have fans overvalued the talent of...

[mrhockey89]

I think we have two legitimate cornerstone players in Rubio and Wiggins. Rubio is clearly the veteran and Wiggins still has a long ways to go, but at this point, Wiggins absolute floor to me is a better version of Rudy Gay, and his ceiling is a top 5 player in this league. Wiggins went from a liability with flashes early in the year to an asset as the year progressed. Remember when he guarded Kobe and Butler early in this year and you could see he was not quite sure on how to iso defend them in the late game situation? If you put him in those situations now he'd be night and day better. You can see him both working on and off the ball now, you can see him attacking the rim and posting up as well as spotting up. You see him hustling, and you see a willing learner who's overall game has been improving throughout the year. Even now when he's stagnating a bit in his offense, it's clear he's rounding his game a bit more. He's as good as we could have hoped for as a rookie.

I really don't know who we should want in this draft..Towns fits the bill probably the best of what we should be drafting based on his skill set, position, and our needs...Okafor has been touted as the #1 pick with an incredible low post game all year (but lacking defensively and athletically). D'Angelo Russell might be a very good combo guard that could help aleviate our depth issue at those positions and give us some nice all around punch. Mudiay may have a boatload of talent..but he plays the same position as our current best player. Then you have the super role player Stanley Johnson who could be a lock down defender at the wing who could be a decent shooter on the offensive end as well. I just wish there was an obvious superstar to be drooling over in this draft. It seems like there's solid (all-star) talent at the top, but not superstar, although only time will tell.

After watching a bit more of some of these guys, if I had to order guys I'd like (and I am taking into account fit) to see the Wolves draft (and I'm only talking the 5 I mentioned), I'd order my wish list like this:

1. Towns
2. Russell
3. Johnson
4. Okafor
5. Mudiay

This is why I don't really mind if we get the 1st pick or the 5th pick.

[Coolbreeze44]

Johnson over Okafor and Mudiay is insane Hockey. The best two picks in this draft are the two big guys. I'd take Mudiay over Russell. And though I wouldn't mind Johnson at all, I would never take him in the top 4.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think the athleticism KG had in his younger years takes more of a toll on the body than a center like Duncan who relied less on the running and jumping and more on technique. Nonetheless ,Duncan is a marvel. And I've learned to appreciate him.

KG was a pro 2 years before Duncan so even though the difference in games is only 24 in favor of KG including playoff games, he's been on the NBA grind 2 years longer. Duncan has also regularly been rested for several years now whereas KG would only miss time due to injury. I think KG has more in the tank and he and Flip just aren't going to waste it this year. Use it up in next year or the year after where it is more likely to matter. KG also has the minutes advantage at 55,145 to Duncan's 54,259. It's again not the biggest but adds up over the years being in the league 2 years longer.

[mrhockey89]

Johnson over Okafor and Mudiay is insane Hockey. The best two picks in this draft are the two big guys. I'd take Mudiay over Russell. And though I wouldn't mind Johnson at all, I would never take him in the top 4.

That's why I call it my wish list. Evan Turner was a better prospect than Paul George, as was (by most people's estimations) Wes Johnson. Okay, I side tracked a bit, since this isn't my point. My point is that I want 2 way players who fit a need. All of the guys I mentioned have All-Star upside. Just as I don't think Al Jefferson would work on our team, that doesn't mean he's not a good player...just not a good fit.

That's not to say I wouldn't like any of them, but that is why I ordered my preference.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Pork, I think you're sorta dismissing the fact that the fact that the Wolves are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and they're giving major minutes to the young guys. When LaVine, Wiggins, and Payne are on the court together, that's 3 rookies...then add the vast experience of Dieng...and let's throw in Shabazz for fun.

If half your team rotation are rookies or second year players, you're not going to be .500+. Anything short of LeBron couldn't pull this group into a .500 club.

With that said, Ricky had a terrible game the other day, but he's still a significant contributor to the Wolves, and the team leader.

.

If u r a team leader and significant contributor shouldn't u shoulder blame for the losses? Every other good player in this league has too . That's how it works.

