Pre-Draft Thread / Workout Updates

[Mattya]

Durant is just a tad taller than Ledo, though.

But not every case is the same. If he didn't have such good handles and such a fast release then it would be a problem. But his handles are very good, his release is very fast, and he looks like he can pull up off the dribble/fade/lead to get his shot off. If he was a spot up shooter only or a guy who could only run off screens he would be in trouble.

[C.lupus]

I'm basically not giving any credence to anything anyone has to say about Ledo on here.

I'm hurt.

[C.lupus]

Durant is just a tad taller than Ledo, though.

But not every case is the same. If he didn't have such good handles and such a fast release then it would be a problem. But his handles are very good, his release is very fast, and he looks like he can pull up off the dribble/fade/lead to get his shot off. If he was a spot up shooter only or a guy who could only run off screens he would be in trouble.

I'm basically nitpicking but I think it's worth mentioning. Just something that I noticed that may or may not be a problem.

I wouldn't be mad if they took him at 26.

[Klomp]

I'm just saying no one here can really develop much of an informed opinion of him because no one has seen him play. He's no different than Giannis in that way.

We at least saw Ledo at the Draft Combine. You can't say that about Giannis.

[Krapinsky]

But not every case is the same. If he didn't have such good handles and such a fast release then it would be a problem. But his handles are very good, his release is very fast, and he looks like he can pull up off the dribble/fade/lead to get his shot off. If he was a spot up shooter only or a guy who could only run off screens he would be in trouble.

Please show me evidence of any of this.

[Mattya]

But not every case is the same. If he didn't have such good handles and such a fast release then it would be a problem. But his handles are very good, his release is very fast, and he looks like he can pull up off the dribble/fade/lead to get his shot off. If he was a spot up shooter only or a guy who could only run off screens he would be in trouble.

Please show me evidence of any of this.

You have already stated that you aren't giving any credence to what anyone has to say. So what is the point, if you aren't going to give it any credence?

[Klomp]

The thing is, going into the draft, we have two big holes: starting shooting guard and backup big.

Most here are assuming we will want to address the need at SG at 9 because theres better talent there than at 26. However, when you have multiple needs and multiple picks, that might not be the best line of thinking.

According to Flip Saunders, there's a lot of depth at SG, and I believe him:

"I really think there's six or seven quality (shooting guards),'' Timberwolves President Flip Saunders said on Thursday after his team worked out several of them. "I really believe that the 2 spot probably has the most depth of any spot in the draft. There's more guys there that have the ability to get taken, and pretty high probably.''

Conversely, there's much less depth in the post. At 26, you'd probably be choosing between Withey, Nogueira, and Muscala. Not terrible talents, but there's a big gap between them and the bigs that will likely go in the lottery.

So do you sacrifice a lot at C to get a slightly better SG, or do you sacrifice a little at SG to get a much better C?

[Worm Guts]

I don't necessarily see the talent gap being bigger at center. The other issue is that we need more minutes at SG than we do at center, so a smaller talent upgrade could still make a bigger impact.

[C.lupus]

Flip has lots of options, particularly f he can swing a deal with Williams and one of the backup PGs. MLE-level vet SG + #26 SG + #9 C isn't a bad route.

[Klomp]

Something else to throw into the equation:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/status/341999578377236481[/tweet]

If we draft someone big at 26, are we going to have enough faith that they can take Steamer's minutes? This deadline means we can't wait and see how the rookie at 26 comes into training camp before deciding on Steamer.

[Krapinsky]

But not every case is the same. If he didn't have such good handles and such a fast release then it would be a problem. But his handles are very good, his release is very fast, and he looks like he can pull up off the dribble/fade/lead to get his shot off. If he was a spot up shooter only or a guy who could only run off screens he would be in trouble.

Please show me evidence of any of this.

You have already stated that you aren't giving any credence to what anyone has to say. So what is the point, if you aren't going to give it any credence?

If you can show there is a well informed basis for your opinions, then I will give credence to them.

[wildvikeswolves]

I'd be fine with Ledo, Hardaway Jr, Rice, or Bullock at 26 if we went big at 9 with one of Len or Zeller

[Mattya]

Please show me evidence of any of this.

