Latest news with #MaximeRaynaud
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maxime Raynaud headlines best 2025 NBA Draft prospects remaining after 1st round
The post Maxime Raynaud headlines best 2025 NBA Draft prospects remaining after 1st round appeared first on ClutchPoints. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft was nothing short of a whirlwind of excitement and movement up and down the board. Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper kicked things off by being the first two players selected by the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, respectively, but what happened inside the top 10 was madness. Advertisement Khaman Maluach, the best center prospect entering the draft, was drawing serious interest as high as the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets with the third and fourth picks, respectively. The Duke big man slid all the way to the 10th pick, where he ended up in a great situation with the Phoenix Suns. However, the Suns then ruined this pick by trading for Mark Williams with the Charlotte Hornets. Williams and Maluach are very similar players, which now creates uncertainty about the rookie's role. Ace Bailey ended up going fifth to the Utah Jazz, a spot nobody viewed as one of his prime destinations, the Brooklyn Nets didn't make any trades despite heavily being linked to Bailey and other potential moves, and the Portland Trail Blazers made the biggest reach of the draft by taking Hansen Yang at 16th overall. Now, all 30 teams flip the page to the second round of the draft, where several notable names stand out after falling out of the first round. Maxime Raynaud, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Kalkbrenner were all receiving genuine interest from teams in the 20 to 30 region of the draft, yet they did not receive the golden phone call and await to see what the future holds for them on Day 2 of the draft. Advertisement Aside from a handful of really talented players being left out on Wednesday night, the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft featured quite a few surprises. Perhaps the two picks that had everyone stunned were a direct result of the trades that happened inside the top 10. Biggest surprises from 2025 NBA Draft first round Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images One of the biggest questions everyone was asking right before the draft began was where Derik Queen would ultimately end up. Although he was considered a top-10 talent by many scouts around the league, Queen slipped to the 13th pick. In this spot, the Atlanta Hawks made a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, who had eyes on Queen with the seventh pick. Advertisement Out of every selection, Yang going to Portland by way of Memphis with the 16th pick made everyone double take. Although he put together great performances at the NBA Draft Combine and was said to have strong pre-draft workouts, Yang is by no means better than other center prospects taken behind him. The bottom line is that if Portland wanted Yang, they didn't have to waste a borderline lottery pick on him. This selection sent shockwaves through NBA circles, as one executive texted ClutchPoints claiming this was one of the most shocking picks he's seen in recent memory. 'That is the wildest pick I've ever seen,' the source said. 'Those jobs up there are on the line.' Advertisement Portland taking the Chinese center is certainly a risky move. It will be interesting to see if it pays off for them. Another shock was seeing Kasparas Jakucionis fall to the 20th selection. The Miami Heat are getting a high-potential guard with strong passing abilities, but Jakucionis was predicted to be a lottery pick. His fall was likely attributed to Jakucionis' lack of scoring and shooting skills, something the Miami Heat will look to polish. Best prospects remaining entering second round Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images There was much discussion surrounding Maxime Raynaud throughout the pre-draft process. Although several teams, like the Boston Celtics and Atlanta, showed interest in Raynaud during the pre-draft process as a potential first-round pick, he ultimately becomes one of the top players available entering Thursday night's second round. Advertisement While he is not the best athlete, Raynaud can be a decent rim protector who will immediately make a team's second-unit offense better. It is quite shocking that so many teams passed on him in favor of other frontcourt players since the Stanford product is a modern-day center who can step out on the perimeter and knock down multiple shots per game. The Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers will be prime destinations for Raynaud since they have clear frontcourt needs. Other prospects that now find