Wolves Draft Thread

[KG4Ever]

More on Jake Stephens: I pulled snippet from article as to how he elevated his three point shooting to average 45% his last two years. See below. I love the idea of signing this guy to play or signing him as a shooting coach or both. Leonard Miller, Minott and Jaylen Clark could be great players if they had a good outside shot and maybe having Stephens around could help.

Stephens went on to outline how he worked on speeding up his motion, tweaking his elbow placement, and the different shooting drills he went through. To say the work paid off would be a giant understatement. Stephens ranked in the 95th percentile as a jump shooter this past season, per Synergy. Over the past two seasons, he’s converted 45.3% of his threes on 5.1 attempts per game. These aren’t wide-open, standing-in-the-corner, catch-and-shoot looks, either. Stephens often has to move into his shot, whether it be as a trailer, setting his feet after a screen, or backpedaling into his shot. The way he prepares for his shot, getting his feet under him and his knees bent just the right amount, is a thing of beauty. His pre-shot motion resembles that of a much smaller player. Because he’s so huge, his shot is a nightmare to impede and contest.

[60WinTim]

I really like Jake Stephens as well. And he was in for a workout with the Wolves a few days before the draft. So, maybe, just maybe, he'll get an invite to summer league with the Wolves.

[Lipoli390]

I recall being momentarily disappointed in last year’s draft, but I quickly became enthusiastic once I looked more thoroughly into the guys we drafted. Coming off a 46-win season and what I ultimately considered a very good draft I was really excited about Summer League and the upcoming regular season. Then, as I was departing for Vegas to watch the Wolves in Summer League, news of the Gobert trade hit. I went from excited to despondent in an instant. None of us saw that deal coming and that sort of stunning (and in my view dumb) deal wasn’t something I would have seen in my wildest imagination.

Flash forward to this day following the 2023 draft. After a brief moment of disappointment that the Wolves failed to draft any of the guys I wanted, my view of the Wolves draft quickly turned positive as i got over my personal disappointment and looked objectively at the picks we made more thoroughly. I’m feeling the excitement building as I reflect on this year’s draft and on the news from Target Center about so many teammates working out in the gym together as well as Ant being in tremendous shape. Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time enjoying the moment because what happened last year has left me with something in the nature of PTSD. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop in the form of a trade that takes the joy away.

I don’t know that anything significant will happen and it’s hard to guess what it might be. I’m happy to hear the Wolves have been hanging up the phone inquiries related to Jaden McDaniels. Fingers crossed that TC continues to turn a deaf ear to those inquiries. I still don’t see the Wolves trading KAT or Rudy this summer. Sure, TC could get an offer than “knocks his socks off” as he put it. But I don’t expect it. Interestingly, as much as I’d like to see one or the other traded, I’ve hit this point psychologically where I’m getting excited about running it back with those two bigs along with Anderson and the bevy of young talent we have in Ant, Jaden, Naz, Minott, Moore, and now Leonard Miller. I think I’d be a bit shell-shocked at this point if the Wolves were to trade KAT or Rudy. Again I don’t think that will happen. But I’m trying to prepare myself mentally for the Wolves to let Naz go and also trade one of our other young guys - Miller, Moore and/or Minott.

I’d be OK trading Moore, but I’d be really disappointed if the Wolves don’t retain Minott and Miller. I thought it was particularly interesting that the Wolves drafted Miller when he’s so similar to Jaden and Minott. I don’t think they drafted him for the purpose of trading him, but I think they drafted him knowing that his 1st-round draft grade and upside could provide the Wolves with a valuable trade asset or free them to trade Minott. So my advice to myself and to everyone else is this: Don’t get too attached to Miller or any of our other young players because TC has shown us he’s full of surprises.

