Wolves acquire Gordon

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm more than okay with being the outsider on this one. Aaron Gordon just doesn't do it for me. The value, the opportunity cost, the contract, and even the schematic fit. It's not a deal that I would make, though I've said that I understand the points made on the other side.

We also can't have it both ways in the future. Looking back on drafts and thinking about "what if the Wolves had drafted XX instead of taking XX or trading for XX." If the Wolves make this deal, or another one similarly like it, then we can't criticize the front office for not drafting the 2023 All-Star caliber player from this class that went 17 or later, which is inevitable to happen anyway.

[KG4Ever]

I'm not crazy about Gordon, but if we are contemplating trading for him, why not wait until pick 17 rolls around and see who's available. If Saddiq Bey or Jalen Smith are available at 17, I absolutely prefer to take one of those two guys over Gordon.

[Crazysauce]

The thing of it is to me besides his contract that isnt cheap, is how much does he really move the needle when we deal James Johnson with him. Some would argue that Johnson is the better player even its only a few. If you feel like he is better how much is he really better than Johnson? Add onto that giving up 17. And I also dont think he fits well next to KAT.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The thing of it is to me besides his contract that isnt cheap, is how much does he really move the needle when we deal James Johnson with him. Some would argue that Johnson is the better player even its only a few. If you feel like he is better how much is he really better than Johnson? Add onto that giving up 17. And I also dont think he fits well next to KAT.

In other news, a few of us are firm believers that Miles Plumlee >>> Towns.

But I do get your point about value...

You'd have to explain WHY you think he's a bad fit next to Towns.

[Lipoli390]

I'm more than okay with being the outsider on this one. Aaron Gordon just doesn't do it for me. The value, the opportunity cost, the contract, and even the schematic fit. It's not a deal that I would make, though I've said that I understand the points made on the other side.

We also can't have it both ways in the future. Looking back on drafts and thinking about "what if the Wolves had drafted XX instead of taking XX or trading for XX." If the Wolves make this deal, or another one similarly like it, then we can't criticize the front office for not drafting the 2023 All-Star caliber player from this class that went 17 or later, which is inevitable to happen anyway.

That's my thinking too, Cam. Aaron Gordon doesn't move the needle enough in my view to justify his salary and the opportunity cost of giving up the 17th pick. I was watching a lot of video highlights of him and he looked less fluid and not as quick as I thought. Like you, I think his stagnated development at age 25 suggests he won't get a lot better.

If the Wolves really have an opportunity to swap Wiseman for Charlotte's #3 pick and Miles Bridges plus pick #32, that's the deal they should make -- assuming the Wolves have no interest in keeping Wiseman. I'd be OK with the Charlotte deal even if it didn't include the 32nd pick. If it were up to me, my next step would be to take Okongwu at #3 and then see if I could package #17, 32 and 33 to move up into the top 10 and get Haliburton, Vassell or Patrick Williams.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd also like to hear the theory of why Gordon would be a bad fit next to Towns.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If the Wolves aren't taking Wiseman #1 in this draft, combined with last year's complete whiff on Garland and settling for Culver, why are people confident that this front office is going to pick someone better than Gordon at 17? If we don't take Wiseman 1 and just take Ball or Edwards straight up then all the evidence points to Rosas not having much of a clue of what he's doing when it comes to the draft.

Also something to keep in mind in regards to Gordon's stagnation is that he's been on bad Orlando teams his whole career. This isn't a guy on his 3rd or 4th team just not putting it together like a Jeff Green. He's spent his whole career on the same bad teams with the same bad teammates outside of Vucevic. A change of scenery and role could make a big difference in his play. It also could mean jack shit, but I continue to believe a guy like him has a role to play on a team with real talent as a glue guy who can rebound and make plays as a small ball 4. I think the Orlando situation just proves he's not an all-star, but I think even if it's not here, if he gets on a team with a couple all-stars and he just has to be a role player that he can be very effective in the role as he goes into the prime of his career. If you put him on the Lakers, Clippers, Blazers, Warriors, etc. as a role player how do you think that plays out? In theory with Russell, Towns and the number 1 pick he'd be in the same role for us as he would be on those teams and I think he can help all of those teams with his skill set.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I think we have to remember that Wiseman isn't the consensus top pick. Just because he's getting more attention from us and some experts.

Plus there are plenty of 7 footers who were taken first and flopped. He's not special.

[Crazysauce]

So rumor has it that the Magic turned down the package Portland sent to Houston for Covington. So that means they want more than a first this year for him since they turned down Portlands first and protected first next year for him. As far as fit I just would rather have a rim protecting big that can cover a lot of ground and I hate big men that think they can shoot but really cant. Gordon shoots way too much, around 40 percent of his shots are from outside 16 feet and he shoots them around 30 percent. Also as mentioned before he just plays slow.

Either way if they expect to get more for him then what portland offered for Covington they can go fly a kite.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think we have to remember that Wiseman isn't the consensus top pick. Just because he's getting more attention from us and some experts.

Plus there are plenty of 7 footers who were taken first and flopped. He's not special.

There is no consensus among pundits for the top pick because everyone has their favorites this year. For some of us, however, we've pegged James Wiseman as the guy and the Wolves can't even get him in for a meeting. There's ample reason to be annoyed by that.

As for your last comment, how many of those seven-footers that flopped were as mobile and as athletic as Wiseman? Are there even that many bigs that flop as top picks?

2000: Kenyon Martin
2001: Kwame Brown
2002: Yao Ming
2003: LeBron James
2004: Dwight Howard
2005: Andrew Bogut
2006: Andrea Bargnani
2007: Greg Oden
2008: Derrick Rose
2009: Blake Griffin
2010: John Wall
2011: Kyrie Irving
2012: Anthony Davis
2013: Anthony Bennett
2014: Andrew Wiggins
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns
2016: Ben Simmons
2017: Markelle Fultz
2018: DeAndre Ayton
2019: Zion Williamson

Those are the last 20 top overall picks. Nine of them were seven-footers (or close enough that we can group them in). I'm seeing two flops, one career-ending injury forced retirement, and six franchise pieces. Out of those nine, I'd say Wiseman is more athletic, more mobile than all but two of them -- Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis being those two.

I just don't see the guy flopping in any sense of the word. Players with that size aren't supposed to move like he does. They're not supposed to be as coordinated as he is. It's sure looking like he won't be playing in Minnesota, but I'd bet he becomes a legitimate star in the NBA.