Frank Kaminsky
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7-1/230
School: Wisconsin
Kaminsky won every major national player of the year award last season at Wisconsin. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting better than 54 percent from the field. He also connected on an impressive 41 percent of his three-point attempts. Kaminsky was an incredibly efficient offensive player in college — he is an excellent shooter for a big man and has great footwork and touch around the basket.
There were doubts throughout his college career about how effective he could be at the NBA level. Kaminsky quieted any doubts I had with his performance against Kentucky in the Final Four, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against a frontline brimming with future NBA players. He followed that up with 21 points and 12 rebounds against Okafor in the national championship game.
Kaminsky can play in the NBA. He may not be a star, but he'll be a valuable member of someone's rotation.
Strengths
His versatility on the offensive end. Kaminsky is capable of scoring on the low block but is also able to stretch the floor with his shooting range. He can draw opposing big men away from the basket and free up the paint for his teammates. Kaminsky would be an intriguing option for a team with a dominant low post player like the Kings or the Pelicans. He would be best suited as part of a low-post/high-post frontcourt tandem.
Kaminsky also has a winning pedigree thanks to his four years at Wisconsin. He played in a structured system that stressed fundamentals and sound decision making. Kaminsky was a star at the college level, but he comes across as a team-first player who shouldn't have a problem adjusting to a complementary role in the NBA.
Weaknesses
Athleticism and defensive versatility. Will Kaminsky be able to guard NBA power forwards and centers on the low block? Can he guard more versatile forwards on the perimeter? These are questions that will be answered in time, but there are plenty of doubts when it comes to Kaminsky's ability to defend. His wingspan measured 6 feet and 11 inches, significantly short for a 7-footer.
NBA
He also isn't a top-tier athlete by any stretch. If defenders play him tightly on the perimeter, it will be difficult for him to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket.
How he'd fit with Sixers
The 76ers don't appear to have much need for Kaminsky. They are well-stocked in the frontcourt with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, though Embiid's not healing as expected (see story). The Sixers could view Kaminsky as a guy to provide depth up front, but I doubt they have much interest in him. He doesn't fit the mold of prospects that Sam Hinkie has gravitated towards in previous drafts — athletic players who excel on the defensive end.
NBA comparison
It's hard to pinpoint a good comparison for Kaminsky. But I finally settled on Troy Murphy, another post player with three-point range. Murphy may have been a tad more versatile when he entered the league, but Kaminsky is also capable of playing inside and on the perimeter. Murphy averaged just under 11 points and shot 39 percent from three-point range during a solid 12-year NBA career. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kaminsky have a similar career.
Draft projection
Kaminsky will be a mid first round pick, most likely in the 10-17 range.