Minnesota Sports Forum

I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Question...what exactly are we going off of saying that Ball is a poor shooter? Is it based on HS? He hasn't played there since he sophomore it looks like. Since then what I can gather is he has played about 20 official games internationally spread out among 2 different leagues. I'm not suggesting there should be no concerns about him In that area but is there enough definitive evidence for him being a bad shooter? I'll be curious to see how he measures out. He looks like a guy that's at least 6'7" with long arms. All in all this guy took a pretty unconventional route to get to this point...and is now a pretty good prospect. Could there be even more upside because of that?

Also I found the elusive rookie that was as bad at shooting as Culver...Lonzo Ball. So part of the LaMelo Ball can't shoot thing is probably both fairly and maybe somewhat unfairly tied to his brother. I would say Lemelo's shot looks more conventional to me than Lonzo's was.

monsterpile wrote:Question...what exactly are we going off of saying that Ball is a poor shooter? Is it based on HS? He hasn't played there since he sophomore it looks like. Since then what I can gather is he has played about 20 official games internationally spread out among 2 different leagues. I'm not suggesting there should be no concerns about him In that area but is there enough definitive evidence for him being a bad shooter? I'll be curious to see how he measures out. He looks like a guy that's at least 6'7" with long arms. All in all this guy took a pretty unconventional route to get to this point...and is now a pretty good prospect. Could there be even more upside because of that?

Also I found the elusive rookie that was as bad at shooting as Culver...Lonzo Ball. So part of the LaMelo Ball can't shoot thing is probably both fairly and maybe somewhat unfairly tied to his brother. I would say Lemelo's shot looks more conventional to me than Lonzo's was.

Monster -

I wouldn't say he's a poor shooter. I said he's a poor 3-point shooter. And that was based on his 25% 3-point percentage on 6.7 attempts in his one post-high school season. I understand that he only played 12 games, but that's how he performed in the games he played. That's certainly not "definitive." But it's the evidence we have and it suggests he's a poor 3-point shooter. Could he end up a decent or even great 3-point shooter in the NBA? Sure. But you can't ignore the evidence either. He hit 34% of his 3-point attempts as a high school varsity player. That's not particularly impressive to say the least, but it's also not particularly damming either.

If you draft Ball, you do so because he's a phenomenal talent as a ball-handler, passer and creator who also has excellent length for his position. You have to get comfortable enough that he won't be a liability as a shooter by making an educated assessment of his shooting potential based on how he's performed in the past as well as his mechanics, work ethic, etc. You'd also have to get comfortable with his defensive potential. The Wolves are a team that can't afford any more sub-par defenders, especially among their top player. Of course, you also have to assess LaMello's mental make up. I have no idea what kind of person or competitor he is. His father is a jackass, but we don't know whether any of that would be reflected in LaMello's character. Lonzo seems like a great kid and nothing like his father.

There are good arguments for drafting LaMello. But there are also good arguments for going with Wiseman or Edwards instead. I can even see an argument for taking Haliburton over LaMello, but I realize I'm probably alone in that view. I'd like to know a lot more about all these prospects and I'll never know as much as the NBA scouts evaluating these guys. And even the NBA scouts won't have any information you could call definitive.

lipoli390 wrote:I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Thank you for your breakdown Lip. I think you are perfectly valid on liking Haliburton, this draft is so freaking weird, you could make a legit argument for 15ish guys who could go 1 in this draft. That is why I am huge in trading the pick. Even a guy like Oturu, Ive seen mocks with him as a lotto pick and other mocks as he is a 2nd round pick. KOC dosen't even have him as a top 30 prospect. Other Minnesota born players like Zeke Nnaji can go anywhere from the lotto to the 2nd round. Tyrell Terry is projected late 1st in mocks, KOC has him in his top 10. Tre Jones could go anywhere from middle of the 1st to the 2nd round. Its a really weird draft.

