Might as well talk draft....

[Lipoli390]

Really good read about Ben Simmons and what he can do in this league. https://www.canishoopus.com/2020/11/2/21501910/offseason-targets-part-iv-ben-simmons-nba

Thanks for posting. I've always viewed Simmons as the one elite player I'd like the Wolves to pursue aggressively with our #1 pick and other assets. He's such a perfect fit here. I don't see a deal materializing, but if there's a potential deal out there it would be a three-way with the Wolves, Wizards and Sixers, built on three key pillars - Simmons, Beal and the Wolves #1 pick. I say that because there's a potentially ideal alignment of interests between those three teams, assuming the Wizards are ready to blow it up and start a major rebuild. I continue to think that's the only viable path for the Wizards right now. Details aside, I see the following potential alignment of interests:

1. Beal would be a better fit than Simmons for the Sixers. The Sixers have a defensive anchor in Embiid along with a very good wing defender in Richardson. What they need most is an elite dynamic scorer and that's exactly what Beal is.

2. Simmons would be a perfect fit with the offensively elite and defensively challenged KAT/DLO duo. He would also improve the Wolves rebounding, which in spite of KAT's elite contribution in that category has been notoriously poor. And as the article points out, Simmons is a friend of both DLO and KAT, which should help with the team's chemistry.

3. Unless you believe that Jon Wall is going to come back from his Achilles tear at age 33 as the borderline all-star he once was, the Wizards are going nowhere with Beal as their sole all-star caliber player. Even worse for the Wizards is that they have no budding young starts on their roster either. The Wolves have KAT and DLO along with several other talented young players in Okogie, Culver and maybe Beal, yet the Wolves found themselves outside the playoffs against this past season. The Wizards don't even have what the Wolves have. In other words, it's time for the Wizards to start over with a rebuild. It just so happens that the Wolves have exactly what any team starting a rebuild should want - the top pick in the draft and some young talent and other draft assets.

I don't know exactly what the Wizards would expect from the Wolves to do this deal, but it's definitely one worth exploring. The Sixers should be highly motivated to do this deal, so perhaps they'd throw another draft asset to the Wizards to make it happen. Just a thought. Again, I don't see this or any other deal for an elite player happening. I'm guessing the Wolves will trade down, not out, or simply pick and keep the #1 pick.

[mrhockey89]

Agreed Lip, though I think Beal would probably be a slightly better fit here than Simmons, but I think both would be a terrific get should either team be interested in dealing for #1 to shed salary and have the top pick to potentially jump start a rebuild/retool.

I also agree with you that the deal is unlikely to go down. The way Morey and Rivers are talking it sounds like they might want to keep both their stars.

With that said, more food for thought.... One rumor that has started up is that Morey might try to trade for Harden. In that situation, it seems like another type of 3-way that the Wolves could sneak into, involving #1 going to Houston, Simmons to MN, and Harden to Philly. As I think harder about that one, however, I think it's more likely that would have to involve a 4th team for salary purposes.

As long as the Wolves don't trade down from #1 just to obtain an average veteran I'll be happy. Pick at #1, trade for a star, trade down to acquire future picks all entice me. The only way I'm enticed by trading down to get a player+pick is if the player is really good (unlikely) or the player fills a major hole.

[Lipoli390]

Agreed Lip, though I think Beal would probably be a slightly better fit here than Simmons, but I think both would be a terrific get should either team be interested in dealing for #1 to shed salary and have the top pick to potentially jump start a rebuild/retool.

I also agree with you that the deal is unlikely to go down. The way Morey and Rivers are talking it sounds like they might want to keep both their stars.

With that said, more food for thought.... One rumor that has started up is that Morey might try to trade for Harden. In that situation, it seems like another type of 3-way that the Wolves could sneak into, involving #1 going to Houston, Simmons to MN, and Harden to Philly. As I think harder about that one, however, I think it's more likely that would have to involve a 4th team for salary purposes.

As long as the Wolves don't trade down from #1 just to obtain an average veteran I'll be happy. Pick at #1, trade for a star, trade down to acquire future picks all entice me. The only way I'm enticed by trading down to get a player+pick is if the player is really good (unlikely) or the player fills a major hole.

I agree with your take on trading down. I would expect future picks or a really good young player who fills a key need.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

The more highlights I watch of Haliburton, the more I wonder if he is the best player in this draft.

