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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers land Cedric Coward in NBA mock draft
Pacers land Cedric Coward in NBA mock draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers are three wins away from an NBA Championship. A team headlined by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam has been successful thanks to the depth of the team, not their superstars. Advertisement Depth can be costly, though. The Pacers are paying $169 million in salary this season, and are already committed to $167.9 million for next year, and that's before a potential extension of Myles Turner. The Pacers have done a great job at drafting NBA-ready players to keep bench costs relatively low, and one prospect stands out as a draft riser who could continue to contribute. Tankathon's NBA Mock Draft has the Pacers landing Washington State wing Cedric Coward with the No. 23 overall pick. Coward started the draft process ranked outside of the first round, but has been a quick draft riser over the past few months. Coward began his collegiate career at Division III Willamette University, averaging 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Coward then transferred to Eastern Washington. In his first season with the Eagles, Coward came off the bench and played a key role, averaging 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. In his second season with Eastern Washington, he earned All-Big Sky honors, averaging 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Coward then transferred to Washington State, where he played just six games this past season due to a torn labrum, which required surgery. Coward looked stellar in his short sample with the Cougars, averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Advertisement One of the most coveted archetypes in the modern NBA is the "3-and-D" player. Coward fits that mold to a T. Coward has a beautifully smooth shooting stroke, and he has touch from all over the floor. He shows comfort shooting off the catch, on the move, and as a pull-up shooter. In his three seasons of Division I basketball, Coward knocked down 38.8 percent of his three-point attempts and 83.2 percent of his free throws. Physically, Coward's size is an NBA dream. Listed at 6-foot-6, Coward has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an 8-foot-10 standing reach. Cedric had among the top ten largest hands at the NBA combine. Coward possesses the arms of a much larger man, and it makes him very effective as a defender. Coward is a defensive playmaker, with a career steal percentage of 1.9 percent and a block rate of 3.7 percent in Division I. In his six-game season with Washington State, Coward averaged 1.7 blocks per game, with a block rate of 5.3 percent. Advertisement He's not a lead guard by any means. He has some ability with the ball in his hands, but he doesn't have elite burst and struggles to create separation against high-level defenses or aggressive help schemes. As a connector, though, Coward thrives. Playing within the flow of the offense is the name of the game for Coward. He runs well in transition, and that's truly where his playmaking ability shines. He has impeccable vision and timing as a playmaker on the fast break, which would work wonders for Rick Carlisle's Pacers team. Coward is a dream roleplayer. He brings an unselfish, team-first mindset paired with ancillary skills, great instincts, and insane genetics. Coward can step right in and make an impact, especially on a team like the Pacers that has had so much success with plug-and-play contributors. For the Pacers specifically, he brings more size and length on the wing than Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, and Andrew Nembhard do. His shot will have no problem translating to the NBA, and he can shoot well with volume. Haliburton and Siakam should generate plenty of open looks for Coward. Advertisement There's also a world, given his wingspan, that allows him to play bigger than he is, that Carlisle could deploy Coward as a four or perhaps even a small-ball five in a super-spread offense. Related: Myles Turner Reveals How Indiana Pacers Failed to Play Their Own Game Against OKC Thunder Related: Indiana Pacers Get Massive NBA Free Agency Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could the Nets select Cedric Coward in the 2025 NBA Draft?
The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA Draft with four first-round picks to use, meaning that they will be bringing in a lot of talent from this class. Brooklyn has three picks outside of the Lottery and with the team needing as much of a talent infusion as possible, they could consider taking a player that is taking full advantage of the predraft process. Forward Cedric Coward, who came into the Draft with the intention of maintaining his college eligibility after agreeing to transfer to Duke, has decided to stay in the Draft, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Coward's draft stock has risen to the point where Bleacher Report NBA Draft expert Jonathan Wasserman projects the San Antonio Spurs to take Coward with the 14th overall pick. Advertisement "NBA teams learned that the injury wasn't a setback," Coward said, per Givony. "I got better and became more profound in all the different details of my game. I improved tremendously in aspects that I needed to work on, which showed in my athletic testing and shooting. I'm stronger mentally, physically and emotionally now." Coward, listed at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds, is coming off a senior season at Washington State where he averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the field and 40.0% from three-point land. While the 2024-25 season was his senior season, Coward did have another season of eligibility given that he had to redshirt this past season due to a shoulder injury. With Coward not going back to college, he will be entering the Draft was one of the players looking to take advantage of the momentum he has built since the Draft Combine in Chicago earlier this month. "Scouts at the combine were acknowledging the fact that Cedric Coward could go first round based on his Kawhi-Leonard-like measurements, convincing shooting stroke and the tantalizing highlights from his brief six-game season," Wasserman wrote on Coward. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Could the Nets select Cedric Coward in the 2025 NBA Draft?
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Could the Nets select Cedric Coward in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Could the Nets select Cedric Coward in the 2025 NBA Draft? The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA Draft with four first-round picks to use, meaning that they will be bringing in a lot of talent from this class. Brooklyn has three picks outside of the Lottery and with the team needing as much of a talent infusion as possible, they could consider taking a player that is taking full advantage of the predraft process. Forward Cedric Coward, who came into the Draft with the intention of maintaining his college eligibility after agreeing to transfer to Duke, has decided to stay in the Draft, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Coward's draft stock has risen to the point where Bleacher Report NBA Draft expert Jonathan Wasserman projects the San Antonio Spurs to take Coward with the 14th overall pick. "NBA teams learned that the injury wasn't a setback," Coward said, per Givony. "I got better and became more profound in all the different details of my game. I improved tremendously in aspects that I needed to work on, which showed in my athletic testing and shooting. I'm stronger mentally, physically and emotionally now." Coward, listed at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds, is coming off a senior season at Washington State where he averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the field and 40.0% from three-point land. While the 2024-25 season was his senior season, Coward did have another season of eligibility given that he had to redshirt this past season due to a shoulder injury. With Coward not going back to college, he will be entering the Draft was one of the players looking to take advantage of the momentum he has built since the Draft Combine in Chicago earlier this month. "Scouts at the combine were acknowledging the fact that Cedric Coward could go first round based on his Kawhi-Leonard-like measurements, convincing shooting stroke and the tantalizing highlights from his brief six-game season," Wasserman wrote on Coward.
