Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga

The Detroit Pistons would feel like they hit the lottery again if they were able to land Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. There is no doubt that Holmgren will need to pack on the weight and muscle to make it through the grind of the NBA, as he stands 7’ tall but only weighs 195 pounds.

He has struggled with some physicality at the college level and the same will occur in the NBA, as players will attempt to bully and overpower him in the paint. However, he is immensely skilled and will use that to his advantage.

If a team can pair with him a bruiser in the frontcourt, he could find success right away in the league. He has solid athleticism and can score from anywhere on the court. He is knocking down 46.2 percent of his 3-pointers at Gonzaga and that should translate rather well to the NBA.

Chet Holmgren will sometimes struggle against pressure defense, as he has to get stronger with the ball in his hands. But he has such a size advantage on most players he is matched up with, he can shoot right over them.

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Chet Holmgren’s lateral quickness defensively will be tested, but he has all the makings of an elite rim protector. He has a 7’5” wingspan, which he uses to his advantage, blocking 3.3 shots per game.

Things you cannot teach, such as that, and Chet Holmgren’s shooting stroke will get him minutes right away. His lack of strength will be a weakness he has to overcome in his early years in the NBA, but he is so skilled he should find success right out the gate if a team leans into his strengths early on as he rounds out the rest of his game.