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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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Tennessee's Chaz Lanier Predicted to Join $269 Million Star in NBA Mock Draft
Tennessee's Chaz Lanier Predicted to Join $269 Million Star in NBA Mock Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Volunteers leading scorer from the 2024-25 men's basketball roster didn't hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. But he is expected to come off the board in the second. Advertisement ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo projected it to be early in the second round. In a 2025 NBA second-round mock draft, ESPN predicted Volunteers shooting guard Chaz Lanier to land with point guard Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons at No. 37 overall, or seventh in the second round. "A true late bloomer who averaged 3.7 points per game over his first three collegiate seasons, Lanier turned a corner with his jumper as an upperclassman to complement his solid size, frame and 6-foot-9 wingspan," Givony wrote. "He is not much of a ball handler and will need to use his tools better defensively, but he has a clear niche to fill with the way he can space the floor and shoot off screens." Tennessee Volunteers shoot guard Chaz Lanier© David Banks-Imagn Images Lanier led the Volunteers in scoring last season with 18 points per game. The shooting guard shot 43.1%, including 39.5% from the 3-point line. Advertisement Lanier also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals per contest. Behind those efforts, Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight. Lanier played one season for the Volunteers. During his first four college seasons, he played for the North Florida Ospreys. As Givony explained, Lanier was a "true late bloomer." The guard didn't earn a regular starting role at North Florida until 2023-24. In his last two college seasons, Lanier averaged 18.8 points per game while shooting 46.4%. In Detroit, Lanier could play significant minutes next to Cunningham, who signed a five-year, $269 million extension with the Pistons. Cunningham isn't eligible for free agency until 2030. Advertisement The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft begins at 8 pm ET on Thursday. Related: Tennessee Gets Strong Message From Coveted Five-Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves Intend to Keep Joan Beringer After NBA Draft
Timberwolves Intend to Keep Joan Beringer After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves backloaded their frontcourt with the selection of 18-year-old French center Joan Beringer in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Advertisement But how does he figure into a loaded Wolves roster that already has sidelined many developing talents outside its nine-man rotation? Beringer is the prototypical draft-and-stash asset, having come over from Europe. He started playing basketball just four years ago and is considered one of the rawest talents in the 2025 draft class after averaging just 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds for Cedevita Olimpija in the Slovenian First League. Ricky Rubio took to becoming a face of the franchise, playing two years for Barcelona after the Timberwolves drafted him in 2009 before joining the team. However, there are other plans for Beringer. Joan Beringer stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 17th pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Penner-Imagn Images Shortly after the Wolves selected Beringer 17th overall on June 25, insider Dane Moore reported that Beringer "will not be a draft-and-stash, per source. He will be here in Minnesota next season." According to Moore, Beringer will be much closer to the team, which bodes well for the Rudy Gobert succession plan. Advertisement Gobert offered his approval of the move on X after Beringer was selected, and the younger Frenchman also offered his flowers to the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. "Amazing. I'm very happy, also to play with Rudy Gobert. It's an amazing feeling. I'm very happy," Beringer said, per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. Beringer could spend time bouncing between the Iowa Wolves and the Timberwolves; however, his development appears to be tantamount to Tim Connelly's plans for the franchise by keeping him in the states on the hip of Gobert. Related: Rudy Gobert Reacts to Timberwolves Drafting His Potential Replacement Related: Timberwolves Projected to Gamble on Joan Beringer in NBA Mock Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves Fans React to Joan Beringer as No. 17 Pick in NBA Draft
Timberwolves Fans React to Joan Beringer as No. 17 Pick in NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the 17th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Joan Beringer. That has some fans buzzing and others wondering if he will be worth the gamble. Advertisement Beringer, an 18-year-old French center, arrives after weeks of speculation about the Timberwolves' roster. In particular, it seems they're adding to their frontcourt with a potential successor for Rudy Gobert in the lineup. Ahead of the NBA Draft, Beringer is someone who was rising up the mock drafts online, but some considered him a "mystery" and a gamble for teams to take. That was due to his limited stats from one season of international play with Cedevita Olimpija. In his brief international play with Cedevita Olimpija, Beringer averaged just 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. The team won the Slovenian League championship, and Beringer led the ABA League in blocks, showing his defensive skills. Brad Penner-Imagn Images An profile lists Beringer with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and touts his explosive game and "elite length." They refer to the French big man as a 'late bloomer' who stands out on the defensive side of the court, which as many fans know is where Rudy Gobert excelled in his career. Advertisement On Wednesday night, Beringer was among the prospects attending the NBA Draft and seated in the green room. Once his name was called, things became real as he put on the Timberwolves cap and shook hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "Welcome to Minnesota, Joan!" a simple introductory greeting said in the Timberwolves' X post. It quickly prompted many likes and comments from fans reacting to the big announcement. Several fans seemed to agree with this pick as a potential replacement at center for one of the team's current players. "I like this pick. Naz Reid replacement," one fan commented on X. Advertisement "Welcome!!! Future