Who should Wolves draft at 19?

[Monster]

"KAT only has two years left on his contract right now, if I'm not mistaken. That means realistically, if we don't really take a big step forward to real competitiveness this year, I think the chances of him not extending his contract after next season and essentially forcing us to trade him next summer are high."

Drew - I strongly disagree with you premise that the Wolves success last season wasn't "real competitiveness." Consequently, I don't believe the Wolves need to take a "big step forward" next season. The Wolves won 46 games and took the #2 seed in the West to 6 games. That was a HUGE step forward from the previous season and it wasn't a mirage. The Wolves had a terrific season last season and were clearly a highly competitive, playoff team while at the same time there were one of the youngest teams in the League.

The Wolves big leap forward last season reflected the development of our young star, Ant, incremental defensive improvement from both KAT and DLO, the addition of Patrick Beverley and the fact that we finally have a really good head coach. There's are good reasons to expect this team to improve even more next season:

1. Edwards and McDaniels are really talented and are at the point in their respective careers when good players tend to show the most improvement.

2. KAT and DLO are just entering the prime years of their careers and should be expected to be at the top of their respective games. Moreover, DLO had a subpar shooting season and will likely progress to his mean next season.

3. Nowell showed a lot of growth last season and looks to be developing into a really good player

4. The Wolves will have all their salary cap exceptions and will be around $20 million under the luxury tax threshold, which will given them ample opportunity to significantly improve the roster via free agency

5. The entire team will have a full season of familiarity with each other and the head coach under their belts, and that alone should lead to improvement.

Nevertheless, as Tim Connelly pointed out, improvement isn't always linear - meaning the Wolves might not win more than 46 games next season and could win less than 46. The key is that they keep winning while they continue to build and move in the right direction. The Wolves are not yet a "win-now" team that needs to iron out a few details and compete for a championship before a disgruntled key player forces his way out. KAT clearly wants to stay here and last season likely further cemented that desire. Nor are the Wolves what I'd call a rebuilding team. I'd say they're a "win-soon" team that's still in the process of building a sustainable winner - like the Nuggets and Warriors. As Tim has said, you can't skip steps. This is not the time to take a big swing on a major trade for the "right" player. And it's not time to stop adding young talent to the roster. The front office needs to be smart, calculated and prudent in pursuing steady, consistent improvement, focusing on both next season AND the seasons thereafter. The Wolves are well positioned to focus on both. They can add one or two talented young players through this year's draft and help further improve the team for next season through free agency and/or through a strategic trade involving Beasley with some other player assets like Naz Reid.

I'll add that, if KAT becomes disgruntled and wants out, that's all the more reason to draft high-upside talent now with an eye towards having young that can grow and develop with Wolves best talent, Edwards, and perhaps McDaniels. If KAT starts hinting that he might want out, then the Wolves can trade him next summer and get a huge return in draft assets and young talent. But I don't see things going that route. Instead, I see KAT signing the max extension before the season starts, in which case there would be no concern about KAT leaving.

Does any of this mean the Wolves should absolutely not trade the #19 pick for a win-now veteran? No, but it would depend on who that veteran is. If it's a 28-year old Capela who would fit a key need, then that's OK with me depending on the rest of the players and picks involved. My preference is to keep the pick or combine it with a couple of our second-round picks and perhaps Naz Reid to move up in the first round if it would ensure the Wolves can get are really good high-upside talent they want (for me that would be Jalen Williams, Dalen Terry or Jalen Duren). Then use free agency or Beasley to acquire the best veteran big to start alongside Towns, not just for next season, but for many seasons thereafter. That would be my approach. It will be interesting the approach taken by our new, high-priced, front office.

I tend to think based on what Connelly has said that if they move a pick like #19 it would be for a player that's still fairly young similar to when he dealt for Aaron Gordon.

Having said that the Wolves should absolutely be looking around at the prices (in terms of assets) for worthwhile players that are a bit older than the age I suggested. Many of us thought Christian Wood would take more to acquire so maybe there is another player that a team will decide they take the best offer they can get now. Also I will say that just because a guy is around 30 doesn't mean he can't be part of the team for another 5 years.

[Q-is-here]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really want the Wolves to draft Tari Eason. Think he'll drop to 19?

[Monster]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really want the Wolves to draft Tari Eason. Think he'll drop to 19?

Q why is he the guy you want? I haven't spent any time on him because it wasn't that long ago it seemed he may or may not be an option at #19 but I read late last week a couple places that his stock might be slipping. Anyway I'll hang up and listen.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Cam, Q, and Doper, I really do (and did) appreciate your opposition to tanking, and Lip, I love that you're feeling so good about last season, even if it's all written as a counterpoint to my post. Like I said, my heart's with you guys, even if I still think what I think.

In terms of this past year Lip, I agree it was definitely a success. The fact that we had those leads against Memphis makes me feel pretty optimistic. But we also coughed those leads up so disastrously and repeatedly against a team we matched up well with that I'm worried about our ability to get out of the first round this next year. I think to convince a star player to stay with a team, at least being competitive in the second round and having a real shot at going to a conference finals is what I mean by real competitiveness. But of course, it's a relative and subjective term. And at the end of the day, it's all up to KAT.

Either way, I'm so glad we had a good team last year, and I'm looking forward to having a better one next year, though I'm sure if we do, it'll be more due to internal improvement than because of whoever we might add at 19. Still, the draft is coming up, so I'm gonna let myself get a little excited.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really want the Wolves to draft Tari Eason. Think he'll drop to 19?

