June 24, 2025 • 13 mins
Craig previews the NBA draft and current NBA predictions for next year
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tuesday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As I mentioned tomorrow, I've got one more day with
you tomorrow before I break for vacation. Whereas Cameron likes
to call it the annual sabbatical, Uh because and everybody
knows it. I was just talking talking to the boss
about it, and then talking to other people about it.
It's the one time, the one time when I can,
(00:22):
when I can take that vacation. Everybody's always great about it.
So I do that, and we go to the coast
of North Carolin. We're actually going to go up through
the mountains. We're gonna going Tennessee and the mountains, and
then we're driving uh and then going to North Carolina.
And yes, I know about the flooded out portion of
I forty through the mountains in Tennessee. We've got a
work around around that.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're gonna do that and go see some old
sites in my hometown of Greensboro.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
We'll go there, uh.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
And then I think we're actually going to see a
minor league baseball game there too. We're going to see
the Greensboro Grasshoppers, who are in the South Atlantic League
High Ball play the Chicago White Sox High a affiliate
the Winston Salem Dash and they they they have some
(01:13):
talented guys. You may remember Brad Montgomery who played at
Stanford and then at Texas A and MB place for that.
But anyway, we're gonna do some of that and then
we're we're down at the beach for a couple of
weeks with family one week and then just Lendon not
for a week down in the Myrtle area, and then
we'll go straight from there to Atlanta for SEC Football
(01:33):
Media Days and we'll be there along with our crew.
Cameron will be there, Mike Hardbollhart, so we look forward
to being there broadcasting again from SEC Football Media Days.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Will be there and UH and then back after that
in mid July.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So anyway, tomorrow will be the last day before breaking
for vacation for that, so we'll look forward, look forward
to bringing you the program tomorrow, and tomorrow we'll have
much more detail on UH the NBA Draft because tomorrow
(02:11):
is the NBA Draft, And toward that end, I was
going to run over some mock draft stuff. This is
one from the Athletic and it's funny. When I was
driving in, I was listening to Colin Cowherd because the
Herd is on prior to this program, as you know,
(02:32):
and Colin was he had, I guess co hosts I
think today, Yes, from the Athletic, right, yeah, yes, And
I talked about how much he likes the Athletic and
said it's an outstanding publication and all this sort of stuff,
(02:53):
and I agree. And so I was, I was looking
at the Athletic and I was looking at what their
mock draft. As I've viewed several, but here's here's a
sample of what I'm talking about. The Athletics mock draft has,
of course Cooper Flagg at number one to Dallas. It
says easiest picked on the board. Now this is this
(03:16):
is the mock that is put together by Sam Visini,
and he says Flag is my second favorite prospect since
I've been doing this over.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
The last decade. Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
A source with knowledge of his work out of the
Mavericks earlier this week said the team was wildly impressed.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
With his shot making was the way that they described that.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And it said they also love that even though he
has been locked in as the number one pick for months,
he has stayed in shape and looks like he would
be ready for an NBA game.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
That's exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need. By the way,
most teams could use that, but the Mavericks certainly need that.
And so he said, I'm actually more intrigued than most
by the Mavericks core over the next few years that
features Flag, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Derek Lively. If
Irving can come back healthy, and let me just interject
and say that's a big if. Certainly this year he's
(04:19):
going to miss most of the coming season, if not
all of it. If Irving can come back healthy and
Flags development continues, they have a chance to compete near
the top of the Western Conference in THEE. And here's
the key twenty twenty six, Tosh twenty twenty seven. So
he's also pretty much riding off the season to come
for Kyrie Irving, which makes sense, and it says they'll
(04:41):
they'll need to make some strategic moves around those four,
but the two way upside of that group is very high.
So that's that's the number one. Has the Spurs going
for Dylan Harper from Rutgers six to five guard at
number two said, yes, san Antonio has a significant amount
of ball handling already in aar and Fox in Stefoncastle.
