Moore for the same reasons I liked Jalen Williams, though not as balanced or polished offensively. I like the dawg D. Kessler as a bargain-basement Gobert caught my eye, but the janky shot and overeager bite on fakes makes me think in the NBA he'd be a one trick pony and that trick would be getting his own team into the bonus.
Just an interesting article today from Seth Davis: running through scouts’ takes on the top 50 picks through the lens of one fictional scout (hard to explain, but he lays out the framework in there).
Found the bit on Kessler interesting because if he showed signs of being able to shoot the three in workouts, it would be easier for me to consider him more as a high post player on offense and someone who could do a little rim protecting off the bench against reserve units on D:
“Walker Kessler, 7-1 sophomore center, Auburn. “Big-time defender. He did a really good job of guarding the rim, and that is really coveted right now. He’s a little insecure at times. He has a chance to be a good shooter. It happened for Marc Gasol. I’m not sure about the toughness piece. I think he has a chance to become a 3-point shooter, but he hasn’t proven it yet. He says he can shoot it, but let’s see. He’s a slow-twitch guy. He’s not gonna be the switchable defender that people like, but he’ll protect the rim. From watching his workouts, I think he’s gonna be able to shoot the 3. I wish he had a little more nasty to him.”
This came down to Moore vs. Keels to me. I really tried to talk myself into Keels, but he feels further away from contributing even at his most optimistic outcome.
There have been a lot of comparisons to Lu Dort and I get why, but for two guards that relied heavily on their strength to score off the drive I found a key difference: Dort also used his strength to draw a lot of free throw attempts (6.1 FTA/G; FTrate of 48%) whereas Keels really didn’t draw fouls at the rate you’d expect from such a physical player (2.7 FTA/G; FTrate of 27.6%). And I think that’s sort of concrete way of thinking through the impact of some of his weaknesses: he’s not a great finisher because he’s not that crafty a ball handler, doesn’t seem to go left often, isn’t an explosive athlete and doesn’t really have the mid-range game to get defenders off balance. So his game is predicated on bullying his way to the rim, but it doesn’t work consistently against college defenders. So it seems really unlikely that his style of play offensively at Duke translates to the pros, which means you’re waiting on his jumper and hoping teams respect that jumper enough to open up his play making. And while his defense has drawn mixed reviews, people are fairly consistent with the idea that he gets beat fairly easily when put in space/motion because he doesn’t have elite athleticism. Also really concerned about his ability to defend bigger wings unless he can cross match somehow. So I really see an uphill climb for this guy to make it… and I don’t necessarily see a high ceiling at the end of that climb.
If the Warriors were to draft Keels, I would trust Myers & Co. enough to believe that there are intangibles there that make it worth the effort to help him develop into a productive player… but I’m struggling to see it from here.
So it sort of ends up being Moore by default from this group because he has demonstrated clear strengths in college (unlike Baldwin) and I can see how the Warriors system would actually enhance his development given the strengths he has (unlike Kessler).
Difficult group; I don't think any of these guys is likely to win our little draft tourney. But I am intrigued by a Kessler & Moore.
Kessler's defensive presence looks like the real deal, a very rare player in that regard; the question is if he can do enough on offense, and if he'll only be as effective in the postseason as Gobert. Bit of a positional clash with Wiseman, but, whatever, if he's the best option we take him and trade whichever one we don't like after a while.
Moore is probably the guy whose resume most obviously fits the modern NBA out of all the rookies we've seen so far; it's hard to go wrong with a 3pt shooting, passing wing who plays fundamentally solid defense. His instincts for pushing the pace on the break should fit well with GSW. But he isn't all that impressive in any one respect.
I have to say Kessler, because I like the idea of gambling on a unique talent and finding a role where he can succeed or a way to maximize his skills, something our coaches have been pretty good at, rather than just going for the straightforward choice.
Ugh. None of these guys are going to be on the Warriors. Whoever we pick in this group doesn't even make it to the next round of this tournament, I don't think. That being said, in this group I think I take the big swing on Baldwin (warriors don't need a bench wing/swing who can't get time over Wiggins/JK/Moody and possibly even JTA or Lee and they don't like big guys who can't switch). At least if Baldwin does hit, he's something we don't already kind of have. Plus, who doesn't love a good PB&J?
I think this group is selling Kessler low and he's enough of an outlier on the defensive end that I'm a little intrigued. Even if I have a huge anti-center bias. But I just can't say no to Moore. He fits my archetype too perfectly. Could he be Jacob Evans or Pat McCaw? Of course, but at #28, you can't and won't always get Jordan Poole.
Wendell Moore is the guy for this team. Unselfish, high IQ player who's versatility makes him playable in almost any situation. Makes sense from both a basketball and culture perspective.
Knowing almost exclusively what is written in this article...
I'll go with Kessler for defense and rebounding... did I happen to read elsewhere he was the Naismith Defensive Player Award winner? ... for a championship team to get someone like that with the 28th pick is something I would heartily endorse. Moore would be a very safe second choice.
Let’s keep the comments here draft-only, and the non-draft comments in the other open thread.
Draft vote is up! https://dnhq.draft-vote.xyz/
Moore - like his 3PT%, size/reach, defense, & hustle. Mostly, I like the Wardell-Wendell combo.
