The modern NBA craves big men who can do it all – shoot from distance, handle the ball, and make plays. In Michigan’s Danny Wolf, NBA teams see a tantalizing prospect who embodies this evolution, yet comes with enough question marks to make his draft position one of the most intriguing storylines heading into Wednesday night.
On the latest Wolverine Confidential podcast, MLive’s Andrew Kahn highlighted what makes Wolf such a unique prospect: “He is 7-feet tall, he can handle the ball, he can pass the ball, he can shoot the ball from the outside. Again, it’s not new to have people his size that can shoot. But the ball handling and the passing, especially is pretty rare.”
This combination of size and skill has Wolf’s draft projections all over the map. Some mock drafts have him as high as the late lottery (picks 13-14), while most see him in the mid-to-late first round. Only one projection had him slipping to the second round – and even that was recently updated to keep him in the first.
Aaron McMann explained why NBA teams are intrigued: “He fits the modern NBA. I mean it makes sense why he would be like NBA teams would be intrigued by him. He’s a big dude who can move, who can shoot, who can do a lot of those little things.”
The fascination with Wolf stems from his “positionless” nature. After transferring from Yale, Wolf started all 37 games for Michigan and frequently initiated the offense despite his 7-foot frame. He averaged an impressive 3.6 assists per game – though his 3.2 turnovers highlight some of the concerns scouts have about his decision-making.
Beyond his on-court skills, Wolf’s personality adds another layer to his draft profile. Described as “thoughtful” in media interactions and sometimes “quiet” with teammates, Kahn suggested these traits could be perceived differently by various NBA front offices during the interview process.
“He’s a bit polarizing as a prospect just because of the things he can do but some of his flaws,” Kahn said.
For Michigan fans, Wolf represents the program’s best chance to restart its NBA draft streak after having no players selected last year. That drought snapped a three-year run where the Wolverines had two players drafted annually.
Will Wolf’s unique skill set vault him into the lottery? Or will concerns about his defensive limitations and turnover issues push him down the board? Tune into the Wolverine Confidential podcast for the full breakdown of Wolf’s NBA potential and how his game translates to the next level as the NBA draft approaches this Wednesday night on ABC and ESPN.
**Listen to the entire Wolverine Confidential episode below, which also includes discussions on:**
* Michigan football’s latest two commits
* Wolverines projected to be selected in this week’s NHL draft
_AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the Wolverine Confidential podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by MLive staff._