(05:02):
But you don't pass on a top end talent like Harper,
especially when you already have Victor wimban Yama. The Spurs
should fairly assume they're not going to get another crack
at a pick this high again for a while. And
when you have a chance at elite talent, you don't
pass that up in favor of potential trade down options
just to accumulate assets. Harper ticks nearly every box for
(05:25):
an elite guard. He created rim pressure and an elite
level this year at Rutgers, despite playing in an archaic
offense that lacked spacing. The rim pressure should translate incredibly
well towards playing with arguably the best floor spacing big
in the NBA. He drew fouls regularly and showcased enough
vision as a passer that you can buy into him
(05:45):
as a primary playmaker. He was comfortable playing on or
off the ball, drilling thirty seven percent of his catch
and shoot threes. Defensively, he's willing and competitive, Plus he
has great size. He fits everything they should want, so
that makes sense. It's at number two. Vj Edgcombe from Baylor.
The nineteen year old guard has risen up through his
(06:08):
draft stock, and he's got the Sixers taking him. He said,
I do think a trade down remains a possibility. It's
the move that makes the most sense for the Sixers,
given that they're the top of a big group of
prospects who are relatively similar in their league wide evaluations. Regardless,
my read is that if someone trades up, the most
(06:30):
likely player they do it for would be Edgcombe. NBA
teams see him as a relatively safe prospect in this
class because of his high end competitiveness, defensive capabilities, shooting
off the catch, and high end character reports, so he
said it's easy to sell Edgecombe having the most athletic
(06:50):
upside of any player remaining on the board. They could
also take con Kin Nipple, Trey Johnson, or Ace Bailey,
but none of these players, including Edgecombe, are perfect fits
for the core that Philadelphia has assembled as it looks
to get back into the Eastern Conference mix next season.
So he said, Johnson is starting to increase buzz in
recent days is an option for Philly, So Trey Johnson
(07:11):
could possibly go as high as number three. Hes Conk
Nipple a dude going to the Hornets at four. Then
he's got Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma going to Utah at
number five, Ace Bailey going to the Wizards at number six,
and then he's got the Pelicans taking Trey Johnson at
(07:32):
number seven. And what he says about Trey Johnson is
he starts off with where the Pelicans.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Are coming from on this.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And he says the Pelicans have several guards under contract,
including CJ. McCollum and John de John D. Murray, but
they may not have any long term answers there. Johnson
would be a strong player to get into the mix
and it's hard to see him falling below this slot.
He could go as high as number three to Fililadelphia
if the Pelicans are going to continue building around Zion Williamson,
(08:05):
getting another monster shooter is a home run. You know
that's Trey Texas. He says Texas didn't utilize him enough
this year as a movement shooter. I don't think he
looked at it closely enough to see what they did
to try to get tray shots. It didn't work out
sometimes well wasn't because they weren't trying. And he said
(08:25):
by watching them to work out in April, go at
full speed for over an hour, consistently drilling shots with
the same mechanics over and over again off complex actions
and movements. The most underrated skill that movement shooters in
the NBA need.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Is stamina, and I totally agree with them on this.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
They need to run forever, and Johnson can do that
while also possessing real upside long term to build his game.
He's been highly impressive for teams in the pre draft
process too. So anyway, Casparis Jockociones, he has projected to
go number eight to the Nets. That's the sixty five
guard from Illinois. He's got the Rafters taking the big
(09:06):
at the seven to one guy, come on my lock
of Duke. At number nine, he's got Derek Queen, the
big six' nine fella From maryland going To phoenix to
round out the top. Ten and so that's where he's
the top. Ten second Ten portland going With Noah esinghi
From ohm In, germany The bulls Taking Carter, bryant the
(09:32):
winging From, arizona number, Twelve Berenger John barringer From europe
going at number thirteen to The hawks via a trade With.
Sacramento talking about him being a project The spurs at
number fourteen The atlanta with that trade going for six
(09:55):
y five Wing Cedric coward Of Washington. State he, Said
i've been saying that cow would be the clear riser
in this draft class since Early, april and that seems
to have borne itself. Out though he committed The duke
the spring after entering the transfer, portal it felt exceedingly
unlikely he was going to pull out of the draft
given his tools and shop making, ability his balance and
(10:17):
fluidity or special for a player who's nearly six six
with a seven to two. Wingspan he has the world
champion thunder, who by the, way have two first round,
picks Taking Colin Murray, boyles the GUY i was talking.
About the wing From South carolina sixty seven plays a
lot bigger at THAT i think he.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Is he's a.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Tremendous, defender would fit in perfectly with How Oklahoma city.
Plays he also passes well and has serious toughness to
play with many of the.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
PLAYERS i totally agree with that he.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Processes the game at an elite, level AND i also
wonder if you can get away with him as a
small ball. Five it might be pushing, it but, Possible
liam McNeely from yukon the wing going To. Memphis at.
