2021-22 will be an intriguing two-way season to watch for Brooklyn’s 2021 second-round pick Kessler Edwards. The Pepperdine product recently agreed to a two-way deal with the Nets, and can play up to 50 games with the team.
One of the significant differences for a player like Edwards in the new two-way structure is that he can have unlimited practice time with his NBA team even if he isn’t suiting up in games.
Nets fans got their first glimpse of the 2020-21 WCC first-teamer at NBA Summer League, where after a slow start he broke out against the Washington Wizards for 14 points and a number of defensive gems. Attacking this Corey Kispert closeout in a late shot clock situation was a particularly fun flash:
Kessler Edwards drives baseline and throws down the dunk! pic.twitter.com/mym3DucOzZ
— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) August 12, 2021
Edwards was branded as a prototypical “3-and-D” NBA wing, but that broad, overused archetype will lead you down many different rabbit holes when further analyzing a prospect with that label. The best defense Edwards played at Pepperdine was as a team defender, helping to cover up the mistakes of his teammates with length, timing, and intelligence to be able to guard in nearly every spot on the floor.
The funky jumper mechanics were a big question for many, but he nearly never had an issue getting his shot off or making those shots at a decent clip while in college.
What would define a successful year for the two-way tweener? Here are three goals for Edwards heading into his first NBA campaign: