Second Round: Official Draft Day Thread

[Monster]

We should have got Yang Hansen. Dude looks like the steal of the draft.

He was gone before we picked

I think most people didn't even think he was going to get picked in the first round.

[kekgeek]

If you're wondering why the Wolves traded down the way they did tonight, I'd recommend listening to this full explanation from Tim Connelly.

There were roster spot and apron restrictions to navigate for the Wolves, for sure -- and maybe that's justification enough. But it sounds like the 2nd round this year got a little pre-determined by agents between Day 1 and Day 2. (Last year was the first year of the two-day draft. Would make sense that some new strategies/loopholes were found in last year's process that were taken advantage of by agents this season.)

"It was really curious how agent-driven the 2nd round became. We called players left and right, and there was 20 deals done before (the second night of) the draft even started... 31 is fun, but maybe not as fun as we thought it was gonna be."


-Dane Moore

Just do away with the 2nd round. Make it so that anyone not drafted in the first round can't make as much as the 30th pick to prevent guys from dodging pick 30.

Instead of second round picks just give each team exceptions that are cap-exempt that can be traded like 2nd round picks.

Thanks an interesting concept but I'd guess some teams are not gonna go for that especially the bad ones.

This isn't exactly a new development. Players have been influencing their way to a spot for years. Naz Reid wasn't willing to sign a 2-way deal and that's partly why he wasn't drafted.

It's likely a 2 way street. There are probably teams that are wanting to guarantee as little money as possible and some guys especially in those first few picks are probably pushing for at least the first 2 seasons guaranteed. Meanwhile some teams might not like a guy enough to do that. Kennedy Chandler comes to mind as a guy that was a 2nd round pick and Memphis had to eat a few million to cut him a few months after selecting him. The Wolves were a team that likely was hesitant to add another rookie to a roster that doesn't have a ton of roster spots. Maybe they called and found out a couple of the guys they were interested in drafting had teams that were willing to give them deals with 3 guaranteed seasons. If you like a guy you take them and pay them a contract.

The bottom line is while pick 34 is better than waiting for 20+ other guys to get picked and signed to a deal before you the depth of talent available to NBA teams is pretty deep. With three 2-way spots and g-league affiliates for each team there is a way to keep and develop guys better than before. I'd like to see that expanded even more.

Didn’t we sign Naz to a 2-way deal. Then he played great in SL so they signed him to a standard contract

[Monster]

Just do away with the 2nd round. Make it so that anyone not drafted in the first round can't make as much as the 30th pick to prevent guys from dodging pick 30.

Instead of second round picks just give each team exceptions that are cap-exempt that can be traded like 2nd round picks.

Thanks an interesting concept but I'd guess some teams are not gonna go for that especially the bad ones.

This isn't exactly a new development. Players have been influencing their way to a spot for years. Naz Reid wasn't willing to sign a 2-way deal and that's partly why he wasn't drafted.

It's likely a 2 way street. There are probably teams that are wanting to guarantee as little money as possible and some guys especially in those first few picks are probably pushing for at least the first 2 seasons guaranteed. Meanwhile some teams might not like a guy enough to do that. Kennedy Chandler comes to mind as a guy that was a 2nd round pick and Memphis had to eat a few million to cut him a few months after selecting him. The Wolves were a team that likely was hesitant to add another rookie to a roster that doesn't have a ton of roster spots. Maybe they called and found out a couple of the guys they were interested in drafting had teams that were willing to give them deals with 3 guaranteed seasons. If you like a guy you take them and pay them a contract.

The bottom line is while pick 34 is better than waiting for 20+ other guys to get picked and signed to a deal before you the depth of talent available to NBA teams is pretty deep. With three 2-way spots and g-league affiliates for each team there is a way to keep and develop guys better than before. I'd like to see that expanded even more.

Didn’t we sign Naz to a 2-way deal. Then he played great in SL so they signed him to a standard contract

Yes if I remember correctly the idea was he wanted to pick his spot.

[FNG]

I haven't seen many of the grades for TC's draft, but I guess I would give it at least a solid B...a lot of uncertainty of course, but also enormous upside. He's made a bet on one of two tall teenagers (or both) becoming good rotation players. Let's hope it works out.

My biggest concerns about where we stand right now is not PG depth, it's the lack of a good option at center this season behind Rudy. I also find it a little odd that our two draft picks are going to have to share development minutes at Iowa because they can't play together. But it could be that TC is not done yet...I'm going to stay tuned.

[Monster]

I haven't seen many of the grades for TC's draft, but I guess I would give it at least a solid B...a lot of uncertainty of course, but also enormous upside. He's made a bet on one of two tall teenagers (or both) becoming good rotation players. Let's hope it works out.

My biggest concerns about where we stand right now is not PG depth, it's the lack of a good option at center this season behind Rudy. I also find it a little odd that our two draft picks are going to have to share development minutes at Iowa because they can't play together. But it could be that TC is not done yet...I'm going to stay tuned.

I just watched the video and Connelly said last night he wasn't sure if Rocco would stay over or be in the G-league. I guess we will wait and see. He really talked up Joan's athletic ability and if he is as special as they say in that regard he might even be able to help sooner than expected. Regardless the center spot is no worse situation than it was last year.

[Lipoli390]

I haven't seen many of the grades for TC's draft, but I guess I would give it at least a solid B...a lot of uncertainty of course, but also enormous upside. He's made a bet on one of two tall teenagers (or both) becoming good rotation players. Let's hope it works out.

