Looking ahead to the 2015 NBA draft.

[MinneOOPalis]

Mario Hezonja is my favorite player from the draft. Easily.

[Saltine]

Flip may bring over Bojan Dubljevic next year (6'9"/240 lb stretch PF/C - 46% 3pt), so we could be drafting BPA not just a PF...
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Boj ... evic-6317/
Eurocup Rising Star Winner: 2013, 2014

I think Bennett is heading to Philly. Thad, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Hummel will probably be our PF's this season.

[Jayme96]

That was assuming Bennett - Thad at the 4. We'd probably take best player available at that point. If Bennett can be written off as a bust, then probably a 4, but I personally don't think that will be the case.

Young has an Early Termination Option after this next season that he'll almost certainly use, and at this point, we should be ecstatic if Bennett even develops into a quality backup. Counting on him to be our 4 going forward strikes me as naive, and that's even assuming he ends up here instead of Philly.

and assuming Rubio is traded (as he should be if he thinks he's getting maxed.....8 ppg is not worth half of that, even if I do like his passing and steals):

Zach LaVine 6'4"

LaVine is a 6'6" SG. Counting on him to be our starting Point going forward would be a huge mistake.

He's 6'4.5". Draft express pre-draft measurements. So no, he's not 6'6", but it should be rounded up to 6'5". Which position he could be is to be determined. I like the Russell Westbrook comparisons and would hope he could become that, but his handle is a bit iffy. In summer league he looked like a good drive and dish type though. Regardless, I'd rather have him at PG than pay Rubio max.

[AQuintus]

He's 6'4.5".

In socks. Players play in shoes.

[Jayme96]

Flip may bring over Bojan Dubljevic next year (6'9"/240 lb stretch PF/C - 46% 3pt), so we could be drafting BPA not just a PF...
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Boj ... evic-6317/
Eurocup Rising Star Winner: 2013, 2014

I think Bennett is heading to Philly. Thad, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Hummel will probably be our PF's this season.

I read his profile on nbadraft.net, and it says he would struggle with an uptempo team, so maybe not the best fit. Not a good rebounder, a bit undersized (long arms) but is a good shooter. Sounds interesting.

[Swish4]

Hey Jayme, do you still post on Purple Thoughts?

[Jayme96]

He's 6'4.5".

In socks. Players play in shoes.

Still doesn't make him 6'6", but I don't feel like arguing about it. We were both right in a way. Actual height I was, listed height you probably are....he was listed at 6'5" at UCLA.

[ace625214]

He's 6'4.5".

In socks. Players play in shoes.

He's also only 19, and based on his late growth spurt was a bit of a late bloomer. He'll likely grow more.

[Jayme96]

Hey Jayme, do you still post on Purple Thoughts?

Nope I haven't been there in quite some time. On Vikefans.com now.

[Saltine]

He's 6'4.5".

In socks. Players play in shoes.

Shoes which add 0.75" to 2" to their height, so they are a horrible control reference. Unlike without shoes measurements...
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-dra ... All&sort=2

Lavine is still growing, he may end up being a legit 6'6" o 6'7".

[AQuintus]

Shoes which add 0.75" to 2" to their height, so they are a horrible control reference. Unlike without shoes measurements...

Lavine is still growing, he may end up being a legit 6'6" o 6'7".

Regardless, without shoes, the average Shooting Guard drafted in the top 15 is 6' 4.19" (according to DX's combine database). LaVine is Shooting Guard height.

Also, in general, it's safe to add 1.25" to height w/o shoes. So, LaVine would be 6'5.75". Rounded up, thats 6'6".

Using LaVine's height w/o shoes is misleading because the natural tendency is to then judge him against other players' listed heights, which are (almost) always their heights WITH shoes.

