Best Thing That Could Happen This Summer

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Khans, You are spilling a lot of ink on a scenario that will almost certainly not happen. As for rookies not contributing much in Year #1, I couldn't agree more. That's why my first option is to trade whoever we pick for someone that is actually a proven NBA player.

The whole thread is hypothetical. I'm just defending what I think is what the team needs moving forward whether we have the opportunity to draft Fultz or not.

[BloopOracle]

1-Fultz
2-Jackson
3-Markannen

That is my top 3 right now

[Lipoli390]

Whether we keep or trade our pick should obviously depend on who we're in a position to pick and what other teams offer in exchange for our pick. I think it would be a huge mistake for the Wolves to take Q's position and trade our pick no matter who it is in exchange for the best offer we get.

If it were up to me, I'd be open to trading the pick, but highly reluctant to trade it if we're in a position to draft Fultz or Josh Jackson. And I'd still be reluctant to trade the pick if we're in a position to take Isaac or Zach Collins. Here's my thinking. If we can't make the playoffs next season with the guys we have plus additions using our $30 million in cap space, then we're in bigger trouble than anyone would like to acknowledge. If our current group, coupled with the addition of a one or two good free agents, can't get us to the playoffs next season then I don't see any draft-day swap that would eventually get us into championship contention in future years. I've said it dozens of times and I'll say it again, this team's long-term championship aspirations rise or fall on our core young guys. They're the core and it's our front office's job to sourround them with the right supporting cast.

Furthermore, I think it's critical to continue infusing the franchise with young talent if the opportunity presents itself. This may be the last draft for years that will give us that opportunity. If we become a playoff team starting next season we won't have any pick next June and our first round picks thereafter won't be lottery picks. This June we'll have the opportunity for a high lottery pick -- probably around #6 but potentially a top 3. The Wolves can't afford to pass up this opportunity to add an elite talent with high upside. You never know what the future holds. One of our core three could get hurt. Actually, one of them did when he tore his ACL in February. One or more of them might fail to measure up to their potential -- a legitimate concern given the absence of any defensive improvement from KAT or Wiggins and the continuing one-dimensional nature of Andrew's game.

I think Fultz is a can't miss player who reminds me of Brandon Roy. Josh Jackson is coming out of college as a genuine two-way players with star potential and the sort of motor that generally results in a players ultimately reaching his potential. Isaac has PF length with guard skills developed before a major late growth spurt -- the same sort of thing that happened to Scottie Pippen. I know that any of these guys could end up a bust, but I think that's unlikely, especially for Fultz and Jackson. And I acknowledge that most 19-year old rookies don't contribute much as rookies, although there have been exceptions. But bottom line is that this franchise is not in a position where it has to or should pass up elite long-term potential from a draft in return for a shorter-term trade for a high-priced veteran who may only have a year or two left on his contract.

[BloopOracle]

"But bottom line is that this franchise is not in a position where it has to or should pass up elite long-term potential from a draft in return for a shorter-term trade for a high-priced veteran who may only have a year or two left on his contract."

I agree, Deandre Jordan is the only player I would trade the 6th pick for, and if we move up I wouldn;t trade it at all.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm not saying trade it for the best offer no matter what. I'm just saying we should shop it no matter what. I'd want fair value in return.

I'm not following your logic here Lip. So you are saying that if we can't make the playoffs next season with our current core plus free agent signings then any draft day trade THIS offseason won't make a difference. But how would we know that without the benefit of hindsight? We need to make our decisions this offseason based on what we know now.

I agree. KAT, Wiggins, and LaVine. That's our core. So we should surround them the right supporting cast, which includes experienced veterans - and may be even a REALLY good experience veteran via a draft day trade.

Yup, all these guys look brilliant leading up to draft day. Then reality sets in by December......

I'm tired of having a bunch of thumb-suckers on this team. We have our quota of young talent. If there isn't a fair deal to be had out there, then so be it, but I won't be happy with yet another 19-year old rookie in the regular rotation.

[Coolbreeze44]

Here's what's exciting to me about the draft: No matter what happens in the lottery, there is a 95% chance we can have Zach Collins if we want him. That is a good position to be in. I mean sure he isn't ready to lead us in a playoff series, but damn, he's exactly what we need.

