft, how shit is that for the team.

"But yeah unusual advice from manager."

I bet it ends up being the best advice Rocco ever got. The Dante Exum advice, the Thon Maker advice etc The best advice those two guys ever received. It will likely ensure Rocco gets drafted too, FOMO. By working him out all his flaws will get exposed and teams will back away.

NBA teams aren't near as shrewd as fans think, they all too often lose their minds around draft time, if people think NBA teams really truly know what they're doing I present Anthony Bennett pick #1. A team will panic and draft Rocco for fear of potentially missing out on the next big thing.

Exactly Zodiac, they see a 7 footer salivate. Schencher, Vandenburg just off the top my head as well.

I fact I wouldn't actually be surprised if Rocco goes late in the first round. You don't usually get much out of late first rounders anyway some team will probably get too excited and just go bang and lock him in to a 3-5 year deal before another team beats them to the punch.

NBL News now also reporting Tasmanian Reyne Smith a 6'2" 86kg shooting guard is also in this years draft,
after four years at Louisville Cardinals.

He led the ACC and ranked third nationally with 3.5 three-pointers per game, and his 107 made three-point shots are the second most ever made by a Louisville player in one season.
He shot 38/39/94 in his final year.

oops a correction to that last post
three years at Charleston and his senior year at Louisville

Reyne Smith is a sniper but no way he'll get drafted

Toohey may be a safe bet and Olbrich would look to be Baynes type.
Procter will get a shot because of where he played. Rocco is a poor man's Sotto, can't shoot, has no motor, strength or strong enough defender. He didn't get minutes in Brisbane for a reason.
And NBL news is taking the piss if they're reporting Smith is a chance, 6 2 shooting guard? Jimmer Fredette would have a better shot at a comeback.

"Rocco is a poor man's Sotto"

Just to note, Rocco has only now gotten to the age that Sotto was at the start of his time in the NBL. Age is a factor, and with big guys especially it can take time to put it together.

Flagg
Harper
Edgecombe

So far, no surprises.

Knueppel
Bailey
Johnson

Hornets doing well, they get their man and send Mark Williams to Phoenix for pick 29

"they all too often lose their minds around draft time,"

Hansen Yang at #16...

Two players out Europe, German team Ulm, one left in the middle GF series and the other stayed. All others that I can see went American colleges. With the money on offer now at colleges it's likely to stay that way. First round which is where it counts.

Happy with how my Hornets did round 1. Drafted 2 excellent shooters, moved on from the injury prone big, and still have 2 early second rounders tomorrow to bolster the centre depth

What indications are that Rocco is going to be better than Sotto? Waste of a pick.

For one his level of play at international level in his age group.
MVP of ast in Germany. The problem with Rocco is he hasn't played for a variety of reasons, both wrong choices by his camp going next stars route and going to a club that was abit of a mess.

If he played in upcoming world 19’s and then headed to college as a freshman he would rocket up draft boards in the next year or two.

Sotto was fairly underwhelming at junior worlds for Phillipines.

Hopefully Rocco gets back on track.

Rocco drafted by Bulls at 45. Pending trade to Minnesota via the Los Angeles Lakers.

Congratulations to Rocco and family

Probably a good situation for Rocco, Rudy and Naz are gonna take the majority of minutes, and the T'Wolves also picked up Joan Beringer in the 1st round, so you'd think he'd be given a bit of time in the G-League to develop.

Proctor at 49 to Cavs. Meaning the entire Duke starting five has now been drafted in 2025: Proctor, Sion James, Knueppel, Flagg, Maluach.

Toohey to Suns at 52, (pending trade to Golden State).

Good result for the Aussies.

Proctor could have a chance of getting into the rotation at the Cavs (not saying its likely, just a chance).

I think Rocco likely be told to go OS for another year or 2 unless the Wolves go in another direction.

Toohey at GSW is a good landing spot for a guy like him. He could fight his way onto the roster as they have struggled to work out who are their key rotation guys around the stars.

Olbrich drafted by Lakers at 55, pending trade to Bulls.

The draft coverage in the US sounds absolutely miserable:

I have never watched the draft during day 2 before, can someone explain to me what the point of watching is if all the picks are revealed during commercial breaks and none of the teams that they players are going to are listed correctly

Commercials everywhere, a horrible commentating crew, trades being announced out of place and at awkward times, and a million more reasons why espn is so shit and doing a disservice to a really interesting and deceptively deep draft class.

What do you mean you came back to announce picks that happened during a commercial to then go right into another commercial?

Yeah I only watched a bit of it and it was very much like this.

- "Welcome back, during the add break "player X" was drafted by "team Y".
-
- Ok we'll now go to Shams, "there's a trade between 2 teams moving late second rounders"
- ok thanks, we'll be back with more NBA Draft after the break


Good landing spot for Olbrich. Reckon he'll get a 2-way deal there with a chance to play himself into a full time position.

Like I said best advice Rocco ever got. A team was always going to take a flyer on him. Minnesota probably a good landing spot learning behind Gobert. Hopefully the Wolves invest more time into him than they did Longley.

France and Australia 'dominating' the draft picks. Only one selected from Spain and Africa iirc. Suggest Spain are not as good at churning out talent any more, or they’re all choosing to stay in European competitions.

I believe this 2025 draft equals the 1997 draft for most Aussies drafted. In 97 Chris Anstey, CJ Bruton, Paul Rogers and Ben Pepper all got drafted but perhaps 97 pips 25 as Anstey was a first round pick.

Best draft my Hornets have done in forever. Knueppel, McNeeley, James and Kalkbrenner, delighted

Congrats to all the Aussies drafted regardless of where their futures may lie

Any guarantees re money earned for 2nd round picks.

Does anyone see any of the second round Australian players being in the nbl this season 25/26

No guaranteed contracts for 2nd rounders but these days teams will usually reach out to guys they take in the late 2nd round to get them to agree to a 2-way deal. And if they don't want that they'll move onto someone else. Obviously it means you've got something locked in, but if you really back yourself you go to summer league and work out with a team that suits you and try to get a full roster spot.

Thanks Cram, it also makes you look good in the eyes all other clubs around the planet.

Just read that the entire Duke University starting 5 from last season (Flagg, Proctor, Malauach, Kneuppel and James) were drafted this year.

Anyone know if/when the last time that happened with any school was?

UConn in 2006 and Kentucky in 2012 the other 2 times it's happened.

UConn was Marvin Williams, Rudy Gay, Denham Brown, Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong.

Kentucky was Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrance Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague.

Cheers LaPark

Reports are Almansa has signed a contract with 76ers

REPORT: Almansa lands NBA contract https://share.google/aHmvYKYA4lRvrNN6r

As was said above, the ESPN telecast on day 2 was basically any excuse for ads with a tiny bit of basketball stick in the middle - unwatchable.

Going to the NBA website was almost as bad - it was often way behind. (On day 1 at one stage, they were announcing pick 13 on TV when the website still only had pick 5.)

Did anyone have any positive experiences of the draft coverage which I can try to use next year?

*Marcus Williams not Marvin Williams from UConn.

In 05, Marvin Williams, Felton, Mays and McCants were all picked in the lottery.

And in 2012 6 players from Kentucky were picked, those named plus Darius Miller.

Marvin Williams was a very nice roleplayer for my Hornets, one of my favourites

Did anyone have any positive experiences of the draft coverage which I can try to use next year?