Minnesota Sports Forum

Yeah, Ellington would be a great signing.

monsterpile wrote:FWIW the latest DE/ESPN mock has us taking Donte V. Where they had us taking Diop. I'm not a fan of Diop I don't think his measureables are that impressive and I hear he has problems with his motor. I don't know that much about him though.

The reality is there are probably 10 guys I wouldn't really mind the Wolves taking at #20 there are some guys so would prefer and some guys I would find it easy to get excited about like Donte. Some guys there are other players I would prefer someone else like Grayson Allen but I wouldn't hate the pick. I am pretty sure it was Jon K that said in his last podcast (listened to a bunch this morning at work) it looks very much like the Wolves are focusing wings which they said they needed to focus on in the offseason in the end of season press conference.

I would be very cautious about drafting Donte. Yes, he had a terrific championship game, but so did Jonny Flynn. And Jonny at least started for his team rather than coming off the bench. It's odd that he couldn't crack the starting lineup in his third college year (one shortened by injury). Be wary of guys who get a lot of attention from one big game.

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:FWIW the latest DE/ESPN mock has us taking Donte V. Where they had us taking Diop. I'm not a fan of Diop I don't think his measureables are that impressive and I hear he has problems with his motor. I don't know that much about him though.

The reality is there are probably 10 guys I wouldn't really mind the Wolves taking at #20 there are some guys so would prefer and some guys I would find it easy to get excited about like Donte. Some guys there are other players I would prefer someone else like Grayson Allen but I wouldn't hate the pick. I am pretty sure it was Jon K that said in his last podcast (listened to a bunch this morning at work) it looks very much like the Wolves are focusing wings which they said they needed to focus on in the offseason in the end of season press conference.

I would be very cautious about drafting Donte. Yes, he had a terrific championship game, but so did Jonny Flynn. And Jonny at least started for his team rather than coming off the bench. It's odd that he couldn't crack the starting lineup in his third college year (one shortened by injury). Be wary of guys who get a lot of attention from one big game.

I just watched a highlight video of Donte. My take always:

Doesn't really have a significant burst to get past guys.

He isn't a big guy. You have to wonder if that will matter at the next level in a few ways. Skill can trump all that though.

He has enough creativity with his dribble to set up his jumper.

His jumper looks legit. He can hit catch and shoot shots and get shots off the dribble. This is the strength of his game. He can hit jumpers from anywhere.

His finishing around the rim his 42" or whatever verticle...I don't see it. What he does well is extends the ball away from his body and finds a way to get the ball in the hoop. He actually reminds me a of JJ Barea in he knows how to find a away to finish.

The guy is firey and competitive. Averaged almost 5 rebounds a game off the bench in just under 30 mins a game. Not bad.

Ultimately I came away thinking he is a guy I still would t mind but I would prefer a few other players.

Also I feel any comparison to Flynn just isn't something that's fair. Flynn had a significant hip injury. Maybe he would have been a legit rotational player at the very least. I think his injury clouds any comparison. For example Lebron made a joke about everyone knowing Durant was a star except Portland. It was funny and It was good to see Lebron seeing genuinely laughing and seeming happy but Oden was a hell of a talent that couldn't stay healthy. Let's be real about Donte he had some terrific numbers playing off the bench for the clear best team in the nation by a significant margin. One player in Bridges will likely be a lottery pick and another was player of the year. Remember when Lavine was a guy that had to come off the bench? It turns out that some of the guys ahead of him were pretty good. We are also talking about #20 pick not a top 5 guy. Again I prefer other guys but I wouldn't hate the pick. He brings shooting and a guy that seems like would bring some added zing to a team that could use it.

longstrangetrip wrote:The latest nbadraft.net mock has us taking Anfernee Simons at 20. He's a very athletic high school player eligible for the draft. I can't imagine PBO Thibs drafting him, and certainly can't imagine coach Thibs playing him.