Moore for the same reasons I liked Jalen Williams, though not as balanced or polished offensively. I like the dawg D. Kessler as a bargain-basement Gobert caught my eye, but the janky shot and overeager bite on fakes makes me think in the NBA he'd be a one trick pony and that trick would be getting his own team into the bonus.
Moore
Just an interesting article today from Seth Davis: running through scouts’ takes on the top 50 picks through the lens of one fictional scout (hard to explain, but he lays out the framework in there).
https://theathletic.com/3365902/2022/06/20/nba-draft-2022-anonymous-scouting-report/
Found the bit on Kessler interesting because if he showed signs of being able to shoot the three in workouts, it would be easier for me to consider him more as a high post player on offense and someone who could do a little rim protecting off the bench against reserve units on D:
“Walker Kessler, 7-1 sophomore center, Auburn. “Big-time defender. He did a really good job of guarding the rim, and that is really coveted right now. He’s a little insecure at times. He has a chance to be a good shooter. It happened for Marc Gasol. I’m not sure about the toughness piece. I think he has a chance to become a 3-point shooter, but he hasn’t proven it yet. He says he can shoot it, but let’s see. He’s a slow-twitch guy. He’s not gonna be the switchable defender that people like, but he’ll protect the rim. From watching his workouts, I think he’s gonna be able to shoot the 3. I wish he had a little more nasty to him.”
This came down to Moore vs. Keels to me. I really tried to talk myself into Keels, but he feels further away from contributing even at his most optimistic outcome.
There have been a lot of comparisons to Lu Dort and I get why, but for two guards that relied heavily on their strength to score off the drive I found a key difference: Dort also used his strength to draw a lot of free throw attempts (6.1 FTA/G; FTrate of 48%) whereas Keels really didn’t draw fouls at the rate you’d expect from such a physical player (2.7 FTA/G; FTrate of 27.6%). And I think that’s sort of concrete way of thinking through the impact of some of his weaknesses: he’s not a great finisher because he’s not that crafty a ball handler, doesn’t seem to go left often, isn’t an explosive athlete and doesn’t really have the mid-range game to get defenders off balance. So his game is predicated on bullying his way to the rim, but it doesn’t work consistently against college defenders. So it seems really unlikely that his style of play offensively at Duke translates to the pros, which means you’re waiting on his jumper and hoping teams respect that jumper enough to open up his play making. And while his defense has drawn mixed reviews, people are fairly consistent with the idea that he gets beat fairly easily when put in space/motion because he doesn’t have elite athleticism. Also really concerned about his ability to defend bigger wings unless he can cross match somehow. So I really see an uphill climb for this guy to make it… and I don’t necessarily see a high ceiling at the end of that climb.
If the Warriors were to draft Keels, I would trust Myers & Co. enough to believe that there are intangibles there that make it worth the effort to help him develop into a productive player… but I’m struggling to see it from here.
So it sort of ends up being Moore by default from this group because he has demonstrated clear strengths in college (unlike Baldwin) and I can see how the Warriors system would actually enhance his development given the strengths he has (unlike Kessler).
With his length and shooting there's moore to like with Wendell.
Difficult group; I don't think any of these guys is likely to win our little draft tourney. But I am intrigued by a Kessler & Moore.
Kessler's defensive presence looks like the real deal, a very rare player in that regard; the question is if he can do enough on offense, and if he'll only be as effective in the postseason as Gobert. Bit of a positional clash with Wiseman, but, whatever, if he's the best option we take him and trade whichever one we don't like after a while.
Moore is probably the guy whose resume most obviously fits the modern NBA out of all the rookies we've seen so far; it's hard to go wrong with a 3pt shooting, passing wing who plays fundamentally solid defense. His instincts for pushing the pace on the break should fit well with GSW. But he isn't all that impressive in any one respect.
I have to say Kessler, because I like the idea of gambling on a unique talent and finding a role where he can succeed or a way to maximize his skills, something our coaches have been pretty good at, rather than just going for the straightforward choice.
If "none of the above" isn't an option, then I go with Moore. The rest are... not great for us.
Wendell Moore is my pick. If given the choice between him and Gonzaga's Andrew Nembhard, that would be very tough. I like Nembhard.
Kessler is tempting.
Ugh. None of these guys are going to be on the Warriors. Whoever we pick in this group doesn't even make it to the next round of this tournament, I don't think. That being said, in this group I think I take the big swing on Baldwin (warriors don't need a bench wing/swing who can't get time over Wiggins/JK/Moody and possibly even JTA or Lee and they don't like big guys who can't switch). At least if Baldwin does hit, he's something we don't already kind of have. Plus, who doesn't love a good PB&J?
I think this group is selling Kessler low and he's enough of an outlier on the defensive end that I'm a little intrigued. Even if I have a huge anti-center bias. But I just can't say no to Moore. He fits my archetype too perfectly. Could he be Jacob Evans or Pat McCaw? Of course, but at #28, you can't and won't always get Jordan Poole.
Wendell Moore is the guy for this team. Unselfish, high IQ player who's versatility makes him playable in almost any situation. Makes sense from both a basketball and culture perspective.
Knowing almost exclusively what is written in this article...
I'll go with Kessler for defense and rebounding... did I happen to read elsewhere he was the Naismith Defensive Player Award winner? ... for a championship team to get someone like that with the 28th pick is something I would heartily endorse. Moore would be a very safe second choice.
Wendell Moore