Latest news with #Draft
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors Predicted to Go International in NBA Draft to Address Key Need
Warriors Predicted to Go International in NBA Draft to Address Key Need originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors have a few pivotal roster holes that need to be filled before entering into next season. The NBA Draft will provide them with an excellent opportunity to address at least one of those needs. Advertisement The Warriors will not have a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That was handed over to the Miami Heat as a part of the trade that brought Jimmy Butler to the Bay Area. Their draft fortunes will be heavily tied to what they do with their lone selection at 41st overall. There are certainly a number of avenues for them to explore. May 4, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) after a play during game seven of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Many have prognoses the Warriors to use pick number 41 to address the backup point guard position. A reliable presence off the bench would certainly help Golden State's offense next season. However, another standout need for the Warriors is the frontcourt. Running Draymond Green as the starting center moving forward will quickly wear out the aging star. Advertisement ESPN's most recent mock draft projected the Warriors to ensure that does not happen. ESPN had Golden State selecting Rocco Zikarsky out of the NBL with the 41st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Zikarsky was once thought of as a potential lottery pick in the early-goings of the draft process for this season. However, an uneventful season, apart from injuries, led to his stock plummeting with the draft date in sight. Zikarsky played 20 games this past season. The Australian big man averaged 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 12.1 minutes per game. This potential selection would represent a gamble on the upside that was originally thought to be there with the 7-foot-4-inch giant. Not only that, but the Warriors would be counting on the injury problems to not persist. Advertisement It would ultimately be a high risk, high reward move for Golden State. Related: Warriors Projected to Make 'Bold' 2025 NBA Draft Decision Related: Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga Named 'Fallback Option' For Kevin Durant Suitor This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Mock Draft Suggests Timberwolves Pick Thomas Sorber to Replace Rudy Gobert
NBA Mock Draft Suggests Timberwolves Pick Thomas Sorber to Replace Rudy Gobert originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves front office is making big decisions this offseason, which could drastically hurt or improve their chances of contending for future championships. After back-to-back exits from the Western Conference Finals, it's clear something has to change. Advertisement The team's already one of the select few teams that could make a trade with the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant, with the Miami Heat another mentioned. Adding KD would seriously boost Minnesota's starting lineup and scoring, but it's going to mean parting ways with other roster members. Speculation has suggested that either Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert will need to be included in a deal for Durant. Losing either of these bigs would seriously alter the team's frontcourt. Georgetown Hoyas forward Thomas Sorber (35). © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Both provide double-double capabilities, with Gobert adding his defensive presence. Towns, who they acquired in a trade with New York last season, gives a talented inside and outside player capable of scoring in the paint or from downtown. Advertisement According to ESPN, NBA insider Dave McMenamin speculated that a potential trade for the Wolves to get Durant from the Suns might include Gobert, not Randle. With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching, the front office will need to determine the best player to take with the No. 17 pick. Various mock drafts have given different answers for the college star, but focus on selecting a big man to join the frontcourt. One of those answers is Georgetown Hoyas forward Thomas Sorber. The 19-year-old is 6-foot-9, and while that's not quite Gobert's height, The Athletic's Zach Harper suggests Sorber could be an ideal replacement for him. Sorber averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, two blocks, and 1.5 steals per game in his one season with the Hoyas. Advertisement According to Sorber 'plays bigger than his frame' with an impressive wingspan. The outlet compared him to previous NBA big men Roy Hibbert and Vin Baker, both of whom were multi-time All-Stars. Sorber isn't among the first 13 players ESPN reported were invited to sit in the green room for the upcoming draft. However, BYU's Egor Denim and Georgia's Asa Newell, two other big men that mock drafts have speculated Minnesota could pick, both got invites. The 2025 NBA Draft begins on Wednesday, June 25 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Related: Rudy Gobert Shares Cryptic Three-Word Message With Timberwolves Fans This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers Predicted to Draft UNC's Drake Powell
Clippers Predicted to Draft UNC's Drake Powell originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We are less than two weeks away from the NBA Draft and there are still plenty of directions the Los Angeles Clippers can go with their first pick. Advertisement They have plenty of needs. The Clippers could use a scorer. They need a power forward. They need another guard. Depth is also a need all over their roster. A new prediction would see them bring in a wing, but one who may not be ready to contribute for a while. Los Angeles Clippers logoKirby Lee-Imagn Images In the latest mock draft, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie predicted the Clippers would use their first-round pick to select UNC wing Drake Powell. Powell was a great wing defender for UNC in his lone college season. However, his draft stock is going to largely depend on how much teams believe he can develop on the offensive end of the floor. He was limited on offense this past season. He averaged just 7.4 points and 1.1 assists per game. Advertisement There were some positive signs. He shot 48.3% from the field and 37.9% from three, so there seems to be potential for him to become a dependable three-and-D wing. Powell doesn't fill an immediate need for the Clippers. They had one of the NBA's best defenses this past season. Their wing spots are also expected to be occupied by Kawhi Leonard and either James Harden or a big name they bring in to partner with him in the backcourt. While that means he likely isn't going to have a big impact any time soon, it could be a positive for him. He'll need time to grow as a scorer. The Clippers could give him that time. He'd also likely have an opportunity to take on a much larger role for the Clippers in a couple of years as their veterans move on. Advertisement Powell probably wouldn't play a part in the Clippers working their way into title contention over the next couple of years, but he has upside and one area where he excels. He could be worth a shot for the Clippers if there isn't somebody available who could help sooner. Related: Report: Clippers Called About Potentially Trading for 15-Time All-Star Related: 12-Time All-Star's Latest Comments Could Indicate He Wants to Return to Clippers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sabres To Use Bills Stadium Facilities For Decentralized Draft
The NHL will hold the first – and possibly only – decentralized draft at the end of June, which is similar in structure to the annual NFL Drafts where each team's management remains in their respective towns and calls in their picks to a central location, which this year will be in Los Angeles, CA. For this occasion, the Buffalo Sabres will be using the draft room facilities of their NFL counterpart, the Buffalo Bills, for the Draft on June 27th and 28th at Highmark Stadium. 'The synergies between the Sabres and Bills are genuine and we are well positioned for the new NHL draft process by utilizing the space and experience at One Bills Drive for our Sabres draft this season,' Sabres and Bills Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli said in a press release. 'There's a strong relationship between both staffs which has made the process seamless and we are grateful to be able to take advantage of an environment that's been tested and proven on a large scale. Utilizing the Bills' draft room will also allow us to see what works best and what we can implement to enhance our capabilities even more for future drafts.' Advertisement Other Sabres Stories Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday? Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change The Sabres are expected to have all of their managerial and scouting staff in Orchard Park, including general manager Kevyn Adams, newly hired senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen, the Sabres and Rochester Americans coaching staffs, and members of the analytics, scouting, and development departments. It is very possible that this decentralized draft may be a one shot deal. There are indicators that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is not a fan of the new setup based on statements made to the media, and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this year that the league may return to a centralized draft as part of a setup similar to Majorr League Baseball's Winter Meetings, with the NHL Awards, the Draft and the beginning of free agency will all be held in the same location. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Former Jets Bench Boss Paul Maurice to Coach in Third-Straight Stanley Cup
Carter Yakemchuk Ranked 26th Overall In Magazine's New NHL Prospect Rankings When the Ottawa Senators selected Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they went against the grain. The young Calgary Hitmen star was ranked as the sixth-best defenceman on most pre-draft boards, and four of the five listed ahead of him were still on the board when Ottawa stepped up to the draft podium to make their pick. 1:08 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
