Who do you pick at #4?

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Uh, Cam kind of knows what he's talking about with Towns. Big men like him, much less the vast majority of college freshmen, simply don't hit 80%+ of their foul shots without a natural touch and nice shooting motion. FT% has shown to be a predictive characteristic, at times, of 3-point shooting ability. I would absolutely not rule that out eventually. Plus he showed it as a prep player.

I think Calipari realized that Towns was bigger than 99% of his college competition so he pretty much disallowed him from jacking up jump shots. That doesn't mean he doesn't have it in his repertoire.

It doesn't mean he has it and it doesn't mean he doesn't. Until he consistently shows it we can't assume he has it. Now the free throw percentage gives you hope that he will develop a great mid range game.

Well, I agree with you, but people reacted like it was a ridiculous notion. It's not.

In fact - not that Flip would EVER do this, but some other forward-thinking coach might - a stretch 5 would potentially be the ideal fit for our team offensively. We already have two wings that are most comfortable in the low post in Wiggins and Muhammed. By bringing the Rudy Goberts, Marc Gasols and Tyson Chandlers of the world out of the paint, you totally negate their biggest impact on the game. These guys rarely have to venture from the paint because, well, they are typically guarding guys just like themselves - defensive-oriented big men with no long range shooting ability.

I think saying he has NBA three point range is very ridiculous when he only attempted 8 of them in college and made 2 of those shots. Now I don't know how many of those were buzzer beater prayer shots and how many of those were normal 3 point attempts. To claim someone who attempted 8 3 pointers has the range to do so is very presumptuous. Saying his free throw success makes gives confidence that he will develop a good midrange game is acceptable to me.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Excerpt from an interview with a guy that covers UK for SBNation:

"What sets KAT apart is his range. You won't see it much at Kentucky, but Towns can shoot the ball well from NBA 3-point range and even longer. He has a quick release and can get on a roll from the perimeter and just make them all. He's asked not to do that here - we have no need for a stretch 4 at Kentucky - but he will be doing it a lot in the NBA, where shooting big men are at a premium."

The reason he didn't do it at Kentucky is that it would have been a ridiculous strategy given his sheer size advantage. I can absolutely see him developing this shot at the next level.

[worldK]

Ive said a couple of weeks ago that if we fall out of the top 2, Il take winslow. He is going to be really good. His game will only get better and develop more in an nba setting. He will be an ideal fit to wiggins at the wings. He will be an all star in his career.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Q said everything that was needed to say to those saying I'm ridiculous or whatever in saying Towns has range.

He also made 127 threes in his three years of high school ball with good efficiency (40+% if I remember correctly). In fact, that was his game in HS. A perimeter threat, slashing and shooting at his size. He was not the post threat he was last year at Kentucky.

In an interview about Towns at Kentucky, Bob Hurley (tried to recruit Towns at one point) said:

"I've always felt he had unlimited potential," Hurley said, "but this transformation from last year to this year has been incredible. He's completely changed his mindset about where he's playing the game of basketball. I didn't think he could go from shooting 3s to being this dominant around the basket. I want to write John Calipari a note to say this is the most amazing transformation I've seen.

"We played against [Andrew] Bynum twice, and Towns is much further along in his career at the same stage. In my mind, he's the No. 1 pick in the draft. [Duke's Jahlil] Okafor is a more polished offensive player, but Towns is a better defender, rebounder and foul shooter, and is a bit more versatile now. He's personable, a great interview, plays with passion, and has a more outgoing personality than most big kids do. You can put him on the Knicks and he's an NBA All-Star."

Take it at face value. Obviously there's a history with Towns and perimeter shooting. He wasn't asked to do so at Kentucky (neither was Julius Randle or Anthony Davis), but the skill is there. The guy can shoot. He didn't just lose that aspect of his game.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Q said everything that was needed to say to those saying I'm ridiculous or whatever in saying Towns has range.

He also made 127 threes in his three years of high school ball with good efficiency (40+% if I remember correctly). In fact, that was his game in HS. A perimeter threat, slashing and shooting at his size. He was not the post threat he was last year at Kentucky.

In an interview about Towns at Kentucky, Bob Hurley (tried to recruit Towns at one point) said:

"I've always felt he had unlimited potential," Hurley said, "but this transformation from last year to this year has been incredible. He's completely changed his mindset about where he's playing the game of basketball. I didn't think he could go from shooting 3s to being this dominant around the basket. I want to write John Calipari a note to say this is the most amazing transformation I've seen.

