3. Walker Kessler — Houston Rockets
2022 Stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 72.0-percent from the field, 2.3 BPG
Original Draft Slot: No. 22 Overall (1st Round)
Kessler had the reputation as being a shot blocker coming out of college at Auburn. However, he took his game to a completely different level upon entering the NBA. Utah nabbed him in the Rudy Gobert trade — and it looks right now as if Kessler might already be a better player. One can make the argument he’s already a top-five shot blocker in the league.
He shot over 70-percent from the floor as a rookie (which is utterly ridiculous), and there’s still room for growth on both ends of the floor. In this scenario, Houston would throw him at the center spot and not think twice about doing so.
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