Shot mechanics: Ugly, but he has extremely quick trigger, and his shot is consistently repeated shot after shot (critical for shooters). His length and height allow for this set shot to continue to be successful. Uses lot's of pump fake action and quick trigger to get shots up.

Defender: Elite from an anticipation standpoint. And he is LONG. He will be positive defender from day 1.

Distributor: While Melo gets the nod for flash, Tyrese just makes the right play much more frequently. I take his type of play all day over these more flashy players.

I would state that he is not an elite athlete, but I think some other components in his size and length will make up for this.

I have always thought of him in a totally separate tier from top few guys, but I am not so sure anymore.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The more highlights I watch of Haliburton, the more I wonder if he is the best player in this draft.

Shot mechanics: Ugly, but he has extremely quick trigger, and his shot is consistently repeated shot after shot (critical for shooters). His length and height allow for this set shot to continue to be successful. Uses lot's of pump fake action and quick trigger to get shots up.

Defender: Elite from an anticipation standpoint. And he is LONG. He will be positive defender from day 1.

Distributor: While Melo gets the nod for flash, Tyrese just makes the right play much more frequently. I take his type of play all day over these more flashy players.

I would state that he is not an elite athlete, but I think some other components in his size and length will make up for this.

I have always thought of him in a totally separate tier from top few guys, but I am not so sure anymore.

As I've mentioned... I want him.

I don't know if he can put enough pressure on the rim to be a great fit with Russell... who is also "meh" doing that. But I see very few fatal flaws in the guy's game...

He's solid. And by all accounts... would be an adult in the room, even though he's young.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

He could be a trade down candidate. Just doesn't make sense to take him at #1, but I could see him along with like 4 or 5 other guys be in the mix if we were to trade #1 down a few slots. The Wolves just might peg someone as their highest ranked prospect that the broader market values lower in the draft, thus creating a trade down scenario where they can possibly get their #1 guy AND an additional asset.

[Monster]

The more highlights I watch of Haliburton, the more I wonder if he is the best player in this draft.

Shot mechanics: Ugly, but he has extremely quick trigger, and his shot is consistently repeated shot after shot (critical for shooters). His length and height allow for this set shot to continue to be successful. Uses lot's of pump fake action and quick trigger to get shots up.

Defender: Elite from an anticipation standpoint. And he is LONG. He will be positive defender from day 1.

Distributor: While Melo gets the nod for flash, Tyrese just makes the right play much more frequently. I take his type of play all day over these more flashy players.

I would state that he is not an elite athlete, but I think some other components in his size and length will make up for this.

I have always thought of him in a totally separate tier from top few guys, but I am not so sure anymore.

As I've mentioned... I want him.

I don't know if he can put enough pressure on the rim to be a great fit with Russell... who is also "meh" doing that. But I see very few fatal flaws in the guy's game...

He's solid. And by all accounts... would be an adult in the room, even though he's young.

Russell hasn't put up consistent percentages to say he is a great shooter but he and Halliburton could really open things up for someone else to put pressure on defenses driving...or maybe for each other. It would be kinda nice to have some guys that didn't get to the rim well but can strike it from 3. Honestly we have had too many guys that weren't exactly great at either one of those things so I'll settle for at least 1.

[KiwiMatt]

I think trading down is the best option. I'm not sold on Edwards and Ball. Wiseman is seriously dropping on a lot of bigs boards which is interesting. He's dropped to 11 on NBADraft net.

I like Okongwu, Hayes and Haliburton. Trade down to acquire one of them and try get a 2021 1st round pick in the process.

[AbeVigodaLive]

He could be a trade down candidate. Just doesn't make sense to take him at #1, but I could see him along with like 4 or 5 other guys be in the mix if we were to trade #1 down a few slots. The Wolves just might peg someone as their highest ranked prospect that the broader market values lower in the draft, thus creating a trade down scenario where they can possibly get their #1 guy AND an additional asset.

Yes.

Obviously, I've been beating the trade down drum pretty hard. And in part because it would allow them to "probably" draft Haliburton without reaching.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Russell hasn't put up consistent percentages to say he is a great shooter but he and Halliburton could really open things up for someone else to put pressure on defenses driving...or maybe for each other. It would be kinda nice to have some guys that didn't get to the rim well but can strike it from 3. Honestly we have had too many guys that weren't exactly great at either one of those things so I'll settle for at least 1.

Huh? Care to expound upon the bolded comment, monster?