By NBA Insiders | ESPN, 2025-05-14 09:15:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
NBA 选秀前的赛季正如火如荼地进行，联盟周一举行了选秀抽签仪式，达拉斯独行侠队赢得了状元签，并有机会选择预计的状元秀库珀·弗拉格(Cooper Flagg)。一位消息人士周二告诉 ESPN，独行侠队计划在 6 月 25 日至 26 日于纽约布鲁克林举行的选秀大会上兑现这一机会。
本周，超过 100 名新秀来到芝加哥参加选秀联合试训和经纪公司的职业日。
G 联盟训练营周六拉开帷幕，周一和周二标志着在温特拉斯特球馆和万豪侯爵酒店进行的训练、体测、运动能力测试和体检的开始。周三和周四，球员们将参加球队面试、媒体采访，并上场参加对抗赛和比赛。
根据联盟的劳资协议，所有受邀球员都必须参加并参与联合试训。NBA 可能会免除受邀球员参加或参与联合试训，并要求该球员在稍后的日期完成联合试训活动。
ESPN 篮球内幕人士乔纳森·吉沃尼(Jonathan Givony)、杰里米·吴(Jeremy Woo)、博比·马克斯(Bobby Marks)、扎克·克拉姆(Zach Kram)和杰夫·博泽洛(Jeff Borzello)回顾了联合试训的最大收获，评估了正在崛起（或可能下滑）的新秀，并探讨了联盟的反应和围绕选秀的新闻。
更多：抽签后的模拟选秀 | NBA 选秀
周二回顾 | 谁脱颖而出？ | 伤病
我们听到了什么 | 接下来是什么？
周二你最大的收获是什么？
吉沃尼： 弗拉格在周二的 75 分钟里，展现出了成为 NBA 特权球员和稳拿状元的一切素质。我站在球场上，与弗拉格和所有其他预计的乐透秀面对面，被弗拉格带到他所做的一切中的能量、魅力和精神所震撼。他用他的声音主导着每一次训练，为队友欢呼，提升了球馆里的能量，并推动球员们做到最好的自己，尤其是他自己。
弗拉格的身高为 6 英尺 7 英寸，体重为 221 磅——比一年前在耐克篮球峰会上高了一英寸，重了 12 磅，尺寸与前芝加哥公牛队巨星斯科蒂·皮蓬(Scottie Pippen)1987 年从阿肯色中央大学出来时的数据相当，当时他 21 岁。他在训练中投篮表现良好，在一些时段里状态火热，显示出过去一年里的显著进步。
尽管弗拉格最初对周一的选秀抽签结果感到震惊，但消息人士告诉 ESPN，他的团队意识到他能加盟达拉斯是多么幸运。据说弗拉格对加入一支拥有强大老将和在小前锋位置上存在空缺的季后赛级别的球队的想法感到兴奋。独行侠队需要有创造投篮机会的球员，并且需要弗拉格承担作为新秀的重大进攻责任（类似于我们在杜克大学看到的那样），这对他的长期发展将大有裨益。
马克斯： 并非冒犯场上的活动，但过去 24 小时里，球队高管们只想谈论周二发生的事情。在两个小时的时间窗口里，达拉斯、波士顿，甚至可能是圣安东尼奥的未来都发生了重大变化。
独行侠队在二月份交易了卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic)这位划时代的球员，却得到了库珀·弗拉格作为回报。在纽约，杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum)倒在地板上，遭遇了跟腱伤病。正如一位球队高管告诉 ESPN 的那样：“塔图姆的伤病是具有地震性的，而且正在改变联盟格局。”
凯尔特人队是卫冕冠军的头号热门，现在距离被淘汰只有一场比赛的差距，并且面临着不确定的未来。塔图姆的伤病和预计下赛季超过 5 亿美元的工资总额可能会导致波士顿发生变化。
在抽签中从第 8 位上升到第 2 位，如果 2021 年总决赛 MVP 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)被摆上交易货架，那么马刺队就占据了主导地位。圣安东尼奥还拥有第 14 顺位选秀权和未来的资产，包括来自亚特兰大的一个不受保护的 2027 年首轮选秀权。他们还有权在下赛季与老鹰队进行互换。
吴： 围绕联合试训的大部分讨论都集中在抽签的后果上——不仅仅是独行侠队、圣安东尼奥马刺队和费城 76 人队获得的好处，还有这对其他球队意味着什么。对于犹他爵士队和华盛顿奇才队——他们与夏洛特黄蜂队共享状元签的最大概率——跌出前四名是一个毁灭性的结果。由于每支球队都经历了输球的赛季，并且可能面临着又一次的抽签征程，因此结果突显了糟糕战绩的负面影响。
以底特律活塞队为例，他们在过去三次选秀中都跌出了前四名，并选择了第五顺位，然后在本赛季突破成为一支季后赛球队。底特律在 2021 年仍然获得了抽签的黄金机会，但在凯德·坎宁安(Cade Cunningham)的明星表现之前，他花了一段时间才发展起来，而且选他的前厅办公室在他实现突破之前就被更换了。即使是重建球队（尤其是那些在较小市场的球队）的最佳情况，也往往是艰巨和无情的。
