For Visitors: MIN is not Forced to Pick Lopez

[shrink]

Several posters from other forums read the mocks, and believe that the Wolves can't afford to pass on Lopez at the #3, because they need a center so badly. However, MIN has several ways to get a good big without giving up on the best player available (Mayo).

- MIN has $13 mil in expirings it could trade.

- MIN has potentially three first round picks next year - some could add trade value.

- MIN supposedly has a deal in place to trade its two seconds for a non-lottery 1st.

- MIN can offer the MLE and still be under the lux.

- MIN has $23 mil coming off the books to get a max deal free agent next summer. MIN is not a contender this year anyway! Is Lopez getting them a ring next year? Al Jefferson did pretty dang well (21 PPG, 11 RPG) playing most of his minutes at center, and Gomes did fine at PF as well.

And even if all that was false, at the top of the draft, it is always very dangerous to pass on a potential star just because some lesser, low-upside prospect happens to be a better fit. Its not like MIN is so laden with talent that they just need one more player at the center position to finish off their team, and it has to be a center. They have al Jefferson, and a lot of hopeful guys with upside, but nobody that would shove Mayo to the bench.

And even if all THAT was false, Mayo clearly has more trade value with other teams than Lopez. MIN would be foolish not to take Mayo, and at least trade him for that key big man, right?


Right now, despite what many non-MIN mock drafts say, the vast majority of wolves posters believe that Mayo is the right pick at #3. I don't think anyone believe MIN is forced to pass on Mayo.

[deeney0]

While I agree with the sentiment, Gomes did not do fine as a PF. He struggled a lot guarding anyone bigger than him. Going into the season expecting Gomes to play a big chunk of his minutes at PF would mean this offseason was a failure, imo.

[nc21tarheels]

i was going to agree with what deeney said. I also don't think 2 guys did "fine" when you finish the season 3rd to last. JMO. I'm not knocking any of the players but we're not good.

[Sephiroth]

Exactly. Minnesota does not need to draft Brook Lopez just because he is a center.

Minnesota can grab Desagan Dip or Kwame Brown. They could trade for a center. When you have the option to draft Mayo - you do it.

[cpfsf]

Exactly. Minnesota does not need to draft Brook Lopez just because he is a center.

Minnesota can grab Desagan Dip or Kwame Brown. They could trade for a center. When you have the option to draft Mayo - you do it.

Taylor said he won't be bringing in any FA's any time soon. In a few years we will get rid of all the expiring contracts so no reason to add another. We need to wait to buy good free agents. Wait to see what the team needs in a few years and get it.

[delux55]

I think he just means sign those centers as stop gaps in between the time till we have all the cap. We will be able to use the MLE to fill a need for the season

[deeney0]

-= original quote snipped =-

Taylor said he won't be bringing in any FA's any time soon.

Taylor has said a lot of things. I think we can all but guarantee the Wolves won't bring in any high priced FA's this offseason. But $1-2mil type guys to fill out the roster, maybe a PO'B? Reasonable speculation.

[4ho5ive]

Yea i thought he said we werent gonna bring in any HIGH priced FA's. Max contract level FA's not MLE level FA's. though I dont see us doing much more than trading up to get a prospect big and like Deeney and others have said, give POB a camp invite.

[Datruth345]

i hope you guys don't take lopez

i want you guys to get mayo to team up with Big Al