2021-2022 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Kobblehead]

Wendell Moore may be able to compete defensively, given his wingspan and strength, but he definitely is not an impact defender. His steal numbers are below par and his block numbers are non-existent. I'd say he's an offensive prospect.

Actually thats the stat im looking at. Most of these guys i just look at the stat. At most maybe 3 game highlights and a Adam Spinella scouting video.

Wendell moore is more of a man to man defender thats why he isnt reflecting as a good defender for me

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/josh-minott-1.html

Here's the most disruptive defender in this class, IMO.

3.1% steal
5.4% block

He even has offensive upside based on his assist percentage and free throw percentage. Only 20 years old.

[stormi]

I agree that I think Moore is primarily a point of attack defender and isn’t super disruptive on that end. But that’s exactly the kind of defender that has premium value in a playoff series. You can put him on a wing scorer and let him live on an island and he’ll hold his own while maybe generating a steal or two. Or have him as a switchable defender who can keep your defense out of rotation. More of a Lu Dort type of defender than a Matisse.

Tremendous post.

Moore is the perfect hybrid defensive wing with the speed and agility to stick on guards and forwards and he'd also fit seamlessly in a heavy switching system where his natural gifts and motor would shine through.

It reminds me of how Jaylen Brown doesn't create steals or blocks at all, but yet he isn't a liability. A lot of good defending is just about outworking your opponent, having good positional IQ and being physical.

Also the fact that Moore has a competent offensive toolkit is actually an underlooked potential defensive positive for him. A player like Shawn Marion never made all defense in his career. Thybulle already has two nods under his belt already in three seasons. But Matrix was a 37+ MPG starting contributor for nearly a decade because he had basketball competence on both ends. A player like him or JB will just naturally assist more to a great defense than a hero ball steal/block man who can't stay on the floor during the guts of the game.

[Kobblehead]

I'm just worried about Lewis' skill level. He's a shooter that doesn't seem that skilled. UNC Justin Jackson vibes.

[Kobblehead]

I don't think being long, strong, and athletic enough to NOT get attacked makes you a good defender. It just makes you not a bad one.

In no way are guys like Jaylen Brown, Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes, or DeAndre Hunter good defenders. They're just not sieves.

There's a canyon sized discrepancy between the defensive impact Jaylen Brown has compared to Marcus Smart. As would there be between the impact Wendell Moore will have compared to Thybulle and Springer.

[Jailblazers7]

I don't think being long, strong, and athletic enough to NOT get attacked makes you a good defender. It just makes you not a bad one.

In no way are guys like Jaylen Brown, Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes, or DeAndre Hunter good defenders. They're just not sieves.

There's a canyon sized discrepancy between the defensive impact Jaylen Brown has compared to Marcus Smart. As would there be between the impact Wendell Moore will have compared to Thybulle and Springer.

Sure, the top level guys like Jrue or Smart are the gold standard in terms effectively slowing perimeter players while also making high impact plays. But we are talking about picking at 23 and not the top 10. I do kind of disagree philosophical in that if you have the size, athleticism, and IQ to not get attacked on defense then you are a good defender. NBA players are just so good offensively that being able to tread water 1v1 in space is my litmus test for good versus bad (assuming that the player is not brain dead off ball).

Like stormi said, having a guy who can stay on the floor for 40 minutes and contribute on both ends has huge value. Matisse will probably never get there and Springer has a lot of work to do on the offensive end before that’s a reality (although I’m a believer in him). But you need a guy like Moore to build a functional, high quality roster.

I feel like I’ve turned into a Wendell cheerleader because I love his game so much. But just to be clear, I get the value to taking a shot at a higher upside pick and wouldn’t be upset if that happens. But it better be on someone like McGowens and not some defensive grinder who we hope learns how to shoot a basketball.

[Negrodamus]

I'm just worried about Lewis' skill level. He's a shooter that doesn't seem that skilled. UNC Justin Jackson vibes.

