Offseason Beyond the #1 Pick - What Needs to Happen

[AbeVigodaLive]

It seems pretty clear Flip isn't moving Martin and nobody is trading for Pek. I think the poll was a pretty good list of possible moves although I know some people would like to move Martin

Abe what of these possible moves interests you the most?

I think moving Bud makes sense because there is a chance a team actually wants him so we might get something back or at least have a little more money available to sign a younger deck chair FA that could be a solid contributor in the future of the team. He is the most likely to be traded on the team and then AB and then when it comes to assets the 2nd rounders are the most likely followed Bjelica maybe not too far behind.

Trade second and third tier assets to get back into the lottery? And hope that guy pans out in a Zach LaVine (holy cow, this guy could maybe turn into legit starter in this league for many years) type of way.

Basically, the Philly plan. The Orlando plan. Get enough lottery picks on your team and hope one or two or three of them pan out to make your team special. After all, the Wolves aren't in the playoffs this season. Or, probably the next. I'm not suggesting we embrace the lottery and losing and promise of hope any more than we already have... I'm just saying to grab as much high-end talent and potential while we can -- and then develop it into something special where moving furniture around can really make the entire room/house shine.

Getting into the lottery would be pretty exciting.

So what kind of furniture do you like? I'm really into mid century stuff right now.

Yes. I prefer to shop for furniture than to move it.

Interestingly enough, I also dig the mid-century modern stuff. Last year, we decided to embrace the fact that we live in a 1959 house.

If you're a local guy, this is a pretty neat store... http://findfurnish.com/

[Coolbreeze44]

Based on these results, the only real consensus seems to be that we should look to trade our 2nd round picks. There is some support to trading Bud and Bjelica, but it appears the group as a whole really doesn't agree on much. The one thing we can probably take from this is that most would like a 2nd lottery selection. It would seem a reasonable goal based on what we have at our disposal.

[60WinTim]

Why am I the only one who could not care less about moving back into the first round?

For the most part draft picks are a crapshoot anyway. Why do we want to get younger when we have so much youth at every position already?

Assuming we draft Towns or Okafor (it will be Towns), we should be happy with the young core on the team and worry about surrounding them with the pieces to help them grow and win.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think all the potential good NBA PG's go in the first round and given Ricky's injury history I want someone who's more than a placeholder taking over the starting duties if he gets injured. The whole offense fell apart without Ricky and vet backup PG's usually have limited means to fill in as starters, that's why they are backups. I want a Lavine situation again only with someone who is actually a PG. Someone with starting potential that gets to realize that potential whenever Ricky is out. There's no scoring load needed from that player because he'll be next to Bazz, Lavine or Martin and possibly Pek. There aren't many floor general backup PG's in the league. Most of those guys are meant to be scoring plugs. That's why I'd prefer to land Tyus if we could. He could really thrive with this second unit and be an ok fill in for Ricky if he gets hurt.

[Monster]

I think all the potential good NBA PG's go in the first round and given Ricky's injury history I want someone who's more than a placeholder taking over the starting duties if he gets injured. The whole offense fell apart without Ricky and vet backup PG's usually have limited means to fill in as starters, that's why they are backups. I want a Lavine situation again only with someone who is actually a PG. Someone with starting potential that gets to realize that potential whenever Ricky is out. There's no scoring load needed from that player because he'll be next to Bazz, Lavine or Martin and possibly Pek. There aren't many floor general backup PG's in the league. Most of those guys are meant to be scoring plugs. That's why I'd prefer to land Tyus if we could. He could really thrive with this second unit and be an ok fill in for Ricky if he gets hurt.

Your post could also make a case for Lorenzo Brown. I'm not putting words in your mouth thats just what I thought about when reading it.

[Monster]

Why am I the only one who could not care less about moving back into the first round?

For the most part draft picks are a crapshoot anyway. Why do we want to get younger when we have so much youth at every position already?

Assuming we draft Towns or Okafor (it will be Towns), we should be happy with the young core on the team and worry about surrounding them with the pieces to help them grow and win.

You want to use one 2nd rounder on a player that will likely be on the roster thought right?

To me the reason I want another young prospect is the hole at PF and backup PG although if we could find the right vet PG backup that might woudl be better with all the young players. on the other hand part of the thinking on getting a young PG is becasue there is some legit uncertainty about Rubio's health. I like the idea of trading up, but if we stay put and pick a guy at #31 and a eurostash at #36 I would be cool with that also.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think all the potential good NBA PG's go in the first round and given Ricky's injury history I want someone who's more than a placeholder taking over the starting duties if he gets injured. The whole offense fell apart without Ricky and vet backup PG's usually have limited means to fill in as starters, that's why they are backups. I want a Lavine situation again only with someone who is actually a PG. Someone with starting potential that gets to realize that potential whenever Ricky is out. There's no scoring load needed from that player because he'll be next to Bazz, Lavine or Martin and possibly Pek. There aren't many floor general backup PG's in the league. Most of those guys are meant to be scoring plugs. That's why I'd prefer to land Tyus if we could. He could really thrive with this second unit and be an ok fill in for Ricky if he gets hurt.

