Walker Kessler

[Lipoli390]

Meh.

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.

I agree, Abe. Another downside related to Kessler's skill set is that it doesn't have much League-wide value. That means, if he doesn't move the needle positively for the Wolves, he won't have much value in the NBA trade market.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Meh.

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.

Speaking of bad matchups, perhaps pairing Karl-Anthony Towns with a rim-protecting center in Walker Kessler in the frontcourt leads to other teams having to make adjustments. Why isn't that part of the thought process? Those two will, theoretically, be quite the handful on the interior, especially on the glass. I've long thought that if a team goes small and you have the personnel to crush them in the paint by staying big that the benefit of doing so will exceed whatever disadvantage there is on the perimeter. The difference is that with Towns at the four you're not sacrificing perimeter shooting to do that. Additionally, Towns showed last year in the high wall scheme that he can get out on the perimeter defensively and move his feet. Maybe, for once, Minnesota makes their opponent adjust to them.

[Monster]

Meh.

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.

Speaking of bad matchups, perhaps pairing Karl-Anthony Towns with a rim-protecting center in Walker Kessler in the frontcourt leads to other teams having to make adjustments. Why isn't that part of the thought process? Those two will, theoretically, be quite the handful on the interior, especially on the glass. I've long thought that if a team goes small and you have the personnel to crush them in the paint by staying big that the benefit of doing so will exceed whatever disadvantage there is on the perimeter. The difference is that with Towns at the four you're not sacrificing perimeter shooting to do that. Additionally, Towns showed last year in the high wall scheme that he can get out on the perimeter defensively and move his feet. Maybe, for once, Minnesota makes their opponent adjust to them.

I guess Rosas was right all along. Don't waste time on getting anyone that's big except Towns.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Meh.

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.

Speaking of bad matchups, perhaps pairing Karl-Anthony Towns with a rim-protecting center in Walker Kessler in the frontcourt leads to other teams having to make adjustments. Why isn't that part of the thought process? Those two will, theoretically, be quite the handful on the interior, especially on the glass. I've long thought that if a team goes small and you have the personnel to crush them in the paint by staying big that the benefit of doing so will exceed whatever disadvantage there is on the perimeter. The difference is that with Towns at the four you're not sacrificing perimeter shooting to do that. Additionally, Towns showed last year in the high wall scheme that he can get out on the perimeter defensively and move his feet. Maybe, for once, Minnesota makes their opponent adjust to them.

I guess Rosas was right all along. Don't waste time on getting anyone that's big except Towns.

I'm picking up on your sarcasm, monster, and I think we're on the same page. We cannot complain about a lack of size or weaknesses on the interior and then continue to bitch when those needs are addressed. Minnesota had holes and they've begun filling them.

I think there are fair conversations to be had about what moves come next, or whether the Wolves got appropriate value for their picks (they did), but Minnesota had to add at least one big this off-season -- no question about it.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Minnesota drafted the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year -- winning the award over Chet Holmgren and Mark Williams -- who swatted 155 shots last year (4.6 BPG) and we're talking about his hand size and whether or not he'll be able to hang around the perimeter. Come on, guys! Kessler protects the rim, rebounds his position, sets good screens, dives hard to the rim, and does the dirty work on the interior. I think with the more video you watch on him, the more you'll come around on him.

Exactly. I wasn't high on the pick at first, but after watching video I really like it. To be honest, I think he's being undervalued because he looks like a big slow white guy. I saw a guy with pretty good quickness and mobility for a guy his size, a good athlete with some explosiveness. What does mark Williams really have on Kessler? I think his elite ability to block shots will transfer to the next level. I think he can play with kat for stretches and will help kat stay out of foul trouble a lot of nights. We definitely drafted for need here and I think this takes away the pressure to sign a big with the MLE. Now if Tyus ends up being the best value for the MLE we can do that and sign another PF for cheap.

[Jester1534]

Long he can set a legit nba screen, stand tall and secure a rebound it's all he needs to do.

Remember when Branden Clarke destroyed us in playoffs with offensive rebound after rebound? This type of pick to make that never happen again.

[Lipoli390]

Meh.

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.

