Draft prospects - Who do we want?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wildwolf nailed it. Tyus Jones represents all the surface-level qualities that have so enamored our GMs, past and present: Local guy, excellent tourney run, great smile, firm handshake, and on and on. Yeesh!

I get a bit of the Trey Burke vibe from Tyus Jones. He seems like a very good college PG, but I'm not so sure his game translates to the next level. He has mediocre size and athleticism, and his only elite skill appears to be FT%. I'd take him at the top of the 2nd and hope he becomes a nice backup someday, but there is no way I'd trade up to get him in the 1st round.

Cam, the Chauncey Billups comp doesn't pass the sniff test. Billups came in the league 6'3 or 6'4 and 200+ pounds. He had elite strength and size for a PG which allowed him to become very adept at getting to the free throw line and helped him defensively.

[worldK]

I dont see jones comp to billups as well. Q explain it well in his post. Billups could post you up and use use his body and strength to get off his shots. He could also play both guard spot and more of a scorer than jones. Jones dont have that size. Im not as high on jones as some are here.

[WildWolf2813]

Would anyone be surprised if Flip took Jahlil Okafor number one, then traded up for Tyus Jones in the mid-first round? Probably not, and it would be a cool thing just because they decided to play for Duke together, won a ring together and then get drafted to the same team. Also, Jones is a hometown guy. Many reasons why it'd be a good story.

Question: how high do some of you see Jones' ceiling? Could he potentially push Rubio to the bench? Is he just a second unit guy? I have my own thoughts, but I think it'd be something worth discussing.

In my opinion, we'd be going after Jones for all the wrong reasons. It fits quite nicely with how hokey this organization. If they want Tyus, take him because you think he's the best player available worth moving up. I don't think that crosses Flip's mind. It's about "well he's one of us. He's from Apple Valley. He's Okafor's buddy. They won titles together. He's got a great smile awww" and it gets really annoying. We're a basketball team, not a human interest story. This team and sometimes we're guilty of it too, we let too much stuff that was very little to do with basketball and winning long term affect how we view players.

Lebron never goes back to Cleveland if he isn't from Akron. There are talks of LA signing with a Texas team this summer. Love might go back to his college roots in LA. There is a place for these factors in picking guys and when the talent and production is near equal like between Tyus/Grant/Wright it gives Tyus the edge to stay a Timberwolf even as possibly a backup if we become a good team. The other guys don't have that extra factor/reason to stay here if they don't want. When the résumés are equal it comes down to other factors that make certain guys the better choice and where you came from in the NBA plays a role in varying ways. I find it hard to believe Flip makes any moves with basketball reasons being an after thought to other factors like hometown and who you went to college with. It's just an easy separator for equal competition.

If they win, they could come from Mars and they'll stay. If they lose, Tyus Jones coulda been conceived and born in the Target Center itself and he'll want out anyway. The Cavs didn't pick LeBron because he was a guy from Akron. It helped, but being the best basketball player on the planet was reason #1. Look at Corey Brewer. He was down to come here TWICE and both times the losing wore on him. Good teams don't value the stuff this team values so highly because they're confident enough in the saying "winning cures all." What you're saying damn near reeks of an inferiority complex that this team makes way too obvious at times and if the fans can see it, so can a player and his agent. This team shouldn't be banking on civic pride and rather their ability to compete and win because that's what's gonna keep good players here.

[mrhockey89]

I also think Flip will like Tyus and I think he'll try to trade up from the 2nd to get him (which I'd be fine with, honestly).

When Cam mentioned Billups, I didn't see it either, because of Billups size/strength combo. But then I tried to think of comps and it was difficult for me to find one. DX says it's Burke/RIdour, and I guess I could see those a bit, but neither of those are perfect for me either.

I think Q is underselling Tyus a bit, and buying a bit too much into the athleticism over basketball IQ thought process. If there's one thing that is important in a backup PG, it's a guy who can lead the second unit, and Tyus can do that. Better college player than NBA player? Maybe, since he was a very good college player at age 18, but I'd argue that he can always build onto his frame and get stronger, but usually when I think of players who dominate in college and flop in the NBA it's players whose athleticism or stature (or a specific skill) allows them to dominate the college level, but their lack of basketball IQ holds them back at the NBA level. Tyus doesn't have a super quick first step, he may not jump out of the gym, and he may not tower over his opponents, but he's also more likely to make the right play (and do so successfully) than most young PGs coming into the league, in my opinion. Look at guys like Dragic who has zero physical advantage, but knows how to use his skills, and his basketball IQ to make him a very good player.

