Q-was-here wrote:I saw a comparison somewhere with Brook Lopez. I'm not sure that works offensively since Lopez eventually developed a 3-point shot, but defensively I think it makes sense. Lopez also has a 9'5 standing reach and we've seen him use his sheer size as a great asset without ever having to leave his feet. He's like a poster child of the drop coverage scheme. And at times you can't play Lopez if the opposing team goes super small and quick. Same will apply to Kessler - he's probably never going to be a 30+ MPG Center, even if he's a starter some day.
My concern with Kessler is that I don't know how much he really helps us as a rookie. Yes, we've bitched and complained about adding a legit big, but it's hard for me to believe that he is going to be a plus player in Year 1 and may be not even in Year 2.
Maybe we will still add a rebounder/rim protector on a short term deal in free agency, ala Hassan Whiteside, or someone of that ilk...
Q-was-here wrote:I saw a comparison somewhere with Brook Lopez. I'm not sure that works offensively since Lopez eventually developed a 3-point shot, but defensively I think it makes sense. Lopez also has a 9'5 standing reach and we've seen him use his sheer size as a great asset without ever having to leave his feet. He's like a poster child of the drop coverage scheme. And at times you can't play Lopez if the opposing team goes super small and quick. Same will apply to Kessler - he's probably never going to be a 30+ MPG Center, even if he's a starter some day.
My concern with Kessler is that I don't know how much he really helps us as a rookie. Yes, we've bitched and complained about adding a legit big, but it's hard for me to believe that he is going to be a plus player in Year 1 and may be not even in Year 2.
Maybe we will still add a rebounder/rim protector on a short term deal in free agency, ala Hassan Whiteside, or someone of that ilk...
We still have Naz Reid under contract so if he doesn't get moved, I have a hard time believing we would add yet another big to go along with KAT, Reid, and Kessler. And I'm not sure any of these guys can really play much together yet, so Kessler will be competing with Reid for minutes as the backup 5.
Q-was-here wrote:I saw a comparison somewhere with Brook Lopez. I'm not sure that works offensively since Lopez eventually developed a 3-point shot, but defensively I think it makes sense. Lopez also has a 9'5 standing reach and we've seen him use his sheer size as a great asset without ever having to leave his feet. He's like a poster child of the drop coverage scheme. And at times you can't play Lopez if the opposing team goes super small and quick. Same will apply to Kessler - he's probably never going to be a 30+ MPG Center, even if he's a starter some day.
My concern with Kessler is that I don't know how much he really helps us as a rookie. Yes, we've bitched and complained about adding a legit big, but it's hard for me to believe that he is going to be a plus player in Year 1 and may be not even in Year 2.
Maybe we will still add a rebounder/rim protector on a short term deal in free agency, ala Hassan Whiteside, or someone of that ilk...
We still have Naz Reid under contract so if he doesn't get moved, I have a hard time believing we would add yet another big to go along with KAT, Reid, and Kessler. And I'm not sure any of these guys can really play much together yet, so Kessler will be competing with Reid for minutes as the backup 5.
I think the Wolves will and should add another guy to the frontcourt via FA. I see a couple paths they could take.
1. Sign a vet FA that would be on a 1 year deal. They could be a big C like Tim suggested or maybe more of a PF center type.
2. Sign a younger guy with promise that maybe isn't proven but has a lot more experience than Kessler who barely played his freshman year in college. Idk if there is a Hartenstein type guy from last offseason available this year but there there might be someone that isn't being considered that we could add. Plus it's also possible Naz gets moved.
Overall I just can't imagine the Wolves are like sweet we got Kessler and Minott so we fixed the frontcourt. Lol
60WinTim wrote:And the 5 is not so crowded if Towns is indeed spending more time at the 4...
But he can only spend time at the 4 with certain players. It didn't look so good playing with Naz. And the times it makes sense to do it with KAT is when we are playing the behemoth Centers that KAT struggles with. But do we think Kessler is ready to handle those guys yet? Hell no, the refs are going to crucify him the second he touches Embiid or JoVal.
I think the long-term hope is that Kessler could eventually be a pseudo-starting 5 next to KAT.....like in three years may be. He has a lot of nuances and skill development to pick up between now and then.
