Minnesota Sports Forum

I think we definitely have two guys who are elite and then 5 question marks. And we don't know where we pick so its hard to tell how valuable our pick is now. I like Jaylen Brown only if we have a defensive minded coach. He could be an elite defender if he focuses his energy on that side of the ball, but under an offensive minded coach, he could become a chucker and a bad fit for our team. Buddy might be the biggest boom/bust prospect, but we haven't seen a pure shooter like him since Curry and so he might be worth the gamble depending on where we pick. Same goes with Bender--he's definitely a gamble but high upside if he pans out. Dunn is somewhat safe, but I don't see elite upside, and with Ricky being healthy most of the year, he may no longer be a great need pick. Poeltl could be the guy--I see him as safer than Bender, but less upside. I do like Valentine better than J Murray, Ellenson, D Murray, Rabb and the rest of the lottery projected guys, so if we can't get someone we like with our pick, trading down with him in mind is something to consider.

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

Camden wrote:Yeah, that's too many bodies that need minutes to have on one group. You have the quantity, but it still looks like a sub-par bench to me and one I wouldn't be too happy about.

I think it would be a huge, huge improvement and potentially one of the best in the NBA. You have guys who are good defenders at every position. Now, we have nobody who can defend on our bench. Payton, McCaw, Valentine, KG/Olynyk and Noah would be a superb defensive second unit. With a coach like Thibs and our starters, we'd become the best defense in the NBA within 2 years. Elite Defense = Championships.

I'm sorry but a bench unit led by three rookies is going to be garbage next year. You are way overvaluing the impact later 1st and early second round rookies have on a team. Talking about them like sure things isn't great either. Odds are highly unlikely all 3 pan out how you see them and create this elite defensive unit you are portraying.

100% agree just looking at last year's draft I only see three 2nd round picks getting any minutes at all in Richardson, hillard, and harrold. (Correct me if I am wrong). Also hopefully this is the wolves year drafting this high in a draft. We need to add one more player who could be a game-changer. Is that player in this draft but I have never believed in drafting for a role player when you are not in title contention.

We need one more player that has a chance to be a home run. Instead of a double. (That is why I am not against skal if the wolves are drafting 7th or 8th)

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

Camden wrote:Yeah, that's too many bodies that need minutes to have on one group. You have the quantity, but it still looks like a sub-par bench to me and one I wouldn't be too happy about.

I think it would be a huge, huge improvement and potentially one of the best in the NBA. You have guys who are good defenders at every position. Now, we have nobody who can defend on our bench. Payton, McCaw, Valentine, KG/Olynyk and Noah would be a superb defensive second unit. With a coach like Thibs and our starters, we'd become the best defense in the NBA within 2 years. Elite Defense = Championships.

I'm sorry but a bench unit led by three rookies is going to be garbage next year. You are way overvaluing the impact later 1st and early second round rookies have on a team. Talking about them like sure things isn't great either. Odds are highly unlikely all 3 pan out how you see them and create this elite defensive unit you are portraying.

Noah, Olynyk, KG and Turner are not rookies. McCaw has strong 3 and D potential and even as a rookie he may turn out better than Prince or Bazz (he can pass and defend), but he could still play behind Turner until he shows he's ready. Same goes with Payton, he could play behind Tyus. Valentine is a mature rookie so I think he'd be ready to play soon. But we shouldn't hockey substitute our bench, so we would have a few starters on the floor at all times. We have an absolute garbage bench now, so it couldn't get worse. So we'd only have three rookies on the floor next year in garbage time and we could work them into the rotation as soon as they show they are ready.

kekgeek1 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

Camden wrote:Yeah, that's too many bodies that need minutes to have on one group. You have the quantity, but it still looks like a sub-par bench to me and one I wouldn't be too happy about.

I think it would be a huge, huge improvement and potentially one of the best in the NBA. You have guys who are good defenders at every position. Now, we have nobody who can defend on our bench. Payton, McCaw, Valentine, KG/Olynyk and Noah would be a superb defensive second unit. With a coach like Thibs and our starters, we'd become the best defense in the NBA within 2 years. Elite Defense = Championships.

I'm sorry but a bench unit led by three rookies is going to be garbage next year. You are way overvaluing the impact later 1st and early second round rookies have on a team. Talking about them like sure things isn't great either. Odds are highly unlikely all 3 pan out how you see them and create this elite defensive unit you are portraying.

100% agree just looking at last year's draft I only see three 2nd round picks getting any minutes at all in Richardson, hillard, and harrold. (Correct me if I am wrong). Also hopefully this is the wolves year drafting this high in a draft. We need to add one more player who could be a game-changer. Is that player in this draft but I have never believed in drafting for a role player when you are not in title contention.

We need one more player that has a chance to be a home run. Instead of a double. (That is why I am not against skal if the wolves are drafting 7th or 8th)

I'd be on board with Skal if Poeltl is off the board when we pick. I like his two way potential. I just think Poeltl is a better fit next to Towns and Dieng which is why I have him higher than Skal.

TeamRicky wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

Camden wrote:Yeah, that's too many bodies that need minutes to have on one group. You have the quantity, but it still looks like a sub-par bench to me and one I wouldn't be too happy about.

