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The Orlando Magic have finalized a trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire Noah Penda using the 32nd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm. Penda is anticipated to make his first appearance during the 2025 Summer League.
Following the trade, Jeff Weltman, the president of basketball operations, detailed the steps that led to trading up and ultimately choosing the 20-year-old French combo forward on Thursday.
“Noah is truly a standout player,” Weltman remarked at a post-draft press briefing. “He stands over 6’7″ and possesses a wingspan of seven feet. He weighs around 250 pounds and is highly skilled, excelling as a ball-handler, passer, and defender.”
Penda began his professional journey in France’s lower leagues before joining Le Mans last summer, where he made his debut in the top-tier Betclic Elite. He made headlines by being named to the All-Tournament Team during France’s championship run at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2024. His remarkable progress continued as he received the 2024-25 Best Young Player accolade, helping his team reach the domestic league playoffs, the Coupe de France final, and clinch the Leaders Cup.
“When we first saw him during one of our early scouting trips to Europe this year, he immediately stood out as someone to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. We have been monitoring his progress closely,” Weltman recounted about scouting trips in France.
The Parisian also left a positive impression during his visit to Orlando.
“When we brought him in for a visit, we were initially considering him as a potential pick at 25,” Weltman noted about Penda’s draft status. “He had a very solid visit both on and off the court, and as you know, character is extremely important to us. We felt he embodies what we call Magic DNA.”
“He’s a versatile player with an exceptionally high basketball IQ. He demonstrates keen intelligence on both sides of the court. His impressive statistics in steals, deflections, and blocks indicate he operates at a high level. Fans will discover that he is a truly unique player,” he elaborated.
In return, the Celtics selected British player Amari Williams with the 46th pick and Ukrainian Max Shulga with the 57th pick. Additionally, they received a second-round selection in both 2026 and 2027 as part of the trade for Penda.
Photo Credit: FIBA
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