I don't know, between his ridiculous length/size and the leaps he made this year, I'm willing to bet on someone who essentially carried Marquette to the tourney with mediocre talent surrounding him. If I'm going to ding guys at power five schools for being "the guy" on a team that they couldn't lead to a winning record, much less the Tourney, then I feel like there's something to be said about the guy who takes a middling team to the big dance.

He shows flashes of ball handling ability and solid, switchable defense. The shot looks pure enough to translate. It's definitely an upside pick, but one I'd definitely take a shot on.

[stormi]

Yeah Keon Ellis is an interesting shout if you wanted to take a late swing on a potential Reggie Bullock type. He's super old, like 10 months older than Maxey old, but he's a really pesky defender, bombs away 3's and is elite from the FT line.

[stormi]

Jabari Walker feels undervalued this draft cycle.

[Kobblehead]

Jabrari Walker is one of the best rebounding Fs in this class. And he's decently skilled enough to develop a stretch game. And he has NBA bloodlines.

[76ciology]

Stl%
Walker Kessler 2.4% (3.3% last season)
Wendell Moore 2.4%
Lidell 1.2%
Chet 1.6%

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I really think if you want to swing for the fence, it’s walker kessler.

He can be a prime whiteside or a current gobert type player, that he should at one point be the top or one of the top shotblocker or candidate for DPOY.

I also think he has nimble feet that can defend the ball handler by stepping out or dropping on PnR.

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Add this guys and we instantly become a top 5 defensive team alongside two of the league’s best ISO scorer with a close to impossible to defend PnR.

I also just read he was a shooting big in HS.

[76ciology]

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How I envision Embiid and Kessler (or Reed/Bassey) would be on defense

Kessler close out and got beat
Smith rotates and send first help defense
Kessler recovers for second help defense

Its the same defensive scheme Bucks do with Brolo and Giannis

Lets say team hunts Embiid on PnR..
Embiid steps out and gets beat
Kessler rotates and send first help defense
Embiid recovers for second help defense

[phillynative]

My 3 @ 23
Wendell Moore (NBA Ready 2way wing)
Jalen Williams(Great size , Can come off the bench and fill in at either 1,2 or 3. Scoring/ playmaker)
EjLiddle( Stretch 4 w. Rebounding , help defense)

If we move up it should be Tari Eason( has all the athleticism and length the sixers lack at the forward position, active defensively can guard the big wings we have no answer for)

We move back its Beauchamp( wing with good length and athleticism, good rebounder for his size and can play on or off the ball).

These are the picks to go for players who can contribute right away but still has potential.

[Negrodamus]

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How I envision Embiid and Kessler (or Reed/Bassey) would be on defense

Kessler close out and got beat
Smith rotates and send first help defense
Kessler recovers for second help defense

Its the same defensive scheme Bucks do with Brolo and Giannis

Lets say team hunts Embiid on PnR..
Embiid steps out and gets beat
Kessler rotates and send first help defense
Embiid recovers for second help defense

Do you think Nerlens and Joel would have been a good pairing? Because this is essentially the pairing you're asking for.

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

How I envision Embiid and Kessler (or Reed/Bassey) would be on defense

Kessler close out and got beat
Smith rotates and send first help defense
Kessler recovers for second help defense

Its the same defensive scheme Bucks do with Brolo and Giannis

Lets say team hunts Embiid on PnR..
Embiid steps out and gets beat
Kessler rotates and send first help defense
Embiid recovers for second help defense

Do you think Nerlens and Joel would have been a good pairing? Because this is essentially the pairing you're asking for.

I think it would be close.

Speaking of Nerlens, he has a steal rate of 3.9, Kessler has a steal rate of 3.3 in UNC, which is high for a C.

The difference is kessler can play C, while Nerlens struggles being a C. This explains why Nerlens’ performance is erratic, sometimes he gives you good numbers and sometimes he’s almost a 0.