由于抽签系统每年都在持续带来随机性和惊喜，因此有理由问一下，它是否平衡了整个联盟的力量。达拉斯、圣安东尼奥和费城都希望在下赛季具有竞争力，而他们身后的大部分球队可能不得不原地踏步，再浪费一年。
博泽洛： 从大学的角度来看，周二最大的新闻是布吉·弗兰德(Boogie Fland)决定退出选秀并重返大学，正如 ESPN 首次报道的那样。弗兰德在 ESPN 的选秀排名中排名第 42 位，并且在最新的模拟选秀中预计会成为第二轮选秀。
弗兰德曾是一名五星级新秀和麦当劳全美明星，他在上个月的截止日期前进入了转会门户，现在成为了仍然可用的最佳球员之一。对于阿肯色大学来说，他在大一赛季的前 18 场比赛中平均得到 15.1 分和 5.7 次助攻，然后在 1 月中旬遭遇手部受伤，这迫使他缺席了本赛季剩余的大部分比赛。
最近围绕他潜在去向的传闻集中在卫冕全国冠军佛罗里达大学身上，因为鳄鱼队迫切需要一名组织后卫来与普林斯顿大学的转学生 Xaivian Lee 搭档。
克拉姆： 联盟仍在消化周一令人震惊的抽签结果，这种情绪在整个联合试训中都能感受到。达拉斯、圣安东尼奥和费城这三支即战力球队获得了前三顺位选秀权，这增加了围绕选秀大会前段潜在交易的吸引力，尤其是在周一有报道称扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)对可能离开密尔沃基持“开放态度”之后。虽然据报道独行侠队决心选择弗拉格而不是交易状元签，但对于马刺队和 76 人队来说，情况可能并非如此。
对于一支即战力球队来说，增加一名仍处于巅峰时期的两届 MVP 的动力是显而易见的。竞争对手的高管们想知道，如果雄鹿队能够得到一名有希望成为特权基石的球员作为回报的一部分，他们是否更容易接受扬尼斯的交易。
在周二的训练和测试中，谁脱颖而出？
亚克塞尔·伦德博格(Yaxel Lendeborg)，大前锋/中锋，阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校/密歇根大学： 伦德博格是排名最高的新秀，也是唯一一个完全参与所有竞争活动的预计首轮秀，他在训练和 3 对 3 比赛中表现出色，并没有降低他的排名。他的体测数据非常出色，穿鞋身高略低于 6 英尺 10 英寸，体重 235 磅，臂展 7 英尺 4 英寸，站立摸高 9 英尺 9 英寸，并且手掌很大，根据 DraftExpress 的历史数据库，可以与以赛亚·斯图尔特(Isaiah Stewart)和阿玛雷·斯塔德迈尔(Amare Stoudemire)相提并论。
伦德博格在训练中展示了真正的技巧——将他的总投篮命中率转化为 69%（在联合试训中并列第 10），并且还在 3 对 3 比赛中展示了他的控球和传球能力，作为创造者和终结者都有令人印象深刻的表现。伦德博格的防守有待提高，在大学里再待一年肯定会有所帮助，但毫无疑问他的技术和天赋，而且他比大多数 22 岁的球员更有潜力，他在高中毕业之前几乎没有打过任何有组织的篮球比赛。
密歇根大学的达斯蒂·梅(Dusty May)，伦德博格未来潜在的教练，周二出现在现场，以支持他以及他的大部分教练团队。伦德博格是否会为梅打一场比赛可能取决于他在未来两天的 5 对 5 比赛中的表现，因为当伦德博格出现在最后一节新秀时，NBA 高管的人群已经大大减少。 – 吉沃尼
德雷克·鲍威尔(Drake Powell)，得分后卫/小前锋，北卡罗来纳大学： 鲍威尔的测试结果表明他是芝加哥最好的运动员，他的无助跑（37 英寸半）和最大（助跑）垂直跳（43 英寸）都是最好的，同时还在四分之三场冲刺（3.07 秒）中排名第四，在折返跑（2.79 秒）中排名第七，在禁区敏捷训练（10.71 秒）中排名第七。他还测出了 7 英尺的巨大臂展，并且自从 ESPN 上次测量以来，身高增长了近一英寸，整体尺寸与新奥尔良鹈鹕队的侧翼防守者赫伯·琼斯(Herb Jones)相似。
鲍威尔在训练中的投篮表现并不特别好，总投篮命中率为 55%（在联合试训参与者的后三分之一），NBA 球队将在未来几周的私人试训中仔细观察这一点，尤其是如果他像预期的那样选择留在选秀大会上。 – 吉沃尼
德雷克·鲍威尔跳出了 42 英寸半，然后是 43 英寸的怪兽级最大垂直跳，到目前为止在 NBA 选秀联合试训中遥遥领先，并且在历史上也是一个令人印象深刻的成绩。https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1922332382893428890/video/1
