Is this the perfect season?

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I think it obvious that we all want a higher pick if given the option. I think the valid point many make is that some on here state that this all but guarantees improvement, and I would argue that this is not the case. Look at the teams that draft at the bottom year after year. Seems almost the same each year, right? Why is that if there is such a HUGE benefit to a top pick?

That being said, I recognize the POTENTIAL for a top player to come from the top 5 in draft picks. That being said, many here are also stating that the draft is our ONLY option of improvement. I would argue that if this was in fact true, we might as well pack up shop and move the franchise. It is just not feasible to expect this to happen. I look at virtually any team in the past 10-15 years (minus maybe 1 or 2), and success has been driven by drafting well and bringing in the right players via FA. It absolutely must be a mix of successful transactions.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I know some won't agree, but I think Kevin Martin was/is a successful move in FA. Depending on his health, Mo Williams could be too as I think there's a trade market for him.

[bleedspeed]

I know some won't agree, but I think Kevin Martin was/is a successful move in FA. Depending on his health, Mo Williams could be too as I think there's a trade market for him.

Honestly I was trying to think of most successful FA signing we have had that was less then 3M and he was the one that came to mind. Mo is one of those single year lower contracts that we should be doing.

[AbeVigodaLive]

FA's aren't coming here unless we are already a winner, and we are already capped out, and likley will be for the next couple of seasons with Pek, Thad, and now Ricky making big money.

Q, just because this team has failed in previous years to make use of their picks is no reason to abandon the one avenue we have for building a PO team. Losing games is never a benefit to a team, particularly this early in the season, but getting a higher pick can certainly help.

Lip, I hope your comment about trading that pick is just your opinion. If they actually do that, I will likely be done as a fan. Flip did OK in the draft to this point, but has shown zero ability in his assessment of veteran players and their value. We chose the rebuild right or wrong, and now need to stick with it. I am tired of watching this team switch gears half way through a plan.

Abe, I don't know what the wolves have done that has scarred you, but they are clearly too important in your life if you buy into this "promise of hope" BS. Nobody else is. It is normal everyday marketing to promote your strongest resources. That changes from year to year, and so does the message with it.

Thad's lack of effort rebounding, and piss poor D isn't going to be helped by Rubio.

Flip and his staff look to be the biggest obstacle for this team moving forward. We can blame this season on injuries, but all teams go through this.The difference is they all seem to be able to win a game occasionally. I don't think Flip should be allowed to use Martin and Pek as an excuse. Flip had plenty of evidence pointing to this situation happening, and clearly didn't put together a roster capable of riding it out. The lack of back up PF, C, and PG options is ridiculous, even more so when you remember that we actually bought out JJ and let him go to a team that would be competing with us for a PO spot, according to Flip.

Huh? It's what EVERY NBA team that's on pace for 60 losses does. It's common sense and the best marketing strategy that a team in the Wolves position has.

With the emergence of Wiggins... it's actually working for multiple seasons. Philly is doing it. Orlando has been doing it for years. Teams like these (and the Wolves) can't sell wins or talent, so they sell Hope. I don't see how mentioning it makes me "scarred." I don't see how pointing out realistic things about the Wolves makes me "scarred."

I don't know why anybody who doesn't look at the Wolves and its players with rose-colored glasses is "scarred." Please explain.

So I don't see how we're that far apart here. I just use a name for it.

[Coolbreeze44]

Wow, what a thread. All the historical dynamics of this board are represented. Q and Abe take a mostly pessimistic view. Lip agrees with Q. I fall in line with LST and SJM. Posters dream of a KG reunion that has zero merit. Drew writes a post that is too long to read. I could go on and on.

The best point made in this whole entire thread is that a team in this market has to win the draft. Sure, it's not the only tool you use to build a team, but success with the draft is a necessity for us. A top three pick (I think we're finally going to be #1) in this draft would be huge for our future. But I've always said it's not where you draft but who. So while I would definitely prefer the asset value of a top 3, we just need to make sure we get a future all star no matter where we pick, or what we do with our pick.

