Minnesota Sports Forum

I believe Sabonis is going inside the lottery. It would be pretty risky to think you could get him past 10.

monsterpile wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Well, I have no interest in trading down for Sabonis...

I want Thibs to take BPA at #5 and fill out the rest of the roster with trades and/or free agency. And when he fills out the roster, he will need to decide whether the player he drafts at #5 will be ready to contribute next year. It's one of the reasons I like Dunn or Hield, but I will be happy with whoever they draft. Even if it is Brown...

Just curious Tim what you would think if the Nuggets called up on draft night and said they wanted to move up to #5 and were willing to give up #7 and #15 or #19? If Bender was gone I'd do that deal especially if it was 7 and 15. What do you think?

I like this trade idea more now with the possibility of Brown and/or Chriss moving into the 3-6 range. We'd likely still come out with one of Murray, Dunn, or Hield and could also add a 3 and D wing/small ball 4 in Taurean Prince or a big prospect like Bentil/Diallo at #15.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I believe Sabonis is going inside the lottery. It would be pretty risky to think you could get him past 10.

He looks to be one of the safer prospects in the draft, and with his production/polished skillset he should be a lock for the top 10. Crazier things have happened though. Athletic ability is always reached for by some teams, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Valentine and Sabonis slip closer to 20 than previously predicted.

TheFuture wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Well, I have no interest in trading down for Sabonis...

I want Thibs to take BPA at #5 and fill out the rest of the roster with trades and/or free agency. And when he fills out the roster, he will need to decide whether the player he drafts at #5 will be ready to contribute next year. It's one of the reasons I like Dunn or Hield, but I will be happy with whoever they draft. Even if it is Brown...

Just curious Tim what you would think if the Nuggets called up on draft night and said they wanted to move up to #5 and were willing to give up #7 and #15 or #19? If Bender was gone I'd do that deal especially if it was 7 and 15. What do you think?

I like this trade idea more now with the possibility of Brown and/or Chriss moving into the 3-6 range. We'd likely still come out with one of Murray, Dunn, or Hield and could also add a 3 and D wing/small ball 4 in Taurean Prince or a big prospect like Bentil/Diallo at #15.

I agree with where you are going with this post but I'll add DX has Bentil at #45 in their latest mock. Prince would be a nice get with that 2nd pick. I forget about him sometimes.

monsterpile wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Well, I have no interest in trading down for Sabonis...

I want Thibs to take BPA at #5 and fill out the rest of the roster with trades and/or free agency. And when he fills out the roster, he will need to decide whether the player he drafts at #5 will be ready to contribute next year. It's one of the reasons I like Dunn or Hield, but I will be happy with whoever they draft. Even if it is Brown...

Just curious Tim what you would think if the Nuggets called up on draft night and said they wanted to move up to #5 and were willing to give up #7 and #15 or #19? If Bender was gone I'd do that deal especially if it was 7 and 15. What do you think?

That would be a deal made in heaven for us, and would only happen if Denver was having wet dreams about someone at 5 that they didn't think would still be around at 7. More likely that they offer us 15 and 19 for 5.

Dealing down is a sensitive process because of the uncertainty of who will still be around when your turns come up. While the flatness of this draft (after the top 2) theoretically makes this a year where trading down is a good strategy, it has to be handled with care. If there are 5-6 players that Thibs really likes in the second half of the first round, then there is less risk. But if he only kinda likes several players but really likes one (like Sabonis), then the gamesmanship gets trickier. If they are undecided about the best prospect when their turn at 5 comes up, they could draft someone they like but whom they think Boston and/or Denver really likes. Then the horse trading begins, as we offer to give them the player they crave IF our later target is available. Maybe Thibs will just select a player he thinks is perfect at 5, but I think it's more likely there will be a lot of drama on 6/23.

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Well, I have no interest in trading down for Sabonis...

I want Thibs to take BPA at #5 and fill out the rest of the roster with trades and/or free agency. And when he fills out the roster, he will need to decide whether the player he drafts at #5 will be ready to contribute next year. It's one of the reasons I like Dunn or Hield, but I will be happy with whoever they draft. Even if it is Brown...

Just curious Tim what you would think if the Nuggets called up on draft night and said they wanted to move up to #5 and were willing to give up #7 and #15 or #19? If Bender was gone I'd do that deal especially if it was 7 and 15. What do you think?

That would be a deal made in heaven for us, and would only happen if Denver was having wet dreams about someone at 5 that they didn't think would still be around at 7. More likely that they offer us 15 and 19 for 5.

Dealing down is a sensitive process because of the uncertainty of who will still be around when your turns come up. While the flatness of this draft (after the top 2) theoretically makes this a year where trading down is a good strategy, it has to be handled with care. If there are 5-6 players that Thibs really likes in the second half of the first round, then there is less risk. But if he only kinda likes several players but really likes one (like Sabonis), then the gamesmanship gets trickier. If they are undecided about the best prospect when their turn at 5 comes up, they could draft someone they like but whom they think Boston and/or Denver really likes. Then the horse trading begins, as we offer to give them the player they crave IF our later target is available. Maybe Thibs will just select a player he thinks is perfect at 5, but I think it's more likely there will be a lot of drama on 6/23.

Unless something drastic changes the way these prospects are looked at and because some teams have so many picks it should be an interesting draft night with a lot of activity to watch whether the Wolves make any moves or not.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I believe Sabonis is going inside the lottery. It would be pretty risky to think you could get him past 10.

I'd take the other side of that bet. I don't think he's taken in the top ten and might not even go inside the lottery. He has a short wingspan and is not that athletic. He also racked up his stats in a weak conference. He's a safe pick (high floor, but lower ceiling) with good rebounding, efficient scoring and good feel for game, but not much range and just an average defender. I'm ok with taking him later on, but there are better choices to use a top ten pick on.

monsterpile wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Well, I have no interest in trading down for Sabonis...

I want Thibs to take BPA at #5 and fill out the rest of the roster with trades and/or free agency. And when he fills out the roster, he will need to decide whether the player he drafts at #5 will be ready to contribute next year. It's one of the reasons I like Dunn or Hield, but I will be happy with whoever they draft. Even if it is Brown...

Just curious Tim what you would think if the Nuggets called up on draft night and said they wanted to move up to #5 and were willing to give up #7 and #15 or #19? If Bender was gone I'd do that deal especially if it was 7 and 15. What do you think?

It's pretty cool how active this board is, even during some typically dead times...

I would not be disappointed if Thibs did that trade, because I assume it would be done because he has eyes set on two players he wants out of the draft. Another possibility is adding players into the trade. You could address a short-term backup PG by acquiring Jameer Nelson...

But if you are asking me, I stick with #5. I really want Dunn out of this draft. If he is there at #5, I take him at figure out everything else in free agency.

Monster, why would Denver consider that? Giving up another 1st rounder just to move up 2 spots? Doesn't make any sense.

BizarroJerry wrote:Monster, why would Denver consider that? Giving up another 1st rounder just to move up 2 spots? Doesn't make any sense.

I don't see them offering that, BUT the reason why they could hypothetically all comes down to how they rank prospects. They could believe that there's five top level prospects in this class and that it drops off after that. If giving up a mid-1st is the price to making sure you acquire one of those five, then it's a sound move, IMO. Just depends on their evaluations.