— 乔纳森·吉沃尼 (@ DraftExpress) 2025 年 5 月 13 日
查兹·拉尼尔(Chaz Lanier)，得分后卫，田纳西大学： 我们知道拉尼尔看起来会是进入联合试训的最佳射手之一，这一点在周二得到了证实。在过去的两个赛季里，他一直是大学篮球中最出色的外线射手之一，在 2023-24 赛季在北佛罗里达大学的 3 分球命中率为 44%，在上赛季在田纳西大学的 3 分球命中率为 39.5%。
他在所有三个三分球投篮训练中都名列前五，并且他的触球和敏捷性也吸引了球探的注意。他在禁区敏捷训练中获得了第五快的成绩，无助跑垂直跳高度排名第三，最大垂直跳高度排名第四。 – 博泽洛
马克·西尔斯(Mark Sears)，控球后卫，阿拉巴马大学： 西尔斯本周以 ESPN 的 NBA 选秀排名第 78 位进入，但他出色的投篮能力可能会引起球队在第二轮末段的兴趣。他显然是周二训练中最好的射手，在四个训练中的三个都获得了第一名。
西尔斯进行了一场表演，在急停中距离跳投中 30 投 26 中，在定点 3 分球中 25 投 21 中，在侧向移动 3 分球训练中 27 投 25 中。他的运动能力测试并不出色，但他的投篮能力非常突出。 – 博泽洛
特雷·约翰逊(Tre Johnson)，得分后卫，德克萨斯大学： 虽然顶级新秀通常不会在联合试训中进行大量的场上活动，但在这种情况下看到预计的乐透秀们进行投篮对于评估是有帮助的。球队注意到了约翰逊在训练中的投篮表现（所有尝试的投篮命中率为 68%），因为他展示了远距离的快速而干净的投篮机制，并留下了深刻的印象。约翰逊的运动能力测试也表现出色。
我交谈过的多位球探对他的投篮姿势印象深刻——虽然对于一名上赛季场均出手近 7 次 3 分球，命中率为 39.7% 的球员来说，这并不令人震惊——但这确实提供了对球队将在私人试训中看到他什么情况的见解。根据他所展示的内容，约翰逊有望在这种情况下给人留下深刻的印象，因为他正在争夺选秀大会前五顺位的席位。 – 吴
特雷·约翰逊在 NBA 选秀联合试训中的定点 3 分球训练pic.twitter.com/lG7omdrnQq
— 乔纳森·吉沃尼 (@ DraftExpress) 2025 年 5 月 13 日
伤病消息：杜克的克诺普坐壁上观，缺席训练和测试
孔·克诺普(Kon Knueppel)的经纪人马克·巴特尔斯坦(Mark Bartelstein)告诉 ESPN，预计的第 8 顺位选秀权，来自杜克的得分后卫/小前锋，由于伤病没有参加联合试训的运动能力测试或投篮训练。
“孔在三周前扭伤了脚踝，还没有完全恢复，”巴特尔斯坦说。“他现在恢复了 85%，我们希望他恢复到 100%。他真的快回来了。希望他能在本周末之前恢复，并且可以参加我们周五的职业日。”
由于 NBA 强制性的联合试训参与规则，克诺普将被要求在未来几周内在 NBA 球队的设施中完成运动能力测试和投篮训练部分。 – 吉沃尼
我们在芝加哥听到的消息
马刺队将在第 2 顺位做什么？
当圣安东尼奥的选秀权在周一的抽签中跃升至第 2 顺位时，在联盟中引起了反响，这不仅是因为马刺队有可能在 文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)、达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)之外增加共识的第 2 顺位新秀迪伦·哈珀(Dylan Harper)，而且还因为这个特定选秀权可能意味着的交易选择的影响。
马刺队一直非常幸运，他们的选秀权现在已经连续三次在抽签中进入前四名。虽然已经有人猜测圣安东尼奥 可能 在第 2 顺位做什么，但有理由按兵不动并选择哈珀，他突显为该位置上可用的最佳人才，并且将是一个出色的阵容补充。
尽管积极地追求像扬尼斯·阿德托昆博这样的球星会加速圣安东尼奥的季后赛之路，但由于 21 岁的文班亚马作为球队的核心，马刺队也可以负担得起从大局着眼。
圣安东尼奥拥有执行重大交易的交易资产：他们控制着亚特兰大老鹰队的未来两个选秀权，拥有他们未来的选秀权（除了 2027 年的选秀权），并且持有遥远的未来与波士顿（2028 年，前一名受保护）、达拉斯和明尼苏达（2030 年，前一名受保护）中更有利的一个以及萨克拉门托在 2031 年的选秀权互换权。这些资产也足够遥远，马刺队可以持有它们，直到他们准备好升级或最终做出这些选择。
由于福克斯已经加入，并且可以选择围绕年轻的三人组文班亚马、哈珀和卡斯尔长期建设，因此有充分的理由让球队有机地发展。这种方法在二十年前导致了可持续的竞争，因为马刺队将球员安排在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)周围。目前，圣安东尼奥拥有足够强大的实力来决定自己的紧迫性。
