Latest news with #Kalkbrenner
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ryan Kalkbrenner: Hornets signed 34th pick to 4-year, $9.97M contract
Charlotte Hornets signed No. 34 pick Ryan Kalkbrenner to a 4-year, $9.97 million contract, league sources told @hoopshype. First two years are $4.7 million guaranteed, the max allowed under the second-round exception. There's a third-year trigger date and fourth-year team option. No. 34 overall pick Ryan Kalkbrenner reportedly signed a four-year, $9.97 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Kalkbrenner was a third-team All-American selection by the AP, averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.5 assists on 65.3% shooting from the field last season at Creighton. He ranked second in the country in field goals (271) and fourth in blocked shots (93). The 7-footer signed with the Hornets on Thursday via the second-round pick exception. The first two years are guaranteed for $4.7 million on the contract, which includes a non-guaranteed third year and a team option in the fourth season. Kalkbrenner left as one of the most accomplished players in program history after five years with the Bluejays. He is second in several career statistical categories, including points, rebounds and blocks, and was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 169 games. The 23-year-old is a part of a crowded draft class for the Hornets, joining Duke guard Kon Knueppel (fourth pick), UConn guard Liam McNeeley (29th pick) and Duke guard Sion James (33rd pick). They are each highly touted and project to be players the team can build around. Kalkbrenner and the group will suit up in the NBA Summer League for at least five games, beginning on Friday against the Chicago Bulls (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN).
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft grades: Second-round pick-by-pick analysis
It's Day 2 of the 2025 NBA Draft. Let's hand out grades for every second-round pick. Also, click here for first-round grades. Grade: A- Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition. This matters less for the Suns, since he'll play in a role in which he just needs to do the simple stuff as a floor spacer rather than worry about shot creation. Grade: C+ Penda plays with a veteran's mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense, and high-level feel. It's a bit of a risk for Orlando though since Penda needs to improve his jumper to shine in the long-term. But his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation to build on. Grade: B Fans who happen to root for both Duke and Charlotte know that James has role-player qualities that can fit next to the Hornets' core pieces. James is a versatile defender who sets a tone with his hustle, and after years of laying bricks he worked hard to become a dead-eye, spot-up shooter. And he brings much more than shooting as a crafty playmaker who keeps the ball moving. But without the handle of a primary creator, it's critical he sustains his newfound success as a shooter. Grade: A A ton of teams were hoping Kalkbrenner would fall to them in the second round, but the Hornets land him here after trading away center Mark Williams during Day 1 of the draft. Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. It's a bit strange he isn't a better rebounder. But as a super senior, he's also developed some sneaky passing and shooting skills that hint at higher upside, which could allow him to help facilitate for Charlotte's offensive engines. Grade: B+ Could Broome be the best backup center of the Joel Embiid era? Perhaps so, because he brings a ready-made game as an interior finisher with a passing feel and tone-setting defense. Though his jumper hasn't progressed as much as NBA teams would hope, Embiid's ability to space the floor could make for intriguing two-big lineups this season. In Philadelphia, it's more important that he progresses moving laterally on the perimeter. Grade: A 37. Detroit Pistons 38. Indiana Pacers 39. Toronto Raptors 40. New Orleans Pelicans 41. Phoenix Suns 42. Sacramento Kings 43. Washington Wizards 44. Oklahoma City Thunder 45. Los Angeles Lakers 46. Boston Celtics 47. Milwaukee Bucks 48. Memphis Grizzlies 49. Cleveland Cavaliers 50. New York Knicks 51. LA Clippers 52. Golden State Warriors 53. Utah Jazz 54. Indiana Pacers 55. Chicago Bulls 56. Memphis Grizzlies 57. Boston Celtics 58. Cleveland Cavaliers 59. Golden State Warriors
Fox Sports
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Kalkbrenner, Broome and the 10 Best Players Available in Round 2 of NBA Draft
Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft is in the books. There weren't many surprises at the top of the draft, with the Dallas Mavericks taking Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. But there were some surprises as the night continued. The Utah Jazz took Rutgers wing Ace Bailey with the fifth overall pick. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Chinese big man Yang Hansen, who some thought might be a second-round pick, at No. 16. Michigan's Danny Wolf and UConn's Liam McNeeley surprisingly fell as well before getting selected in two of the final four picks of the first round. They were the final two undrafted prospects in the green room before Round 1 ended. As Wolf and McNeeley were nabbed right before Wednesday night ended, there are still several notable names on the board when Round 2 begins on Thursday. So, let's take a look at the 10 best players available entering Round 2 of the draft. Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas Thiero, who followed John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas this past season, has been touted by draft experts for his explosiveness. That explosiveness helped the 6-foot-6 forward average 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game last season, while often throwing down highlight dunks. He also shot 54.5% from the field, but didn't flash much of a 3-point shot (25.6% on 1.6 attempts per game). Rasheer Fleming, F, St. Joe's Many mock drafts had the St. Joe's product being a late first-round selection. Fleming, who stands at 6-8, was named first-team All-Atlantic-10 this past season as he averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. His 7-5 wingspan should help his rim protection translate to the next level, while he showed promise as a 3-point shooter this past season: 39% on 4.5 attempts per game. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton Speaking of rim protection, there wasn't a player better for that in the Big East over the last four seasons than Kalkbrenner. The Creighton product won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four years in a row, becoming the first player since Patrick Ewing to accomplish that. The 7-1 center used his length – a 7-6 wingspan – to help him finish top-five in the nation in blocks (2.7 per game in 2024-25) over the last two seasons and top 10 in field goal percentage (65.8%, sixth-best DI mark ever) over the last four years. He also averaged 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season, helping him earn an All-American third-team spot. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford Raynaud is also a pretty lanky center, standing a smidge over 7 feet tall with a 7-1 wingspan. But his game is a bit different than Kalkbrenner's. The Stanford product flashed some more overall offensive ability this past season, scoring 20.2 points per game as he shot 46.7% from the field and 34.7% from deep (5.5 3-point attempts per game). Even though Raynaud averaged just 1.7 assists per game, draft experts have lauded his passing ability. Noah Penda, G/F, France The French wing was listed as a first-round prospect in a handful of mock drafts prior to Wednesday. His stats don't pop like some other draft prospects, averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 44% from the field and 30.4% from distance with his French team, Le Mans. But the 6-6 Penda has been lauded for his defensive ability by draft analysts, averaging 1.4 steals per game as he has a 6-11 wingspan. Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke Even with Duke having three players selected in the top 10 on Wednesday, it stands to have at least one more player drafted in Round 2. Proctor, a 6-4 junior, provided the veteran presence on a pretty young Duke team that reached the Final Four. His growth as a shooter over the last few years has also helped him become one of the best 3-point shooters in this year's draft class, making 40.5% of his attempts from deep last season. He also averaged 12.4 points and 2.2 assists per game. Chaz Lanier, G, Tennessee Continuing the theme of elite 3-point shooting, Lanier was one of the best shooters from deep over the last two seasons. Before transferring to Tennessee last season, Lanier 44% from deep at North Florida in 2023-24 and finished 19th in the nation in 3-point makes (106). He was arguably the best 3-point shooter in the SEC last season, making 39.5% of his attempts from deep while shooting 8.5 3-pointers per game. The 6-3 guard also led the SEC in 3-point makes (123) as he averaged 18 points per game. Koby Brea, G/F, Kentucky Closing out the run of top-end 3-point shooters, Brea was arguably the nation's best 3-point shooter over the last two seasons. The 6-5 wing led the nation in 3-point percentage (.498) when he was at Dayton