Minnesota Sports Forum

Camden wrote:Updated: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Ben-Simmons-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-5391

the last thing in weaknesses is what troubles me the most, will he be good enough to handle the ball and run whole offense on NBA level? if not what are you going to do with him? ..

A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG. I wonder if Izzo was the GM of our team if he would pick him in the top 10.

TeamRicky wrote:Q, KAT had the best defensive rating in college basketball last season. I do like to look at defensive rating (KAT & AD were both #1, Draymond Green, Crowder & Dieng had top ten D-Ratings), defensive win shares, steals and blocks, plus reach, lateral quickness, athleticism and IQ in trying to project defensive ability. I have read multiple reports calling Poeltl's defense good or better (he has a pretty good defensive rating and reportedly shut down Okafor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocV7v0W5IA8Here's a video of Okafor vs Poeltl. I'm still doing my homework on him.

Right, I'm not saying that we learn nothing about guys defensively from college, but it's fuzzy. Dieng was a monster at Louiseville, but still struggles with interior defense and getting pushed around. KAT certainly seems to have the tools to be very good defensively, but he's not there yet.

I'm glad Poeltl seems like a willing defender - that's half the battle. But it's very, very rare for bigs to make a big impact defensively within their first couple of years.

bleedspeed177 wrote:A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG.

Boy, seems like it would be tough to go wrong with Valentine. We've seen some other young and slow-ish ball handlers have some success recently, including Kyle Anderson (his nickname is actually Slo-Mo) and D'Angelo Russell.

bleedspeed177 wrote:A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG. I wonder if Izzo was the GM of our team if he would pick him in the top 10.

He can't guard a single NBA point guard. If you draft him, you're drafting him as a SG/SF.

Camden wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG. I wonder if Izzo was the GM of our team if he would pick him in the top 10.

He can't guard a single NBA point guard. If you draft him, you're drafting him as a SG/SF.

Yeah the question to me based on the line of thinking of him playing a PG role is who can guard PGs that you can play next to him on offense while he plays his PGish role? idk i just haven't seen much of him this year to be honest but I expect that to change in the next couple of days. I think there are guys in every draft you like especially because of where you assume they will get picked but you also realize some of these guys just won't fit into your team. I am not saying Valentine is that guy (he has been a very effective volume 3 point shooter especially this year). it feels like the Wolves need frontcourt help the most right now whether thats a rugged SF or PF or C. Outside shooting is a need too. We don't need to draft on need but Its something to consider.

Camden wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG. I wonder if Izzo was the GM of our team if he would pick him in the top 10.

He can't guard a single NBA point guard. If you draft him, you're drafting him as a SG/SF.

I realize he wouldn't be a strong defender, but I don't see why he wouldn't be a better defender then Tyus Jones or Jose Calderon and why wouldn't you switch him with LaVine or Wiggins both have the quickness to guard the position. He could be a plus shooter, rebounder, and assist man. On our team he seems like he would be able to backup Rubio, LaVine, and Wiggins.

bleedspeed177 wrote:

Camden wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:A case for Denzel

http://www.campusrush.com/denzel-valentine-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-1663939494.html

I think if you draft him he will be best at PG. I wonder if Izzo was the GM of our team if he would pick him in the top 10.

He can't guard a single NBA point guard. If you draft him, you're drafting him as a SG/SF.

I realize he wouldn't be a strong defender, but I don't see why he wouldn't be a better defender then Tyus Jones or Jose Calderon and why wouldn't you switch him with LaVine or Wiggins both have the quickness to guard the position. He could be a plus shooter, rebounder, and assist man. On our team he seems like he would be able to backup Rubio, LaVine, and Wiggins.

May be, may be not. Straight-line speed and lateral quickness do not always go hand in hand. One can be very good east/west while being slow going north/south. I don't know if this is the case with Valentine, but I like how he's battled over screens and stayed in front of his man in college. I also like the fact he's got some strength and weight to him, so he can't easily be bullied by some of the stronger guards.

If he has the vision and instincts the article outlines. I don't see how he can't play PG. It would have been interesting to see how Flip would have went in this years draft.

Was watching some prospect videos today out of boredom and one guy that seems like an interesting prospect for this team later in the draft is Grayson Allen. I've watched him a couple times this year and watched one of his prospect videos on DX. I never noticed it watching him live, but when you see a bunch of his defensive possessions back to back to back, his defense reminds me a lot of Rubio. He pressures the ball at half court, has good form and is a really great athlete. I don't think he'll ever be Tony Allen, but he's got a good frame for 6'4" and a beautiful looking stroke. We've discussed a lot that 3 and D players don't grow on trees in college ball, but he seems like the prototype albeit a little short.

(Sorry if he has been discussed, a lot of pages in this thread)