I hate our past lottery selections being used as an argument. It means absolutely nothing at this point. And why can't Dieng be a starter on a good team? That is total nonsense.

We need to win as many games as we can and let the chips fall where they may. I would trade any vets/contracts we can before the deadline to improve our flexibility going forward. And lastly, we have 5 wins but I haven't missed seeing a game yet. I care about the process, and my only real disappointments this year have been injuries, Thad Young, Chase, and Anthony Bennett. I've enjoyed the ride other than those things.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think it obvious that we all want a higher pick if given the option. I think the valid point many make is that some on here state that this all but guarantees improvement, and I would argue that this is not the case. Look at the teams that draft at the bottom year after year. Seems almost the same each year, right? Why is that if there is such a HUGE benefit to a top pick?

That being said, I recognize the POTENTIAL for a top player to come from the top 5 in draft picks. That being said, many here are also stating that the draft is our ONLY option of improvement. I would argue that if this was in fact true, we might as well pack up shop and move the franchise. It is just not feasible to expect this to happen. I look at virtually any team in the past 10-15 years (minus maybe 1 or 2), and success has been driven by drafting well and bringing in the right players via FA. It absolutely must be a mix of successful transactions.

Very well said Hicks.

Porkchop, I'm not opposed to building through the draft, but as Hicks says, it needs to be part of a three-pronged strategy, along with good trades and free agent signings.

What I'm mostly reacting to here is the idea that somehow it's a good thing we're losing all these games because that will ensure a high draft pick, yay! Many franchises can and do build great teams without relying on tanking and crossing of fingers for the top pick.

I think what I'm especially grumpy about is what appears to be "soft tanking" by Flip. He knows as well as anyone that LaVine is not a PG and Mo Williams' skills and health are quickly fading. Yet he's done nothing to address our PG depth situation. It's a flat out embarrassment that Corey Brewer, Robbie Hummel, and Troy Daniels are/have been relied upon regularly (not just a one-time freak thing) to play point guard. And the Radujlica signing was one step forward, two steps back. He gets one big, but then proceeds to let go of the better big man in Adrien. I realize Flip has some contractual constraints, but a good GM figures this shit out and gets something done in order to field a competitive product. Right now we aren't fielding a competitive product and that's an insult to the fans, especially season-ticket holders.

[Phenom]

Of course if the Wolves are able to draft Okafor or Towns and he becomes the next Duncan, it will have been the perfect season. All is well that ends well. I think the bottom line is that nailing a draft pick, trade, or free agent signing will make any of those arguments valid. I think failing with a top pick might be the most harmful, however; at least that is what this team has experienced since KG left. I hate that the Wolves are going to be in the high lottery again but this time the silver lining is that the future does not weigh as heavily on the result because we have Wiggins. To me, he can be a #1 player so now it is using each resource (picks, money, assets) to build up the right supporting cast. This season has not been ideal but it is what it is. Make the best of having a high pick for once.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think people are crazy if they don't think the lack of Ricky, Martin and Pek has helped Wiggins. He was around a 9 PPG scorer/floater with them on the floor as the 4th scoring option. Now he has been forced into a huge role and he is developing at a much faster rate than being the 4th option. Lavine wasn't even seeing the floor and while he hasn't been good, he's going to be better off for getting his feet wet than never seeing the floor. Bazz was stuck playing limited minutes behind Brewer, Martin and Bud and he took his chance to earn a spot in the rotation. The losing sucks, but we'd be much further behind in our actual player development if the injuries didn't happen. The fact that we'll get to be full strength for the home stretch post All-Star break is what matters.