themselves at the top of the draft board before the start of the second round are Adou Thiero, Noah Penda, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Rasheer Fleming. Thiero is an intriguing wing with a 7-foot wingspan who made a name for himself at Arkansas for his tough perimeter defense. Teams are always looking for impactful defensive players, especially with Thiero's length, which is why he could wind up being a second-round steal should his 3-point shot come around. Advertisement Penda and Fleming are two forwards on the wing who were expected to be first-round picks. The French forward has the length and defensive instincts to be a plug-and-play wing right away in the NBA. If he can develop a consistent jumper, he will end up being a steal. As for Fleming, his 7-foot-5 wingspan was very intriguing to teams. As a stretch forward, Fleming knocked down nearly 40 percent of his 3-point shots this season at Saint Joseph's. Kalkbrenner was a fringe first-round pick, but it was a little surprising to see him fall into the second round given his size, shooting abilities, and defensive prowess. The Creighton product was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and will immediately be ready to play as a second-round pick with a chip on his shoulder yet again. Aside from those outlined, here is a full list of the best remaining players available ahead of the second round based on rankings from ClutchPoints 2024 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0: Advertisement Rasheer Fleming – PF (Saint Joseph's, ranked #26) Maxime Raynaud – C (Stanford, #28) Noah Penda – SF/PF (France, #29) Ryan Kalkbrenner – C (Creighton, #31) Adou Thiero – SF/PF (Arkansas, #33) Chaz Lanier – SG (Tennessee, #34) Bogoljub Markovic – PF/C (Serbia, #35) Tyrese Proctor – PG (Duke, #36) Sion James – SG (Duke, #38) Kam Jones – PG/SG (Marquette, #39) Alex Toohey – SF (Australia, #40) Alijah Martin – SG (Florida, #41) Jamir Watkins – SG/SF (Florida State, #42) Koby Brea – SG (Kentucky, #43) Rocco Zikarsky – C (Australia, #44) Johni Broome – PF/C (Auburn, #46) Vladislav Goldin – C (Michigan, #47) Hunter Sallis – PG/SG (Wake Forest, #48) Eric Dixon – PF (Villanova, #49) John Tonje – SG/SF (Wisconsin, #50) Kobe Sanders – SG (Nevada, #51) Javon Small – PG (West Virginia, #52) Dink Pate – SG/SF (USA, #53) Amari Williams – C (Kentucky, #54) RJ Luis Jr. – SG (St. John's, #55) Lachlan Olbrich – PF/C (Australia, #56) Mark Sears – PG (Alabama, #57) Ryan Nembhard – PG (Gonzaga, #58) Brice Williams – SG/SF (Nebraska, #59) Max Shulga – PG/SG (VCU, #60) Chucky Hepburn – PG (Louisville, #61) Tamar Bates – SG (Missouri, #62) Izan Almansa – PF/C (Spain, #63) Grant Nelson – PF (Alabama, #64) Payton Sandfort – SF (Iowa, #65) Micah Peavy – SG/SF (Georgetown, #66) Viktor Lakhin – C (Clemon, #67) Caleb Love – PG (Arizona, #68) Caleb Grill – SG (Missouri, #69) Clifford Omoruyi – C (Alabama, #70) The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft will take place at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, June 26 in Barclays Center. Deputy NBA commissioner Mark Tatum will take over for NBA commissioner Adam Silver and announce the remaining 29 picks in this year's draft. Related: Pelicans, Hawks trade grades for 2025 NBA Draft deal Related: Elle Duncan makes hilariously embarrassing Cooper Flagg-Ace Bailey blunder before 2025 NBA Draft
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What should we grade the Boston Celtics selection of Spanish small forward Hugo Gonzalez?
What should we grade the Boston Celtics selection of Spanish small forward Hugo Gonzalez with the 28th overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft? The Celtics surprised some of their fans by skipping past promising players like Maxime Raynaud, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Rasheer Fleming and Liam McNeely, instead electing to go with a 19-year-old wing prospect from Madrid, Spain who played last season for EuroLeague powerhouse Real Madrid. And while Gonzalez did not get on the floor enough to log particularly impressive stat lines, he also earned 10 minutes per game with the club while showing off the bounce and grit that caught the Celtics interest in the first place. So how should we grade the pick for Boston, given where they could have gone instead? The folks behind the "CBS Sports" YouTube channel put together a clip of their assessment of the Celtics' 2025 NBA draft first round selection. Check it out below to see it for yourself.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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. 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. 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) 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. 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.
