Lottery Draft Implications

[Lipoli390]

A couple of quick take-aways on the likely impact of tonight's lottery results on the Wolves draft:

1. I don't see any significant implications falling from #6 to #7. But ending up at #7 rather than #1-3 reduces the chances that the Wolves trade the pick for an established all-star caliber player like Jimmy Butler or Paul George. Having one of the top 2 picks would have given the Wolves a realistic chance of landing a player like Jimmy Butler in return for our pick without having to give up any core players or other significant assets and we might have been able to get the lower 1st round pick in return as well. Trading the #7 pick wouldn't land a player like Butler unless we also included someone like Wiggins or LaVine and I don't see Thibs doing that sort of deal. Nor should he!

2. The Lakers will have a roster that includes a young core consisting of Russell, Randle, Ingram and Ball. Adding Ball to that core, puts them directly in the Wolves' path to challenging the the Warriors in a few years. I still like our core of Towns, Wiggins, Lavine and Dunn, but the I think Ball will be a star and he plays the most important position in today's NBA. Moving Russell to SG will give the Lakers two terrific ball-handler/scorer/playmaker guys in their starting lineup, which is also huge in today's NBA. And of course the Lakers have the cache to attract a free agent like Paul George a year from now.

Think about this. If we want to be a legitimate title contender, we'll eventually have to get by the Warriors. They have 4 all-stars (Green, Durant, Curry and Thompson) along with a borderline allstar (Iggy). Now the Lakers have 4 young guys with all-star potential so we may have to compete with them as well.

So my new magic number is 4. We have 3 potential all-stars in Towns, Wiggins and LaVine and LaVine is a bit of a stretch. All the more reason to draft the right guy and keep him next month. Get and keep the right guy and we have our potential 4th allstar. And if one of our current 3 top prospects don't pan out, we at least have another potential 3rd. You can never have enough talent in this League because the great teams are loaded with talent and you can't be sure that the young talent your currently have will develop as you anticipated.

If we could trade our #7 pick for Jimmy Butler we'd have a proven allstar, but he'll be 28 years old wen the season starts and has played more than 67 games in only two of his NBA seasons. So you just can't count on him to be healthy and at the top of his game when the rest of our young core come into their prime. If I thought we could get Butler for our pick without giving up anything else, I might be tempted. But I'd rather take my chances on a super talented 20 year old who can make a difference in two years when our other young guys are entering their prime and who can, thereafter, become part of an extended run.

[BloopOracle]

Everyone pray for an early run on point guards, Paul George to LA is as good is done now, and Boston sucks and should flip the pick fort Butler

[WildWolf2813]

Lip- as much as you and everyone else wants a 4th all-star, if the 7th pick is playing meaningful minutes, Thibs and Layden failed this summer in some capacity. Maybe they failed in getting free agent reinforcements (which they should be doing even if Basketball Jesus is at 7). Maybe Thibs /Layden signed this year's version of Aldrich/Rush/Hill. Maybe one of our existing young players continues not to get better. If that 7th pick, whether he's got sky high potential or not, plays a lot next season, we're conceding next season while we say "man in 2-3 years, watch out", while teams at the bottom are like "let's do what we can to get out of the cellar as soon as possible."

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Looking on the bright side: a 7th pick will cost us less salary, it will make us less likely to consummate a trade for Butler, it will make it unlikely we draft a point guard. Maybe Isaac, Tatum or Fox drops to 7, but if not Monk, Nitilinkina and Collins would be there and if we don't like anyone at 7, Philly might be willing to trade Covington (assuming they draft Josh Jackson).

[Papalrep]

If George is going to the Lakers, put Gordon Hayward on the Celtics. The strong get stronger. I'm no expert, but I hope its someone besides Isaac we draft. Using Lip's statement that we need a fourth star, I'd rather have Dennis Smith or Markennen (sorry Ricky).

Who is up for taking a risk on OG Anunoby making a full recovery, and giving us a defensive stopper on the wing?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

They only good news is the Magic, 76ers and Kings need guards. Boston and LA could go guard (likely) and Phoenix is now the x-factor depending on who you want. If Jackson is gone I think that's a prime spot for Isaac to go. I'm fairly confident Collins will be at our spot because I really only see the Magic as a potential landing spot to replace Vucevic.

[Coolbreeze44]

Lip, with all due respect the Lakers do not have 4 guys with all star potential:

Ball - Maybe
Ingram - Doubtful
Russell - Very doubtful
Randle - No chance

Let's not get carried away here. They may add some all star calibur players like George or another free agent, but today their roster still has a long ways to go.

However, by far the biggest disappointment to me is the Lakers staying in the top 3. Of course they did.

[WildWolf2813]

I actually think Phoenix in their unhealthy quest to have as many Kentucky Wildcats as possible could go after Fox at 4.

[TheFuture]

Disappointed that we fell for sure. More so that the benefactors are west teams. I doubt much changes with the teams in front of us though.

Barring a trade up I dont see 2 teams that will take Isaac/Tatum before us. The suns are the one questionable team here.

My view:

Celtics take Fultz #1 (keep or trade, whatever)

LA takes Jackson to slide between Russell and Ingram.

Sixers take Monk to be the "pg" next to Covington, Simmons, saric, and embiid

Suns take Fox or Ball to fit next to booker, warren, Chriss, bender ( trades Bledsoe)

Kings take Ball or Fox to fit next to Hield, Skal, and WCS.

Orlando takes DSJ (splits time with Payton/ play together)

Minnesota takes Isaac ( I still prefer a trade down but I'd definitely be OK with Isaac )

NY takes Tatum ( trades Carmelo)

Dallas takes Markannen

Sacramento takes Giles

Charlotte takes Zach Collins

Detroit takes Frank Ntilikina to groom behind Reggie for 1 year

That's my projected top 12.

[Coolbreeze44]

Disappointed that we fell for sure. More so that the benefactors are west teams. I doubt much changes with the teams in front of us though.


My view:

Celtics take Fultz #1 (keep or trade, whatever)

LA takes Jackson to slide between Russell and Ingram.

Sixers take Monk to be the "pg" next to Covington, Simmons, saric, and embiid

Suns take Fox or Ball to fit next to booker, warren, Chriss, bender

Kings take Ball or Fox to fit next to Hield, Skal, and WCS.

Orlando takes DSJ

Minnesota takes Isaac ( I still prefer a trade down but I'd definitely be OK with Isaac )

NY takes Tatum

Dallas takes Markannen

Sacramento takes Giles

Charlotte takes Zach Collins

Detroit takes Frank Ntilikina

That's my projected top 12.

No way ball slides to #5 or gets taken after Monk or Fox. No way Monk goes in the top 3. No way Tatum slides to #8.