Latest news with #YahooSportsNBA
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Warriors add Tennessee sharpshooter in second round of latest Yahoo Sports NBA mock draft
Warriors add Tennessee sharpshooter in second round of latest Yahoo Sports NBA mock draft While June marks the start of the NBA Finals, the new month on the calendar also brings the highly anticipated 2025 edition of the NBA Draft on June 25. Through most of draft season, most mock drafts have had the Golden State Warriors targeting a big man with their second-round selection. However, in the latest mock draft from Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor, the Warriors landed some shooting to add alongside Steph Curry in the backcourt. With the No. 41 overall selection, O'Connor slotted Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier to the Warriors in the second round. According to O'Connor, Lanier thrived as a "knockdown shooter." Via Yahoo! Sports: The Warriors need more shooting, which explains everything about this pick. 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. Prior to transferring to Tennessee, Lanier spent four seasons at North Florida. After being named to the first-team All-ASUN, Lanier transferred to Tennessee to play under Rick Barnes in Knoxville. On his way to earning SEC Newcomer of the Year, Lanier averaged 18 points on 43.1% shooting from the field and 39.5% shooting from beyond the arc to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. Lanier drilled five or more 3-pointers in nine different games for the Volunteers, including eight made triples in a 30-point performance against Texas A&M. The first round of the NBA draft is set to begin on Wednesday, June 25 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg headlines rookies who could matter for fantasy basketball this season
The 2025 NBA Draft is just under a month away, and with the combine wrapped up, Yahoo Sports NBA Senior Analyst Kevin O'Connor dropped his latest mock draft last week. The 2025 draft class is deeper and more talented than last year's rookies, so I want to highlight the prospects whose projected landing spots in KOC's mock could become interesting for fantasy basketball leagues next season. I can't say enough how much I like Flagg's opportunity to contribute immediately. With his defense, athleticism and scoring efficiency, he projects as a multi-category fantasy asset. The 3s are the question mark, but there's a sneaky playmaking upside, too. Cooper Flagg showing off the significant gains he's made mechanically over the past year in the NBA draft combine shooting drills. Off the dribble, on the move or with his feet set, with crisp footwork and a picture perfect 61% of his aggregate attempts. — Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025 I'm warming up to targeting him around the sixth or seventh rounds of drafts next season. Landing with the Hornets is a gift and a curse. It's a losing franchise with exciting players who can't stay healthy. That said, they need a two-guard, and Edgecombe is a bucket and a disruptive defender. He also flies, so sharing a backcourt with LaMelo Ball has its perks. 🎙️ VJ Edgecombe: "Most rookies, they be like, can't guard... I want to change that dynamic, change that for sure. Just want to go out there and guard, and impact the floor.""I know Charlotte Hornets. I know about the team, the roster, everything that's going on over there." — r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) May 14, 2025 Edgecombe reminds me of Victor Oladipo. He could be one of the top scorers of his class with the bonus of some steals. If he ends up in Charlotte, he may become a fantasy option outside the top 100 picks. If Knueppel falls to the Jazz, feel good about it. There's more to his game than being an elite motion shooter. He is the modern Mr. Fundamental — a smart hooper who can facilitate, cut and make the right basketball play more often than not. Kon Knueppel was ELITE for the Blue Devils tonight 🙌😈 21 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 3 STLHe helped lead @DukeMBB to a #MFinalFour berth 👏 #MarchMadness — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025 The Jazz need that after being in the bottom 10 in offensive rating and having the highest turnover rate in the league. He'd already be their best shooter as a rookie, but it will come down to his defense to get consistent minutes. I like the Chris Mullin comps. The freshman out of Texas fills a couple of needs for the Wizards: shooting and playmaking. Tre Johnson — P&R playmaking + scoring tapeAn elite multi-level shotmaking/scoring talent that leverages his gravity with high-level spatial awareness and understanding of screens. A much better passer than given credit for (1.5 AST/TO + 16.5% AST).#6 on my '25 board. — Mohamed (@mcfdraft) April 24, 2025 I'm not sold on the defense yet, but I like the guards Washington's assembled, with Johnson slotting in as arguably one of their best 3-point shooters. There's a path for minutes, but he's more of a dynasty option than a target in redraft leagues in this scenario. Queen's outlook would take a massive leap in Chicago if the Bulls finally move Nikola Vučević. I understand the knocks on his poor combine, defense, lack of explosiveness and questionable outside shooting. However, he's one of only a few offensive hubs available at his size (6-foot-10 and 246 pounds). Why Derik Queen is a top 5 prospect...1. True 1of1 on ball craft as a 5 - handle, vision, magnet hands, touch, intuition.2. The concerns are fixable + have already seen flashes of you overthink fixable concerns, you will get burned by the skill set.