A guy like Hartenstein on the other hand I could see signing and starting immediately next to KAT. He'd still only play 20-25 MPG, but he's been around the block enough that I think he can work as a starter and absorb a lot of the physical play and fouls that frustrates KAT while still being a plus player on the court.
60WinTim wrote:And the 5 is not so crowded if Towns is indeed spending more time at the 4...
But he can only spend time at the 4 with certain players. It didn't look so good playing with Naz. And the times it makes sense to do it with KAT is when we are playing the behemoth Centers that KAT struggles with. But do we think Kessler is ready to handle those guys yet? Hell no, the refs are going to crucify him the second he touches Embiid or JoVal.
I think the long-term hope is that Kessler could eventually be a pseudo-starting 5 next to KAT.....like in three years may be. He has a lot of nuances and skill development to pick up between now and then.
A guy like Hartenstein on the other hand I could see signing and starting immediately next to KAT. He'd still only play 20-25 MPG, but he's been around the block enough that I think he can work as a starter and absorb a lot of the physical play and fouls that frustrates KAT while still being a plus player on the court.
Right! Which is why I said we will likely add another big via trade or free agency.
BTW, after doing more of my post-draft followup on Kessler, I am really liking the pick. Not to mention TC's track record on drafting bigs...
An offensive liability who is known for defense... but who'll be played off the floor in certain matchups. It's pick #22, so it's not a huge deal, but I'm not seeing much upside here.
[Note: Would a guy like Kessler have seen court time with the NBA playoff teams that made the 2nd round? How many?]
An offensive liability who is known for defense... but who'll be played off the floor in certain matchups. It's pick #22, so it's not a huge deal, but I'm not seeing much upside here.
[Note: Would a guy like Kessler have seen court time with the NBA playoff teams that made the 2nd round? How many?]
Based on what? An unreliable perimeter shot doesn't automatically equate to being an offensive liability. Walker Kessler provides value in the dunker spot and in the pick-and-roll as a diving big -- something the Wolves severely lack -- and on the offensive glass. According to Synergy Sports, Kessler scored 1.2 points per possession in 75 pick-and-roll possessions (79th percentile) and 1.5 PPP in 79 possessions as a cutter (89th percentile). He also scored 1.5 PPP around the rim in the half court (97th percentile), primarily on dunks and nifty finishes that display solid touch. He's got enough skill on that end to make defenses respect him. Granted, he won't sniff 20 points per game at the next level, but it's a bit much to consider him a liability on that end.
Periodically last season, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl reiterated to Walker Kessler some advice that seemed strange on the surface: Play smaller. Really? Kessler is 7-foot-1 and 255 pounds. He has a 7-4 wingspan and blocked more shots by himself than all but 13 Division I teams. In his case, wouldn't bigger be better?
"What Bruce meant was just because you measure seven feet doesn't mean you have to move like a 7-footer," Tigers assistant Ira Bowman says. "Because Walker can actually play like someone who is 6-7. He can move like somebody a lot smaller. That's one of his gifts, so Bruce was always telling him, 'Be the athlete that you are. Play quick and athletic, not slow and lumbering.'"
An offensive liability who is known for defense... but who'll be played off the floor in certain matchups. It's pick #22, so it's not a huge deal, but I'm not seeing much upside here.
[Note: Would a guy like Kessler have seen court time with the NBA playoff teams that made the 2nd round? How many?]
Based on what? An unreliable perimeter shot doesn't automatically equate to being an offensive liability. Walker Kessler provides value in the dunker spot and in the pick-and-roll as a diving big -- something the Wolves severely lack -- and on the offensive glass. According to Synergy Sports, Kessler scored 1.2 points per possession in 75 pick-and-roll possessions (79th percentile) and 1.5 PPP in 79 possessions as a cutter (89th percentile). He also scored 1.5 PPP around the rim in the half court (97th percentile), primarily on dunks and nifty finishes that display solid touch. He's got enough skill on that end to make defenses respect him. Granted, he won't sniff 20 points per game at the next level, but it's a bit much to consider him a liability on that end.
Liability.
Limited.
One-trick pony.
Some might be more accurate than others. But the guy seems to have a very specific skillset on both offense and defense. And neither one was in great need by many teams in the most recent playoffs.
I'd rather have the Wolves take a flyer on a wing than a big who only matches up with certain teams/players and might not even see much floor time during crunchtime or the playoffs because of bad matchups.
