Wiseman is ducking the Wolves according to Doogie and Windhorst

[Monster]

Bad teams routinely have players that dont want to play for them. Its a unique problem for losers in all sports. The core of the story is probably true and it is likely becoming a bit complicated for the Wolves to deal with it. If Wiseman is there top guy I hope they have the balls to draft him anyway, but history probably isnt working in our favor on this one. Im sure the Wolves have communicated with Wiseman already. But if Im him, of course Id rather play for the Warriors. He'd get tons of playing time on a winner if hes as good a people here are trying to make him out to be.

I'm going to go all Kahnsy on you here.....Wiseman has literally no leverage. If anything, his not wanting to come to Minnesota makes me want to draft him even more because a) it sends a signal to other future prospects that we don't give a shit about your silly preferences - that's not how it works in the NBA, b) it also sends a signal to other agents, front offices and media folks that fan the flames of this type of narrative that we could care less, and c) they can still trade him anyway.

Stay strong Gupta!

Amen

If he was so worried about playing time, then why did he opt out of college ball?

I'm sure he would rather have the extra 10 mil in hand as the #1. Hell, his family could not afford to scrape up the 11,500 the NCAA wanted paid back. Though I still think that whole decision was horseshit, and robbed us of a definitive decision of Wiseman being the best talent.

Maybe

I think giving in to a young player's demands has less to do with THAT specific player... and more to do with the rest of that player's client list.

If one player hates your organization... meh. But if that agent is upset with you, how fairly will he treat the organization when it comes to another client?

I believe Jeff Schwartz is Wiseman's agent. His client list:
https://basketball.realgm.com/info/agent-client-list/Jeff-Schwartz/23

I don't totally disagree here, but ultimately the goal is to build a winner. If you avoid an agent's client in the draft as a favor at the expense of the better talent, that team is more likely to stay a loser. Additionally, I'm pretty sure if the Wolves somehow turn their young core into an up and coming contender, the agent won't be pushing the Wolves out of the mix with other clients, or he will be more likely to lose the clients.

It's not like the Wolves would be drafting Wiseman to have him ride the pine all season. If Naz Reid can log major minutes with this team, then Wiseman sure can. KAT really fits a hybrid 4/5, and Wiseman is a true 5. It's not like we haven't seen something relatively similar in the past with Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein.

I'm not suggesting the Wolves should cower from any agent... only that the agent's connections is part of NBA basketball.

We've already seen for 10+ years how the Wolves placating agents and playing nice with veteran buyouts really hasn't materialized with favorable treatment down the line anyway.

I don't exactly disagree with you but how long does it take to have that stuff pay off? What's the longest anyone has been the basketball executive for this franchise the past 10 or so years?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Bad teams routinely have players that dont want to play for them. Its a unique problem for losers in all sports. The core of the story is probably true and it is likely becoming a bit complicated for the Wolves to deal with it. If Wiseman is there top guy I hope they have the balls to draft him anyway, but history probably isnt working in our favor on this one. Im sure the Wolves have communicated with Wiseman already. But if Im him, of course Id rather play for the Warriors. He'd get tons of playing time on a winner if hes as good a people here are trying to make him out to be.

I'm going to go all Kahnsy on you here.....Wiseman has literally no leverage. If anything, his not wanting to come to Minnesota makes me want to draft him even more because a) it sends a signal to other future prospects that we don't give a shit about your silly preferences - that's not how it works in the NBA, b) it also sends a signal to other agents, front offices and media folks that fan the flames of this type of narrative that we could care less, and c) they can still trade him anyway.

Stay strong Gupta!

Amen

If he was so worried about playing time, then why did he opt out of college ball?

I'm sure he would rather have the extra 10 mil in hand as the #1. Hell, his family could not afford to scrape up the 11,500 the NCAA wanted paid back. Though I still think that whole decision was horseshit, and robbed us of a definitive decision of Wiseman being the best talent.

Maybe

I think giving in to a young player's demands has less to do with THAT specific player... and more to do with the rest of that player's client list.

