The Backstory on the Wolves Draft

[Lipoli390]

Good article by the reliable Jon K on the backstory on the Wolves draft.

Jon reported based on sources that the Wolves first choice was indeed Garland. In Jon's words, "the Wolves were very high on Garland..." He reported that the Wolves first tried to trade up with the Pelicans for the 4th pick. The Pelicans apparently wanted Covington and #11, but Rosas was unwilling to part with Covington so that deal fell through. The deal proposed by the Pelicans was #4 and Solomon Hill (expiring $12.8M contract) for #11 and Covington. After turning down the Pelicans' offer, Rosas reportedly then attempted to trade up with the Cavs, but they their asking price was too steep for the Wolves. That's when the Wolves finally settled for the deal with the Suns. According to Jon, Rosas was still hopeful that Garland would fall to the Wolves at #6, but he was comfortable ending up with Culver.

The Wolves apparently rated Culver significantly higher than the players they could have drafted at #11 and they saw Covington as a better fit than Saric at PF. When the Cavs drafted Garland, the Wolves front office apparently took several calls with offers for the #6 pick, but none of those offers were good enough for Rosas so he kept the pick and took Culver.

Jon's a reliable reporter. So unless his sources are spouting a party line, it would appear that Rosas believed Culver was significantly better than anyone he could have drafted at #11 and worth the price paid to get him (i.e., Saric). That makes me feel better about Rosas. Interestingly, Rosas must really value Covington. I just disagree with Rosas' decision to refuse the deal with the Pelicans. I like Covington too, but I would have given up Covington to get Garland. It really depends on how you view Garland. I see him as a Lillard-caliber prospect who could be something close to a Steph Curry. And even though Covington has a team-friendly contract, there was value in exchanging Covington's contract for what would be an additional $12 million in cap relief next summer with the expiration of Solomon Hill's contract. And we'd still have Saric as either a good young PF or a trade asset.

If I'm right about Garland, then it was a huge mistake to keep Covington rather than do the deal with the Pelicans. If I'm wrong and Culver turns out to be a Butler or Brandon Roy level SG then Rosas clearly made the right decision.

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

we should have added that to the draft poll (Covington and 11 for #4/5 to get Garland)

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I'm ok with him turning down the deal. Garland may become a star, but that's far from a guarantee based on 5 games in college. Covington is just too good to give up for an unproven maybe. I don't know how you try to make a deal with Cleveland though and not get any whiff they were taking Garland at 5. Sure we could have had Culver way higher than the guys at 11, but I actually see that as a negative based on my eye test. The guy was good but not great with more responsibility this year which says to me the actual star power is limited/none with him and if that's the case I'm not sure how he can be seen that much higher than the other role players taken behind him. One or more of them may very well end up being stars which is a miss by our scouts and we traded up to get this guy. In theory it sounds better after the fact from Jon, but frankly this could be a big miss if you rank this guy that much higher in a weak draft and he ends up right next to a bunch of them in terms of quality. Hopefully we get DLO and his role just falls into place to be successful. Without that star primary ball handling guard/wing though this could be bad for us.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

What's the worst case scenario for Culver, though? Does anyone think he won't be a starting-level two-way player? I don't think anyone sees him flaming out of the league or being just a rotation player. I actually think a disappointing scenario for him would be Josh Richardson and I know this board loves him quite a bit.

Yeah, Culver's probably not going to become a Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but he has a pretty good shot to develop into a Demar DeRozan, Andre Iguodala or Jimmy Butler, and that is more than enough for this team.

[AbeVigodaLive]

"something close to Steph Curry..."

So somebody nearly as good as arguably a top 20 player in NBA history with the 4th pick in a weak draft?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

What's the worst case scenario for Culver, though? Does anyone think he won't be a starting-level two-way player? I don't think anyone sees him flaming out of the league or being just a rotation player. I actually think a disappointing scenario for him would be Josh Richardson and I know this board loves him quite a bit.

Yeah, Culver's probably not going to become a Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but he has a pretty good shot to develop into a Demar DeRozan, Andre Iguodala or Jimmy Butler, and that is more than enough for this team.

