Q12543 wrote:
(by the way, while I know Cousins has range on his shot too, that's one guy that should play more like Okafor on offense. He is truly a gifted post player and can get almost anything he wants down there, but too often he settles for long 2-pointers).
Agree. He does settle for that shot too much. Anytime you have a big who can step out of the paint and draw a defender with him, it gives your offense so much more flexibility. But you also don't want anybody going all Josh Smith on you either.
Cousins is almost too talented for his own good and that's part of the reason he takes bad shots etc. Josh Smith is interesting to bring up actually. Cousins brain holds him back but he also is a really competitive player going hard too so it's not all bad. If Cousins didn't have mental issues he would be on another level than Okafor as a prospect. I think even with that I think he might be when it comes to comparing their potential. Cousins coming out had ridiculous skill and the physicality that's pretty rare.
Camden wrote:This is dumb. Guys this big shouldn't be this skilled. I know it's an empty gym, but yeesh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWjSHa5Vgs8
He's definitely got skills but I don't think that video means anything. Look at WCS's and it's nearly identical.
Well, you guys know where I stand with this type of stuff. It's nearly useless, plus the videos tend to be cherry-picked "highlights".
What really matters is how he did in real competition. And we already know that at the high school and AAU levels, he was a legitimate 3-point threat. In fact, that was a huge part of his game until college. And while Calipari rightly made him work in the paint mostly, we still got a feel for his tremendous shooting touch by virtue of his 81FT %. Those data points are all that I need to know about his potential as a shooter.
I can tell you right now that we do not want KAT taking pull-up jumpers off the dribble or step-backs. Those are awful shots for someone of his size and very difficult when actually being guarded.
See I agree with you on the skills aspect of workouts. That stuff is shown in games on the floor. Where is the workout is important is when it comes to our coaches interaction with the players and how they respond. Do they seem coachable. Do they listen well. Stuff like that. Very minor stuff, but stuff that could away if the prospect are rated even. I don't think anybody should put stock in wide open jumpers or wide open dunks.
Truth. And without a workout no one would have known that Russell can get up 39". There is at least some value that can be gained from these workouts. They shouldn't be a major part of your overall evaluation, but I wouldn't call them useless.
Reggie (MN)
Flip has always stated he looks "for the home run"...It's why he picked Shabbaz and LaVine. Based on that...why does he seem to favor Okafor over Towns? Especially since Towns plays better D, shoots better from the FT line, can run and spread the floor better, has higher upside....Is Flip just creating drama or is he really torn between the two? Seems like everyone else on the planet has Towns as the consensus #1.
Chad Ford (1:04 PM)
First of all, from July-February, Okafor was the consensus No. 1 guy. So it's not like he can't play. I think Flip see's Okafor as a major post up presence on offense -- a major need of the Wolves. But you're right. Towns has more strengths than Okafor, fewer weaknesses (if any) and I think he's a better fit with Gourgi Dieng and Pekovic. No question Towns can play some four in the NBA and be a nightmare match-up. Let's see what happens when they come in to visit with the team. I don't think the Wolves will get to see them workout together, and both guys are impressive off the court. But we're still three weeks away. Lots of homework going on. I think the Wolves will eventually decide to take him 1, or perhaps swap with the Lakers and try to pick up another asset.
Pete (Indiana)
You saw Towns workout on Monday. How good is he?
Chad Ford (1:08 PM)
Crazy, crazy good. Great NBA body. Huge wingspan. Incredible shooting touch from NBA three and mid range. Moves well without the ball. And I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with him. Great personality. Highly intelligent. Humble. He's a hard worker. He's going to be a beast in the NBA. I'll see Okafor and Porzinigs workout in a few weeks, but based on everything I've seen, I think he's the best prospect in the draft. But that doesn't mean I don't think guys like Okafor, D'Angelo Russell, Porzingis or Emmanual Mudiay aren't worthy.
Phenom's_Revenge wrote:If Flip is as obsessed with adding two way players as he indicates, the decision is easy.
Not only that, but Flip's always had a player like Towns wherever he's been successful. In Minnesota, he had Garnett. In Detroit, he had Wallace. He's never had a dominant low-post, back to the back scorer. Why would he flip the script and do something that he's not accustomed to? It really just won't make any sense to me if/when Flip drafts Okafor.
After seeing his workout video...Flip has to be licking his chops. I'm wondering at this point...how much of what he does (Flip) and says is just smoke and mirrors? If he wants to make an impact...denying talent like Towns would be an outrage. Does putting pressure on teams like the Lakers, 76ers and NY play into this?
When people say Flip is in love with Okafor, they are basing that off of dated information from discussions other reporters had with him many months ago - when Okafor really was the consensus #1 guy because Towns hadn't really emerged yet. So I think it's a little misleading when national pundits claim definitively that Flip prefers Okafor.
That being said.....I think Flip prefers Okafor! It's not because he's said it or stated it so plainly. It's just what I think he prefers. I wish the pundits would state it this way as opposed to making it sound like Flip has actually said this recently.
Q12543 wrote:When people say Flip is in love with Okafor, they are basing that off of dated information from discussions other reporters had with him many months ago - when Okafor really was the consensus #1 guy because Towns hadn't really emerged yet. So I think it's a little misleading when national pundits claim definitively that Flip prefers Okafor.
That being said.....I think Flip prefers Okafor! It's not because he's said it or stated it so plainly. It's just what I think he prefers. I wish the pundits would state it this way as opposed to making it sound like Flip has actually said this recently.
Who knows what Flip thinks at this point. Heck, Flip might not even know what Flip thinks at this point. It's understandable if he's taking his time and doing his homework to make the best decision based on all the information available. That's what we want. All we can really do is wait a few weeks, and then we'll know. Best to avoid getting ourselves into a tizzy over speculation, which is all that's out there at this point.
Edit: I agree Q, I wish journalists would admit when what they are passing on is just speculation. But I would like it even more if they went even further and didn't pass on speculation in the first place!
