I'm going to take a step back and pass for now on identifying who I'd take at #1, 17 or 33. I won't share my evolving draft board yet since it remains in flux. But after watching a ton of videos and reading everything I've been able to find, I have a list of guys in this draft who stand out for me as players I'd love to add to our roster. It's more a gut reaction than anything, although it factors in their college stats as well. The prospects I'm talking about just seem to have a special quality in their games and mental make-up that tells me they're going to be very good NBA players. Here's my list in no particular order:
Okongwu
Vassell
Haliburton
Patrick Williams
Paul Reed
Tyrell Terry
Saddiq Bey
I'd like to see the Wolves end up with two or three of these guys. The two whose upside potential excite me the most are Patrick Williams and Tyrell Terry. I see some Kawhi in Williams and some Steph Curry or at least some CJ McCollum.
Might as well talk draft....
Re: Might as well talk draft....
I'm convinced the Wizards will try hard to move Beal on draft night. The Wizards' organization is telling the outside world that Beal is not available and that they're looking forward to pairing him again with the returning Jon Wall. But of course, that's just posturing. The Wizards are going nowhere even if Wall returns as the player he was before his injury and I doubt Wall will be as good as he once was. Even when they were both playing together and Wall was in his prime, the Wizards didn't accomplish much. So the Wizards organization has to know it's time for them to rebuild. And they'll never get more value for Beal than they will now. Moreover, they'll have two teams at the top of the draft who everyone knows are more interested in trading their respective picks than keeping them. The result could be a bidding war between the Wolves and Warriors that drives up the price for Beal.
At a minimum, I would expect the Wizards to ask the Wolves for all three of their picks this year along with Culver, Okogie and Naz Reid. The Wolves would have to include Johnson to match salaries, which would be an added benefit for the Wizards because they would free up more cap space in a year. In my view this would be a great deal for the Wizards. Would it be a good deal for the Wolves? I suspect that most on this Board would do this deal if they were running the Wolves.
The Warriors could offer their #2 pick along with Wiggins, Paschall and the Wolves minimally-protected first round pick in 2021. Paschall and the Wolves 2021 pick would be tempting to the Wizards, but I think they'd opt for the Wolves deal. Getting the Wolves three picks this year plus last year's #6 pick would be a big jump start for the Wizards rebuild. I don't think the Warriors would do this deal. In fact, I don't see them particularly interested in acquiring Beal. I see the Warriors trying to swap picks with the Suns and acquire Oubre. That's the sort of winning deal I'd expect from the Warriors.
At a minimum, I would expect the Wizards to ask the Wolves for all three of their picks this year along with Culver, Okogie and Naz Reid. The Wolves would have to include Johnson to match salaries, which would be an added benefit for the Wizards because they would free up more cap space in a year. In my view this would be a great deal for the Wizards. Would it be a good deal for the Wolves? I suspect that most on this Board would do this deal if they were running the Wolves.
The Warriors could offer their #2 pick along with Wiggins, Paschall and the Wolves minimally-protected first round pick in 2021. Paschall and the Wolves 2021 pick would be tempting to the Wizards, but I think they'd opt for the Wolves deal. Getting the Wolves three picks this year plus last year's #6 pick would be a big jump start for the Wizards rebuild. I don't think the Warriors would do this deal. In fact, I don't see them particularly interested in acquiring Beal. I see the Warriors trying to swap picks with the Suns and acquire Oubre. That's the sort of winning deal I'd expect from the Warriors.
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WildWolf2813
- Posts: 3030
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:00 am
Re: Might as well talk draft....
there's not a chance in hell Washington trades Beal. They don't wanna trade him and he doesn't wanna get moved. They don't need to posture any more than this team would the day they decide they wanna move on from Towns.
Re: Might as well talk draft....
I read a pretty good article in Forbes today about the draft dilemma this year about whether to swing for the fence or play it safe. Here are some key excerpts:
"The Minnesota Timberwolves, who have the first pick of the draft, find themselves in a tough spot. While you rarely would want to use the first overall selection on anything but a star, there remains considerable question marks over the candidates projected to get selected in the top, in just under two months.
Does that mean the Wolves should go for a safe player and thus avoid finding themselves in the situation the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves in after the 2013 draft, when they selected Anthony Bennett, who could barely crack an NBA rotation? Or should the Wolves gamble and go all-in on a risky high-upside, low-floor player such as Anthony Edwards, whose physical build and athletic prowess could catapult him into superstardom, but where major areas such as maturity and a higher level of basketball knowledge are in question?
This year, probably more than ever before, that should be a legitimate debate to have internally.
