Latest news with #Thiero
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rob Pelinka: Lakers considered Adou Thiero a first-round talent
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers traded up from the No. 55 pick in the NBA draft in order to gain the rights to Adou Thiero, a forward from the University of Arkansas. It took two trades to do so, but plenty of people feel the team may have gotten a steal. Thiero is one of the most athletic players in this year's draft class and is an outstanding finisher who attacks the basket strongly. He is a poor outside shooter and needs to refine his defense, but he could have the potential to become a legitimate rotation player or even a starter down the road. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told Spectrum SportsNet that the team's scouts considered the 6-foot-8, 220-pound wing to be a first-round talent. 'We were super aggressive to begin the day knowing that we didn't have a first-round pick. Adou was projected by our scouts as a first-round talent and so we were able to turn 55, which is a late-second round pick to a high second-round pick to pick a player that we had projected in the first round. So it's almost like having the first-round pick that we traded out. Tons of credit, thankful for the support of Jeanie [Buss] to allow us to be aggressive and use resources to win at the margins, move up in the draft and get a player that we really think is gonna dimensionalize our roster. We just felt like one of the things we need to address was to get younger and more athletic on the wings. Being able to get a player like Adou that can catch lobs from the corner when Luka [Doncic] is making paint decisions I think is gonna be really special. And then he's just got big shoulders, big chest, a guy that's gonna play defense and add some physicality and athleticism to our roster. So super excited about that. '... I think all of us watched the playoffs and just the way the game is being officiated now, there's a lot more physicality in the game. So being able to add a young man like Adou, who's just gifted. He's a beast. I think obviously we're gonna get him in the weight room and get him conditioned. But I think the tools that he has, you can really see a vision for him to be one of those really elite, physical, athletic wings that are so necessary to winning in the league.' One thing that may have scared other teams out of taking Thiero is a hyper-extended knee he suffered in February. He returned in the Sweet Sixteen round, but he played just five minutes as the Razorbacks lost in overtime to Texas Tech University. Still, he averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game and shot 54.5% from the field this past season. He gets to the free throw line often, and he may be able to improve his 3-point accuracy since his shooting form doesn't look broken. In three years of college basketball, he made just 28.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
John Calipari's bold comments on Adou Thiero's potential
Many fans are excited about the Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of the draft rights to Adou Thiero, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward from the University of Arkansas, on Thursday. Thiero was the No. 36 pick in the NBA draft, and the Lakers made two moves to go from holding the No. 55 selection to having his rights. He is very much a work in progress despite his three years of college experience playing under John Calipari. He's a poor 3-point shooter, and while he has lots of defensive potential, he has work to do as far as his discipline and focus on that end of the floor. But Calipari has a strong belief in the 21-year-old. During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on June 19, he said that Thiero will make people wonder why they passed on him earlier in the draft. 'He's somebody, if you pass on, they'll look back and say, 'How many people passed on him?'" Calipari said. "He's that good. And he's a good kid!' Thiero averaged 15.1 points a game and shot 54.5% from the field this past season. He's one of the more athletic players in this year's draft class, and he attacks the rim relentlessly and finishes strong. He also draws fouls quite frequently and can help out on the boards, and as Calipari pointed out, can handle the increased physicality the NBA has allowed over the last couple of years.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sources: 2 Knicks draft targets to keep an eye on
The post Sources: 2 Knicks draft targets to keep an eye on appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Knicks only have one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. 49 prospects will be selected before they're on the clock. Leon Rose, however, has made draft-night deals in four of his first five drafts as Knicks team president. Advertisement Reports are already surfacing that they'll be active in this year's market, too. They're a good 'bet' to trade up in the second round, according to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman. The team drafted four rookies last season in Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Ariel Hukporti. When then-head coach Tom Thibodeau expanded the rotation in the NBA Playoffs, it was in favor of veterans. But now, many of those old hands are set to become free agents, and their departures are far from guaranteed, but their returns are of the same status. If Rose does swing another trade, what prospects might the Knicks have interest in to move up for? What prospects would they target if they stay and draft where they are? Sources familiar with the situation tell ClutchPoints the Knicks have interest in several forwards in the 'second-round range' of this year's draft. The Arkansas Razorbacks' Adou Thiero and Belmont Bruins' Jonathan Pierre are both said to intrigue New