Minnesota Sports Forum

rapsuperstar31 wrote:If we end up with a top two pick and grab either Okafor or Towns do we have enough ammo to trade for another top 5 pick to grab Russell? If we could find a cheap way to get our pick back from New York for maybe a couple of 2nds, we could try sending Lavine and a future lottery protected pick to a team for Russell.

Don't see how that's possible.

First, a team would have to be really super duper high on Lavine. And I think he's a very mixed bag. He looks like he can play... but will he ever learn how?

The team would have to be in a position where it was willing to punt on a high 1st round pick this season. How many management teams this side of Philly and that boondoggle have a fanbase that patient?

And the lottery pick can't have (m)any protections to it.

rapsuperstar31 wrote:If we end up with a top two pick and grab either Okafor or Towns do we have enough ammo to trade for another top 5 pick to grab Russell? If we could find a cheap way to get our pick back from New York for maybe a couple of 2nds, we could try sending Lavine and a future lottery protected pick to a team for Russell.

It took Holiday, who was a young, all-star PG in the East, to land the #6 pick from the Pelicans in a weak draft. I don't see anyone on our roster who could get a deal done that we would be ok with losing for another potential player.

Cam, I am VERY torn on these 2, but at the moment I am leaning towards Johnson as well. As much as I love Russell, I would agree that Wiggins is a SG in the future. At least thus far, Wiggins is statistically superior when starting at SG vs SF. He is much better able to take advantage of his size and athleticism at the SG spot. That being said, once he gets better, the SG and SF spot should be interchangeable for a guy with his athleticism.

I have talked about Johnson a couple times, but for a guy that isn't a "shooter", he has been solid in that area thus far. More importantly, he finds several ways to score without forcing himself into a bunch of terrible jumpers. And his defense is lights out good. While Wiggins gets props as a "future defender because of his athleticism", Johnson will actually play solid defense from game 1. And he is a man child. I don't get the impression that he will score a ton, but he seems a guy that can find a spot somewhere between Tony Allen and Ron Artest. Not a bad area to be, and someone that can certainly provide huge benefits to the worst defensive team EVER!

Russell is just so smooth, and does everything at an above average rate. Super skilled that brings a ton of positives (secondary ball handler, great shooter, solid rebounder, etc). With his skill set, I could see him being the best player from this draft.

I actually am one of those not sold on Towns. I love his athleticism, but he just doesn't impress me enough when I see him play. I have seen Kentucky more than anyone this season, and I too often find myself wondering if he is even in the game.

Right now, my current rank of guys is as follows (and I am omitting Euros and such because we simply don't get to see them):
Okafor - Johnson - Russell - Towns - Looney

I think those are the top guys, and there is then a drastic dropoff to guys like Oubre.

Russell vs. Johnson

Boy, I'd hate to miss the next great playmaker/scorer. I love both of these guys, but if Russell keeps this up, I don't know how you pass up on a guy that could be a game changer. The one piece of hesitancy I have about Russell is his size. He's either a big PG or a small-ish SG. And can he guard either position at the NBA level?

Stanley Johnson on the other hand is a beast.

Q12543 wrote:Russell vs. Johnson

Boy, I'd hate to miss the next great playmaker/scorer. I love both of these guys, but if Russell keeps this up, I don't know how you pass up on a guy that could be a game changer. The one piece of hesitancy I have about Russell is his size. He's either a big PG or a small-ish SG. And can he guard either position at the NBA level?

Stanley Johnson on the other hand is a beast.

I like both of these guys too. With Russell, though, I'm scared he could be OJ Mayo 2.0. I wish he got to the line more considering how often he has the ball in his hands and I wish he was more engaged defensively, though he's not exactly poor on that end. He could be on either side of the spectrum from Harden to Mayo. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but it's a gamble.

And yeah, Stanley Steamer's a brick shithouse already at 18. I just don't see him being a flop at all. A mix of Ron Artest and Shawn Marion to me. I'd be excited to see that guy next to Wiggins and Rubio.

Short documentary on Stanley. Shout out to his mom. She's terrific.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW1GT81uHTM

Camden wrote:

rapsuperstar31 wrote:If we end up with a top two pick and grab either Okafor or Towns do we have enough ammo to trade for another top 5 pick to grab Russell? If we could find a cheap way to get our pick back from New York for maybe a couple of 2nds, we could try sending Lavine and a future lottery protected pick to a team for Russell.

I don't see Flip trying to do that nor do I see a team in the top-five wanting to trade with us. I also think Flip's very high on LaVine and has gone through this year of teaching him. He wants to be the guy that turns him into a success story.

I would like to know what the board thinks on Stanley Johnson vs D'Angelo Russell. If we had our pick, all things the same, who would you take?

Personally, I'd take Johnson. His NBA body, athleticism, defensive prowess, rebounding and finishing ability have me high on him. Also, he's an improving shooter with a good head on his shoulders. I'd roll with him and leave Wiggins at SG.

Cam - Hard not to like Stanley Johnson. Love his motor even more than his talent. Just seems like one of those guys who will will himself into becoming a very good NBA player. I think he can play some PF as well as SF. I'd take him over Russell based on what I've seen so far. Russell doesn't seem to be more than a jump shooter with some playmaking skills. Not particularly impressive on the defensive end and not much of a dribble penetration game on offense. And you are right that Flip would not swap LaVine for Russell. Flip is very high on LaVine and I'm with Flip on this one. I think LaVine will become a very good NBA player on par with Jamaal Crawford and possibly better.

I agree with Lip. I think Johnson can play a little PF. What is not to like with this kid?

I love the fluidness of Russell's offensive game, but he's just not the athlete or physical specimen that Johnson is...and certainly not the defensive presence. And Johnson has all the intangibles that a winner should have. I had a chance to follow his HS career while I was living in LA, and he is certainly a legend in southern Cal. If Okafor is not available to us, it comes down to Towns vs. Johnson for me, with Towns just a slight favorite.

Camden wrote:Short documentary on Stanley. Shout out to his mom. She's terrific.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW1GT81uHTM

Great video. Along with his great talent, a team and their coaches have one of the top character players I am seen come out in a while. Just a solid dude that you can count on participating and learning at a very high level throughout his career. While talent often trumps "character" coming into drafts, in this case you get both.

And Cam compared Russell to Mayo. I see it a bit as they are both better at creating jumpers than getting to basket, but Russell is simply better at everything than Mayo. At no point did I mistake Mayo for a PG.....can't say that about Russell. Russell often looks the part of a solid PG, with an added ability to score from all over the court. I will be curious to see if he can translate into a MUCH better shooting version of MCW. If he can, he is the kind of player I want at my PG spot. Not saying he is a PG yet....but he certainly has the skills to get there.