2014 NBA Draft thoughts.

[mjs34]

I think McDermott is one of the guys that will fall. His size and lack of quickness is going to hurt him. He really has no upside. He is a senior that shoots the ball well and has a knack for scoring in the post. I don't think the post scoring will translate as well. Undersized PFs can carve out a niche, but usually those guys have some bulk and know how to create space, which isn't really McDermott's game. I think he is destined to be a bench player, and a one way player as well. That doesn't seem like top ten in this draft. I would love to have him, but we have a few too many one way guys on the roster already.

[mjs34]

I agree with the thoughts on Payne. He is a guy I would love to have on this team. He would be a perfect fit with Love, Dieng or Pek. He does everything really well, and just seems like he has that winning mentality. Would love to see Flip grab a a second first rounder if he is still on the board in the second half of the first round.

Ideally in my mind we would move Pek, pick up something coming back along with that extra first round pick. We could clean up our salary structure, improve the roster (fit wise), and be better positioned going forward.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

sjm, totally agree, but I am thinking about this pick a bit differently this year.

I think we had 2 (maybe more) major weaknesses last year: 1) CONSISTENT bench scoring contributions; 2) Defense, specifically in late game situations.

While a guy like Doug doesn't answer anything related to #2 above, he certainly has the skillset to contribute to #1. At pick #13, you are typically not going to get an NBA ready, 2-way player.....thus the reason he is available that late (although this is one reason I think about Payne in this spot). If we can find a bench scorer, most importantly that is ready to contribute next season, he needs to be a target. I also like guys like James Young and some others, but I just don't see them having any impact in what will be a pivotal year for the Wolves next season. We really need NBA ready players at this point. And unfortunately, for the most part, players at #13 will probably only help in 1 area of the game.

[mjs34]

I like what McDermott brings, but I think he has to fit what your team has. I would jump at him if we hired a coach like Hollins, who seems to know team defense better than most. I like Payne and wouldn't be opposed to taking him at 13 either, but I was hoping for Stauskas. While he will never be a good defender, he still has the size to be effective in team D, and brings an elite skillset and can handle the ball as well. We need to grab another pick IMO. Stauskas and Payne would be the perfect outcome.

I know Boston is looking to rebuild quickly if they hang on to Rondo. I wonder if we could move Pek and Martin for Wallace and the nets first rounder.

[mjs34]

Surprised at height and length numbers for Gary harris. 8'0 overhead reach. I wonder if that was measured without shoes, since they don't have his height listed in shoes. Only 6'2.5 without shoes.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I don't think we can sacrifice overall talent for someone who is more ready to play on day 1 with this draft. We have the luxury of taking BPA based on the fact that we have a good team that just needs a few tweaks and the ability to close out a few more games from being a playoff team. There aren't many rookies that come out of the draft and make a significant impact in year 1 so we need to take who will be best a few years down the road. Our draft pick should not be viewed as a savior or the guy that pushes the needle to the playoff level. That will come from everyone's progression going into next season along with another year of continuity with the core. I don't think we have enough defensive pieces to make McDermott a good pick, but he very well could be BPA at 13. I hope a guy like Gordon drops to us because he will be a beast defensively with his athleticism and motor and he will be able to play the 3 or small ball 4 defensively which is huge now with the moves towards small ball. Love's backup is only going to get a handful of minutes a game so if we draft a backup to him he needs to either be able to play 3 or 5 long-term. Spending a lottery pick on a guy slotted to play 12-15 minutes a game at 1 position isn't a good pick in this deep of a draft.

[WildWolf2813]

last year my top 5 was

1. Caldwell Pope
2. McCollum
3. Dieng
4. Antetokounmpo
5. Muhammad.

I wound up getting #3 and #5.


This year, early on, my top 5 picks at 13 (assuming Gary Harris doesn't fall)

1. Adreian Payne
2. P.J. Hairston
3. James Young
4. Elfrid Payton
5. Jordan Adams

Love Patric Young and/or Spencer Dinwiddie in round 2.

My "stay away at all costs guys"

1. Aaron Gordon
2. Jerami Grant
3. Rodney Hood
4. Zach LaVine
5. Noah Vonleh (assuming he fell. If not, Shabazz Napier)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

James Young should be in your "stay away at all costs guys" list and Aaron Gordon should be on your "would love to get" list.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

By the way, from everything I've seen/read, LaVine had a great combine. Can see him sneaking into the lottery.

*I'd much rather have LaVine than Young. Not even close in my mind.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

McDaniels is really high on my radar. There's a ton to like about this guy.