2022 NBA Draft Part II

[LofJ]

I'm confused about why there is very little discussion about Walker Kessler. He posted the best block percentage of the last 15 years, he's huge with a plus wingspan, and he is capable of taking guys off the dribble in the half-court. A guy as big as he is with an outlier skill on both defense (shot-blocking) and offense (his handle) should be generating a lot more attention.

you think his handle is an outlier skill?

i have seen very little evidence of him taking people off the dribble. if anything i've been more impressed by the occasional flashes of outside shooting.

He's kind of a big slow goofy not super coordinated or athletic big - the type that doesn't translate as well to NBA spacing and NBA athleticism. I've got him as a 2nd rounder at this point..

I do think his handling is an outlier skill for someone his size. He didn't do it all that often, but he can pump fake from 3, put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim. He also gets open court steals and can dribble 3/4 court to flush it no problem. No, he isn't going to cross over guys at the NBA level. But his handle is effective enough for him to be a threat, especially if he can improve his jump shooting.

As for your other comments, Kessler was ranked the 18th best recruit in last year's incredible class. He is one of only three players with 3 or more triple doubles in SEC play (one of the others was Shaq). He was the national defensive player of the year and had the highest block percentage of anyone in the last 15 years. He did all that as a sophomore. His timing on defense is special, you don't put up the block and steal numbers he did if you're uncoordinated.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya, not sure if Kessler translates elsewhere but his block timing is the best I have ever seen. He has superhuman hand/eye coordination and best of all, it translates to either hand. Generally guys are much worse timing blocks with their off hand, Kessler is insane with both.

I can see him becoming a starting C who is low usage but efficient and gets like 12/8/3 or I could see him as a bit player who doesnt put the rest together but still provides great block % as a backup in more limited minutes. I dont think he has much true bust potential, he will be good enough to at least be a specialist backup to protect the rim.

[SelfishPlayer]

Cole Aldrich?

[Chi town]

Watching Kendall Brown reminds me alot of the SF version of Lonzo Ball at UCLA. Lots of pace, High energy and IQ, and switchy defender. Good framework on shot. Think he could become high level 3D wing with high volume 3 ball and great passing skills. Type of player that makes everyone around him better due to IQ and hustle. Knows how to play. Can’t defend traditional 4s though. Good 1-3 though.

[shangrila]

Cole Aldrich?

For Kessler?

I'd have gone with Gorgui Dieng. They've got the same catapult style shot mechanic, similar block/defensive role player type of archetype with some passing skills mixed in.

[eminence]

When does the list of guys in the draft finalize?

Need to get together a final board, but don't want to bother with a bunch of guys that'll drop out.

[Ell Curry]

Watching Kendall Brown reminds me alot of the SF version of Lonzo Ball at UCLA. Lots of pace, High energy and IQ, and switchy defender. Good framework on shot. Think he could become high level 3D wing with high volume 3 ball and great passing skills. Type of player that makes everyone around him better due to IQ and hustle. Knows how to play. Can’t defend traditional 4s though. Good 1-3 though.

He had a really nice freshman season overall for a team that hasn't used freshman much, I think he just looked bad in comparison to Sochan who is further ahead but probably has a lower offensive ceiling.

Vecenie has Brown mocked at 21. If draft betting was out I'd put some solid money on him beating that and ending up about 14-16th.

[SelfishPlayer]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

[shangrila]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

[SelfishPlayer]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

I disagree. As for his feathery shooting touch 2:15 minute mark.

Watch on YouTube

[165bows]

I'm confused about why there is very little discussion about Walker Kessler. He posted the best block percentage of the last 15 years, he's huge with a plus wingspan, and he is capable of taking guys off the dribble in the half-court. A guy as big as he is with an outlier skill on both defense (shot-blocking) and offense (his handle) should be generating a lot more attention.

you think his handle is an outlier skill?

i have seen very little evidence of him taking people off the dribble. if anything i've been more impressed by the occasional flashes of outside shooting.

He's kind of a big slow goofy not super coordinated or athletic big - the type that doesn't translate as well to NBA spacing and NBA athleticism. I've got him as a 2nd rounder at this point..

