While elite prospects Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper commanded the spotlight during the 2025 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers made quieter moves that raised eyebrows among analysts.
The Clippers selected Yanic Konan Niederhauser with the 30th pick and Kobe Sanders at No. 50, choices that earned them poor marks from draft experts who questioned whether these developmental projects fit the team’s win-now timeline alongside aging stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 NBA Draft Picks Didn’t Earn a Good Grade
The Clippers received a disappointing C- grade from PFSN’s latest draft analysis, one of the lowest marks handed out on draft night.
“The common theme here? Upside over readiness. The Clippers left the draft with two long-term projects who each offer distinct traits: Niederhauser with his rim protection and verticality, Sanders with his jumbo-creator profile. Unfortunately, neither is likely to contribute early, and both come with clear developmental hurdles,” PFSN’s draft analysis team wrote in their comprehensive report.
The first selection, Niederhauser, brings intriguing physical tools to Los Angeles. The 6-foot-10 forward from Penn State averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 61.1% from the field during his lone season with the Nittany Lions.
His athleticism and rim-running ability caught scouts’ attention throughout the season, particularly his shot-blocking prowess that led the Big Ten Conference. However, Niederhauser’s offensive repertoire remains severely limited. Without a reliable jump shot, self-creation ability, or playmaking skills, he depends almost entirely on his teammates to create scoring opportunities.
With the 30th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the LA Clippers select… Yanic Konan Niederhauser! pic.twitter.com/k9mBOT9v5o
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 26, 2025
The Clippers’ second-round selection presents a different set of questions. Sanders, a 6-foot-8 guard from Nevada, posted solid numbers with 15.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game during his senior season. His size and feel for the pick-and-roll offense make him an intriguing prospect at the guard position.
Welcome to LA, Kobe Sanders! pic.twitter.com/wiymLSXrqf
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 27, 2025
Yet Sanders’s development trajectory raises legitimate concerns. The California native only emerged as a double-digit scorer in his fourth collegiate season, a late bloom that typically signals difficulty adjusting to NBA speed and competition. His inconsistent pull-up jumper particularly worries scouts who wonder if he can create offense against elite defenders.
Potential Fits Within the Clippers’ System
Despite the criticism, both rookies could carve out specific roles if their development progresses smoothly. Niederhauser projects as a potential energy big who could spell starting center Ivica Zubac, providing vertical spacing and rim protection in limited minutes. His athleticism would complement Zubac’s more traditional post presence, giving coach Tyronn Lue different looks at the center position.
Sanders offers versatility as a secondary ball handler who could theoretically operate alongside Harden, reducing the playmaking burden on the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer. His size advantage at the guard position could create mismatches, assuming his shooting improves enough to keep defenses honest.
The timing of these selections comes at a critical juncture for the franchise. The Clippers concluded the 2024-25 regular season with a respectable 50-32 record, demonstrating their competitive capabilities when healthy. However, their first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Denver Nuggets exposed the team’s need for both immediate contributors and long-term building blocks.
These rookies face immense pressure to develop quickly. The Clippers cannot afford to wait multiple seasons for Niederhauser and Sanders to contribute meaningfully, not with their star players advancing in age and their championship window potentially narrowing.
Their summer league performance and subsequent development will prove crucial in determining whether these draft-night gambles pay dividends or become missed opportunities in the franchise’s quest for its first NBA championship.