"We played against [Andrew] Bynum twice, and Towns is much further along in his career at the same stage. In my mind, he's the No. 1 pick in the draft. [Duke's Jahlil] Okafor is a more polished offensive player, but Towns is a better defender, rebounder and foul shooter, and is a bit more versatile now. He's personable, a great interview, plays with passion, and has a more outgoing personality than most big kids do. You can put him on the Knicks and he's an NBA All-Star."

Take it at face value. Obviously there's a history with Towns and perimeter shooting. He wasn't asked to do so at Kentucky (neither was Julius Randle or Anthony Davis), but the skill is there. The guy can shoot. He didn't just lose that aspect of his game.

3 point shooting in high school doesn't give him legitimate NBA three point range though.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Q said everything that was needed to say to those saying I'm ridiculous or whatever in saying Towns has range.

He also made 127 threes in his three years of high school ball with good efficiency (40+% if I remember correctly). In fact, that was his game in HS. A perimeter threat, slashing and shooting at his size. He was not the post threat he was last year at Kentucky.

In an interview about Towns at Kentucky, Bob Hurley (tried to recruit Towns at one point) said:

"I've always felt he had unlimited potential," Hurley said, "but this transformation from last year to this year has been incredible. He's completely changed his mindset about where he's playing the game of basketball. I didn't think he could go from shooting 3s to being this dominant around the basket. I want to write John Calipari a note to say this is the most amazing transformation I've seen.

"We played against [Andrew] Bynum twice, and Towns is much further along in his career at the same stage. In my mind, he's the No. 1 pick in the draft. [Duke's Jahlil] Okafor is a more polished offensive player, but Towns is a better defender, rebounder and foul shooter, and is a bit more versatile now. He's personable, a great interview, plays with passion, and has a more outgoing personality than most big kids do. You can put him on the Knicks and he's an NBA All-Star."

Take it at face value. Obviously there's a history with Towns and perimeter shooting. He wasn't asked to do so at Kentucky (neither was Julius Randle or Anthony Davis), but the skill is there. The guy can shoot. He didn't just lose that aspect of his game.

When did high school and the NBA start shooting at the same 3pt line? Oh right...there's a 6' difference on some parts of the court. Stauskas struggled with the transition and he was an absolute sniper in college. It's just a far shot and if you don't dedicate significant time to it, you just aren't going to be good at it at this level. I don't think Towns' development time is best used trying to become a decent 3pt shooter.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

3 point shooting in high school doesn't give him legitimate NBA three point range though.

Right... Though it does show he can shoot. Keep in mind YOU just said he has free throw range and that was essentially it.

And I've read/seen enough people that scouted Towns in HS and/or Dominican Republic play say he can shoot NBA threes.

Combine everything together into one practical thought and to me, I think it's fair to say he can shoot. Of course he'll have to continue to work on it because that's the nature of the game, but I believe I can say he has NBA range with confidence.

If you disagree, well, that wouldn't be the first time that happened with me on the board. It certainly wouldn't be the first time it happened about Towns. The large majority didn't even talk about him as No. 1 pick just as early as two months ago.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Back to the original intent of the thread. Say Sacramento is picking 7th and they are offering Ben McLemore and along with that 7th pick so they can move up to get Mudiay. Is that enough for you? If the top 4 is set, that leaves Winslow, Stien, or Johnson as possibilities for the seventh pick.

Not sure I would do that deal considering we have LaVine and Martin already. Just trying to figure out realistic trade scenarios since I picked trade.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The other thing about Centers as shooting prospects is that they have all day out there. A stretch 5 isn't expected to pull up off the dribble and knock down 3's with a hand in his face. They play pick and pop and generally have plenty of time to set-up without tough close-outs.

I'm really hoping whoever drafts Towns takes a long, hard look at exploring this angle. Seriously, the biggest cookie-cutter role right now in the NBA other than the scoring PG is the defensive Center with a limited offensive game. Towns has the capability to drag those SOBs out of the paint, while still performing a similar function as they do on the other end of the floor.

(by the way, Myles Turner has this same potential skill-set).

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Back to the original intent of the thread. Say Sacramento is picking 7th and they are offering Ben McLemore and along with that 7th pick so they can move up to get Mudiay. Is that enough for you? If the top 4 is set, that leaves Winslow, Stien, or Johnson as possibilities for the seventh pick.

Not sure I would do that deal considering we have LaVine and Martin already. Just trying to figure out realistic trade scenarios since I picked trade.

Mmmm, McLemore isn't the most versatile offensive player, but he has a very smooth looking stroke that could potentially get better with time (he made a nice jump from his rookie to sophomore campaign). The other thing I like about him is that he's played all 82 games two years in a row, something that seems mythical for a Timberwolf fan.

On the other hand.....LaVine probably has the higher upside because of his ability to put the ball on the deck. I doubt the Wolves would do that deal.