Soaring Down South
Fansided

Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Kaleb Wesson

By Dallin Duffy

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the ball in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the ball in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Looking at Atlanta Hawks draft prospect Kaleb Wesson.

After previously not owning one, the Atlanta Hawks acquired a second-round pick in the Clint Capela deal, and we’ve begun scouting some players they could take with the 55th overall pick. Here we’ll be highlighting Ohio State big man Kaleb Wesson.

Wesson was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes and saw his numbers steadily rise during that time. He was the best player on a pretty good Ohio State team as a season, prompting him to turn down his final collegiate season to test the NBA Draft waters.

There are things to like about Wesson’s game, but many have questioned his fit in the modern NBA. His offensive presence in the low post is his greatest attribute, a feature not often utilized in today’s game.

Luckily, the 6’9 center did add a three-point shot to his arsenal this past season, even shooting over 40 percent from deep. Not many teams ask their big men to create with their back to the basket anymore, but he’ll always have that in his back pocket.

In terms of negatives, Wesson is undersized, and while he can play some power forward, he plays more like a center. He’ll be one of the smallest fives in the league if drafted, and will never be a top-tier rim protector. He overcame his height disadvantage in college on the boards and averaged nearly ten rebounds per game as a junior.

He overcomes that size of defense as well by playing smart, physical D. His play on that end of the floor benefitted the most from him staying three seasons in Columbus, and saw a great amount of improvement from his freshman season on.

It’ll certainly possible that he’ll continue to improve on that end and become a good interior defender at the next level.

Fit with Atlanta Hawks:

The Hawks already have a few floor-stretching bigs in Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins, and another one would certainly fit right in. It’s not hard to imagine Wesson running the pick-and-pop with Trae Young or Kevin Huerter.

Wesson is about as big of a question mark that you find in the draft, and whatever team drafts him will be getting a huge boom-or-bust guy. He could easily never see NBA action and just as easily turn into the steal of the draft.

Next. Hawks Season Grades: Jeff Teague. dark

Should the Atlanta Hawks draft Kaleb Wesson?