And being able to play C, allows Embiid to play more of a Dirk (less jumping on defense), current Al Horford (same post prime TD role), Anthony Davis or post prime TD (with Splitter) or KG (with Perks) role on defense.

Between jumping and doing man to man defense against PFs, im betting Embiid would prefer the later because he does not want to hurt his knee. And you have the entire playoffs as evidence to back it up. He just doesnt jump for boards or defense until crunch time

But its very close. You can say the same thing if Embiid plays with Paul Reed or Drummond, both we’ve seen in limited minutes last season.

[Negrodamus]

Read on Twitter

How I envision Embiid and Kessler (or Reed/Bassey) would be on defense

Kessler close out and got beat
Smith rotates and send first help defense
Kessler recovers for second help defense

Its the same defensive scheme Bucks do with Brolo and Giannis

Lets say team hunts Embiid on PnR..
Embiid steps out and gets beat
Kessler rotates and send first help defense
Embiid recovers for second help defense

Do you think Nerlens and Joel would have been a good pairing? Because this is essentially the pairing you're asking for.

I think it would be close.

Speaking of Nerlens, he has a steal rate of 3.9, Kessler has a steal rate of 3.3 in UNC, which is high for a C.

The difference is kessler can play C, while Nerlens struggles being a C. This explains why Nerlens’ performance is erratic, sometimes he gives you good numbers and sometimes he’s almost a 0.

And being able to play C, allows Embiid to play more of a Dirk (less jumping on defense), current Al Horford (same post prime TD role), Anthony Davis or post prime TD (with Splitter) or KG (with Perks) role on defense.

Between jumping and doing man to man defense against PFs, im betting Embiid would prefer the later because he does not want to hurt his knee. And you have the entire playoffs as evidence to back it up. He just doesnt jump for boards or defense until crunch time

But its very close. You can say the same thing if Embiid plays with Paul Reed or Drummond, both we’ve seen in limited minutes last season.

I get what you're saying, but I think the last thing we want Embiid to be doing is chasing anyone around on defense. He wants to firmly plant his ass in the paint unless he's forced to switch on to someone. Otherwise he wears down by halftime.

[76ciology]

Do you think Nerlens and Joel would have been a good pairing? Because this is essentially the pairing you're asking for.

I think it would be close.

Speaking of Nerlens, he has a steal rate of 3.9, Kessler has a steal rate of 3.3 in UNC, which is high for a C.

The difference is kessler can play C, while Nerlens struggles being a C. This explains why Nerlens’ performance is erratic, sometimes he gives you good numbers and sometimes he’s almost a 0.

And being able to play C, allows Embiid to play more of a Dirk (less jumping on defense), current Al Horford (same post prime TD role), Anthony Davis or post prime TD (with Splitter) or KG (with Perks) role on defense.

Between jumping and doing man to man defense against PFs, im betting Embiid would prefer the later because he does not want to hurt his knee. And you have the entire playoffs as evidence to back it up. He just doesnt jump for boards or defense until crunch time

But its very close. You can say the same thing if Embiid plays with Paul Reed or Drummond, both we’ve seen in limited minutes last season.

I get what you're saying, but I think the last thing we want Embiid to be doing is chasing anyone around on defense. He wants to firmly plant his ass in the paint unless he's forced to switch on to someone. Otherwise he wears down by halftime.

He’s chasing Siakam or Giannis only like 1% of the time and 99% of the time it’s staying on guys like Draymond or Al Horford, they are not running off screens like Steph Curry or Klay. And it’s the lesser evil than asking him to jump.

Embiid at the 4 is not so attractive when teams where having tweeners at the 4. But teams are going big now. And there’s just no way to play elite defense with this version of Embiid at the 5, without a frontcourt partner who can protect the rim and rebound.

[Negrodamus]

I think it would be close.

Speaking of Nerlens, he has a steal rate of 3.9, Kessler has a steal rate of 3.3 in UNC, which is high for a C.

The difference is kessler can play C, while Nerlens struggles being a C. This explains why Nerlens’ performance is erratic, sometimes he gives you good numbers and sometimes he’s almost a 0.

And being able to play C, allows Embiid to play more of a Dirk (less jumping on defense), current Al Horford (same post prime TD role), Anthony Davis or post prime TD (with Splitter) or KG (with Perks) role on defense.

Between jumping and doing man to man defense against PFs, im betting Embiid would prefer the later because he does not want to hurt his knee. And you have the entire playoffs as evidence to back it up. He just doesnt jump for boards or defense until crunch time

But its very close. You can say the same thing if Embiid plays with Paul Reed or Drummond, both we’ve seen in limited minutes last season.

I get what you're saying, but I think the last thing we want Embiid to be doing is chasing anyone around on defense. He wants to firmly plant his ass in the paint unless he's forced to switch on to someone. Otherwise he wears down by halftime.

He’s chasing Siakam or Giannis only like 1% of the time and 99% of the time it’s staying on guys like Draymond or Al Horford, they are not running off screens like Steph Curry or Klay. And it’s the lesser evil than asking him to jump.

Embiid at the 4 is not so attractive when teams where having tweeners at the 4. But teams are going big now. And there’s just no way to play elite defense with this version of Embiid at the 5, without a frontcourt partner who can protect the rim and rebound.

I also think you're misplacing Embiid. He's less like Dirk on defense and more like Tim Duncan, who became a center after years of PF because he couldn't run around as much as he used to.

We're also completely discounting the other end of the court where we have been complaining for 4 years that our point guard was standing in the dunkers spot thus relegating Embiid to the perimeter where he took ill advised shots. Now we're putting a non-shooter in Kessler in the same exact position. If you want Kessler as purely a backup to Embiid, then sure, I can understand the move even though I don't agree with it. Otherwise, it's just a weird fit. I'd rather just have Paul Reed at PF where he at least has some threat of shooting a three.

[stormi]

I really want to like Marjon Beauchamp, he just seems ultimately like a Thybulle pro max though and I struggle to see what his role would be in the halfcourt unless he corrals that jumper.

He's more skilled though and had a wild path to his draft eligibility. Athletic freak, super long arms, was averaging 30 in JUCO last season before choosing to join the Ignite.

[76ciology]

I get what you're saying, but I think the last thing we want Embiid to be doing is chasing anyone around on defense. He wants to firmly plant his ass in the paint unless he's forced to switch on to someone. Otherwise he wears down by halftime.

He’s chasing Siakam or Giannis only like 1% of the time and 99% of the time it’s staying on guys like Draymond or Al Horford, they are not running off screens like Steph Curry or Klay. And it’s the lesser evil than asking him to jump.

Embiid at the 4 is not so attractive when teams where having tweeners at the 4. But teams are going big now. And there’s just no way to play elite defense with this version of Embiid at the 5, without a frontcourt partner who can protect the rim and rebound.

I also think you're misplacing Embiid. He's less like Dirk on defense and more like Tim Duncan, who became a center after years of PF because he couldn't run around as much as he used to.

We're also completely discounting the other end of the court where we have been complaining for 4 years that our point guard was standing in the dunkers spot thus relegating Embiid to the perimeter where he took ill advised shots. Now we're putting a non-shooter in Kessler in the same exact position. If you want Kessler as purely a backup to Embiid, then sure, I can understand the move even though I don't agree with it. Otherwise, it's just a weird fit. I'd rather just have Paul Reed at PF where he at least has some threat of shooting a three.

Reed at PF with Embiid at C is a safe move that I can agree with.

And I also share your concern on spacing. Kessler is a good jump shooting big in HS BTW. But I do think its unrealistic, unless you have some insider info, to expect that Kessler will be a good jump shooter from day 1.

[stormi]

New O'Connor

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

The Sixers are exploring trades involving this pick and Danny Green, according to sources.

Makes sense considering they haven't been meeting with prospects (publicly) or organizing workouts. Would be shocked if this pick is kept.