Interior playmakers who could help connect NBA offenses

In today’s NBA, multiple offenses have reached new levels thanks to forwards and centers who can play for others. We’ve seen players like Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis and Draymond Green force defenses into uncomfortable positions with their vision and willingness to share the ball. There are a number of forwards and centers in the 2025 draft class who could excel in this relatively new style of play.

Let’s look at four central defenders who bring interesting playmaking potential to their teams:

Alex Karaban is one of the most versatile forwards in all of college basketball, as he can score at all three levels and is also extremely versatile on defense. Although he averaged just under two assists per game last season, his playmaking numbers don’t tell the whole story. His ability to make quick decisions from a high post and during certain handoffs is very evident in the film. He clearly has a good understanding of UConn’s offensive system and shows he will fit well into NBA sets and help keep their systems running smoothly. His willingness to make extra passes has been great for the Huskies in the past and should continue to stand out as they seek a third straight national championship.

Derik Queen is the only rookie on this list thanks to his vision playing in the low post. He is a powerful presence in the arena and uses his combination of strength and footwork to regularly take up position inside. On offense, his outstanding ability is to find cutters and shooters with his back to the basket. In his two seasons at Montverde, Queen had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, highlighting his decisiveness despite hardly ever initiating the offense. Queen should be able to play more in his first season given his obvious role for the Terrapins. One of the more impressive aspects of his passing game was hurling cross-court passes after defenders collapsed. Although his productivity is still hypothetical, he will be one of the most interesting prospects to watch in the upcoming season.

Hansen Yang was the most prolific passer on this list, averaging nearly five assists in FIBA ​​games last season. He is physically massive; Although he isn’t particularly impressive athletically, he makes great plays out of the post and creates opportunities for others to move around off the ball. Yang’s lack of mobility means he’s unlikely to play big minutes, but he can be effective in crucial minutes thanks to his dominant inside presence and willingness to move the ball for optimal looks. He prefers to slowly work his way out of the low post and fire the ball to the shooters as soon as their defenders help too much into the lane. Yang can be a constant dual threat if given the opportunity, but he will need to improve his agility to showcase his unique abilities.

Coleman Hawkins has extensive offensive skills and has demonstrated the ability to extend his teammates’ offensive plays while playing alongside productive guards and bigs. Last season, Hawkins averaged nearly three assists and 12 points on an efficient shooting split of 45%/37%/79%. Coming to Kansas State offers him the opportunity to create a new role for himself; While he can still be counted on to score, the Wildcats have done a good job playing unselfishly, which should highlight his ability to create for others. He has good vision when playing on the perimeter, but also shines when attacking the high post, gathering and finding open teammates at the rim, or moving to catch-and-shoot for three-pointers. Hawkins’ combination of size and skill has put him on the draft radar list in recent seasons, and he should make another jump this coming season.

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