Noah Penda - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Penda was named the Best Young Player of the French League, averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals on 33.7% shooting from 3-point range in 33 games with Le Mans. He is viewed as one of the top international prospects this year, given his scoring, versatility on the defensive end of the court and size at 225 pounds. He projects to be able to step in and contribute immediately, and should be a seamless fit with teams drafting in this range.

The Thunder have a pretty significant roster crunch to the point that it will be difficult to bring two rookies onto the team next season. I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these players; otherwise, they will need to make significant movements near the end of their roster to dump a few of their recent draft picks. Given that I'm not projecting trades here, I've gone with Penda, who I'm not convinced would even agree to be a stash.

Penda ticks a lot of the developmental dribble, pass, shoot and defend boxes that the Thunder has tended to value at 6-8, 245 pounds. He's averaging nearly 10 points per game to go with five rebounds and three assists. I think his defense is slightly overrated by his counting stats, as he can gamble from time to time, but he's physical and projects to be switchable on that end long-term as long as his footspeed stays at a solid level as he ages. He also rotates around the court well and knows where he's supposed to be.

Scouting report: Penda is in the middle of an excellent season in France, as his versatility and strong feel for the game have played an essential role for playoff-bound Le Mans. He is an intelligent passer who slides all over the floor defensively and plays a mature style for a 20-year-old getting his first action in high-level European basketball.

His streaky shooting -- he made 31% of his 3-pointers this season -- is something NBA teams will want to learn more about in the predraft process, along with his average explosiveness. Still, players in his mold are en vogue, provided he can figure out his jumper long term. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: The Celtics were one of the few teams atop the NBA standings to hold on to their first-round pick, giving them a valuable asset to either add young, cost-controlled talent or explore trade opportunities.

Boston's roster is already littered with players it drafted or developed off the scrap heap, and it will likely need to continue to be creative this summer with several key rotation members aging or approaching the end of their contracts. -- Givony

Penda is a big wing who emerged this year as a potential first-round pick for his playmaking ability on both ends of the floor. He has fantastic defensive instincts and sharp hands (2.6 percent steal rate, 3.5 percent block rate) with an ideal frame for a pro wing at 6'8, 225 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan. He's a good passer and smart cutter who knows how to find his way into opportunistic scoring chances. Penda isn't a burner with his foot speed and his three-point shot (34.7 percent on three attempts per game) is inconsistent but improving. He'll turn 21 years old as an NBA rookie, but his production in the top French pro league is encouraging. Teams looking for a connective wing (who isn't?) won't find many bets more appealing that Penda.

Penda doesn't have the kind of thrilling game that'll make for an exciting draft night sizzle reel. But you'll understand this pick when the ball goes up. Penda is a clever defender on and off the ball, he's a little-thing king on offense, and to top it off, he's got excellent perimeter size. It's not as if the Thunder need someone else who fits this bill, but you can never have enough players who cleanly fit your approach.

Pat Riley said he has no plans to retire and that "80 is the new 60," so it's hard to imagine the Heat going with a raw project in the draft. Which is why Penda makes a ton of sense; he plays with a veteran's mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense and high-level feel. He'll need to improve his jumper to stick long-term, but his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation that could help Miami win games right away.