Tank-O-Meter...2015 edition

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

We have to get a top 3 pick.

It would be nice, but I can't see it happening unless the Wolves win the lottery and move up for the first time in history. Improbable to imagine a terrible team like Philly, NY or LA passing us up. The real concern to me is trying not to drop below 4, and that could be an issue if Denver doesn't win again this year.

[Coolbreeze44]

We have to get a top 3 pick.

It would be nice, but I can't see it happening unless the Wolves win the lottery and move up for the first time in history. Improbable to imagine a terrible team like Philly, NY or LA passing us up. The real concern to me is trying not to drop below 4, and that could be an issue if Denver doesn't win again this year.

After seeing what Mudiay did today, I think the top 4 is where you want to be. What am I saying? We are going to be #1.

[kekgeek]

We have to get a top 3 pick.

It would be nice, but I can't see it happening unless the Wolves win the lottery and move up for the first time in history. Improbable to imagine a terrible team like Philly, NY or LA passing us up. The real concern to me is trying not to drop below 4, and that could be an issue if Denver doesn't win again this year.

After seeing what Mudiay did today, I think the top 4 is where you want to be. What am I saying? We are going to be #1.

I am not taking anything what mudiay does over in China at any value. I mean Marbury is still dominating in that league. I do like mudiay a lot though

[mrhockey89]

I agree we're likely to end up with the 4th worst record. If we have typical Timberwolves lottery luck, we'll drop to 5th in the final draft order in what is shaping up to be a draft with 4 potential NBA stars.

That might not be such a bad thing... In a draft of 2 superstars (Irving/Derrick Williams) we drafted #2 and landed Williams. Drafted several slots later was Klay Thompson. In a draft of 2.5-3 superstars (Rose/Beasley/Mayo) we drafted 3rd, took Mayo, then traded back to Love+Mike Miller. The two picks after the Wolves that year were Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love.

We need to not worry about the hype of the top players and just make sure we get it right. Even if we end up with #5, I'd venture to guess that there's going to be at least one player outside the top 4 (and probably multiple) that will end up being better than the 4th pick, and better than at least half of the top 4.

I'm all for us being a top 4 lotto ball team (because I think we've got a good cushion where we can win some games and still have that happen), but if we pick outside the top 4, I won't be too upset....besides..we don't even know if all 4 will declare.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I agree we're likely to end up with the 4th worst record. If we have typical Timberwolves lottery luck, we'll drop to 5th in the final draft order in what is shaping up to be a draft with 4 potential NBA stars.

That might not be such a bad thing... In a draft of 2 superstars (Irving/Derrick Williams) we drafted #2 and landed Williams. Drafted several slots later was Klay Thompson. In a draft of 2.5-3 superstars (Rose/Beasley/Mayo) we drafted 3rd, took Mayo, then traded back to Love+Mike Miller. The two picks after the Wolves that year were Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love.

We need to not worry about the hype of the top players and just make sure we get it right. Even if we end up with #5, I'd venture to guess that there's going to be at least one player outside the top 4 (and probably multiple) that will end up being better than the 4th pick, and better than at least half of the top 4.

I'm all for us being a top 4 lotto ball team (because I think we've got a good cushion where we can win some games and still have that happen), but if we pick outside the top 4, I won't be too upset....besides..we don't even know if all 4 will declare.

Good post. That being said the higher pick we have the more options we have. Bottom line this draft is very crucial.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

We have to get a top 3 pick.

It would be nice, but I can't see it happening unless the Wolves win the lottery and move up for the first time in history. Improbable to imagine a terrible team like Philly, NY or LA passing us up. The real concern to me is trying not to drop below 4, and that could be an issue if Denver doesn't win again this year.

After seeing what Mudiay did today, I think the top 4 is where you want to be. What am I saying? We are going to be #1.

I am not taking anything what mudiay does over in China at any value. I mean Marbury is still dominating in that league. I do like mudiay a lot though

I had to search to find out what Mudiay did today in China. For those who don't know, he has been out since early December, but came back today to play for Guangdong in Game 3 of their playoff series against Marbury's Beijing team. I didn't see his stats, but here's a highlight video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx3LJ-27XbE

He looks very good in this video, but to kekgeek's point, how do you evaluate his play in china. I lived there for three years and saw a little basketball, and while they love the game over there, the CBA is not a very good league. At least Mudiay is playing now, so some of the injury uncertainty is gone. But because we only have video of him in high school and China, if it came down to a choice between Russell. Johnson, and Mudiay, I'd probably have to go in that order. Workouts are going to be more important for him than the other prospects.

[TheFuture]

We have to get a top 3 pick.

It would be nice, but I can't see it happening unless the Wolves win the lottery and move up for the first time in history. Improbable to imagine a terrible team like Philly, NY or LA passing us up. The real concern to me is trying not to drop below 4, and that could be an issue if Denver doesn't win again this year.

After seeing what Mudiay did today, I think the top 4 is where you want to be. What am I saying? We are going to be #1.

I am not taking anything what mudiay does over in China at any value. I mean Marbury is still dominating in that league. I do like mudiay a lot though

I had to search to find out what Mudiay did today in China. For those who don't know, he has been out since early December, but came back today to play for Guangdong in Game 3 of their playoff series against Marbury's Beijing team. I didn't see his stats, but here's a highlight video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx3LJ-27XbE

He looks very good in this video, but to kekgeek's point, how do you evaluate his play in china. I lived there for three years and saw a little basketball, and while they love the game over there, the CBA is not a very good league. At least Mudiay is playing now, so some of the injury uncertainty is gone. But because we only have video of him in high school and China, if it came down to a choice between Russell. Johnson, and Mudiay, I'd probably have to go in that order. Workouts are going to be more important for him than the other prospects.

I had the same outlook previously about the CBA, but after mulling it over for the last couple of months I decided that there is an argument for the CBA over College. There are plenty of fully grown men, 10-15 year savvy vets, and ex-NBA players playing over there. I think the competition is better than college competition here. I now believe Mudiay would likely dominate here in college.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I only update this thread when something significant happens, and today's news about Denver firing Brian Shaw is really good news for the Wolves lottery chances. The Nuggets had completely given up, and some of us could see a scenario under which they Wolves could pass them up and move into the 5 hole...not good. But reports are that the players had given up on Shaw...one rumor said the starters shouted "one, two, six more weeks!" while breaking the huddle last game, a reference to only 6 more weeks until they were done with Shaw. Now they have something to play for, and that combined with the 7 game lead they still hold over the Wolves should keep us safely behind them. It will be interesting to see if they respond with an upset over the Bucks tonight. After tonight, the TOM still has them losing 12 of their next 13 games (the Knicks being their only win), but their schedule gets soft after that.

So the good news is we can run them off the court tomorrow night without too much worry about passing them up before the end of the season!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Is Clyde Drexler, Andrew Wiggins' ceiling? I've been thinking about that as the season's gone along because it bugs me that there's not a perfect comparison.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Is Clyde Drexler, Andrew Wiggins' ceiling? I've been thinking about that as the season's gone along because it bugs me that there's not a perfect comparison.

Grant Hill?