I think it would be a huge, huge improvement and potentially one of the best in the NBA. You have guys who are good defenders at every position. Now, we have nobody who can defend on our bench. Payton, McCaw, Valentine, KG/Olynyk and Noah would be a superb defensive second unit. With a coach like Thibs and our starters, we'd become the best defense in the NBA within 2 years. Elite Defense = Championships.

I'm sorry but a bench unit led by three rookies is going to be garbage next year. You are way overvaluing the impact later 1st and early second round rookies have on a team. Talking about them like sure things isn't great either. Odds are highly unlikely all 3 pan out how you see them and create this elite defensive unit you are portraying.

Noah, Olynyk, KG and Turner are not rookies. McCaw has strong 3 and D potential and even as a rookie he may turn out better than Prince or Bazz (he can pass and defend), but he could still play behind Turner until he shows he's ready. Same goes with Payton, he could play behind Tyus. Valentine is a mature rookie so I think he'd be ready to play soon. But we shouldn't hockey substitute our bench, so we would have a few starters on the floor at all times. We have an absolute garbage bench now, so it couldn't get worse. So we'd only have three rookies on the floor next year in garbage time and we could work them into the rotation as soon as they show they are ready.

You're not getting Turner, Olynyk, 2 first round picks and a second for 1 top 5 pick unless it's top 2 and we should take who's left between Simmons and Ingram over all of them. Try again. Also, Noah, KG and Olynyk wouldn't all play. Again, pick two because Towns and Dieng are still going to get big minutes so there isn't time for 5 bigs every game.

Bender vs. Poeltl vs Skal vs. Noah (plus pick) vs. Ezeli (plus pick) vs Biyombo (plus pick) vs. Nene (plus pick). If all of these guys are options for us as third center. Who would you pick?

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:

Camden wrote:Yeah, that's too many bodies that need minutes to have on one group. You have the quantity, but it still looks like a sub-par bench to me and one I wouldn't be too happy about.

I think it would be a huge, huge improvement and potentially one of the best in the NBA. You have guys who are good defenders at every position. Now, we have nobody who can defend on our bench. Payton, McCaw, Valentine, KG/Olynyk and Noah would be a superb defensive second unit. With a coach like Thibs and our starters, we'd become the best defense in the NBA within 2 years. Elite Defense = Championships.

I'm sorry but a bench unit led by three rookies is going to be garbage next year. You are way overvaluing the impact later 1st and early second round rookies have on a team. Talking about them like sure things isn't great either. Odds are highly unlikely all 3 pan out how you see them and create this elite defensive unit you are portraying.

Noah, Olynyk, KG and Turner are not rookies. McCaw has strong 3 and D potential and even as a rookie he may turn out better than Prince or Bazz (he can pass and defend), but he could still play behind Turner until he shows he's ready. Same goes with Payton, he could play behind Tyus. Valentine is a mature rookie so I think he'd be ready to play soon. But we shouldn't hockey substitute our bench, so we would have a few starters on the floor at all times. We have an absolute garbage bench now, so it couldn't get worse. So we'd only have three rookies on the floor next year in garbage time and we could work them into the rotation as soon as they show they are ready.

You're not getting Turner, Olynyk, 2 first round picks and a second for 1 top 5 pick unless it's top 2 and we should take who's left between Simmons and Ingram over all of them. Try again. Also, Noah, KG and Olynyk wouldn't all play. Again, pick two because Towns and Dieng are still going to get big minutes so there isn't time for 5 bigs every game.

I actually wouldn't do this deal if we had a top 4 or maybe 5 pick and we really liked someone at our spot. Actually Evan Turner is a free agent and Olynyk is a restricted free agent and Boston won't be able to keep all their picks, so its a pretty fair trade even if our pick is 5-8. Again, I'm not sure I want to do this deal but if everybody I like is off the board, I'm fine with Valentine and extra players who I think can help us.

TeamRicky wrote:Bender vs. Poeltl vs Skal vs. Noah (plus pick) vs. Ezeli (plus pick) vs Biyombo (plus pick) vs. Nene (plus pick). If all of these guys are options for us as third center. Who would you pick?

There is no logic to this. The first three guys can be the pick next to the latter guys who all could be added via free agency with any of the first three guys. They also aren't all Centers. Skal, Bender and Nene are 4's and the rest 5's. I think Towns/Dieng/Poeltl/Belly is a balanced frontcourt. I think Towns/Dieng/any of Biyombo/Noah/Ezeli and Skal is a balanced frontcourt. I think Pek is our third Center until his deal is done. I think Poeltl gives us the most flexibility in free agency because our frontcourt would be fine with or without any additional moves whereas Skal would require one of the defensive bigs to be signed because he doesn't have the beef we need in the frontcourt.

Would you trade 5th overall pick for two of Denver's picks if you thought you could get both Skal and Valentine? Denver has 3 and possibly 4 first rounders (Their pick which they can swap with the Knicks pick if its lower, the Blazers pick, Memphis pick and Houston's pick if its not in the lottery).

Poeltl might actually be the third best prospect in this draft. I know people are high on Bender and Skal had the pre-season hype, but the Austrian just looks like such a solid pick in my view. High floor with high ceiling. He's not a homerun prospect (like Towns) due to his in-progress mid-range jumper and he could still get a bit stronger, but he's a stand-up RBI double, if you get the baseball analogy.