Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Timberwolves made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 after finishing seventh in the West and defeating the Clippers in their play-in game. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. Cody Taylor - USA Today - Apr. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). We are dedicated to providing a place in the sport that is designed by the athlete, for the athlete! It is possible that the Tar Heels produce multiple one . On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. On our 17th installment of #ScoutingSundays for the 2022 NBA Draft, we break down potential lottery pick Walker Kessler's season with Auburn as well as his N. Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector. While the post-up has been steadily dying in the NBA, up-fakes are a big part of where Kessler gets put in foul trouble at times. Listed at 6'10" and 225 pounds, Kessler fits squarely into the mold of a modern-day big man who is capable of scoring away from the basket. As a sophomore, Kessler averaged 11.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 1.1 TOPG on shooting splits 2022 NBA Draft scouting report of Auburn center Walker Kessler Kessler's team's Players roster for 2023-03-01. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. Update Kessler will head to the Timberwolves, who traded for the No. Hes not going to pick up players outside of the paint area well as hes not an explosive athlete, so that limits a bit of his versatility on defense. 2022 Draft Profile - Walker Kessler. Theres enough of a foundation with Kesslers outside shot and ball-handling ability to create some upside, although neither can be considered plus points. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. Kessler's uncle, the late Alec Kessler, also played for Georgia before being drafted in the ninth round by Houston in the 1990 draft. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. We didn't fare too well for the first time this year on Tuesday, going 2-3. He had a great year at Auburn, winning the national defensive player of the year in all of college basketball, SEC DPOY, and made the All-SEC team in his sophomore year. Fantasy. While Kessler doesn't fit the profile of the floor-stretching 5 coveted by NBA teams, rim protection will always have a place in the Association. Offensively, Kessler is an efficient finisher near the rim who converted on 30 of 32 pick-and-roll attempts diving to the hoop, according to Synergy Sports Tech. Yet when I hear most other fans speak of Kessler, most would prefer the team to stay away from him. Homepage Mock Drafts. Im not expecting him to be a double-digit boards guy for his career. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. HometownFairburn, GA Class2020. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. (All stats provided by Synergy require a subscription). The big man finished with 10 points (5-of-6 FG), 12 rebounds, an assist and five swats. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. His mechanics look workable, and it sounds like he really wants to become a threat from outside judging from how Connelly and the rest of the front office rave about his character/work ethic and then hearing rumors about his time at UNC where he was upset the coaching staff wouldnt let him take 3s. The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline, which will burn Kessler. He does foul a lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his college career. Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. Kessler has been compared by some to Brook Lopez, given his ability to protect the paint and work inside on offense. Ideally, a defender should stunt at the popping big and recover to their own man to buy Kessler time to recover back, but teams that ran flat middle ball screens were getting open looks against Auburns ice coverage. Excellent positional size at 7'1". Menu. Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. Runs the floor hard in transition, has good strides down the floor. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . If you think highly of Brook Lopez, then I dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler. "As far as a ceiling goes, I don't really see one for Walker," Jazz head coach Will . Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack. His timing and patience on most plays are what made him one of the best defenders in all of college basketball last season. For an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. Hes a very similar player to Lopez in terms of athleticism and defensive ability, so it would be a seemingly smooth transition into the next generation for the Bucks at the 5. Auburn sophomore post Walker Kessler does that incredibly well and is coming off a legendary, perhaps greatest-of-all-time shot blocking season at the college level. youtu.be Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft In today's video, I will break down Walker Kessler, a projected 1st Round pick in the 2022 NBA draft. If I had to toss out a peak stat line, it would probably look like 10-12 PPG/6-8 RPG/2-3 APG/2-2.5 BPG. Best Case Scenario: Works his way into a starting role anchoring a great playoff-team defense. Projection . The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Office: The market did not record new supply in Q3 2022, the total cumulative supply of Grade A and B is still 1.43 million sqm of office space. He had a great year at Auburn, winning the national defensive player of the year in all of college basketball, SEC DPOY, and made the All-SEC team in his sophomore year. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. Kessler, just like Lopez, could be a monster defender for the Bucks. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . His lack of ability in the post and as an outside shooter are valid concerns, but those kinds of things can be developed with NBA coaches and veteran players to help guide him along the way. Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. 3 POSITION: 3 REGIONAL: 1 STATE: 14th. This site is now updating for the 2022-2023 season. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament here. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers. Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. Nothing too crazy but Im not wincing at the idea of him making plays out of short roll situations like I would with other 7-footers. He tends to pick up his dribble early instead of continuing to backdown for a better position. For the Tigers, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. His arms come down to swat at shots, which create fouls when he misses the ball, and he jumps forward while his arms are straight up, defeating the purpose of verticality altogether. Theres better, more realistic, upside plays for big man in the draft. At a towering 71, Kessler is much more mobile than many bird-legged or thick-bodied bigs. Many of the strengths of Kessler get neutralized by NBA tempo, which could be quick to play him out of the league. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. 1 hour ago. On a disappointing UNC team stuck behind a first round pick in Sharpe and without good point guard play from Caleb Love, Kessler essentially showed flashes in only 2 games as a freshman. Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. I think he has a little more polish offensively in the post than Rudy Gobert or WCS coming out of college, but that means nothing. Overview; . Kessler was a good post-up defender in college, which will need to translate for him to fully hit his defensive upside. Walker Kessler had several clutch plays late and stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday to help lead the Utah Jazz to an overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.. Kessler produced seven points, 18 rebounds, seven blocked shots and two assists in 37 minutes of work in the 120-119 victory. Scan this QR code to download the app now. He barely registered at North Carolina his freshman season but broke out last year at Auburn, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game during the regular season. Abilene Christian. 3 Auburn into No. Similar to Vando, hell likely get his points through being at the right place at the right time, in the short corner/dunker spot. Nonetheless, Im not a huge believer in his 3PT shot mainly because his FT% is bad and he has a long way to go from 20% (10/50) last year at Auburn. Mobile and agile; moves well for a 7 footer. North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. Good motor and active on the offensive glass. https://theboxandone.substack.com/Strengths-Rim Protection (0:14)-PNR Defense (3:44)-Finishing (5:13)Improvement Areas-Shooting Consistency (7:26)-Mobility (8:53)-Foul Trouble (10:33) See the entire playlist of 2022 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLygbdtr7cZBgomq043fbHLHbxJHXR2aH5 Make sure you check out our Box and One Big Board, with video links, analysis, rankings, mock drafts and more! Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Another recruiting class, another elite big man for North Carolina, as 2020 center Walker Kessler committed to the Tar Heels on Sunday, telling Evan Daniels of 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. I honestly didnt watch many rebounding possessions, but I did try to keep an eye out for his effort to box out and battle for boards. the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert. If Kessler is going to become a starting-caliber big in the NBA, he needs to address the mobility concerns a tad, or be utilized in a scheme that exposes him to the perimeter less. Kessler also has a knack for the boards, as he averaged 8.1 rebounds per game during his final season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. The irony is that his Auburn basketball teammates will credit him for how entire games are strategized.. Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. BY Brian Fritz. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. His lack of strength hinders his ability to score and guard in the post as well. with 7-footer Walker Kessler's 4.6 blocks per game leading the nation among Power 5 schools.) Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . . Kesslers defensive upside begins with his shot-blocking ability, which extends to some jump shots. Good rim protector. Wilson later denied the report: "I never wanted them fired." a day ago. He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Walker Kessler Ranger --hidden-- Since '19; . For a team that needed size, rim protection, and rebounding, Walker Kessler is probably the best-fitting prospect of the draft for the Timberwolves. Based on your vantage point, he has a very unique relationship with 3-point shooting upside, one that would certainly unlock a new ceiling to make him that rare, tantalizing stretch-5. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. Later in the mock draft, Auburn's Walker Kessler is selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall selection. He has great hands . How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? Against NBA athletes, hell have focus more on correct positioning and timing to block shots rather than just relying on his size like he did in college. Ultimately, I think he has the potential to be a game-changing defender in the NBA, although if it does happen it will not happen in the first couple years. 3PT . This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Spin . Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. News: 2 days ago Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 minutes during Saturday's 118-102 win over the Spurs.. Saw some good passes from him throughout his possession clips, making good reads out of short rolls, finding cutters, Hi-Lo looks from 3PT-line to high post area. His IQ at the defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up on. Gambling Problem? College Recruiting. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot . With a 75 wingspan along with great body control and leaping ability, Kessler is able to deter shots at the rim and he defends without fouling. This weakness paired with his lack of vertical athleticism is a bit alarming. . SCOUTING REPORT. Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. 17 Tennessee As the season has progressed, so too has Auburn's Walker Kessler. The 7'1" 5 star center came into college in a tough way. He probably wont be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score. 22 pick in the draft. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. Kessler averaged 8.1 RPG, including 2.6 OREBs and 5.4 DREBs. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft youtu.be/6yo61fSL_mg via @YouTube. From November, when he averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 bloc Looking at his defensive possessions in conference play and the NCAA tournament against Villanova and Miami, he needs to work on walling up with his chest in the post instead of going for blocks and allowing defenders space to make moves. Office . Player Profile Report. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. UFC 285 Main Card Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook. 245 lbs. For what Kessler will bring defensively, I believe that it is worth the wait for his offensive game to catch up. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. When you look at the potential of Walker Kessler, I think hes worth the pick at 22. A lot of people are saying this is a swing factor for him I dont necessarily disagree, but I dont think being a legit 3PT threat will make or break his career. Kessler is a power finisher who converts down low with a lot of dunks or lobs, and he should be very good as a roller in the NBA. For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the 2022 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tim Connelly and the rest of the front office seemed to fill some of those holes with their first-round pick in Kessler. To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. But he doesnt stay disciplined. Report: Bears 'leaning toward' trading the No. He should be able to impact an NBA team on the defensive end right away and has game-changing potential on that end as I mentioned earlier. Salary: $2,696,400. 6-11, 220 | Class of 2020. He can impact jump shooters that dribble in place and resort to a one-dribble stepback, but cannot handle change of speeds, especially against drives. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. In the playoffs, when gameplans and rotation changes can go after a players flaws possession after possession, Kessler stands out as a big man whose role may not provide much value over another big man with increased versatility, athleticism, offensive impact or discipline. Over the course of his college career their favorite targets that is designed by athlete! For years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan.. 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