Best Thing That Could Happen This Summer

[Lipoli390]

We had a lot of great discussion in other threads about various free agent options and possible trades. But I'm just going vet what I consider to be the best thing that could happen to the Wolves this summer. For me, it would be getting a top 2 pick in the lottery and then drafting Josh Jackson. His combination of talent and motor, along with his defensive prowess, make him the type of young player we need to ultimately turn our young core into a championship contender in a few years. I wouldn't expect Josh to necessarily be the guy who gets us into the playoffs next season, although I actually think he's NBA-ready enough to make a different. Instead, I'd look at Josh mainly as an addition that helps us the following season and thereafter become a real contender. Our current group with the addition of Josh and one or two good tier B free agents should be enough to get us into the playoffs next season.

[Coolbreeze44]

Agree: Getting into the top 2 would be the best thing to happen to us this offseason

Not Sure: Drafting Jackson would be the best result of that

[Monster]

It feels so weird that it seems like his off the court stuff doesn't seem to be making much of a difference when it comes to Josh Jackson. Maybe none of it is a very big deal but it still surprises me a fair amount that it's not dropping him more but it's still pretty early in the process. I'm not super high on him though.

[Lipoli390]

I'm not worried about the off-court stuff. Josh has the hyper-competitiveness that makes NBA starts, provided they have the physical talent and IQ. Josh has great physical talent and is reputed to have a high IQ as well. He's the real deal in my view. Of course, if we have a top 2 pick (or even a top 3) we'll have a lot of attractive trade offers coming our way. I have no doubt the Bulls would offer Butler and that would be tempting. But I'd keep Josh if it were up to me.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Lip, what do you like about Jackson that you don't find in Isaac or Tatum? I would be real happy if we got any of the three, but I think it might be a blessing if we got stuck with Isaac because we didn't have a top two pick and Jackson was off the board.

[Monster]

I'm not worried about the off-court stuff. Josh has the hyper-competitiveness that makes NBA starts, provided they have the physical talent and IQ. Josh has great physical talent and is reputed to have a high IQ as well. He's the real deal in my view. Of course, if we have a top 2 pick (or even a top 3) we'll have a lot of attractive trade offers coming our way. I have no doubt the Bulls would offer Butler and that would be tempting. But I'd keep Josh if it were up to me.

You aren't worried at about it? Really? Have you read about any of the stuff? Like the guys that were on the realgm podcast when you pick a guy top 5 or whatever you have to trust that guy. How much do you trust a guy that hits a parked car and doesn't do the right thing and even after he gets caught doesn't tell his coach. Self says he did what he was supposed to do...yeah after he got caught. Or when he kicks and damages a car while yelling he is going to beat your ass to a female? Nothing to worry about? I'm seriously confused.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

My dream scenario is getting 1 and swapping picks with Philly for Covington and Philly's top pick and taking Isaac or Tatum there.

[Lipoli390]

Monster -- Two incidents, not 5 or 10. Of those two, the one that concerns me is his threatening the woman. But unless there's more, I see anger management issues that can be dealt with. I don't see drug issues or gang-banging or other things that tend to be chronic and very difficult to remedy. If there's more behind what we know, then our front office will become aware of it and you'll see Josh drop into the lower lottery.

[Monster]

Monster -- Two incidents, not 5 or 10. Of those two, the one that concerns me is his threatening the woman. But unless there's more, I see anger management issues that can be dealt with. I don't see drug issues or gang-banging or other things that tend to be chronic and very difficult to remedy. If there's more behind what we know, then our front office will become aware of it and you'll see Josh drop into the lower lottery.

So 3 or 4 incidents are ok? How do you know there are not more since he doesn't seem to self report his incidents. He doesn't have a pattern of owning up to it unless he gets caught. We are talking about a top 3 pick in the draft not some #12 pick. These seem to be legit character concerns to me. Sure leaving it up to the Wolves to sort this out but basically dismissing it I don't get that.

[Lipoli390]

Monster -- Two incidents, not 5 or 10. Of those two, the one that concerns me is his threatening the woman. But unless there's more, I see anger management issues that can be dealt with. I don't see drug issues or gang-banging or other things that tend to be chronic and very difficult to remedy. If there's more behind what we know, then our front office will become aware of it and you'll see Josh drop into the lower lottery.

So 3 or 4 incidents are ok? How do you know there are not more since he doesn't seem to self report his incidents. He doesn't have a pattern of owning up to it unless he gets caught. We are talking about a top 3 pick in the draft not some #12 pick. These seem to be legit character concerns to me. Sure leaving it up to the Wolves to sort this out but basically dismissing it I don't get that.

Monster - I don't "know" there aren't more incidents just as you don't know there are. We both know there are two incidents. I guess I prefer to base my conclusions on what I actually know rather than speculation without any evidence to support it. It's a judgment call. It's a combination of the number and nature of the incidents. As I said, one of the incidents concerns me, but it strikes me as an anger-management issue that can be addressed in a guy Josh's age.

So I'll revise my initial comment from "not worried" to "not worried enough to pass on him in the draft. I'd feel differently if he actually hit a woman, brandished a gun, had a history of drug abuse or was known to associate with a really bad crowd. Now we may learn that there are such things in his background. But unless we do, I'd be comfortable drafting him assuming we are lucky enough to end up with a top 3 pick. You might disagree and that's fine. One thing for sure, the Wolves would do a very thorough background check on Josh before drafting him. I trust they won't draft him if they find out other things about him that reinforce or add to the concerns raised by these two incidents.