You have already stated that you aren't giving any credence to what anyone has to say. So what is the point, if you aren't going to give it any credence?

If you can show there is a well informed basis for your opinions, then I will give credence to them.

There are no statistics for what you are asking for, but if you can't watch those short clips, which I stated, take with a grain of salt, and see that he has those skills, then that is on you.

Your approach to this subject has told me this is going nowhere.

[Dewey]

I'd be fine with Ledo, Hardaway Jr, Rice, or Bullock at 26 if we went big at 9 with one of Len or Zeller

ThIs has been my vote. I'd prefer to trade for a veteran SG - then drafting a SG at 26 we can develop.

Zeller of Len at #9, then take best SG on the board at 26. Three bigs would be nice when you have a guy like Pek who can miss games. Prefer Zeller over Len, but he'll be gone by #9. He's a legit triple threat on the high post. Extremely high IQ and coachable. Defense is underrated - adequate overall. Maybe not the video highlight guy blocking shots, but he is a very good play-maker as a team defender. Virtually zero risk that he will not be an abover average NBA player.

[Grits n Gravy]

Something else to throw into the equation:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/status/341999578377236481[/tweet]

If we draft someone big at 26, are we going to have enough faith that they can take Steamer's minutes? This deadline means we can't wait and see how the rookie at 26 comes into training camp before deciding on Steamer.

With the hopeful return to health of Love and assuming Pek is his usual nagging injured self hopefully we'll be back seeing quite a bit of Love at center which will hopefully allow DW quite a good opportunity again. We obviously will need back up center minutes but they won't be as valuable IMO. Steamer was pretty much trash this season anyway but having said that most, if not all, centers in this draft probably won't be ready to step right in and play from day one - that's not to say they won't be ready at some time during the season.

Bayno is back at Eurocamp this year. Really hope he passes the word on about Nemanja Nedovic. DX moved him back to our spot in the 2nd round. We need to find a way to get this dude, he's being really slept on as a prospect IMO. Would be a great combo back up in time.

[wildvikeswolves]

I'd be fine with Ledo, Hardaway Jr, Rice, or Bullock at 26 if we went big at 9 with one of Len or Zeller

ThIs has been my vote. I'd prefer to trade for a veteran SG - then drafting a SG at 26 we can develop.

Zeller of Len at #9, then take best SG on the board at 26. Three bigs would be nice when you have a guy like Pek who can miss games. Prefer Zeller over Len, but he'll be gone by #9. He's a legit triple threat on the high post. Extremely high IQ and coachable. Defense is underrated - adequate overall. Maybe not the video highlight guy blocking shots, but he is a very good play-maker as a team defender. Virtually zero risk that he will not be an abover average NBA player.

I prefer Len to Zeller, but I'm coming around on Zeller. I don't want Gobbert, Adams or Olynik

[hussamga]

I don't know if its even possible to find online, but if any of you haven't seen the Georgia vs LSU game (KCPs last college game) try to find the full game online, by the end of it every last one of you will be on the KCP bandwagon. It was an amazing performance.

This page http://www.sicemdawgs.com/georgia-bulldogs-tv-schedule.php has links to UGA games on ESPN3, scroll down to basketball.

Tested the LSU game and its working, just fast forward through all the timeouts.

[nickforthreee]

here is a video of some footage of KCP working out for the Trailblazers

http://www.nba.com/blazers/video/teams/ ... index.html

2:01 is pretty impressive

I don't know if its even possible to find online, but if any of you haven't seen the Georgia vs LSU game (KCPs last college game) try to find the full game online, by the end of it every last one of you will be on the KCP bandwagon. It was an amazing performance.

This page http://www.sicemdawgs.com/georgia-bulldogs-tv-schedule.php has links to UGA games on ESPN3, scroll down to basketball.

Tested the LSU game and its working, just fast forward through all the timeouts.

awesome find man thanks!

[nickforthreee]

also, anyone who has some free time and is interested in KCP should watch this game: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/832662/

his last college game, truly an "on fire" performance. if your not on the KCP bandwagon you will be after watching it. you will also get to see how little talent Georgia had.

[Krapinsky]

KCP's demeanor is really intense. Seems like he just lives and breathes bball.