2022 Draft night thread

[Shaka_Zulu]

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[_AIJ_]

My draft rule is "pick the best player available" and maybe tonight we didn't follow this rule but this the reason why I work in a bank agency and they are the Twolves front office...

Are you sure? Or maybe because they were not BPA at that time?

[Krapinsky]

I finally figured out who Kessler reminds me of. For longest time I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Cole Aldrich.

[TwolvesFanRome]

I finally figured out who Kessler reminds me of. For longest time I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Cole Aldrich.

Omg Hope you are wrong my friend

[winforlose]

I finally figured out who Kessler reminds me of. For longest time I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Cole Aldrich.

Let’s say the floor is Aldrich and the hope is Gobert as a ceiling. The truth is somewhere in between. For our sake let’s pray the ceiling is closer than the floor.

[MN7725]

Kessler needs to improve free throw shooting and rebounding. I am looking forward to seeing him in summer league. The last game I saw him in Auburn ncaa upset to Miami, he was a complete disaster, Miami players scored at will against him and he had 2 points and 2 rebounds.

jabari smith was 3-16,1-8 from 3 for 10 points. Smith did get 15 boards tho. Just one of those “everything that could go wrong did go wrong” games.

Kessler seemed to hold his own In games Vs top 25. For the most part he was getting over 10 points and close to 10 boards a game. Not sure how many blocks, espns box score doesn’t show that. I could not care less if he averages 5 ppg in his career, because he’ll be probably close to that. Just so long as he can relieve kat from guarding bigs, grab boards, protect rims and alter/block shots

FT% is a concern, but he made good improvements from freshman to sophomore years so he’s definitely coachable. His per 40 min numbers are insane. 18/12.5/7bpg lol

It will be curious to hear if Kessler was really knocking down shots in his workout, or the Wolves shot gurus like his mechanics

One of things rumored about his transfer to Auburn was his dad complaining to Roy Williams that they weren't using him as a stretch big

[minimus]

Dominick Barlow Agrees to 2-Way Contract with Spurs After 2022 NBA Draft

[NebWolvesFan]

I would have to say he looked way more athletic than I thought he would. One thing I really like about him is that dunks everything. There are a ton of tall nonathletic bigs who struggle to dunk over people.

My only big problem with Walker is that I just don't see how he's anything more than a back-up to Towns. I'm not a believer in Towns at the four. I feel he will be bad enough defensively that Finch will pull the plug. That means that Walker will only play 15 minutes a game. Of course, Towns may have more injuries as he gets older, but I still don't like using a first round pick on a reserve.

I do have to give props to TC for being smart enough to trade down and get the second first. I do really like Moore, who I think could be this team's starting point guard in 23. He won't be a pure PG because Edwards will have the ball so much, but I could see him as a solid secondary creator. I would much prefer Moore to Washington.

[Colbinii]

I would have to say he looked way more athletic than I thought he would. One thing I really like about him is that dunks everything. There are a ton of tall nonathletic bigs who struggle to dunk over people.

My only big problem with Walker is that I just don't see how he's anything more than a back-up to Towns. I'm not a believer in Towns at the four. I feel he will be bad enough defensively that Finch will pull the plug. That means that Walker will only play 15 minutes a game. Of course, Towns may have more injuries as he gets older, but I still don't like using a first round pick on a reserve.

What do you mean you don't like using a 1st round pick on a reserve?

I posted in another thread about what to expect between 17-22.

Drafting at #19, you are hoping to get a solid NBA rotation player and would be ecstatic if they turned out to be starters.

From 2013-2017, the better players in the 17-21 range are Schroeder, Delon Wright, Tony Snell, Bobby Portis, Malik Beasley, Caris LaVert, John Collins, Josh Okogie, Kevin Huerter, Grayson Allen, Lonnie Walker III, Donte Divicenzo

Thats 1 player who is even close to an all-star and an above average starter [John Collins] then a bunch of low-end starters/bench pieces and another 12 or 13 guys who aren't even in NBA Rotations.

