With the 2nd pick in 2011 NBA Draft, Minnesota selects

[lobishome]

A team who defends with Beasley is a team who defend with 4 players. Also, a team who defends with Beasley and Love is a team who simply can't defend. Then, if you want keep Love :

Pick Williams and trade Beasley + Paint's crap(Peko&Darko) + Ridnour and get trustable big man.

Yep, and keep Flynn, What care? You only can get crap for him and I'm starting to suspect next season will be a crap like this season (25 wins at the most) with Rubio or without him.

[PeeDee]

The pick is going to be traded. No doubt in my mind. Taking Williams is like starting over with Beasley. We already have Beasley. Same mold, but SCB is a better rebounder and has shown he can play a wing position. Williams has yet to show that.

By taking and keeping Williams you are:

-Duplicating a player we already have.
-Duplicating positions we already have filled.
-Spending a pick on a player that may have to back up our best player (if DW can't play on the wing)
-Reseting development on one of our key pieces.
-Probably selling Beasley for pennies on the dollar.
-Putting your hope in a player that is not super cool.

We should take DW and trade DW to the highest bidder. I will not be surprised when we take DW and then trade DW to the not highest bidder.

[The59Sound]

Wolves don't need Williams. Jazz don't need Williams.

Cavs could just wait and snatch him up at #4.

How disgusting would that be?

Draft for talent, trade for need.
Utah might very well take him anyway, it's not like Hayward has set the world on fire in his rookie season.

Sidenote: Hayward is our starting 2 of the future, and had an amazing, red-hot finish to the season. We're building around him and Favors. A lot of us envision Williams playing the 3 (personally, I think it's a better fit for him at the pro level anyway).

But this is all moot, because you guys are definitely taking Williams in my non-Wolves-expert opinion.

[Vindicater]

Take Williams or Irving (whoever Cleveland don't take) and be done with it.

We are bad, real real bad, take the talent and make it fit.

I am not convinced Cleveland will take Irving either. They may try to outsmart alot of people (and themselves) and try to take Walker/Knight with the 4th pick and Williams with the first, there thinking being that a scorer of Williams ability may not be there at the 4th pick but that their is not a huge drop off from irving to Knight/Walker as point guards.

I still think they take Irving but this theory will be thrown up plenty of times as a smoke screen you can bet your house on it.

[SouthJersey]

The only smokescreen created isnt by the team but by the media. They will hype all types of scenerios just to bring in ratings and so they have something to talk about. So of course, we will hear Cleveland is "weighing" their options.

BTW, is Minny really down on Wes Johnson? Alot of people in Philly like him, but can I get an honest opinion on what he projects to?

[Foye]

#2 for #4/Varejao

Then once we get a center we could look at making the Iggy trade (Wes/Flynn/Darko.)

Why would the Sixers trade the most instrumental player in them being a playoff team for 3 guys that are proven scrubs? Sorry, the numerous draft busts currently on your roster do not become more palpable because you combine them together. Does the smell of manure get any less intense in larger quantities? No... Those guys couldn't help the Timberwolves win or any other NBA franchise they played with so no need to go spreading their stench around to the Sixers.


#2 for Iggy or go home...

But they fit so well with your bust Evan Turner?

[mandurugo]

The pick is going to be traded. No doubt in my mind. Taking Williams is like starting over with Beasley. We already have Beasley. Same mold, but SCB is a better rebounder and has shown he can play a wing position. Williams has yet to show that.

By taking and keeping Williams you are:

-Duplicating a player we already have.
-Duplicating positions we already have filled.
-Spending a pick on a player that may have to back up our best player (if DW can't play on the wing)
-Reseting development on one of our key pieces.
-Probably selling Beasley for pennies on the dollar.
-Putting your hope in a player that is not super cool.

We should take DW and trade DW to the highest bidder. I will not be surprised when we take DW and then trade DW to the not highest bidder.

Makes sense to me... well, I think they will trade him to the highest bidder, but otherwise I'm in perfect agreement.

A team who defends with Beasley is a team who defend with 4 players. Also, a team who defends with Beasley and Love is a team who simply can't defend.

Another point I pretty much agree with... too bad Williams doesn't project as a better defender.

[Worm Guts]

Williams isn't a great defender, but he's probably better than Beasley

[shangrila]

The pick is going to be traded. No doubt in my mind. Taking Williams is like starting over with Beasley. We already have Beasley. Same mold, but SCB is a better rebounder and has shown he can play a wing position. Williams has yet to show that.