If one player hates your organization... meh. But if that agent is upset with you, how fairly will he treat the organization when it comes to another client?

I believe Jeff Schwartz is Wiseman's agent. His client list:
https://basketball.realgm.com/info/agent-client-list/Jeff-Schwartz/23

I don't totally disagree here, but ultimately the goal is to build a winner. If you avoid an agent's client in the draft as a favor at the expense of the better talent, that team is more likely to stay a loser. Additionally, I'm pretty sure if the Wolves somehow turn their young core into an up and coming contender, the agent won't be pushing the Wolves out of the mix with other clients, or he will be more likely to lose the clients.

It's not like the Wolves would be drafting Wiseman to have him ride the pine all season. If Naz Reid can log major minutes with this team, then Wiseman sure can. KAT really fits a hybrid 4/5, and Wiseman is a true 5. It's not like we haven't seen something relatively similar in the past with Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein.

I'm not suggesting the Wolves should cower from any agent... only that the agent's connections is part of NBA basketball.

We've already seen for 10+ years how the Wolves placating agents and playing nice with veteran buyouts really hasn't materialized with favorable treatment down the line anyway.

I don't exactly disagree with you but how long does it take to have that stuff pay off? What's the longest anyone has been the basketball executive for this franchise the past 10 or so years?

I don't know. And that's sort of my point.

The Wolves have been "playing nice" with agents and players with veteran buyouts for years across multiple regimes... and... for what end result? Has it ever paid off for the team?

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

This is all ridiculous.

There have been MANY examples showing Wiseman to be an accomplished, and smart young man. Thus, I just don't buy into these things being discussed.

- First things first, there is like a $7MM difference between going 1 & 2. Advantage Wolves.
- Is the Warriors team a better fit? Meh. They will certainly win more games. That said, GS will be in purely win-now mode, and won't have luxury of developing and working through inevitable mistakes. While I could see Wiseman logging major minutes on both teams, I also believe he won't see light of day during any crunch-time scenarios with GS. That is Draymon territory for Warriors at the C position.
- What about Wolves? The narrative is that the Wolves won't play 2 big men together (based on recent patterns of usage). But let's make something clear......we have NEVER had a complimentary player that even sniffs the capabilities of Wiseman on this roster. Sure, we didn't play Towns and Dieng together. But again, Dieng is NOT Wiseman in any aspect. And if Wolves invest #1 on Wiseman, he WILL get a ton of playing time with Towns.
- Oh, and the agent angle. What a crock. Who cares? Are agents really going to put Wolves in penalty box for getting their client $7MM more? And giving him a ton of minutes? NOOOOOO, they are not. And as some said, who cares! This franchise will NEVER be a destination until we win. And we win by taking the best players in the draft.....it is our only way to become a contender some day.

[Lipoli390]

This is all ridiculous.

There have been MANY examples showing Wiseman to be an accomplished, and smart young man. Thus, I just don't buy into these things being discussed.

- First things first, there is like a $7MM difference between going 1 & 2. Advantage Wolves.
- Is the Warriors team a better fit? Meh. They will certainly win more games. That said, GS will be in purely win-now mode, and won't have luxury of developing and working through inevitable mistakes. While I could see Wiseman logging major minutes on both teams, I also believe he won't see light of day during any crunch-time scenarios with GS. That is Draymon territory for Warriors at the C position.
- What about Wolves? The narrative is that the Wolves won't play 2 big men together (based on recent patterns of usage). But let's make something clear......we have NEVER had a complimentary player that even sniffs the capabilities of Wiseman on this roster. Sure, we didn't play Towns and Dieng together. But again, Dieng is NOT Wiseman in any aspect. And if Wolves invest #1 on Wiseman, he WILL get a ton of playing time with Towns.
- Oh, and the agent angle. What a crock. Who cares? Are agents really going to put Wolves in penalty box for getting their client $7MM more? And giving him a ton of minutes? NOOOOOO, they are not. And as some said, who cares! This franchise will NEVER be a destination until we win. And we win by taking the best players in the draft.....it is our only way to become a contender some day.

Well said, Hicks! The story is bogus. Even if the report were true, it shouldn't matter. Where Wiseman wants to play should have no. bearing on whether the Wolves draft and keep him.

The quality of NBA reporting is as bad as I've ever seen.

All the pundits are speculating on whether the Wolves will draft Ball or Edwards and have completely dismissed the possibility of them drafting Wiseman. That makes absolutely no sense. How does drafting a PG like Ball fit any better with Russell than drafting Wiseman would fit with Towns? How is Edwards a better fit than Wiseman given the likelihood the Wolves re-sign Beasley and the presence of Culver, Okogie and Newell on the roster? I get the arguments for both Ball and Edwards. But when it comes to the issue of "fit" they are no better than Wiseman.

It's as if these pundits or so-called draft experts don't realize that Towns is not a traditional low-post center. Do they realize he's one of the League's best 3-point shooters? Do they recall that he won the NBA skills competition as a rookie and had 10 assists against the Clippers last season. In the words, having another really long big like Wiseman next to Towns doesn't mean the paint will necessarily be clogged or that Towns and Wiseman would be redundant on the offensive end. These same pundits refer to Wiseman's defensive potential as his calling card and the one sure thing he brings to an NBA team. Do they realize that Towns is a poor defender and that, therefore, based on their own assessment, Wiseman could be the perfect complement to Towns defensively?

It's not that I'm totally smitten with Wiseman. I still have doubts about his effort and lateral quickness. I'm also worried a bit about his hands. I'd still prefer trading down and drafting Okongwu. But if the Wolves decide to trade or pass on Wiseman, that decision should have absolutely nothing to do with his perceived fit. Instead, it should be based on the talents of the player the Wolves decide to draft relative to Wiseman's as well as the quality of any other assets they can get if they trade down.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Lip, I just feel they dismiss the Wolves, and to your point, they don't even bother to understand the makeup and needs of this team.

What I love, is you then in parallel see these fictitious trade ideas for the Knicks where they give up like Kevin Knox (who has shown to be absolute hot garbage) to move up to one of top couple spots. Like it's just a given that this should happen for them. Frustrating.

[Lipoli390]

Lip, I just feel they dismiss the Wolves, and to your point, they don't even bother to understand the makeup and needs of this team.

What I love, is you then in parallel see these fictitious trade ideas for the Knicks where they give up like Kevin Knox (who has shown to be absolute hot garbage) to move up to one of top couple spots. Like it's just a given that this should happen for them. Frustrating.

I've seen the ridiculous trade speculation regarding the Knicks. Yes, it's frustrating. What bugs me the most is that our own local NBA reporters (except Jon K) and bloggers seem to be equally clueless. There's no excuse for that.

[WildWolf2813]

Windy keeps pushing the "Wiseman doesn't want to play for the Wolves" story. Here's his latest:

"Wiseman does not want to come to Minnesota because Karl Towns is there. Wiseman doesn't even want to do anything with the Wolves."

Again, I think this story is false and a sophomoric effort by another organization (probably the Warriors) to manipulate the Wolves draft decision. And Brian Windhorst (Windy) is, once again, pathetically serving as a team's lapdog conduit for passing false information.

Being the #1 pick brings extra money and prestige. Therefore, it makes no sense for Wiseman to discourage the Wolves from making him the top pick in the draft. In fact, he's been publicly arguing why he should be the top pick.

If Wiseman's grand plan is to be the #1 pick but play for a team other than the Wolves, his agent can convey that desire to Rosas privately and work with the Wolves front office to make that happen through a trade. Leaking a desire to not play for the Wolves will make it harder for the Wolves to get value for him and, thereby, reduce the chances of a trade.

Again, I think this is false information planted by the Warriors or Hornets to manipulate the Wolves into passing on Wiseman or diminish the Wolves trade leverage.

The only thing I'd read into this story is that the Wolves are inclined to draft Wiseman. My sense is that other teams have gotten wind of that inclination and one of those teams decided to use Windy (pun intended) to plant this false story.