Select a role player, like Devin Vassell, who may top out as a decent starter, and the Wolves would get criticized for not maximizing their draft value. Select a high-upside player who completely busts, and the Wolves will be ridiculed for wasting the top pick over the next decade. History never looks back with much context.
It might appear simplistic to boil this all down to Edwards versus Vassell, but there is some intrigue in lining those two up against each other, given what they represent.
Vassell, a steady wing with established 3&D capabilities would come into the NBA and have a strong shot at producing immediately, and for a long time. At 6'7, 195, he's got enough size to play multiple positions, and could probably find himself playing some power forward in smaller lineups as he builds up his body.
Vassell is widely viewed as an attractive prospect given his low bust risk and positional size. While he's currently projected to go in the mid-to-late lottery, some teams expect him to be off the board a lot sooner.
Edwards, on the other hand, is the high-upside play. The 6'5, 225 off-guard probably has the biggest potential for anyone in the draft, especially seen from a perspective of physicality and explosiveness.
Edwards is by no means a safe selection, however. During his lone season at Georgia, Edwards displayed a shot-selection process in much need of improvement, and his decision making was frequently problematic. To make matters worse, numerous experts noticed long stretches of indifference, which is a red flag for many NBA teams. Checking out of games mentally puts a significant cap on a player's ceiling, which puts Edwards in a tough spot. In short, selecting Edwards comes with significantly larger risk than Vassell.
It's that risk factor that needs to be examined a bit closer. Some teams might look at Edwards and deem his upside more attractive than the safeness of Vassell, whereas others might be a bit more conservative.
That means teams will have to go into this draft with a clear priority on certain players. If the Wolves deem Edwards, or someone else who is projected to get drafted in that range, too attractive through the lens of long-term optics, and thus worth the risk, then that's what they should plan for. If a team is a single piece away from maybe improving to the point where they could fight for a playoff spot, and they wish to walk away with a piece they feel is more safe, but doesn't have tremendous upside, that too would be a fine approach.
What really should be taken away from the upcoming draft is this: Given the lack of assurances in prospect upside, the lack of a clear-cut top-tier group, and the overall weirdness of the draft this year, fans and observers need to understand that teams are going to take many different approaches to things this year, while potentially doing things differently than they normally would."
This article's analysis of Edwards as an option for the Wolves can easily apply to Ball or Wiseman. Rosas and his team have their work cut out for them.
"The Minnesota Timberwolves, who have the first pick of the draft, find themselves in a tough spot. While you rarely would want to use the first overall selection on anything but a star, there remains considerable question marks over the candidates projected to get selected in the top, in just under two months.
Does that mean the Wolves should go for a safe player and thus avoid finding themselves in the situation the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves in after the 2013 draft, when they selected Anthony Bennett, who could barely crack an NBA rotation? Or should the Wolves gamble and go all-in on a risky high-upside, low-floor player such as Anthony Edwards, whose physical build and athletic prowess could catapult him into superstardom, but where major areas such as maturity and a higher level of basketball knowledge are in question?
This year, probably more than ever before, that should be a legitimate debate to have internally.
Select a role player, like Devin Vassell, who may top out as a decent starter, and the Wolves would get criticized for not maximizing their draft value. Select a high-upside player who completely busts, and the Wolves will be ridiculed for wasting the top pick over the next decade. History never looks back with much context.
It might appear simplistic to boil this all down to Edwards versus Vassell, but there is some intrigue in lining those two up against each other, given what they represent.
Vassell, a steady wing with established 3&D capabilities would come into the NBA and have a strong shot at producing immediately, and for a long time. At 6'7, 195, he's got enough size to play multiple positions, and could probably find himself playing some power forward in smaller lineups as he builds up his body.
Vassell is widely viewed as an attractive prospect given his low bust risk and positional size. While he's currently projected to go in the mid-to-late lottery, some teams expect him to be off the board a lot sooner.
Edwards, on the other hand, is the high-upside play. The 6'5, 225 off-guard probably has the biggest potential for anyone in the draft, especially seen from a perspective of physicality and explosiveness.
Edwards is by no means a safe selection, however. During his lone season at Georgia, Edwards displayed a shot-selection process in much need of improvement, and his decision making was frequently problematic. To make matters worse, numerous experts noticed long stretches of indifference, which is a red flag for many NBA teams. Checking out of games mentally puts a significant cap on a player's ceiling, which puts Edwards in a tough spot. In short, selecting Edwards comes with significantly larger risk than Vassell.
It's that risk factor that needs to be examined a bit closer. Some teams might look at Edwards and deem his upside more attractive than the safeness of Vassell, whereas others might be a bit more conservative.