York, particularly in Thursday night's second round. Knicks interested in experienced forwards in NBA Draft Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images Thiero, a 6-foot-8 junior, played two seasons at Kentucky before transferring alongside head coach John Calipari to Arkansas. In his junior season as a Razorback, he averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He led his team in scoring, shooting 54.5% from the field overall. Advertisement Thiero didn't demonstrate much shooting prowess in his collegiate career, though, shooting 28.4% overall on 3-pointers. On the defensive side of the court, however, he could be a potential monster. Alongside Knick stalwarts like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson, Thiero's explosive athleticism and instincts on defense could fit the Knicks' core well. He had a late growth spurt, growing from 5-foot-7 in his freshman year of high school to his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame. The team also has a clean path to great intelligence on Thiero. Calipari's relationship with Knicks Vice President William Wesley goes back decades. At least one key member of the Knicks' front office spoke to Calipari about the team's coaching vacancy – to no avail. After serving as Thiero's head coach for the past three seasons, Calipari has been unafraid to praise him publicly. The Knicks targeted and acquired several players with Kentucky ties early on in Rose and Wesley's tenure, such as when they drafted Calipari-favorite Immanuel Quickley. The longtime coach will likely answer whatever questions the organization has about the 21-year-old forward. Advertisement Another target league sources said has interested the Knicks to some extent is Pierre, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior from Belmont. The Bruins have one active NBA alumnus in Ben Sheppard of the Indiana Pacers. Pierre transferred from the Division II level to Memphis after a late growth spurt of his own. He was a 5-foot-10 guard in his freshman year of high school. He started his senior year at 6-foot-2, a fine stature for an NBA guard, before growing five inches midseason, per Jamaill Hines. Pierre grew two more inches in college and ended up at Belmont. There, he averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists as a senior. Most notably, he took 6.0 3-pointers per game, made 37% of them, and has the makings of a do-it-all forward because of his ball-handling past. Leon Rose could continue Knicks' history of draft-night deals Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Knicks' front office is infamous for its unconventional trades. Rose, Wesley, and the team's front office began their tenure by trading nothing for Ed Davis and two second-round picks. They followed that deal up by trading Davis himself for two more second-round draft picks. Advertisement In that same offseason, their first at the helm, they made several trades leading up to and during the 2020 draft. They started with the eighth, the 27th, and the 38th picks. After trading the last two for the 23rd pick, they traded that for the 25th and 33rd picks. They selected Quickley with the 25th pick and traded the 33rd pick for two more second-round selections. In 2021, New York came into the draft with the 19th, 21st, 32nd, and 58th picks. They ended up drafting Quentin Grimes 25th overall, Rokas Jokubaitis 34th overall, Deuce McBride 36th overall, and Jericho Sims 58th overall. They also acquired several future picks, one of which they traded for Josh Hart. Rose's handling of the 2022 draft infuriated fans excited for young talent after a frustrating season. The team had the 11th overall pick but traded it for three future first-round picks. They also traded Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, the rights to Jalen Duren, and a plethora of second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons. They received cap space. When that space was used to sign Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Brunson, fans quickly understood the plan. The Knicks made no draft-night deals in 2023 because they had traded the first-round pick they knew they'd have for Hart. And they lost the first-round pick they thought they'd have because the Dallas Mavericks tanked their way into drafting key center Dereck Lively II. Advertisement New York may very well be active on the trade market again in 2025. Adam Silver's idea to split the draft up into two nights for an NFL-esque television production doubles the chances they make a draft-night deal. Time will tell whether or not they end up selecting a prospect at all. Related: Knicks rumors: Insider says he'd 'bet' on New York making NBA Draft-night deal Related: Knicks interview Timberwolves coach, but it's not Chris Finch
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers draft SEC star after trade with Timberwolves
The post Lakers draft SEC star after trade with Timberwolves appeared first on ClutchPoints. As has been the case since the Los Angeles Lakers first signed LeBron James in 2018, there is substantial pressure on general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office to make impactful moves in the offseason. The Purple and Gold hopes it just completed one at the 2025 NBA Draft. LA traded the No. 45 pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the right to select wing Adou Thiero with the No. 36 overall selection, via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Advertisement The former Arkansas Razorbacks star brings excellent athleticism and versatility to the Lakers, something the team seriously requires after dealing away Anthony Davis in the mammoth Luka Doncic trade. John Calipari-coached players have flourished in the NBA over the last decade and a half — one just won both Finals MVP and regular season MVP honors — and Pelinka obviously believes