The Minnesota Timberwolves own the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and one area of need is the power forward/center position. Walker Kessler should still be on the board, but it may be a reach. Should the Wolves consider moving back and selecting the center out of Auburn?

If the Timberwolves were to draft Kessler at pick 19, I don’t think anyone would be upset. More than likely he will get picked anywhere between pick 22-29. This means the front office should consider trading back and gaining an asset.

Kessler is someone that can come in and immediately help Minnesota. He’s everything the Timberwolves are looking for in a big; he can play defense, knock down an occasional 3 and he has tremendous size.

Kessler is one of the best defensive players in the NCAA. Last season he won Defensive Player of the Year and SEC All-Defense. Minnesota needs someone who can anchor a defense down low and protect the rim, and Walker does just that. Last season he blocked 4.6 (tied for first in DI) shots and collected 1.1 steals.

This play is a perfect representation of his defense. He shuffles his feet and has zero issues staying with a guard, which eventually leads to a block at the rim.

Kessler does a good job using all of his 7’1″ 245-pound body to play elite defense. Because he’s that big, he’s also a really good rebounder. In 25 minutes of play, he snagged 8.1 rebounds (2.6 offensive).

Minnesota struggled on the glass this season, especially in that playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. If they had Kessler out there, you’d have to wonder if they maybe grab one of two more defensive boards.

Offensively, he’s not going to do too much. Last season he averaged 11.4 points and shot 60.8 percent from the field and 20.0 from 3. He didn’t take many 3s, which is probably smart considering his efficiency. He also shot 59.6 percent from the line, which doesn’t suggest he’ll become a good 3-point shooter.

However, Kessler’s shot is a pretty fluid motion, and it looks as if he can potentially develop into a 30 percent shooter.

There are some things he will need to clean up with his shot, but there’s a good base to work with.

There are some flaws with Kessler’s game, and that mostly boils down to his speed/athleticism and his turnover rate. For a center, you never want to see a player averaging 1.1 turnovers a game in 25 minutes. He’s a little too loose with the ball, but that feels like an easy thing to fix.

Given his size, it’s normal to see someone not move around as athletically as Karl-Anthony Towns. If he’s taken efficient shots and playing great defense, then I’m willing to forget about his speed and athleticism.

Minnesota could select Kessler with the No. 19 pick, and I’d have no issues with that. However, I think they could grab him a few picks later and gain an asset in return.