Walker provides a few things and the fact we got him not at #19 but instead later with an additional 1st is huge!

1) He is a back-up center at a cheap contract. We don't need to shell out part or all of the MLE for a back-up center.

2) He has more upside than any Vet Min Center we could have signed.

3) He is a Naz Reid replacement, who could get close to the MLE as a Free Agent next year.

4) At the end of the day, he is a High Ceiling, High Floor big who fills a huge need [Interior defense and rebounding].

[SO_MONEY]

I would have to say he looked way more athletic than I thought he would. One thing I really like about him is that dunks everything. There are a ton of tall nonathletic bigs who struggle to dunk over people.

My only big problem with Walker is that I just don't see how he's anything more than a back-up to Towns. I'm not a believer in Towns at the four. I feel he will be bad enough defensively that Finch will pull the plug. That means that Walker will only play 15 minutes a game. Of course, Towns may have more injuries as he gets older, but I still don't like using a first round pick on a reserve.

What do you mean you don't like using a 1st round pick on a reserve?

I posted in another thread about what to expect between 17-22.

Drafting at #19, you are hoping to get a solid NBA rotation player and would be ecstatic if they turned out to be starters.

From 2013-2017, the better players in the 17-21 range are Schroeder, Delon Wright, Tony Snell, Bobby Portis, Malik Beasley, Caris LaVert, John Collins, Josh Okogie, Kevin Huerter, Grayson Allen, Lonnie Walker III, Donte Divicenzo

Thats 1 player who is even close to an all-star and an above average starter [John Collins] then a bunch of low-end starters/bench pieces and another 12 or 13 guys who aren't even in NBA Rotations.

Walker provides a few things and the fact we got him not at #19 but instead later with an additional 1st is huge!

1) He is a back-up center at a cheap contract. We don't need to shell out part or all of the MLE for a back-up center.

2) He has more upside than any Vet Min Center we could have signed.

3) He is a Naz Reid replacement, who could get close to the MLE as a Free Agent next year.

4) At the end of the day, he is a High Ceiling, High Floor big who fills a huge need [Interior defense and rebounding].

I disagree. He is a low floor, low ceiling type of player. It was an odd pick. In the 2nd with 2W contracts not a big deal taking him for depth, in the first it is a head scratcher.

[life_saver]

I have never seen Wendell Moore play but looking at his draft profile and his college stats, he doesn't look just a spotup shooter guy but rather someone who can also share ball handling duties. That's what intrigues me about him.

[KGdaBom]

Here it is. Go Wolves.

Congrats, we got Kessler!

KGB you owe us a selfie in your brand new Kessler Jersey.

Just kidding. Really hope you got this one right. Definitely not the sexy pick that many hoped for, but if sexy winning-basketball will make up for it, everyboy's happy...

If two of our four selections become usefull rotational Player, this was a good draft. The problem, that we had within the last years was, that we didn't get enough sustainable talent (Patton, Okogie, last years pickless draft). That really bite our talentlevel.

A warm Welcome to the new Pupps!

I'm having that Kessler Jersey custom made right now. Real 24 carat gold trim . Honestly I don't own a Wolves Jersey right now and I suppose I'm shallow as Ant and KAT would be my top 2 choices. I'm so sick of us getting bullied in the paint that I really like the idea of Kessler to stop that. Hopefully he will live up to my expectations. Do you remember Pekovic? It was so awesome having him. Nobody would mess with us. Now he's an enforcer for the mob. Seriously.

[karch34]

Good night boys. Now, please Stop crying about Liddell.

Yeah. The 2023 Second Round pick of the Knicks will fix all of our PF issues this season.

You think we won't do anything else till opening day?

I’m sure we will make some kind of move but I don’t think anyone will have the two way fit Liddell does. Guess we have to have faith. Maybe it was trying to follow the moves online, but draft was pretty meh in my opinion.

