Potential first-round picks Yaxel Lendeborg, Alex Condon withdraw from 2025 NBA Draft
Forward Alex Condon (L) will return to the Florida Gators in 2025-26. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- Yaxel Lendeborg and Alex Condon, who were projected as first-round picks in some mock drafts, withdrew their names from the 2025 NBA Draft pool and will return to college, they announced Tuesday on social media.
Lendeborg, who spent the last two seasons at UAB, is set to play for the Michigan Wolverines in 2025-26. Condon will return for another season with the reigning champion Florida Gators.
Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game over 37 appearances last season for the Blazers. The two-time All-AAC selection and Defensive Player of the Year was projected as the No. 23 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, according to NBADraft.net.
Condon, a 6-foot-11 forward, averaged 10,6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game over 37 appearances last season. The All-SEC selection was projected as a late first or early second-round pick.
Condon and Lendeborg declared for the 2025 NBA Draft in April, but maintained their collegiate eligibility.
Duke's Cooper Flagg, who led the Blue Devils to the NCAA title game, where they lost to Florida, is the projected top overall pick. The 2025 NBA Draft will be held June 25 and 26 in Brooklyn.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
11 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Mavericks schedule private pre-Draft workout for Duke's Cooper Flagg, per report
The Dallas Mavericks have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25. In preparation, they've scheduled a private workout with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg for June 17, per ESPN . The 6-foot-9 Flagg is expected to go first-overall in this month's draft, but this move would only make the likelihood of that occurring increase. Per the report, the Mavericks have no other plans to work out any other players in private like they will Flagg. The implication there is not just that the Mavericks expect to take Flagg at No. 1, but also that, were they to trade their 1:1 pick in order to acquire a haul of win-now assets to pair with Anthony Davis and — eventually — the rehabilitating Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from surgery to repair an ACL tear suffered in March — they would not be receiving meaningful 2025 draft picks in return. [Related: Inside the mind of Duke's Cooper Flagg: 'He wants to destroy his competition' ] All indications — both public and private, per ESPN — seem to be that the Mavericks will keep the pick and use it to acquire Flagg, however, especially given general manager Nico Harrison's refrain of defense winning championships being the reason the organization dealt Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a shocking February trade. Essentially, Flagg himself as viewed as a win-now asset. Flagg's offensive potential is considerable — he scored 19.2 points per game as a freshman at Duke, with 4.2 assists per game as a forward — but defense is where he truly shines. He averaged 1.4 blocks and steals per game while pulling down an average of 6.2 defensive rebounds, and the only questions about him entering the 2024-2025 NCAA season were about how quickly his offense would catch up to his stellar defensive chops. Flagg ended up winning award after award for his one-and-done performance, which also included a trip to the Final Four for Duke. The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of securing the first-overall pick in the NBA Draft, and only even had that much of one because the team went into freefall falling the Doncic trade. Despite the almost nonexistent chance of being in line to draft Flagg, however, the Mavericks ended up winning the NBA Draft lottery, and are now weeks away from bringing him to Dallas if they choose to do so. 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! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Cooper Flagg Dallas Mavericks National Basketball Association recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Detroit Pistons Linked to Experienced Big Man in Free Agency by NBA Reporter
Detroit Pistons Linked to Experienced Big Man in Free Agency by NBA Reporter originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Pistons ran out of steam in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks as big man Isaiah Stewart watched from the sidelines and Jalen Brunson's team took over the Motor City. Advertisement The loss was difficult but not unexpected considering the Pistons' relative playoff inexperience. It also shed light on Detroit's need for another big man alongside Stewart and Jalen Duren, the heroic frontcourt duo who held down the fort for most of the season in Motown. On Saturday a potential free agent signing was floated out by a popular X account that caught the attention of NBA fans nationwide. Naz Reid attempts to block Chet Holmgren during a May 28 game. © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images "The Pistons are among the teams with interest in Timberwolves big man (Naz) Reid, league sources say," reporter Marc Stein said. "Detroit is known to covet a floor-spacing big man and, according to sources, is likewise said to hold interest in Indiana's Myles Turner. Advertisement "Whether the Pistons have a tangible shot at acquiring either player, mind you, is far from clear,' Stein added. Reid could opt out of the three-year, $42 million contract he signed with the Timberwolves in June 2023 and become an unrestricted free agent. He scored over 10 points per game in his last four games of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder including four made three-pointers in his last three games. The Timberwolves were knocked out of the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, adding to speculation that they may look to make some roster changes this offseason. Related: Detroit Pistons' 'Bad Boys' Legends Rodman, Laimbeer Reunite at Saturday Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Given Shocking Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The NBA offseason is just a few weeks away from fully commencing, and this summer is expected to be a wild one. There have already been multiple star players named in potential trade rumors, with many teams likely to be very active. More NBA news: Top 5 Landing Spots For Kevin Durant Amid Trade Rumors One name that has been circling around trade rumors is Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. After another disappointing year in Phoenix, many around the NBA expect Durant to be traded this offseason. The Suns almost moved Durant at the trade deadline this past year, giving more thought to a potential deal going down. While there have been multiple teams heavily linked to Durant already, longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons believes he has the answers. Simmons has predicted that the Suns and San Antonio Spurs have agreed upon a deal for Durant already. But due to the NBA Finals going on, the two sides are waiting to announce the terms of the deal. "I wouldn't be surprised if KD to the Spurs is done already and they just haven't announced it. Basically, they've agreed on specifics, just announce it on the week of the draft. This goes back to the Giannis thing. I think they trade for KD because it just costs less. They'll be able to be real competitive and maybe go a couple of rounds in the playoffs, but they're also going to keep the No. 2 pick and do it that way, which is my prediction.", Simmons said. Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on March 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Durant and the Suns have been on a... Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on March 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Durant and the Suns have been on a losing streak. More Photo byIf Durant does land in San Antonio, it would give the Spurs a legitimate three-headed monster. With star center Victor Wembanyama and guard De'Aaron Fox in the mix, San Antonio could be a lethal team in the Western Conference next season. More NBA news: Kevin Durant Future Reportedly Tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo Even at his advanced age, Durant is still one of the better scorers in the NBA. Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game this past season. Adding him to the team would instantly vault the Spurs into title contenders in an already loaded West. But Durant likely wants to play for a contender, and the opportunity to team up with Wembanyama may be too much to pass on. It remains to be seen how the Durant trade speculation goes, but his time with the Suns seems to be coming to an end. Durant will likely be on a new team next year as he tries to get another title under his belt before he retires. More NBA news: Celtics' Jrue Holiday Gets Major Update Amid Trade Rumors NBA Champion Says Timberwolves Should Target This Anthony Edwards Co-Star Lakers Listed as Potential Landing Spot For All-Star Center For more on the Phoenix Suns and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
