If they keep their picks, the Boston Celtics will be searching for only the best in the 2025 NBA Draft. Last year, they looked for win-now talent and found Baylor Scheierman, who looks like he’ll be ready to contribute as soon as next season. This year, with Jayson Tatum slated to miss most (or all) of next year, they could go in a few different directions.
Adding a center could be a smart idea, considering there are some questions surrounding their five-man spot. Kristaps Porzingis could be traded, and they may struggle to retain both Luke Kornet and Al Horford.
That’s where Yanic Konan Niederhauser could enter their radar.
Celtics NBA Draft watch: Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Konan Niederhauser is a 22-year-old center from Switzerland who played three years of college ball after he spent the 2021-22 with Ehingen Urspring, a professional club in Germany, playing for its youth team and then its Pro A League roster.
After one season there, he left for Northern Illinois, where he spent two seasons with the Huskies, the first as a reserve and the second as a starter. Konan Niederhauser then transferred to Penn State for his third, and what would be final college season.
This past year, Konan Niederhauser appeared in, and started, 29 games for the Nittany Lions, playing 25.1 minutes per contest. He averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 61.1% from the field. The big man shot 1-for-11 on threes as well, rarely stepping foot behind the arc.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Konan Niederhauser measured in at 6-foot-11 and 0.25 inches, meaning he’s around 7-foot in shoes, and weighed 242.6 lbs. Konan Niederhauser has a 7-foot-3 and 0.25-inch wingspan and a 9-foot-3 standing reach.
Offense
Konan Niederhauser is huge. That’s a focal point of his offense.
His giant frame makes him an impressive screener, as players struggle to get through him. That will be a huge advantage for him at the NBA level. He set screens on most of Penn State’s offensive possessions, but his guards often failed to utilize them properly.
In tandem, Konan Niederhauser’s wingspan gives him a perfect catch radius to corral dump-in and post passes, though he did fumble a few more than he should have at times. He also did a solid job of putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket when the opportunity presented itself.
With his build, Konan Niederhauser projects to be an elite lob threat at the NBA level, especially if he’s paired with a top-notch facilitator. It would be very similar to the relationship Clint Capela formed with James Harden, or the one Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford had with Luka Doncic.
Freak athleticism and a strong foundation should help Konan Niederhauser find a role if he develops the rest of his game, though he could run into the danger of becoming the next Jericho Sims—all athlete, no game.
Despite his impressive screening and ability to get up for lobs, Konan Niederhauser doesn’t have much else to add on the offensive end. He did an alright job of capitalizing on post opportunities at Penn State, but it doesn’t look like the type of thing that will translate to the NBA level.
Konan Niederhauser also isn’t a great passer. He telegraphs his moves far too easily and most of his passes from the middle of the floor seem rushed, allowing defenses to swarm before the ball reaches its intended target. Any defender apt at shooting gaps or pickpocketing guys in the lane will take advantage. During his junior season, he logged 22 assists to 48 turnovers.
Defense
Affecting shots around the rim isn’t a problem for Konan Niederhauser. His wild wingspan allows him to contest guys from floater range to right at the rim. And his sturdy frame helps him stick with even the biggest centers in the post.
Though most projections don’t believe he’ll be a switchable defender at the NBA level, he’s shown some sneaky quickness. There should be more optimism that he can stay with ball-handlers on the perimeter, at least long enough to make them a bit uncomfortable driving past him.
If placed in the right system, Konan Niederhauser could certainly develop into the type of player who can anchor a defense, at least off the bench.
That said, there are some serious rebounding concerns for the seven-footer. Despite his height, weight, and wingspan, Konan Niederhauser still only averaged 6.3 rebounds at Penn State. And that’s up from the 4.4 he grabbed in his second and final year at Northern Illinois.
Konan Niederhauser’s issues rebounding the ball seem to be rooted in his inability to box out. He often resorts to face-guard block-outs rather than getting low and sealing off his man from the basket. This takes his eyes off the ball, allowing either his man to sneak an arm in and get a hand on the ball, or letting guards swoop in from the wing and snatch boards.
In addition, Konan Niederhauser averaged 2.5 fouls per game at Penn State, and the year prior, he averaged 2.6 in fewer minutes played. He’s a solid shot-blocker, but players are much smarter at the NBA level. At this point, he may be a pump fake away from foul trouble, and that’s not a great sign for an NBA hopeful.
Fit with the Celtics
Konan Niederhauser’s fit with the Celtics truly depends on how they view his metaphorical clay. Can he be molded into a stay-at-home defender? Can he improve his passing ability? Can he learn how to box out and stay out of foul trouble? If they believe the answer to those questions is “yes,” he could be an ideal target.
The Nittany Lion has the size, strength, and athleticism to survive at the NBA level. He’s already a great screener, and that goes a long way. It’s the rest of his game that needs a little work.
If Boston isn’t looking for a developmental project, then Konan Niederhauser may not be the best choice. Right now, he would be extremely similar to Neemias Queta, who has struggled with fouling and can’t seem to be in the right position on either end of the floor.
The Swiss big man is a better finisher and screener than Queta, simply because he doesn’t get tagged for many illegal picks, but there are too many other questions about his game.
Perhaps if the Celtics traded back, they could take a look at Konan Niederhauser, but in their current draft slots, there should be better, more polished big men on the board.
