2024 Wolves Draft thread

[Q-is-here]

Give me Carlton Carrington and let's call it a day:

https://www.nba.com/draft/2024/prospect ... carrington

We need another PG. Conley was solid this past season, but Father Time is going to catch him eventually. Give Carrington a year to work behind Conley and then take over at PG1 in 2025/26.

He shot 32% from 3 at Pitt and we 100% cannot have a PG on this roster that can't be a threat from beyond the arc. Our ultimately goal should be to have only one player in our rotation that isn't a threat from 3 and that's Rudy.

Now, what I don't know is the level of difficulty of his 3 pt. attempts and how he did on catch-and-shoot 3s versus off the dribble 3s. May be he has all the makings of a good shooter, but he was just forced to attempt a lot of tough ones....I don't know, needs more research. But that is an initial red flag to me.

It's a fair point and a noted area of opportunity (corporate speak for weakness). But he's still very young. Picking that late, I'm not sure we can expect someone without ANY deficiencies. I would hope he could improve his 3 point game to be passable. But - yes, your point of concern is valid.

I guess my point is that 3-point deficiency is the weakness I least want in a prospect. Part of this is my own PTSD from having so many Wolves picks over the past 15 years be guys that needed work on their outside shot, but part of it is based on what Ant needs around him and he absolutely needs a PG that can make the open 3 at a high rate, like Mike Conley.

[Coolbreeze44]

Scheierman is the type of guy Miami would draft. Experienced, tough, productive, and plug 'n play. We don't need a project this year.

[Q-is-here]

Scheirman is one of the guys on my list of favorites. Here’s my preliminary list of favorites who might be available for us at #27 or in some cases #37:

1. Scheirman - I always love a great shooter who also rebounds. His 9 rebounds per game says effort and toughness.
2. Carlton Carrington - probably best PG prospect who could be available at 27.
3. Tyler Kolek - Marquette PG knowing for having elite feel and great 3-point shot. Sounds good to me.
4. Johnny Furphy - 6’8 SG known for athleticism, sweet release, feel and natural talent. Probably gone by 27.
5. Dillon Jones - 6’6 SF with big body knowing for intensity, rebounds and also passing.
6. Nikola Durisic - 6’7 Serbian SG considered strong a good playmaker. Sounds interesting.
7. Tristen Newton - 6’3 Sr. UConn Guard known as. Complete 2-way team-first player. Winning program.

I should add I know very little about these guys other than the little I’ve recently read. The playoffs got in the way of my usual draft prep.

The PG Kolek definitely interests me...not sure he'll even be available.

The knock on Kolek is the typical white-guy/not-a-great-athlete concern. But he is very well built and not as short and susceptible to being bullied as some of the scouting reports make him out to be. He measured out as 6"1.25 without shoes at the NBA combine and 196 lbs. That's bigger than guys like Jalen Brunson, Tyus Jones, Mike Conley, and Trae Young!

Also, how many times have we been seduced by athleticism only for said prospect to have a severe lack of b-ball IQ or NBA skills? Give me a guy that isn't that athletic but has a great feel for the game and competes like hell. There are just tons of examples of great NBA players that were originally knocked as prospects for not being great athletes. Now if he was a poor athlete AND super undersized, no amount of skill can overcome that. But he has legit NBA PG size and strength.

[Lipoli390]

Give me Carlton Carrington and let's call it a day:

https://www.nba.com/draft/2024/prospect ... carrington

We need another PG. Conley was solid this past season, but Father Time is going to catch him eventually. Give Carrington a year to work behind Conley and then take over at PG1 in 2025/26.

He shot 32% from 3 at Pitt and we 100% cannot have a PG on this roster that can't be a threat from beyond the arc. Our ultimately goal should be to have only one player in our rotation that isn't a threat from 3 and that's Rudy.

Now, what I don't know is the level of difficulty of his 3 pt. attempts and how he did on catch-and-shoot 3s versus off the dribble 3s. May be he has all the makings of a good shooter, but he was just forced to attempt a lot of tough ones....I don't know, needs more research. But that is an initial red flag to me.

That’s a huge red flag for what our team needs. I’d feel differently if we were drafting primarily for the future based on what I’ve read about Carrington’s potential. But we need to draft a player who can be a significant positive contributor at least by the latter portion of the upcoming season. A guys who averaged 32% from behind the college arc doesn’t fit that bill in my view.

[Lipoli390]

Scheirman is one of the guys on my list of favorites. Here’s my preliminary list of favorites who might be available for us at #27 or in some cases #37:

1. Scheirman - I always love a great shooter who also rebounds. His 9 rebounds per game says effort and toughness.
2. Carlton Carrington - probably best PG prospect who could be available at 27.
3. Tyler Kolek - Marquette PG knowing for having elite feel and great 3-point shot. Sounds good to me.
4. Johnny Furphy - 6’8 SG known for athleticism, sweet release, feel and natural talent. Probably gone by 27.
5. Dillon Jones - 6’6 SF with big body knowing for intensity, rebounds and also passing.
6. Nikola Durisic - 6’7 Serbian SG considered strong a good playmaker. Sounds interesting.
7. Tristen Newton - 6’3 Sr. UConn Guard known as. Complete 2-way team-first player. Winning program.

I should add I know very little about these guys other than the little I’ve recently read. The playoffs got in the way of my usual draft prep.

The PG Kolek definitely interests me...not sure he'll even be available.

The knock on Kolek is the typical white-guy/not-a-great-athlete concern. But he is very well built and not as short and susceptible to being bullied as some of the scouting reports make him out to be. He measured out as 6"1.25 without shoes at the NBA combine and 196 lbs. That's bigger than guys like Jalen Brunson, Tyus Jones, Mike Conley, and Trae Young!