🐢 — Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) May 26, 2025 He's got nice touch and is a willing playmaker who could put up numbers in limited minutes if he cracks the rotation. Should Clint Capela bounce, Newell's rim-running and relentless motor would be worthy additions to a thin Atlanta frontcourt. Jalen Johnson's been banged up the past two seasons, so getting another talented big man with the quickness to defend on the perimeter is a strong fit with their growing, scrappy identity. I love this defense from Asa Newell. This is the type of stuff we saw from him more at Montverde. Even if he doesn't end up as more of a 5, I think he has all the tools to be a really versatile and switchable defender. — Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) March 13, 2025 Being the recipient of Trae Young's lobs with shot-blocking and rebounding upside, Newell could be one of those late-round bigs that make an impact in fantasy on a per-minute basis. If the Wolves can't afford to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker, selecting Coward would be one of my favorite draft night moves. Cedric Coward is EASILY one of the biggest winners of the combineHe's shot well in drills, has a freaky 7'2' wing span at 6'5' and tested great athletically too with a 38.5' max vertHe's a career 38.6% 3PT shooter in college and there's a big chance he stays in the draft now — Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) May 13, 2025 He's a late bloomer with a damn-near-perfect shot and a large wingspan who prides himself on the defensive end. It may sound like gas, but he gives me Kawhi Leonard vibes. The backcourt in Los Angeles is aging, and injuries are known saboteurs. Pettiford is the ideal match as a Brandon Jennings-lite with the speed, scoring, hops and creation that would ignite the team's bench. Most rookies with his profile tend to be inefficient, but he can still light it up in a reserve role. It's too early for consideration in redraft leagues, but dynasty managers should take notice.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg headlines rookies who could matter for fantasy basketball this season
The 2025 NBA Draft is just under a month away, and with the combine wrapped up, Yahoo Sports NBA Senior Analyst Kevin O'Connor dropped his latest mock draft last week. The 2025 draft class is deeper and more talented than last year's rookies, so I want to highlight the prospects whose projected landing spots in KOC's mock could become interesting for fantasy basketball leagues next season. I can't say enough how much I like Flagg's opportunity to contribute immediately. With his defense, athleticism and scoring efficiency, he projects as a multi-category fantasy asset. The 3s are the question mark, but there's a sneaky playmaking upside, too. Cooper Flagg showing off the significant gains he's made mechanically over the past year in the NBA draft combine shooting drills. Off the dribble, on the move or with his feet set, with crisp footwork and a picture perfect 61% of his aggregate attempts. — Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025 I'm warming up to targeting him around the sixth or seventh rounds of drafts next season. Landing with the Hornets is a gift and a curse. It's a losing franchise with exciting players who can't stay healthy. That said, they need a two-guard, and Edgecombe is a bucket and a disruptive defender. He also flies, so sharing a backcourt with LaMelo Ball has its perks. 🎙️ VJ Edgecombe: "Most rookies, they be like, can't guard... I want to change that dynamic, change that for sure. Just want to go out there and guard, and impact the floor.""I know Charlotte Hornets. I know about the team, the roster, everything that's going on over there." — r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) May 14, 2025 Edgecombe reminds me of Victor Oladipo. He could be one of the top scorers of his class with the bonus of some steals. If he ends up in Charlotte, he may become a fantasy option outside the top 100 picks. If Knueppel falls to the Jazz, feel good about it. There's more to his game than being an elite motion shooter. He is the modern Mr. Fundamental — a smart hooper who can facilitate, cut and make the right basketball play more often than not. Kon Knueppel was ELITE for the Blue Devils tonight 🙌😈 21 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 3 STLHe helped lead @DukeMBB to a #MFinalFour berth 👏 #MarchMadness — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025 The Jazz need that after being in the bottom 10 in offensive rating and having the highest turnover rate in the league. He'd already be their best shooter as a rookie, but it will come down to his defense to get consistent minutes. I like the Chris Mullin comps. The freshman out of Texas fills a couple of needs for the Wizards: shooting and playmaking. Tre Johnson — P&R playmaking + scoring tapeAn elite multi-level shotmaking/scoring talent that leverages his gravity with high-level spatial awareness and understanding of screens. A much better passer than given credit for (1.5 AST/TO + 16.5% AST).#6 on my '25 board. — Mohamed (@mcfdraft) April 24, 2025 I'm not sold on the defense yet, but I like the guards Washington's assembled, with Johnson slotting in as arguably one of their best 3-point shooters. There's a path for minutes, but he's more of a dynasty option than a target in redraft leagues in this scenario. Queen's outlook would take a massive leap in Chicago if the Bulls finally move Nikola Vučević. I understand the knocks on his poor combine, defense, lack of explosiveness and questionable outside shooting. However, he's one of only a few offensive hubs available at his size (6-foot-10 and 246 pounds). Why Derik Queen is a top 5 prospect...1. True 1of1 on ball craft as a 5 - handle, vision, magnet hands, touch, intuition.2. The concerns are fixable + have already seen flashes of you overthink fixable concerns, you will get burned by the skill set.