[Monster]

I recall being momentarily disappointed in last year’s draft, but I quickly became enthusiastic once I looked more thoroughly into the guys we drafted. Coming off a 46-win season and what I ultimately considered a very good draft I was really excited about Summer League and the upcoming regular season. Then, as I was departing for Vegas to watch the Wolves in Summer League, news of the Gobert trade hit. I went from excited to despondent in an instant. None of us saw that deal coming and that sort of stunning (and in my view dumb) deal wasn’t something I would have seen in my wildest imagination.

Flash forward to this day following the 2023 draft. After a brief moment of disappointment that the Wolves failed to draft any of the guys I wanted, my view of the Wolves draft quickly turned positive as i got over my personal disappointment and looked objectively at the picks we made more thoroughly. I’m feeling the excitement building as I reflect on this year’s draft and on the news from Target Center about so many teammates working out in the gym together as well as Ant being in tremendous shape. Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time enjoying the moment because what happened last year has left me with something in the nature of PTSD. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop in the form of a trade that takes the joy away.

I don’t know that anything significant will happen and it’s hard to guess what it might be. I’m happy to hear the Wolves have been hanging up the phone inquiries related to Jaden McDaniels. Fingers crossed that TC continues to turn a deaf ear to those inquiries. I still don’t see the Wolves trading KAT or Rudy this summer. Sure, TC could get an offer than “knocks his socks off” as he put it. But I don’t expect it. Interestingly, as much as I’d like to see one or the other traded, I’ve hit this point psychologically where I’m getting excited about running it back with those two bigs along with Anderson and the bevy of young talent we have in Ant, Jaden, Naz, Minott, Moore, and now Leonard Miller. I think I’d be a bit shell-shocked at this point if the Wolves were to trade KAT or Rudy. Again I don’t think that will happen. But I’m trying to prepare myself mentally for the Wolves to let Naz go and also trade one of our other young guys - Miller, Moore and/or Minott.

I’d be OK trading Moore, but I’d be really disappointed if the Wolves don’t retain Minott and Miller. I thought it was particularly interesting that the Wolves drafted Miller when he’s so similar to Jaden and Minott. I don’t think they drafted him for the purpose of trading him, but I think they drafted him knowing that his 1st-round draft grade and upside could provide the Wolves with a valuable trade asset or free them to trade Minott. So my advice to myself and to everyone else is this: Don’t get too attached to Miller or any of our other young players because TC has shown us he’s full of surprises.

If Connelly trades Jaylen Clark…well you don’t even wanna see what happens!!!!

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I didn't really pay too much attention to the draft prospects in our range this year because of the low odds of second-rounders becoming important contributors, despite the notable exceptions.

But I have to admit, I have liked what I've seen from Miller and Clark. Both look like the kind of tone-setting guys we need to play with the necessary intensity.

Still, I find it tough to overlook their shooting woes. At the end of the day, NBA players these days basically have to be able to hit the 3 or be elite in another area in order to get playing time, and even then, you can't afford to have more than 1 non-shooter on the floor in the playoffs. That really puts a limit on the value of these guys if they don't develop an outside shot. If they do, awesome! We got a big versatile finisher who meets a need for size (especially if Naz leaves), and a defensive stud. If those guys can also hit 3s, teams can use guys like that. If not, eh. Nice regular-season guys maybe, but their prospects as playoff players would be seriously limited.

