NBA Draft rumors 2022: 5 targets for the Golden State Warriors
1. Walker Kessler
Kevon Looney was huge for the Warriors in the postseason but it’s possible the veteran center will be too expensive for Golden State to bring back next year. That makes the idea of drafting a new center at the bottom of the first round an intriguing temptation for the Warriors’ front office to consider.
If the Warriors want to replace Looney with a like-for-like guy towards the end of Round 1 then Kessler is the obvious choice. He’s arguably the top shot-blocker in this class and can provide Golden State with an elite rim protector to work with as soon as he steps into the league.
The challenge with Kessler is that there just isn’t too much else to his game. He’s not a good perimeter shooter so the chances of him developing into a stretch five on offense are remote. The former Auburn star also lacks anything resembling advanced post moves at this stage in his development.
While he profiles as an elite shot-blocker it’s worth noting that he’s never going to be a quality switch defender. He’s the sort of big man that will be matchup-dependent in the playoffs. There will potentially be entire series where his limited skill set keeps him nailed to the bench.
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Kessler is a bit of an antiquated center which might make him a strange fit for Golden State. He only makes sense for the Warriors if they’re ready to cut ties with Looney. He doesn’t have star potential but he can fill a very specific void for the defending champions at No. 28.