Minnesota Sports Forum

I think this is where we are headed provided Isaac is off the board. I could even see the Wolves trading down to 8 or 9 to get him if there is a bidding war for Dennis Smith or Malik Monk. Either way this will be a litmus test for Thibs stated need for shooting. Shooting is arguably the biggest team need and Lauri is arguably the best. Defense is a need of course but a great deal of the defensive improvement will need to come from our core players.

I have read a few times that the Marksman moves his feet decently but isnt a banger. Can he guard the perimeter big while Town patrols the paint? Seems like this could work. The kids will need to take it upon themselves to just get better defensively. Hopefully Lauri can be a good team defender.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:I think this is where we are headed provided Isaac is off the board. I could even see the Wolves trading down to 8 or 9 to get him if there is a bidding war for Dennis Smith or Malik Monk. Either way this will be a litmus test for Thibs stated need for shooting. Shooting is arguably the biggest team need and Lauri is arguably the best. Defense is a need of course but a great deal of the defensive improvement will need to come from our core players.

I have read a few times that the Marksman moves his feet decently but isnt a banger. Can he guard the perimeter big while Town patrols the paint? Seems like this could work. The kids will need to take it upon themselves to just get better defensively. Hopefully Lauri can be a good team defender.

I don't want a 7 footer that can't rebound our SF and PF will average a combined 7 rebounds a game.

I will be so pissed if he is the pick

kekgeek1 wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:I think this is where we are headed provided Isaac is off the board. I could even see the Wolves trading down to 8 or 9 to get him if there is a bidding war for Dennis Smith or Malik Monk. Either way this will be a litmus test for Thibs stated need for shooting. Shooting is arguably the biggest team need and Lauri is arguably the best. Defense is a need of course but a great deal of the defensive improvement will need to come from our core players.

I have read a few times that the Marksman moves his feet decently but isnt a banger. Can he guard the perimeter big while Town patrols the paint? Seems like this could work. The kids will need to take it upon themselves to just get better defensively. Hopefully Lauri can be a good team defender.

I don't want a 7 footer that can't rebound our SF and PF will average a combined 7 rebounds a game.

I will be so pissed if he is the pick

I also have a difficult time seeing Markannen and KAT on the floor together in crunchtime when it counts. It is tough to make that work in today's NBA.

I'm still all in on Monk. Athletic guys that can shoot do not grow on trees. We never seem to have the same amount of shooting in our backcourt that other teams have. Monk would go a long ways to leveling the playing field.

I'd be happy with Monk or Smith. Markkenen would be ok.

There is a lot of intriguing talent at our spot either way.

If the worst case for some of us is an elite shooting 7 footer...I guess it's not the worst thing in the world right?

monsterpile wrote:If the worst case for some of us is an elite shooting 7 footer...I guess it's not the worst thing in the world right?

That's my feeling too. This guy has a place in the NBA. Monk and smith are way more appealing to me because of their athleticism but Markennen is not the end of the world, and he certainly seems to have some quality footwork.

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:If the worst case for some of us is an elite shooting 7 footer...I guess it's not the worst thing in the world right?

That's my feeling too. This guy has a place in the NBA. Monk and smith are way more appealing to me because of their athleticism but Markennen is not the end of the world, and he certainly seems to have some quality footwork.

End of the world? No, I agree. But a terrible disappointment if that's what Thibs does with our #7 pick. A short-armed 7-footer who averaged 0.4 blocks and 0.5 steals per game in college, isn't good defensively and lacks toughness is the last thing this team should want with a #7 pick.

Take Monk if you want shooting because he has the other-worldly athleticism and pre-college experience as a lead ballhandler to potentially develop into something more than just a scorer. And unlike Markkenan, Monk is a big-time shot taker/maker from a college program that tends to turn out successful NBA players who show more complete games in the NBA than shown in college. Otherwise, if your due diligence tells you not to worry about his motor, then take Dennis Smith who has the physical tools to become an elite NBA PG.

If you don't want Monk or Smith at #7, then trade down and take Zach Collins or trade down even lower and take John Collins.

But Markkenan?? Yuck!!

Yup, hard for me to get excited about Monk or Mark. And both these guys damn well better be able to shoot because they have almost nothing else going for them. Shooters in college don't always translate (Morrison, Stauskas, Wes Johnson), although I will admit these guys put up enough volume with enough accuracy to make me feel like they won't totally flame out. But still...what else do they offer?

lipoli390 wrote:

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:If the worst case for some of us is an elite shooting 7 footer...I guess it's not the worst thing in the world right?

That's my feeling too. This guy has a place in the NBA. Monk and smith are way more appealing to me because of their athleticism but Markennen is not the end of the world, and he certainly seems to have some quality footwork.

End of the world? No, I agree. But a terrible disappointment if that's what Thibs does with our #7 pick. A short-armed 7-footer who averaged 0.4 blocks and 0.5 steals per game in college, isn't good defensively and lacks toughness is the last thing this team should want with a #7 pick.

Take Monk if you want shooting because he has the other-worldly athleticism and pre-college experience as a lead ballhandler to potentially develop into something more than just a scorer. And unlike Markkenan, Monk is a big-time shot taker/maker from a college program that tends to turn out successful NBA players who show more complete games in the NBA than shown in college. Otherwise, if your due diligence tells you not to worry about his motor, then take Dennis Smith who has the physical tools to become an elite NBA PG.

If you don't want Monk or Smith at #7, then trade down and take Zach Collins or trade down even lower and take John Collins.

But Markkenan?? Yuck!!

I don't have the background info that NBA teams have on Dennis Smith and this is a terrific PG draft but man I think he has more upside than anyone we expect to be available at 7. I wasn't really high on him but I started looking into him more and I came away more impressed with him. I think the best thing for him is to go to a team like Dallas or the Kings where he can play a lot. I still feel a little greedy about adding a top young talent with this pick.

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:If the worst case for some of us is an elite shooting 7 footer...I guess it's not the worst thing in the world right?

That's my feeling too. This guy has a place in the NBA. Monk and smith are way more appealing to me because of their athleticism but Markennen is not the end of the world, and he certainly seems to have some quality footwork.

End of the world? No, I agree. But a terrible disappointment if that's what Thibs does with our #7 pick. A short-armed 7-footer who averaged 0.4 blocks and 0.5 steals per game in college, isn't good defensively and lacks toughness is the last thing this team should want with a #7 pick.

Take Monk if you want shooting because he has the other-worldly athleticism and pre-college experience as a lead ballhandler to potentially develop into something more than just a scorer. And unlike Markkenan, Monk is a big-time shot taker/maker from a college program that tends to turn out successful NBA players who show more complete games in the NBA than shown in college. Otherwise, if your due diligence tells you not to worry about his motor, then take Dennis Smith who has the physical tools to become an elite NBA PG.

If you don't want Monk or Smith at #7, then trade down and take Zach Collins or trade down even lower and take John Collins.

But Markkenan?? Yuck!!

I don't have the background info that NBA teams have on Dennis Smith and this is a terrific PG draft but man I think he has more upside than anyone we expect to be available at 7. I wasn't really high on him but I started looking into him more and I came away more impressed with him. I think the best thing for him is to go to a team like Dallas or the Kings where he can play a lot. I still feel a little greedy about adding a top young talent with this pick.

Smith is coming on for everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if he was higher on someone's board than we realize. I'd be great with him as our pick.