Other guys that were 6'4.5" w/o shoes:

Tim Hardaway Jr.
Lance Stephenson
Jamal Crawford
JR Rider
Danny Green
Jerry Stackhouse
Latrell Sprewell

[Saltine]

Shoes which add 0.75" to 2" to their height, so they are a horrible control reference. Unlike without shoes measurements...

Lavine is still growing, he may end up being a legit 6'6" o 6'7".

Regardless, without shoes, the average Shooting Guard drafted in the top 15 is 6' 4.19" (according to DX's combine database). LaVine is Shooting Guard height.

Also, in general, it's safe to add 1.25" to height w/o shoes. So, LaVine would be 6'5.75". Rounded up, thats 6'6".

Using LaVine's height w/o shoes is misleading because the natural tendency is to then judge him against other players' listed heights, which are (almost) always their heights WITH shoes.

Other guys that were 6'4.5" w/o shoes:

Tim Hardaway Jr.
Lance Stephenson
Jamal Crawford
JR Rider
Danny Green
Jerry Stackhouse
Latrell Sprewell

He has fine SG height, and will grow a bit more...
I always use without shoes, my natural tendency is to look up the real height, I'm a persnickety fellow
Euros are almost exclusively listed at their real heights as well, it's just the NBA with the nonsense heights, which are then rounded up even more... I think the agents are to blame.

[Nitroglycerin]

Flip may bring over Bojan Dubljevic next year (6'9"/240 lb stretch PF/C - 46% 3pt), so we could be drafting BPA not just a PF...
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Boj ... evic-6317/
Eurocup Rising Star Winner: 2013, 2014

I think Bennett is heading to Philly. Thad, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Hummel will probably be our PF's this season.

I read his profile on nbadraft.net, and it says he would struggle with an uptempo team, so maybe not the best fit. Not a good rebounder, a bit undersized (long arms) but is a good shooter. Sounds interesting.

what about Dublejic?

[Saltine]

Flip may bring over Bojan Dubljevic next year (6'9"/240 lb stretch PF/C - 46% 3pt), so we could be drafting BPA not just a PF...
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Boj ... evic-6317/
Eurocup Rising Star Winner: 2013, 2014

I think Bennett is heading to Philly. Thad, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Hummel will probably be our PF's this season.

I read his profile on nbadraft.net, and it says he would struggle with an uptempo team, so maybe not the best fit. Not a good rebounder, a bit undersized (long arms) but is a good shooter. Sounds interesting.

what about Dublejic?

He is a legit 6"9 (205cm) and 242 lbs (110 Kg), from Montenegro, a great shooter, and he's friends with Pek; He's very strong, and has a great motor, but he can't jump and doesn't run well. https://twitter.com/dubljevicius14
http://www.euroleague.net/competition/p ... ode=002742
His buyout is 1 million Euros right now, but falls to a a few hundred k next year.
I imagine he'll take Turiaf's spot, could be a nice guy to work with Dieng off the bench.

I wouldn't be surprised if Nemanja Bjelica comes over as well.

[Feilong]

We won't finish bottom 12 and we own our pick to PHX, so stop worrying people

[Saltine]

We won't finish bottom 12 and we own our pick to PHX, so stop worrying people

LOL, what is that optimism doing over here?

We will probably get a pick or two from the Cavs.
most likely the top 10 protected in 2015-2016, unprotected in 2017 - Miami pick
Maybe Memphis’ 2015 first-round pick -top-5 protected, 15-30 protected in 2015-16, top-5 protected in 2017-18, unprotected in 2019.

[Basti]

That was assuming Bennett - Thad at the 4. We'd probably take best player available at that point. If Bennett can be written off as a bust, then probably a 4, but I personally don't think that will be the case.

Young has an Early Termination Option after this next season that he'll almost certainly use, and at this point, we should be ecstatic if Bennett even develops into a quality backup. Counting on him to be our 4 going forward strikes me as naive, and that's even assuming he ends up here instead of Philly.

and assuming Rubio is traded (as he should be if he thinks he's getting maxed.....8 ppg is not worth half of that, even if I do like his passing and steals):

Zach LaVine 6'4"

LaVine is a 6'6" SG. Counting on him to be our starting Point going forward would be a huge mistake.

