Official 2016 Draft Thread

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I'm not against trading our pick for a young vet that fits our needs. That being said I don't want to mortgage the future to win this year. Let's keep playing the long game. Draft the best long term player and keep accumulating talent. If we sit at 5 I'm picking Dunn. He has the best 2 way potential. I wouldn't mind trading down for Davis or Sabonis either. I just hope we keep the big picture in mind.

[Coolbreeze44]

Maybe i'm alone here, but the Vet talk reminds me of the recent Twins history. Have loads of young talent, but keep them in the minors too long while we overpay some vets who come here and fall on their face, but we're forced to play them because we overpaid them. Meanwhile, certain prospects are making strides, but we either haven't given them enough time in the league and turn around to trade them a year or two too early for other prospects/decent vets. Then if we do keep them, we can't afford to add any good talent around them or to pay to keep them because we're stuck with overpaid washed vets. The cycle continues. I'm all for letting the young potential play out. If they are cut out for it, they will make it. All sports are star driven, and as a smaller market you need multiple homegrown before you make it anywhere near a championship.

I could be tempering expectations about these Wolves because of the history of MN letdowns. Towns has proven to be a star already, I know that. Are Wiggins and LaVine really as close as we talk about them being to stardom? I am almost expecting to be letdown by at least 1 of them. If those of you feel we have enough good young talent to be consistent championship contenders beginning next season or the one after, then I could see the view of trading #5 for a good-great 26-29 year old. If you're conflicted on our outlook of current talent, like I am, then i'd be slightly confused as to why you'd want to do that trade. Explanation?

How can you be let down by a guy averaging over 20 points per game as a 21 year old? If he doesn't improve a lick (impossible), he is still one hek of a basketball player. If the team improves to playoff level he has a chance to play in the all star game this year. You're not the only one, but I just don't get the pessimism as it pertains to Wiggins.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Gasol is not taking 5-8 million in this market. It just doesn't seem to be clicking with people how much money is out there and how few quality players are out there. Gasol is getting 15 per likely for 2 years to close out his career. I can't remember which basketball podcast it was on, but they mentioned he was going for 20 million per this summer which I don't think he'll get, but that's where he's at so he's not getting 5-8. Any halfway decent player is getting 10 million per this summer. That's just how the new cap is going to play out. Gasol is better than halfway decent so I would ballpark him in the 15 million range.

[bleedspeed]

What the hell don't people get about this being a draft thread? No more Noah/Gasol talk.

I don't think anyone mentioned this guy but he seems like a late 1st or early second round steal.

Deandre Bembry
Bembry was the highest-ranked player on our board to participate in everything at the combine, and it was his play in the 5-on-5 that caused him to rise a few spots here.

Bembry's feel for the game, playmaking ability at his size and athleticism (38-inch max vertical and great scores in the speed drills) are the big appeals. One team said he's the best passer in this draft next to Simmons and could see time at point guard in the NBA.

His streaky jump shot is the big question mark for him. He's in the No. 15-25 range.
VIA ESPN INSIDER

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Maybe i'm alone here, but the Vet talk reminds me of the recent Twins history. Have loads of young talent, but keep them in the minors too long while we overpay some vets who come here and fall on their face, but we're forced to play them because we overpaid them. Meanwhile, certain prospects are making strides, but we either haven't given them enough time in the league and turn around to trade them a year or two too early for other prospects/decent vets. Then if we do keep them, we can't afford to add any good talent around them or to pay to keep them because we're stuck with overpaid washed vets. The cycle continues. I'm all for letting the young potential play out. If they are cut out for it, they will make it. All sports are star driven, and as a smaller market you need multiple homegrown before you make it anywhere near a championship.

I could be tempering expectations about these Wolves because of the history of MN letdowns. Towns has proven to be a star already, I know that. Are Wiggins and LaVine really as close as we talk about them being to stardom? I am almost expecting to be letdown by at least 1 of them. If those of you feel we have enough good young talent to be consistent championship contenders beginning next season or the one after, then I could see the view of trading #5 for a good-great 26-29 year old. If you're conflicted on our outlook of current talent, like I am, then i'd be slightly confused as to why you'd want to do that trade. Explanation?

Horrible analogy. No one is suggesting that Wiggins and KAT go to the minors. I believe the path for KAT is a stretch 4 and if Pek is not ready on Halloween they don't have a 5. The path for Wiggins is at the 2. The numbers bear out Bazz deserve more chances at the 3. The numbers also bear out that BlondeRicky has topped out in every other area of his game and will only be average until his shot starts to fall. Dieng is a great 3rd post, and Lavine may deserve more time but is NO WHERE NEAR a finished product. PGasol and Noah have proven production at the 5. There, did I young it up for you? Would it help if I told you I was listening to some EDM as I typed this?

I have a better analogy for this "trade down" talk: When Eric Mangini took over as coach/DPP of the Browns, he traded down a couple of times that first draft. Now, yeah, it was a good move to pass on Mark Sanchez, but he missed out on a lot of good players and it really didn't work. The Wolves should just draft the best PG at #5, and the only trade down that is worthwhile is DEN giving up the #7/#16.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Guys, Lip and I fixed the Problem: Noah, PGasol, a PG at #5, and Payne for Kendall Marshall. Feel free to put on your parka and walk down to Holiday for a crawler and some adult literature.

Noah, no thanks. I don't see his personality being a fit with our nucleus, and If we're throwing money at a big they better be able to play consistently. Can't afford another KG/Pek on this roster. P Gasol, no thanks. Would cost too much at his age, wouldn't get us over the top. Prefer a better defender to pair with Towns than an offensive minded big. Pg at #5, I'd be fine with that. Payne for Marshall, that'd be nice, but I doubt Payne is anything more than a salary filler in a larger trade at this point.