center of the wolves once Gobert is gone. W pick," another fan commented. "Respect to Rudy for sitting down with the Wolves and selecting his replacement," yet another fan wrote on X. Not all fans were happy with the pick, as some argued there was a better available player for the Timberwolves. "Jakucionis was there. Beringer would be a decent pick if he were gone but you gotta take the best player available," an X commenter said. With Beringer, it seems that Minnesota will likely develop him behind Gobert as he's considered a better defensive player than Reid. However, there's still also a chance that Minnesota is cooking up some sort of trade involving Gobert, Reid, or someone else. Advertisement There were more than a few NBA mock drafts projecting the Wolves would opt for a big man in Wednesday's first round. Others suggested they might take Georgetown's Thomas Sorber, but he was already off the board as the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 15th pick. Related: Timberwolves Projected to Gamble on Joan Beringer in NBA Mock Draft Related: NBA Mock Draft Suggests Timberwolves Pick Rudy Gobert's Replacement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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- Yahoo
Timberwolves Facing Backlash After Lackluster NBA Draft
Timberwolves Facing Backlash After Lackluster NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The new Minnesota Timberwolves regime isn't off to the best start in cultivating optimism in the fan base. Once filled with unbridled optimism about the future, Wolves fans found themselves entrenched in NBA trade rumors with the prospect that they could land Kevin Durant. Advertisement But after the Durant deal did not materialize, all eyes turned to the draft. And the Timberwolves did not seem to take any significant steps forward to improving their 2025-26 roster, instead drafting a pair of 18-year-old developmental centers in Joan Beringer (first round, 17th overall) and Rocco Zikarsky (second round, 45th overall). Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images That led to some vitriol on X. Wolves Lead, reacting to the discourse on the app, called out the fan base that shared its grievances with the lack of improvement to the roster so far. "Wolves fans continue to be extremely down bad man," the account wrote in a post. "Insufferable fanbase sometimes." Several fans took to the comments to justify their frustration with the franchise. Advertisement "They really screwed the draft, especially the second round," one fan wrote. "Because the team is down really bad. 2 years back to back at the playoffs lost at the same spot," a second fan added. "These new picks ain't gonna help that much." Some fans admitted that they also got lost in the knee-jerk reactions, but took some time for some needed perspective. "First round was amazing. Second round was a bit of a downer. If you are getting mad about the second round, you don't really follow the NBA," one fan wrote. "Agree...I got negative for a second and then had to tell myself 'in TC (Tim Connelly) I trust!'," another fan added. The Timberwolves have a roster that has made back-to-back Western Conference Finals with the help of veteran additions like Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Julius Randle -- all players who are 30 or more years old and in the twilight of their careers. Advertisement "[Fans] are impatient., we have talent. We have young players on good contracts which helps when Gobert, Conley and Randle are gone. We have Ant, Jaden, Naz, Tsj, Dillingham, Clark, miller and this draft class+future picks. All we need to do is wait," one fan wrote. Backloading the roster with young talent is imperative to opening up the franchise's window when Anthony Edwards, 24, reaches his prime. "Back to back conference finals! Really no move we could make except trade back needed a 2 way contract to stay under the apron," another fan wrote. We will make another run at this thing folks!" However, the lack of big moves after two disappointing finishes in the conference finals has led fans to want more. Advertisement "I know, right? Free agency has not even started yet," one fan added. Related: Anthony Edwards Reacts to Major Timberwolves News With 2-Word Message Related: Timberwolves Get Major Joan Beringer News After NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: No. 5 pick Ace Bailey plans to report to Jazz Saturday
June 27 - After an unconventional approach to the 2025 NBA Draft that saw his stock take a slight dip to land at No. 5, Ace Bailey will report Saturday to his new team, the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN. "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," a Jazz representative told ESPN Friday. "We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We'll have a press conference Sunday and a practice Monday. "This has always been the plan, including for our other rookies, Walter Clayton and John Tonje -- to let them go home and collect their belongings, and then fly right to summer league from Salt Lake City." Bailey took a sometimes confounding and confusing route to Wednesday's draft. A freshman 18-year-old with one season at Rutgers and a McDonald's All-American resume before that, multiple NBA teams attempted to get to know Bailey the player, person and prospect a little bit better in the five weeks leading up to the draft. But Bailey canceled all public workouts with teams, a stance that surprised some established NBA players and may have contributed to Bailey going from being projected in the top three to being taken with the No. 5 pick. However, Bailey's agent, Omar Cooper, argued there was "nothing uncommon" about how the pre-draft was handled. "Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago," Cooper said, per ESPN. "He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements. They watched him shoot in drills. "No one said anything when Davion Mitchell canceled a workout with the Toronto Raptors for the No. 4 pick. No one criticized Evan Mobley when he didn't work out for Cleveland, and they drafted him anyway." Utah's decision to pick Bailey is one that Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said was extremely simple despite public concern about Bailey's refusal to work out for teams before the draft. "We do a lot of background calls and work on guys and everyone loves being around Ace," Ainge said. "He's fun, smiles every day. Just a breath of fresh air in the gym. We were able to speak with him. He was super excited. We're super excited. We're expecting a very bright future." A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2024-25 for Rutgers. --Field Level Media