in 2023-24 before leading the SEC in 3-point percentage last season (.435). His elite 3-point shooting has, seemingly, helped him become a likely draft pick as he averaged 11.6 points per game last season and was mostly a bench player in his five-year college career. John Tonje, G/F, Wisconsin Tonge was one of the top scorers in the Big Ten last season after transferring to Wisconsin from Missouri. He scored 19.6 points per game (fourth in the Big Ten) on .465/.388/.909 shooting splits, while adding 5.3 rebounds per game. Those marks helped the 6-4 Tonje be named a second-team All-American, and he memorably had a 41-point performance in Wisconsin's Round of 32 loss to BYU in the NCAA Tournament. Johni Broome, F/C, Auburn If it weren't for Cooper Flagg, Broome likely would've been the consensus national player of the year this past season. The Auburn star became a revelation after transferring in from Morehead State in 2022, being named to an All-American team in each of the past two seasons. The 6-9 big scored 18.6 points per game, while leading the SEC in rebounds (10.8) and blocks (2.1) per game. His age (he'll be 23 when the season begins) and lack of elite athleticism likely caused him to fall, but Broome's production is too good for him to not be drafted. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Draft best available players in Round 2 including Kalkbrenner and Broome
With round 1 in the books of the NBA Draft, there's still plenty of NBA talent left in this year's draft. Here's a look at the best available players for round 2: 2025 NBA Draft Best Remaining Prospects Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) Overall Rank: #23 Strengths: Strength, Rebounder, Upside Kalkbrenner could easily go in the top 20 given he's over seven-feet tall and shoots 34.4% from three. He won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times and has the makings of a Boston Celtic written all over him. LeBron James said that Cooper Flagg is "going to be amazing". Colin Cowherd discusses Flagg's potential in the NBA and if he'll have an immediate impact with the Dallas Mavericks if they select him. Johni Broome (Auburn) Overall Rank: #25 Strengths: Scorer, Competitor The SEC Player of the Year, Broome shows up when it matters. In the Elite 8, he became the first player with 25 points and 10 rebounds on 75% shooting to send his team to the Final Four since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Maxime Raynaud (Stanford) Overall Rank: #27 Strengths: Rebounder, Shooter, Strength The 7'1 Frenchman out of Stanford was the only player in Division-I to average 20 PPG and 10 RPG this year. Raynaud also shot 34.7% from three on 5.5 attempts per contest, making his size and ability to stretch the floor extremely valuable. Noah Penda (France) Overall Rank: #30 Strengths: Defender, Versatile, Upside Penda comes in at 6'8, 225 pounds and has nearly a seven-foot wingspan. He's only 20 years old and has great instincts on the defensive end of the floor. Another French product, he has the chance to be an incredible role player. Other Top Prospects Beyond the four prospects above, here's a list of some of the remaining top players: Chaz Lanier – Rank #31 (Tennessee) Kam Jones – Rank #33 (Marquette) Brice Williams – Rank #35 (Nebraska) Bogoljub Markovic – Rank #36 (G League Ignite) Tamar Bates – Rank #38 (Missouri) Micah Peavy – Rank #40 (TCU) Igor Milicic – Rank #41 (Tennessee) Tyrese Proctor – Rank #42 (Duke) Adou Thiero – Rank #43 (Arkansas) Eric Dixon – Rank #44 (Villanova) Mark Sears – Rank #45 (Alabama) Alex Toohey – Rank #46 (G League Ignite) Hunter Sallis – Rank #47 (Wake Forest) Rasheer Fleming – Rank #48 (Saint Joseph's) Sion James – Rank #49 (Duke) Kobe Sanders – Rank #50 (Nevada) Javon Small – Rank #51 (West Virginia) Koby Brea – Rank #52 (Kentucky) Jamir Watkins – Rank #53 (Florida State) Vladislav Goldin – Rank #54 (Michigan) Amari Williams – Rank #55 (Kentucky) For more, view the full list of remaining prospects. recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft best players available for Round 2: Maxime Raynaud, Tyrese Proctor, Johni Broome still on the board
