Top tier draft prospects

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

If the Wolves do indeed trade K-love for a top draft pick in this years draft, which players are you most interested in? I know draft position will dictate who is available, but are there any players in particular you like more than others or any to avoid at all costs?

[worldK]

Wiggins and embiid for me. If love is going to be traded, Il be happy to have either of the 2. Parker would be fine as well. Just prefer the above 2.

[Coolbreeze44]

I agree World. I love Wiggins ceiling, and Embiid could be a dominant big man. Parker is #3 but a tier below for me.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Parker and Smart are the guys I'm most confident in becoming All-Star players. I'll leave that there.

Embiid scares me. Issues with back. Can't help but think of Oden and Bowie. I've seen the Hakeem comparisons too. Think people that make that statement need to slow down. He's a freak in terms of athleticism, body control, mobility and size.

Wiggins could very well be the best player in this draft, but he's a gamble. He doesn't make his teammates better. He's not good enough with the ball in his hands. Can't create for others. Lacks "killer" mentality on offense, loses focus on defense at times. All the physical tools are there (length, explosiveness, agility, etc.).

Exum's a wildcard. He's got MCW size with Westbrook's first step. Says he molds his game to be like D-Rose's. Attack the rim. Decent point guard skills. Sure looks the part. Level of competition he's been playing at could be a problem, but he's talented no doubt about it.

Think there's three significant groups and then there's everybody else.

Group A: Parker, Wiggins, Embiid, Smart, Exum

Group B: Randle, Vonleh, Gordon, McDermott, Stauskas, Saric

Group C: Harris, Hood, Warren, LaVine, Payton

[bleedspeed]

For me -

Group A: Parker, Wiggins, Embiid, Smart, Exum

Group B: Randle, McDermott, Stauskas, Saric

Group C: Harris, Hood, Warren, LaVine, Payton, Vonleh, Gordon,

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

It's been interesting for me to read on this board all the negative comments about Love the past couple days (all of which I believe by the way)...Love isn't a leader, Love isn't respected by his teammates, his first NBA coach thought he was a pussy, he irritates the starting center on his team, he's selfish, he isn't loyal, he doesn't hustle on defense and isn't that effective one-on-one, etc). And I have also heard similar comments from the national media (I mentioned some ESPN guys mocking Love's lack of effort on defense...saying he was only interested in padding his stats).

And yet we continue to talk about who we would target if we ended up with the 1st pick! Come on, guys...it ain't happenin'. There aren't many secrets in the NBA, and every GM has heard about all those negative qualities in my first paragraph. Do you really think Cleveland is going to give up the #1 pick in the best draft in years for the chance to bring a guy on board who puts up great offensive stats, but is a problem child who can't lead his team to the playoffs?

McLemore plus #8 is the ceiling for what Flip will be offered, I think. And I'm on the fence about accepting that offer.

[worldK]

It's been interesting for me to read on this board all the negative comments about Love the past couple days (all of which I believe by the way)...Love isn't a leader, Love isn't respected by his teammates, his first NBA coach thought he was a pussy, he irritates the starting center on his team, he's selfish, he isn't loyal, he doesn't hustle on defense and isn't that effective one-on-one, etc). And I have also heard similar comments from the national media (I mentioned some ESPN guys mocking Love's lack of effort on defense...saying he was only interested in padding his stats).

And yet we continue to talk about who we would target if we ended up with the 1st pick! Come on, guys...it ain't happenin'. There aren't many secrets in the NBA, and every GM has heard about all those negative qualities in my first paragraph. Do you really think Cleveland is going to give up the #1 pick in the best draft in years for the chance to bring a guy on board who puts up great offensive stats, but is a problem child who can't lead his team to the playoffs?

McLemore plus #8 is the ceiling for what Flip will be offered, I think. And I'm on the fence about accepting that offer.

Long,your right in that every gm has probably heard about the negatives of love. But the thing is, many of us here, the fans of the team and management would have happily ignore those and keep love instead if only he hasnt make it clear that he wants to leave. Love is a great talent. Never had a player like him before in the league. A true superstar.

That makes it likely that a team is willing to part good assets to get him. As much as we believe we will make it with love, other teanms believe that as well. Gm's and coaches tend to have ego's themselves. Believing that they can mold a player better than the rest.

Cavs were desperate to make the playoffs last season. Would having 2 all stars. Other young players with potential, cap space, the rights to deng and hawes make the cavs believe they can make the playoffs in the weaker eastern conference? Also having cap space in 2015 tolure another big name free agent with love and irving in place. Its not a sure thing that the cavs will do it, but its possible.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

LST, just like we can talk about Love's negatives, we can also talk about how he's the only player in the league that can do what he does. He's a matchup nightmare and is only 25. Would Cleveland trade the No. 1 pick to pair their current young star with another young star he's familiar with? I guess we disagree, but I believe they would. I could be wrong about that, but please factor in that this is Dan Gilbert's team we're talking about. He wants immediate results and it's painfully obvious that they're aiming for LeBron making a return. Pairing up Kyrie with Love only helps the chances of that objective being accomplished.

I wonder if there's a way where Love could agree to waive his ability to opt-out and give him and Kyrie a shot. That would almost certainly get the deal done, in my opinion.

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

I was thinking more along the lines of pick 6,7, or 8. I'm thinking Vonleh or Gordon would be building blocks if we trade Love for one of those higher picks

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I was thinking more along the lines of pick 6,7, or 8. I'm thinking Vonleh or Gordon would be building blocks if we trade Love for one of those higher picks

To me, that seems like a much more likely scenario, ff. GMs don't get as excited about these mid-lottery picks, and are much more likely to package this pick with players in an attempt to land Love.

Unfortunately, I'm not too excited about the guys falling in his range. 7-9 seems too high for the SGs I covet (Stauskas and Harris), and it seems the mid-lottery players each have significant flaws that make them a risk. There will be a lot of pressure on this pick to be a star, because he will always be linked to Kevin Love.

I see this draft as very strong at 1-3, and also very deep...but not really exceptional in between. That leads me to want to trade down if we end up with a 6-8 in exchange for Love. Both Chicago and Phoenix have multiple picks in the teens, and if either really covets a certain mid-lottery player, they might be inclined to deal.