Speaking of bad matchups, perhaps pairing Karl-Anthony Towns with a rim-protecting center in Walker Kessler in the frontcourt leads to other teams having to make adjustments. Why isn't that part of the thought process? Those two will, theoretically, be quite the handful on the interior, especially on the glass. I've long thought that if a team goes small and you have the personnel to crush them in the paint by staying big that the benefit of doing so will exceed whatever disadvantage there is on the perimeter. The difference is that with Towns at the four you're not sacrificing perimeter shooting to do that. Additionally, Towns showed last year in the high wall scheme that he can get out on the perimeter defensively and move his feet. Maybe, for once, Minnesota makes their opponent adjust to them.

I guess Rosas was right all along. Don't waste time on getting anyone that's big except Towns.

Monster - That's right Monster, none of really want to add a big next to KAT. Sarcasm back at you. Now to cut the crap, I'll just not that.I don't like the Kessler pick for the following reasons:

1. I thought there were better choices on the board. I'm not impressed by Kessler. I think he's a bit slow for the NBA and, while not a likely bust, he's likely going to be a bench guy his entire career. I thought there were better picks at that point in the draft.

2. There are good free agent bigs the Wolves can sign this summer, including a young guy named Hartenstein who could be signed as a player who can contribute right away and be developed over the long haul. Jalen Smith is another possible young big with upside who's ready to contribute right now.

3. Kessler doesn't provide optimal re-sale value because, as a traditional big, he's not an attractive type of player asset in the League today. It's like buying an asset with limited liquidity.

None of my reasons for not liking the Kessler pick have anything to do with not wanting to add a big next to KAT. In my view there were better prospects at #22 and there are good free agent options to add size to our front court next to KAT both short term AND long term.

Look, the Wolves could have done worse than taking Kessler at 22. He has terrific length, which you can't teach or develop. And he has a demonstrated knack for shot-blocking. I noticed his body fat is almost 15%. If he can cut that roughly in half to a more typical NBA level of around 7 or 8%, that should help him move faster and more fluidly. I'll also say that if he can develop into a good perimeter shooter, which isn't inconceivable, that will be a game changer for him and his value as a player and trade asset. I've preached patience a lot. So I'll stay true to that principle and remain patient with Kessler. Meanwhile, I'm very pleased with the Moore pick and intrigued by the Minott pick. I like that Connelly stayed in the draft and was willing to add three rookies to the roster as an additional talent infusion. Overall, I'm pleased with where this team is at.

If nothing else, all Wolves fans should be thankful Leon Rose isn't in charge of the Wolves franchise. :) Seriously, I'm generally pleased with what we've seen from Tim Connelly's front office so far. He's shown patience and made rational decisions - even though I don't agree with one of those decision.

[60WinTim]

The argument we could just sign Hartenstein is a pretty bad one. Even if we really wanted him, what do you think the chances are that would be successful? Would it even be 10%?

I really like that we identified a skillset we lacked, and were able to take an initial stab at addressing it in the draft.

[Lipoli390]

The argument we could just sign Hartenstein is a pretty bad one. Even if we really wanted him, what do you think the chances are that would be successful? Would it even be 10%?

I really like that we identified a skillset we lacked, and were able to take an initial stab at addressing it in the draft.

I think the chances of signing Hartenstein were good. The Wolves would recruit him to be a starter, something few playoff teams would offer him. The Wolves also have the full MLE and enough room under the luxury tax to give him the full MLE, which is far more than he's currently making with the Clippers. And of course, Hartenstein is just one of many free agent bigs the Wolves will have a crack at signing. It's not just Hartenstein. It's OK to argue that you like Kessler's skill set. But he has glaring weaknesses too. Meanwhile, the Wolves had other options in the draft who I think were better and options in free agency to add a big who would be better than Kessler right away with a good chance of being better than Kessler over the long haul too. There is room to disagree about Kessler. I understand why some like the pick. I was simply offering the MULTIPLE REASONS I didn't like the pick. And the one reason related to free agency was not limited to Hartenstein.

[Tactical unit]

Kessler has the potential to remain on the floor during crunch time and help close out games. I think Kessler will be looked back on and thought to have been really good value.