2013 Draft Targets (#9, #26, #52, #59)

[Esohny]

that'd be weird to see the Pelicans take Bennett

Kinda like how it'd be weird for us to take Williams when we have Love

Um...yes.

[shrink]

I've been really waiting for this to come out.

I like that we are getting Karasev at #26. He'd be a great guy to stash in Europe, and he'd have lots of incentive to get over here with his contrymen.

However, if KCP is there at #19, I'd hope we'd try to trade up, like the #26 and three 2nds.

Sad to see Len go up so high. I was really starting to hope he'd fall to us at #9.


Here's a question: If Bennett or Burke happen to drop to us at #9, would you take them as a value pick (and maybe look to shop), or is the difference small enough that you pass on them and take a player at a position of need?

[Gideon]

It would be sweet if there were explanations. I'd be interested to read why they have the Wolves making a terrible pick at #9.

The more time I spend looking at draft websites the more I become convinced that they are maintained by people who don't know much about basketball essentially making wild guesses.

[Gideon]

Here's a question: If Bennett or Burke happen to drop to us at #9, would you take them as a value pick (and maybe look to shop), or is the difference small enough that you pass on them and take a player at a position of need?

If we don't move up and one of those guys drops, I think you have to take Bennett or Burke at #9, just for the trade value. I would definitely look to trade either one though. If we just had them rot on the bench it would obviously be a mistake.

[Devilzsidewalk]

that'd be weird to see the Pelicans take Bennett

Kinda like how it'd be weird for us to take Williams when we have Love

Um...yes.

in retrospect, yea, but at the time he was seen as the #2 talent and you could theorize him in a small ball frontcourt w/ Love or as a big forward duo. I'll grant this is aggressive prognosticating, but in the long run it might work out; if we'd taken Jonas or Kanter, Pek probably walks for nothing, but at least we'll get value for Williams in a trade. It's all going to come down to what we can get in a trade. No team wants to make an equal value trade b/c by definition that's a lateral move ( though player development is almost always going to tip it in 1 direction or the other) but if we can move up and get Oladipo - and I'd like to think we can - then I'll consider that a win.

[Devilzsidewalk]

is this thread really almost at 100 pages? good job fellas! and ones for everybody

[Esohny]

Um...yes.

in retrospect, yea, but at the time he was seen as the #2 talent and you could theorize him in a small ball frontcourt w/ Love or as a big forward duo. I'll grant this is aggressive prognosticating, but in the long run it might work out; if we'd taken Jonas or Kanter, Pek probably walks for nothing, but at least we'll get value for Williams in a trade. It's all going to come down to what we can get in a trade. No team wants to make an equal value trade b/c by definition that's a lateral move, though player development is almost always going to tip it in 1 direction or another, but if we can move up and get Oladipo - and I'd like to think we can - then I'll consider that a win.

There were a number of people, several on this board for instance, who didn't want him then. And Pek is restricted; they're not losing him for nothing unless they're too stupid or cheap (which I suppose is a definite risk, but has nothing to do with drafting talented players).

[big3_8_19_21]

The more I read on DX, the more I don't understand the business model of that website. He flies all over the country and to Europe to scout - HOW IS GIVONY MAKING MONEY OFF THIS?

[Devilzsidewalk]

Um...yes.

in retrospect, yea, but at the time he was seen as the #2 talent and you could theorize him in a small ball frontcourt w/ Love or as a big forward duo. I'll grant this is aggressive prognosticating, but in the long run it might work out; if we'd taken Jonas or Kanter, Pek probably walks for nothing, but at least we'll get value for Williams in a trade. It's all going to come down to what we can get in a trade. No team wants to make an equal value trade b/c by definition that's a lateral move, though player development is almost always going to tip it in 1 direction or another, but if we can move up and get Oladipo - and I'd like to think we can - then I'll consider that a win.

There were a number of people, several on this board for instance, who didn't want him then. And Pek is restricted; they're not losing him for nothing unless they're too stupid or cheap (which I suppose is a definite risk, but has nothing to do with drafting talented players).

this is true, I heard a lot of Kanter and Jonas talk on this board. I didn't want either b/c Jonas wasn't going to come over yet and Kanter looked slow. Little did I know that Jonas was worth the wait and Kanter started getting ripped to **** once he got to Utah.

[C.lupus]

Most expected KCP to be one of those changes, but he hasn't moved from 19

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2013/

Looks like the Wolves RealGM board is valuing KCP way differently than NBA insiders.

[Devilzsidewalk]

The more I read on DX, the more I don't understand the business model of that website. He flies all over the country and to Europe to scout - HOW IS GIVONY MAKING MONEY OFF THIS?

He's Jewish, how would he NOT make money?

[Esohny]

The more I read on DX, the more I don't understand the business model of that website. He flies all over the country and to Europe to scout - HOW IS GIVONY MAKING MONEY OFF THIS?

He's Jewish, how would he NOT make money?

Just remember, the easy to find bag is full of fake gold.