That means teams will have to go into this draft with a clear priority on certain players. If the Wolves deem Edwards, or someone else who is projected to get drafted in that range, too attractive through the lens of long-term optics, and thus worth the risk, then that's what they should plan for. If a team is a single piece away from maybe improving to the point where they could fight for a playoff spot, and they wish to walk away with a piece they feel is more safe, but doesn't have tremendous upside, that too would be a fine approach.
What really should be taken away from the upcoming draft is this: Given the lack of assurances in prospect upside, the lack of a clear-cut top-tier group, and the overall weirdness of the draft this year, fans and observers need to understand that teams are going to take many different approaches to things this year, while potentially doing things differently than they normally would."
This article's analysis of Edwards as an option for the Wolves can easily apply to Ball or Wiseman. Rosas and his team have their work cut out for them.
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Q12543 [enjin:6621299]
- Posts: 13844
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:00 am
Re: Might as well talk draft....
I love Vassell because he fits what we need plus he may not be done developing his offensive game. At least you know you are getting an A+ defender on Day One. I just wouldn't take him at #1, so picking him is more of a trade-down scenario.
Re: Might as well talk draft....
Q12543 wrote:I love Vassell because he fits what we need plus he may not be done developing his offensive game. At least you know you are getting an A+ defender on Day One. I just wouldn't take him at #1, so picking him is more of a trade-down scenario.
I'm a big Vassell fan too. I'm all in on trading down. My prime draft targets in a trade-down scenario would be Vassell, Okongwu, Deni and Patrick Williams. Okongwu remains my top choice, but Vassell is a close second.
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Camden [enjin:6601484]
- Posts: 18065
- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:00 am
Re: Might as well talk draft....
I've long said that Devin Vassell and Saddiq Bey were two of my favorite draft prospects in this class and that I'd take them higher than where they're being projected. Vassell is no less than number three on my big board -- and I'm more bullish than others on his offensive ceiling -- with Bey creeping into the top-10 himself. If the basketball gods told me the Wolves could finesse a way to draft both of those two while getting a future first-round pick in a trade down scenario, I'd consider that a win, but it's a more conservative approach than just selecting who I feel is the best player in the draft in James Wiseman.
Re: Might as well talk draft....
Id rather trade up with 17 to go for one of the mystery picks.
I'd like to come out of this draft with 2 wings since our cupboard is so bare.
I'd like to come out of this draft with 2 wings since our cupboard is so bare.
Re: Might as well talk draft....
Camden wrote:I've long said that Devin Vassell and Saddiq Bey were two of my favorite draft prospects in this class and that I'd take them higher than where they're being projected. Vassell is no less than number three on my big board -- and I'm more bullish than others on his offensive ceiling -- with Bey creeping into the top-10 himself. If the basketball gods told me the Wolves could finesse a way to draft both of those two while getting a future first-round pick in a trade down scenario, I'd consider that a win, but it's a more conservative approach than just selecting who I feel is the best player in the draft in James Wiseman.
I agree with you on Vassell's offensive upside. I've been watching a lot of highlight and draft videos of him. He seems more athletic than suggested in the draft reviews I've read. I also think his handle is better than reported. He seems to have the high IQ and competitive drive to get the most out of his physical talents.
Re: Might as well talk draft....
Apparently Edwards, Wiseman, Toppin and Okongwu are all skipping the combine. Interestingly, LaMello Ball will particulate in the combine, although it's uncertain whether he'll participate in anything more than the team interviews.
I'll give credit to Ball for participating. I have a hard time seeing why a top player would avoid the athletic testing or measurements unless they thought the results might fall short of expectations. If Wiseman really has an overhead reach similar to Embiid's or Gobert's, then I don't know why he wouldn't simply participate in the measurements and interviews while skipping the athletic testing. Having only played in three college games, two of them against really weak opponents, Wiseman would benefit more than others from the combine - at least from the measurements and interview portions. Is he trying to hide an overhead reach that is really only 9'3 as reported? And how about Okongwu? Does he have alligator arms, which would result in disappointing measurements? Is he (or his agent) worried that his vertical jump will be underwhelming and undermine his reputation for athleticism?. I hope Vassell and Williams participate.
I'll give credit to Ball for participating. I have a hard time seeing why a top player would avoid the athletic testing or measurements unless they thought the results might fall short of expectations. If Wiseman really has an overhead reach similar to Embiid's or Gobert's, then I don't know why he wouldn't simply participate in the measurements and interviews while skipping the athletic testing. Having only played in three college games, two of them against really weak opponents, Wiseman would benefit more than others from the combine - at least from the measurements and interview portions. Is he trying to hide an overhead reach that is really only 9'3 as reported? And how about Okongwu? Does he have alligator arms, which would result in disappointing measurements? Is he (or his agent) worried that his vertical jump will be underwhelming and undermine his reputation for athleticism?. I hope Vassell and Williams participate.