moss_is_1 wrote:BlacJacMac wrote:Nick K wrote:
That's right. We have a Kalkbrenner in Luca Garza. I love Luca. I just wish Luka had more lateral quickness. But that could be said for many NBA players.
Kalkbrenner is a way better prospect than Garza. But I still think he's likely going to top out as a bit rotation player on a good team. I think he'll be able to function some in a drop scheme, but he has no chance at switching or defending off his man.
Its the Ringer, so YMMV, but I enjoyed this comment:Before anyone points to Zach Edey as a success story for gigantic players who primarily play drop defense and have a heavy dependence on post play on offense, be aware that Kalkbrenner, while similarly skilled and balanced, moves at a more glacial pace than even Edey. Luke Kornet might be a better comp: less quick twitch, more quicksand twitch.
Kalkbrenner also plays a bit soft, not doing well playing against physical defense. Not sure how well that will bode for his future.
You could make the same soft arguments about Chet Holmgren.
The game is rather slanted against physical bully ball players today though.
kalkbrenner has rare traits you can't teach.
7'2 with a 9'4 reach and 7'6 wingspan.
And he plays that big. Just watch him eat up space in that highlight video.
If core strength is a problem, that is something that can be improved over time.
Rudy Gobert is slow as molasses too.
Luka Garza doesnt have the length to make up for his lack of footspeed.
Guys as big as Rudy and Ryan and Edey make up for their lack of footspeed with the ability to eat up lateral space quickly, and their ability to take away the offensive player's vertical space is the difference making aspect that makes them special and effective.
There isn't anything Rudy does defensively that Ryan can't right now.
Rudy can be a trainwreck at times defensively but thats because his indecisiveness gets him caught in between A LOT.
Plus Ryan can actually handle the ball in tight spaces and shoot from the outside.
I'm more excited about Kalkbrenner than I was about Edey and Kessler and I loved both of those guys as prospects.
Plus I think Kalkbrenner would be a Finch kind of big man that can shoot and facilitate a bit in this system.
