2022 NBA Draft: #37 Jaden Hardy (6' 3", 6' 9" WS) to DAL | two 2nds to SAC

[Branduil]

My favorite second round centers are Jaylin Williams from Arkansas and Trevion Williams from Purdue.

I only saw Jaylin Williams in the NCAA tournament but loved what I saw.  He is not super athletic but just looks like a smart player.  Doesn't block many shots but is a charge magnet.

Trevion Williams split time with another really good college center, so they didn't play together often.  He is a fantastic passer and a big body who is really skilled.  The key for him is defending and protecting the rim.   I could see a Thomas Bryant type player if he gets in really good shape.

I'll admit I like what I see from Jaylin Williams so far. My preference would still be to trade the pick for a proven center, but if that proves cost prohibitive or impossible, Jaylin seems like a decent consolation prize. Things that stand out to me from his draft profile and watching his highlights:

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/jaylin-williams/

Strengths: A relentless, versatile center who is built for the modern game with his disruptiveness and defensive acumen … Top of the key offensive initiator with great court vision and powerful, accurate passing leading to 2.6 assists per game his sophomore season … High-level athlete who can put the ball on the floor and play mobile on both ends of the floor … Has the potential to expand his range beyond the 3-point line … Boxes out well with the size and length to be a great rebounder … Averaged nearly 10 rebounds per game at Arkansas this season … Extremely smart defender who was the best player in the nation at rotating over and drawing charges … It is an understatement to call him a pesky defender … Defensive versatility is his greatest strength as he can guard just about any player on the floor, allowing his team to switch anything … High motor player who sets the tone defensively and has the stamina to play for long stretches. Averaged nearly 32 minutes per game for the Razorbacks and significantly improved in staying out of foul trouble … Williams fouled nearly five times per 40 minutes as a freshman and reduced this to 3.3 fouls per 40 minutes as a sophomore … Active hands on entry passes … Isn’t afraid to put his body into opponents in the post on both ends … Meets players at the rim as he averaged over a block per game … Creates chaos and turnovers on defense with 54 drawn charges and 48 steals on the season … Showed out against elite big men like Chet Holmgren, Drew Timme and Mark Williams in the NCAA Tournament … Will give you everything he has whenever he is on the floor and simply knows how to win and make players better around him …

The issue of course with trying to draft our next starting center is it usually takes several years for a center to develop into true starting quality. At the same time, the bar right now is Dwight Powell... a late 1st rookie center might well be better than him.