Draft Grade

[Volans19]

What did you think?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

A+. Towns is going to be a good player and I think Tyus will be a solid option at PG as well. If Flip plays Towns at the 4, we just managed to fill both of our biggest holes on the roster while getting the projected BPA's at both draft slots. I think Tyus limits the drop off from Rubio in terms of an offense that can actually run without Rubio on the floor. Last year was flat out brutal without Ricky and Flip at one point said he had to table a lot of his playbook when Ricky went down. I think a guy like Tyus can keep the playbook open because he is a floor general PG type like Ricky so the role won't be different, just the player. Everyone else has talked about Towns so I don't feel the need to add anything on that front.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Excellent draft. Towns was the right guy and we got good value with Tyus at 24.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

May the record show that longstrangetrip, the resident board homer, currently has the LOWEST grade in the draft poll!

I loved the draft, but gave it an A, rather than A+, because I wanted our backup PG to be a better defender. That said, I think Tyus Jones is an exceptional PG who I didn't even consider an option coming into the draft. KAT was clearly the best player in the draft, and Tyus was the best distributing PG. Excellent work, Flip!

[TAFKASP]

The Wolves have long been a team that trades valuable assets for players coming off of their rookie deals. Finally we're beginning to see light at the end of that ill fated tunnel! Flip is building a base of great young talent with which to grow into a contender. In time we'll of course see some players leave for greener pastures, but so far IMO Flip's drafting leads me to have hope that the pipeline will no longer be as devoid of young, inexpensive talent as it was under McHale and Khan.

Love the draft, gonna sleep well tonight!

[worldK]

A+. Towns alone is worth an A+. Wiggins and Towns, thats a combo that is going to take us places. Both wants to be here and want to build this team up. Compliment each other well and are oth two way players. Jones is a bonus. He is a first round talent and we got him for 2nd round picks.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

I gave it an A, mostly because Towns should have been the pick, so they made the right selection. Jones was a nice pick, but I am concerned about his defense on a squad in dire need of it. Knowing that and finding out we gave up 3 2nd round picks and not 2 brings it down to an A for me. But I am very happy.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Pelton's grade on the Jones trade:

The Deal

Timberwolves get: Rights to No. 24 pick (Tyus Jones)
Cavaliers get: No. 31 pick, No. 36 pick, 2019 second-round pick

Minnesota Timberwolves: B

Consider this the rare trade up in the draft that makes sense from a value standpoint. Because the rookie contract for first-round picks is so good, even late first-rounders are somewhat more valuable than early second-rounders. So this trade scores as the Timberwolves giving up 1,300 points of value for one worth 1,210 points by my chart.

Effectively, depending how much value you assign a distant second-round pick, Minnesota is valuing Jones as the 22nd-best player in the draft. There's a case to be made he's more valuable than that. Jones ranked fourth in my WARP projections.

Cleveland Cavaliers: B-

The Cavaliers could benefit from moving down because of their looming luxury-tax bill. Second-round picks are the cheapest possible players for taxpaying teams, because other minimum-salary players automatically count at the minimum for two-year veterans. In fact, Cleveland could keep both second-round picks and pay less salary and tax than the No. 24 pick alone would have cost.

The Cavaliers may have something else in mind -- ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported they're trying to package the two picks -- but if not, this move makes sense.

[60WinTim]

I went with the A+. I really did not expect the Wolves to address any holes with their two 2nd round picks, unless one or both were packaged with other assets. Yet Flip managed to turn a mere two 2nd round picks (and a third 2nd rounder in 2019) into Tyus Jones, who many of us thought would not be attainable. Doesn't that deserve an A+?

DX projected Tyus at #18 to Houston. Did his dropping to #24 tarnish our perceived value?

[WolfDownUnder [enjin:13884163]]

A+ for mine. KAT is the A, with the + for using the second rounders instead of lining papa Glen's pockets. Jones is a very astute pick, and classy move by Flip in going to talk to him in person.