I think getting these guys with Minott and Moore seems to reflect a strategy of drafting guys who can definitely bring something NBA-ready to the table (Moore's playmaking and maybe defense, Minott's rim-running and length--especially as a help-defender blocking shots, Miller's size and finishing, and Clark's on-ball defense) and then gambling that at least one or two of them will develop a passable outside shot. I can see why that could be a better strategy than drafting a guy who can shoot, but doesn't have good size or any other particular NBA skill. After the lottery, it's just really rare to find a guy who can both shoot outside and has another strong NBA-level attribute. So you might as well pick a few guys with a clear NBA-level attribute, work on their shots, and hope one or two of them improve. You can't really teach size, motor, or even the playmaking instincts that Moore showed in college. But at least SOME guys learn to shoot. Fingers crossed a couple of these guys will.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Also, on the issue of flipping positions about draft picks, I admire it when guys keep an open mind and can see the pros and cons of different guys at different times . . . I encourage guys to go back and read the draft talk in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 draft. After we picked Edwards, I seem to recall several guys here basically saying this franchise had blown the obvious choice and made the biggest mistake in its history by not picking Wiseman. I thought Wiseman could be good (I preferred Edwards but I wasn't excited about any of those top picks at the time--and I was wrongly dismissing of Ball), but I definitely thought that pro-Wiseman reaction was way overblown and based on a mentality that assumed that THEY were right, and anybody who disagreed that Wiseman should have been the pick was a massive idiot. History hasn't been kind to that position obviously, but anyone can be wrong. That's why I'm glad to see guys flipping back and forth on prospects because it reflects the reality that picking the best players is tough and there's a good deal of chance involved. It also reflects the kind of open mind that is willing to consider the perspectives of others, change their own minds, and not condemn a different view as hopelessly naive. That's the kind of conversation that keeps me coming back to this board.

[Lipoli390]

I didn't really pay too much attention to the draft prospects in our range this year because of the low odds of second-rounders becoming important contributors, despite the notable exceptions.

But I have to admit, I have liked what I've seen from Miller and Clark. Both look like the kind of tone-setting guys we need to play with the necessary intensity.

Still, I find it tough to overlook their shooting woes. At the end of the day, NBA players these days basically have to be able to hit the 3 or be elite in another area in order to get playing time, and even then, you can't afford to have more than 1 non-shooter on the floor in the playoffs. That really puts a limit on the value of these guys if they don't develop an outside shot. If they do, awesome! We got a big versatile finisher who meets a need for size (especially if Naz leaves), and a defensive stud. If those guys can also hit 3s, teams can use guys like that. If not, eh. Nice regular-season guys maybe, but their prospects as playoff players would be seriously limited.

I think getting these guys with Minott and Moore seems to reflect a strategy of drafting guys who can definitely bring something NBA-ready to the table (Moore's playmaking and maybe defense, Minott's rim-running and length--especially as a help-defender blocking shots, Miller's size and finishing, and Clark's on-ball defense) and then gambling that at least one or two of them will develop a passable outside shot. I can see why that could be a better strategy than drafting a guy who can shoot, but doesn't have good size or any other particular NBA skill. After the lottery, it's just really rare to find a guy who can both shoot outside and has another strong NBA-level attribute. So you might as well pick a few guys with a clear NBA-level attribute, work on their shots, and hope one or two of them improve. You can't really teach size, motor, or even the playmaking instincts that Moore showed in college. But at least SOME guys learn to shoot. Fingers crossed a couple of these guys will.

Great analysis, Drew. I think you’re right about what the Wolves front office thinking on draft picks. I’d characterize their draft strategy as picking players who have all of the following attributes:

1. At least one NBA-ready skill as you pointed out. Miller brings rebounding. Minott brings defense as reflected in part by his steals and block shots. Clark brings NBA-level on-ball defense. Moore is more of an enigma to me when searching for an NBA-ready skill, so maybe he’s an exception.

2. High-character — Good guys who minimally won’t tote guns, who love basketball, have a team mentality and are willing to be coached. I think all the guys TC has drafted are truly high character guys in this sense.

3. Highly competitive with high-octane motor/strong work ethic. You can’t watch Miller, Clark or Minott for more than 30 seconds without realizing that they are super competitive with non-stop motors. You can see they’re self-motivated and driven to compete and succeed. It’s not as obvious in Moore, but I’m sure he has the same sort of competitiveness and motor; it’s just not as apparent.

4. High basketball IQ. This is a hard one for us as fans to judge from a distance. But everything I’ve read about all our picks indicates that all four have high basketball IQs. Reviews of Miller typically mention how quickly he learns. Minott and Moore look like they have really good instincts and an understanding of the game. Clarks is also reputed to be a high-IQ player.

