Minnesota Sports Forum

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:56 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 7:51 pm I'm fully in the camp with Monster and Q advocating that the Wolves draft the best player available. I wouldn't focus at all on position or fit except as a tie-breaker between equals. I've been going through draft prospect stats, reviews, mocks and lots of videos over the past week. Most of my favorites are wings, which is arguably a need for the Wolves. You can never have too many wings. If nothing else, drafting a talented wing would give the Wolves would add another backstop for trading Beasley. Here are my favorites among those who are projected to fall outside the lottery in at least one or more mock drafts:

1. Dyson Daniels - He's my pick of the draft this year. I love his game and demeanor. A PG with terrific length, a terrific handle, excellent fluidity, solid character, a very good motor and a high basketball IQ. Almost every mock has him getting picked in the lottery, including some as high as #8. But there a couple mocks that strangely have him falling into the teens. Unfortunately, I don't see him sliding all the way to #19. In fact, I see him getting picked in the late lottery. But he's the one guy in the draft I'd consider trading up for (other than the likely top 3 or 4).

2. Jalen Duren -- I have him hear because one mock draft (draftnet) has him falling to #16. I don't believe it, but if he does, the Wolves will have to seriously consider trading up to get him. I think he's the best PF in the draft.

3. Tari Eason - I love the way he plays. Super high motor like Vando, but far more skilled offensively than Vando. He has terrific size for a SF at 6'8, 215 and he's a terrific athlete. His highest value is as a defender. But he averaged 17 points per game on 52% shooting as a sophomore. He also hit 36% of his threes, which was a major improvement over his previous season. He also averaged 2 steals and 6.5 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game, which reflects his motor and defensive instincts. One stat that really stands out in a positive way is his 5.7 foul shots per game. That's incredible in only 24.4 minutes. That's a skill a lot of players don't have and it will serve him well in the NBA. He's very right-hand dominant - way more than most at his level. So that's a potential problem. And he's shot well from behind the arc in only one of his two college seasons - although it was his most recent. So he's not a sure thing as a two-way player. But he's the real deal defensively and if he puts it all together, he'll be a heck of a two-say player. Most mocks have him falling outside the lottery but gone before the Wolves pick at #19. He might be a guy worth trading up a few slots to get - may offer one or two of our second-round picks.

4. Leonard Miller -- Not sure he'll be in the draft and I don't know much about him. But as an 18-year old 6'10 athletic PG who gets some rave reviews, I had to include him here and couldn't let him slip any further down my draft board. He's my high upside, low floor pick of the daft.

5. MarJon Beauchamp -- I've warmed up to him after watching a lot of video. His numbers don't jump off the page, except that I like his 7.3 rebounds per game as an addition to a team that desperately needs to improve its rebounding. He has excellent length for a SF and looks like a terrific athlete. He also appears to have good ballhandling skills and a good basketball IQ as well. He's bounced a round a lot through 4 high schools, Junior College and finally the G-League. Not sure what that's all about. He seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but not in a bad way. He seems really focused and serious about his game. He's a really good finisher who hit 57% of his field goal attempts. But he's a poor 3-point shooter and free throw shooter. I see him having a huge upside.

6. Ousmane Dieng -- An incredibly gifted ballhandler and playmaker with terrific length. He's a modern point forward if he can ever develop his shooting. But that's the problem. He may have the worst perimeter shot in the draft. But I'm putting him number 6 on my list based on skill set and upside.

7. Mark Williams -- Finally a big on my list. I like Williams but I have a hard time getting excited about him. He's an excellent shot blocker and dunker, but not much else. He has no perimeter shot and can't put the ball on the floor. But what concerns me most is that he's not an elite rebounder. He's a very good rebound, but at his size he should be elite at the college level. It's interesting also that he averaged only 23.6 minutes. I don't know if that was a stamina issue or because he was a liability in other ways. Anyway, you can't teach size and the Wolves need size. So he makes my list at #7.

8. Christian Koloko -- Love his length and athleticism. He started playing basketball late at age 15. He was a soccer player before that so, shades of Hakeem, perhaps he as great footwork and the makings of a star in him. Again, at 7'1, you can't teach length. It will be interesting to see his standing reach and wingspan numbers when they come out. In th meantime, he's an intriguing late bloomer prospect at a position of need for the Wolves. I think he's probably a better prospect than Williams because of his fluidity and shooting potential. So perhaps I should have him at 7 and Williams in this slot.

9. Malaki Branham -- He's all over the map on different mocks. Some have him picked in the lottery, but NBC has him picked at #18 by the Bulls. Here's a player, at 6'5 180 and SG who is very duplicative of what we already have with Edwards, Beasley, Beverley and Monroe. Nonetheless, I'm going by talent, not position. And this guy's got talent. As a freshman he averaged nearly 14 points while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 41.6% from behind the college arc. He's definitely a scorer with nice athleticism and good size for the SG position. Looks like he has long arms too. But I'm not sure about his defense or motor. He only averaged 0.7 steals per game and 3.6 rebounds.

10. Trance Jackson-Davis -- He's generally projected to go in the 2nd round so I'll put him here last on my list as a potential sleeper of the draft. I like his 8.1 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks. And I especially like that he averaged 6.5 foul shots per game. Again, that's a valuable skill.

So there you have it - my top 10 prospects who have a chance of falling outside the lottery and within reach of the Wolves at #19, possible by trading up a few slots. I probably shouldn't have included Duren on this list because I see no chance of him falling outside the lottery. But here was one mock that had him falling out of the lottery, so that gave me license to include him.

Lip, I wanted to bump this post from last year as you were high on Miller. You also mentioned TJD who I was hoping we'd draft at 53, but I am fine with Clark.

Sundog wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:11 pm Miller pulled out of last years draft on May 31, which may explain why Lip didn’t have him listed in later posts on the draft.