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- Minnesota Timberwolves not sold on any prospect, expected to try and trade down:
According to a Western Conference executive, word around the league is Minnesota isn't leaning one way at No. 1, sounds "confused" and feels pressure after "messing up last year by trading for Jarrett Culver."

The belief is that Minnesota's priority is to trade, realistically down the board assuming an established star won't become available. If the Wolves stick at No. 1, multiple sources say they'd bet on LaMelo Ball having the edge over Anthony Edwards.

But Ball also has a chunk of support as the draft's top overall prospect, and with president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas still unsure about the makeup of his team (Russell and Towns have played one game together), fit might not factor into Minnesota's decision.

- Concern with Anthony Edwards for a top pick:
Teams are worried about Edwards' drive and enthusiasm for winning, and according to a source, the Golden State Warriors aren't a likely landing spot due to these concerns.

Despite media projections and upside that everyone acknowledges, he has a shaky reputation within NBA circles. Dion Waiters has been used by skeptics as a comparison or low-end outcome for Edwards, an inefficient scorer at Georgia whose Bulldogs finished 13 of 14 teams in the SEC.

Scouts and executives have mentioned that his teams haven't won at any level, and that he even forgets plays and actions.

He could still get consideration at No. 1 from Minnesota, but most seem to think the Wolves will favor Ball, who should also generate more interest from teams looking to trade up, given his superior star power and potential to transform a struggling team's identity with his flashy playmaking and exciting pace.

Meanwhile, the more we ask around about Edwards, the more we hear concern about his professionalism and ability to impact winning, even if his scoring production carries over.

- Onyeka Okongwu over James Wiseman?:
Wiseman started the season as a No. 1 overall candidate, while Okongwu was mostly off NBA rankings as a 6'9", non-shooting center. But Bleacher Report has talked with multiple scouts who've moved Okongwu over Wiseman.

We reported earlier there is a belief that Wiseman could fall in the No. 5-9 range.

- Extra stock into IQ, intangibles:
One scout brought up the notion that his team will be putting more stock into basketball IQ and other valued intangibles compared to previous years.

Teams are having a tough time identifying the obvious NBA talent in this draft. Worried about misevaluating it, they could feel more confident in drafting a player who makes good decisions, competes and brings a positive presence to their locker room—even if they don't possess appetizing upside.

Based on where certain prospects stack up on most draft boards around the league, overvaluing intangibles seems to be a strategy shared by other organizations.

Okoro and Haliburton stand out as the posterboys for this conversation. Both are projected 10 picks and perimeter players who averaged fewer than 17.0 points per 40 minutes.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2910623-nba-draft-buzz-if-top-pick-isnt-traded-sources-expect-lamelo-ball-to-go-first

I do like the idea that Edwards and Wiseman could drop. I have not seen a mock yet that has Edwards dropping to 6 but I have seen one that has Wiseman dropping to the Hawks.

That's why I said last week that no one is moving up to take Wiseman nor Edwards. They are not generational talents.

TGW wrote:That's why I said last week that no one is moving up to take Wiseman nor Edwards. They are not generational talents.

This is one journalist and like he even said, all the other pundit sites are not saying this. Its been Ball, Edwards, Wiseman in some order since last December. If it flops to Ball because of Minny, this is not earth shattering.

I will believe Edwards dropping out of the top three when I see it. I would love for either Edwards or Wiseman to drop to 6. Not counting on that either.

Edwards for $44M over his rookie deal or #8 OA at $22M over his rookie deal? Given this draft I think I'd rather have #8. Golden State in repeater tax hell should be looking to trade back as far as late lottery to save themselves a legit fortune in salary + tax difference.

This is all in line what I have been thinking. I just don't know why Edwards is viewed in the top 3, his main skill is...he has a good and powerful body for a guard? What does he do well besides driving to the rim? Also his interviews have been really off. He doesn't seem interested in basketball. I would definitely pass on Edwards if he was there at 3.

Wiseman just moves so slow, he would have been the easy #1 15 years ago, but any NBA team will abuse Wiseman by pulling him out of the paint.

I would be disappointed if we took either of them at 3. I think both deserve to be in the 5-10 range.

Hayes/Okongwu/Vassel/Terry for me in that order

Let Edwards fall to 8. I would gladly scoop him up.

I wonder how altered things will be between now and draft night because the draft process is so weird and there isn't a prospect anyone seems sold on just yet. That leaves room for a lot of weird things like could Avdija or Okongwu go 1st? I've been reading pretty consistently that LaMelo Ball is viewed as the best player in this draft by those who make the decisions.

I think most of this stuff is coming from T Wolves and Warriors sources trying to encourage teams to trade up. If they don't get a decent offer I think the T Wolves will be fine with Ball or Edwards and the Warriors will be fine with Edwards, Wiseman or Deni on the outside as a surprise at 2

NW wrote:I think most of this stuff is coming from T Wolves and Warriors sources trying to encourage teams to trade up. If they don't get a decent offer I think the T Wolves will be fine with Ball or Edwards and the Warriors will be fine with Edwards, Wiseman or Deni on the outside as a surprise at 2

Ill cheer for whoever we get but I’ll be pretty disappointed if we get Edwards or Deni.