I can absolutely see a scenario where he is "just a rotation player" at worst or a "meh" starter that doesn't really impact the game much (good or bad). My biggest concern is that his shooting doesn't improve (hardly an invalid concern considering our horrible history with shooters) and his defense doesn't translate as well to the NBA.

So not a complete bust, but may just end up being a replacement level kind of guy.

[AbeVigodaLive]

What's the worst case scenario for Culver, though? Does anyone think he won't be a starting-level two-way player? I don't think anyone sees him flaming out of the league or being just a rotation player. I actually think a disappointing scenario for him would be Josh Richardson and I know this board loves him quite a bit.

Yeah, Culver's probably not going to become a Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but he has a pretty good shot to develop into a Demar DeRozan, Andre Iguodala or Jimmy Butler, and that is more than enough for this team.

I can absolutely see a scenario where he is "just a rotation player" at worst or a "meh" starter that doesn't really impact the game much (good or bad). My biggest concern is that his shooting doesn't improve (hardly an invalid concern considering our horrible history with shooters) and his defense doesn't translate as well to the NBA.

So not a complete bust, but may just end up being a replacement level kind of guy.

Pretty much. Many #6 picks end up just being "a guy."

Somebody like Culver who doesn't really stand out for any one thing could very well be that type of player. We'll know a lot more soon enough...

[ItsJustSoSab]

What's the worst case scenario for Culver, though? Does anyone think he won't be a starting-level two-way player? I don't think anyone sees him flaming out of the league or being just a rotation player. I actually think a disappointing scenario for him would be Josh Richardson and I know this board loves him quite a bit.

Yeah, Culver's probably not going to become a Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but he has a pretty good shot to develop into a Demar DeRozan, Andre Iguodala or Jimmy Butler, and that is more than enough for this team.

I can absolutely see a scenario where he is "just a rotation player" at worst or a "meh" starter that doesn't really impact the game much (good or bad). My biggest concern is that his shooting doesn't improve (hardly an invalid concern considering our horrible history with shooters) and his defense doesn't translate as well to the NBA.

So not a complete bust, but may just end up being a replacement level kind of guy.

Pretty much. Many #6 picks end up just being "a guy."

Somebody like Culver who doesn't really stand out for any one thing could very well be that type of player. We'll know a lot more soon enough...

1. He seems to have more heart than Wiggins
2. He has a stronger work ethic than Wiggins
3. He is getting payed much much much less than Wiggins
4. As of this current moment, he dunks
5. As of this currey moment he doesn't take lonngggggggggggggggggggg 2's
6. He hustles
7. He isn't Wiggins

[AbeVigodaLive]

What's the worst case scenario for Culver, though? Does anyone think he won't be a starting-level two-way player? I don't think anyone sees him flaming out of the league or being just a rotation player. I actually think a disappointing scenario for him would be Josh Richardson and I know this board loves him quite a bit.

Yeah, Culver's probably not going to become a Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but he has a pretty good shot to develop into a Demar DeRozan, Andre Iguodala or Jimmy Butler, and that is more than enough for this team.

I can absolutely see a scenario where he is "just a rotation player" at worst or a "meh" starter that doesn't really impact the game much (good or bad). My biggest concern is that his shooting doesn't improve (hardly an invalid concern considering our horrible history with shooters) and his defense doesn't translate as well to the NBA.

So not a complete bust, but may just end up being a replacement level kind of guy.

Pretty much. Many #6 picks end up just being "a guy."

Somebody like Culver who doesn't really stand out for any one thing could very well be that type of player. We'll know a lot more soon enough...

1. He seems to have more heart than Wiggins
2. He has a stronger work ethic than Wiggins
3. He is getting payed much much much less than Wiggins
4. As of this current moment, he dunks
5. As of this currey moment he doesn't take lonngggggggggggggggggggg 2's
6. He hustles
7. He isn't Wiggins

Great. So if all turns out right, we finally have our beloved Courtney Lee clone?

[TAFKASP]

7. He isn't Wiggins

So you're saying there is a chance!