Your post could also make a case for Lorenzo Brown. I'm not putting words in your mouth thats just what I thought about when reading it.

Brown has some serious limitations to his game. I would take most of the PG's in this draft over him. I'd be fine keeping him on in an emergency role, but I don't think we'll have a spot for him. I'd rather try to land a Tyus, Grant, or Wright at the end of the first round. Maybe one slips to the top of the second round since the position is so deep across the league. Otherwise if we can't get one in the draft I'd want to go after a guy like Jeremy Lin as a guy who can both be a back up and a suitable starter if Ricky goes down. He's only 27 as well.

[Monster]

I think all the potential good NBA PG's go in the first round and given Ricky's injury history I want someone who's more than a placeholder taking over the starting duties if he gets injured. The whole offense fell apart without Ricky and vet backup PG's usually have limited means to fill in as starters, that's why they are backups. I want a Lavine situation again only with someone who is actually a PG. Someone with starting potential that gets to realize that potential whenever Ricky is out. There's no scoring load needed from that player because he'll be next to Bazz, Lavine or Martin and possibly Pek. There aren't many floor general backup PG's in the league. Most of those guys are meant to be scoring plugs. That's why I'd prefer to land Tyus if we could. He could really thrive with this second unit and be an ok fill in for Ricky if he gets hurt.

Your post could also make a case for Lorenzo Brown. I'm not putting words in your mouth thats just what I thought about when reading it.

Brown has some serious limitations to his game. I would take most of the PG's in this draft over him. I'd be fine keeping him on in an emergency role, but I don't think we'll have a spot for him. I'd rather try to land a Tyus, Grant, or Wright at the end of the first round. Maybe one slips to the top of the second round since the position is so deep across the league. Otherwise if we can't get one in the draft I'd want to go after a guy like Jeremy Lin as a guy who can both be a back up and a suitable starter if Ricky goes down. He's only 27 as well.

I don't disagree with you I was just thinking about him as a floor general/game manager. He can do that. Really if he could hit 3's or play better defense its possible he could be pretty useful. Im not holding my breath on that one though just clarifying what I meant.

[MikkeMan]

The backup PG I would go after is Cory Joseph. He is still a young player and has some upside.

I really like this idea. He is still young, has got a lot of valuable experience during his time in Spurs, is a good defender and good enough playmaker to keep our team competent in case Rubio is injured again. He might also want to sign with Minnesota since we have already some Canadians here.

[MikkeMan]

Don't care for the most part (sans the #1 pick). That's all moving the furniture type of stuff. And I think the next couple of years will be about finding out if the Wolves even have the right house.

It's ALL about the development of Wiggins. (is he just another promising player, a future all star or a future superstar?) The development of LaVine (is something there or was he a test case for athletic guy who can move but can't really play posting decent stats on a super duper bad team?). And then the pick. Is he a franchise building block? Future superstar?


[Note: That's not to say that discussions about moving furniture and bit parts can't be sorta fun. But there are some legit big-picture themes with this team right now that will dictate EVERYTHING that happens with the team for the next decade.]

While I agree that Flip might think same way as you that those 2nd round picks etc. won't matter, I don't think so. Would San Antonio have won all those championships if they would not have drafted Manu Ginobili (57th pick), would Golden State be in finals if they would not have drafted Dramond Green (35th pick) or would Cavs be in finals this year if they wouldn't have traded for Mozgov, Smith and Shumbert?

Sometimes moves that seem to be minor when they are made turn out be much more important than they were originally valued. It seems that even lately almost every draft there has existed still some real talent in 2nd round and I hope that also Minnesota could find something this summer with their 2nd round picks.

2014: K.J McDaniels 32nd, Jordan Clarkson 46th
2012: Draymond Green 35th, Khris Middleton 39th,
2011: Bojan Bogdanovic 31st, Chandler Parsons 38th, Isaiah Thomas 60th
2010: Hassan Whiteside 33rd, Lance Stephenson 40th
2009: Patrick Beverley 42nd, Danny Green 46th
2008: Nikola Pekovic 31st, DeAndre Jordan 35th, Omer Asik 36th, Goran Dragic 45th