He's 6'4.5". Draft express pre-draft measurements. So no, he's not 6'6", but it should be rounded up to 6'5". Which position he could be is to be determined. I like the Russell Westbrook comparisons and would hope he could become that, but his handle is a bit iffy. In summer league he looked like a good drive and dish type though. Regardless, I'd rather have him at PG than pay Rubio max.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't. Not that I want Ricky to get the max but if you have a PG on your team that can run a team like very few others it makes the games so much easier for the rest of the team. If the rest of the line up can pick up the scoring and Ricky actually develops a solid jumper we wouldn't need a Westbrook type of player. Running a team is so much more worth than driving and dishing.

[Grits n Gravy]

I just want Porzingis.

[Feilong]

I just want Candice Swanepoel.

[Jayme96]

Young has an Early Termination Option after this next season that he'll almost certainly use, and at this point, we should be ecstatic if Bennett even develops into a quality backup. Counting on him to be our 4 going forward strikes me as naive, and that's even assuming he ends up here instead of Philly.







LaVine is a 6'6" SG. Counting on him to be our starting Point going forward would be a huge mistake.

He's 6'4.5". Draft express pre-draft measurements. So no, he's not 6'6", but it should be rounded up to 6'5". Which position he could be is to be determined. I like the Russell Westbrook comparisons and would hope he could become that, but his handle is a bit iffy. In summer league he looked like a good drive and dish type though. Regardless, I'd rather have him at PG than pay Rubio max.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't. Not that I want Ricky to get the max but if you have a PG on your team that can run a team like very few others it makes the games so much easier for the rest of the team. If the rest of the line up can pick up the scoring and Ricky actually develops a solid jumper we wouldn't need a Westbrook type of player. Running a team is so much more worth than driving and dishing.

I prefer a pass-first guy like Rubio too. However, he is SOOOOO terrible offensively (his own offense that is, his passing is elite as everyone knows, so he does still contribute on O even if he can't score worth a crap) that he's a liability, and you can't properly run an offense since they don't have to guard him. He really regressed last year, couldn't even finish a layup at times. It's pretty pathetic really. You have 15-20 mill a year tied up in a guy like him, and your franchise is handicapped big time. IF he develops a jumper, which I don't see happening at this point, then he's worth every penny. But like I said, I don't see that happening. He sets a set-shot, no arc, and he's been a pro for damn near a decade already. If it was gonna happen, it should've a long time ago. It's the most basic thing there is in basketball, and he still doesn't have it. He also won't have a guy like Love to pass to anymore, so his passing might not even be that great, or at least productive since if the guys you pass to can't score either then you won't get assists. He'll have to get a lot in transition, or hope that guys like LaVine and Budinger on the perimeter can hit those open 3s.

In the end though, if LaVine could be another Westbrook, but taller and without the attitude, that would be huge for the Wolves. He was one of 2 guys I was hoping for in this draft. The other was McDermott. So my 2 favorite teams actually got my 2 favorite guys from the draft. Unheard of lol. In summer league, LaVine was actually guarding McDermott at times too, much to my surprise. That's the other thing I like about having long, athletic players. When your starting PG can guard the other team's starting SF, that gives you LOTS of options. (LaVine was the PG in that game).

Back to the draft, I think the Wolves could really use a guy like Mario who has ideal size and a very versatile skillset as a 2nd ball handler. When I read that a SG has "PG or point forward capabilities", I'm interested, especially at his size and with his dunking. That takes pressure off of Rubio to have to create every time and maybe he can work on his own offense a little so the Ds have to be honest and not cheat off of him. The 7' Latvian I mentioned is another guy that has a great handle for a guy his size and position. That's what I like in a player, versatility and something more unique for their size/position.