How does Noah not fit?
How much more would Gasol cost than the $8m player option he is walking away from?
Have you look at Marshall's stats the last two years?

1) Noah comes off as a prick. I don't see the humble Towns/Wiggins meshing well with his personality type. He also is not the defensive standout he had been early in his career. Not exactly injury prone, but definitely falling off.

2) Well he is walking away from $8mil. So I see two options: He goes to a team for more money, or he takes 5-8mil on a true contender. I don't want to be the team that pays him extra to be here, and we surely aren't worthy of a contender discount.

3) No I haven't looked at his recent stats, but I have watched him. I know he has proven he belongs in the NBA more than I expect Payne ever will. Either way, trade payne for marshall, or don't. This one doesn't matter. Both 13th-15th guys on the bench.

I admit that when Noah first signed at UF, I was concerned, mainly because he comes from money and his father is one of the most popular people in his country (even if it is France), plus I thought there might be a chance that his dad would be undermining Donovan. But I haven't seen anything at UF or CHI that leads me to believe he is a problem or would be a problem.

How much extra is extra? Contracts are 3 years now. Don't be concerned about paying Gasol. Be concerned about paying some yahoo from Sacramento that hasn't accomplished anything.

Marshall has been horrible for two years. My plan for MIN is to trade for him, and then only show him episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" in an effort to convince him that it's the 13-14 season.

Noah - https://giant.gfycat.com/NegativeCloseLadybug.mp4






[youtube]-osb6ztv94k[/youtube]


Noah fans say his intensity is misconstrued as being a prick, and I have always appreciated the passion he displays for the game. That being said, he seems to have no filter and lets his emotions impact the game too often. I've also never heard about anything with him in the locker room or off the court.

I guess I could be called slightly hypocritical in that approach, as many fans may say the same about KG. I'd say KG's intensity is more controlled/focused. Though who knows, maybe with KG retiring we're going to need that replacement to bring some energy/nasty element. I can't say Noah wouldn't be the closest fit in the NBA while still possessing skills we could use. Money talks, and we could definitely do worse than Noah, but only if we get the Thibs discount! :thumb:

All I'll say is this: If the Wolves are going to play good basketball, they are going to have to get basketball players who play good basketball. That is not going to happen by getting someone off of Sacremento and then having the girls from "The Craft" cast a spell on him, or some guy who can't get off the bench for Bucks, or a college player who pours in 45 against Macalester. I really like the idea of Gasol, Noah, someone like Jamal Murray or Kris Dunn, and then let Marshall be the reclamation project.

Some good truth to this last post plus some good humor.

Ty

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Gasol is not taking 5-8 million in this market. It just doesn't seem to be clicking with people how much money is out there and how few quality players are out there. Gasol is getting 15 per likely for 2 years to close out his career. I can't remember which basketball podcast it was on, but they mentioned he was going for 20 million per this summer which I don't think he'll get, but that's where he's at so he's not getting 5-8. Any halfway decent player is getting 10 million per this summer. That's just how the new cap is going to play out. Gasol is better than halfway decent so I would ballpark him in the 15 million range.

Who said $5m-$8m? How about 3/$30m? If Gasol is MIN's only major F/A signing this offseason, it should be considered successful.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

What the hell don't people get about this being a draft thread? No more Noah/Gasol talk.

I don't think anyone mentioned this guy but he seems like a late 1st or early second round steal.

Deandre Bembry
Bembry was the highest-ranked player on our board to participate in everything at the combine, and it was his play in the 5-on-5 that caused him to rise a few spots here.

Bembry's feel for the game, playmaking ability at his size and athleticism (38-inch max vertical and great scores in the speed drills) are the big appeals. One team said he's the best passer in this draft next to Simmons and could see time at point guard in the NBA.

His streaky jump shot is the big question mark for him. He's in the No. 15-25 range.
VIA ESPN INSIDER

Fine, but there's a problem. You see, MIN doesn't have a pick in that range at this time. If they get DEN's #7/#16, maybe I guess. But for now, I will discuss Noah being a F/A, because he is, and Gasol opting out of his P/O, because he spent the whole 2nd half of the season complaining about the direction of the Chicago Male-Cows. So, guilty.

[Monster]

Per Wolfson

Told #Twolves workout tomorrow is Fred VanVleet, Isaiah Briscoe, Kyle Collinsworth, Dorian Finney-Smith, Majok Deng, + Michael Carrera.

I've been a fan of VanVleet for a long time. I know he is undersized has short arms etc but he knows how to play PG hits 3's plays defense. I could see him going undrafted and then making a team's roster.

[Monster]

From Chad Ford:

Perhaps the most difficult player to accurately rank right now is Cal's Jaylen Brown. Brown told reporters in Chicago that his range was "1 through 10." That's right, he thinks he's in the mix for the No. 1 pick. I spoke with a couple of teams who believe he's a top-five pick, which isn't far off Brown's assessment. However, a number of others have him in the teens to early 20s.

Several teams that had him in for interviews this week were not impressed with how he handled himself. "He was the worst interview we had this week," one NBA GM said. "By far, the worst interview. I know he hasn't hired an agent yet, but he was arrogant and didn't show a real feel for the game when we asked him basketball questions. He hurt himself more than anyone here."

Other teams are more concerned about game film of Brown. "He's a 6-foot-7 power forward who thinks he's a wing," one GM said. "His feel and ability to create for himself just aren't there. I love the body and athleticism and I agree he wasn't in an ideal situation at Cal, but I'd have a hard time taking him ahead of the top-10 guys on our board."