Do you, fair reader, miss the 90s? Do you miss slinkies, hackysacks, and DVRs? Do you long for hand checking and forwards who can only rebound?
Well, do I have the draft pick for you!
Trey Kaufman-Renn is many things, but he is not a modern archetype. Despite having an incredibly successful career at Purdue, the 6’9 forward was not expected to be drafted.
That does not mean he is not without talent, however, as the 23-year-old has specific skills.
The Purdue product is, at the end of the day, an excellent post player. Imagine your Jahlil Okafors, AL Jeffersons, and (Wolves legend) Greg Monroes. He averaged just over 14 points across 37 contests, almost exclusively playing out of the low block. ESPN described him as having excellent touch but being unable to extend it meaningfully away from the basket.
Isaiah Evans, the Wolves’ other draft pick tonight, had one elite skill with a smattering of other exciting traits. Kaufman-Renn is similar to his one elite skill, but lacks those other traits.
With that being said, it’s time to get to the bad.
It is ultimately increasingly difficult to see a player of this ilk succeeding in the NBA. There’s a reason why teams have abandoned these guys even when they are effective. Luka Garza was once a national player of the year, feeding off the same diet of shots that Trey has claimed. He has made it nearly a half-decade in the league after being picked at a similar spot in the draft.
Trey is not at that level. I wonder if he’ll ever come close. He’s not a defender. He’s not really a playmaker (2.5 assists per game). He’s not much of anything outside of a developed body and a post scorer.
Honestly, his biggest role may be as a piece for the Iowa Wolves.
Maybe it’s a little pessimistic to bury a draft pick before he plays a game or signs a contract, but late 2nd rounders rarely become anything, if they ever play at all. I know people are thinking of recent signee Austin Reaves and his 200 million contract, or of 51st overall pick Mo Diawara and his far smaller deal, but even lasting three years would be optimistic.
This is a player soon to be stuck in the churn of the NBA’s roster limits. For all the hate they would’ve gotten for it, the Wolves probably would have been best served trading or selling the pick.
It’s interesting to think what Tim Connely sees in one of the oldest players in the class, or if this is more of seeing through an individual scout’s instinct.
But the truth of the matter is that this is a confusing pick, but not one to be overthought. The 59th overall pick has yet to produce a real NBA talent.
Maybe Trey will be the first.