Getting a top 3 pick matters. This league is run by stars and we aren't in a market that will attract any so we have to draft them or trade for them and good, young assets is what lands stars via trade. Wiggins looks to be one. Lavine still could be one, but he's going to need a couple years and would have more of Paul George development cycle. Okafor is being talked about like a sure thing which quite frankly there haven't been too many "sure things" with a clean bill of health not be good players. I don't get why Flip is paying the price for his predecessors draft mistakes. Kahn and McHale made those picks. He got two of the top 5 players in last years draft so far. He acquired the best player in this years draft and took the only guy outside the top 10 with star potential on a team needing stars. This year has been crap, but I don't get the doom and gloom moving forward with the young guys we have. When OKC was at its peak, it's 4 best players and starters were guys they drafted. The same can be said of the Spurs last year with Duncan, Parker, Leonard and Ginobili. We're just not building a contender through FA so I don't get why that is even being thought of as a better avenue to try than the draft. You draft the stars and sign the role players to go around them, not the other way around when you are in a small market.

[mjs34]

Huh? It's what EVERY NBA team that's on pace for 60 losses does. It's common sense and the best marketing strategy that a team in the Wolves position has.

With the emergence of Wiggins... it's actually working for multiple seasons. Philly is doing it. Orlando has been doing it for years. Teams like these (and the Wolves) can't sell wins or talent, so they sell Hope. I don't see how mentioning it makes me "scarred." I don't see how pointing out realistic things about the Wolves makes me "scarred."

I don't know why anybody who doesn't look at the Wolves and its players with rose-colored glasses is "scarred." Please explain.

So I don't see how we're that far apart here. I just use a name for it.

Abe, I am pretty sure nobody is real happy with the success rate of this team, but you act as if they are running a scam on you to keep you interested. Should they come out and say "We suck, but come anyway!"?

If you want a realistic viewpoint, it is highly unlikely this team will ever compete for a championship. My hope is for a team that can get to the second round of the PO's consistently. We will likely never be a destination for the buyout vets at the end of each season, and that fills out the bench for a lot of the top teams. It is almost impossible to overcome that. Add to it that we always have to overpay our players, and have less revenue to start with. The NBA is easily the toughest pro sport for Minny to be competitive in.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think people are crazy if they don't think the lack of Ricky, Martin and Pek has helped Wiggins. He was around a 9 PPG scorer/floater with them on the floor as the 4th scoring option. Now he has been forced into a huge role and he is developing at a much faster rate than being the 4th option. Lavine wasn't even seeing the floor and while he hasn't been good, he's going to be better off for getting his feet wet than never seeing the floor. Bazz was stuck playing limited minutes behind Brewer, Martin and Bud and he took his chance to earn a spot in the rotation. The losing sucks, but we'd be much further behind in our actual player development if the injuries didn't happen. The fact that we'll get to be full strength for the home stretch post All-Star break is what matters.

Getting a top 3 pick matters. This league is run by stars and we aren't in a market that will attract any so we have to draft them or trade for them and good, young assets is what lands stars via trade. Wiggins looks to be one. Lavine still could be one, but he's going to need a couple years and would have more of Paul George development cycle. Okafor is being talked about like a sure thing which quite frankly there haven't been too many "sure things" with a clean bill of health not be good players. I don't get why Flip is paying the price for his predecessors draft mistakes. Kahn and McHale made those picks. He got two of the top 5 players in last years draft so far. He acquired the best player in this years draft and took the only guy outside the top 10 with star potential on a team needing stars. This year has been crap, but I don't get the doom and gloom moving forward with the young guys we have. When OKC was at its peak, it's 4 best players and starters were guys they drafted. The same can be said of the Spurs last year with Duncan, Parker, Leonard and Ginobili. We're just not building a contender through FA so I don't get why that is even being thought of as a better avenue to try than the draft. You draft the stars and sign the role players to go around them, not the other way around when you are in a small market.

We disagree a lot, but not here. You hit the nail on the head, khans. Flip's shown enough to me that he can handle talent evaluation and the drafting process and I'd trust him to make the right move with a top-three pick. I also agree that Wiggins is so much better for having Rubio, Martin and Pekovic sidelined for this half of a season. With them, he was essentially doing what he'd be doing in Cleveland: role playing wing who defers to others. Without them, he's been thrust into a role where he has to score for us to even be in games, and lately he's handled it well. He's also had to create offense for himself a lot more, and I thought that was where he needed a lot of growth. He's responded well and I couldn't applaud him more for that.