60WinTim wrote:Monster -- to answer your question, any draft related trades involving players are done under the current salaries and cap numbers.
Given the youth already on our team AND the squeeze on roster spots (due to KG and Pek uncertainties), I think Thibs and Layden would be hard pressed to add another "project" player from the draft. And any freshman added at the #5 pick (or lower) will be a project player.
Dunn and Heild are two players that Thibs may not view as "project" players. It's a pretty solid bet at least one, if not both, are available at #5, but trading down even a few spots may cost you a chance at either one.
To me, the most likely scenario is drafting one of those two players, or trading out of this years first round completely (with a vet and/or future draft pick coming back). Trading back in this years draft seems unlikely.
While this is solid thinking it's the type of rationale that's not the Wolves in the rear ended for years now. Oh we have too many young guys we can't add another young player. I hope that Layden and Thibs are more open to building for the long term and if they really see 2 players they think can be useful going forward they find ways to pick them whether they are projects or older guys or whatever. Sure the odds of a late first and on down the line may not be good but there are examples of good players in that range picked. lets look for the next Demare Carroll, Delly, Draymond, or Andre Roberson. Those are all guys that are key players for teams in the WCF that were picked (or in Delly's cause undrafted) well outside the lottery. The Wolves could draft 2 guys and still have 3 roster spots if they let go of Rudez and if Payne really sucks they could just move on. OKC made their Leap and their backup PG most of the season was a rookie in Eric Maynor. The vets that played were Collison and Kristic. Everyone else was 25 or younger with 3 years or less years of experience in the league. Sound familiar? Heck the Wolves young group has more experience than that right now. Now OKC might be the exception to the rule but this team played well when they played the young guys. You can easily argue that some of the vets (Martin and Pek sadly) last year actually held back the team. KG and Miller when they played were helpful and Prince had his value. Get 2-3 more solid vets in FA and let's do this thing.
Sorry Tim I'm genuinely not trying to rip on your take because quite frankly I've been on that side of the auguement for years but I've grown frustrated with the Wolves dealing picks because they were too young and passing up opportunities to nab guys all over the spectrum when hindsight tells us their were players to be picked. I want Thibs and Layden to trust they see some guy that's worthwhile and not be bound by the we are too young thing. Rant over at least for this post. Lol