未来几周应该会在马刺队在交易谈判中想要多么积极方面有所体现。联盟的预期是哈珀将在第 2 顺位被选中，无论是由马刺队还是另一支球队在那里选择，这使得 76 人队——另一支将权衡交易机会的球队——在选择第 3 顺位时做出一个不太明确的决定。 – 吴
关于科沃德的首轮选秀讨论越来越多
几周前，塞德里克·科沃德(Cedric Coward)选择杜克大学而不是阿拉巴马大学，这似乎表明杜克大学的教练乔恩·谢耶尔(Jon Scheyer)可能找到了另一支为潜在的最终四强而打造的球队所缺少的球员。
但这位华盛顿州立大学的转校生可能无法到达达勒姆。
周一，他的测量结果为 6 英尺 5 英寸，臂展为 7 英尺 2 英寸，然后是周二投篮训练中表现最好的球员之一（总投篮命中率为 72%，并列第六）。尽管科沃德由于 11 月份的肩部受伤而不会参加 5 对 5 的对抗赛，但 NBA 人员越来越多地谈论科沃德将自己打入首轮。 – 杰夫·博泽洛
塞德里克·科沃德在 NBA 选秀联合试训的侧向移动 3 分球训练中投篮pic.twitter.com/HIJg1czs0t
— 乔纳森·吉沃尼 (@ DraftExpress) 2025 年 5 月 13 日
对于来自非强队大学的乐透秀来说，背景至关重要
除了预计在乐透区被选中的三名杜克大学球员外，本次选秀中的其他顶级新秀都没有处于理想的大学环境中。尽管有迪伦·哈珀(Dylan Harper)和 埃斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey)的存在，罗格斯大学并没有进入 NCAA 锦标赛，因为很少有天赋围绕着这些大一新生天才。贝勒大学（拥有 VJ·埃德格科姆(VJ Edgecombe)）、俄克拉荷马大学（ 杰里迈亚·菲尔斯 (Jeremiah Fears)）、德克萨斯大学（特雷·约翰逊）和南卡罗来纳大学（ 科林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Collin Murray-Boyles)）最多也只是中等水平的球队。
NBA 高管在预测从大学到职业的过渡时总是必须考虑背景——但他们说这一步对于这批新秀来说尤其重要，因为他们必须确定他们在录像带上看到的弱点是 实际 问题，还是仅仅是劣质队友的结果。
与更好的天赋一起打球可以减轻一些问题，因为新秀们会在 NBA 中找到自己的角色。 – 克拉姆
周三和周四的安排
周三将迎来第一天的 5 对 5 对抗赛，虽然大多数排名靠前的新秀不会参加，但有很多值得关注的有趣名字。亚克塞尔·伦德博格（前阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校的大个子，已承诺加入密歇根大学）是唯一计划上场的预计首轮秀，但一大批犹豫是否留在选秀大会或重返大学的球员都在名单上。奥本大学的塔哈德·佩蒂福德(Tahaad Pettiford)、达里恩·威廉姆斯(Darrion Williams)和圣迭戈州立大学的迈尔斯·伯德(Miles Byrd)是其中的佼佼者。
人们将密切关注宾夕法尼亚州立大学的亚尼克·科南·尼德豪泽(Yanic Konan Niederhauser)，他的测试表现非常出色，并且是最近 G 联盟精英训练营中表现最好的新秀，赢得了参加联合试训的资格，并在 ESPN 最近的模拟选秀中排名第 45 位。 – 博泽洛
点击查看原文：2025 NBA draft combine: Top prospects, highlights, more
2025 NBA draft combine: Top prospects, highlights, more
The NBA’s predraft season is in full swing as the league held its draft lottery Monday, with the Dallas Mavericks winning the No. 1 pick, and the chance to select projected top pick Cooper Flagg – an opportunity a source told ESPN Tuesday that the Mavericks intend to see through during the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York.
There are more than 100 prospects in Chicago this week for the draft combine and agency pro days.
