Timberwolves Draft Prospect Analysis Thread

[KiwiMatt]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

[kekgeek]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

No thank you on Bruno, if you are the back to the basket big, I don't know what you are in the NBA anymore. We already have Kat and even the best back to the basket players like Kanter can be a liability. Feel like we have a lot more holes than a big.

[Lipoli390]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

I like him a lot for several reasons:

1. He's an elite rebounder and the Wolves need someone other than KAT who can rebound at a high level. The Wolves were a poor rebounding team last season in spite of KAT's elite rebounding. Bruno averaged 10.6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. That's elite and rebounding is the stat that translates better than any other from college to the NBA.

2. He's strong and tough. The Wolves roster is pretty soft. Bruno is strong and tough. NBAdraftnet goes him a score of 9 out of 10 on strength. He would add physical strength and toughness that this team desperately needs.

3. He an excellent scorer in the paint with the potential to score from the perimeter. He hit nearly 61% of his shots from the field. Notably, he hit 78% of his free throw attempts. So he has a nice touch. He's a guy who will likely hit 12-foot jumpers reliably while potentially hitting corner threes. Even if he's primarily a low-post scorer, the good news is that KAT is our best 3-point shooter and can be much more than the low-post player he was under Thibodeau. The could be paired together. I've always thought of KAT as more of a PF than a center.

He has good size for an NBA big with a 9'2 overhead reach and an excellent 7'3.25 wingspan. He's an excellent athlete, especially for a C or PF. His 3.05 time in the shuttle run was one of the best in the entire draft class, not just among bigs. and he had the single best sprint time among centers and power forwards who were timed at the Combine.

I'm not saying Bruno would be my top pick at #11. I'd prefer a ball-handling guard or wing, but the
Wolves should definitely take a good long look at Bruno.

[KiwiMatt]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

I like him a lot for several reasons:

1. He's an elite rebounder and the Wolves need someone other than KAT who can rebound at a high level. The Wolves were a poor rebounding team last season in spite of KAT's elite rebounding. Bruno averaged 10.6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. That's elite and rebounding is the stat that translates better than any other from college to the NBA.

2. He's strong and tough. The Wolves roster is pretty soft. Bruno is strong and tough. NBAdraftnet goes him a score of 9 out of 10 on strength. He would add physical strength and toughness that this team desperately needs.

3. He an excellent scorer in the paint with the potential to score from the perimeter. He hit nearly 61% of his shots from the field. Notably, he hit 78% of his free throw attempts. So he has a nice touch. He's a guy who will likely hit 12-foot jumpers reliably while potentially hitting corner threes. Even if he's primarily a low-post scorer, the good news is that KAT is our best 3-point shooter and can be much more than the low-post player he was under Thibodeau. The could be paired together. I've always thought of KAT as more of a PF than a center.

He has good size for an NBA big with a 9'2 overhead reach and an excellent 7'3.25 wingspan. He's an excellent athlete, especially for a C or PF. His 3.05 time in the shuttle run was one of the best in the entire draft class, not just among bigs. and he had the single best sprint time among centers and power forwards who were timed at the Combine.

I'm not saying Bruno would be my top pick at #11. I'd prefer a ball-handling guard or wing, but the
Wolves should definitely take a good long look at Bruno.

You just sold me on him Lip. Sounds like a solid fit next to KAT.

The comparisons to Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are intriguing. Yes the league is going small ball, but there's no reason KAT can't play PF for extended minutes. Yes he would have trouble guarding smaller, quicker guys. But they'd have bigger problems guarding him on the other end.

I just don't want to see another John Collins or Jarret Allen slip through our grasp.

[Monster]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

I like him a lot for several reasons:

1. He's an elite rebounder and the Wolves need someone other than KAT who can rebound at a high level. The Wolves were a poor rebounding team last season in spite of KAT's elite rebounding. Bruno averaged 10.6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. That's elite and rebounding is the stat that translates better than any other from college to the NBA.

2. He's strong and tough. The Wolves roster is pretty soft. Bruno is strong and tough. NBAdraftnet goes him a score of 9 out of 10 on strength. He would add physical strength and toughness that this team desperately needs.

3. He an excellent scorer in the paint with the potential to score from the perimeter. He hit nearly 61% of his shots from the field. Notably, he hit 78% of his free throw attempts. So he has a nice touch. He's a guy who will likely hit 12-foot jumpers reliably while potentially hitting corner threes. Even if he's primarily a low-post scorer, the good news is that KAT is our best 3-point shooter and can be much more than the low-post player he was under Thibodeau. The could be paired together. I've always thought of KAT as more of a PF than a center.

He has good size for an NBA big with a 9'2 overhead reach and an excellent 7'3.25 wingspan. He's an excellent athlete, especially for a C or PF. His 3.05 time in the shuttle run was one of the best in the entire draft class, not just among bigs. and he had the single best sprint time among centers and power forwards who were timed at the Combine.