Every player has massive weaknesses. (going off ESPN mock draft for the order)

Edwards: Lack of 3 pt shot, settles for jumpers, effort issues.
Ball: Inconsistent shot, makes crazy passes (He does have good vision), shot selection
Wiseman: No shot at all, terrible ball handeling, shot selection, what is the potential of a non shooting big in todays NBA.
Okoro: A zero on offense, can't shoot and bad off the dribble
Okongwu: I like a lot but probably a small ball 5 in the NBA and he can't shoot and terrible FT shooter.
Toppin: Old and makes D'angelo Russel look like Gary Payton on defense.
Haliburton: Productive but does he have NBA athleticism, IDK.
Hayes: No right hand and can he play SG next to Russel, Im not sure he would fit with Russell.


I am huge into trading our high 1st round pick.

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Thank you for your breakdown Lip. I think you are perfectly valid on liking Haliburton, this draft is so freaking weird, you could make a legit argument for 15ish guys who could go 1 in this draft. That is why I am huge in trading the pick. Even a guy like Oturu, Ive seen mocks with him as a lotto pick and other mocks as he is a 2nd round pick. KOC dosen't even have him as a top 30 prospect. Other Minnesota born players like Zeke Nnaji can go anywhere from the lotto to the 2nd round. Tyrell Terry is projected late 1st in mocks, KOC has him in his top 10. Tre Jones could go anywhere from middle of the 1st to the 2nd round. Its a really weird draft.

Every player has massive weaknesses. (going off ESPN mock draft for the order)

Edwards: Lack of 3 pt shot, settles for jumpers, effort issues.
Ball: Inconsistent shot, makes crazy passes (He does have good vision), shot selection
Wiseman: No shot at all, terrible ball handeling, shot selection, what is the potential of a non shooting big in todays NBA.
Okoro: A zero on offense, can't shoot and bad off the dribble
Okongwu: I like a lot but probably a small ball 5 in the NBA and he can't shoot and terrible FT shooter.
Toppin: Old and makes D'angelo Russel look like Gary Payton on defense.
Haliburton: Productive but does he have NBA athleticism, IDK.
Hayes: No right hand and can he play SG next to Russel, Im not sure he would fit with Russell.


I am huge into trading our high 1st round pick.

To me, drafting Wiseman isn't just about his potential. It's about getting someone that I think will help realize all of Towns potential.

PorkChop wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Thank you for your breakdown Lip. I think you are perfectly valid on liking Haliburton, this draft is so freaking weird, you could make a legit argument for 15ish guys who could go 1 in this draft. That is why I am huge in trading the pick. Even a guy like Oturu, Ive seen mocks with him as a lotto pick and other mocks as he is a 2nd round pick. KOC dosen't even have him as a top 30 prospect. Other Minnesota born players like Zeke Nnaji can go anywhere from the lotto to the 2nd round. Tyrell Terry is projected late 1st in mocks, KOC has him in his top 10. Tre Jones could go anywhere from middle of the 1st to the 2nd round. Its a really weird draft.

Every player has massive weaknesses. (going off ESPN mock draft for the order)

Edwards: Lack of 3 pt shot, settles for jumpers, effort issues.
Ball: Inconsistent shot, makes crazy passes (He does have good vision), shot selection
Wiseman: No shot at all, terrible ball handeling, shot selection, what is the potential of a non shooting big in todays NBA.
Okoro: A zero on offense, can't shoot and bad off the dribble
Okongwu: I like a lot but probably a small ball 5 in the NBA and he can't shoot and terrible FT shooter.
Toppin: Old and makes D'angelo Russel look like Gary Payton on defense.
Haliburton: Productive but does he have NBA athleticism, IDK.
Hayes: No right hand and can he play SG next to Russel, Im not sure he would fit with Russell.


I am huge into trading our high 1st round pick.

To me, drafting Wiseman isn't just about his potential. It's about getting someone that I think will help realize all of Towns potential.

