Minnesota Sports Forum

How much draft intell will Layden have from the Spurs. I could see his knowledge of how they build around there core being a huge benfit to this team. Reading that article on the Blazers I would like to see them build via that route then going Max on a player older then 28.

Layden will have solid draft intell, but keep in mind that the Spurs perennially look at a completely different tier of prospects than the Wolves. I highly doubt they scouted Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield much.

Now if we ever get really good, Layden's exposure to the Spurs process for unearthing talent with late 1st rounders and 2nd rounders will be extremely valuable.

As for building through the draft versus free agency, I'm not sure why this is an either/or proposition. Frankly, we already HAVE built through the draft. My God, look at this list of players:

Rubio, KAT, LaVine, Shabazz, Jones, Bjelica, and Dieng were all drafted by Minnesota. Wiggins was acquired shortly after being drafted. Then we have Dubs in the pipeline playing in Europe and having success. We could bring him over on a reasonable deal within the next couple of years.

Our core was built through the draft. I'm perfectly fine with either trading our top pick this year for an established veteran and/or signing someone really good via free agency.

Going forward, however, it will be extremely important to maintain a pipeline of prospects via rookie deals and Euro-stashes. I just feel like we have a surplus of young/inexperienced guys on the roster now and could afford a year where we literally have no rookies on the roster (if the right deals come about).

bleedspeed177 wrote:How much draft intell will Layden have from the Spurs. I could see his knowledge of how they build around there core being a huge benfit to this team. Reading that article on the Blazers I would like to see them build via that route then going Max on a player older then 28.

I'd just like Layden to avoid guys like Frederic Weis or the guy who ate Mike Sweetney...

Let's also remember that Thibs will have guys he likes too. I hope Layden brings some of the Spurs ability to get those international players that have been so key for the Spurs at every level of their roster.

Q12543 wrote:Layden will have solid draft intell, but keep in mind that the Spurs perennially look at a completely different tier of prospects than the Wolves. I highly doubt they scouted Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield much.

Now if we ever get really good, Layden's exposure to the Spurs process for unearthing talent with late 1st rounders and 2nd rounders will be extremely valuable.

Too bad that we won't have 2nd round pick this summer. Layden's experience with Spurs first rounders might have helped us to find a gem from the beginning of 2nd round.

Mikkeman wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Layden will have solid draft intell, but keep in mind that the Spurs perennially look at a completely different tier of prospects than the Wolves. I highly doubt they scouted Brandon Ingram or Buddy Hield much.

Now if we ever get really good, Layden's exposure to the Spurs process for unearthing talent with late 1st rounders and 2nd rounders will be extremely valuable.

Too bad that we won't have 2nd round pick this summer. Layden's experience with Spurs first rounders might have helped us to find a gem from the beginning of 2nd round.

I'm looking forward to seeing Thibs and Layden convince Glen to spend his money to buy a 2nd rounder from 50-60 if they like a guy.

Q - I agree that the draft and free agency are not mutually exclusive mechanisms for building or supplementing our roster. And I agree we've already built a tremendously talented roster almost entirely through the draft.

My only disagreement with your post is your characterization of the roster as having a "surplus of young/inexperienced" players. Two thoughts on that.

First, although we have a lot of young players in their early 20s, a number of those guys have significant NBA/professional experience. Ricky has been in the League 5 years after years playing high level professional ball in Europe and internationally. Gorgui and Bazz have 3 NBA seasons under their belts while Wiggins and Zach have 2. Towns has a full season and played smarter and better than a lot of vets in his rookie season. Bellyat age 28 now has a full season of NBA experience after years playing professionally in Europe.

Our key players have more experience that the Thunder had when they won 50 games in Westbrook's 2nd season.

Second, the word "surplus" implies too many. Even though we have a lot of young players I don't think we have too many. You can have too many bad players or too many of one type of player, but you can't have too many young players if they're all good and blend well together. As the stats you identified show, our young core playing together as starters with help from Bazz, Belly and Tyus off the bench produced the 3rd beast offense in the NBA. Now have quality coaching to ramp up their team defense.

lipoli390 wrote:Q - I agree that the draft and free agency are not mutually exclusive mechanisms for building or supplementing our roster. And I agree we've already built a tremendously talented roster almost entirely through the draft.

My only disagreement with your post is your characterization of the roster as having a "surplus of young/inexperienced" players. Two thoughts on that.

First, although we have a lot of young players in their early 20s, a number of those guys have significant NBA/professional experience. Ricky has been in the League 5 years after years playing high level professional ball in Europe and internationally. Gorgui and Bazz have 3 NBA seasons under their belts while Wiggins and Zach have 2. Towns has a full season and played smarter and better than a lot of vets in his rookie season. Bellyat age 28 now has a full season of NBA experience after years playing professionally in Europe.

Our key players have more experience that the Thunder had when they won 50 games in Westbrook's 2nd season.

+1. Sabonnis is 20 and Dubljevic is 24. Both would be great additions. They can get older players when they sign a F/A backup PG, a F/A 5th wing, and whichever (probably bad) 6th wing they get in trade for Payne.

Roster without trades:

1. Ricky
2. LaVine
3. Wiggins
4. Gorgui
5. KAT
6. Belly
7. Bazz
8. KG
9. Tyus
10. Payne
11. Rudez

So I think we have 4 open roster spots to fill with our one high draft pick and free agency. We have decent cap space for free agents. So no need to trade any of our young guys before the season.

lipoli390 wrote:Roster without trades:

1. Ricky
2. LaVine
3. Wiggins
4. Gorgui
5. KAT
6. Belly
7. Bazz
8. KG
9. Tyus
10. Payne
11. Rudez

So I think we have 4 open roster spots to fill with our one high draft pick and free agency. We have decent cap space for free agents. So no need to trade any of our young guys before the season.

Yep, and we have even more flexibility because Rudez is a team option (doesn't bring us much, but is cheap at $1.2 million). I'd love to see us let Rudez go, and add a draft pick, the European PF Dubs, Deng, Price and someone else (depending on need). Barring injuries, that lineup wins 55 games.