Wolves' 2nd round pick official thread

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I'm also in agreement that Flip has to hit with at least one of the second round picks. Select a couple guys and let them compete in pre-season with Robbie and Hamilton. If Robbie and Hamilton prove to be better, so be it...there are no guarantees for a second rounder.

We can debate qualities of specific candidates as the draft approaches. I still favor Alexander...keep in mind, he was rated above Towns and Russell coming out of high school just one year ago. By the way, Alexander's struggles his freshman year are exactly why I tend to steer away from Mudiay. A year ago Mudiay and Alexander were rated about the same, and we don't have enough data points on Mudiay to know if he can live up to the hype.

[Monster]

The Wolves have two 2nd rounders this year and both are in the top half so I would imagine the Wolves will draft one guy and either trade the other or pick (for future picks or like Alex mentioned that Cash guy) or pick a euro guy. We need talent we better be getting someone the excuse that too many young guys gets old. Plenty of teams have 2nd rounders that are solid contributors their rookie year no reason we can't find one.

I agree Monster. The "too many young guys" line has been the refrain from this pathetic organization for as long as I can remember. I recall Rob Babcock giving me that line when asked why we passed on Jordan or Chalmers with what was the 3rd or 4th pick in the second round.

Right now, we're a rebuilding team. That means our top priority has to be the acquisition of draft assets and young talent. We sure as hell shouldn't be selling the 2nd or 3rd pick in the second round. God bless Robbie Hummel, but he's not a building block for this team and there are dozens of NBA vets or D-Leaguers who could fill his appropriate role. Hamilton might be worth signing to a minimum contract, although I wouldn't pass on a talented prospect at the top of the 2nd round just to hold a roster spot for Justin.

I'm hoping that, for once, this organization shows that it truly knows what it's doing. I'll give Flip a pass on selling the 27th pick two years ago given the win-now focus of the team with Adelman as head coach and a restless Kevin Love threatening to opt out. But no such pass for Flip this summer. There is no question we're a rebuilding team. We have Ricky locked in a long-term deal, so there's no risk of him bolting during the rebuild. We already have experienced vets, Martin and Ricky, under contract for next season and we will probably have KG on the roster as well. If Budinger opts in that's yet another vet. Meanwhile Shabazz and Dieng will be entering their third season as Wiggins and Zach enter their 2nd season with a lot of rookie playing time under their belts.

What does all this mean? It means we don't need more vets. As a team with the 2nd worst record in the League it means we need more talent and a coaching staff capable of developing that talent. It also means we need patience with wins and losses, but not with the lack of player development and not with historically poor defense.

We will likely have one if the top three picks in the 1st round and a top three pick in the 2nd. Flip and his brain trust need to select the best prospect available with each of those two picks and then develop them effectively over the next two years. As long suffering fans I think it's fair for us to expect this organization to succeed with both picks or at least one of them. Failing to draft and keep both picks would be unacceptable. Oh, and no more Euro stash picks. Other than Ricky, this organization has been notoriously bad with its Euro-stash picks.

Lip very good post I agree with almost everything you said but I disagree with you on a couple points.

This is a nitpick thing but not picking Chalmers or jordan or one of the other players that turned out to be good in that draft sucks but the Wolves did get two future 2nd round picks AND ever popular Cash. Just picking a player would have been better in hindsight but that was a very reasonable trade. Of course the Wolves basically got nothing out of the 2nd round picks except more cash but that's the problem you have to pick some guys that are good and develop them. To me that trade seems more acceptable than just giving away that 27th pick for cash even though it's pretty hard to think about going into that next season with 3 rookies but selling a first rounder blows. You would think Glen has enough saved up for a D-league team by now. Like you said this team needs to add talent and it needs to manage its assets better.

You can't just give up on the euro stash thing. That's a terrific sorce of talent and despite the Wolves not having much of a track record there they have a guy either coming over next year to the team or as an asset and another terrific player that's a couple years away due to him signing a contract. You want to give up the chance to get the next Marc Gasol or Manu? With one of these 2nd round picks the Wolves should be able to get a nice prospect stashed over there. That's exactly what makes acquiring 2nd round picks have additional value.

Like I have said before Flip has had enough success in the selection of young players in the draft to make me think he might actually get somewhere. Like someone said on this forum just being better than Kahn isn't enough but at least Flip has picked some guys that have been worthwhile (including a pretty good euro stash respect) so it's been encouraging.

[Brandon BassHole [enjin:8183321]]

Has to be a guy from UCLA. Keep the streak alive!!

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

No we shouldn't be collecting 2nd round picks and more young talent. We need a starter this off season, whether it's our 1st pick or a vet

[Volans19]

Lip we actually drafted several great Euro stash players but we just sell them right away (D-Mo, Mirotic, etc.)

So what do people think of Dakari Johnson? I don't really watch college ball but I know he was a bench big at a notoriously stacked Kentucky team. Did he not get enough burn to be effective? Potential?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Lip we actually drafted several great Euro stash players but we just sell them right away (D-Mo, Mirotic, etc.)

So what do people think of Dakari Johnson? I don't really watch college ball but I know he was a bench big at a notoriously stacked Kentucky team. Did he not get enough burn to be effective? Potential?

He's a big body, but super meh.

Would much rather roll the dice on Robert Upshaw, headcase and all.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Other than Ricky, this organization has been notoriously bad with its Euro-stash picks.

I still really like Bjelica and Dubljevic. Good potential with those guys, especially Dub.

[bleedspeed]

I still really like Bjelica and Dubljevic. Good potential with those guys, especially Dub.

Any chance we get either of them to come over?

I love Upshaw's upside. Really would want to dig into his issues. I think I would want KG to talk to him and see if they connect at all because the guy will need some help to get his life on track.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Robert Upshaw could be the steal of this year's draft...unbelievable rim protector. Like bleedspeed, I wish I knew more about the issues that led to his being dismissed by two programs. I know the reports were drug use, but that's a wide spectrum. If the guy smokes a little weed, I say "big deal". Give me a guy who can block 5 shots a game and celebrates with a post-game joint or two any day. I suspect some team will take a flyer on him in the first round, but if he is available with our second pick and he does well in his interviews, Flip has to take him. But if he's gone, Cliff Alexander is my guy...especially if we don't pick a big in the first round.

[kekgeek]

Poeltl returning to college. But I agree I would take Upshaw in a second and not look back, low risk high reward