By taking and keeping Williams you are:

-Duplicating a player we already have.
-Duplicating positions we already have filled.
-Spending a pick on a player that may have to back up our best player (if DW can't play on the wing)
-Reseting development on one of our key pieces.
-Probably selling Beasley for pennies on the dollar.
-Putting your hope in a player that is not super cool.

We should take DW and trade DW to the highest bidder. I will not be surprised when we take DW and then trade DW to the not highest bidder.

You're looking at it too narrowly.

If you keep Williams then you bring him off the bench and get:

-A high energy rebounder
-A scorer
-A shooter, so you can play the same sets offensively when Love leaves
-Someone who can score in the post, something this team doesn't have
-I could think of some more but I'll just say etc.

I really don't understand why getting Williams means trading Beasley or vice versa. Williams pretty much compliments both Love and Beasley, as well as Rubio. Is he a need? No, but this is a 2 person draft. I would rather have an awesome 6th man than a lesser player at centre.

[C.lupus]

First, I want to say to everyone Kevin Love will not be traded.

Probably not, but outside of Aldride is there anything you'd accept for either Love OR the number 2 from Portland?

I like Batum but I don't think I'd trade the #2 for him.

BTW, is Minny really down on Wes Johnson? Alot of people in Philly like him, but can I get an honest opinion on what he projects to?

I think you will get mixed feelings on Wes from this board. The problem, in my opinion, is that he was playing out of his natural position (which is SF) and in the wrong system this year so it is hard to judge what his ceiling is. He has a sweet shot, is athletic, and has the potential to be a decent-to-good defender. What he cannot do is create for himself. I still think he will be a good player/solid starter in the league but he needs to be in the right system.

[jpatrick]

Am I allowed to be really pissed off at Harrison Barnes right now? If he was in the draft, we'd all be happy with the #2 pick. Damn college kid trying to enjoy his college years.

[Rolf]

You're looking at it too narrowly.

If you keep Williams then you bring him off the bench and get:

-A high energy rebounder
-A scorer
-A shooter, so you can play the same sets offensively when Love leaves
-Someone who can score in the post, something this team doesn't have
-I could think of some more but I'll just say etc.

I really don't understand why getting Williams means trading Beasley or vice versa. Williams pretty much compliments both Love and Beasley, as well as Rubio. Is he a need? No, but this is a 2 person draft. I would rather have an awesome 6th man than a lesser player at centre.

A major upgrade at center (especially on defense) would be an even better compliment to Love and Beas. You're right, Williams does not really fit a need: The Wolves were the top rebounding team in the league last year (I think...), their ppg were above league average, and pretty much every guy on the roster can shoot. A sixth man who can do all those things is not what we need.

The wolves were the worst defensive team in the league last year. Dead last. If you can take a prospect who projects to be a player we already have, and trade him for one of the very best defensive centers in the league, you have to do that, right?

[mandurugo]

A major upgrade at center (especially on defense) would be an even better compliment to Love and Beas. You're right, Williams does not really fit a need: The Wolves were the top rebounding team in the league last year (I think...), their ppg were above league average, and pretty much every guy on the roster can shoot. A sixth man who can do all those things is not what we need.

The wolves were the worst defensive team in the league last year. Dead last. If you can take a prospect who projects to be a player we already have, and trade him for one of the very best defensive centers in the league, you have to do that, right?

The problem here is that Darko was already one of the better defensive centers in the league last year - there aren't to many major upgrades available. You could find someone better, but not someone who can solve the defensive woes of the team all by himself. Unless you have someone in mind?

If you keep Williams then you bring him off the bench and get:

-A high energy rebounder
-A scorer
-A shooter, so you can play the same sets offensively when Love leaves
-Someone who can score in the post, something this team doesn't have
-I could think of some more but I'll just say etc.

I really don't understand why getting Williams means trading Beasley or vice versa. Williams pretty much compliments both Love and Beasley, as well as Rubio. Is he a need? No, but this is a 2 person draft. I would rather have an awesome 6th man than a lesser player at centre.

I see your point, but don't the wolves already have a super 6th man in Randolph who is slotted in at PF/SF? I know there are some who advocate him playing center, and with examples like Marcus Camby a super skinny C is possible, but I just don't think he has it in him.

[mandurugo]

Williams isn't a great defender, but he's probably better than Beasley

Do you think he will be better if he's asked to move to SF? Beasley was the better college player, is more athletic and has been trying to make the transition for 3 years... doesn't mean Williams won't be better than him, but it seems like the odds are against it.