As you noted, these are things you can’t teach. You can teach character or competitiveness or IQ. These are all attributes you have or don’t have by the time you’re 18-20 years old. But you CAN teach shooting. And you can help players improve certain skills and learn nuances of the game. I agree with you that to be a good player in today’s NBA you have to be able to shoot. I’m not worried about Moore’s shooting. But Minott, Miller and Clark all have a lot of work to do on their shots, although Minott has already made really impressive progress. I’m optimistic. When I watch video of those three guys, I don’t cringe watching them shoot the way I did watching Okogie. I trust that, given their competitiveness, work ethic and self-motivation to improve, all three will put in the work to improve their shots. Of course, Okogie is an example of a high character player who worked hard but could never develop his perimeter shot. So I’m not naive about this. However, I’m optimistic that all three, especially Miller and Minott, will substantially improve their perimeter shooting. If they do, then we have two gems.

[Q-is-here]

Drew's point on shooting is spot on. That will be THE difference between Minott, Clark, and Moore Jr. being end-of-the bench spot players and journeymen or super valuable role players. I think Miller might be able to play a lot of Center, so I'm not quite as worried about his ability to hit 3s, although that would obviously be valuable.

If you look back at the Wolves' history as a franchise, I can only think of one defensive-oriented prospect that they drafted and were able to turn into a solid 3-point threat, and that's Jaden McDaniels.

Corey Brewer, Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn, Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver...some of these guys like Ricky and Brewer were skilled enough in other ways to be regular rotation players on good teams, but all of them were significantly held back by their shooting.

Based on this track record, we'll be incredibly lucky if even one of the guys from the last two draft classes turns into a decent 3-point shooter.

[Lipoli390]

Drew's point on shooting is spot on. That will be THE difference between Minott, Clark, and Moore Jr. being end-of-the bench spot players and journeymen or super valuable role players. I think Miller might be able to play a lot of Center, so I'm not quite as worried about his ability to hit 3s, although that would obviously be valuable.

If you look back at the Wolves' history as a franchise, I can only think of one defensive-oriented prospect that they drafted and were able to turn into a solid 3-point threat, and that's Jaden McDaniels.

Corey Brewer, Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn, Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver...some of these guys like Ricky and Brewer were skilled enough in other ways to be regular rotation players on good teams, but all of them were significantly held back by their shooting.

Based on this track record, we'll be incredibly lucky if even one of the guys from the last two draft classes turns into a decent 3-point shooter.

Yep. You, Drew and I are all aligned on improved perimeter shooting as the key to the future of these three young prospects. I agree with you that it’s a bit less important for Miller because he clearly has the size to develop into a center. He’s already hitting nearly one-third of his threes in the G-League and that plus his ball skills could be enough to make him a valuable rotation player down the road as his body fills out and his skills become more refined. But Miller still needs to improve his perimeter shooting. Unlike Minott and Clark, Miller also still needs to adapt to his body. He still looks a bit awkward on the court at times.

If Miller and Minott become reliable 35% three-point shooters, they instantly become NBA rotation players based on their other skills, motor and competitiveness. And I think both have the potential to blossom into more than just rotation players. That’s what’s most intriguing about them. Their ceilings are much higher than rotation bench players. We’ll see where they end up.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm excited about our draft picks this year. But...I'm also approaching it with low expectations. We got roughly 250 total combined minutes out of Minott and Moore Jr. last year. With Clark's injury and Miller being so raw, I'm not anticipating they beat that rookie class's production (which was basically nothing).

The plan appears to be contending, so these guys will have to earn any minutes they get. That's not a bad thing. Remember the days when guys like Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie were thrown into the fire with big minutes their rookie year? I don't know if that helps or hurts them...I guess every player is different. But I personally prefer it when guys have to earn their spots.