If anything, this story confirms for me that the Wolves should draft Wiseman. Just in case Wiseman has any concerns about playing for the Wolves because KAT is here, Rosas and Ryan should call him and his agent and outline their vision of the two versatile bigs playing together as a modern-day version of the twin towers that can revolutionize the NBA game. But Wiseman and his agent are probably smart enough to figure that out on their own. Again, you don't use the top pick to draft and keep a player unless you intend to intend to start him. So Wiseman's camp can't possibly be concerned that he'll somehow be lost on the end of the bench. The Wolves should take Wiseman with the intent to keep him and let the offers roll in. If they get a sufficiently enticing offer, then they can deal him. If not, let the new twin towers era in the NBA begin!

Only one problem: that's not their vision and everyone knows it.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

How does LaMelo Ball -- no defense and 25% three-point shooting -- or Anthony Edwards -- no defense and 29% three-point shooting -- fit the Wolves' vision?

I'll wait for that answer.

[WildWolf2813]

How does LaMelo Ball -- no defense and 25% three-point shooting -- or Anthony Edwards -- no defense and 29% three-point shooting -- fit the Wolves' vision?

I'll wait for that answer.

Simple: they probably don't fit their vision either, but as I've been saying, I don't think they're drafting someone at #1 with the intent of being anything more than an asset for a future trade. Edwards of the three is probably the closest of the three and he's probably gonna be Culver-level bad the first 2 years. What Ball and Edwards have that Wiseman doesn't is appeal to another team like Phoenix, like Philly, etc. who will seek them as a return for a third star. I'd take Wiseman, but I'm also realistic in the belief that they're never gonna have the assets to land a third star; he will have to be drafted, whether it's 1, 17, or 33. Once they take Wiseman, we can forget all about Booker or Simmons or whoever. I don't think Rosas and co. are thinking that way. I don't think they're trying to attach themselves to whoever this pick will be.

All I know is that this team seems steadfast on what they want the team to look like and I don't think that involves having two bigs who don't move like guards. I think their philosophy sucks, but this is what they want. Just know you guys are gonna be furious on draft night.

[Monster]

How does LaMelo Ball -- no defense and 25% three-point shooting -- or Anthony Edwards -- no defense and 29% three-point shooting -- fit the Wolves' vision?

I'll wait for that answer.

Simple: they probably don't fit their vision either, but as I've been saying, I don't think they're drafting someone at #1 with the intent of being anything more than an asset for a future trade. Edwards of the three is probably the closest of the three and he's probably gonna be Culver-level bad the first 2 years. What Ball and Edwards have that Wiseman doesn't is appeal to another team like Phoenix, like Philly, etc. who will seek them as a return for a third star. I'd take Wiseman, but I'm also realistic in the belief that they're never gonna have the assets to land a third star; he will have to be drafted, whether it's 1, 17, or 33. Once they take Wiseman, we can forget all about Booker or Simmons or whoever. I don't think Rosas and co. are thinking that way. I don't think they're trying to attach themselves to whoever this pick will be.

All I know is that this team seems steadfast on what they want the team to look like and I don't think that involves having two bigs who don't move like guards. I think their philosophy sucks, but this is what they want. Just know you guys are gonna be furious on draft night.

Here are some numbers to consider. Jared Vanderbuilt took 1 three in 14 games in college. He has taken 2 three's in the NBA in 115 minutes. In the G-league he took 31 threes 17 of which before the Wolves acquired him. So the Wolves (both Saunders and Rosas specifically said he fits their program) wanted a guy that took a total 19 total threes over Omari Spellman who shot over 39% on 3's last season and over 43% in his season with Villanova. Wiseman took 1 three in 3 college games. The Wolves literally picked a guy that objectively sucks at 3 point shooting over a guy that is actually good at is. Yes...Vanderbuilt and Spellman might just be rotation players at best but Wiseman is also a top 3 pick he isn't some late 1st round high 2nd round pick guys. So either the Timberwolves are really bad at talent evaluation or they actually have some desire for players to be able to do something besides just shoot 3's. Just something to think about.