If I were predicting right now, I'd predict (if Wolves get a big with their top pick) that the Wolves go very hard at trading up for Tyus. And quite frankly, I think he carries less downside than most of the players we'd be able to get where we'll end up getting him.

[Monster]

I think Tyus is a legit prospect no matter where he is from. How good of a prospect? Idk. How does he compare to say Tyler Ennis who was drafted last year as a one and done guy?

I think Cam's beat case scenario as a Billups type is reasonable because Billups was a very unique type of PG. He wasn't a playmaking drive and kick guy or fancy passing guy he was sort of a elite game manager type but also was sort of a scorer and damn was he clutch. Comparing a rookie to Billups is tough cause that guy was a heck of a player but I think that type of guy is sort of what Tyus from the couple games I have seen could be. shot maker steady guy makes the right play not flashy but effective. Conely is sort of that type guy only more of a quicker type more classic PG type package. He doesn't exactly wow you but he is a pretty good player.

When Jennings went to Detroit I said he could follow what Billups did when he first went to the Pistons. Scoring PG and then grow into something more. I am not saying Jennings was going to become Billups but it seemed like a situation where they needed a scoring PG and Jennings takes care of the ball always has.

Bottom line is Billups is an outlier for a bunch of reasons and the reality is a guy like Tyus is pretty young and played on a pretty loaded team. I am not sure what I would give up to get him but if we get him I'll be happy to add him as a talent but I am not dying to get him either. Imo this team does need (if the conditions are reasonable) to add a young PG that could be a backup plan in case Rubio can't stay healthy.

[bleedspeed]

I went back and looked at Jones a little more. He came up big in big games, but was not that great in the other games. They played Notre Dame 3 times and lost twice. Jones was out played by Grant 3 times.

I think we should go big. Thinking.

Robert Upshaw
Guillermo Hernangomez
Christian Wood
Bobby Portis
Trey Lyles

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell went number one if we don't get the first pick. The success of Harden and Curry, two guys he is compared to, his ability to play either G position, and that teams may not hold the C position in the same light as they used to. I see the Knicks, Sixers, and Lakers possibly going this route. I see us going with a C because it's where value meets need. Towns is a perfect fit for us and I hope it works out.

I also see Okafor falling to maybe 4 or 5. I think teams feel his upside isn't as high. Teams fall for the upside stuff.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'd be willing to guarantee that Okafor isn't available after No. 3 at very, very worst. No way he's there at 4-5.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I also think Flip will like Tyus and I think he'll try to trade up from the 2nd to get him (which I'd be fine with, honestly).

When Cam mentioned Billups, I didn't see it either, because of Billups size/strength combo. But then I tried to think of comps and it was difficult for me to find one. DX says it's Burke/RIdour, and I guess I could see those a bit, but neither of those are perfect for me either.

I think Q is underselling Tyus a bit, and buying a bit too much into the athleticism over basketball IQ thought process. If there's one thing that is important in a backup PG, it's a guy who can lead the second unit, and Tyus can do that. Better college player than NBA player? Maybe, since he was a very good college player at age 18, but I'd argue that he can always build onto his frame and get stronger, but usually when I think of players who dominate in college and flop in the NBA it's players whose athleticism or stature (or a specific skill) allows them to dominate the college level, but their lack of basketball IQ holds them back at the NBA level. Tyus doesn't have a super quick first step, he may not jump out of the gym, and he may not tower over his opponents, but he's also more likely to make the right play (and do so successfully) than most young PGs coming into the league, in my opinion. Look at guys like Dragic who has zero physical advantage, but knows how to use his skills, and his basketball IQ to make him a very good player.

If I were predicting right now, I'd predict (if Wolves get a big with their top pick) that the Wolves go very hard at trading up for Tyus. And quite frankly, I think he carries less downside than most of the players we'd be able to get where we'll end up getting him.

Hockey, Dragic is a poor example. He's a couple inches taller and probably 20 lbs heavier than Tyus. He's a big PG and more athletic than you give him credit for.

I'm huge on b-ball IQ and knowing how to play the game. Tyus certainly seems to have a natural PG feel for the game, in terms of when to look to score versus looking to pass and just decision making in general. I like his Asst/TO ratio for example.

But when I see a 44 FG% on 2-point attempts combined with a mediocre size/athleticism profile and questionable defensive chops, it's a red flag for me. Could he grow into a capable backup? I suppose so. But I want my mid to late 1st rounders to at least have the potential to be starters in this league. I don't see that with Tyus Jones.

[bleedspeed]

Good article on prospects.

http://www.nba.com/news/features/david_aldridge/david-aldridge-big-board-power-forwards-2015-nba-draft/index.html