Newsweek
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Duke, Jon Scheyer Suffer Another Major Setback Due to NBA Draft
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils were one of the four best teams in the nation during the 2024-25 college basketball season. However, there have been major changes to the roster this offseason due to the 2025 NBA Draft. Last season, Duke had a lot of NBA talent. That talent led them to such a successful season, but is also leading to players leaving to play professionally. Of course, Cooper Flagg has entered the draft and is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. He was the main headline name for the Blue Devils last season. Kon Knueppel, another massive part of the success the team had, has also entered the draft. Head coach Jon Scheyer 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... Head coach Jon Scheyer 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. More PhotoThose two players are not the only losses that Duke suffered. Read more: Tom Izzo, Michigan State Receive Head-Turning 2025-26 Prediction Along with Flagg and Knueppel, the Blue Devils are also losing Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James are also expected to be drafted. Another players has officially decided to leave the Duke program to stay in the draft. Cedric Coward was a big-time get for Scheyer in the NCAA transfer portal. He was expected to be a big part of helping replace Flagg and Knueppel. Unfortunately, Coward has decided to remain in the draft and will not play with the Blue Devils after all. "This is the best opportunity for me to achieve part of my dream, which is making the NBA," Coward said. "Everything is pointing in the right direction right now to follow that." Last season in six games with Washington State, Coward averaged 17.7 points, seven rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. There is no doubt that he would have been a major impact player for Duke in the 2025-26 season. Read more: Duke, Jon Scheyer Boasted Head-Turning Player GPA Coward also spoke out and provided more inside information about how he feels about his chance in the upcoming draft. "I see myself as a draft pick," Coward said. "I'm looking for a team that wants to take a chance on me. I've gotten really positive feedback. A lot of teams have been coy, not showing exactly how they feel. It doesn't matter if it's a guarantee or not, there's still work ahead of me. There are only 59 picks. If I am fortunate to be one of those 59, it's all a blessing. If I am 1 or 59, it doesn't really matter. There's always work to be done. It doesn't matter what spot. It's more about what team will give me the opportunity to show what I can do on the court." While this is a very unfortunate loss for the Blue Devils and Scheyer, Coward seems likely to be drafted and to make his dream of playing in the NBA become a reality. For more college basketball news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
"Unlikely he'll step foot on campus" - NBA Draft analyst hints at Cedric Coward not joining Duke Blue Devils
NBA Draft analyst hints at Cedric Coward not joining Duke Blue Devils (Image Credit: Getty Images) Cedric Coward performed brilliantly in the NBA Draft Combine and stood out in the physical attributes as well. It has become a matter of concern for the Duke Blue Devils , who may have to face tough competition to have Coward by their side. NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony also hinted at the possibility of Coward not returning to Duke's campus in his recent tweet. NBA Draft analyst expressed view on Cedric Coward's joining Duke Blue Devils Firstly, it was Cooper Flagg becoming the No.1 pick and gravitating towards the Dallas Mavericks; now it is Cedric Coward showing interest in testing new waters (as per his Instagram post). The Duke Blue Devils may have to adjust to a shrinking roster with two top picks slipping from their hands. The situation has become more evident after the NBA Draft Combine, in which Cedric Coward checked various boxes with ease. His brilliance in athletics, shooting rate, and physical attributes must have left several NBA teams vying for his attention. Taking stock of the situation, the NBA Draft analyst, Jonathan Givony, expressed his view on Coward's future on X, tweeting: 'Footage of Duke-commit Cedric Coward at the NBA draft combine. 6'6 1/2 wing shot the ball well in drills (made 72% of his aggregate jumpers) and measured a 7'2 wingspan. Sounding increasingly unlikely he'll step foot on campus in Durham.' Cedric Coward stood out in both physical attributes and athletic parameters. Given the race among the NBA teams for picking the best for the respective rosters, it is quite likely that Coward will be surrounded by suitors in June. It has definitely weakened chances for the Duke Blue Devils to have an ensemble roster in place and has increased difficulties for the team. Though several media reports suggest that Coward committed himself to the Duke, but his media sessions tell otherwise. Whether he will be keeping his commitment or will be busy trying new waters remains to see. Recapping Cedric Coward's 2024-2025 college basketball season From the views of the NBA Draft Combine, Cedric Coward seems to be in his best health and completely fit to take on the NBA challenges. However, his 2024-2025 college basketball season didn't go as expected. He suffered a shoulder injury just after the first six games, which cut short his season unexpectedly. 'Cedric Coward is likely gone' | Where does Duke turn if Coward STAYS in the Draft? | FIELD OF 68 Playing for the Washington State, he had an impactful run despite a shortened season. He averaged 17.7 points per game, and delivered 55.7% field-goal percentage. It is his exceptional shooting ability and formidable physical attributes that have started murmurs around his plausible future course in the NBA. Also Read: Cooper Flagg's performance leads Duke Blue Devil to major win over Illinois fighting Illini Cedric Coward's NBA Draft Combine performance is certainly an achievement for the player who was a no body once. However, it is going to be a concerning matter for the Duke Blue Devils, who have welcomed the prodigy with open arms, but his staying in the draft has put them in fix.