Love me some Tari Eason. I don't think he'll be available at 19 -- he certainly shouldn't be -- but if he is that'd be a pick I would get excited about.

[Monster]

Is anyone able and willing to post the latest ESPN's mock draft by Givony?

[Coolbreeze44]

Going to go off the board and suggest Mark Williams. Tremendous length and can develop in to a big time defensive big next to KAT.

[Q-is-here]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really want the Wolves to draft Tari Eason. Think he'll drop to 19?

Q why is he the guy you want? I haven't spent any time on him because it wasn't that long ago it seemed he may or may not be an option at #19 but I read late last week a couple places that his stock might be slipping. Anyway I'll hang up and listen.

First, we need an eventual upgrade to the role Taurean Prince played last season and this kid can play that hybrid 3/4 position.

Second, go look at how he produced in the "do shit" stats over a 36 minute per game timeframe. Gets tons of steals, blocks, rebounds, points.

He's got only one question mark in my mind - can he hit the corner NBA 3 on a consistent basis? He hit 36% of 3s last season and 80% of FTs, so the potential is there. Of course, we thought the same with Okogie and Culver and they turned into two of the worst shooters in the NBA, so our track record on developing shooters is pretty horrid. But that seems to be the only real question mark if our expectation is to get a good role player. I don't care about his handles or passing chops.

I want our version of Jae Crowder, Dorian Finney-Smith, or PJ Tucker. He seems to have that kind of potential.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Going to go off the board and suggest Mark Williams. Tremendous length and can develop in to a big time defensive big next to KAT.

Yeah, Lip and I had some comments about him back at the bottom of page 14, top of page 15. He'd definitely fit a role we need.

There do seem to be some defensive wings in this draft (Sochan, Eason, Terry), and who doesn't like long, defensive wings, especially with some strength? I worry about their outside shots though. Liddell might be able to do that, although he seems to have a bit of hitch in his shot and he is pretty short. I hear you on Eason, Q. Love his D from what I've seen. That FT% is a hopeful sign. But can he cut down on those fouls? Ultimately, everybody's looking for a tough 3 and D guy, and those guys could potentially fill that role for us.

But I can't help keep thinking that a guy like Mark Williams would just fit better. Our big rotation is honestly just two deep, and we don't really have that big defensive center we've always talked about getting. Against a team like Memphis, we don't necessarily need one, because KAT makes Steven Adams almost unplayable. But there are definitely going to be times, likely in the playoffs at some point if we want to be a real threat, when we'll need a shot-blocking intimidator in the paint, and we just don't have that. He's not as sexy a pick as one of those wings, but he'd provide something nobody else on the team currently can.

As much as I love those wings, they would be a bit redundant with guys like McDaniels and Vando, and be more likely to indirectly eat into the minutes of guys like even Beasley and Nowell. A guy like Mark Williams would probably only take minutes from Naz, letting the other guys continue to develop.

Now, I've just been perusing some highlight videos, so our front office obviously knows more. Maybe they'll be convinced that one of those wings could really develop into a definite OG Anonoby, or maybe they conclude a guy like Jalen Williams, Christie, or Jovic could be a real steal. Then, ok. I'll be happy with that. Or maybe they're able to swing a decent trade and move up to get a guy like Jalen Duren if they think he'll become a super-impact guy. But it's probably more likely that we'd be able to move up only enough to get Mark Williams, and I think he'd just have a higher floor partly because of fit, even if he has a lower ceiling.

I'm usually all for drafting for talent over fit, but given the circumstances, I can actually see an argument for fit this year. I guess that means we're actually decent, huh?

EDIT: If we know we're able to get a big interior defender as a free agent or in a trade, then I'm fine with grabbing another defensive wing, and yeah, Eason looks like he'd be easy to root for (until he starts turning the ball over and fouling like crazy!).

EDIT EDIT: Prince is a free agent, right? He was overpaid, but not bad for us last year, I'd say (braces for impact). If we needed to, any guesses how much it would cost to bring him back? Might not be a bad idea if we don't pick up a wing at 19, right?

[Lipoli390]

If Jalen Williams is available at 19, the Wolves should grab him and not look back. Unfortunately, I no longer see any chance he'll fall to 19. Fortunately, I think either Dalen Terry or Tari Eason will be available at 19. If both are available, my first choice would be Terry based on his rare combination of long wing or PF length and PG ball-handling/passing skills along with his high basketball IQ and defensive talent. But I also like Tari Eason for all the reasons Q gave. Q mentioned the "do-shit" stats (steals, blocks, rebounds), but I'll add another key stat - his free-throw volume. He got to the line an astounding 5.7 times peer game in only 24.4 minutes. That stat alone is often the sign of a prospect who eventually becomes a really good, even great, NBA players. Eason's weaknesses are a big troubling. He is incredibly right-hand dominant and he reportedly has a questionable basketball IQ. But, like Q, I just come back to Eason's stats and his obviously high revving motor. For those reasons, I think he'd be a terrific pick at 19 even though I'd still prefer Terry.

If I thought Mark Williams would fall to 19, I'd echo Cool's sentiments. His length is so extraordinary and he also looks highly coordinated and athletic. In other words, he's not just a freakishly long guy playing basketball; he's a basketball player who is also freakishly long. He plays with energy and has an attacking nature. And I've seen enough to believe he can develop into a decent mid-range shooter. I just don't see Williams being available at 19. I'd still take Dalen Terry, but I'd have a hard time deciding between Mark Williams and Tari Eason.