The G League camp got things going Saturday, and Monday and Tuesday marked the start of drills, measurements, athletic testing and medical examinations at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis. On Wednesday and Thursday, players will take part in team interviews, media availability and hit the court for scrimmages and games.
All invited players are required to attend and participate in the combine, according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement. The NBA might excuse an invited player’s attendance or participation at the combine and require the player to complete combine activities at a later date.
ESPN basketball insiders Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo, Bobby Marks, Zach Kram and Jeff Borzello recap the biggest takeaways from the combine, assess the prospects who are rising (or potentially falling) and address league reaction and news around the draft.
MORE: Post-lottery mock draft | NBA draft
Tuesday’s recap | Who stood out? | Injuries
What we’re hearing | What’s next?
What’s your biggest takeaway from Tuesday?
Givony: Flagg looked every bit the part of a franchise NBA player and surefire No. 1 pick in his 75 minutes on the court Tuesday. I was on the floor, standing face-to-face with Flagg and every other projected lottery pick and was blown away by the energy, charisma and spirit Flagg brought to everything he did. He dominates every drill with his voice, cheering on teammates, lifting up the energy in the building and pushing players to be the best version of themselves, especially himself.
Flagg measured 6-foot-7¾ and 221 pounds – an inch taller than at the Nike Hoop Summit a year ago and 12 pounds heavier with dimensions comparable to those of former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen coming out of Central Arkansas as a 21-year-old in 1987. He shot the ball well in drills, catching fire in stretches, showing significant improvement over the past year.
