Minnesota Sports Forum

If the number one pick can't start on a team that only won 16 games, then we have issues drafting.

TRKO wrote:If the number one pick can't start on a team that only won 16 games, then we have issues drafting.

Camden wrote:Our No. 1 pick WILL be starting. I'm scratching my head every time I see KG and Pekovic in the starting lineup together because it's just not going to happen.

PG: Rubio (34) / LaVine (14)
SG: Martin (28) / LaVine (12) / Wiggins (8.)
SF: Wiggins (26) / Muhammad (22)
PF: Towns (20) / Dieng (20) / Payne (8.)
C: Garnett (20) / Pekovic (20) / Towns (8.)

I could live with that. I prefer to get a veteran backup point guard, but I could see Flip continuing with the LaVine-at-PG experiment.

Cam, #1 picks almost always start for their teams, so I get your point. But if Pek is healthy, I still think Flip has Towns coming off the bench to start the season. I think Flip is going to be in win now mode and also believes rookies should be given some time to watch the NBA game rather than just being thrown to the (ahem) wolves, and Flip likely thinks starting his veterans gives his team the best chance of winning. Of course, minutes are more important than starting, and you and I have similar projected minutes for Towns. Here are some other reasons I think Towns begins the season coming off the bench.

1) # 1 picks generally join teams that lack talent, and thus have to start right away. The Wolves have a lot more talent than the typical team that gets the first pick, and were terrible last year because that talent was in street clothes more than on the court.

2) Flip clearly likes KG on the court to start the game. I think it's easier to work his 20 minutes into a rotation if he comes off the bench, but I agree with Flip that KG provides some on-court stability that hopefully carries through to the rest of the game...at least it did in his 5 games last year.

3) If healthy, and I know it's a big "if", Pek is a candidate to put up 20 and 10 every night, and we can't expect Towns to do that right out of the chute. Towns has the potential to be twice the defender Pek is, but like all rookies, he is going to struggle on defense early in his NBA career. While Pek will never be a rim protector, he uses his body well on defense...we were clearly better last year defensively when he was on the court.

If Pek isn't healthy, I would probably have Towns starting at center (or part of a C/PF combo with KG like you do). I don't like this option as much, because I think Towns maximizes his potential as a stretch PF.

TKRO, I agree that either Towns, Okafor or Russell starts on the Wolves team that won 16 games, because that team more often than not started lineups like Hamilton, Payne, Wiggins, Martin and LaVine. But if everyone is healthy (the premise of this thread), I don't think any of them will or should start. Flip likes veterans, but unlike Adelman, is not adverse to starting a rookie if he is clearly the best option...and Wiggins was clearly the best 2-way option at SF all season. But I don't see Flip starting a 19-year-old rookie right out of the chute over a healthy Pek or KG...better to let them watch the vets at the start of the game and develop at a less-pressured pace. There's no doubt that our first pick, who I hope will be Towns, is part of our future...and KG and Pek are not. But Flip thinks he can win now with this roster, and I think he's right. Starting the vets gives this team the best chance of winning.

The "does the #1 pick start" question seems silly to me. Flip's philosophy is "give rookies what they can handle, when they are ready for more, give them more". What Towns does in training camp and pre-season will determine whether he starts on day one.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I keep going back to my gut on this. I get excited about the fit of a big, Russell should be the pick or we will be looking back at this draft in a year wishing we would have taken him. Towns for all of his upside could be a good pick, but if I am building a team I would take Brandon Roy type player over a longer Andrew Bogu/Al Jefferson any day.

Comps from nbadraft.net.

Bleedspeed, while Towns is my personal choice, I would be really excited if Flip picked Russell. He's a unique talent. I generally trust Flip's talent evaluation, and if he choose Russell, it would mean he clearly saw him as BPA...because he certainly isn't the best choice in terms of fit. Picking Russell would tell me that Flip thinks Pek's surgery will allow him to play significant minutes this year, and that either Payne or Bennett are legitimate options at PF. It's a stretch to believe that both of these conditions are true, but if so, Russell would be a terrific pick.

Russell could be a Curry/Harden type player. He should be under as much consideration as Towns and Okafor.

longstrangetrip wrote:
Bleedspeed, while Towns is my personal choice, I would be really excited if Flip picked Russell. He's a unique talent. I generally trust Flip's talent evaluation, and if he choose Russell, it would mean he clearly saw him as BPA...because he certainly isn't the best choice in terms of fit. Picking Russell would tell me that Flip thinks Pek's surgery will allow him to play significant minutes this year, and that either Payne or Bennett are legitimate options at PF. It's a stretch to believe that both of these conditions are true, but if so, Russell would be a terrific pick.

LST - I think Flip should be looking at this pick independent of who is on our team or who is healthy. The biggest mistakes always seem to be going for need in the top of the draft. This is a to valuable of an asset not to go BPA. If I am a coach I want the 5 best players I can get and I will figure out how to make it work. I am betting we will be a lottery team again next year. I would rather pick for need at 10 then 1.

I'm intrigued by taking Russell too, just because I too see a little Harden in him. He's more PG than SG, but I still like the potential he has. However he seems a little too cool for school if you know what I mean.

LloydBraun wrote:I'm intrigued by taking Russell too, just because I too see a little Harden in him. He's more PG than SG, but I still like the potential he has. However he seems a little too cool for school if you know what I mean.

That attitude can be a great thing, see MJ, or it can be a horrible cancer. Flip just has to do his research and make sure the kid is coach able. Russell is an outstanding passer and would be great running this offense with guys like Wiggins and LaVine. He is also a deadly shooter as well. Going into Ohio State he was known more as a facilitator than a scorer, but he has shown to be a prolific scorer in college.

TRKO wrote:

LloydBraun wrote:I'm intrigued by taking Russell too, just because I too see a little Harden in him. He's more PG than SG, but I still like the potential he has. However he seems a little too cool for school if you know what I mean.

That attitude can be a great thing, see MJ, or it can be a horrible cancer. Flip just has to do his research and make sure the kid is coach able. Russell is an outstanding passer and would be great running this offense with guys like Wiggins and LaVine. He is also a deadly shooter as well. Going into Ohio State he was known more as a facilitator than a scorer, but he has shown to be a prolific scorer in college.

Right, but I'm not sure what kind of research is going to help. He only played 1 year so not much you can dig up. Yep, those guys could be MJ or Christian Laetner.

Wait, Jameis Winston just checked in and said yes, there is a lot you can dig up in 1 year!