Kessler is the top defensive player in the NCAA this season. Future starter in the NBA -- well worth a 1st round pick. A true game changer defensively (>2.0 blocks per game in the NBA) and with improvement to his outside shooting, he can be serviceable (i.e. not a liability) on the offensive end. Possibly a 7-8 win share player, similar to Capela (but already a much better shooter and ball handler).
FWIW there are 4 guys in the NBA currently averaging >2.0 blocks. Turner, Gobert, JJJ, and Robert Williams. I guess he's most similar to Turner and Gobert. Is Turner a game changer? We might see now that Sabonis is gone. I would be very surprised if Kessler becomes as good a shooter as Turner. Gobert is an All-Star, but at the same time he can get gameplanned off the floor. JJJ and Robert Williams are another level of athlete that can guard out to the perimeter. A Capela comparison did come to mind, but Capela is quicker and can at least put up some resistance when switched onto a guard. The possession where Kessler got switched onto JD Notae (Good college player, but doesn't look like an NBA prospect) made him look silly. I could just be tunneling here though. Examples of him bothering NBA level guards on switches will def change my mind and elevate my opinion. I've seen ball handling pop up on his scouting report, but have yet to see it. Is there a college game where he really flashes that skill? Or is this forecasting off of HS footage? I do see starter potential as a positional defensive anchor that cleans the glass, but might be limited to certain lineups and systems. Whiteside, and Poetl come to mind. Has the makings of a guy that puts up 12 pts / 12 reb / 2 blk and people ask "Why did he go so late?"
I think their guards are gonna kill them. They take terrible shots and forget who is the best player on that team.
I see what you are saying, but they have roared through the SEC, and have two of the best players in the the country. I think they will finish strong.
Kessler had TWELVE blocks today against A&M. Triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 12 blocks. He played 24 minutes in the game.
https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/ has Walker Kessler going in the 19th round to the Houston Rockets.
Wouldn’t be mad about this, but if we took Chet I’d probably prefer to take Jovic at 19. Wouldn’t be mad with two big men though
Kessler could easily end up a mid first after he gets showcased in the tourney. Jabari almost surely goes first overall with his size and skill set.
Chet will go #1 overall imo. Jabari second. The pre-draft team workouts will have a huge impact on this though.
Indeed, no team could be faulted for taking Holmgren first. Smith just seems like a sure thing with his size and shooting ability. The concern with Chet will be if he can physically handle himself in the paint, those concerns could drop him to 2 or even 3 imo.