Though Flagg initially looked shocked by the results of Monday’s draft lottery, sources told ESPN that his camp realized how fortunate he is to land in Dallas. Flagg is said to be thrilled by the idea of joining a playoff-caliber roster with strong veterans and a team that has a void at the small forward position. The Mavericks have a need for shot creators and will need Flagg to shoulder significant offensive responsibility as a rookie (similar to what we saw at Duke), which will be great for his long-term development.
Marks: No offense to the on-court activities, but the past 24 hours is all team executives wanted to talk about Tuesday. In a two-hour window, the future of Dallas, Boston and possibly San Antonio changed significantly.
The Mavericks traded a generational player in Luka Doncic in February, only to be rewarded with another one, Cooper Flagg. In New York, there was the scene of Jayson Tatum down on the court with an Achilles injury. As one team executive told ESPN: “The Tatum injury is seismic and league changing.”
The Celtics, the prohibitive favorite to repeat as champions, are now one game away from elimination and face an uncertain future. The Tatum injury and a projected $500 million-plus payroll next season probably will result in changes for Boston.
The significance of moving from No. 8 to No. 2 in the lottery puts the Spurs in the driver’s seat if the 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is made available in a trade. San Antonio also has the No. 14 pick and future assets, including an unprotected 2027 first-rounder from Atlanta. They also have the right to swap with the Hawks next season.
Woo: Much of the chatter around the combine centered on the lottery fallout – not just the breaks favoring the Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, but also what it means for the other teams. For the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards – who shared top odds with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 1 pick – dropping out of the top four was a devastating result. With each team enduring losing seasons and probably staring down another lottery campaign, the results underscore the downside of a poor record.
Take for example the Detroit Pistons, who dropped out of the top four and selected fifth in the past three drafts before breaking through as a playoff team this season. Detroit still struck lottery gold in 2021, but it took Cade Cunningham time to develop before his star turn, and the front office that drafted him was replaced before it happened. Even the best-case scenarios for rebuilding teams – particularly those in smaller markets – are often arduous and unforgiving.
With the lottery system continuing to bear randomness and surprise annually, it’s fair to ask the question whether it balances power across the league. Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia all expect to be competitive next season, while most of the teams directly behind them might have to spin their wheels for yet another year.
Borzello: From a college perspective, the biggest news Tuesday was Boogie Fland’s decision to withdraw from the draft and return to college, as first reported by ESPN. Fland is ranked No. 42 in ESPN’s draft rankings and was a projected second-round pick in the latest mock draft.
A former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All American, Fland entered the transfer portal before the deadline last month and now becomes one of the best players still available. For Arkansas, he averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 assists over the first 18 games of his freshman season before sustaining a hand injury in mid-January that forced him to sit out most of the rest of the season.
The most recent buzz surrounding his potential destination has centered on Florida, the reigning national champion, as the Gators are in desperate need of a playmaking guard to pair with Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee.
Kram: The league is still digesting Monday’s shocking lottery results, and it was felt all throughout the combine. The fact that three win-now teams – Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia – landed the top three picks increases intrigue around potential trades at the top of the draft, especially after Monday’s report that Antetokounmpo is “open-minded” about potentially leaving Milwaukee. While the Mavericks are reportedly set on drafting Flagg rather than trading the No. 1 overall pick, but that might not hold true for the Spurs and 76ers.
The incentive is clear for a win-now team to add a two-time MVP still in his prime. And rival executives wonder if it might be easier for the Bucks to stomach a Giannis trade if they’re getting back a prospective franchise cornerstone as part of the return.
Who stood out during Tuesday’s drills and tests?
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan: The highest-ranked prospect, and lone projected first-round pick who is fully participating in all competitive action, Lendeborg did nothing to diminish his standing with an outstanding all-around day in drills and 3-on-3 play. His measurements are outstanding, a hair under 6-foot-10 in shoes, 235 pounds with a 7-4 wingspan, a 9-½ standing reach, and huge hands, comparable to the likes of Isaiah Stewart and Amare Stoudemire, per the DraftExpress historical database.