Think Im in the Wiseman or trade down camp. The guys I actually like dont have the upside to take at 2 IMO (Vassell or Okoro).

I am expecting the unexpected, this might be the most exciting draft to watch as I bet the mocks will be very wrong.

This is a smart move. In a draft where no one knows who the next Doncic is, its smarter to get multiple assets from a mid lottery team and break it into pieces. The worst part is when a 11million dollar rookie becomes a bust like Fultz now you lost every draft capital and wasting cap space he is a negative value. Your expected to pick the best player so you dont gain much picking the right choice but making the wrong choice could cost your gm job.

Trading the pick for unprotected Bulls/Cavs/Knicks 2021 would be an alternative they should be thinking about.

I don't understand how u can be the number 1 pick as a wing and u haven't won on any level

So basically nobody projected to go in the top of the draft is worth what the rookie scale would require them to be paid. This could be a wild draft night where both top picks get traded to get safer players and to save salary.

Village Idiot wrote:So basically nobody projected to go in the top of the draft is worth what the rookie scale would require them to be paid. This could be a wild draft night where both top picks get traded to get safer players and to save salary.

I don't think that is true, it is just a no sure things draft, last no sure things draft was 2017 and it turned out to be a great draft, though Philly and LA might want do overs. Maybe this draft is not quite as strong but Edwards, and Wiseman will most likley be all stars if they go to good situatons. Haliburton looks really good he could be a Chancy Billups type. Tons of potential 3 and D wings lots of interesting PG's what there is not is a sure fire big. There willl be at least 3 or 4 all stars from this draft there almost always are even the worst classes tend to produce 2 all stars

Spin Move wrote:

Village Idiot wrote:So basically nobody projected to go in the top of the draft is worth what the rookie scale would require them to be paid. This could be a wild draft night where both top picks get traded to get safer players and to save salary.

I don't think that is true, it is just a no sure things draft, last no sure things draft was 2017 and it turned out to be a great draft, though Philly and LA might want do overs. Maybe this draft is not quite as strong but Edwards, and Wiseman will most likley be all stars if they go to good situatons. Haliburton looks really good he could be a Chancy Billups type. Tons of potential 3 and D wings lots of interesting PG's what there is not is a sure fire big. There willl be at least 3 or 4 all stars from this draft there almost always are even the worst classes tend to produce 2 all stars

Most drafts end up having a couple of all stars, but drafts that are viewed beforehand as being really bad - and that's the concensus on this one, not just that it's messy at the top - tend not to deliver than many, and especially not in the lotto. 2000, which was seen as being similar to this year, IMO, delivered only one future all star in the lottery, another (Magloire, who I struggle to call an actual all star, at #19) and Michael Redd deep in the second round.

2013, which is the last draft people were talking about as really bad (as opposed to last year, which was just bad) was similar - three all stars overall, but only one (Dipo) in the lotto.

I think that sort of outcome sounds more reasonable than assuming you're going to get even a poor man's Chauncey Billups (#3 in a good draft) mid-lotto, or multiple all stars scattered across the guys projected to go lotto. I'd guess one lotto all star, and a couple more random ones somewhere between #10 and #60.

NW wrote:I think most of this stuff is coming from T Wolves and Warriors sources trying to encourage teams to trade up. If they don't get a decent offer I think the T Wolves will be fine with Ball or Edwards and the Warriors will be fine with Edwards, Wiseman or Deni on the outside as a surprise at 2

Why would the wolves or warriors disparage the guys at the top of the board? I would think they would want to talk them up.

patman66 wrote:

NW wrote:I think most of this stuff is coming from T Wolves and Warriors sources trying to encourage teams to trade up. If they don't get a decent offer I think the T Wolves will be fine with Ball or Edwards and the Warriors will be fine with Edwards, Wiseman or Deni on the outside as a surprise at 2

Why would the wolves or warriors disparage the guys at the top of the board? I would think they would want to talk them up.

I imagine other teams are more focused on the fact they’re not interested in them and willing to trade down than the disparaging remarks. Teams will make their own judgments there before listening to others imo

The Dion comp for Edwards is pretty damning... But in general I don't buy most of these knocks on the draft.

patman66 wrote:

NW wrote:I think most of this stuff is coming from T Wolves and Warriors sources trying to encourage teams to trade up. If they don't get a decent offer I think the T Wolves will be fine with Ball or Edwards and the Warriors will be fine with Edwards, Wiseman or Deni on the outside as a surprise at 2

Why would the wolves or warriors disparage the guys at the top of the board? I would think they would want to talk them up.

The Wolves and Warriors both would be interested in trading down, which means they don’t want other teams to know who they like. If the Wolves are open that they like Edwards, for example, and the Knicks want Ball, they would know that they didn’t have to draft up to #1 to get him.

Basically, don’t believe anything any team says until after the draft. Everyone lies.