Oturu is a guy I like as a basketball player but watching highlights...he doesn't exactly wow me. Now if he ends up being a true inside out guy with a 3 point shot that's more interesting. He doesn't look wildly athletic but pretty good. It feels like Naz Reid is sorta similar in some ways. I can see why Oturu isn't projected to go higher despite some terrific production as a sophomore. I don't get the feeling he is some defensive monster either.

Trading the higher pick for a player that can help immediately certainly has appeal in this draft. Aaron Gordon's name has been brought up what about Myles Turner or Sabonis? Lavert would have made some sense if we hadn't added Beasley. This might be a draft that is ripe for moving around and maybe a team would be willing to give up a player and lower pick to move up...you know like the Wolves did last year. Lol Anyone see any video of Culver's new jumper that I'm sure he has been perfecting during this time? ;)

monsterpile wrote:

PorkChop wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Thank you for your breakdown Lip. I think you are perfectly valid on liking Haliburton, this draft is so freaking weird, you could make a legit argument for 15ish guys who could go 1 in this draft. That is why I am huge in trading the pick. Even a guy like Oturu, Ive seen mocks with him as a lotto pick and other mocks as he is a 2nd round pick. KOC dosen't even have him as a top 30 prospect. Other Minnesota born players like Zeke Nnaji can go anywhere from the lotto to the 2nd round. Tyrell Terry is projected late 1st in mocks, KOC has him in his top 10. Tre Jones could go anywhere from middle of the 1st to the 2nd round. Its a really weird draft.

Every player has massive weaknesses. (going off ESPN mock draft for the order)

Edwards: Lack of 3 pt shot, settles for jumpers, effort issues.
Ball: Inconsistent shot, makes crazy passes (He does have good vision), shot selection
Wiseman: No shot at all, terrible ball handeling, shot selection, what is the potential of a non shooting big in todays NBA.
Okoro: A zero on offense, can't shoot and bad off the dribble
Okongwu: I like a lot but probably a small ball 5 in the NBA and he can't shoot and terrible FT shooter.
Toppin: Old and makes D'angelo Russel look like Gary Payton on defense.
Haliburton: Productive but does he have NBA athleticism, IDK.
Hayes: No right hand and can he play SG next to Russel, Im not sure he would fit with Russell.


I am huge into trading our high 1st round pick.

To me, drafting Wiseman isn't just about his potential. It's about getting someone that I think will help realize all of Towns potential.

Oturu is a guy I like as a basketball player but watching highlights...he doesn't exactly wow me. Now if he ends up being a true inside out guy with a 3 point shot that's more interesting. He doesn't look wildly athletic but pretty good. It feels like Naz Reid is sorta similar in some ways. I can see why Oturu isn't projected to go higher despite some terrific production as a sophomore. I don't get the feeling he is some defensive monster either.

Trading the higher pick for a player that can help immediately certainly has appeal in this draft. Aaron Gordon's name has been brought up what about Myles Turner or Sabonis? Lavert would have made some sense if we hadn't added Beasley. This might be a draft that is ripe for moving around and maybe a team would be willing to give up a player and lower pick to move up...you know like the Wolves did last year. Lol Anyone see any video of Culver's new jumper that I'm sure he has been perfecting during this time? ;)

Monster - I agree with you on Oturu. He's not particularly impressive to watch. He's a guy you take based on his rebounding and shot-blocking stats (especially his rebounding). The question is whether he can be an elite rebounder and really good shot-blocker at the NBA level. That's where the eye test makes you wonder. But rebounding stats almost always translate from college to the NBA. It's probably the most reliable college stat for projecting NBA performance. Shot-blocking seems less reliable. I see Reid as a better offensive player than Oturu - as both shooter and passer. Reid appears to have excellent court vision, a nice touch on his passes and a very good feel for the game on the offensive end. But he hasn't proved to be a particularly good rebounder and he's definitely not a shot-blocker. I think Oturu will end up a better defensive player than Reid in the NBA. But there are only so many minutes and I'd like to see Reid remain part of our rotation going forward. This is going to be a very interesting draft for the Wolves.

