monsterpile wrote:lipoli390 wrote:Camden wrote:kekgeek1 wrote:Kevin O'Connor updated his big board and mock draft. He is hearing the Wolves want to trade down or trade out of the pick for a win now player
Gersson Rosas has practically made that known just from the interviews. My hope is that he doesn't get blinded by his desire to trade down and end up positioning himself in a draft slot that won't have a top prospect available.
While the Warriors are putting out misinformation to sew confusion and create smoke screens and while the Spurs organization remains tight-lipped as always, Gersson is telling the world he wants to trade the top pick. Gupta could hardly contain his public expression of excitement at the prospect of dealing the pick. Maybe there's a method to what appears to be Gersson's lack of sophistication. I'd want to create the impression around the League that I really like the top prospects in the draft and that I'm strongly inclined to keep the pick and take Ball, Edwards or Wiseman. In other words, I'd want teams to believe it will take a lot to pry that pick away from me. He wouldn't have to believe it, he'd just need to have it leaked and repeated often enough for others to believe that it could be true. The great thing about having the top pick is that you don't have to worry about any team trying to jump ahead of you to steal a prospect you really like. So Rosas has the luxury of broadcasting an affinity for certain prospects without any risk.
However, in the end, the bigger concern is the one you identified, Cam -- i.e., the risk that Rosas will do a deal that eliminates any chance at a top prospect. I'm coming around more and more to your view that the Wolves should just draft Wiseman with the top pick unless they can still get him along with another decent asset by trading down one, two or three slots. I'm still high on Okongwu and like the idea of trading down to pick him while also picking up a Kennard or Heurter. But I don't know how realistic that is. And the more I think about Wiseman's combination of length and athleticism, the more I see a combination of floor and ceiling that the Wolves shouldn't pass on.
What if Rosas and his group has come to the conclusion many here have come to that this group at the top isn't all that exciting and he really thinks moving the pick is the best thing to do if there is a good offer. How Exactly is he supposed to gauge the market in total secrecy?
Agreed. In addition, this stuff is never a "secret" in today's environment. Whether tight lipped or not, I think many of the things we talk about are obvious to everyone. Like in the case being discussed, it is OBVIOUS that the Wolves would be looking to trade pick for an immediate contributor. Whether our management says this or not, given the consistent comments about low tier talent, coupled with where Wolves are in rebuilding, I believe this should be common knowledge. Does it mean they will trade the pick? Nope.
Additionally, spreading the rumor may actually work in Wolves favor, as I think more teams may perhaps engage in conversation.
In the end, we have the #1 pick, so we are in drivers seat. It only takes 1 team to REALLY want a Wiseman or Edwards and to make a deal we would find a bit unexpected. I don't think that is at all out of the realm of possibility. Guys like Huerter or Kennard that Lip mentions, while decent players, are certainly in realm of what the Wolves should EXPECT in any return for the top pick in a move-back scenario. These guys are, and will always be role players.