mrhockey89 wrote:I agree with those saying the Wolves need a defensive big that can protect the rim (and rebound) next to Towns to win. If we can get a Gobert/Jordan/Capela/Adams in the draft with our 2nd or 3rd pick, by all means. Last time we tried, we ended up with Dieng over Gobert, so that makes me nervous. Not like Dieng was terrible, but getting another Dieng won't do anything for this team.
I'm not suggesting it would have worked or been a pairing that would have been on a contending or top 5 west team but just like some other Wolves big man pairings we never really got to see how Towns and Dieng played together for very long. Love and Al Jefferson, Love and Pekovic. How many games did those guys actually start together? Maybe a guy like Dieng especially paid appropriately on his 2nd contract would have helped move this team towards being competitive at least. Again I'm not suggesting Dieng would have been or was an answer but maybe his value could have been greater if circumstances were different. Not to mention his contract would have people view him so much differently. This is so much of the Wolves history we haven't had a chan
ce to see many duo's (Or other possibly talented groups) actually play it out for more than a couple years out and see if they were actually good together. Wiggins and Towns played 4 years together but there was a lot happening during that time. I wonder how many other Wolves teammates In franchise history have played more games together (And or starts) than Towns and Wiggins. Guys just haven't stayed around together or stayed healthy etc etc.
I think there is more than 1 possible path to Become a good team. A defensive big next to Towns? Sure I'd try it. It's not a guarantee that is going to work or the guy we select with whatever pick is going to work out in that regard. It seems like there have been lots of big man flop bigs too. I also think it's possible Towns gets better as a defender and the Wolves find the right guy next to him that's still more of a PF than a center. None of these options are exactly easy to accomplish. Some people believe Wiseman is a good bet to at least be a Capela type. If so and you think a defensive center next to Towns is the path you would take then you want to select him. Cool makes perfect sense especially if you believe in Wiseman being an all-NBA type player. If you are someone that doesn't really believe in Wiseman especially compared to some other options as a defensive center you could pick later...then maybe you go with another type of pick etc etc. obviously we are assuming that this franchise is not going to select a guy that can't be shooting 3's stretching the floor etc...well with a pick that high anyway. I could see them pick a defensive project that can't really shoot with a later pick just because it's a heck of a value and they see the defensive potential etc.
Personally I'm not absolutely tied to any particular route I just think we gotta pick the best player possible because we need talent and this roster has openings and players that do have versatility. Honestly the biggest hole on this roster might be a True Catarina caliber SF sized wing that can defend and hit 3's. Those guys are super valuable even if they are just solid starters...and usually for a team as bad as the Wolves were you would look to aim higher than that with your top pick. I'm keeping my expectations low for this draft...but I don't think I'm ready to just pick a guy like that though.
Ultimately everyone weighing in here has their Ideas of how to maximize the value of the first selection (and compared to having other picks later) and it's based on views of prospects how to build the team etc etc. you know what that mirrors? Other NBA teams and also different basketball folks in hopefully every organization to some extent. I hope the Wolves have some people hanging around that don't all just think the same way. People can buy into a general philosophy but still have some different ways of thinking. I tend to think if the Wolves REALLY thought Wiseman was going to be the next Gobert with a little more offensive ability (Just hypothetically) they would take him and figure it all out. Maybe not. I still say a healthy Pekovic would have been an absolute monster on a team that got up and down the floor. Could you imagine what he would do with 4 other shooters around him? Defense? He and Towns could at least control the boards which has been a pretty big problem since Pek and Love were roaming the paint which seems like a long time ago...2014!?!