Lendeborg demonstrated legitimate skill in drills – converting 69% of his aggregate field goal attempts (tied for 10th best at the combine) and also showed off his ballhandling and passing ability in 3-on-3, showing off in impressive plays as both as a creator and finisher. Lendeborg’s defense is a work in progress, something another year in college could certainly help with, but there’s little doubting his skill and talent, and he has more upside than most 22-year-olds, barely playing any organized basketball before graduating high school.
Michigan’s Dusty May, Lendeborg’s potential future coach, was present Tuesday to support him along with much of his coaching staff. Whether Lendeborg ever plays a game for May probably will depend on how he performs in 5-on-5 play over the next two days, as the crowd of NBA executives had greatly diminished when Lendeborg appeared in the very last session of prospects. – Givony
Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina: Powell tested as arguably the best athlete in Chicago, with the best no-step (37½ inch) and max (running) vertical (43 inches), while also finishing fourth in the three-quarter-court sprint (3.07 seconds), seventh in the shuttle run (2.79 seconds) and seventh in the pro lane drill (10.71 seconds). He also measured a huge 7-foot wingspan and grew nearly an inch since ESPN’s last measurements, with overall dimensions similar to those of New Orleans Pelicans wing-stopper Herb Jones.
Powell didn’t shoot the ball particularly well in drills, converting 55% of his aggregate attempts (in the bottom third of combine participants) something at which NBA teams will want to take a closer look in private workouts in coming weeks, especially if he elects to stay in the draft as expected. – Givony
Drake Powell jumps a 42 1/2 and then a monster 43 inch max vertical leap, tops by a wide margin so far at the NBA draft combine and an impressive mark historically. https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1922332382893428890/video/1
— Jonathan Givony (@ DraftExpress) May 13, 2025
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee: We knew Lanier would look like one of the best shooters entering the combine, and that carried over Tuesday. He has been one of the premier perimeter shotmakers in college basketball over the past two seasons, making 44% of his 3s in 2023-24 at North Florida and 39.5% last season at Tennessee.
He finished in the top five in all three 3-point shooting drills, and his touch and agility also caught the eyes of scouts. He had the fifth-fastest time in the pro lane agility drill, the third-highest no-step vertical leap and the fourth-highest max vertical leap. – Borzello
Mark Sears, PG, Alabama: Sears entered the week ranked No. 78 in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings, but his elite shooting ability could intrigue teams late in the second round. He was clearly the best shooter during Tuesday’s sessions, finishing first in three of the four drills.
Sears put on an exhibition, going 26-for-30 on off-dribble midrange pull-ups, 21-for-25 on spot-up 3s and 25-for-27 in the side-mid-side 3-point drill. His athletic testing wasn’t great, but his shooting ability stood out. – Borzello
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas: Though top prospects don’t typically do a lot of on-court activities at the combine, getting to see projected top picks get up shots in this setting is additive for evaluation. Teams took notice of Johnson’s shooting performance in drills (68% on all shots attempted), as he displayed quick and clean mechanics from long range and left a strong impression. Johnson also tested well athletically.
Multiple scouts I spoke with were impressed with his stroke – and while that’s not a shocker for a player who shot 39.7% from 3 on nearly seven attempts per game last season – it does offer insight into what teams will see from him in private workouts. Based on what he showed, Johnson figures to impress in that context as he vies for a spot among the draft’s top-five picks. – Woo
Tre Johnson spot-3 shooting drill at the NBA draft combine https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1922322795775594635/video/1
— Jonathan Givony (@ DraftExpress) May 13, 2025
Injury news: Duke’s Knueppel sits out drills, tests
Kon Knueppel, the projected No. 8 pick and shooting guard/small forward out of Duke, did not participate in the combine’s athletic testing or shooting drills because of an injury, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.
“Kon sprained his ankle three weeks ago and is not all the way back yet,” Bartelstein said. “He’s at 85% now and we want him at 100%. He’s really close. Hopefully, he’s back by the end of the week and can participate in our pro day Friday.”