Sixteen he Has Thomas, sorber the six nine big From
georgetown going To minnesota by way Of detroit and a
(11:09):
draft pick at number. Seventeen Danny wolf Of michigan the
six to eleven big one of The. Wizards at, eighteen
The nets through a deal With, milwaukee Getting igor demon
the six to eight guard FROM byu at. Nineteen miami
at twenty going For Ason newell From georgia outstanding player six.
Ninety ford going to The heat via trade With Golden
(11:29):
state at number. Twenty at twenty, One utah going For
Colorado State's Nieck, clifford very talented. Guard that's a deal
To jazz half Through. Minnesota The hawks at twenty two
via deal with The lakers to Get Will, riley the
nineteen year old wing From. Illinois at twenty, three The
pelicans to go With Jas, richardson the guard From Michigan.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
State that's through a deal With.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
INDIANA a lot of these are now as you get
to the back half of the first, round are deals
that they made with other. Teams for, Example Oklahoma city
with a second pick in the first round number twenty
four through the deal With, clippers he has Taking Hugo
gonzales at sixty, six wing forward From Real, madrid getting
(12:12):
The European orlando Via denver to Take Walter Clayton, junior
the guard from national Champion florida number twenty, five The
nets via The knicks going With nola Tree ora who's
been playing In. France and then at number twenty, seven
(12:32):
The nets Taking Drake, powell the wing From North. Carolina
that was through a deal With. Houston at twenty, eight
The celtics Taking Ryan. Colkbrenner, gosh it seems like he
was At crayton forever there's seven one, center but he's
finally gonna be going to be going into the draft
and he has The celtics at twenty.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Eight ticket Has Maxine.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Reynod From stanford going at twenty nine To phoenix Via.
Cleveland The clippers through that swap With Oklahoma city going
where Sheer fleming From Saint joe's atteen nineteen year old
From Saint joe's at number. Thirty so, anyway that's according
(13:09):
that particular mock draft is to the athletic but it
also happens to door to some other questions about where
teams are in terms of their, makeup and there's also
been a trade or. Two we'll get to that coming,
up and we'll get to more of your questions when
we continue on thirteen under the zone
Tuesday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As I mentioned tomorrow, I've got one more day with
you tomorrow before I break for vacation. Whereas Cameron likes
to call it the annual sabbatical, Uh because and everybody
knows it. I was just talking talking to the boss
about it, and then talking to other people about it.
It's the one time, the one time when I can,
(00:22):
when I can take that vacation. Everybody's always great about it.
So I do that, and we go to the coast
of North Carolin. We're actually going to go up through
the mountains. We're gonna going Tennessee and the mountains, and
then we're driving uh and then going to North Carolina.
And yes, I know about the flooded out portion of
I forty through the mountains in Tennessee. We've got a
work around around that.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're gonna do that and go see some old
sites in my hometown of Greensboro.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
We'll go there, uh.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
And then I think we're actually going to see a
minor league baseball game there too. We're going to see
the Greensboro Grasshoppers, who are in the South Atlantic League
High Ball play the Chicago White Sox High a affiliate
the Winston Salem Dash and they they they have some
(01:13):
talented guys. You may remember Brad Montgomery who played at
Stanford and then at Texas A and MB place for that.
But anyway, we're gonna do some of that and then
we're we're down at the beach for a couple of
weeks with family one week and then just Lendon not
for a week down in the Myrtle area, and then
we'll go straight from there to Atlanta for SEC Football
(01:33):
Media Days and we'll be there along with our crew.
