This marks the last segment of our hit series: Preview the Picks! While the draft remains murky outside of the top two, it’s my belief that if the Timberwolves keep their pick, it will be used on one of the players previously previewed (say that five times fast) in this column.
And with that as our nostalgic, sappy introduction, let’s introduce our last but not least pick: Kris Dunn, ladies and gents!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOJwvwviib8
Measurables:
Height: 6’4
Weight: 205 lbs.
Wingspan: 6’9.5
Senior Year Stats: 16.4 points, 5.3 boards, 6.2 assists, 2.5 steals, 3.5 TOs per game, 44.8%-37.2%-69.5% splits.
Projected Draft Range: 3-7
The Good:
Dunn is a physical specimen who’s measurements actually exceed his usual comparison, John Wall (Dunn is the same height with a wingspan that’s a quarter inch longer). He’s been described as John Wall with B+ athleticism instead of A+. Let’s take a second to appreciate that John Wall would be a very good basketball player even with B+ athleticism.
Dunn is at his best in the open floor, where he’s tough to stop with a head of steam and he is great at seeking out rimrunners and shooters trailing to the three-point line. With his frame and a good coach, Dunn should become a defensive nightmare in time.
He’s also not an incapable outside shooter, having shot 37.2% on 3.4 threes attempted per game (similar to but better than Wall’s numbers in college), though he will need to become much more consistent if he wants to be a threat in the modern NBA.
With a college degree and the strength of character that comes from a lifetime of overcoming obstacles, Dunn comes with a little more seasoning than most top-5 picks. He knows how to run a team and is always ready for the big moment.
The Bad:
Dunn’s sub-optimal shot has gotten a lot of focus by his detractors, but though he will need a lot of work to get there, I don’t see any reason why he can’t at least be a below-average to average shooter.
The bigger problem for Dunn is his carelessness with the ball. He averaged 3.5 turnovers per game, down from 4.2 the previous season. While John Wall and Steph Curry (two turnover-prone but elite guards) averaged 4.0 and 3.7 turnovers a game, respectively, in their final college season, it’s important to remember that Wall was 18 and Curry still had his shooting. It’s concerning that Dunn still shows such average decision-making this far into his career if his biggest calling card is his ability to be a floor general.
Final Thoughts:
Kris Dunn only fits one specific vision for the T-Wolves–one in which Rubio no longer dons the green and blue. Now, there has been a lot of talk of trading Rubio over the last season or two, so it’s not an option that’s off the table. However, doing so in order to bring in Dunn, a player who has many of Rubio’s weaknesses but not all of his strengths, seems an odd choice. Dunn is in the same age bracket as the other core players, but unless the front office is getting a really good haul for Rubio, I don’t see this happening.
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