Pork, this is the issue I have as well. Guys that make max or near-max money need to DETERMINE outcomes of games....not simply play a supporting role. Those guys are $5M per guys. All Rubio supporters ALWAYS fall back on the "he is a distributor" and needs stars around him to make the team win. What? Then why are we paying the guy like a star and not the role-player he may be?

[Papalrep]

Jason Kidd was a distributor

[zigzag22 [enjin:6591633]]

You guys, we have GOT to stop talking about "fit" or "2-way players"......are you watching the same team as me?

We need TALENT. Pure, ceiling-less talent. Whether it be huge offensive potential (Okafor, Mudiay, Russell) or huge defensive potential (Towns), we can't start looking at what player fits our team, we need the BEST player available. Our team currently has a bunch of 4th, 5th, 6th options on a title team, we are nowhere near ready to compete in the west.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You guys, we have GOT to stop talking about "fit" or "2-way players"......are you watching the same team as me?

We need TALENT. Pure, ceiling-less talent. Whether it be huge offensive potential (Okafor, Mudiay, Russell) or huge defensive potential (Towns), we can't start looking at what player fits our team, we need the BEST player available. Our team currently has a bunch of 4th, 5th, 6th options on a title team, we are nowhere near ready to compete in the west.

Very true. I've said this numerous times, but I truly believe the NBA is at its all-time peak in terms of sheer talent across the league. It's absurd what guys like Westbrook, Curry, Harden, and Davis are doing. And some of these teams run 9 or 10 deep with starting-caliber players.

[Porckchop]

I never thought of Martin and Pek as cornerstones. Is there anyone who did?? Ricky has been generally regarded as a cornerstone by both Wolves management/Flip and fans. But one cornerstone won't get it done, especially when that one cornerstone is a pass-first PG. Ricky passes, runs the offense, defends and rebounds at an elite level for an NBA PG. But he's not a scorer and never will be.

The Wolves may have another cornerstone, one who can score, in Wiggins. But we'll have to wait another year or two before we'll know for sure. A third cornerstone doesn't exist yet on this team unless LaVine takes it to another level next season -- something I consider possible.

Bottom line is this. We don't have three cornerstones. We have one. And he's not a scorer.
Wiggins has shown lots of promise and LaVine has loads of potential that he's teased us with a couple games this season. Not knowing for sure what Wiggins will become and with uncertainty surrounding LaVine, the Wolves need to use this year's 1st round pick to draft another potential cornerstone player. Martins is must a one way role player and I think we've all known that. Pek's days with the Wolves and perhaps in the League are numbered.

If u believed this was a .500 ball club to start the season it was becuz u had faith in those three players . Plain n simple.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I never thought of Martin and Pek as cornerstones. Is there anyone who did?? Ricky has been generally regarded as a cornerstone by both Wolves management/Flip and fans. But one cornerstone won't get it done, especially when that one cornerstone is a pass-first PG. Ricky passes, runs the offense, defends and rebounds at an elite level for an NBA PG. But he's not a scorer and never will be.

The Wolves may have another cornerstone, one who can score, in Wiggins. But we'll have to wait another year or two before we'll know for sure. A third cornerstone doesn't exist yet on this team unless LaVine takes it to another level next season -- something I consider possible.

Bottom line is this. We don't have three cornerstones. We have one. And he's not a scorer.
Wiggins has shown lots of promise and LaVine has loads of potential that he's teased us with a couple games this season. Not knowing for sure what Wiggins will become and with uncertainty surrounding LaVine, the Wolves need to use this year's 1st round pick to draft another potential cornerstone player. Martins is must a one way role player and I think we've all known that. Pek's days with the Wolves and perhaps in the League are numbered.

Lip, anyone who agreed with paying Pek what they did (I remember many) certainly thought he was a cornerstone. Martin, not so much.....but he is also not paid as one.

And Ricky is NOT a cornerstone...necessarily. He certainly wouldn't be considered a "cornerstone" type guy on any of the top teams in the NBA. He would be a role player, plain and simple. The difference, and the reason we stink, is that we are relying on a role player to be said cornerstone. Ricky offers many positive traits, but the fact that this board debates whether Ricky is even a top 15 PG cries out of a role player and not a cornerstone type guy.