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has wrapped with Cooper Flagg going No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks as expected, two of his Duke teammates also selected in the lottery, and the Brooklyn Nets making a league-record five first-round picks. That leaves Thursday's second and final round with plenty of prospects still available. Here's a look at some of the top names remaining from our Big Board. Stanford forward Maxime Raynaud could be among the top players taken in the second round. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Raynaud has leveled up every year at Stanford, turning into a player who pops 3s, slashes to the rim with a smooth handle and makes eye-popping passes. As a talented passer who also offers solid defense, there's little reason to think the Frenchman won't carve out an NBA role. Marković is a modern stretch forward who also offers skill as a passer and post scorer. But to handle the rigors of the NBA and become a positive defender, he needs to add a ton of muscle. Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter. If he's able to figure out the shot then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player. Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. It's a bit strange he isn't a better rebounder. But as a super senior, he's also developed some sneaky passing and shooting skills that hint at higher upside. Penda plays with a veteran's mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense and high-level feel. He'll need to improve his jumper to stick long term, but his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation. Watkins is a versatile player who can run the show, slash to the paint and switch across positions on defense. But the development of his jumper is stuck in quicksand, which raises questions about his ability to excel in a less prominent on-ball role. Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role-player skill set will translate. Lanier transferred to Tennessee after four years at North Florida and immediately thrived as a knockdown shooter with shot-making creativity. But without great size or playmaking at his age, he's a second-round prospect. Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting and limited creation ability complicate his path to carve out a specialized role. Sallis is a poised, efficient scorer with body control, defensive tenacity and the passing feel to hint at more upside. If the jumper proves real, he could play a much larger offensive role than his current projection. Advertisement undefined Small is an undersized guard who plays bigger than his body, thanks to his excellent athleticism and gritty nature. He's a knockdown shooter off the catch and a solid lead guard, though his lack of size puts a natural cap on his upside. Brea projects as a shooting specialist who has a clear path to becoming a rotation player because of his highly sought after skill. But in order to avoid being a weak link on defense, he'll need to make improvements to his athleticism. Tonje will enter the NBA at age 24 with some readymade skills as an off-ball movement scorer and shooter. But his athletic ceiling and defense will determine if he's more than just a backup. Jones offers crafty combo guard skills with advanced shot creation and a blossoming playmaking feel. But his so-so athleticism and streaky shooting paint him as just a cog rather than the rare star upperclassmen set to enter the league. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 29: Tyrese Proctor #5 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the East Regional Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Prudential Center on March 29, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by) (Patrick Smith via Getty Images) Proctor is a tall combo guard with great passing vision who was expected to go one-and-done but has taken until his junior year to look ready for the NBA. At this point, he's sharpened his jumper and become an even better defender. Dixon is a burly forward who brings a toughness and physicality to the game. As Villanova's all-time leading scorer, he showed versatile scoring skills, but in the NBA his lack of athleticism will put a limit on the type of usage he can receive. Broome is a super senior who brings a ready-made game as an interior finisher with a passing feel and tone-setting defense. But his shaky jumper hasn't progressed as much as NBA teams would hope. James is a versatile defender who sets a tone with his hustle, and after years of laying bricks he's worked hard to become a dead-eye, spot-up shooter. He brings much more than shooting as a crafty playmaker who keeps the ball moving. But without the handle of a primary creator, it's critical he sustains his newfound success as a shooter. Advertisement Nembhard is an excellent floor general who excels in pick-and-roll situations and made great progress as a scorer during his senior year. But with his small stature, the younger brother of Andrew Nembhard has natural limitations that put a cap on his upside. Micah Peavy, G/F, Georgetown Peavy is a switchable wing stopper with NBA-ready defense, instincts and passing feel. If his improved jumper proves real, he's a rotation-level player for a decade.
