2025 NBA draft: Clippers select Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Some three hours before the Clippers used the 30th and last choice in the first round of the NBA draft to select the Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Penn State, the two best choices went as planned, then the rest of the order was everywhere on Wednesday.
In Konan Niederhauser, the Clippers obtained a 7 -foot center and it was one of the positions they needed to save the starter Ivica Zubac.
“We are still entering the dashboard looking for the best available player, and this also coincides with a need,” said Lawrence Frank, president of Clippers basketball operations. “We have sort of looked over over the years for a center that completes ZU, which does something different from ZU. Sometimes it has resulted that the guys were underdimensive where we could not maximize it. Yanic has a legitimate size of position and I think that the threat of rim rolling, combined with what the game of ZU, I think that in time.”
As expected, the talented Cooper Flagg of Duke was taken first in the general classification by the Dallas Mavericks. Dylan Harper of Rutgers, the son of the former NBA star and former Laker Ron Harper, was taken second by the San Antonio Spurs.
The rest of the lottery began to take shape with a change, when the Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe was taken third by the 76ers.
Kon Knueppel de Duke ended fourth in Charlotte; Ace Bailey de Rutgers went fifth to jazz; Texas, Tre Johnson, went sixth to the Wizards; The fears of Oklahoma Jeremiah went seventh to the Pélicans; EGOR DEMIN DE BYU entered the Nets eighth; Collin Murray-Boyles de Caroline du Sud went ninth to the Raptors; Khaman Maluach de Duke went 10th to the Rockets (but he was exchanged to the Suns); Cedric Coward of the state of Washington was taken the 11th by the Trail Blazers (it was exchanged to the Grizzlies; the Noa Esse of France went to the Bulls, the Queen Derik of Maryland went to the Hawks (he was exchanged in the Pélicans); and Carter Bryant of Arizona was taken 14th by the Spurs.
Flagg was at the top of his draft course, a player that the Mavericks had to really take after exchanging the favorite of Luka Doncic fans in Lakers last season, a business that upset many Dallas fans.
But they now get Flagg, which raised an average of 19.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in its only season with the Blue Devils.
Konan Niederhauser, 22, who grew up in Switzerland, was faced with an ankle injury that the mowers do not think they are a problem.
He collected on average 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds last season in Penn State.
“I think the reason we decided with Yanic is that he has a large size of position,” said Frank. “He also has some short -term defined features that will reproduce, such as his ability to run the soil, his ability to play behind the defense in the dunker, his ability to play on the screen and ride and be a vertical threat. These are things that will continue almost on the first day.”
The Clippers are a team in charge of veterans led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and because of this, coach Tyronn Lue said that any young player they take should follow their example.
“I think the most important thing is, when I arrive in the draft, if you are not a Flagg Cooper, a choice of one, two or three, you have to find your way, find your niche to get on the ground,” said a group of fans of the team’s watch feast in Intuits Dome on Wednesday. “Play without basketball, because when you come to this team, or any other team, with Kawhi Leonards, James hardens on the ground, you are not going [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 will continue on Thursday with the second round, the Clippers will choose 51st.
The Lakers had no first -round choice, but they have a second round choice at No. 55.
For the clippers, they have a few things to settle.
Harden, who collected an average of 22.8 points per match, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds and was the third all-NBA team, has a player option for $ 36.3 million and he must inform the mower of his decision by Sunday.
The consensus around the NBA is that Harden will withdraw and seek a two -year extension to the Clippers.
Nicolas Batum has a player option for next season which pays him $ 4.9 million and he must be aware of his decision on Sunday. Norman Powell has one more year on his agreement which pays him $ 20.4 million next season and he is also looking for an extension.
