Minnesota Sports Forum

60WinTim wrote:Monster -- to answer your question, any draft related trades involving players are done under the current salaries and cap numbers.

Given the youth already on our team AND the squeeze on roster spots (due to KG and Pek uncertainties), I think Thibs and Layden would be hard pressed to add another "project" player from the draft. And any freshman added at the #5 pick (or lower) will be a project player.

Dunn and Heild are two players that Thibs may not view as "project" players. It's a pretty solid bet at least one, if not both, are available at #5, but trading down even a few spots may cost you a chance at either one.

To me, the most likely scenario is drafting one of those two players, or trading out of this years first round completely (with a vet and/or future draft pick coming back). Trading back in this years draft seems unlikely.

While this is solid thinking it's the type of rationale that's not the Wolves in the rear ended for years now. Oh we have too many young guys we can't add another young player. I hope that Layden and Thibs are more open to building for the long term and if they really see 2 players they think can be useful going forward they find ways to pick them whether they are projects or older guys or whatever. Sure the odds of a late first and on down the line may not be good but there are examples of good players in that range picked. lets look for the next Demare Carroll, Delly, Draymond, or Andre Roberson. Those are all guys that are key players for teams in the WCF that were picked (or in Delly's cause undrafted) well outside the lottery. The Wolves could draft 2 guys and still have 3 roster spots if they let go of Rudez and if Payne really sucks they could just move on. OKC made their Leap and their backup PG most of the season was a rookie in Eric Maynor. The vets that played were Collison and Kristic. Everyone else was 25 or younger with 3 years or less years of experience in the league. Sound familiar? Heck the Wolves young group has more experience than that right now. Now OKC might be the exception to the rule but this team played well when they played the young guys. You can easily argue that some of the vets (Martin and Pek sadly) last year actually held back the team. KG and Miller when they played were helpful and Prince had his value. Get 2-3 more solid vets in FA and let's do this thing.

Sorry Tim I'm genuinely not trying to rip on your take because quite frankly I've been on that side of the auguement for years but I've grown frustrated with the Wolves dealing picks because they were too young and passing up opportunities to nab guys all over the spectrum when hindsight tells us their were players to be picked. I want Thibs and Layden to trust they see some guy that's worthwhile and not be bound by the we are too young thing. Rant over at least for this post. Lol

Also thanks Tim for confirming what I was thinking on trades now and throughout the draft process that they have to fit in this year's cap. So trades have to have matching salaries of we acquire vets. That's going to make some trades very tricky as the Wolves don't really have any decent chunk salary guys easily moveable in a trade.

It must be my inner Rob Babbcock...

I will say I don't have a problem using #5 to get a vet player AND a later pick for a project player. But this team has some very glaring holes, and they are a higher priority than a project player if the goal is making noise in the playoffs next year.

monsterpile wrote:Also thanks Tim for confirming what I was thinking on trades now and throughout the draft process that they have to fit in this year's cap. So trades have to have matching salaries of we acquire vets. That's going to make some trades very tricky as the Wolves don't really have any decent chunk salary guys easily moveable in a trade.

Yup!

While there are lots of possibilities, I think drafting Dunn or Hield is the most likely outcome.

60WinTim wrote:It must be my inner Rob Babbcock...

I will say I don't have a problem using #5 to get a vet player AND a later pick for a project player. But this team has some very glaring holes, and they are a higher priority than a project player if the goal is making noise in the playoffs next year.

To me the glaring issues are backup PG and a legit bigman center type. They could use a wing defender (especially at SF) also. To me those things could somewhat easily be shored up to the point of not being glaring weaknesses although not wildly exciting either. How?

Throw some decent money at DJ Augustine to be the backup PG.

Throw some decent money at a Cole Aldridge, Miles Plumblee or even Jon Leuer.

Sign some vet min guy like we did with Prince or the Cavs did with Jefferson to be a wing defender off the bench or maybe throw a few million for a guy like Jared Dudley.

These are just examples of the type of guys and none of them are gonna be top guys but they could also be pretty useful players to help a young team get to where they need to be next year. It's possible the Wolves are able to get a higher level player at one of those needs than I mentioned and that should be the goal.

So my point is I don't think the Wolves should worry about bringing in 2 more rookies if they really think those guys have a future as good players. They can bring in some vets in FA to help the youth movement along.

Q12543 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:The one thing about McLemore that people have to remember is his formative years have involved a new coach and system every season. It's hard enough to become good in one system, let alone good in a new one every year. I definitely think he's worth a flier in any trade with the Kings. A lot of role players figure it out a little later in their careers and while a big number don't make it all, it's not a big cost to take a flier on him. If you can get Collison, McLemore and their pick for our pick I think that'd be a decent deal if we don't really love anyone at 5.

Well yes, if he's a throw-in then why the heck not. We need SG depth. But I wouldn't accept him as the main centerpiece in exchange for trading down in the draft.

I also think talent shines through coaches and systems, so to use that as an excuse as to why he's not been productive is a little dubious. The biggest thing to me is that he's played 6,000 NBA minutes, so it's not like he been unjustly buried on the bench and no one really knows what he's got. He's had plenty of opportunity to improve and shine.

Top level all-star talent shines through systems and coaches. Role player talent does not otherwise role players would be useful no matter where they went and that just doesn't happen a lot of the time. Since people think he's a 3 and D guy that makes him a role player who needs to find the right coach and system to be effective. There's a lot of open 3's to be had here with the offensive talent level on the team and Thibs is a defensive minded coach who gets his players to play hard so I happen to think we have the perfect environment to develop a 3 and D wing who has the tools and just needs some help getting there.

I am siding with Khan on McLemore. He shot 38% from 3 last year. 23 years old. I think his best years are in front of him. Age lines up with ours to boot. If he fits in the locker room and our guy is not there at 5 I could see trading down to 8 and getting him. I think the question has to be would you rather have him and Davis over lets say Murray. I have to say I lean with staying at 5 for almost all of the trades I have seen mentioned here.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I am siding with Khan on McLemore. He shot 38% from 3 last year. 23 years old. I think his best years are in front of him. Age lines up with ours to boot. If he fits in the locker room and our guy is not there at 5 I could see trading down to 8 and getting him. I think the question has to be would you rather have him and Davis over lets say Murray. I have to say I lean with staying at 5 for almost all of the trades I have seen mentioned here.

Bleed, is this your attempt to prove that your freshman season was just an aberration, and that the true poster will emerge during the Thibs era? Or are you going to go the way of Darko Milicic and never realize your true potential?

Guys, Lip and I fixed the Problem: Noah, PGasol, a PG at #5, and Payne for Kendall Marshall. Feel free to put on your parka and walk down to Holiday for a crawler and some adult literature.

Cool - Ha ha

I think McLemore has a pretty good chance of being better then Omri Casspi.

Look at Omri Casspi career arch.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3554/omri-casspi

I am still a huge Portis fan. I think he would be a great addtion to this team and fit in with what we are doing. I would love the 5# for Portis/14#. Pick Luwawu at #14.