Timberwolves Draft Prospect Analysis Thread

[Lipoli390]

Latest speculation is that the Wolves have made a commitment to take Hachimura at #11 if he's still available. I just can't see drafting a player who had only 6.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 30 minutes as 3rd year college PF. He has no track meaningful record as a 3-point shooter since he only took 1 shot per game from behind the arc last season. And his 74% free-throw shooting doesn't suggest the makings of a good perimeter shooter. So I have to hope this speculation is wrong or simply part of a Wolves ruse to entice teams to trade up for the Wolves pick.

we are also working out guys that shouldnt be in our range like White and Doumbouya. White was one of those guys that was rumored to have a promise in the top 6.

Cant see why the agents would let these guys come in unless they know something.

I watched some Rui while watching clarke, and the first thing you notice is that his defense is really, bad. Hes not the "i dont want to do more when I can do more" type defense that we see from wiggins, its more the "I have no idea whats happening, so I wont bother" defense we see from Lavine.

Yes, I think Rui's defense is my biggest concern. Most draft reviews of him are critical of his defense. I think your characterization of his poor defense is accurate. By all accounts, Rui has a great motor. So as you suggested, his defensive woes seem to stem from cluelessness -- I'd call it lack of good defensive instincts. As you said, it's the same problem that Zach has. I would add the same problem Towns has. I wouldn't say that it becomes an "I don't care" situation. I just think these guys have poor defensive instincts and it might look sometimes like they don't care. The question is whether and how much poor defensive instincts can improve over time once a player gets to the NBA.

With Rui, I'm also concerned about his rebounding. 6.5 rebounds in 30 minutes for a power forward in college is bad. And college rebounding is a stat that usually replicates itself in the NBA.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Latest speculation is that the Wolves have made a commitment to take Hachimura at #11 if he's still available. I just can't see drafting a player who had only 6.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 30 minutes as 3rd year college PF. He has no track meaningful record as a 3-point shooter since he only took 1 shot per game from behind the arc last season. And his 74% free-throw shooting doesn't suggest the makings of a good perimeter shooter. So I have to hope this speculation is wrong or simply part of a Wolves ruse to entice teams to trade up for the Wolves pick.

we are also working out guys that shouldnt be in our range like White and Doumbouya. White was one of those guys that was rumored to have a promise in the top 6.

Cant see why the agents would let these guys come in unless they know something.

I watched some Rui while watching clarke, and the first thing you notice is that his defense is really, bad. Hes not the "i dont want to do more when I can do more" type defense that we see from wiggins, its more the "I have no idea whats happening, so I wont bother" defense we see from Lavine.

Yes, I think Rui's defense is my biggest concern. Most draft reviews of him are critical of his defense. I think your characterization of his poor defense is accurate. By all accounts, Rui has a great motor. So as you suggested, his defensive woes seem to stem from cluelessness -- I'd call it lack of good defensive instincts. As you said, it's the same problem that Zach has. I would add the same problem Towns has. I wouldn't say that it becomes an "I don't care" situation. I just think these guys have poor defensive instincts and it might look sometimes like they don't care. The question is whether and how much poor defensive instincts can improve over time once a player gets to the NBA.

With Rui, I'm also concerned about his rebounding. 6.5 rebounds in 30 minutes for a power forward in college is bad. And college rebounding is a stat that usually replicates itself in the NBA.

Hence why the heroics of Clarke is all that more impressive.

[BloopOracle]

There's been reports that we've made a promise to Rui for weeks now

[Wolvesfan21]

I don't see how Rui would fit in here. How is he going to be better than Saric? We need a great defender next to KAT, not another sieve.

His offensive skill is pretty promising, I just think Clarke will be a much better player. Between the two.

[Monster]

I'm still not buying the promise thing and it seems like the only reports about it is what someone said weeks ago. It doesn't seem to be new reports. I'm not that excited about him so if we did pick him...I would t be happy but honestly I don't know exactly who I would be jumping up and down about right now (at #11) unless someone slides. I'm so uncertain about this draft I actually would consider using the pick to get off money if the deal was right...which is quite unlikely.

[Lipoli390]

I'm still not buying the promise thing and it seems like the only reports about it is what someone said weeks ago. It doesn't seem to be new reports. I'm not that excited about him so if we did pick him...I would t be happy but honestly I don't know exactly who I would be jumping up and down about right now (at #11) unless someone slides. I'm so uncertain about this draft I actually would consider using the pick to get off money if the deal was right...which is quite unlikely.

The latest NBAdraftnet mock has the Wolves taking Rui at #11 with Doumbouya going #13. That mock tends to be pretty accurate and Rui going #11 to the Wolves is a very recent change. So I tend to believe there is something to the reports about Rui getting a promise from the Wolves. But the idea of the Wolves drafting Rui at #11 seems so nonsensical that I can see why some might just dismiss those reports as inaccurate.

I agree that this draft is pretty uncertain after the top 4 - Zion, Ja, Barrett and Garland. As I see it, after those top 4 no prospect clearly stands out from the rest. But there are some that stand out for me as players the Wolves should stay away from. Rui is one of those guys for several reasons:

First, drafting Rui would add a poor defender to a team that needs to substantially improve its defense.

Second, drafting Rui would add a mediocre rebounder at a rebounding position to a poor rebounding team that needs to provide KAT with help on the boards.

Third, Rui plays a position where we already have two young players - Saric and KBD - and there is nothing in Rui's bio that he'd be better than either of those two.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Lip, I don't disagree with any of your points regarding Rui, but I would proceed with caution when it comes to NBA Draft Net. I find that in the past that site tends to make changes after other well-respected platforms make their changes -- namely DraftExpress. DX and CBS Sports tend to be the best, in my opinion. Draft Net does do a good job of compiling names and giving basic profiles in prospects, though.

[KiwiMatt]

Add me to the list against drafting Rui. I wouldn't mind if it was in the late teens or early 20s, but 11 is too high for him, even in this draft.

If Doumbouya is available you take him and don't look back. Or you trade down and take Clarke.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Apparently claxton had shut down workouts to all non lottery teams.

It makes me think he got a promise just behind us.

[Monster]

Apparently claxton had shut down workouts to all non lottery teams.

It makes me think he got a promise just behind us.

I'm starting to think Lip is in on this whole thing. It's an elaborate hype on Claxton and smoke screen dogging these other players and the Wolves for even considering some of these other guys. Wolves are taking Claxton. ;)