Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 12:37 pm ”Multiple sources have confirmed Portland has interest in Deandre Ayton & could be willing to discuss a deal centered around the 3rd overall pick and additional pieces. Scoot Henderson & Brandon Miller are both considered to be foundational players in this upcoming NBA Draft.”

My thought: If Portland is willing to trade the #3 pick for Ayton, the Wolves should be able to get a huge haul from Portland for KAT. Part of my hesitation though it that I’m not confident Scoot will be a good much less all-star NBA player. He didn’t exactly dominate the G-League to say the least. His 16.5 points were good, but not overly impressive. His 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in nearly 31 minutes are solid, but not spectacular. He only shot 43% from the field and a terrible 27.5% from behind the arc. He only got to the line 2.9 times and hit 76% of his free throws. He looks really good on video, but there are no objective stats that suggest he’ll become an NBA all-star or every get to KAT’s level.

FWIW Let’s remember the G-league isn’t some joke league. Quite frankly it’s likely has more talent top to bottom of rosters than most guys teams playing in college. I haven’t dived into watching prospects but 19 year old guys putting up some reasonably intriguing stats there shouldn’t be dismissed.

Also…what’s the deal with Ayton? It seems like something is a bit off on him or have I just happened to see a couple bad clips and stuff? I think the guys is pretty talented but idk it feels like he isn’t taking another step or maybe he is a guy that would benefit from a change of scenery.

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 1:50 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 12:37 pm ”Multiple sources have confirmed Portland has interest in Deandre Ayton & could be willing to discuss a deal centered around the 3rd overall pick and additional pieces. Scoot Henderson & Brandon Miller are both considered to be foundational players in this upcoming NBA Draft.”

My thought: If Portland is willing to trade the #3 pick for Ayton, the Wolves should be able to get a huge haul from Portland for KAT. Part of my hesitation though it that I’m not confident Scoot will be a good much less all-star NBA player. He didn’t exactly dominate the G-League to say the least. His 16.5 points were good, but not overly impressive. His 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in nearly 31 minutes are solid, but not spectacular. He only shot 43% from the field and a terrible 27.5% from behind the arc. He only got to the line 2.9 times and hit 76% of his free throws. He looks really good on video, but there are no objective stats that suggest he’ll become an NBA all-star or every get to KAT’s level.

FWIW Let’s remember the G-league isn’t some joke league. Quite frankly it’s likely has more talent top to bottom of rosters than most guys teams playing in college. I haven’t dived into watching prospects but 19 year old guys putting up some reasonably intriguing stats there shouldn’t be dismissed.

Also…what’s the deal with Ayton? It seems like something is a bit off on him or have I just happened to see a couple bad clips and stuff? I think the guys is pretty talented but idk it feels like he isn’t taking another step or maybe he is a guy that would benefit from a change of scenery.

The G-League’s not a joke. But G-League play is well below NBA level. Moreover, there are a lot of G-League players with better stats than Scoot. None of this tells us Scoot won’t be a great NBA player some day, but there’s nothing exceptional in his G-League stats that would suggest he’ll be a special NBA player.

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 1:50 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 12:37 pm ”Multiple sources have confirmed Portland has interest in Deandre Ayton & could be willing to discuss a deal centered around the 3rd overall pick and additional pieces. Scoot Henderson & Brandon Miller are both considered to be foundational players in this upcoming NBA Draft.”

My thought: If Portland is willing to trade the #3 pick for Ayton, the Wolves should be able to get a huge haul from Portland for KAT. Part of my hesitation though it that I’m not confident Scoot will be a good much less all-star NBA player. He didn’t exactly dominate the G-League to say the least. His 16.5 points were good, but not overly impressive. His 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in nearly 31 minutes are solid, but not spectacular. He only shot 43% from the field and a terrible 27.5% from behind the arc. He only got to the line 2.9 times and hit 76% of his free throws. He looks really good on video, but there are no objective stats that suggest he’ll become an NBA all-star or every get to KAT’s level.

FWIW Let’s remember the G-league isn’t some joke league. Quite frankly it’s likely has more talent top to bottom of rosters than most guys teams playing in college. I haven’t dived into watching prospects but 19 year old guys putting up some reasonably intriguing stats there shouldn’t be dismissed.

Also…what’s the deal with Ayton? It seems like something is a bit off on him or have I just happened to see a couple bad clips and stuff? I think the guys is pretty talented but idk it feels like he isn’t taking another step or maybe he is a guy that would benefit from a change of scenery.

Ayton is coasting now that he got his 2nd contract which was his goal all along.

Two barriers to Portland as a trade destination for KAT:

1. The Blazers have already traded their 2024 first round pick to the Bulls with lottery protection that lasts through 2028. That means the Blazers can’t trade any of their future pre-2030 first round picks unless Portland agrees to renounce or shorten the duration of its lottery protection. As it stands, 1st-round draft compensation to the Wolves would be limited to a draft day trade for the rights to the player Portland picks at #3 and/or this year’s #23 pick, which Portland acquired from the Knicks.

2. Simons and Nurkic are the only Portland players other than Lillard with salaries to match KAT. I like Simons, but he seems redundant on the same roster as Edwards. I like Nurkic, but he can’t stay healthy. Moreover, both Simons and Nurkic have three years left on their respective contracts, which means swapping KAT for both would not provide any salary relief after next season when the Wolves will likely be well over the luxury tax and facing severe penalties under the new CBA.

It’s being reported that the Blazers are open to trading the #3 pick for Ayton, then there’s no doubt they’d be interested in trading that pick for KAT. I just can’t see a realistic deal that would make sense for the Wolves. I’ll throw out the following possibility:

Blazers get KAT and Knight

Wolves get the following
- Simons
- Nurkic
- #3 and 23 picks this year
- 2024 2nd round pick (best of MN and Charlotte)
- 2024 2nd round pick (Atlanta’s)

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 7:02 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 1:50 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 12:37 pm ”Multiple sources have confirmed Portland has interest in Deandre Ayton & could be willing to discuss a deal centered around the 3rd overall pick and additional pieces. Scoot Henderson & Brandon Miller are both considered to be foundational players in this upcoming NBA Draft.”

My thought: If Portland is willing to trade the #3 pick for Ayton, the Wolves should be able to get a huge haul from Portland for KAT. Part of my hesitation though it that I’m not confident Scoot will be a good much less all-star NBA player. He didn’t exactly dominate the G-League to say the least. His 16.5 points were good, but not overly impressive. His 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in nearly 31 minutes are solid, but not spectacular. He only shot 43% from the field and a terrible 27.5% from behind the arc. He only got to the line 2.9 times and hit 76% of his free throws. He looks really good on video, but there are no objective stats that suggest he’ll become an NBA all-star or every get to KAT’s level.

FWIW Let’s remember the G-league isn’t some joke league. Quite frankly it’s likely has more talent top to bottom of rosters than most guys teams playing in college. I haven’t dived into watching prospects but 19 year old guys putting up some reasonably intriguing stats there shouldn’t be dismissed.

Also…what’s the deal with Ayton? It seems like something is a bit off on him or have I just happened to see a couple bad clips and stuff? I think the guys is pretty talented but idk it feels like he isn’t taking another step or maybe he is a guy that would benefit from a change of scenery.

The G-League’s not a joke. But G-League play is well below NBA level. Moreover, there are a lot of G-League players with better stats than Scoot. None of this tells us Scoot won’t be a great NBA player some day, but there’s nothing exceptional in his G-League stats that would suggest he’ll be a special NBA player.

How many of those players turned 19 during the season?

Monster wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 10:43 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 7:02 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 1:50 pm

FWIW Let’s remember the G-league isn’t some joke league. Quite frankly it’s likely has more talent top to bottom of rosters than most guys teams playing in college. I haven’t dived into watching prospects but 19 year old guys putting up some reasonably intriguing stats there shouldn’t be dismissed.

Also…what’s the deal with Ayton? It seems like something is a bit off on him or have I just happened to see a couple bad clips and stuff? I think the guys is pretty talented but idk it feels like he isn’t taking another step or maybe he is a guy that would benefit from a change of scenery.

The G-League’s not a joke. But G-League play is well below NBA level. Moreover, there are a lot of G-League players with better stats than Scoot. None of this tells us Scoot won’t be a great NBA player some day, but there’s nothing exceptional in his G-League stats that would suggest he’ll be a special NBA player.

How many of those players turned 19 during the season?

It's his shooting that scares the hell out of me. I know that 19-year olds can get better of course, but given this franchise's awful history with developing mediocre shooters into good shooters (i.e. never), do we really trust that it's something that would come around for Scoot?

In terms of future point guards for the Wolves, table stakes is the ability to hit the open 3. Ant needs maximum space to be at his best and he simply can't have a PG that doesn't space the floor adequately. We saw how that became part of McLaughlin's undoing this past season.

I have some of the same fears as Q and Lip on Scoot, and it’s not only shooting. He also averaged 3.5 turnovers per game in the G league, and his draft profile describes him as an inconsistent defender. I love his ability to get to the rim, but he has too many question marks for a top 3 guy.

FNG wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 12:44 pm I have some of the same fears as Q and Lip on Scoot, and it’s not only shooting. He also averaged 3.5 turnovers per game in the G league, and his draft profile describes him as an inconsistent defender. I love his ability to get to the rim, but he has too many question marks for a top 3 guy.

Yep. I love the video of Scoot. He’s really athletic, quick and bouncy. But there are three cautionary yellow flags I see with him:

1. His poor three-point shooting. 27.5% isn’t just bad, it’s terrible.

2. His turnovers. 3.5 is pretty bad, but that’s not as troubling to me as his shooting.

3. Not getting to the line a lot. Scoot’s 2.9 trips to the line is not the sort of stat you see generally in players who eventually become great guards and wings.

Again, I’m not suggesting he doesn’t have the potential to be a great NBA player. There are just too many cautionary flags for me to bet on him in exchange for KAT - a player who already consistently puts up all-star numbers in the NBA.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 3:55 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 12:44 pm I have some of the same fears as Q and Lip on Scoot, and it’s not only shooting. He also averaged 3.5 turnovers per game in the G league, and his draft profile describes him as an inconsistent defender. I love his ability to get to the rim, but he has too many question marks for a top 3 guy.

Yep. I love the video of Scoot. He’s really athletic, quick and bouncy. But there are three cautionary yellow flags I see with him:

1. His poor three-point shooting. 27.5% isn’t just bad, it’s terrible.

2. His turnovers. 3.5 is pretty bad, but that’s not as troubling to me as his shooting.

3. Not getting to the line a lot. Scoot’s 2.9 trips to the line is not the sort of stat you see generally in players who eventually become great guards and wings.

Again, I’m not suggesting he doesn’t have the potential to be a great NBA player. There are just too many cautionary flags for me to bet on him in exchange for KAT - a player who already consistently puts up all-star numbers in the NBA.

The draft this year is filled with guys who are far from finished products but have the size that profiles as a good player. If the Wolves kept their pick this year, we'd either be debating which wing has the least amount of flaws or trying to trade out.

So look at it this way: you would pass on a top 3 pick this year for KAT but would be fine with trading him for future picks in what will undoubtedly in the short term be worse draft classes?

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 3:55 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 12:44 pm I have some of the same fears as Q and Lip on Scoot, and it’s not only shooting. He also averaged 3.5 turnovers per game in the G league, and his draft profile describes him as an inconsistent defender. I love his ability to get to the rim, but he has too many question marks for a top 3 guy.

Yep. I love the video of Scoot. He’s really athletic, quick and bouncy. But there are three cautionary yellow flags I see with him:

1. His poor three-point shooting. 27.5% isn’t just bad, it’s terrible.

2. His turnovers. 3.5 is pretty bad, but that’s not as troubling to me as his shooting.

3. Not getting to the line a lot. Scoot’s 2.9 trips to the line is not the sort of stat you see generally in players who eventually become great guards and wings.

Again, I’m not suggesting he doesn’t have the potential to be a great NBA player. There are just too many cautionary flags for me to bet on him in exchange for KAT - a player who already consistently puts up all-star numbers in the NBA.

Like you, I find those stats are a bit troubling. However, Ant had some ugly stats in college which made me a bit cautious on him. LaMelo's stats in the Australian League also made many nervous. I think the G League is tougher than college and so I think the team's scouts will have to make some projections to figure out if he's got enough upside and a high enough floor to trade away someone like KAT. Jalen Green fared similarly to Scoot in the G League and I wouldn't trade KAT for him. So if he's more an Ant/Melo or more a Jalen Green prospect is what the organization will have to decide. I just haven't seen enough of Scoot to feel confident that he's a superstar in the making, but I also think KAT's lack of defensive ability and salary make me willing to consider gambling on someone who has at least a 50% chance of someday being a top 25/30 player. I'd prefer a surer thing in Mikal Bridges, but that's another discussion.