Each day until the 2025 NBA Draft, Pippen Ain’t Easy will profile one prospect who makes sense as a fit for the Bulls in either the first or second round. These players could fill a need, such as on-ball defense or rim protection, or could fit an archetype that Chicago lacks on its current roster, like an athletic big man or 3-and-D wing.

Speaking of 3-and-D wings, the 2025 draft class isn’t necessarily littered with the NBA’s most beloved archetype. Yet, an unsung, textbook 3-and-D draft-eligible wing will certainly have his fair share of suitors in next month’s draft.

That player is Le Mans Sarthe Basket’s Noah Penda. The Frenchman is a sturdy, 6-foot-8, 225-pound wrecking ball. Penda’s size and athleticism scream two-way forward. He’s only 20 years old, yet plays like a 10-year veteran. At merely 20, Penda is the youngest starter on a veteran-laden Le Mans squad. Penda’s fellow starters are 26, 26, 28, and 33, including Trevor Hudgins, who suited up for the LA Clippers in the Summer League.

Noah Penda’s scouting report

Averaging 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in France’s top league, Penda’s draft stock is all over the place. Penda has demonstrated he’s an ascending talent worthy of being selected in the NBA Draft, yet he’s been ranked as high as 17 and as low as 41 on various draft boards.

Offense

Penda’s scattered ranking has everything to do with his developing offensive game. Penda shoots 45.4 percent from the floor, 34.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.5 percent from the charity stripe—solid percentages from a 20-year-old playing in a league littered with NBA talent. However, 34.0 percent from three is by the far best percentage Penda has converted from long range.

From 2020 to 2024, Penda never shot better than 26.5 percent from three-point range. Furthermore, he’s never cleared 70.0 percent from the free-throw line. The shooting concerns are real. On a positive note, Penda’s jump-shot isn’t ugly by any means, but it is a bit rigid, allowing him only to shoot off the catch.

The 20-year-old isn’t one to launch off-the-dribble triples and quick, contested threes off pin-downs or screens. He may never be. But, on the plus side, the top of Penda’s release is smooth, and there’s not much variation to his jumper—it looks routine. There’s reason to believe he can’t become a consistent spot-up threat.

There isn’t much versatility to Penda’s shotmaking aside from spot-up shooting. He can attack closeouts well and knock down the occasional mid-range jumper or floater, but he’s not overly creative. Penda provides much more value as an opportunistic scorer.

He’s a strong offensive rebounder for a forward, likely due to his chiseled frame. Penda averaged 1.8 offensive boards per contest. And, at 6-foot-8 with ample strength, he isn’t easy to move off the block. Penda routinely bumps off his defenders to score easy buckets at the rim. He’s also an intelligent cutter who reads the floor better than most.

Reading the floor isn’t only an off-ball advantage. Penda is a stellar passer whose vision is uncanny. He doesn’t need a unique handle to make a difference as a playmaker. The 20-year-old is instinctual with the ball in his hands. He seems to always make the right read, and his passing is far from premeditated. Penda does such a great job of finding the open man that it’s almost boring.

Defense

Now, onto the 20-year-old calling card: his defense. Penda leads the LNB Elite league in stocks by a wide margin, at 2.5 per game. He’s the league’s only player ranked in the top 10 in steals and blocks per game.

Penda’s on-ball defense is special. His feet are always moving, and his anticipation is keen. For what’s worth, keen isn’t typically associated with on-ball defense. Yet, Penda’s head is always on a swivel. He’s highly perceptive of everything around him. It’s almost as if Penda knows the opposing team’s game plan; he positions himself according to what’s next.

Despite impressive steal and block numbers, Penda isn’t a risk taker. His steals and blocks come via anticipation and positioning. So often would Penda wait for his opponent to attempt a shot before contesting, not vice versa. He waits for the right time to jump and is somehow never fooled by pump fakes.

Penda’s combination of size and brute force makes him almost impossible to move in the post. Defenders just can’t seem to back him down. If they get around him, he’s smart enough to wait for the most opportune time to block his opposition’s shot attempt.

Penda’s strength is also evident off ball. He’s difficult to set screens on and does a terrific job keeping his eyes on the ball. Almost a lost art in the NBA, Penda is a premier ball denier. He moves his hips well to stick with defenders and routinely deflects and picks off passes aimed toward his matchup. Penda’s only fault is that he isn’t the most laterally quick. There are times when his opponents get by him with a simple crossover, but if anything, he’ll be in their rearview mirror awaiting his chance to swat their shot away.

Noah Penda’s fit with the Chicago Bulls

Let’s go down the list of adequate defenders on the Bulls’ roster. Lonzo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Matas Buzelis, and maybe Zach Collins? A few of those inclusions are quite possibly stretches. Anyway, to make a point, the Bulls lack premier defenders. Ball is the most well-rounded defender on the team by a long shot. Patrick Williams is, in theory, a 3-and-D player. But “in theory” should be emphasized.

Penda is the size of Williams with the basketball IQ of fellow Frenchman, Nicolas Batum. His physical profile is consequential in the NBA. Penda wouldn’t likely step right into the starting role at small forward, but he’d be on the short list of viable candidates in the Windy City.

As already mentioned, Penda isn’t a refined offensive player. His shooting is iffy, and he isn’t a creative ball handler. Fortunately, the Bulls aren’t looking for a well-rounded offensive repertoire from their draft picks. Chicago is flush with ball-handlers and three-point marksmen. Penda wouldn’t be tasked with creating his own shot.

What makes Penda’s pre-draft process so interesting is his sporadic draft ranking. Chicago is situated at 12th and 45th. Thus, Penda might be available at both positions. However, selecting the 20-year-old at 12 might be a bit of a reach. Conversely, it’s far from a guarantee he’ll be available even in the second round.