Also, how many times have we been seduced by athleticism only for said prospect to have a severe lack of b-ball IQ or NBA skills? Give me a guy that isn't that athletic but has a great feel for the game and competes like hell. There are just tons of examples of great NBA players that were originally knocked as prospects for not being great athletes. Now if he was a poor athlete AND super undersized, no amount of skill can overcome that. But he has legit NBA PG size and strength.

I agree, Q. I typically gravitate towards the great athletes, but for what we need right now I’d prefer a guy like Kolek. I like Scheirman for the same reason, which is why he’s my first choice on my list.

[Sundog]

This is a great list and great insights — thanks fellas!

[Sundog]

Another group the wolves are bringing in to evaluate:

Sy Chatman (Buffalo)
Enrique Freeman (Akron)
Pelle Larsson (Arizona)
KJ Simpson (Colorado)
Justin Webster (UNLV)
Moses Wood (Washington)

[Carlos Danger]

He shot 32% from 3 at Pitt and we 100% cannot have a PG on this roster that can't be a threat from beyond the arc. Our ultimately goal should be to have only one player in our rotation that isn't a threat from 3 and that's Rudy.

Now, what I don't know is the level of difficulty of his 3 pt. attempts and how he did on catch-and-shoot 3s versus off the dribble 3s. May be he has all the makings of a good shooter, but he was just forced to attempt a lot of tough ones....I don't know, needs more research. But that is an initial red flag to me.

It's a fair point and a noted area of opportunity (corporate speak for weakness). But he's still very young. Picking that late, I'm not sure we can expect someone without ANY deficiencies. I would hope he could improve his 3 point game to be passable. But - yes, your point of concern is valid.

I guess my point is that 3-point deficiency is the weakness I least want in a prospect. Part of this is my own PTSD from having so many Wolves picks over the past 15 years be guys that needed work on their outside shot, but part of it is based on what Ant needs around him and he absolutely needs a PG that can make the open 3 at a high rate, like Mike Conley.

I get your point. But none of us have any idea what these guys will become. Really...one year of 32% three point shooting in college means nothing. Using your guy Mike Conley as an example...guess what he shot from three his only year in college? (Spoiler Alert - it was 30%). Conley went on to shoot 33% from 3 his first year in the NBA and career 3 pt % is 38.7. He's been much better than that in his time with the Wolves. I can't explain it. Guys have good years and bad years. But I sure wouldn't hold back on an 18 year old prospect if that was your only red flag.

I like drafting young 18 and 19 year olds because there is so much more potential upside. Look at the growth we are seeing in Edwards from age 19 to 22. That's why older college guys that are "NBA ready" don't excite me as much for that reason. It's the old "higher ceiling vs. higher floor" options. I always try to win big!

[Q-is-here]

It's a fair point and a noted area of opportunity (corporate speak for weakness). But he's still very young. Picking that late, I'm not sure we can expect someone without ANY deficiencies. I would hope he could improve his 3 point game to be passable. But - yes, your point of concern is valid.

I guess my point is that 3-point deficiency is the weakness I least want in a prospect. Part of this is my own PTSD from having so many Wolves picks over the past 15 years be guys that needed work on their outside shot, but part of it is based on what Ant needs around him and he absolutely needs a PG that can make the open 3 at a high rate, like Mike Conley.

I get your point. But none of us have any idea what these guys will become. Really...one year of 32% three point shooting in college means nothing. Using your guy Mike Conley as an example...guess what he shot from three his only year in college? (Spoiler Alert - it was 30%). Conley went on to shoot 33% from 3 his first year in the NBA and career 3 pt % is 38.7. He's been much better than that in his time with the Wolves. I can't explain it. Guys have good years and bad years. But I sure wouldn't hold back on an 18 year old prospect if that was your only red flag.

I like drafting young 18 and 19 year olds because there is so much more potential upside. Look at the growth we are seeing in Edwards from age 19 to 22. That's why older college guys that are "NBA ready" don't excite me as much for that reason. It's the old "higher ceiling vs. higher floor" options. I always try to win big!

Yes, guys can improve their 3-point shot, but more often than not they don't, especially with our franchise. I won't go through the long, sad history of past draft picks that couldn't develop their shot with the Wolves.

As for high ceiling/high floor, I think it's a bit of a misnomer that older prospects have a lower ceiling just because of their age. Jalen Brunson is the most recent example (33rd overall pick). But there are plenty of others drafted in their early 20s that went on to keep improving and eventually become stars.

[Carlos Danger]

Yes, guys can improve their 3-point shot, but more often than not they don't, especially with our franchise. I won't go through the long, sad history of past draft picks that couldn't develop their shot with the Wolves.

As for high ceiling/high floor, I think it's a bit of a misnomer that older prospects have a lower ceiling just because of their age. Jalen Brunson is the most recent example (33rd overall pick). But there are plenty of others drafted in their early 20s that went on to keep improving and eventually become stars.

Just as you have been traumatized by the Wolves lack of developing a 3 point shooter, I will forever be traumatized by the Wolves making the "safe pick" of NBA ready, 23 year old Wesley Johnson. He was drafted for many of the same reasons people are advocating for Baylor Scheierman (older, NBA ready plug and play).

We've all been burned by this Franchise in our own ways. Really what we need is a thread devoted to therapy to get us past our biases and be open to look at things new again

Seriously, this thread is about different takes/views on these prospects. I respect your opinion. We will agree to disagree on Carrington as well as Scheierman and try to remember to dig this thread up in three years to see what happens. Both guys could be out of the league by then Like someone else posted...it is like throwing darts. But I still love the hope/dreams it brings of the Wolves finally hitting on the right guy! At least we are getting some clicks/action and generating discussion leading up to the big day.