Because of the NBA’s mandatory combine participation rules, Knueppel will be required to complete the athletic testing and shooting drills portion at a NBA team facility in the coming weeks. – Givony
What we’re hearing in Chicago
What do the Spurs do at No. 2?
Reaction reverberated around the league when San Antonio’s pick jumped to No. 2 in Monday’s lottery, not only because of the prospect of the Spurs adding consensus No. 2 prospect Dylan Harper alongside Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but also the implications of what that specific pick could mean as a trade option.
The Spurs have had exceptional fortune, their draft pick having now jumped into the top four in three straight lotteries. While there has been speculation already about what San Antonio could do at No. 2, there’s a case for standing pat and selecting Harper, who stands out as the best available talent at that spot and would be an excellent roster addition.
Though the prospect of aggressively targeting a star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo would accelerate San Antonio’s playoff path, the Spurs can also afford to think big picture, thanks to the presence of 21-year-old Wembanyama as the team’s centerpiece.
San Antonio has the trade assets to execute a major move: They control the Atlanta Hawks’ next two drafts, own their future picks other than 2027, and hold far future swap rights to picks from Boston (2028, top-one protected), the more favorable of Dallas and Minnesota (2030, top-one protected), and Sacramento in 2031. Those assets are also far enough out that the Spurs can hold them until they’re ready to upgrade or ultimately make those picks.
With Fox already in the fold and the attractive option to build around the young trio of Wembanyama, Harper and Castle in the long run, there’s plenty of rationale behind letting the team develop organically. That approach led to sustainable contention two decades ago as the Spurs put players around Tim Duncan. And at the moment, San Antonio is playing with a strong enough hand to dictate its own urgency.
The coming weeks should bear out more in terms of how proactive the Spurs want to be in trade talks. The expectation around the league is Harper will come off the board at No. 2 whether it’s the Spurs or another team selecting there, leaving the 76ers – another team that will weigh trade opportunities – with a less-clear decision selecting at No. 3. – Woo
First-round buzz on Coward grows
When Cedric Coward picked Duke over Alabama a couple of weeks ago, it looked as if Duke coach Jon Scheyer might have found the missing player to another team built for a potential Final Four run.
But the Washington State transfer might not make it to Durham.
On Monday, he measured at 6-foot-5¼ with a 7-2¼ wingspan, and then was one of the best performers in Tuesday’s shooting drills (hitting 72% of his aggregate attempts, tied for sixth best). Despite the fact Coward will not be participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages because of a shoulder injury he sustained in November, there is growing talk about NBA personnel that Coward is going to play himself into the first round. – Jeff Borzello
Cedric Coward shooting it in the NBA draft combine side-mid-side drill https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1922346896082743741/video/1
— Jonathan Givony (@ DraftExpress) May 13, 2025
Context is key for lottery prospects from non-powerhouse schools
Other than the three Duke players projected in the lottery, none of the other top prospects in this draft were in ideal situations in college. Rutgers didn’t make the NCAA tournament despite the presence of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, because so little talent surrounded those freshman phenoms. Baylor (with VJ Edgecombe), Oklahoma (Jeremiah Fears), Texas (Tre Johnson) and South Carolina (Collin Murray-Boyles) were all middling teams at best as well.
NBA executives always have to consider context when forecasting the transition from college to the pros – but they say that step is especially crucial with this crop of prospects, because they have to determine whether the weaknesses they see on tape are actual problems or merely the result of inferior teammates.
Playing next to much better talent could mitigate some issues as prospects find their roles in the NBA. – Kram
Coming up Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday brings the first day of 5-on-5 scrimmages, and while the majority of highly-ranked draft prospects won’t participate, there are plenty of intriguing names to watch. Yaxel Lendeborg (former UAB big man who has committed to Michigan) is the only projected first-rounder slated to play, but a long list of players who are on the fence about staying in the draft or returning to college are on the rosters. Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, Darrion Williams and San Diego State’s Miles Byrd headline the list.
There will be plenty of eyes on Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who tested incredibly well and was the best prospect at the G League Elite Camp recently, earning a call-up to the combine and slotting in as a top-45 pick in ESPN’s mock recent mock draft. – Borzello
By NBA Insiders | ESPN, via ESPN