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

PorkChop wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I need to see and read more before I feel comfortable settling on my favorites for the Wolves. As of now, I think the analysis starts with your philosophy.

If you believe the Wolves should take the most talented player in the draft with their top pick, then I think it should be Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball or James Wiseman.

Edwards and Ball are both dynamic shot-creators. Edwards is more athletic and explosive while Ball seems smoother and more skilled. Both are great talents. Unfortunately, Edwards and Ball suffer from the same weakness - namely poor 3-point shooting. That's a bad weakness to have as a guard in today's NBA, especially given the style the Wolves management and coaching staff wants to play. The Wolves are also crowded at the guard position with a lot of money invested in our current lead guard.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest another guard prospect who consider elite and who might turn out to be better than Ball or Edwards. I'm talking about Haliburton. We all pay a lot of attention to skill sets, video and the analyses we read. But in the end, I give a lot of weight to a player's production because that's ultimately what it's all about. Fact is, Haliburton's production was elite, shooting over 50% from the field and over 40% from behind the arc. He averaged 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals.

Wiseman appears to be the one elite big man in the draft. Unfortunately, he played only 3 games in college so we don't have a deep set of stats or video to rely on when evaluating him. But he was absolutely dominant in those three games, averaging 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 19.7 points while shooting nearly 77% from the field and averaging an incredible 9 free throw attempts. He has elite length and is a superb athlete.

If you believe the Wolves should use their top pick to fill a need while still getting a highly talented player, then the Wolves should look for someone who helps their interior defense and rebounding - two glaring areas of weakness the last two seasons. I think there are three obvious choices to fill that role: Wiseman, Okongwu and Oturu. Getting back to my point about production, you can't ignore Oturu's 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game or Okongwu's 2.7 blocks.

As of now, I'd take Wiseman. He strikes me as the one candidate who would fit the bill as the most talented prospect while also filling the Wolves number 1 need. The only thing that could cause me to not take Wiseman would be concerns about his motor. That's an issue the Wolves should explore in depth. The last thing this team needs is another Wiggins.

If not Wiseman, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm torn between taking the best player available versus filling the Wolves glaring need for interior defense and rebounding. So if Wiseman's not available or his motor issues are a big concern, then I'd be inclined to trade down a few picks and take Oturu or Okongwu while acquiring another asset. Based on my concerns about the 3-point shooting of Ball and Edwards, I might be inclined to trade down a few slots and take Haliburton while acquiring another asset.

But the player that excites me the most is Melo Ball. I think he'd be really fun to watch and could really make players around him better. So right now if I just go with my gut, I'd take Ball.

Thank you for your breakdown Lip. I think you are perfectly valid on liking Haliburton, this draft is so freaking weird, you could make a legit argument for 15ish guys who could go 1 in this draft. That is why I am huge in trading the pick. Even a guy like Oturu, Ive seen mocks with him as a lotto pick and other mocks as he is a 2nd round pick. KOC dosen't even have him as a top 30 prospect. Other Minnesota born players like Zeke Nnaji can go anywhere from the lotto to the 2nd round. Tyrell Terry is projected late 1st in mocks, KOC has him in his top 10. Tre Jones could go anywhere from middle of the 1st to the 2nd round. Its a really weird draft.

Every player has massive weaknesses. (going off ESPN mock draft for the order)

Edwards: Lack of 3 pt shot, settles for jumpers, effort issues.
Ball: Inconsistent shot, makes crazy passes (He does have good vision), shot selection
Wiseman: No shot at all, terrible ball handeling, shot selection, what is the potential of a non shooting big in todays NBA.
Okoro: A zero on offense, can't shoot and bad off the dribble
Okongwu: I like a lot but probably a small ball 5 in the NBA and he can't shoot and terrible FT shooter.
Toppin: Old and makes D'angelo Russel look like Gary Payton on defense.
Haliburton: Productive but does he have NBA athleticism, IDK.
Hayes: No right hand and can he play SG next to Russel, Im not sure he would fit with Russell.


I am huge into trading our high 1st round pick.

