After the primary spherical of the 2025 NBA Draft, some proficient gamers are nonetheless on the board, and these 5 gamers might be the second-round steals that groups pine for.
As anticipated, Cooper Flagg went first total within the 2025 NBA Draft. The primary spherical got here and went, with loads of surprises. Did anybody count on the already-towering Portland Path Blazers to succeed in and choose Yang Hansen sixteenth total?
Whereas one of the best gamers, like Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Kon Knueppel, are off the board, the second spherical will choose up on Thursday night time at 8:00 PM EST, and there may be nonetheless loads of expertise to be discovered. Gamers like Nikola Jokic, Manu Ginobili, and Gilbert Arenas have slid into the second spherical, and these 5 gamers are vying to have an analogous profession.
Maxime Raynaud is a towering French heart who’s associates with Victor Wembanyama, though the San Antonio Spurs traded their second-round choose to the Indiana Pacers. Whereas he’s not the second coming of Wemby, he’s a strong shot blocker and floor-spacer in his personal proper, though he’s not practically as cellular with or with out the ball.
In his fourth season with the Stanford Cardinal, Raynaud averaged 20.2 factors, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks whereas taking pictures 34.7% from deep. He can create for himself just a little on the perimeter, however like most taking pictures bigs, count on him to be extra of a catch-and-shoot participant within the NBA.
Some mock drafts, optimistically, had him going within the first spherical, though that was largely primarily based on his relationship with Wembanyama. Nonetheless, he might be a high quality second-round pickup.
Within the second spherical, what extra are you able to ask for than a gritty, high-energy position participant? Rasheer Fleming is a ruthless competitor who can guard a number of positions and excels within the open flooring, wanting like a 6-foot-9 working again at instances.
In his third school season, he averaged 14.7 factors and eight.5 rebounds, and he shot a strong 39% from deep. Nevertheless, his midrange sport appears clunky, though within the trendy NBA, it’s simple to get away with a extra restricted offensive skillset, supplied you’ll be able to knock down 3s.
He isn’t a lot of a ball-handler and appears to complete extra on quick breaks, though a second-round ahead is just not anticipated to have level guard expertise. There are issues that his shot received’t translate straight away, however he has a motor and athleticism that’s exhausting to show.
If this have been any yr earlier than 2012 or so, Ryan Kalkbrenner would have been the primary choose, though the 3-point taking pictures revolution has merely handed his sport. Nevertheless, he’s an elite heart in school, which implies his sport will translate to a level. Have a look at Luka Garza and Zach Edey. Kalkbrenner is in the identical league.
He led the Large East in blocks 3 times and subject purpose share 4 instances, and led the convention in rebounding in his closing season whereas scoring 19.2 factors per sport.
He isn’t a passing maestro or knockdown shooter, though he has improved from deep over his school profession. He’s a beast within the paint, each on the boards and may put up factors.
He slid to the second spherical just because he’s not essentially the most cellular or athletic, and within the trendy NBA, first-round picks have to have the ability to do a little bit of every part.
Noah Penda is just not some extent guard, however don’t inform him that. Like most wings, count on him to search out himself within the nook, however he can rifle off passes to anyplace on the court docket from there, which is nice, since he shot solely 30.4% from deep within the French League and may want his teammates to hold a little bit of a taking pictures load.
For now, he places the “D” in 3-and-D, but when he can enhance the skin shot, count on him to be a superb position participant within the NBA. In France, he averaged a well-rounded 10.2 factors, 5.1 rebounds, and a pair of.6 assists.
He isn’t one of the best ball-handler and athlete, limiting his open-court potential, though if he can knock down some photographs, his pesky defensive expertise will probably be sufficient for him to be a strong NBA position participant.
In his senior season with the Marquette Golden Eagles, Kam Jones was an All-American.
He averaged 19.2 factors, 5.9 assists, and 1.4 steals whereas taking pictures 31.1% from deep.
He’s a streaky shooter, however he could make performs for his teammates and is artful in site visitors regardless of missing the athleticism of a extra thrilling participant. When he has the ball in his fingers, count on him to get to the rim, though he can play off-ball in addition to a spot-up taking pictures risk, supplied that his shot improves.
His 64.8% taking pictures mark from the free-throw line leaves loads to be desired for a drive-heavy guard, and it doesn’t encourage a number of confidence in his shot enhancing. Nevertheless, for a scoring guard, rolling the cube must be price it within the second spherical.
