The buzz around former Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler continues to grow as the NBA Draft draws near. During a terrific freshman season with the Volunteers in Knoxville, Chandler helped lead Tennessee to the school’s first SEC Basketball Tournament title since 1979.
With the 2022 NBA Draft just over a week away, new mock drafts are being released left and right as experts give their final thoughts.
As far as Kennedy Chandler goes, most experts have the former Volunteer around the same spot, anywhere from the 15-25 range (give or take). In reality, that is pretty much the spot that Chandler has been forecasted for quite some time now. The only thing that’s left to see is which of those teams will wind up selecting the talented and energetic point guard.
See Also from RTI: Report: Four-Star Guard Freddie Dilione Sets Visit With Tennessee for Wednesday
Below is a look at what many of the NBA Draft experts are saying about Chandler before the NBA Draft kicks off next week. The draft will be held on Thursday, June 23.
ESPN.com – By Jonathan Givony – 6/15/22
Round 1, Pick 22 – Memphis Grizzlies
- “With the impending free agency of backup point guard Tyus Jones, who is in line for a raise after an excellent season, adding depth in the backcourt could make a lot of sense, especially with a local product like Chandler. He was one of the most talented point guards in college, blessed with incredible speed and burst, terrific ballhandling ability and creativity as a finisher and passer, and flashes of real shot-making ability. Despite being on the smaller side, Chandler’s quickness, basketball instincts and length made him a significant asset defensively last season, allowing him to make a living getting in passing lanes while also being a real pest on the ball.”
SBNation.com – By Ricky O’Donnell – 6/15/22
Round 1, Pick 26 – Dallas Mavericks
- “Chandler has played bigger than his size — 6-foot, 172 pounds — since he first emerged as an elite high school guard out of Tennessee. He knows how to control the tempo of a game as a floor general, hit 38 percent of his threes as a freshman with the Volunteers, and can be feisty defensively at the point of attack. Dallas could use someone to run offense when Luka Doncic needs a breather, and Chandler is one of the better lead guards in this class.”
Stadium – By Jeff Goodman – 6/15/22
Round 1, Pick 27 – Miami Heat
- “It’s a weak point guard class, so Kennedy could go even higher. The Memphis native is small, but he’s quick and can make shots from long distance. The Heat could use a young option at the point guard spot with Kyle Lowry getting older.2021-22 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.2 RPG, 38% 3-pointers (49-128)”
New York Post – By Zach Braziller – 6/15/22
Round 1, Pick 22 – Memphis Grizzlies
- “The Grizzlies could be in the market for a point guard with Tyus Jones potentially leaving through free agency, and the well-rounded Chandler not only hails from Memphis, but is close with star Ja Morant. “
Sports Illustrated – By Brett Seigal – 6/14/22
Round 1, Pick 19 – Minnesota Timberwolves
- “Addressing the future of D’Angelo Russell is priority number one for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the offseason, especially since he is entering the final year of his contract. With new ownership taking over and Tim Connelly recently being hired to be the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, Connelly is going to look to build a new identity for this franchise predicated around the play of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.It is possible that Minnesota looks to move down a little in order to acquire other assets, but should he be a guy near the top of their draft board, Kennedy Chandler could be the perfect athletic guard for this team to bring in. The 19-year-old guard is an all-around playmaker that is not afraid to create opportunities for others.
He barely turned the ball over at Tennessee and is a strong pick-and-roll ball-handler, making Chandler a nice fit in Minnesota where Karl-Anthony Towns and Jarred Vanderbilt are always setting screens to help their team play downhill towards the basket. This is not a flashy pick by any means, but Kennedy Chandler could fill a void this team has in their backcourt, especially if Russell is to be on the move in the near future.”
