Poll: Who should the Wolves take with the #1 overall pick?

[AQuintus]

I dare teams to try to double either Wiggins or Okafor,

I doubt the other team would mind much if they have to double Wiggins and Okafor (and they won't since they're both only double-worthy in the post, and they won't post at the same time) since they'll know they can get the 2 points they give up back with limited effort on the other end.

As fun as it is to imagine how dominant Okafor will be on O, we can't just completely ignore the other half of the game.

[Killboard]

I think is really important get a good vibe in the draft workouts from the guy you are picking.

I'll be happy with either. I'm leaning Towns right now but we need to see what workouts look like.

I don't know, is that really a good thing? It's disconcerting to me to think of all the Wolves scouts and FO guys preferring 1 guy based on game tape, then switching their stance based on individual workouts.

I was thinking it's probably a close choice and in-person workouts and interviews will tip the scale.

Obviusly you cant decide only based on the workout, but you can see other things that you passed. Its add information to the prospect, not change it. If you see some flags, specially non sport related you can make your amends.
. But if you see how Towns has talked about the cold, kg, wiggins, all makes me think the guy is legit. If flip was thinking in okafor, KG will do the right thing and force to pick Towns. Besides that, if we had fallen the right thing was smoke all the rooms with Jahlil.

[Murphs56]

I dare teams to try to double either Wiggins or Okafor,

I doubt the other team would mind much if they have to double Wiggins and Okafor (and they won't since they're both only double-worthy in the post, and they won't post at the same time) since they'll know they can get the 2 points they give up back with limited effort on the other end.

As fun as it is to imagine how dominant Okafor will be on O, we can't just completely ignore the other half of the game.

He's got the size and ability to be a capable defender especially being mentored by KG.

[Eyeamok]

As a 76ers fan I come in peace.

First of all congratulations on the #1 pick.

After thinking about it I am pretty stunned at the chain of events that have transpired for your team.

1. You trade away love for a premium basically ,the last two overall #1 picks.
2. Then you win the lottery and have the chance to draft a player to replace Love the player you traded for to get the picks.

How does that happen????

Minnesota is sitting pretty right now. Hope things work out well for you.

[Klomp]

I doubt the other team would mind much if they have to double Wiggins and Okafor (and they won't since they're both only double-worthy in the post, and they won't post at the same time).

This makes no sense. Obviously they won't post at the same time. Doesn't mean they won't get doubled when they post. Okafor double team, Wiggins baseline cut. Shooters spot up. Wiggins double team, Okafor flash to open spot. Shooters spot up.

[Worm Guts]

I dare teams to try to double either Wiggins or Okafor,

I doubt the other team would mind much if they have to double Wiggins and Okafor (and they won't since they're both only double-worthy in the post, and they won't post at the same time) since they'll know they can get the 2 points they give up back with limited effort on the other end.

.

They wouldn't care about letting us score? That's a little silly. And if they don't double team and Okafor beats his man 1 on 1, even better.

[Devilzsidewalk]

As a 76ers fan I come in peace.

First of all congratulations on the #1 pick.

After thinking about it I am pretty stunned at the chain of events that have transpired for your team.

1. You trade away love for a premium basically ,the last two overall #1 picks.
2. Then you win the lottery and have the chance to draft a player to replace Love the player you traded for to get the picks.

How does that happen????

Minnesota is sitting pretty right now. Hope things work out well for you.

It's a good foundation, they still need to make the right choice. Wizard fans probably felt on top of the world when they brought in Michael Jordan and won the rights to Kwame Brown

[Klomp]

Anyone find it interesting that the three Duke guys (Okafor, Jones, Winslow) were sitting front row with Towns behind them?

[Klomp]

For those who don't believe in Okafor, what numbers would he have to put up for you to change your mind?

[No-Man]

I am really curious to know why anybody see Towns as a plus defender in the NBA and which role they see him playing to be that one? because he is not strong enough, and likely will never be, to defend Centers in the post, he is not a rim protector or a insanely long big guy that could use the verticality to defend that way, he has not got quick feet or agility to cover and switch with PF or defend the pick&roll… he is a hard working smart guy that can be an effective defender, alla Horford, but he is far away from been what somehow most of you are trying to make him be.
Okafor on the other hand, while he is not there yet, has way better tools and traits to become an impactful big defensively.

[Devilzsidewalk]

. But if you see how Towns has talked about the cold, kg, wiggins, all makes me think the guy is legit. If flip was thinking in okafor, KG will do the right thing and force to pick Towns. Besides that, if we had fallen the right thing was smoke all the rooms with Jahlil.

I used to think that way too - I remember that's what turned me off on OJ Mayo before the draft and reinforced my belief in Kevin Love - he said all the right things but OJ was being a douche. But now I wouldn't let that hold too much sway.

