Jalen Duren vs. Mark Williams

I’d take Duren in the top 10. I wouldn’t do that with Williams. That said, Williams could catch the eye of some GM and be that teams’ guy He’s ready now and possibly go in the lottery. Duren is much younger and can do what Williams brings to the table already plus pass really well. Although he’s younger, he’s pretty ready now too. Duren’s the better prospect.

I think Duren goes higher and has more upside but Williams is the sort of guy who could have a better career as he can become a very solid defensive big on a contending team.

Jalen Duren

Duran, Williams, Koloko, Kessler look like borderline starting center or important rotation players. It depends on who do you think is best on defense / switches. It also depends on personality. Duran is younger but a little bit shorter. A team with the need of a rim protector and immediate help will draft different. Maybe Duran has got more potential but he is definitely more of a risk (FT%/ fouls / offensive role/ consistency). Williams and Kessler are young to. Williams, Koloko, Kessler have got a very good Ass/TO ratio for big man and an improving good FT, expanding range. They could and shoud all go between pick 6-18.

I would take Duren, but it might be a matter of taste, as I see Williams as a Capela-type with his elite finishing on spread floor and ability to anchor on drop and Duren as Robert Williams type who can provide excellent weak-side rim protection and has a dash of secondary play making on the short roll he didn’t necessarily get to show at Memphis. Koloko and Kessler can probably provide 90% of what Mark does at a later pick as well.

Both these guys have become the starting C for their teams in their rookie seasons so are probably both ahead of where we’d expect late lottery/mid first round rookies to be. The starts to their careers have both been encouraging but both run the risk of their team getting Wemby and them being displaced. But Wemby could potentially play in a twin towers combo with either if they use their spacing and don’t clog things up for him. Also they will benefit from being a possible free man as teams may double team Wemby. At worse either would get decent minutes around him so wouldn’t be a disaster for either.

Detroit have Marvin Bagley too as a former 2nd pick. Walker Kessler at Utah is also having a decent rookie year and ironically might have given the T-Wolves almost what they have got from Gobert.