More likely is the Ringer's pick at 20, Keita Bates-Diop. The 4-year OSU forward isn't the lights out shooter this club might want, but he would be a good defensive option at SF and a guy it seems Thibs might prefer over others in the draft.

Diop would be a huge mistake. He has motor issues. Guys with motor issues coming out of college are almost always disasters. I'm hoping Thibodeau is smart enough to stay away from him.

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:FWIW the latest DE/ESPN mock has us taking Donte V. Where they had us taking Diop. I'm not a fan of Diop I don't think his measureables are that impressive and I hear he has problems with his motor. I don't know that much about him though.

The reality is there are probably 10 guys I wouldn't really mind the Wolves taking at #20 there are some guys so would prefer and some guys I would find it easy to get excited about like Donte. Some guys there are other players I would prefer someone else like Grayson Allen but I wouldn't hate the pick. I am pretty sure it was Jon K that said in his last podcast (listened to a bunch this morning at work) it looks very much like the Wolves are focusing wings which they said they needed to focus on in the offseason in the end of season press conference.

I would be very cautious about drafting Donte. Yes, he had a terrific championship game, but so did Jonny Flynn. And Jonny at least started for his team rather than coming off the bench. It's odd that he couldn't crack the starting lineup in his third college year (one shortened by injury). Be wary of guys who get a lot of attention from one big game.

Flynn never played in the National Championship game

kekgeek1 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

I wouldnt put any stock on who we are working out. Remember we worked out Ben Bentil what like 7 times

This franchise usually has a history of only selecting from the list of guys they work out because I guess Glen feels like if you don't feel like working out or interviewing for us, then you don't wanna be here at all.

I would say before Thibs sure, but now no. I am pretty positive that Patton did not work out with the Wolves.

We also didn't know we were gonna have the 16th pick during the process.

Interesting article on guys that could be NBA players in the 2nd round or maybe not even drafted. I'd be plenty intruiged with Justin Jackson at #48.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23815804/2018-nba-draft-10-sleepers-steals-watch

WildWolf2813 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:FWIW the latest DE/ESPN mock has us taking Donte V. Where they had us taking Diop. I'm not a fan of Diop I don't think his measureables are that impressive and I hear he has problems with his motor. I don't know that much about him though.

The reality is there are probably 10 guys I wouldn't really mind the Wolves taking at #20 there are some guys so would prefer and some guys I would find it easy to get excited about like Donte. Some guys there are other players I would prefer someone else like Grayson Allen but I wouldn't hate the pick. I am pretty sure it was Jon K that said in his last podcast (listened to a bunch this morning at work) it looks very much like the Wolves are focusing wings which they said they needed to focus on in the offseason in the end of season press conference.

I would be very cautious about drafting Donte. Yes, he had a terrific championship game, but so did Jonny Flynn. And Jonny at least started for his team rather than coming off the bench. It's odd that he couldn't crack the starting lineup in his third college year (one shortened by injury). Be wary of guys who get a lot of attention from one big game.

Flynn never played in the National Championship game

True, but his stock went way up based on his great performance in the NCAAs. I loved him as a player in college, but I remember commenting that his game was not going to translate well to the NBA. I get that his injury cost him his career, but I think even a healthy Flynn was not worthy of such a high pick and would have only been a marginal NBA player.

My point remains...use a player's entire body of work in considering his future, and don't get swayed by a great tournament performance.

Darren Wolfson: Lithuania's Arnoldas Kulboka, 20, also worked out for the #Twolves today, I hear. He was named best young player in the league he played in overseas last season. He has also worked out for the Lakers and Nuggets. #AllEyesNorthDarren Wolfson: Lithuania's Arnoldas Kulboka, 20, also worked out for the #Twolves today, I hear. He was named best young player in the league he played in overseas last season. He has also worked out for the Lakers and Nuggets. #AllEyesNorth

Zgoda seems to think they will use #20 to rid themselves of Gorgui and his contract. Given their thin bench, I would have to reserve judgment on that until I see how they use those savings.

http://www.startribune.com/somewhere-in-between/485751532/
https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda