Surprise 2025 Draft Steals: Kalkbrenner, Richard, Coward

Merlin sees this rookie class as a crop of bargains: not the top picks, but the sleepers turning draft position into impact. Charlotte’s No. 34 Ryan Kalkbrenner is already a rim deterrent and efficient finisher; No. 33 Sion James provides switchable, high-effort defense; Golden State’s No. 56 Will Richard shows hustle, shooting and timing; Cedric Coward and Collin Murray-Boyles carve out starter-level defensive roles despite modest draft spots. Merlin notes a theme: defense, discipline and high-IQ hustle are the currency of surprise value. As one scout called Richard the “quintessential right place, right time guy,” these youngsters are offering outsized returns for their teams — depth that can tilt minutes, schemes and expectations before the calendar flips.