First thing we have to come to terms with is that nobody looks forward to playing here no matter what they say. It's just how it is - kids don't dream of playing in Minnesota. KG had one foot out the door before his extension, then we paid the **** out of him, team started to win, and he started to like it. Patrick Patterson wrote a great article about how he was on the plane to Toronto after being traded, saw the snow, and called his agent to tell him to do whatever it takes to get him traded away. But the Raptors started winning and now he likes it there too.

They need to set aside all the PR and who the agents are and take the guy they think is best and so they can put together a winning team. If guys are satisfied with their role and the team is having some success, they'll learn to like it.

[AQuintus]

They wouldn't care about letting us score? That's a little silly. And if they don't double team and Okafor beats his man 1 on 1, even better.

They'd care, but giving up points one possession isn't as big of a deal if you're confident you're going to score without much struggle immediately after. A big part of the reason that Minnesota was last in the league this year was because they were last in the league defensively. Adding another non-defender, even if they're great offensively, will only help so much.

This makes no sense. Obviously they won't post at the same time. Doesn't mean they won't get doubled when they post. Okafor double team, Wiggins baseline cut. Shooters spot up. Wiggins double team, Okafor flash to open spot. Shooters spot up.

You're right. I didn't think that one through so much. With that said, Okafor flashing to an open spot won't help a ton until a learns to shoot. We saw this year when Pekovic was healthy that Wiggins would often run into a group of guys under the basket when he made a move off of his post ups since Pekovic is useless outside of the paint and didn't move. I've seen the same thing in Duke highlights with Winslow posting up and Okafor in the way in the paint.

He's got the size and ability to be a capable defender especially being mentored by KG.

He's got the size, sure, but if he had the ability, he would have shown it against weak college competition.


That's not to say that Okafor will definitely always be a crap defender, but I would say that him suddenly becoming the rim-protector that we need is no more likely (and probably less likely) than Towns becoming the elite post scorer that the Okafor fans want.

[AQuintus]

For those who don't believe in Okafor, what numbers would he have to put up for you to change your mind?

2+ blocks per game and 11+ rebounds per game.

Edit:

And sub-50% opponent FG percentage at the rim.

Edit 2:

Reduced the number of blocks per game.

[AQuintus]

Ihe is not a rim protector or a insanely long big guy that could use the verticality to defend that way, he has not got quick feet or agility to cover and switch with PF or defend the pick&roll…

Did you just not watch him in college at all? None of what you wrote here is true.

Okafor on the other hand, while he is not there yet, has way better tools and traits to become an impactful big defensively.

He has better lower body strength, but has much slower feet, marginally more length, worse instincts, worse conditioning, and is much less willing to impose himself defensively.

That last one is by far the most important. Guys like Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen didn't really have the physical tools to be elite defenders, but they were because defence is more about attitude and effort than anything else. Towns has the attitude and mentality to be a great defender (along with great tools that you're discounting for no real reason), and Okafor doesn't.

[Devilzsidewalk]

For those who don't believe in Okafor, what numbers would he have to put up for you to change your mind?

moar rebounds n moar blox

[Devilzsidewalk]

For those who don't believe in Okafor, what numbers would he have to put up for you to change your mind?

And sub-50% opponent FG percentage at the rim.

are there stats out there for that

[Eyeamok]

As a 76ers fan I come in peace.

First of all congratulations on the #1 pick.

After thinking about it I am pretty stunned at the chain of events that have transpired for your team.

1. You trade away love for a premium basically ,the last two overall #1 picks.
2. Then you win the lottery and have the chance to draft a player to replace Love the player you traded for to get the picks.

How does that happen????

Minnesota is sitting pretty right now. Hope things work out well for you.

It's a good foundation, they still need to make the right choice. Wizard fans probably felt on top of the world when they brought in Michael Jordan and won the rights to Kwame Brown

I've got to read this entire thread but do you think you have the correct management in place to make and develop your present roster and the upcoming #1 pick into potential contenders in the not to distant future?

[wildvikeswolves]

For those who don't believe in Okafor, what numbers would he have to put up for you to change your mind?

3+ blocks per game and 11+ rebounds per game.

Edit:

And sub-50% opponent FG percentage at the rim.

Do you think Towns will get those number?

Anthony Davis was the only guy to average 3 blocks last year and it was 3.00 on the dot. Only 7 players averaged 11 or more rebounds

[Leor_77]

Lakers fan here - glad the 1st overall went to a team I don't despise. I think Towns makes the most sense for you guys. There's a pretty substantial push from our fans to take Russell, but I hope they just make the simple, good move and take one of the bigs.

[Mattya]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjwjtNp6L5g[/youtube]

In case it hasn't already been posted