Adrian Payen

[bleedspeed]

I saw Flip. I asked him about this. Payne told the Hawks before the draft he didn't want to play for anyone but the Wolves because Izzo said so. So he has been dogging it with the Hawks all year to force his way to the Wolves. This has been a multi year plan. He actually said he under performed in college to so that he would be available in our draft range. We will be seeing the leash come off Payne for the first time this Friday. I was told we better get ready to watch him wreck this league.

[Coolbreeze44]

Let's see Payne actually play before we evaluate this trade.

[Brandon BassHole [enjin:8183321]]

I saw Flip. I asked him about this. Payne told the Hawks before the draft he didn't want to play for anyone but the Wolves because Izzo said so. So he has been dogging it with the Hawks all year to force his way to the Wolves. This has been a multi year plan. He actually said he under performed in college to so that he would be available in our draft range. We will be seeing the leash come off Payne for the first time this Friday. I was told we better get ready to watch him wreck this league.

lol that is a pretty big conspiracy. Does that mean we are getting Izzo?
does that mean if we go under investigation we lose a draft pick? JK

[Phenom]

I saw Flip. I asked him about this. Payne told the Hawks before the draft he didn't want to play for anyone but the Wolves because Izzo said so. So he has been dogging it with the Hawks all year to force his way to the Wolves. This has been a multi year plan. He actually said he under performed in college to so that he would be available in our draft range. We will be seeing the leash come off Payne for the first time this Friday. I was told we better get ready to watch him wreck this league.

I think this is true for most incoming rookies. They want to play for Minnesota but those other teams just get in the way. Only a few have the basketballs to dog it and force their way here. Good for Adreian. Good for Minnesota.

[bleedspeed]

Look at this draftexpress mock draft history - If anyone thinks we didn't get taken in this trade you must know who else in the NBA that was offering more. It doesn't mean that he doesn't turn out. It just means we paid top price for him.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Adreian-Payne-5286/mock-draft-history/

[bleedspeed]

Good article.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/James_Timberwolves_could_regret_trading_firstround_draft_picks021715

[Coolbreeze44]

Good article.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/James_Timberwolves_could_regret_trading_firstround_draft_picks021715

I appreciate the knowledge he provided on the entirety of the situation. But his analysis either misses the mark or is too consumed by ifs, coulds, and shoulds. I disagree with his conclusion as well. If we don't end up conveying the picks as first rounders, it means those picks were either not taken advantage of, or weren't nearly as valuable as he suggests throughout the article. You can't have it both ways. He spends the whole article building a case that we could regret trading the picks, but doesn't do a good job of rationalizing that point. The bottom line is this:

1) If we give up the picks as firsts, that means we have become successful which is the whole goal. And picks outside the lottery are just not that valuable unless you are the Spurs

2) If the picks transition to 2nd rounders we really haven't lost anything. Maybe our choices and other moves could be criticized at this point, but we still haven't lost anything of value in the trades.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Look at this draftexpress mock draft history - If anyone thinks we didn't get taken in this trade you must know who else in the NBA that was offering more. It doesn't mean that he doesn't turn out. It just means we paid top price for him.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Adreian-Payne-5286/mock-draft-history/

I hardly think a lottery protected first rounder is top price. Top price is an unprotected first, I don't understand how this trade is viewed as being taken. Flip traded for a guy he liked and traded a pick that can be no worse than where Payne was taken in the first place. Non-lottery first round picks are always way overvalued and then the pick actually switches hands and very little comes from it. I also think it is ridiculous to evaluate a trade as us getting taken with Payne not even playing a game for us. If Payne becomes a rotation player I would hardly call trading him for a non-lottery pick being taken.

[Lipoli390]

This the key point from the article:

"Draft picks are also coveted trade assets, and dealing so many first-round picks now limits bigger moves that could be made in the future. Teams cannot deal picks in consecutive years, and with multiple protected picks owed to other teams limits their ability to include them in prospective trades.

Again, if you're not able to draft affordable young talent, or trade for players you likely wouldn't be able to bring in via free agency, how are you improving the roster? At that point you're relying a lot on player development and hoping to improve enough to become an attractive destination."

Nothing in Payne's numbers from 4 years of college or his D-League stint suggest he was worth giving up a future 1st. And that's before you factor in Payne's lung condition and age.

[mrhockey89]

I think this is true for most incoming rookies. They want to play for Minnesota but those other teams just get in the way. Only a few have the basketballs to dog it and force their way here. Good for Adreian. Good for Minnesota.

I agree...well except Zach "f me" LaVine :)