Minnesota Sports Forum

Here is the weird odd and somewhat fortunate reality for the Wolves going into this year's draft. They can literally draft BPA. If it's a C slide Towns over. SF sweet that keeps Wiggins at SG. SG? That one is a little tougher to sell but can they guard players or really handle the rock and shoot or all of the above? PG? Sure why not Rubio may not be the answer. If the Wolves can get a pretty good player with their pick that ends up complimenting the players they already have particularly Towns and Wiggins...wow. I really do think they have a lot of options although I think a Stud PF makes a lot of sense followed but a true SF that can shoot.

Watching Simmons again today against Oklahoma. First off, Dicky V should not be allowed to call any more games. Everyone halfway decent is going to be a star someday according to him. He's just so annoying to listen to. Back to Simmons though. He's a 1 way player. He's going to be a liability defensively at the next level because he just doesn't play hard on that end of the court and defensive motor rarely changes. If you don't defend hard against the number 1 team in the country why are you gonna do it on a game to game basis in the NBA? He's gonna be a great playmaker. He's a point forward for sure.

I just don't see the motor for true greatness. He never looks like he's playing hard unless he's driving to the basket. He doesn't run back on defense. He spends a lot of time on offense telling everyone where to go while he's just standing around. He might be Lebron offensively, but he's not gonna touch the overall player Lebron was in his prime. I think people are hung up on his scouting report more than how he plays. I'd still take him if he landed to us, but I wouldn't take him expecting to be the next Lebron like he's hyped to be because he doesn't play as hard as Lebron did in his prime.

khans2k5 wrote:Watching Simmons again today against Oklahoma. First off, Dicky V should not be allowed to call any more games. Everyone halfway decent is going to be a star someday according to him. He's just so annoying to listen to. Back to Simmons though. He's a 1 way player. He's going to be a liability defensively at the next level because he just doesn't play hard on that end of the court and defensive motor rarely changes. If you don't defend hard against the number 1 team in the country why are you gonna do it on a game to game basis in the NBA? He's gonna be a great playmaker. He's a point forward for sure.

I just don't see the motor for true greatness. He never looks like he's playing hard unless he's driving to the basket. He doesn't run back on defense. He spends a lot of time on offense telling everyone where to go while he's just standing around. He might be Lebron offensively, but he's not gonna touch the overall player Lebron was in his prime. I think people are hung up on his scouting report more than how he plays. I'd still take him if he landed to us, but I wouldn't take him expecting to be the next Lebron like he's hyped to be because he doesn't play as hard as Lebron did in his prime.

Buddy Hield did it again! 7 3's in the 2nd half to bring OK back and win the game. That dude is the Steph Curry of college basketball right now....Shooting over 50% on 3's with a ton of volume. Impressive.

Q-
I just don't see the motor for true greatness.

Yeah, we've got one of those

papalrep wrote:Q-
I just don't see the motor for true greatness.

Yeah, we've got one of those

I think that's a Khans quote there Father, but I have to agree that if Simmons is someone that struggles to defend and hustle, I'd be concerned. Assuming Towns and Wiggins (along with potentially LaVine) become the focal point offensively, we need shooters, defenders, and generally high IQ guys that don't need the ball to be effective.

Simmons has gotten most of the hype, but I wouldn't be surprised if Ingram is the better pro.

Buddy Hield is intriguing. He was a projected late first rounder but NBADraft.net has moved him up to 7th overall. If he continues his Curry like shooting prowess, he'll be a likely top 5 pick.

TeamRicky wrote:Buddy Hield is intriguing. He was a projected late first rounder but NBADraft.net has moved him up to 7th overall. If he continues his Curry like shooting prowess, he'll be a likely top 5 pick.

Was watching him last night too Ricky. I like his game. He certainly showed up Ben Simmons.

I read an article about Hield yesterday. Based on Junior and Senior year numbers they project him to be a 37.5% shooter from three. They worry he might be a little Adam Morrison and Jimmie Fridette to him. He is taking a ton of tough shots that are going in, but those shots won't happen in the NBA. They were concerned he was not getting easier shots at this level.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/14666575/is-oklahoma-buddy-hield-more-bradley-beal-jimmer-fredette-nba

Who are comparisons to Hield in the NBA?


Ford: Yep. I hate these. Even when I talk to scouts about Hield, you never get much consensus on comps.

On the high side, players like Eric Gordon, Bradley Beal and C.J. McCollum all are about his size and all are shooters with range. Hield doesn't have the strength of a Gordon or Beal and he's not the passer McCollum is, but if he hit his ceiling, he could be that type of scorer in the league.

On the worst-case scenario, I see some Jimmer Fredette in Hield. Fredette was a Wooden Award winner as a senior. He had ridiculous range on his jumper and had the ultimate confidence that Hield possesses. However, I think Hield might be a better prospect. He's more athletic. He's longer. I think his work ethic is stronger.

Middle of the road: Wesley Matthews or Jodie Meeks?

I lean toward the higher comps because of Hield's work ethic. He's relentless when it comes to working on his game and I think that will help him in the NBA. Dana O'Neil's feature on Hield last week has to be compelling to scouts. But your point about making contested shots in the college game really worries me.

Pelton: I've been thinking about Matthews as a good outcome for Hield. He's nearly a 39 percent career 3-point shooter, and has done so with terrific volume -- he's been in the league's top 10 in 3s each of the past six seasons. Matthews can also create his own shot at times and is a tough, physical defender.

As far as a less positive outcome, I'd go with one of SCHOENE's top comparisons: Marcus Thornton. Thornton was a 39 percent 3-point shooter at LSU who hasn't been quite as accurate in the NBA, shooting about 36 percent beyond the arc. As a result, Thornton is more of a volume scorer, and his defensive limitations have largely confined him to a reserve role.