3 days ago
- Sport
Fleming, Raynaud, Penda headline the list of best available players entering Round 2 of NBA draft
Freshmen dominated the first round of the NBA draft. That squeezed out some veteran college big men. St. Joseph's junior Rasheer Fleming, Stanford senior Maxime Raynaud, and fifth-year seniors in Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Auburn's Johni Broome are among those waiting to hear their name called entering the second round. Bigs made up eight of the 30 first-round picks, with 18 freshmen and six international prospects taking up most of the slots. Here's a look at top prospects available when the two-day format resumes with Minnesota on the clock Thursday night: The 6-foot-8, 232-pound junior is coming off a productive season that included averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds for career-best outputs. He tied for fourth at the combine with a better than 7-5 wingspan, helping him average 1.5 blocks over the last two seasons. He also proved he could stretch his range, going from shooting 31.3% on 3-pointers in his first two college seasons to 39% last year. Notably, he performed well in catch-and-shoot situations (in the 79th percentile) and finishing at the rim (89th percentile), according to Synergy's analytics data. The 7-footer from France is a skilled a skilled 7-footer who averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, putting himself alongside eventual No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg of Duke as the only unanimous first-team picks on The Associated Press' All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. He has a rangy skillset. He rated in Synergy's 78th percentile in converting on post-up chances, shooting 50.7% in those scenarios, while the 84th percentile for spot-up shooting. That showed in him making 67 3-pointers in 35 games last year. The 6-8, 225-pound forward offers inside-out versatility and defensive potential. The 20-year-old averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33 games last year in France's top league, rating as 'very good' by Synergy in halfcourt settings. Penda also led the team in steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9), and showed playmaking ability with his nifty passing. The 7-1, 257 pound player has long been a productive post presence, averaging 14.5 points and 2.4 blocks while shooting 65.8% through five college seasons. He shot 58.5% in post-up situations to rank in Synergy's 87th percentile, and made 37 3-pointers in the last two years to show ability to step outside. The AP third-team All-American started last season with 49 points in a game last year (second-most in Division I), and he had the combine's second-longest wingspan (7-6). The 6-3, 202-pound senior was an AP second-team All-American last year who averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists in a bigger role. He was particularly good as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll, shooting 50.8% in those situations to rank in Synergy's 85th percentile while also performing well in finishing at the rim and in spot-up chances. The four-year veteran missed two career games and was a finalist last year for the Cousy Award presented to the nation's top point guard. Broome offers an example of how elite college production doesn't always equate to NBA potential. The 6-9, 249-pound big man was a first-team AP All-American averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for a Final Four team, part of an impressive rise from starting his five-year career at Morehead State. Yet Broome plays below the rim and lacks elite athleticism, tying for the combine's second-lowest max vertical leap (28.0). Synergy ranked his jumper as 'below average," raising uncertainty about his ability to stretch defenses (27.8% on 3s last year) and create space. —ADOU THIERO: The 6-6, 218-pound forward from Arkansas averaged 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in a leading role as a junior with the Razorbacks under John Calipari, coming after spending two years under Calipari at Kentucky. The versatile athlete has a 7-foot wingspan. —TYRESE PROCTOR: The 6-4, 183-pound junior from Duke can play on or off the ball while bringing defense and outside shooting. Last year he averaged 12.4 points and 40.5% shooting on 3s, though he struggled in each of the Blue Devils' season-ending losses in the 2024 Elite Eight and 2025 Final Four (2 for 17 shooting in those games). —JOHN TONJE: The 6-5, 212 pound guard is coming off a sixth college season in a career that began with four seasons at Colorado state, one injury-shortened season at Missouri and finally a big year with Wisconsin. Tonje was an AP second-team All-American last year and shot well on 3s (37.8%) and free throws (85.8%) in 167 college games. —JAMIR WATKINS: The 6-5, 215-pound guard proved to be a reliable scorer in two seasons with Florida State, averaging 17.0 points in 65 games. He spent two seasons and a redshirt year at VCU. —BOGOLJUB MARKOVIC: The 6-11, 190-pound big played last year for Mega Basket in his home country of Serbia. He'll need bulk on a lean frame but he offers intriguing perimeter skills and 3-point range.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
