Tier: Mid-Late First-Round Pick

Player Comparisons: Karl-Anthony Towns

Kyle Filipowski is a good ball handler and elite passer for a center. He can shoot the ball really well. He has the potential to be an elite Stretch 5 at the NBA. He still leaves a lot to be desired as a defender. He can truly be an elite center in the league if he works on that. He looks like he’ll be a first round pick, but don’t be surprised if teams pass on him due to his defense or reach on him due to his stretch 5 ability.

OFFENSE Hybrid 4/5 , versatile frontcourt pick very good rebounder confident driving to the basket , good handle really fluid can shoot and space the floor as a big, can play P&P His face-up scoring versatility has been an obvious draw for NBA teams, with the 7-footer having already made 14 threes and shown signs of being able to put the ball down and finish with touch and coordination on the move. His ability to change direction with behind-the-back dribbles and spins creates a key advantage for Filipowski against bigs. not afraid of contact, competitive BUT a lack of explosion has spoiled some of his pretty moves or finishes in traffic has been more efficient in the post

DEFENSE Defensively, Filipowski has made some impressive reactions and reads that have led to an outstanding 3.3 steal percentage early. On the other hand, he's mostly a non shot-blocker majority of NBA 4s figure to have the speed and quickness edge against him

Projected draft range: 14-20

Projected NBA rookie role: stretch 5

Strengths: good jump shooter, good ft mechanics, comfortable with the ball, decent passer with playmaking potential, modern center, decent at the post, and an amazing rebounder

Weakness: not quick laterally, not a good defender, is not athletic player and weak at the rim, decent frame just too weak against nba bigs, and has a tendency to turn the ball over.

Shades of/comp: KAT/troy murphy

Best outcome: great stretch 5, not an all star but a valuable piece that can be part of a championship team, almost lead leader in rebounds

mid outcome: good stretch 5, gets bullied in the paint and is a defensive liability, above average rebounder

worst outcome: struggle to score, to weak to play the 5, huge defensive liability, end of the rotation player

Tier 4.5 : Role Player Elite out of the bench (6th, 7th or 8th player of a great team)

Best fit team : Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat.

Not drafted this year.

Not staying in the Draft. Final ranking : 29.

Kyle Filipowski is the best big aside from Wembanyama in this draft class. He has similar game to Wembanyama offensively, they both can shoot very well and can handle the ball. Wembanyama's defense is next to none however. Filipowski will have to become a better defender. One thing he does have on Wembanyama though, is bulk. He has a better height to weight ratio and can bang inside with the strongest in the league. NBA teams would be silly to let Filipowski slip out of the lottery.

Comparison: Lauri Markannen

Filipowski has been one of the few bright spots for Duke so far this year. As a 6'11 freshman big man, he represents the newer style of basketball to a T. He is primarily an offensive weapon and is extremely skilled on that end of the floor. He has excellent passing vision for a big man and great shooting touch that extends out past the three point line. I wouldn't dare compare him to Jokic or even Sabonis, BUT he does represent that same type of player at a lesser degree. I think he could bring a ton of creativity, spacing and versatility to an offensive scheme even as a rookie. I wouldn't ever expect him to be a high volume producer but he could easily become one of the most effective and efficient bench big men in the NBA. Although he doesn't represent a great defender, he does play with high IQ on that end of the floor and would likely play solid team defense without being a total liability in individual matchup scenarios. I love his rebounding as well; often overshadowed by his offensive skills, his rebounding is one of his best traits. Filipowski is not a flashy pick and likely won't ever be a star but I could very easily see him becoming one of the best role player big men in the NBA very quickly.

Player Comps: Lauri Markkanen

Player Archetype: Stretch Big, Skilled Big NBA Comparison: Troy Murphy/Spencer Hawes

Strengths:

• Good jump shooter so far, but great mechanics and FT% mean he could be even better moving forward

• Comfortable with the ball, can attack off the bounce and dribble out of trouble

• Has been one of the best rebounders in the nation so far

• Adds some bonus creation potential

• Decent post package and usually will make something happen if he gets good position

Weaknesses:

• Not very quick laterally, will have trouble on switches

• Decent frame but will probably always be susceptible to stronger bigs attacking him

• Isn't explosive, even with his size he can be weak at the rim sometimes

• Might never be a plus defender

Final Thoughts: Fits the mold of a modern big who should definitely stick around in the NBA for 10+ years. He hasn't been shooting the lights out, per se, but I'll bet on his shot to be really good. Defense is the question mark here. Without great athleticism can he be good enough on switches or as a rim protector to play crunch time for a good team? I'm skeptical, but regardless he will have a role in the league.