[Worm Guts]

I don't know that Beasley is more athletic, it's got to be close. Williams showed the ability to make big plays (clutch) defensively, he probably is a better defender at PF though.

[Rolf]

The problem here is that Darko was already one of the better defensive centers in the league last year - there aren't to many major upgrades available. You could find someone better, but not someone who can solve the defensive woes of the team all by himself. Unless you have someone in mind?

Bogut. I really don't think Darko was even close to being one of the better defensive centers in the league. My ideal scenario is to trade #2 for Bogut and Wes for Iggy (plus whatever filler is needed), adding two of the best defensive players in the league at their positions. Good defense is contagious, and the hope is that Beasley and Love catch the bug.

Regarding Williams vs Beas (not specifically in your post, mandurugo, just in general)- Beasley has made a few comments about wanting to play in MN, about how seriously he's going to take this offseason, about turning this into a playoff team, etc... He was putting up 25+ pretty regularly before a series of ankle injuries ruined his season. If he's being honest with his offseason intentions, he could be poised for a genuine breakout year... IMO it's pretty accurate to say that Beas and Williams still have about the same potential of becoming a 1A player for a team, the difference is that Williams is worth a heck of a lot more in a trade.

If both of them turn out to be 20 ppg super-sized small forwards, why trade the one who will hardly bring any return when the other could bring a seriously good vet player the team desperately needs?

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm excited about the prospect of a Beasley/Williams/Love frontcourt, but I think you have to have a special coach to make it work (we dont). I don't see any other lineup options if you want to keep those 3 guys and get your best players on the floor. Williams looks like a PF all the way. His entire game is based around having a slower guy on him and being able to burn him on the face up or drain a jumper if you try to protect yourself with space. He's a finisher and belongs around the rim. You put him 25 feet out as a SF and thats all gone.

Probably going to need to trade this pick, there's too much at stake for Kahn to improve the team, soften the blow of the 2012 pick, and save his job. Another season like this and he's gone. They're not going to let him have another rebuild season w/ a bunch of rooks, fans would freak the **** out.

[Kumar]

The problem here is that Darko was already one of the better defensive centers in the league last year - there aren't to many major upgrades available. You could find someone better, but not someone who can solve the defensive woes of the team all by himself. Unless you have someone in mind?

Bogut. I really don't think Darko was even close to being one of the better defensive centers in the league. My ideal scenario is to trade #2 for Bogut and Wes for Iggy (plus whatever filler is needed), adding two of the best defensive players in the league at their positions. Good defense is contagious, and the hope is that Beasley and Love catch the bug.

Regarding Williams vs Beas (not specifically in your post, mandurugo, just in general)- Beasley has made a few comments about wanting to play in MN, about how seriously he's going to take this offseason, about turning this into a playoff team, etc... He was putting up 25+ pretty regularly before a series of ankle injuries ruined his season. If he's being honest with his offseason intentions, he could be poised for a genuine breakout year... IMO it's pretty accurate to say that Beas and Williams still have about the same potential of becoming a 1A player for a team, the difference is that Williams is worth a heck of a lot more in a trade.

If both of them turn out to be 20 ppg super-sized small forwards, why trade the one who will hardly bring any return when the other could bring a seriously good vet player the team desperately needs?

I like the idea of adding 2 stout defenders (as you said - possibly best at their positions) - if only Iggy was 3 years younger. I think Iggy is a great player right now, but in 3-4 years when the Wolves are ready to compete? He will be a shadow of himself and not be as effective as the Wolves would like him to be.

I think I just wait on Wes and pray that he can become a better player.

[sheefo13]

You have to take Williams or Kanter. I prefer Kanter. Kanter provides the Wolves with a similar model that the Grizzlies had with Randolph and Gasol. It may be in our best interest to draft Williams though and trade down to get assests along with Kanter.
Trading the #2 pick for a veteran has to be for a veteran that will increase our win percentage and defense significantly. Bogut, is not that. I don't think any trade is worth losing the #2 pick and missing out on one of these big man prospects. The player I would like is Josh Smith.
I know the boards are in love with Biyombo and would love if the Wolves traded down but I don't see him being able to guard Centers in the post. He by no means the solution to all things defense for us.
I think Kanter has the best upside to any big man in the draft because he understands the game. He plays angles amazingly. Reminds me of Brook Lopez. You got to take Kanter. Big men are hard to come by.

[Klomp]

I'm still not completely sold on him, but I think you have to take Kanter over Williams if you keep the pick. I think if he would've played at Kentucky last season, he would be the one in Seacaucus last night, not Kyrie.