Minnesota Sports Forum

Wiggins gives us the option to take either a 2 or 3 because he'll be able to defend and play offense at either position. In terms of best fits with Ricky and Wiggins you'd think NBA shooting especially from 3 and the ability to be a secondary playmaker are most important. Defense just needs to be average enough to cover the 3rd best perimeter player. In my opinion if Towns, Johnson and Russell are all available and grade similarly I go Towns, Russell, Johnson in terms of how their play style fits what we need. To be honest I still think Lavine is the perfect fit between Ricky and Wiggins in terms of play style and I'd like to see him in that role for a little bit this year before I consider drafting his replacement. Year 1 is always such a huge leap especially for a guy without a lot of minutes at UCLA to begin with where he should settle down more going into next season and I expect him to be a lot better. That's one of the reasons I like Martin's deal. He is a quality place holder until Lavine can take over and he is able to come off the bench if someone is able to take his starting spot before his deal is done.

Karl Towns still makes the most sense in terms of fit. Been thinking about it more. I bet Flip feels the same.

Camden wrote:Karl Towns still makes the most sense in terms of fit. Been thinking about it more. I bet Flip feels the same.

And assuming we pick 3rd or 4th, that's probably the right pick. But if we pick top 2, man, it would be really, really hard to pass on Okafor or Russell (assuming they keep on doing what they've been doing).

Q12543 wrote:

Camden wrote:Karl Towns still makes the most sense in terms of fit. Been thinking about it more. I bet Flip feels the same.

And assuming we pick 3rd or 4th, that's probably the right pick. But if we pick top 2, man, it would be really, really hard to pass on Okafor or Russell (assuming they keep on doing what they've been doing).

Question: Flip had Wiggins rated No. 1 overall on his big board last year, ahead of the better offensively Jabari Parker. I'd assume that's because Wiggins was better defensively and a much better athlete. He's been extremely vocal about getting two-way players. One could argue that if Towns figures out how to play with his lower body more in the post more, he could be the best big in the draft. Who's to say Okafor's tops on Flip's radar? He also has to believe in what he's got at center with Dieng and Pek.

I also don't see Russell that high (top-two) on his radar. He has Harden syndrome. Loves to get buckets, doesn't give full effort in stopping them. Not to mention he'd practically have the exact same role as LaVine. Doubt Flip's willing to give up on Zach's long term potential by drafting a guy to do the same thing, even if he is better right now.

Russell's fourth on my list of guys that I'd want on this team.

Camden wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

Camden wrote:Karl Towns still makes the most sense in terms of fit. Been thinking about it more. I bet Flip feels the same.

And assuming we pick 3rd or 4th, that's probably the right pick. But if we pick top 2, man, it would be really, really hard to pass on Okafor or Russell (assuming they keep on doing what they've been doing).

Question: Flip had Wiggins rated No. 1 overall on his big board last year, ahead of the better offensively Jabari Parker. I'd assume that's because Wiggins was better defensively and a much better athlete. He's been extremely vocal about getting two-way players. One could argue that if Towns figures out how to play with his lower body more in the post more, he could be the best big in the draft. Who's to say Okafor's tops on Flip's radar? He also has to believe in what he's got at center with Dieng and Pek.

I also don't see Russell that high (top-two) on his radar. He has Harden syndrome. Loves to get buckets, doesn't give full effort in stopping them. Not to mention he'd practically have the exact same role as LaVine. Doubt Flip's willing to give up on Zach's long term potential by drafting a guy to do the same thing, even if he is better right now.

Russell's fourth on my list of guys that I'd want on this team.

LaVine was a project pick that Flip admitted was a homerun swing. i don't think he is absolutely banking on Zach locking up a wing spot for the next decade. You don't pass on the best player available because of LaVine.

I haven't watched enough OSU to see if Russell can defend or not. But when you are THAT gifted offensively, you just figure out how to work around it. Rubio and Wiggins certainly help, especially since I anticipate that these two still aren't done getting better defensively (certainly not Wiggins).

One thing Russell does do is crash the defensive glass. We've seen how important that is to having a good defense. So he at least is willing to go get rebounds.

First, that depends on what your idea of BPA is. I know you like Russell over Johnson, but I'm on the opposite side of that fence. So I have to wonder that if Flip had them rated comparably close that LaVine COULD play a part in that decision.

Russell just seems to lack consistent focus on defense. It's really head-scratching considering at times he looks like he could be a useful defender and then other times he's watching his man get to the rim. That's why I call it Harden syndrome.

I agree that whatever wing we draft, if we draft one, he has to be a good rebounder. This is another part of Johnson's game that I absolutely love. No fear in doing the dirty work and fighting for the ball. I have so much admiration for that type of mentality because those guys win championships.

Either way, Russell or Johnson is a good get. I just don't know what our identity is going to be with Russell in the mix. I'm not even sure he's suitable off-ball yet. He has the ball at OSU practically every possession.

Anyone else hear that Okafor might stay? I think someone mentioned it on in the zone after talking to some people with the Wolves.

I haven't heard anything about Okafor staying another year, bleed, and I have to say it wouldn't make much sense. He is physically ready for the NBA, has had an outstanding freshman year, and doesn't come from a family with money. I can't think of one persuasive reason for him to delay making millions for one year when he is the consensus #1 pick.

Camden0916 wrote:First, that depends on what your idea of BPA is. I know you like Russell over Johnson, but I'm on the opposite side of that fence. So I have to wonder that if Flip had them rated comparably close that LaVine COULD play a part in that decision.

Russell just seems to lack consistent focus on defense. It's really head-scratching considering at times he looks like he could be a useful defender and then other times he's watching his man get to the rim. That's why I call it Harden syndrome.

I agree that whatever wing we draft, if we draft one, he has to be a good rebounder. This is another part of Johnson's game that I absolutely love. No fear in doing the dirty work and fighting for the ball. I have so much admiration for that type of mentality because those guys win championships.

Either way, Russell or Johnson is a good get. I just don't know what our identity is going to be with Russell in the mix. I'm not even sure he's suitable off-ball yet. He has the ball at OSU practically every possession.

I think the flashes of defense Russell shows is good enough for me to believe once he gets older and matures he can be a very good 2 way player. Like all the top 5 picks he is still a kid. He will grow awareness and progress on defense, hopefully. All of these kids have areas where you hope they progress.

For me Russell is my one and Stanley is my two. Bigs tend to get overvalued in the draft. I absolutely love Okafor's offensive game. I hate his defensive game and you need a great defender as your last line of defense. Look how much better the Cavs got once they got a big that can defend. You may be better off drafting Russell/Johnson and moving LaVine or Muhammed in a package to get Noel (who with Embiid could be expendable). Noel offers little on offense, but his defensive ability would make the team much better.

longstrangetrip wrote:I haven't heard anything about Okafor staying another year, bleed, and I have to say it wouldn't make much sense. He is physically ready for the NBA, has had an outstanding freshman year, and doesn't come from a family with money. I can't think of one persuasive reason for him to delay making millions for one year when he is the consensus #1 pick.

That is my feeling too. Only thing that would happen is his stock might go down. Just repeating what I heard.

I am also in the camp that you don't pass up Russell because of LaVine. It is obvious LaVine has value around the league.