2025 Draft -- Picks and Discussions (Clippers select Yanic Konan Niederhauser, trade for Kobe Sanders)

[MartinToVaught]

BTW, Yanic is turning 23 in mid-March. Yes, already 23 before his first season in the NBA is even over. Age does matter because even if he does pan out, we're already starting out that much closer to his decline years than if we had drafted a 19 or 20-year-old instead. It's just terrible, unserious process from this front office. It's frustrating to watch this team do the same things over and over again that keep us mediocre.

[MartinToVaught]

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This makes no sense. We drafted one of the oldest prospects just to basically stash him and give him no playing time until he's even older.

I was told we were a "first-class organization" now. This is the type of asinine nonsense the Hornets, Wizards and Pelicans do and get made fun of for.

[ERClips]

BTW, Yanic is turning 23 in mid-March. Yes, already 23 before his first season in the NBA is even over. Age does matter because even if he does pan out, we're already starting out that much closer to his decline years than if we had drafted a 19 or 20-year-old instead. It's just terrible, unserious process from this front office. It's frustrating to watch this team do the same things over and over again that keep us mediocre.

All the more reason for you not to watch. Save us these same comments over and over and over and over and over and over…
I’m excited about the new Clipper!

[esqtvd]

IOW, Ballmer fell in love again, lol.

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How people blame L-Frank for everything. smdh. It's always Ballmer. But at least he has a nice smile and isn't damaged goods. He's got some measurables like height and hops, and Cs are almost always projects as they grow into their bodies. Both Zu and Deandre Jordan were 25 when they really started producing.

[Clemenza]

I wanted Fleming or Raynaurd, but lets wait to see how Yanic looks in summer league before everyone bashes him. He does have that "Derek Lively" build and game as far as comparisons go.

We have the #51st pick tomorrow. We either need to move up or try to get another 2nd rounder. Brooklyn, DC, or San Antonio might want to come off their 2nd rounders. Nets can't add six new players to their roster. Looking at Fleming, Raynaurd, Thiero, Penda, Proctor, and Kam Jones as players to target.

[Captain Ballmer]

First time I saw this guy, will call him YKN. Selecting back-up big #30 was my thought too but names were different.

[TrueLAfan]

Niederhauser is a player. He's got great physical tools, has a good motor and is said to "very coachable." He's still raw offensively, but is pretty solid in that area. Yes, he's 22. He'll turn 23 a month or two after the break next year. That's still plenty young; he's a balance of college experience/production and upside. He'll play next year. It's a good pick.

Yes, I kind of saw this coming. That's "Nostraf#$!ingdamus" to you.

[esqtvd]

So Yanic walked into the Clippers gym for practice last year when Penn St. was in town to play USC.

They really scoured to the ends of the earth for this pick, lol.

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[esqtvd]

BTW, Yanic is turning 23 in mid-March. Yes, already 23 before his first season in the NBA is even over. Age does matter because even if he does pan out, we're already starting out that much closer to his decline years than if we had drafted a 19 or 20-year-old instead. It's just terrible, unserious process from this front office. It's frustrating to watch this team do the same things over and over again that keep us mediocre.

All the more reason for you not to watch. Save us these same comments over and over and over and over and over and over…
I’m excited about the new Clipper!

Mercy.

Zu and Deandre were 25 before they started producing. Big guys take awhile to grow into their bodies. And Yanic is a REAL 6'11" and already 240, not 210.

[Dynamix]

[Max Headrom]

This is awesome. Happy for the kid

[og15]

BTW, Yanic is turning 23 in mid-March. Yes, already 23 before his first season in the NBA is even over. Age does matter because even if he does pan out, we're already starting out that much closer to his decline years than if we had drafted a 19 or 20-year-old instead. It's just terrible, unserious process from this front office. It's frustrating to watch this team do the same things over and over again that keep us mediocre.

This only really matters of the 19 or 20 year old is a good player early enough. If the 19 or 20 year old isn't ready until 22 years old, you're still only getting a solid player for the same amount of time.

Players are in their primes until their early 30's, I'm not sure why we're worried about the decline age of any drafted rookie, lol.

Who is to even say the team will keep the guy by the time he reaches those ages when you start taking into account the CBA realities also. I think this addition is very odd, lol

Like, man, he will start declining in 10 years instead of 13 years, like why would anyone be concerned about that? The legitimate concern, yes would be that there's not as much room for growth, so if he's not already solid, it's less likely he gets there, but talking about later years is weird.