[KGdaBom]

So quick disclaimer, I don’t watch college ball and I did not read to much about the draft class or any specific player for the draft.

1. Kessler could become our Rudy Gobert. A rim protecting big with good hands and decent steal capability is huge for us. When teams double KAT Kessler will get uncontested dunks, when they don’t KAT will drive in and either dump off to Kessler for Dunks or slam it himself. We have Twin Towers and KAT can finally move to PF. Moreover, it sounds like Kessler might be good enough on the boards to allow V8 to the bench. Starting MCD is a good idea only if he gets his fouling under control. If not bring V8 or Nowell to the starting unit and play either huge ball or slightly small.

2. Moore sounds like he is our JO replacement. A 3&D guy who might run point sounds like what we wanted from Culver. Even if he is SG/SF hybrid he still adds a ton of value if he can defend point of attack or even just stay in front and attack passing lanes for transition offense. If he can shoot 38% from 3 with decent attempt volume and play above average defense we got a home run player. If he shoots 36% from 3 and plays above average multipositonal defense, we got an inside the park home run.

3. Minott seems like a V8 type player. Nothing wrong with a transition minded defensive player with issues to be corrected by coaching staff and working with vets. Seems like a project, but at 45 most guys will.

Looking forward to summer league.

P.S. 22 and 26 for 19 and 3 future seconds is a seriously impressive debut. I don’t want to jinx it, but we might have for the first time ever in Minnesota a good front office to go along with an excellent coach.

Excellent analysis. Seriously. I feel my IQ went up a point just by reading this.

[KGdaBom]

Are we sure we won t use Kessler or Moore in a package for example for D.Murray??

I'm pretty sure we won't.

[minimus]

I think about Kessler this way:

We asked price for Miles Turner, Clint Capella. I believe that the price was something like Beasley and FRP. Moreover, Capella and Turner need minutes, touches and specific role. So in my opinion Kessler is not better player than these two, but drafting him AND Moore is MUCH more efficient investments. But every investment need time, patient and development. So this is a long road, you can't fix all problems at once.

[KGdaBom]

Love this Kessler Highlight reel.

Watch on YouTube

Blocks shots equally well with either hand. For a 7 footer he can really move his feet.

[m2002brian]

Moore Jr or as I like to call him MJ, could end up being a more consistent, better shooting, slightly larger Gerald Henderson. Both Dukies known for good defense and sg/sf size.

Unlike GH, MJ can come in and not be looked upon to be anything more than supporting cast. Having Ant 1 and KAT 2 really helps relieve the pressure of any new rookie coming in. If Brew Crew could have had some pressure relief when he came into the league.

[jpatrick]

I finally figured out who Kessler reminds me of. For longest time I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Cole Aldrich.

Let’s say the floor is Aldrich and the hope is Gobert as a ceiling. The truth is somewhere in between. For our sake let’s pray the ceiling is closer than the floor.

He’s not Gobert. He’s big, but Gobert has freakish (Mark Williams) length.

If his floor is Aldrich, I’d say his ceiling is Jakob Poetl, who is a very good regular season center. Defensive big. Limited scoring or passing.

I could see later career Brook Lopez if he really does develop a three point shot. I don’t know though. Lopez was a stud scorer in college, showing great touch, which translated later in career to shooting ability. I don’t know Kessler ever showed this kinda touch and only shot a little over 50% on FTs.

At 22, if you get Poetl, you take it and run. Longterm rotation big.

[KGdaBom]

I think about Kessler this way:

We asked price for Miles Turner, Clint Capella. I believe that the price was something like Beasley and FRP. Moreover, Capella and Turner need minutes, touches and specific role. So in my opinion Kessler is not better player than these two, but drafting him AND Moore is MUCH more efficient investments. But every investment need time, patient and development. So this is a long road, you can't fix all problems at once.

Another excellent analysis. Another IQ point gained from the reading.