NBA Draft June 25, 2025 8 PM EST With The 55th Pick

First workout mention: Samson Johnson


Here's a blurb and video of him from a Bucks twitter draft workout tracker account

 

The more I look into draft stuff and given the Lakers recent history, I think Dink Pate is probably that guy with the 55th pick. He's really young, freak athlete, has range with a. decent handle at 6'8". Draft him and let him keep developing, maybe he can become a decent defender as 3-D is at such a premium.

*edit* I forgot to mention Myles Bird out of San Diego State. 6'6", long, had a great combine and one of the best POA defender in the draft, averaged 2 steals and 1 elk last year. I think he'd be a great pickup at 55.

I think Yang may have played himself out of the late 2nd round range. But even if he's available there, he's not the vertical lob threat or rim protector most are looking for (I like him and am impressed with his skillset at that size).

If we want to go for a lob threat rim protection project, I think Yanic Konan Nieferhauser out of Penn State could be worth a look and could be there at 55. Measured 7' 250 lbs at the combine. Athletic rim runner, 13th in NCAA in Blocks per game. Though he might stay for the NIL money.

 

Other thoughts, seems like after the lottery things are really wide open, so might be a good draft to buy an early second rounder or even a first (if this is possible). I think Charlotte has two early 2nds? Some guys I like:

Late 1st rd/Early 2nd rd:

• Rasheer Fleming - I like him a lot but after his measurements (7-5 wingspan) he may even go in the lottery
• Yaxel Lendenborg - had a really good combine, 6'9" measured well, high bbIQ, skilled power forward maybe a bit of small ball 5. Could be a Brndon Clarke type role player. Seems he has a good NIL offer so he might return
• Maxime Raynaud - He's big at 7" with range and had a really nice combine on Off and Def (might have played himself into he first round)
• Cedric Coward - 6'6"wing with huge wingspan like Fleming, had a great combine
• Adou Theiro - 6'7' freak athlete, all around game and high motor, good rebounder at the wing, still a bit raw and plays a bit reckless at times
• Drake Powell - 6'6", very young, one of the top athletes, definitely a good draft and develop candidate

Undrafted:

• Micah Peavy - 6'8" forward high motor, all around skill, hard worker, had a great combine
• Jamir Watkins - same as peavy, high motor, all around wing
• Kobe Sanders - get's a lot of Kuzma comps, was injured at the combine
• Hunter Sallis - looks the part of an NBA 2 guard, bucket getter, had a great combine scoring the ball

 

2025 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 59 picks post-combine

55. Los Angeles Lakers
Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan, super senior

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ks-post-combine-cooper-flagg-dallas-mavericks

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4700818/vladislav-goldin

 

Big Russian

 

Most pundits have us passing on Vlad Goldin, the 7-1 Michigan center and falling to the Rockets at #57. I say that's absurd. If he's available there, we have to snag him. He reminds me quite a bit of Zubac. Good rim protector, footwork, smooth, led the nation in FG percentage, developed a nice looking stroke from beyond the arc last season. Gotta grab him if he's still available at 55.

 

My first thought was that we need to take the best big available at 55. I’m now shifting towards us finding the freakiest athletic wing available and trying to develop him.

 

Yep I feel the same way. I just can’t see us drafting a big. Recent history says we look for a 3-D project (Christie, Lewis, Bronny) since every team in the league is looking for this and if they hit can be a contributor here or part of another trade.

Drake Powell, Yanic Neiderhauser (rim protector/lob threat), Dink Pate fit the freak athlete profile.

 

Rob got a close look at all the Klutch guys today.


A good chance to talk to A LOT of execs who are under your roof.

*Also in house: Vando, AD, and Lively.

Rob, time to ask Nico if he wants to go grab another coffee.

 

Buy a 1st rounder

 

do you guys think we're still in the bag for klutch as much? i don't think so. tbh, klutch hasn't steered anyone to us since AD, and i think we stopped doing them favors with THT. it's not a divorce, but sort of a mutual separation that's happened gradually. we both basically got we wanted out of the partnership and aren't that interested in maintaining it for now.

 

What do you guys think of Hansen Yang? He’s projected to be a late second rounder, 7’2” 255lbs and he showed some of his 3 point range at the Klutch pro day.

Downside is he he isn’t physically athletic and in the pro day video he was missing some dunks in the standing dunks drill.

No idea how he he is as a defender. If anyone has any insights about Yang… please share!

 

According to his 'gram, we brought in Jamir Watkins (currently 44th on ESPN's most recent mock)






Goldin was part of the Klutch group that was in house

 

So was Lamont Butler

 

Rob should buy some early 2nd round picks and take flyers on some of these guys

 

couldn't find a ton on butler. he's a super senior. seems like a combo type guard. strong, supposedly a very good defender. seems like a slightly smaller deanthony melton type.

 

Thought I saw Michael Finley in there too, he's gone grey man lol

 

I definitely like Watkins, seems to fit the 3-D type. I think he's already 24 and could certainly fight for mins during the season at the backup 2-3 (I think Knecht is gone in whatever trade for a big or POA before the season starts). Still not sure he'd solve our rotation depth in the playoffs. I also think he has one more year of college eligibility and has some good NIL offers.

I think we'd give Goldin a look if he goes undrafted (is he like Luka Garza from a few years back?). I like his highlights on Youtube but seems like he didn't have the greatest combine from Hoopshype:

Goldin’s combine was an uphill battle, as he struggled to make a mark on either end. In his first scrimmage, he shot just 16.7% from the field (1-of-6), went 0-for-1 from three, and finished with 3 points, 2 offensive boards, and little impact outside of one steal. His second outing was more efficient (2-of-3 FG for 66.7%), but he still posted just 4 points, no free throws made (0-for-2), and picked up 2 boards in 14 minutes.

Across both games, Goldin’s limited vertical leap and lack of mobility were exposed. He struggled to protect the rim, was slow on hedge and recovery in pick-and-roll defense, and didn’t offer much as a lob threat or rim runner. He did not have much opportunities to show off his vertical pop or foot speed, but he has two-way upside that today’s NBA values as a bruising big that rebounds well, sets good screens and is a rim-runner big at the five.

 

Me neither, hadn't heard about him. There are a few other interesting guys from Kentucky that are mocked in 2nd round or undrafted like Koby Brea, Amari Williams too