Minnesota Sports Forum

Honestly I take us over everyone. We have the best prospect of all of them in Wiggins. I do believe Lavine is a star scorer in this league. We are also adding a top 4 pick in this draft with 4 potential all-stars sitting in those 4 spots. Add to that the young depth we have to fill in around those 3 stars and I think that is the best team. This league is about stars and I think Wiggins and Lavine will both be stars and we have a high likelihood of adding a third in this draft. Orlando have better players now, but I don't see the same star power. Oladipo and Gobert are the only potential stars I see on their teams. I also think Giannis falls under the elite role player role because I don't ever see him being a great offensive player so that just leaves them Jabari. None of those three teams have a great chance at a top 4 pick in this draft to add another star so I think we have 1 to 2 more potential stars than they have. Philly is a tough call because I think Embiid is a star if he can stay healthy, but I don't know how an Embiid/Noel frontcourt will be together. I would rather take the Miami/Cleveland route and have 2 star wings and 1 star big than 2 star bigs and 1 star perimeter player.

khans2k5 wrote:Honestly I take us over everyone. We have the best prospect of all of them in Wiggins. I do believe Lavine is a star scorer in this league. We are also adding a top 4 pick in this draft with 4 potential all-stars sitting in those 4 spots. Add to that the young depth we have to fill in around those 3 stars and I think that is the best team. This league is about stars and I think Wiggins and Lavine will both be stars and we have a high likelihood of adding a third in this draft. Orlando have better players now, but I don't see the same star power. Oladipo and Gobert are the only potential stars I see on their teams. I also think Giannis falls under the elite role player role because I don't ever see him being a great offensive player so that just leaves them Jabari. None of those three teams have a great chance at a top 4 pick in this draft to add another star so I think we have 1 to 2 more potential stars than they have. Philly is a tough call because I think Embiid is a star if he can stay healthy, but I don't know how an Embiid/Noel frontcourt will be together. I would rather take the Miami/Cleveland route and have 2 star wings and 1 star big than 2 star bigs and 1 star perimeter player.

Anthony Davis is already in the conversation as the NBA's best player.

To make the same claim about Wiggins is only conjecture. I take the Pelicans over any other non-playoff team... without a second thought. You said the NBA is about stars. There is no brighter NBA star than Anthony Davis.

- Just turned 22 years old.
- Improved significantly (almost alarmingly) in each of his last 4 years playing basketball.
- 25 / 11 / 3 blks / 55% fg

We all have our own definition of "stars." Anthony Davis is a "superstar" in my book. There's a big difference between the two. Wiggins isn't close yet... he could be, someday. But what are the odds he ever reaches the level Davis is at now. And Davis is still improving. We assume Wiggins will improve too. But to the level Davis has?

I'm not willing to play those odds.

khans2k5 wrote:Honestly I take us over everyone. We have the best prospect of all of them in Wiggins. I do believe Lavine is a star scorer in this league. We are also adding a top 4 pick in this draft with 4 potential all-stars sitting in those 4 spots. Add to that the young depth we have to fill in around those 3 stars and I think that is the best team. This league is about stars and I think Wiggins and Lavine will both be stars and we have a high likelihood of adding a third in this draft. Orlando have better players now, but I don't see the same star power. Oladipo and Gobert are the only potential stars I see on their teams. I also think Giannis falls under the elite role player role because I don't ever see him being a great offensive player so that just leaves them Jabari. None of those three teams have a great chance at a top 4 pick in this draft to add another star so I think we have 1 to 2 more potential stars than they have. Philly is a tough call because I think Embiid is a star if he can stay healthy, but I don't know how an Embiid/Noel frontcourt will be together. I would rather take the Miami/Cleveland route and have 2 star wings and 1 star big than 2 star bigs and 1 star perimeter player.

Wiggins higher then Davis?

To clarify I don't have the Pelicans in this conversation. They aren't in rebuilding mode like most of the teams in this debate. They are already in make the playoffs mode. Also to clarify I am not counting the sub .500 playoff teams in the East because they aren't good enough to even be in the true going for the playoffs mode debate if they are in the West. Minnesota, Utah, Orlando, Philly, Boston and Milwaukee fit that criteria. I think Wiggins is the best prospect out of that pool. The Pelicans don't have enough sub 25 year old players to be included in this debate in my opinion.

AND the Timberwolves have NBA Jesus aka Kevin Garnett to mentor the bunch. Can't beat that.

khans2k5 wrote:To clarify I don't have the Pelicans in this conversation. They aren't in rebuilding mode like most of the teams in this debate. They are already in make the playoffs mode. Also to clarify I am not counting the sub .500 playoff teams in the East because they aren't good enough to even be in the true going for the playoffs mode debate if they are in the West. Minnesota, Utah, Orlando, Philly, Boston and Milwaukee fit that criteria. I think Wiggins is the best prospect out of that pool. The Pelicans don't have enough sub 25 year old players to be included in this debate in my opinion.

I thought the Wolves were in playoff mode to start the season?

alexftbl8181 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:To clarify I don't have the Pelicans in this conversation. They aren't in rebuilding mode like most of the teams in this debate. They are already in make the playoffs mode. Also to clarify I am not counting the sub .500 playoff teams in the East because they aren't good enough to even be in the true going for the playoffs mode debate if they are in the West. Minnesota, Utah, Orlando, Philly, Boston and Milwaukee fit that criteria. I think Wiggins is the best prospect out of that pool. The Pelicans don't have enough sub 25 year old players to be included in this debate in my opinion.

I thought the Wolves were in playoff mode to start the season?

Being in playoff mode and being delusional about making the playoffs are two very different things. I never thought we were a playoff team this year. It just wasn't a realistic expectation with half our team in their first or second year in the league.

The 76ers potentially could have the best of the bunch. They need a few things to go their way though. They need a healthy Embiid. I think the world of the kid and think he can absolutely dominate, remains to be seen though. He and Noel would be a great defensive front line. If they can draft Russell/Mudiay to run the point they will look even better. Also if the Lakers end up getting the 6th pick the 76ers then have another huge chip to add onto. The 76ers are boom or bust. If they hit, man will they be tough.

Out of all the teams listed (excluding the Wolves), I think the Jazz have EASILY the best head coach in place. He has done wonders for that team defensively in his short stint there, and that team already has their core (Hayward/Favors/Gobert) plus a ton of fringe players like Hood, Exum, Burks, Ingles, and Burke (the only player I actually DON'T like). They are one legit PG away from being a playoff team in the West.

With that said, give me the Wolves over all those other teams we discussed (excluding OKC). The homer in me believes we are landing a top 3 pick and will be loaded with talent (HEALTHY TALENT!) going into 2015 training camp. Positivity guys!

Call me crazy, but I think Jason Kidd's the best coach of the bunch. The Bucks were a 6th seed before trading Knight for MCW.