2025 NBA draft: Clippers select Penn State center | College News

Some three hours before the Clippers used the thirtieth and ultimate decide in the first spherical of the NBA draft to select Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the 2 high selections went as predicted and then the remainder of the order was all over the place Wednesday.

In Konan Niederhauser, the Clippers acquired a 7-foot center and that was one of the positions they needed help to back up starter Ivica Zubac.

“We always go into the draft board looking for the best available player, and it also coincides this time with a need,” stated Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president of basketball operations. “We’ve kind of looked over the years for a center that complements Zu, that does something different than Zu does. Sometimes it’s resulted with guys being undersized where we haven’t been able to maximize it. Yanic has legit positional size and I think the rim-rolling threat, combined with what Zu’s play is, I think in due time will be really, really good.”

As anticipated, Duke’s proficient Cooper Flagg was taken first general by the Dallas Mavericks. Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, the son of former NBA star and former Laker Ron Harper, was taken second by the San Antonio Spurs.

The relaxation of the lottery began to take form with a change, when Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe was taken third by the 76ers.

Duke’s Kon Knueppel went fourth to Charlotte; Rutgers’ Ace Bailey went fifth to the Jazz; Texas’ Tre Johnson went sixth to the Wizards; Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears went seventh to the Pelicans; BYU’s Egor Demin went eighth to the Nets; South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles went ninth to the Raptors; Duke’s Khaman Maluach went tenth to the Rockets (but he was traded to the Suns); Washington State’s Cedric Coward was taken eleventh by the Trail Blazers (he was traded to the Grizzlies; France’s Noa Esse went twelfth to the Bulls, Maryland’s Derik Queen went thirteenth to the Hawks (he was traded to the Pelicans); and Arizona’s Carter Bryant was taken 14th by the Spurs.

Flagg was at the highest of his draft class, a participant the Mavericks actually needed to take after trading fan favourite Luka Doncic to the Lakers final season, a commerce that upset many of Dallas’ followers.

But they now get Flagg, who averaged 19.4 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his only season with the Blue Devils.

Konan Niederhauser, 22, who grew up in Switzerland, has been dealing with an ankle damage the Clippers don’t suppose might be a downside.

He averaged 12.9 factors and 6.3 rebounds final season at Penn State.

“I think the reason we decided with Yanic is that he’s got great positional size,” Frank stated. “He also has some definite traits in the short term that will carry over, like his ability to run the floor, his ability to play behind the defense in the dunker spot, his ability to play screen-and-roll and be a vertical threat. Those are things that will carry over pretty much on day one.”

The Clippers are a veteran-laden crew led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and because of that, Coach Tyronn Lue stated any younger participant they take ought to observe their lead.

“I think the biggest thing is, coming into the draft, if you’re not a Cooper Flagg, a one, two or three pick, you got to find your way, find your niche to get on the floor,” Lue instructed a group of followers at the crew’s draft watch get together at Intuit Dome on Wednesday. “Playing without the basketball, because when you come to this team, or any other team, with Kawhi Leonards, James Hardens on the floor, you’re not going to [get a lot of time]. You have to learn how to play the game and make your teammates better and things like that. And then the most important thing is your attitude.”

When the NBA draft continues Thursday with the second spherical, the Clippers will decide 51st.

The Lakers didn’t have a first-round decide, but they’ve a second-round decide at No. 55.

For the Clippers, they’ve a few issues to get labored out.

Harden, who averaged 22.8 factors per sport, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds and was third-team All-NBA, has a participant option for $36.3 million and he has to inform the Clippers of his determination by Sunday.

The consensus around the NBA is that Harden will decide out and search a two-year extension from the Clippers.

Nicolas Batum has a participant option for next season that pays him $4.9 million and he has to let the crew know by Sunday of his determination. Norman Powell has one more 12 months on his deal that pays him $20.4 million next season and he also is wanting for an extension.