[Monster]

Here's what's exciting to me about the draft: No matter what happens in the lottery, there is a 95% chance we can have Zach Collins if we want him. That is a good position to be in. I mean sure he isn't ready to lead us in a playoff series, but damn, he's exactly what we need.

Man that Zach Collins bandwagon is filling up and Q doesn't know it yet But I think he is driving it or...at least his name is on the registration. lol Collins easily my favorite true big in this draft.

[Lipoli390]

Q -- My logic you were questioning is this. We shouldn't have to trade our high lottery pick to shore up the bench enough for our returning core to get us into the playoffs. That affords us the oppportunity of keeping a high upside pick we're able to get in the top 6. It's the counter to your concern about a yong draftee's inability to contribute next season.

Whether we trade the pick should obviously depend on who we can get in return. I hope we both agree on that. If it's Paul George I'd be tempted, but I'd decline because he only has a year left on his contract and has indicated a desire to play for the Lakers. If it's D'Andre Jordan I'd be tempted and would probably pull the trigger brecause he has two years left and is exactly what we need - a shot-blocking inside defensive force. But I wouldn't do the deal unless my due diligence confirmed to some level of certainty that he'd be fine staying here. I'd think about a Jimmy Butler deal and I think I'd do it if we also got the Bull's 16th pick in return. Jimmy has a very reasonable contract with three years left and is still under 30 years old. Otherwise, I can't imagine any remotely realistic deal that I'd be interested in. Any thoughts?

[WildWolf2813]

I don't see this vet player that will warrant the 6th pick. However, like Q, if the 6th pick is somehow part of this team's rotation next season, Thibs and Layden failed miserably as far as adding talent via free agency and thus, as a fan I never wanna hear about cap space being any sort of asset for this team.

Towns
Dieng
Wiggins
LaVine (when he returns)
Rubio
Dunn
Bjelica
Free agent
free agent
other than a spot play here and there from Aldrich or Jones, it's hard to see where the 6th pick gets PT and leads us to think playoffs are right around the corner.


Because this is a "use it or lose it" year for our cap space, it's almost hard to say they can offer a bad contract. You can sign bad players, but a good player on a bad contract might not be the worst thing for this team unless Glen refuses to pony up (and if he doesn't, that kinda doesn't bode well for the future)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Q -- My logic you were questioning is this. We shouldn't have to trade our high lottery pick to shore up the bench enough for our returning core to get us into the playoffs. That affords us the oppportunity of keeping a high upside pick we're able to get in the top 6. It's the counter to your concern about a yong draftee's inability to contribute next season.

Whether we trade the pick should obviously depend on who we can get in return. I hope we both agree on that. If it's Paul George I'd be tempted, but I'd decline because he only has a year left on his contract and has indicated a desire to play for the Lakers. If it's D'Andre Jordan I'd be tempted and would probably pull the trigger brecause he has two years left and is exactly what we need - a shot-blocking inside defensive force. But I wouldn't do the deal unless my due diligence confirmed to some level of certainty that he'd be fine staying here. I'd think about a Jimmy Butler deal and I think I'd do it if we also got the Bull's 16th pick in return. Jimmy has a very reasonable contract with three years left and is still under 30 years old. Otherwise, I can't imagine any remotely realistic deal that I'd be interested in. Any thoughts?

DeAndre Jordan and Jimmy Butler would definitely be viable trade targets if we got a top 3 pick (not sure the Bulls or Clips would do a deal with anything less than that). You are right though that there aren't that many other options. But those two are with teams that might be looking to rebuild.

If we end up in the 6 to 9 range, then I'd be willing to trade the pick for a solid role playing vet (like Covington or Dudley for example) + a lower draft pick. That way we can have our cake and eat it too. As you know, a lot of the best role players in the NBA were drafted as upperclassmen outside of the lottery. Guys like Sindarius Thornwell or Jordan Bell for example would be a nice addition to the end of our bench. They come from defensive, winning cultures and are grown men that would be willing to pay their dues in the D-league if necessary. There would be no pressure to force feed them into the regular rotation, unlike a lottery pick.