NBA draft: Best players available for Round 2, including Rasheer Fleming, Maxime Raynaud and Noah Penda
Freshmen dominated the first round of the NBA draft. That squeezed out some veteran college big men. St. Joseph's junior Rasheer Fleming, Stanford senior Maxime Raynaud, and fifth-year seniors in Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Auburn's Johni Broome are among those waiting to hear their name called entering the second round. Bigs made up eight of the 30 first-round picks, with 18 freshmen and six international prospects taking up most of the slots. Here's a look at top prospects available when the two-day format resumes with Minnesota on the clock Thursday night. The 6-foot-8, 232-pound junior is coming off a productive season that included averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds for career-best outputs. He tied for fourth at the combine with a better than 7-5 wingspan, helping him average 1.5 blocks over the last two seasons. He also proved he could stretch his range, going from shooting 31.3% on 3-pointers in his first two college seasons to 39% last year. Notably, he performed well in catch-and-shoot situations (in the 79th percentile) and finishing at the rim (89th percentile), according to Synergy's analytics data. The 7-footer from France is a skilled a skilled 7-footer who averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, putting himself alongside eventual No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg of Duke as the only unanimous first-team picks on The Associated Press' All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. He has a rangy skillset. He rated in Synergy's 78th percentile in converting on post-up chances, shooting 50.7% in those scenarios, while the 84th percentile for spot-up shooting. That showed in him making 67 3-pointers in 35 games last year. Chicago Bulls draft French teen Noa Essengue at No. 12, opting for upside and versatilityThe 6-8, 225-pound forward offers inside-out versatility and defensive potential. The 20-year-old averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33 games last year in France's top league, rating as 'very good' by Synergy in halfcourt settings. Penda also led the team in steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9), and showed playmaking ability with his nifty passing. The 7-1, 257 pound player has long been a productive post presence, averaging 14.5 points and 2.4 blocks while shooting 65.8% through five college seasons. He shot 58.5% in post-up situations to rank in Synergy's 87th percentile, and made 37 3-pointers in the last two years to show ability to step outside. The AP third-team All-American started last season with 49 points in a game last year (second-most in Division I), and he had the combine's second-longest wingspan (7-6). The 6-3, 202-pound senior was an AP second-team All-American last year who averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists in a bigger role. He was particularly good as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll, shooting 50.8% in those situations to rank in Synergy's 85th percentile while also performing well in finishing at the rim and in spot-up chances. The four-year veteran missed two career games and was a finalist last year for the Cousy Award presented to the nation's top point guard. Broome offers an example of how elite college production doesn't always equate to NBA potential. The 6-9, 249-pound big man was a first-team AP All-American averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for a Final Four team, part of an impressive rise from starting his five-year career at Morehead State. Yet Broome plays below the rim and lacks elite athleticism, tying for the combine's second-lowest max vertical leap (28.0). Synergy ranked his jumper as 'below average,' raising uncertainty about his ability to stretch defenses (27.8% on 3s last year) and create space. Adou Thiero: The 6-6, 218-pound forward from Arkansas averaged 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in a leading role as a junior with the Razorbacks under John Calipari, coming after spending two years under Calipari at Kentucky. The versatile athlete has a 7-foot wingspan. Tyrese Proctor: The 6-4, 183-pound junior from Duke can play on or off the ball while bringing defense and outside shooting. Last year he averaged 12.4 points and 40.5% shooting on 3s, though he struggled in each of the Blue Devils' season-ending losses in the 2024 Elite Eight and 2025 Final Four (2 for 17 shooting in those games). John Tonje: The 6-5, 212 pound guard is coming off a sixth college season in a career that began with four seasons at Colorado state, one injury-shortened season at Missouri and finally a big year with Wisconsin. Tonje was an AP second-team All-American last year and shot well on 3s (37.8%) and free throws (85.8%) in 167 college games. Jamir Watkins: The 6-5, 215-pound guard proved to be a reliable scorer in two seasons with Florida State, averaging 17.0 points in 65 games. He spent two seasons and a redshirt year at VCU. Bogoljub Markovic: The 6-11, 190-pound big played last year for Mega Basket in his home country of Serbia. He'll need bulk on a lean frame but he offers intriguing perimeter skills and 3-point range.