My biggest concerns about where we stand right now is not PG depth, it's the lack of a good option at center this season behind Rudy. I also find it a little odd that our two draft picks are going to have to share development minutes at Iowa because they can't play together. But it could be that TC is not done yet...I'm going to stay tuned.

I share your view that our main concern now is depth at center behind Rudy. I think our front office should focus on a Randle sign-and-trade to acquire a defensive-oriented backup center. Not sure who that would be, but I think that should be the focus. I would think we can get a solid veteran PG in free agency but I think it’s Dilly time. TC seems confident that Dilly is ready and he noted that OKC won a title as a very young team. My view of the PG situation is that, if we find that Dilly isn’t quite ready, we’ll be fine relying more on TSJ, Clark and Donte to take the pressure off Ant. None of those three is a PG or a great ball-handler, but they all have decent handles. TSJ and Donte are also scoring threats who can create their own shots and that’s really what Ant needs. I like what TSJ brings to what Jalen Williams provides OKC.

[Monster]

I haven't seen many of the grades for TC's draft, but I guess I would give it at least a solid B...a lot of uncertainty of course, but also enormous upside. He's made a bet on one of two tall teenagers (or both) becoming good rotation players. Let's hope it works out.

My biggest concerns about where we stand right now is not PG depth, it's the lack of a good option at center this season behind Rudy. I also find it a little odd that our two draft picks are going to have to share development minutes at Iowa because they can't play together. But it could be that TC is not done yet...I'm going to stay tuned.

I share your view that our main concern now is depth at center behind Rudy. I think our front office should focus on a Randle sign-and-trade to acquire a defensive-oriented backup center. Not sure who that would be, but I think that should be the focus. I would think we can get a solid veteran PG in free agency but I think it’s Dilly time. TC seems confident that Dilly is ready and he noted that OKC won a title as a very young team. My view of the PG situation is that, if we find that Dilly isn’t quite ready, we’ll be fine relying more on TSJ, Clark and Donte to take the pressure off Ant. None of those three is a PG or a great ball-handler, but they all have decent handles. TSJ and Donte are also scoring threats who can create their own shots and that’s really what Ant needs. I like what TSJ brings to what Jalen Williams provides OKC.

Um trade Randle for a defensive backup center? What?

[FNG]

I haven't seen many of the grades for TC's draft, but I guess I would give it at least a solid B...a lot of uncertainty of course, but also enormous upside. He's made a bet on one of two tall teenagers (or both) becoming good rotation players. Let's hope it works out.

My biggest concerns about where we stand right now is not PG depth, it's the lack of a good option at center this season behind Rudy. I also find it a little odd that our two draft picks are going to have to share development minutes at Iowa because they can't play together. But it could be that TC is not done yet...I'm going to stay tuned.

I share your view that our main concern now is depth at center behind Rudy. I think our front office should focus on a Randle sign-and-trade to acquire a defensive-oriented backup center. Not sure who that would be, but I think that should be the focus. I would think we can get a solid veteran PG in free agency but I think it’s Dilly time. TC seems confident that Dilly is ready and he noted that OKC won a title as a very young team. My view of the PG situation is that, if we find that Dilly isn’t quite ready, we’ll be fine relying more on TSJ, Clark and Donte to take the pressure off Ant. None of those three is a PG or a great ball-handler, but they all have decent handles. TSJ and Donte are also scoring threats who can create their own shots and that’s really what Ant needs. I like what TSJ brings to what Jalen Williams provides OKC.

Um trade Randle for a defensive backup center? What?

Not going to speak for Lip, but I'm assuming he meant trade Ju for a backup center and another player. Like Ju for Capela and Niang.

[60WinTim]

I am happy with the Rocco pick. The only letdown I feel is not coming out with an NBA ready big, because I don’t have a lot of confidence in the Randle/NAZ pairing. I had hoped the draft would produce that player.

But that doesn’t mean I’ve lost all hope on that front. The Randle and NAZ extension outcomes will have a direct impact on how long I have to put up with that pairing, and kek’s commentary on our lack of stops when NAZ enters the game for Rudy!

[Lipoli390]

I share your view that our main concern now is depth at center behind Rudy. I think our front office should focus on a Randle sign-and-trade to acquire a defensive-oriented backup center. Not sure who that would be, but I think that should be the focus. I would think we can get a solid veteran PG in free agency but I think it’s Dilly time. TC seems confident that Dilly is ready and he noted that OKC won a title as a very young team. My view of the PG situation is that, if we find that Dilly isn’t quite ready, we’ll be fine relying more on TSJ, Clark and Donte to take the pressure off Ant. None of those three is a PG or a great ball-handler, but they all have decent handles. TSJ and Donte are also scoring threats who can create their own shots and that’s really what Ant needs. I like what TSJ brings to what Jalen Williams provides OKC.

Um trade Randle for a defensive backup center? What?

Not going to speak for Lip, but I'm assuming he meant trade Ju for a backup center and another player. Like Ju for Capela and Niang.

That’s exactly what I meant, FNG. I think i mentioned a Ju for Capela deal in another post. I haven’t spent much time trying to put together specific trade ideas but if we’re not going to sign Randle long term then I think our best bet would be a sign-and-trade to fill a need. We seem to have two immediate needs - (1) starting PG as an alternative to Conley and bridge to Dilly; and (2) a backup defensive-oriented big. I agree with Q that the backup big is a far more critical need than another PG. That’s where a Randle sign-and-trade comes into the picture. It’s worth noting, however, that Randle has to agree to such a trade so we have to be realistic about what we can get in return. If Randle exercises his option, then we’re in a better position to trade him since we would not need his assent.