[moss_is_1]

Finding it hard to get on the KCP bandwagon.
- Doesn't look to be a great athlete, just solid.
- not much of a handle.
- can score, but is he really that good of a shooter? was pretty bad his freshman year (under 40% from the field, 30% from 3...and low ft % usually means they aren't a pure shooter)

Now, there's the argument that he didn't have much talent to work with...but I really only see him as a slightly better Nick Young at this point.

[nickforthreee]

Most expected KCP to be one of those changes, but he hasn't moved from 19

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2013/

Looks like the Wolves RealGM board is valuing KCP way differently than NBA insiders.

chad ford who is the biggest nba insider there is in regards to the draft has him at 10.

Finding it hard to get on the KCP bandwagon.
- Doesn't look to be a great athlete, just solid.
- not much of a handle.
- can score, but is he really that good of a shooter? was pretty bad his freshman year (under 40% from the field, 30% from 3...and low ft % usually means they aren't a pure shooter)

Now, there's the argument that he didn't have much talent to work with...but I really only see him as a slightly better Nick Young at this point.

numbers don't always tell the story. he is definitely a pure shooter. excellent mechanics, quick release, deep range. 2nd best sniper in the draft behind allen crabbe imo. I think klay Thompson is his best comp right now.

[big3_8_19_21]

The knock on just about every SG in the draft is their ball handling except maybe Franklin and Ledo. Franklin does a lot of stuff really well and would be a great pick-up for this team if he had a jumper. Unfortunately, we can't hide his shooting on this roster... Ledo is about the only legit SG I can think of who is supposed to have handles and a jumper, but we haven't seen him in game since high school.

[moss_is_1]

numbers don't always tell the story. he is definitely a pure shooter. excellent mechanics, quick release, deep range. 2nd best sniper in the draft behind allen crabbe imo. I think klay Thompson is his best comp right now.

When I think of "pure shooter" I think of guys like Ray Allen, Nash, Curry, Klay Thompson, hell even guys like Morrow and Novak...they are all high 80s / in the 90s of FT shooting.

Klay in college was 90 / 80 / 83, and has been 86/84 in the NBA.

Pope shooting 65% his first year of college worries me a little bit. Tough he was practically at 80% this season, so maybe he improved.

[Killboard]

Im in the KCP bandwagon, but i will be clear, i dont see him like a franchise player. In fact i dont see any SG being a franchise player this draft. I dont even know if KCP will be Klay Thompson his first year, but in my opinion Twolves dont need any major changes to be a playoff team next season. If we keep healthy our core players and get better in some areas like Sg position, we at least will reach april in the conversation for 7-8 spot.

With that in mind I see KCP like a good fit. A guy that can keep honest the defense with his outside shoot and construct his game from there. In defense he will not be like Dipo, but with AK and Ricky our perimetral defense will be just fine. He will not be Ridnour neither on that side of the court. We can add another veteran shooter if we want make some serious playoff run, like Korver, but at this point i will be happy if we can give Love, Ricky and Pek some playoff experience this year while we start a SG rookie all year long.

In the Twolves position you dont need to be looking for a long shot, you need more a FT this offseason. I will not be dumb and say that we dont need other star player, but we can get better just keeping healthy and adding average players, not all teams in the lottery can think this way. Dipo really excels in some areas, like athlethicism and probably defense at next level but 3pt is vital for SG postition and Dipo not has been great in that category. Maybe he turns to be a star player, but is far from sure.

What i saw from KCP is not only 3pt was his main weapon, the kid already has NBA range. Some of you will say that he cant dribble, and i will say that we dont need him dribbling year one, we will need him making open jumpers. Im not against Dipo, but i will be even more happy if we draft KCP while not overpay to move up.

[Mattya]

numbers don't always tell the story. he is definitely a pure shooter. excellent mechanics, quick release, deep range. 2nd best sniper in the draft behind allen crabbe imo. I think klay Thompson is his best comp right now.

When I think of "pure shooter" I think of guys like Ray Allen, Nash, Curry, Klay Thompson, hell even guys like Morrow and Novak...they are all high 80s / in the 90s of FT shooting.

Klay in college was 90 / 80 / 83, and has been 86/84 in the NBA.

Pope shooting 65% his first year of college worries me a little bit. Tough he was practically at 80% this season, so maybe he improved.

I'm with you on this. He isn't a pure shooter. I think people are trying to fall in love with someone that we have a shot at drafting.

[Mattya]

and of course we need our shooting guard to dribble. People will overreact and say, "well there isn't a Manu Ginobli, James Harden player in this draft," but you need at least someone who looks competent at dribbling in traffic.

I would rather draft a big a 9 and then move 26 and Ridnour to move up a couple spots to secure Ledo.

[Dewey]

Teams are more open to trading down than typical - trying to pick up an asset along the way. Fortumately, we have specific needs (SG and Defensive Center for starters), so we may have some opportunities to make a move up against the grain. I think Flip was right in that there are no big game changers, but there is a deeper selection with little drop off ... I believe that will encourage the Wolves to move up. If AK was not coming back, then I would even say Otto could be a target, but I'm pretty sure SG is the objective going in.