Minnesota Sports Forum

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 5:12 pm

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?

No. I wouldn’t be fine trading KAT for future picks. In fact, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, I don’t even want to trade KAT at all this summer. And as I’ve also mentioned, if we do trade him, I’d want a Mikal Bridges caliber player in return along with future picks. I love Scoot’s potential. But I think it would be foolish to trade KAT for Scoot and the other things Portland has to offer.

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2023 7:50 pm

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.

Good post, KG4. I generally agree with your points. I had my doubts about Ant based on his college stats. But we didn’t have to trade KAT to get him. Back then, there’s no way I’d trade KAT for Ant. Of course, with hindsight I would now. But Ant had something Scoot doesn’t have - freakish physical characteristics. Edwards has the speed of a quick PG in the body of a linebacker. So it was easier to look past his stats and predict greatness. I don’t see Scoot having any extraordinary physical qualities so I lean a bit more on stats with him. Having said that, I love his handle, quickness and athleticism. Then again, those qualities should lead to more than 2.9 trips to the line. If we had the third pick in the draft and he was available, I’d be inclined to take him. If we had the 6th pick, I might think about trading up to get him. But I just don’t have enough confidence in him becoming an all-star NBA player (much less a superstar) to justify trading a bird in the hand for him. I guess we just have to trust TC and his scouts on this one. If we end up trading KAT for Scoot on draft day, I’ll be concerned but also excited. It’s just not a deal I’d make.

I noticed that KAT can’t be traded under League rules until a couple weeks after the draft. Does anyone know if or how KAT can be part of a draft-day trade in light of this restriction?

My understanding is a trade involving KAT can be agreed to but not executed until after draft day … I could be wrong though.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 10:25 am I noticed that KAT can’t be traded under League rules until a couple weeks after the draft. Does anyone know if or how KAT can be part of a draft-day trade in light of this restriction?

That is right. Teams can have a handshake type of deal but nothing official till later on. I forgot the date also, but it is after the draft a bit. It's because he signed the supermax extension.

Doogie spoke to his last source Glen Taylor, and Glen is against trading KAT which means we need to move him immediately!

BloopOracle wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 1:42 pm Doogie spoke to his last source Glen Taylor, and Glen is against trading KAT which means we need to move him immediately!

Lol. Makes me re-think my opposition to trading KAT.

Sundog wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 12:10 pm My understanding is a trade involving KAT can be agreed to but not executed until after draft day … I could be wrong though.

Thanks, Sundog. I know you’re a NBA salary cap Wizard even though I’m pretty sure you didn’t attend MIT.

Salary cap dunce, more like! lol

Any chance Boston deals Jaylen Brown after another disappointment in the playoffs? Who would say no to a Kat for Brown swap?

Conley
Ant
Brown
McDaniels
Gobert