Thiero has the traits to become a valuable component on this team. What Adou Thiero can do for the Lakers Three different franchises laid claim to the No. 36 pick before it landed in Los Angeles. The Brooklyn Nets sent the previously unknown asset to the Phoenix Suns, who used it to grab Rasheer Fleming at No. 31 after making a move with the Timberwolves. If Thiero develops an acceptable jump shot (25.6 percent from 3-point range), those teams may regret not taking him when they had the chance. The 21-year-old played sparingly with Kentucky during the first two years of his collegiate career, but he blossomed into an undeniable force after following Calipari to Fayetteville. Adou Thiero averaged 15.8 points on 54.5 percent shooting with 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 27 games last season. Advertisement Arkansas' scoring leader suffered a knee injury in late February and missed almost the entirety of his squad's NCAA Tournament run. He logged only five minutes in the Razorbacks' brutal Sweet Sixteen loss to Texas Tech. Fans are still thinking about how far Arkansas could have gone if the 6-foot-8 Pennsylvania native was healthy. The Lakers are counting on Thiero to help them fulfill their own postseason ambitions. He aims to become a key part of this transitioning era of LA basketball. Related: Lakers make multiple signings following NBA Draft Related: Lakers land NCAA top scorer with interesting 1st move after NBA Draft
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Five things to know about Adou Thiero
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired a potential gem in the 2025 NBA Draft by making a couple of moves on Thursday. They first traded their No. 55 pick and cash to the Chicago Bulls for the No. 45 pick, and they later sent that No. 45 selection for the draft rights to Adou Thiero, who was the No. 36 pick. Thiero is an intriguing prospect who could have plenty of upside. He stands 6-feet-8 and weighs 220 pounds, and he showed a good amount of improvement over his three years of college basketball. He spent his first two years at the University of Kentucky and then transferred to the University of Arkansas for this past season, and he was coached by John Calipari during all three campaigns. There's obviously no guarantee he will pan out, but he seems to be someone who has the tools to become a very useful NBA rotation player. Here are five notable facts about Thiero. He's very athletic Thiero is said to be one of the most athletic players in this year's draft class. At the draft combine, his wingspan was measured at seven feet and his standing reach came in at 8-feet-8.5. While his vertical leap was measured at 41 inches during the 2022 Pro Day, there's a video of him training with Jason Jerome, the director of performance training for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, to reach a 46-inch vertical. He can not only throw down big dunks, both in transition and in a halfcourt setting, but he's also explosive, and those tools help him out on both ends of the floor. He's also a lob threat, which means he could be a good fit alongside Luka Doncic. The Lakers badly need athleticism and speed at the guard and wing positions, and Thiero could help in that regard. Both of his parents were basketball players A look at Thiero's parents reveals where he got at least some of his ability on the hardwood. Both his father and mother played competitive basketball, and in fact, his father also played for Calipari at the University of Memphis back in the mid-2000s. His mother played college basketball at Oklahoma City University and was even taken by the WNBA's Washington Mystics in the third round of the 2006 draft, even though she never played in a regular season or postseason game with them. Both of Thiero's parents are originally from the African nation of Mali. After he was born in Salt Lake City, he spent some time in Mali, starting when he was two months old, before returning to the States at the age of three. He went to Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pa., which is just minutes outside of Pittsburgh. He gets to the free throw line Thiero attacks the basket relentlessly, but not all players who do so also get to the free throw line frequently. He averaged 15.1 points and 6.5 free throw attempts a game this past season, and his free throw attempt rate of 69.2% is rather high. He does have some work to do at making foul shots — he shot only 68.6% from the charity stripe during the 2024-25 season, although he was at 80% the previous season. During the regular season, the Lakers were fourth in free throw attempts per game. He should feel at home with them in that regard. He has defensive potential One thing L.A. needs is perimeter defenders, and Thiero, at the very least, has the potential to become a good one. His speed, quickness and overall athleticism give him the potential to effectively guard players at multiple positions. He averaged 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks this past season for the Razorbacks. Scouts are concerned about his lack of defensive discipline and about his focus on that end of the floor. But the potential for him to be a serious disruptor in that category is definitely there. He's an underrated rebounder One weakness the Lakers have that doesn't get talked about enough is defensive rebounding, and it got exposed in the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even before Anthony Davis was sent away in the trade that brought them Luka Doncic, they had trouble limiting opponents to one shot. Some of that trouble had to do with their inability to secure rebounds outside of the paint, which falls on their guards and wings. Thiero is a pretty good rebounder on both ends of the floor for a small forward, and he registered 5.8 boards a game during the 2024-25 season.