The other side is that the benefit of an older guy who is able to play and contribute early is that you have a productive player while he's cheap. A younger guy who has to develop, by the time he's good to play, he's ready for his second contract, and the whole league is watching, which makes him more expensive when he's young and now productive, so there is some potential benefit in that aspect. (Not suggesting this is the reason to draft old guys, just saying that there's some benefit in that side too)

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[TrueLAfan]

I understand—but don’t agree with—complaints about Yanic, who I’m going to refer to by his first name because his last name will make me cramp up if I have to type it over and over. Yanic is a balance between production and upside—he has areas for improvement, but some are question marks that lower his ceiling a little. But he’s also improved each year including moving to a major conference and has a good motor and absolutely sterling physical qualities. So his floor is pretty high. I personally think he’ll be a better pro than college player, and his second season will be his semi-breakout. But maybe that’s me.

What’s clear, so totally clear, is the depth of this draft. I can’t argue with most of the players taken, and yet there are at least a dozen players available that may or may not be better than Nolan Traore or Will Riley, who went in the early 20s. I’m talking about guys like Rasheer Fleming (can’t believe he wasn’t a first rounder), Noah Penda, Tyrese Proctor, Maxime Reynaud, Adou Thierro, Chaz Lanier, and Ryan Kalkbrenner. In a normal year, you could make good arguments for any of those guys to be a mid or high 20s pick, or just out of the lottery in some years.

That’s why—exactly why—Brooklyn’s next pick at 36 is so valuable. We should be making every move possible to get it. They’ve already drafted five players; they don’t need more out of this draft other than maybe a draft and stash guy. Which you could get at 51, which happens to be our pick. I’d offer another second rounder and cash. Another second round pick and a couple of million is a lot to move up 15 places in the second round. But we may have to offer more … and for God’s sake, a lot of those guys still on the board are worth it to us.

[Bobbymcgee]

Well, he's a big man and he's athletic. God knows the Clippers can use more of that on their roster.

[KL2]

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Clippers could do something like this. So many names left on the board but will be gone by 51.

[MartinToVaught]

Clippers could do something like this. So many names left on the board but will be gone by 51.

Even if we trade up, Frank would just use the pick on a 26-year-old nobody's ever heard of who's fluent in Esperanto and wrote for his school newspaper in college (no mention of any basketball skills). But don't worry, he's "basketball young" and will be ready to start shooting threes five years from now on another team.

[Tudalop]

For example, five years ago Bane was selected at 30th pick having the same age. We can be grateful if Yanic turns into something closer.

[Captain Ballmer]

Find a time to look at this YKN guy. Omg, that selection is gross.

Some players are not great students of the game, acceptable. But this one right here not learning anything appearently. Started playing center at 17 when his physics changed dramatically, five years past and still not getting it how to play center and defense is troublesome.

If not that A+ physical tools and athleticism, he wouldn't even play for that college team. When in Nba these advantages will disappear against nba athleted, this guy will be a laughingstock.

His best case scenario is like less goofy Jaxson Hayes, and even this has like %10 chance of happening. Very low ceiling with a really low chance.

Disaster pick. Thats how i think about it. That why they trade all those future picks bs they know nothing about drafting.

[Tudalop]

Find a time to look at this YKN guy. Omg, that selection is gross.

Some players are not great students of the game, acceptable. But this one right here not learning anything appearently. Started playing center at 17 when his physics changed dramatically, five years past and still not getting it how to play center and defense is troublesome.

If not that A+ physical tools and athleticism, he wouldn't even play for that college team. When in Nba these advantages will disappear against nba athleted, this guy will be a laughingstock.

His best case scenario is like less goofy Jaxson Hayes, and even this has like %10 chance of happening. Very low ceiling with a really low chance.

Disaster pick. Thats how i think about it. That why they trade all those future picks bs they know nothing about drafting.

That recalls me of DJ. No need to rush our disappointing. Let the guy train and play and then we decide. Maybe he has an excellent behaviour or work ethic and becomes useful as DeAndre did.

I mean, blame the Front Office for whatever already happened, but not for something that did not happened yet. And furthermore, don't kill that guy for college games.

[TrueLAfan]

Here's some video and written analysis of the pick, along with the grade given.

CBS Sports – Grade B

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SI.com – Grade B
https://www.si.com/nba/nba-draft-first-round-grades-every-selection-from-cooper-flagg-to-no-30

For The Win/USA Today – Grade B+
https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/25/nba-draft-grades-live-first-round-2025/84359208007/

NBC Sports – Grade A-
https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/2025-nba-draft-grades-for-every-team-in-the-first-round

Yahoo Sports – Grade A-
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/2025-nba-draft-grades-first-round-pick-by-pick-analysis-cooper-flagg-ace-bailey-005203405.html

Ersin’s NBA Draft Newsletter – Grade A-
https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-grades

NBAdraft.net – Grade B
https://www.nbadraft.net/2025-nba-draft-instant-analysis/