I'm not saying Bruno would be my top pick at #11. I'd prefer a ball-handling guard or wing, but the
Wolves should definitely take a good long look at Bruno.

You just sold me on him Lip. Sounds like a solid fit next to KAT.

The comparisons to Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are intriguing. Yes the league is going small ball, but there's no reason KAT can't play PF for extended minutes. Yes he would have trouble guarding smaller, quicker guys. But they'd have bigger problems guarding him on the other end.

I just don't want to see another John Collins or Jarret Allen slip through our grasp.

I could be sold on Bruno if we trade down. I just don't see the value in him at #11. Maybe there isn't anyone that I feel that way though. Lol

[Monster]

Speaking of size, toughness and rebounding should we be talking about Nassir Little as a wing? 6'4.5" without shoes and a 7'1.25" wingspan and 224lbs. He isn't a finished product for sure but in 18.2 minutes off the bench he averaged nearly 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. That's like 19/9 per 36. His 3 point shooting numbers are bad but he did hit 77% of his FTs (got there at a decent clip) and it looks like he was pretty efficient in his other baskets. It sounds like he plays hard and has some ability as a defender. I'm not suggesting I am sold on him but I'm interested.

[WildWolf2813]

Speaking of size, toughness and rebounding should we be talking about Nassir Little as a wing? 6'4.5" without shoes and a 7'1.25" wingspan and 224lbs. He isn't a finished product for sure but in 18.2 minutes off the bench he averaged nearly 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. That's like 19/9 per 36. His 3 point shooting numbers are bad but he did hit 77% of his FTs (got there at a decent clip) and it looks like he was pretty efficient in his other baskets. It sounds like he plays hard and has some ability as a defender. I'm not suggesting I am sold on him but I'm interested.

He's Josh Okogie but lankier.

See, they could take any project and it would be on this team to prove they can develop #11 or #43 or whoever, but there has to be a payoff, and if realistically he becomes Stanley Johnson it's not worth it.

[TheFuture]

Why are some here okay with giving up some of our top assets to move up for Garland?

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Our biggest need is a playmaker with star potential who can score by shooting off the dribble or penetrating, and who is good at setting other guys up. A Lillard or McCollum type of guy to pair with KAT. But outside of Morant, I don't really see any guys like that in this draft. So we should be focusing on what we really need most--three point shooting, ideally from a guy who can defend. But we don't need another good defender who can maybe shoot the three. We need to prioritize getting a great three point shooter who can defend.

I don't know enough about Garland to say we should definitely trade up to get him, and I don't know that anybody knows enough about him. This team has needed outside shooting and playmaking forever and he can reportedly do that, but who knows at this point? Anybody feel confident about projecting Garland?

I see no need to even think about drafting a center. Towns should be playing that role.

[Lipoli390]

Any love for Bruno Fernando?

I like him a lot for several reasons:

1. He's an elite rebounder and the Wolves need someone other than KAT who can rebound at a high level. The Wolves were a poor rebounding team last season in spite of KAT's elite rebounding. Bruno averaged 10.6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. That's elite and rebounding is the stat that translates better than any other from college to the NBA.

2. He's strong and tough. The Wolves roster is pretty soft. Bruno is strong and tough. NBAdraftnet goes him a score of 9 out of 10 on strength. He would add physical strength and toughness that this team desperately needs.

3. He an excellent scorer in the paint with the potential to score from the perimeter. He hit nearly 61% of his shots from the field. Notably, he hit 78% of his free throw attempts. So he has a nice touch. He's a guy who will likely hit 12-foot jumpers reliably while potentially hitting corner threes. Even if he's primarily a low-post scorer, the good news is that KAT is our best 3-point shooter and can be much more than the low-post player he was under Thibodeau. The could be paired together. I've always thought of KAT as more of a PF than a center.

He has good size for an NBA big with a 9'2 overhead reach and an excellent 7'3.25 wingspan. He's an excellent athlete, especially for a C or PF. His 3.05 time in the shuttle run was one of the best in the entire draft class, not just among bigs. and he had the single best sprint time among centers and power forwards who were timed at the Combine.

I'm not saying Bruno would be my top pick at #11. I'd prefer a ball-handling guard or wing, but the
Wolves should definitely take a good long look at Bruno.

You just sold me on him Lip. Sounds like a solid fit next to KAT.

The comparisons to Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are intriguing. Yes the league is going small ball, but there's no reason KAT can't play PF for extended minutes. Yes he would have trouble guarding smaller, quicker guys. But they'd have bigger problems guarding him on the other end.

I just don't want to see another John Collins or Jarret Allen slip through our grasp.

I could be sold on Bruno if we trade down. I just don't see the value in him at #11. Maybe there isn't anyone that I feel that way though. Lol

That was my thinking, too, Monster. I think he could be a great get if the Wolves trade down from #11. Maybe trade #11 to Boston or the Nets for their two first round picks then take Bruno and Okpala.