Sam Vecenie highlights best traits that Danny Wolf brings to NBA

Danny Wolf is among the most versatile players, let alone among the bigs, in the 2025 NBA Draft. That has him on the line of being a lottery pick with the latest evaluations heading into the combine next week.

In a mock draft last week by Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon on the ‘Game Theory Podcast’, Wolf went 15th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Vecenie thought that fit perfectly with what Oklahoma City looks for from their players and prospects.

“What do the Thunder care about more than anything? You know, great human beings but also dribble, pass, shoot, skill, across the board the entire court,” said Vecenie.

Wolf averaged 11.1 points (47.9% FG, 33.6% 3PT), 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game in his three-year collegiate career at Yale and Michigan. He raised those to 13.2 points (49.7% FG, 33.6% 3PT on one make), 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in his lone season with the Wolverines.

Wolf was the leading rebounder while being one of the top contributors in scoring, assists, blocks, and field-goal percentage. His impact went way beyond that analytically, especially on the glass and as a playmaker at his listed size at 7’0″ and 250 pounds.

“One note with Danny Wolf? Like, Michigan was drastically better when he was on the court this year,” said Vecenie. “They were 20 points per 100 possessions better with Wolf on the court as opposed to when he was off it. Among the teams with eight players who played at least 300 minutes, that is 10 points per 100 possessions better than the next-highest impact player. So, like, he was impacting the game for them with his presence at a level, like, so far above and beyond what everybody else was.”

“Great rebounder, averaged 9.8 rebounds per game. Thought he attacked the glass super well. Then, when he gets it on the defensive end, he’s going. Like, it’s a grab-and-go and you are starting the offense going the other way,” Vecenie continued. “Genuinely runs, you know, on-ball actions. I love, like, a lot of their like Chicago, Zoom actions that they’d run with him and Vlad Goldin and he’d throw little entry passes to Goldin, like sealing in the paint. Unreal passer. Unbelievable vision. Would find Goldin in short rolls from creative angles. Great timing on his passes. Throws live dribble passes. For a seven-footer, this stuff is just like completely absurd.”

As for negatives, Vecenie did say that playmaking isn’t all perfect with an average of 2.3 turnovers per game in college, including a career-high of 3.2 this season with the Wolverines. He also says some of his defensive play just is what it is as no more than a fine, switchable defender.

“There are just too many negative plays right now is the reality,” added Vecenie. “Then, as a rim protector, like, that’s not going to be there. You’re going to be like showing and recovering with him defensively. You’re going to be like, sometimes playing with a four even, I think, to get the most out of him.”

Wolf makes for an intriguing prospect to the next level considering his experience and what all he can do from his frame. Vecenie thinks that could translate the best with a team like the Thunder considering what their future frontcourt could look like beyond one of their best seasons in franchise history this year.

“They’re not going to have Isaiah Hartenstein forever because they have Chet and (Jalen Williams) here. So, I like the idea of them getting a big now that kind of fits their archetype of what they look for,” said Vecenie.