#6: Walker Kessler
While we think Walker Kessler might end up in the starting five and is one of the better rookies on the roster, there are several more experienced players who rank above him, at least for now. Kessler’s ceiling is a Jakob Poeltl-type player, who is a decent rebounder, an okay scorer inside the paint, and a monster at protecting the rim. His floor is a Jahlil Okafor clone, who is just too slow to play in the league and is unable to space the floor.
I believe in Kessler, who is coming off a standout, All-SEC sophomore season at Auburn. He was in the shadow of Jabari Smith, but I believe he can create his own identity.
Kessler has the skills and size to be the best rim protector in the league and a perennial leader in blocks. He won’t put up insane scoring numbers, but he uses his size to bang around in the paint and get hard-fought buckets.
Standing at 7’1”, it’s weird that he only averaged 8.1 boards. Maybe Smith had something to do with that, as the power forward posted 7.4 during his lone collegiate season.
At best, Kessler will be a solid, longtime starter in the league. At worst, he will fizzle out, as old-school centers tend to do. Most bigs can shoot the ball these days, but Kessler cannot. Do you know who else refuses to learn how to shoot? Rudy Gobert, and he might make the Hall of Fame.