Minnesota Sports Forum

It's just so annoying how he projects the same damn players for us every time. First it was Ellenson and now it's Markannen. News flash Ford. We need defense. Based on his description of Collins, isn't he just the superior prospect to Markannen for us?

Thanks cool. Im kind of warming up on markkanen. Cant teach 7 footer and has a great looking shot. If thibs can make him a defensive presence he could be really good. Needs to add some weight. Biggest concern for me is his foot speed and defense. May help spread the floor for towns. Seems to be ok not being the guy which would be good with towns and wiggins and their sticky fingers.

I like Markkanen but I think I would rather have Collins.

khans2k5 wrote:It's just so annoying how he projects the same damn players for us every time. First it was Ellenson and now it's Markannen. News flash Ford. We need defense. Based on his description of Collins, isn't he just the superior prospect to Markannen for us?

That depends. Markannen is the more proven player. You know what you are getting at an elite level, and you hope to mold the rest. Collins, in my opinion, is the first essential reach of this draft. Unproven, hopeful talent.

I'm honestly baffled by how many people here say they want to trade for a vet because a rookie is worthless for improvement, yet seem to want to take the most unknown high end talent in this draft lottery.

Just say no to Markannen. If we get Jonathan Isaac I will be doing cartwheels.

TeamRicky wrote:Just say no to Markannen. If we get Jonathan Isaac I will be doing cartwheels.

How would you rack these 4.

Jackson/Tatum/Issac/Monk.

That be my order but I also have a man crush on Issac

crazysauce wrote:Thanks cool. Im kind of warming up on markkanen. Cant teach 7 footer and has a great looking shot. If thibs can make him a defensive presence he could be really good. Needs to add some weight. Biggest concern for me is his foot speed and defense. May help spread the floor for towns. Seems to be ok not being the guy which would be good with towns and wiggins and their sticky fingers.

Questions about Markkansen's foot speed and defense scare me. Yes, he's apparently around 7'0 tall, but reports suggest he's not very long. We'll have to see how me measures out at the draft combine, but 7'0 with short arms doesn't mean much, especially from a defensive standpoint. I assume that choices like Gonzaga's Collins and Markkansen are on the table only if Jonathan Isaac is already off the board when we pick. I we pass up Isaac for eithe of the other two I'll be a very, very, very... unhappy Wolves fan.

To further elaborate on my last post; I'm turning tides in the view for this draft. This is assuming that we sit at the more likely #6 or #7 positions. Of course if we pick #1-#3 I am all for drafting Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, or Isaac. I'd trade Ball to the highest bidder. I envision nothing but a headache from him and his father if he lands in "fly over MN".

I want to move away from the "potentially filling a need with the best possible player" mold. If we want to take that biggest potential star power at #6 then you take a guy like DSJ at #6 (here i'm assuming how the draft is expected to unfold without considering drops). We do not have a star at PG and DSJ has more potential/proven to be more of a potential star at his position than Collins has. I do not want a Byron Mullens pick.

If we do not want to take the biggest star potential pick, then we need to look at picks that are a damn near given to succeed at a skillset we need. For example, we need 3pt. shooting. Markannen is damn near guaranteed to provide that in spades. I do not see a big who is guaranteed to provide or develop into a defensive presence or two way player in the 6 to 10 range. At least with Markannen we have closer to a guaranteed need filled with the potential to be more vs. a need potentially being filled down the road.

I want the defensive stalwart to be there for us, but with OG's injury, that isn't necessarily a given where we pick anymore. I also have softened on him as his ball handling is terrible, a skill highly overlooked for todays nba from the 1-4 position.

In short, I am moving to the camp where we either trade for a vet to fill a need or we draft to actually fill a need at #6-#8. I'm comfortable with our stars, so let's build upon the foundation with the right pieces.

If Thibs can't make Towns a defensive presence, DO NOT draft a guy in this draft hoping Thibs can coach him up defensively.

kekgeek1 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:Just say no to Markannen. If we get Jonathan Isaac I will be doing cartwheels.

How would you rack these 4.

Jackson/Tatum/Issac/Monk.

That be my order but I also have a man crush on Issac

I think Jackson and Isaac are both going to be very good NBA players (both have all star potential) but I think Isaac would probably be a better fit for us and doesn't carry the baggage that Jackson does. Isaac isn't as much a volume scorer as Jackson but he's just as efficient and is a better free throw shooter. I also love Isaac's length and ability to play the 3 and 4. He has the best rebound numbers of anyone slotted to be picked in the top ten. He has a great defensive rating and steals and blocks at good rates too. I like that he developed guard skills before he had a recent growth spurt.

I like Tatum too. He can play both sides of the ball. I think he's just a tad below the other two guys because his physical tools and length aren't quite as impressive.

Monk is a great scorer and will probably have a nice NBA career, but I don't think that's our biggest need. One guard that intrigues me is the Frank Ntilinkina because of his superb length. I still want to take one of the wing guys because I think a two way wing is our biggest need and these guys may also be the BPA when we pick.