lipoli390 wrote:Those who think we will drop to 4th in the lottery are mistaken. How do I know that? Because there is what I would consider to be one potential franchise player in this draft - Towns - and the Wolves always end up one pick short. We were one pick short of Alonzo Mourning in the early 90's and more recently we were one pick short of Kyrie Irving. So we will end up with the second pick.
Very pessimistic view, and yet I can't help feeling the same way. It's uncanny how unlucky the Wolves have been in their draft position. You're right. Other than the Garnett and Rubio years, it seemed like we were always one pick after the difference makers. I'm trying to stay on the Cool Train and believe that we will end up #1 this year...I agree that Towns could be a franchise type player. I'm also trying to stay optimistic too, though, if we end up 2-4. Okafor and Russell are not at Towns' level in my opinion, but they could still really help this team.
I'd hold off on putting in the Rubio draft.
That one is going down as one of the most inept drafts in sordid Wolves history. The Wolves could have been one of those difference makers...
Two chances to nab Curry... and the Wolves missed both times.
True, Abe. But I wasn't talking about how well they drafted. I was talking about how unlucky they have generally been in draft position. Typically, the consensus pick when it came to their turn was a Derrick Williams or a Wes Johnson (yes, you can use hindsight to say there were better choices available, but you can't argue that most mocks had those guys next). To have both Rubio and Curry available was quite unusual for this snakebit franchise. The fact that Kahn whiffed on Curry is a separate issue.
Gotcha. For me, I see one draft setting the ineptitude of the franchise in motion...
1992. One of the 3 times the Wolves have finished with the league's worst record.
Shaq. Mourning... with Laettner being a distant 3rd. That one still stings.
Oh god don't remind me. I hated Laettner, and yet didn't see any other option at 3. Even with hindsight, I still see him as the only choice at 3...no great players in the entire first round other than the first two picks. I guess I define 1992 as horrible luck rather than ineptitude. We had to suffer through a year like this only to lose the lottery and see two all-time greats picked before us...leaving us with Laettner. The history of the Wolves in a nutshell right there.
Yeah, Laettner was the no-brainer choice at #3.
But the step down from the first two to get there was laughable. Yet, I remember being sold the bill of goods that it was really a 3-player draft.
I like Towns better than Okafor like many of you. But there are still a lot of pundits who say you draft Okafor no matter what. I don't think we can be too disappointed if we only end up with Okafor out of this draft. I think it would take all of us about 2 minutes before we would be totally geeked about adding him.
If NYK win the draft I see them taking Okafor ahead of Towns. With Carmelo itching to get back to the playoffs they need someone whose going to make an immediate impact. Okafor will.
I just can't see Jackson and Kerr going in to full rebuild mode with Anthony still under contract.
I'm still an Okafor guy, but I totally understand why many of you think Towns would be the best choice. I'm also higher on Muiday than a lot of you but goddamn I'm happy that we are guaranteed at least one of these guys.
I too am still an Okafor guy. Totally happy with Towns as a consolation though. This is going to be a talented pick no matter who we get. Lots of interesting players in this draft.
I think we have a VERY good shot at coming away with Towns and a great shot at least coming away with 1 of the 2. The Sixers & Kings are 2 teams that I think would definitely shop the #1 pick if they won it due to what they have already as Center. The combined odds of the Wolves, Sixers & Kings landing #1 is 46.9%. The Pistons (2.8% odds currently) are another team that probably doesn't need a center with Drummond being there. If you include them that's almost a 50% chance that the Wolves would have a shot at drafting or acquiring Towns let alone the odds of getting Okafor or him. Just another way to look at it I guess.
TheGrey08 wrote:I think we have a VERY good shot at coming away with Towns and a great shot at least coming away with 1 of the 2. The Sixers & Kings are 2 teams that I think would definitely shop the #1 pick if they won it due to what they have already as Center. The combined odds of the Wolves, Sixers & Kings landing #1 is 46.9%. The Pistons (2.8% odds currently) are another team that probably doesn't need a center with Drummond being there. If you include them that's almost a 50% chance that the Wolves would have a shot at drafting or acquiring Towns let alone the odds of getting Okafor or him. Just another way to look at it I guess.
Rumors are circling that Cousins may be on the block...
Would Sac be more willing to keep the college guy and see what value they get from Cousins...?
I think Sacramento takes Mudiay if they get the top pick. They need a PG and he has just as high a ceiling as Towns and Okafor. I'd definitely get Sacramento on the phone and see if they'd take our top pick and filler for Cousins and hire Malone as our coach. Cousins is a star which Okafor and Towns can only hope to attain at this point. A Rubio/Lavine/Wiggins/KG/Cousins closing lineup has me drooling all over my shirt. For those questioning Cousins' character/personality, the guy has gone through a lot of shit this year and has been pretty professional about it. We present stability and sanity with Flip in the front office and he bought into Malone's system once so he could do it again.
I'm actually not opposed to Cousins if the deal is good. Either way I think a deal can be had (to acquire Towns) with a few teams if they get lucky with the lotto and win the #1 pick. Crazy things could happen during the draft though. If the Nuggets decide to go full rebuild and look to unload Lawson (which I think would be kinda dumb for them), the Kings might be a player. Cousins to MN, Lawson to SAC, something to DEN. idk