Cameron will be there, Mike Hardbollhart, so we look forward
to being there broadcasting again from SEC Football Media Days.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Will be there and UH and then back after that
in mid July.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So anyway, tomorrow will be the last day before breaking
for vacation for that, so we'll look forward, look forward
to bringing you the program tomorrow, and tomorrow we'll have
much more detail on UH the NBA Draft because tomorrow
(02:11):
is the NBA Draft, And toward that end, I was
going to run over some mock draft stuff. This is
one from the Athletic and it's funny. When I was
driving in, I was listening to Colin Cowherd because the
Herd is on prior to this program, as you know,
(02:32):
and Colin was he had, I guess co hosts I
think today, Yes, from the Athletic, right, yeah, yes, And
I talked about how much he likes the Athletic and
said it's an outstanding publication and all this sort of stuff,
(02:53):
and I agree. And so I was, I was looking
at the Athletic and I was looking at what their
mock draft. As I've viewed several, but here's here's a
sample of what I'm talking about. The Athletics mock draft has,
of course Cooper Flagg at number one to Dallas. It
says easiest picked on the board. Now this is this
(03:16):
is the mock that is put together by Sam Visini,
and he says Flag is my second favorite prospect since
I've been doing this over.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
The last decade. Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
A source with knowledge of his work out of the
Mavericks earlier this week said the team was wildly impressed.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
With his shot making was the way that they described that.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And it said they also love that even though he
has been locked in as the number one pick for months,
he has stayed in shape and looks like he would
be ready for an NBA game.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
That's exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need. By the way,
most teams could use that, but the Mavericks certainly need that.
And so he said, I'm actually more intrigued than most
by the Mavericks core over the next few years that
features Flag, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Derek Lively. If
Irving can come back healthy, and let me just interject
and say that's a big if. Certainly this year he's
(04:19):
going to miss most of the coming season, if not
all of it. If Irving can come back healthy and
Flags development continues, they have a chance to compete near
the top of the Western Conference in THEE. And here's
the key twenty twenty six, Tosh twenty twenty seven. So
he's also pretty much riding off the season to come
for Kyrie Irving, which makes sense, and it says they'll
(04:41):
they'll need to make some strategic moves around those four,
but the two way upside of that group is very high.
So that's that's the number one. Has the Spurs going
for Dylan Harper from Rutgers six to five guard at
number two said, yes, san Antonio has a significant amount
of ball handling already in aar and Fox in Stefoncastle.
(05:02):
But you don't pass on a top end talent like Harper,
especially when you already have Victor wimban Yama. The Spurs
should fairly assume they're not going to get another crack
at a pick this high again for a while. And
when you have a chance at elite talent, you don't
pass that up in favor of potential trade down options
just to accumulate assets. Harper ticks nearly every box for
(05:25):
an elite guard. He created rim pressure and an elite
level this year at Rutgers, despite playing in an archaic
offense that lacked spacing. The rim pressure should translate incredibly
well towards playing with arguably the best floor spacing big
in the NBA. He drew fouls regularly and showcased enough
vision as a passer that you can buy into him
(05:45):
as a primary playmaker. He was comfortable playing on or
off the ball, drilling thirty seven percent of his catch
and shoot threes. Defensively, he's willing and competitive, Plus he
has great size. He fits everything they should want, so
that makes sense. It's at number two. Vj Edgcombe from Baylor.
The nineteen year old guard has risen up through his
(06:08):
draft stock, and he's got the Sixers taking him. He said,
I do think a trade down remains a possibility. It's
the move that makes the most sense for the Sixers,
given that they're the top of a big group of
prospects who are relatively similar in their league wide evaluations. Regardless,
my read is that if someone trades up, the most
(06:30):
likely player they do it for would be Edgcombe. NBA
teams see him as a relatively safe prospect in this
class because of his high end competitiveness, defensive capabilities, shooting
off the catch, and high end character reports, so he
said it's easy to sell Edgecombe having the most athletic
(06:50):
upside of any player remaining on the board. They could
also take con Kin Nipple, Trey Johnson, or Ace Bailey,
but none of these players, including Edgecombe, are perfect fits
for the core that Philadelphia has assembled as it looks
to get back into the Eastern Conference mix next season.
So he said, Johnson is starting to increase buzz in
recent days is an option for Philly, So Trey Johnson
(07:11):
could possibly go as high as number three. Hes Conk
Nipple a dude going to the Hornets at four. Then
he's got Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma going to Utah at
number five, Ace Bailey going to the Wizards at number six,
and then he's got the Pelicans taking Trey Johnson at
(07:32):
number seven. And what he says about Trey Johnson is
he starts off with where the Pelicans.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Are coming from on this.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And he says the Pelicans have several guards under contract,
including CJ. McCollum and John de John D. Murray, but
they may not have any long term answers there. Johnson
would be a strong player to get into the mix
and it's hard to see him falling below this slot.