I do think his handling is an outlier skill for someone his size. He didn't do it all that often, but he can pump fake from 3, put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim. He also gets open court steals and can dribble 3/4 court to flush it no problem. No, he isn't going to cross over guys at the NBA level. But his handle is effective enough for him to be a threat, especially if he can improve his jump shooting.

As for your other comments, Kessler was ranked the 18th best recruit in last year's incredible class. He is one of only three players with 3 or more triple doubles in SEC play (one of the others was Shaq). He was the national defensive player of the year and had the highest block percentage of anyone in the last 15 years. He did all that as a sophomore. His timing on defense is special, you don't put up the block and steal numbers he did if you're uncoordinated.

I like Walker Kessler. Plays chest to chest on guys in a kind of deceptive way. Pretty fluid on offense too just seems like he needs a second to process when he gets the ball.

[Hal14]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

I've got Foster down as the worst defender in this draft class.

He's got good potential, but he's not ready. If he was in college, he's a guy who I would say should go back for another year to keep working on his game.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have that option as a g league player.

[shangrila]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

I disagree. As for his feathery shooting touch 2:15 minute mark.

Watch on YouTube

I don't care about his shooting. I care about his defence. Unless you think he's going to be good enough offensively to overcome the defensive issues, how "feathery" his touch is is irrelevant.

[shangrila]

Michael Foster's shooting motion is interesting. He has feathery results. He's definitely a prospect that shouldn't be rated so lowly simply because he went pro out of high school. It looks like there was an appropriate rating as to who he is when he was a high school senior, but his draft stock amongst the various websites has fallen off quite considerably. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't at least be considered a first round lock sort of prospect.

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

I've got Foster down as the worst defender in this draft class.

He's got good potential, but he's not ready. If he was in college, he's a guy who I would say should go back for another year to keep working on his game.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have that option as a g league player.

I think he's got poor man's Julius Randle potential, which could be an ok role player assuming he doesn't have the same mental issues but not somewhere a team would or should care too much about investing into.

[SelfishPlayer]

He looks like a fairly brutal defender though. Not switchable, struggles moving his feet and is far too small/unathletic to be a small ball 5.

I disagree. As for his feathery shooting touch 2:15 minute mark.

Watch on YouTube

I don't care about his shooting. I care about his defence. Unless you think he's going to be good enough offensively to overcome the defensive issues, how "feathery" his touch is is irrelevant.

Supposed defensive issues of a teenage NBA prospect is not a thing. You have an opinion of him being unathletic, that negates the gravity of your opinion.

[Hal14]

Genuinely curious what makes AJ Griffin a better prospect than Jalen Williams? Is there anything Griffin does better on a basketball court than Williams? Or is Griffin's only edge that he's younger.

Jalen is a better defender and a far better passer..

[TB]

Don't see a ton of threads on all the centers (may have missed it), but who does everyone have as the best ability to defend in space on the perimeter?

Duren looks pretty comfortable. Also like what I've seen from Koloko. Also interested in 2nd round options. For example I love the long-term potential of Nzoza there.

What does everyone think? Who is going to be like Bam/Jaren... who will be passable on a switch like a Looney... who will get abused and be unplayable in playoffs?

[BlazersBroncos]

If Sochan is really 6'9 230lbs he might be the best switching C in the draft. I wouldnt use him there full time during the RS, but he becomes a tremendous defensive piece in the playoffs as a switchable smaller C.

For comparison, Looney is 6'9 222lbs according to the web.

I think Jeremy is getting overlooked as a small ball death-lineup type C.

[MemphisX]

Genuinely curious what makes AJ Griffin a better prospect than Jalen Williams? Is there anything Griffin does better on a basketball court than Williams? Or is Griffin's only edge that he's younger.

Jalen is a better defender and a far better passer..

AJG is a significantly better shooter, he is bigger, he is better on the boards and IMO he is going to be a beter passer. Compare AJG to Jalen Williams at the same age and the question answers itself.

[MemphisX]

If Sochan is really 6'9 230lbs he might be the best switching C in the draft. I wouldnt use him there full time during the RS, but he becomes a tremendous defensive piece in the playoffs as a switchable smaller C.

For comparison, Looney is 6'9 222lbs according to the web.

I think Jeremy is getting overlooked as a small ball death-lineup type C.

Bingo. I will keep repeating that he is an Al Horford clone. Can play next to a big 5, an athletic 5 or even be the 5.