To me, drafting Wiseman isn't just about his potential. It's about getting someone that I think will help realize all of Towns potential.

Oturu is a guy I like as a basketball player but watching highlights...he doesn't exactly wow me. Now if he ends up being a true inside out guy with a 3 point shot that's more interesting. He doesn't look wildly athletic but pretty good. It feels like Naz Reid is sorta similar in some ways. I can see why Oturu isn't projected to go higher despite some terrific production as a sophomore. I don't get the feeling he is some defensive monster either.

Trading the higher pick for a player that can help immediately certainly has appeal in this draft. Aaron Gordon's name has been brought up what about Myles Turner or Sabonis? Lavert would have made some sense if we hadn't added Beasley. This might be a draft that is ripe for moving around and maybe a team would be willing to give up a player and lower pick to move up...you know like the Wolves did last year. Lol Anyone see any video of Culver's new jumper that I'm sure he has been perfecting during this time? ;)

Monster - I agree with you on Oturu. He's not particularly impressive to watch. He's a guy you take based on his rebounding and shot-blocking stats (especially his rebounding). The question is whether he can be an elite rebounder and really good shot-blocker at the NBA level. That's where the eye test makes you wonder. But rebounding stats almost always translate from college to the NBA. It's probably the most reliable college stat for projecting NBA performance. Shot-blocking seems less reliable. I see Reid as a better offensive player than Oturu - as both shooter and passer. Reid appears to have excellent court vision, a nice touch on his passes and a very good feel for the game on the offensive end. But he hasn't proved to be a particularly good rebounder and he's definitely not a shot-blocker. I think Oturu will end up a better defensive player than Reid in the NBA. But there are only so many minutes and I'd like to see Reid remain part of our rotation going forward. This is going to be a very interesting draft for the Wolves.

Well put Lip. Part of what I was thinking is this...Oturu should be coming out now (nothing more to prove and...how many guys din't improve and ended up 2nd round picks)...there have been a number of guys that put up good rebounding/scoring stats that didn't really translate at the next level. Oturo has better shot blocking numbers and it will be interesting to see how he measures out but Caleb Swanigan especially comes to mind and Ivan Rabb put up nice seasons and are nothing in the league really at this point. Bigs in this league now have to do some pretty good things or they are straight up backups. Its sad in a way but that is a reality IMO. I just don't think Oturu is likely to be special enough to play with Towns. Lip how would you compare him to say Sabonis?

Monster - I hadn't thought of the comparison between Oturu and Sabonis. That's interesting. I'll have to give that some thought. I was really high on Sabonis coming out of college. He was so fundamentally sound and had a great feel for the game. He impressed me more than Oturu in the eye test.

If I were intent on taking a big with the Wolves top pick this year, I'd probably take either Wiseman or Okongwu. I see both as the best defensive bigs in the draft and interior defense is such a glaring need for this team moving forward with KAT as one of our core stars. I also like that Wiseman and Okongwu can score inside, which means they can post up with Town taking his man out side to the 3-point line. If the NBA has a draft combine this year, I'll be interested in seeing Okongwu's overhead reach and vertical to get a better sense of his shot-blocking and overall defensive potential in the paint.

lipoli390 wrote:Monster - I hadn't thought of the comparison between Oturu and Sabonis. That's interesting. I'll have to give that some thought. I was really high on Sabonis coming out of college. He was so fundamentally sound and had a great feel for the game. He impressed me more than Oturu in the eye test.

If I were intent on taking a big with the Wolves top pick this year, I'd probably take either Wiseman or Okongwu. I see both as the best defensive bigs in the draft and interior defense is such a glaring need for this team moving forward with KAT as one of our core stars. I also like that Wiseman and Okongwu can score inside, which means they can post up with Town taking his man out side to the 3-point line. If the NBA has a draft combine this year, I'll be interested in seeing Okongwu's overhead reach and vertical to get a better sense of his shot-blocking and overall defensive potential in the paint.

Tell me more about why you like Okongwu.