He could go as high as number three to Fililadelphia
if the Pelicans are going to continue building around Zion Williamson,
(08:05):
getting another monster shooter is a home run. You know
that's Trey Texas. He says Texas didn't utilize him enough
this year as a movement shooter. I don't think he
looked at it closely enough to see what they did
to try to get tray shots. It didn't work out
sometimes well wasn't because they weren't trying. And he said
(08:25):
by watching them to work out in April, go at
full speed for over an hour, consistently drilling shots with
the same mechanics over and over again off complex actions
and movements. The most underrated skill that movement shooters in
the NBA need.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Is stamina, and I totally agree with them on this.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
They need to run forever, and Johnson can do that
while also possessing real upside long term to build his game.
He's been highly impressive for teams in the pre draft
process too. So anyway, Casparis Jockociones, he has projected to
go number eight to the Nets. That's the sixty five
guard from Illinois. He's got the Rafters taking the big
(09:06):
at the seven to one guy, come on my lock
of Duke. At number nine, he's got Derek Queen, the
big six' nine fella From maryland going To phoenix to
round out the top. Ten and so that's where he's
the top. Ten second Ten portland going With Noah esinghi
From ohm In, germany The bulls Taking Carter, bryant the
(09:32):
winging From, arizona number, Twelve Berenger John barringer From europe
going at number thirteen to The hawks via a trade With.
Sacramento talking about him being a project The spurs at
number fourteen The atlanta with that trade going for six
(09:55):
y five Wing Cedric coward Of Washington. State he, Said
i've been saying that cow would be the clear riser
in this draft class since Early, april and that seems
to have borne itself. Out though he committed The duke
the spring after entering the transfer, portal it felt exceedingly
unlikely he was going to pull out of the draft
given his tools and shop making, ability his balance and
(10:17):
fluidity or special for a player who's nearly six six
with a seven to two. Wingspan he has the world
champion thunder, who by the, way have two first round,
picks Taking Colin Murray, boyles the GUY i was talking.
About the wing From South carolina sixty seven plays a
lot bigger at THAT i think he.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Is he's a.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Tremendous, defender would fit in perfectly with How Oklahoma city.
Plays he also passes well and has serious toughness to
play with many of the.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
PLAYERS i totally agree with that he.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Processes the game at an elite, level AND i also
wonder if you can get away with him as a
small ball. Five it might be pushing, it but, Possible
liam McNeely from yukon the wing going To. Memphis at.
Sixteen he Has Thomas, sorber the six nine big From
georgetown going To minnesota by way Of detroit and a
(11:09):
draft pick at number. Seventeen Danny wolf Of michigan the
six to eleven big one of The. Wizards at, eighteen
The nets through a deal With, milwaukee Getting igor demon
the six to eight guard FROM byu at. Nineteen miami
at twenty going For Ason newell From georgia outstanding player six.
Ninety ford going to The heat via trade With Golden
(11:29):
state at number. Twenty at twenty, One utah going For
Colorado State's Nieck, clifford very talented. Guard that's a deal
To jazz half Through. Minnesota The hawks at twenty two
via deal with The lakers to Get Will, riley the
nineteen year old wing From. Illinois at twenty, three The
pelicans to go With Jas, richardson the guard From Michigan.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
State that's through a deal With.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
INDIANA a lot of these are now as you get
to the back half of the first, round are deals
that they made with other. Teams for, Example Oklahoma city
with a second pick in the first round number twenty
four through the deal With, clippers he has Taking Hugo
gonzales at sixty, six wing forward From Real, madrid getting
(12:12):
The European orlando Via denver to Take Walter Clayton, junior
the guard from national Champion florida number twenty, five The
nets via The knicks going With nola Tree ora who's
been playing In. France and then at number twenty, seven
(12:32):
The nets Taking Drake, powell the wing From North. Carolina
that was through a deal With. Houston at twenty, eight
The celtics Taking Ryan. Colkbrenner, gosh it seems like he
was At crayton forever there's seven one, center but he's
finally gonna be going to be going into the draft
and he has The celtics at twenty.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Eight ticket Has Maxine.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Reynod From stanford going at twenty nine To phoenix Via.
Cleveland The clippers through that swap With Oklahoma city going
where Sheer fleming From Saint joe's atteen nineteen year old
From Saint joe's at number. Thirty so, anyway that's according
(13:09):
that particular mock draft is to the athletic but it
also happens to door to some other questions about where
teams are in terms of their, makeup and there's also
been a trade or. Two we'll get to that coming,
up and we'll get to more of your questions when
we continue on thirteen under the zone
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