... Kuzma would ... go in the top 5 in a draft redo this second
No, he wouldn’t.
No? He's the 2nd highest scorer in his draft class with a TS% of 63.8? There are 5 players you'd draft above him?
Of course there are. You draft for potential, not rookie year production.
Kuzma is only 22, it's not like he's Brogdon getting drafted at 24. By that logic, in a 2012 re-draft, Damien Lillard doesn't deserve to make it in the top 5 (he was drafted at 22 as well).
Edit: Also the rule of thumb is typically to draft the best player available. Not draft off potential.
Who invented that fictional rule of thumb? It’s not at all true.
I misspoke. The draft strategy is usually either draft out of need, or draft the best player available regardless of fit. Age is definitely taken into account in terms of "best player available" so I'll retract the after thought of my comment.
I'd still hold firm to my original point that Kuzma would be re-drafted as a top 5 pick currently. The only 22 year olds putting up 15+ points on 60%TS are Kuzma, Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and KAT, and the latter 3 were drafted at 20, 19, and 20.
Kuzma's skill trajectory doesn't appear to be stifled despite his lack of experience compared to the other 3. He's in good company for his age. At least this early on.