🐢 — Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) May 26, 2025 He's got nice touch and is a willing playmaker who could put up numbers in limited minutes if he cracks the rotation. Should Clint Capela bounce, Newell's rim-running and relentless motor would be worthy additions to a thin Atlanta frontcourt. Jalen Johnson's been banged up the past two seasons, so getting another talented big man with the quickness to defend on the perimeter is a strong fit with their growing, scrappy identity. I love this defense from Asa Newell. This is the type of stuff we saw from him more at Montverde. Even if he doesn't end up as more of a 5, I think he has all the tools to be a really versatile and switchable defender. — Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) March 13, 2025 Being the recipient of Trae Young's lobs with shot-blocking and rebounding upside, Newell could be one of those late-round bigs that make an impact in fantasy on a per-minute basis. If the Wolves can't afford to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker, selecting Coward would be one of my favorite draft night moves. Cedric Coward is EASILY one of the biggest winners of the combineHe's shot well in drills, has a freaky 7'2' wing span at 6'5' and tested great athletically too with a 38.5' max vertHe's a career 38.6% 3PT shooter in college and there's a big chance he stays in the draft now — Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) May 13, 2025 He's a late bloomer with a damn-near-perfect shot and a large wingspan who prides himself on the defensive end. It may sound like gas, but he gives me Kawhi Leonard vibes. The backcourt in Los Angeles is aging, and injuries are known saboteurs. Pettiford is the ideal match as a Brandon Jennings-lite with the speed, scoring, hops and creation that would ignite the team's bench. Most rookies with his profile tend to be inefficient, but he can still light it up in a reserve role. It's too early for consideration in redraft leagues, but dynasty managers should take notice.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP run be remembered?
Yahoo Sports NBA contributing writer Tom Haberstroh and senior NBA writer Dan Devine highlight Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar 2024-25 season and talk about his journey to becoming this year's winner. Hear the full conversation on 'The Big Number' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Shay Gildris Alexander is probably gonna be named the MVP. Advertisement He's the MVP in my book. He is by far the, the scoring leader this season, 32.7 points per game. And then when you look at the plus minus, the steals, the assist to turnover ratio, the lead. shit, I think is a big part of this and people are saying, Dan, like, free throw merchant, our favorite, Doris Burke is talking on the broadcast and bringing up that NBA Twitter believes he's a free throw merchant. I understand why people are frustrated with all the foul calls that he gets, because I think it's unusual the way that he gets these calls. But that's true for every superstar in the NBA. Jokic benefits from the whistle, Dodgeic benefits from the whistle. Advertisement LeBron does every MVP candidate in the NBA will get one or two calls a game that you're like, did he really foul him there? Do you have any thoughts on like how you'll look back? On this MVP race this season, one of the challenges with MVP voting, and I, I do have a ballot, and I did vote for Shay over Jokic in 2nd place. One of the challenges is balancing sort of the sober-minded statistical analysis with, I don't think that narrative is a dirty word. I think this is, I think storytelling is a really important part of our business and also of what our jobs are and what we do. To me, the Thunder were the story. Advertisement of this season. The driver of that literally and figuratively is Sha Gilda Alexander. Like they do not, yes, you can, you know, you can make the argument that he has the better supporting cast around him and Jokic has to do a heavier carry job and so on and so forth. And like everything about how Oklahoma City plays with the way that they structured the team to be a 5 out team with Chet at the big, the drive and kick, the guard guard screening actions, everything that kind of got. The ball rolling for Oklahoma City. All of that flows out from Gilous Alexander. This is not purely unethical hoops. There's more to it than that. Advertisement And then you like zoom out and it's 35 and 5, 50+% shooting with the steals and the blocks. And you're talking about Michael Jordan territory, like the, the in terms of production, not just from the guards, but from anybody, hitting those numbers, it's Jordan and it's SGA.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: One-on-one interviews with top prospects
The 2025 NBA Draft is fast approaching. Yahoo Sports NBA draft analyst Kevin O'Connor sat down with top prospects during the draft combine in Chicago last week. Watch the interviews below, and check back for more interviews in the coming days. Big Board ranking: No. 5 Knueppel, a projected top-10 pick, discusses his development as a shot creator at Duke, his focus on expanding his offensive arsenal, and the lessons learned from a heartbreaking loss in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. He also talks NBA playoffs, his basketball influences, including Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler, and the impact of family and faith on his career. Check out the full interview on YouTube. Big Board ranking: No. 11 Coward, who has risen from D-III basketball player to projected first-round pick, details his versatile skill set, draft combine performance, and the work ethic that led to his improved shooting and playmaking. He also shares lessons learned from his Olympic gold-medalist grandfather, his NBA player comps (including Kawhi Leonard) and what drives his obsession with basketball. Check out the full interview on YouTube. Tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
