2020 NBA Draft prospects

[Jedzz]

Edwards has been described as capable of getting red hot at times and therefore it also means there are times he's not and his numbers bear that truth. I've read it and I've heard game commentators say it on film. One big question I would have is why is no one queezy about what sounds like "streaky" here when talking about a #1 pick possibility? I've read countless negative posts about Westbrook chucking up shots he has no business shooting while ice cold and I just can't believe the ease of acceptance of a player at #1 overall that might be similar. I'm intrigued as any when people claim he's one of these team leading guards willing to shoulder a team. But I also know we don't need one of those. So I'm perplexed.

[Killboard]

Paul Reed and Desmond Bane are the two under the radar guys I want. I would be mad if either of them are picked with the Nets pick.
I also like Pokusevski, Maxey and Nesmith, but I doubt they are available by then.
Top10 I like Hayes, Okongwu, Vassell, Okoro and Halliburton, in that order.

I see talent in Ball, Edwards and Wiseman but I think they could have more value in trade scenarios than I'm willing to risk for his low end outcome.

This is pretty much where I’m at.

We can’t afford to risk development of a young player.

We need a more known, lower risk player

I should have said I wouldn't be mad if we took Reed or Bane with the 17th pick.
But totally agree with you, Hayes, Okongwu, Vassell are the most ready prospect with a meaningful upside and why I want them. Okoro is also high floor high ceiling, but his shooting makes me prefer the other ones. Haliburton is not a high ceiling guy but has a high end rotational player.
Nesmith and Maxey I think will be playable at some extent and Poku could take some time but his potential is too high to pass at 17th.

Thing about potential is the guys need to see the floor and win to grow. If there isnt a clear role for them you end up selling low or even worse getting them out of the league.

[jpatrick]

Found this interesting:

Prior to last week’s NBA Draft lottery, Penny Hardaway expressed on record again his belief that James Wiseman deserves to be the No. 1 overall pick on Oct. 16.

The fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves won the right to select first only reinforced Hardaway’s position. Hardaway coached Wiseman both in high school (at East) and at Memphis, before the 7-footer’s ineligible ruling by the NCAA led to his decision to withdraw from school and begin preparing for the draft.

“To me, he’s the No. 1 pick overall and that’s Minnesota,” Hardaway said Monday. “I think him and KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) can work really well together. They would be an unbelievable twosome, the way the league is going now. They’re both mobile, they’re both active. I think that would be a difference maker, having two rim protectors and guys that are highly skilled out on the perimeter.”

Towns, a two-time All Star, is in his fifth season in the NBA. At 6-11, 248 pounds, the former Kentucky star has career per-game averages of 22.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks, while also shooting 39.6 percent from three.

Wiseman (7-1, 240) also features a well-rounded game with elite-level potential across the board.

“He didn’t get to play this year, and those are question marks,” Hardaway said. “(But) he’s going to be the fastest guy on the floor. He’s going to protect the rim. He’s definitely an instant assist under the rim because of his athleticism. And he’s going to work on getting his shot to where he can get out to the 3-point line and be a threat from out there. I’m not just saying that because I coached him. I just know the NBA and what they’re looking for.”

I agree with Penny, but he's a Memphis booster. You have to take anything he says Memphis with a grain of salt. On the other hand Wiseman deserted Memphis.

Penny is more than just his college coach. He’s known Wiseman for a long time and gave him money long before he became the Memphis coach, which later resulted in Wiseman’s suspension. Thus, like you said, to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, if our scouts see Wiseman as the next Embiid or Bosh, you take him and make it work. I’m a Edwards or trade the pick guy, but it would be kind of fun to see KAT next to a giant athletic rim running shot blocker.

[Killboard]

if we draft Edwards, we trade JJ, Culver+#17 for Aaron Gordon. Sign a 3d SF and call it a night.
Dlo/Edwards/1 of these (jerami grant, jae crowder, Rondae Hollis Jefferson/Gordon/Towns

is either Culver or the 17th pick IMO. The FO should be really low on Culver to trade him for Gordon who is a good fit but with a neutral contract.

[jpatrick]

if we draft Edwards, we trade JJ, Culver+#17 for Aaron Gordon. Sign a 3d SF and call it a night.
Dlo/Edwards/1 of these (jerami grant, jae crowder, Rondae Hollis Jefferson/Gordon/Towns

This is my exact ideal offseason. I’d love to find a way to draft Poku on top of this, but if 17 is moved probably not possible.

[Jedzz]

if we draft Edwards, we trade JJ, Culver+#17 for Aaron Gordon. Sign a 3d SF and call it a night.
Dlo/Edwards/1 of these (jerami grant, jae crowder, Rondae Hollis Jefferson/Gordon/Towns

Jae Crowder would would be great experience for this team to add if they can.

[KGdaBom]

Found this interesting:

I agree with Penny, but he's a Memphis booster. You have to take anything he says Memphis with a grain of salt. On the other hand Wiseman deserted Memphis.

Penny is more than just his college coach. He’s known Wiseman for a long time and gave him money long before he became the Memphis coach, which later resulted in Wiseman’s suspension. Thus, like you said, to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, if our scouts see Wiseman as the next Embiid or Bosh, you take him and make it work. I’m a Edwards or trade the pick guy, but it would be kind of fun to see KAT next to a giant athletic rim running shot blocker.

You're preaching to the choir on the bolded parts.

[Jedzz]

Found this interesting:

I agree with Penny, but he's a Memphis booster. You have to take anything he says Memphis with a grain of salt. On the other hand Wiseman deserted Memphis.

Penny is more than just his college coach. He’s known Wiseman for a long time and gave him money long before he became the Memphis coach, which later resulted in Wiseman’s suspension. Thus, like you said, to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, if our scouts see Wiseman as the next Embiid or Bosh, you take him and make it work. I’m a Edwards or trade the pick guy, but it would be kind of fun to see KAT next to a giant athletic rim running shot blocker.

I find it interesting that people are now willing to talk about Towns as a 6 foot something guy instead of always saying 7 footer/legit 7 footer, now that a real 7+ footer is in the conversation.

I'm guessing Towns would be in the conversation with Rosas when deciding if a twin towers could work. Personally I want to see him groomed into a devasting SF. Have you seen the clips of him cutting through players to the net?

[Wolveswin]

I agree with Penny, but he's a Memphis booster. You have to take anything he says Memphis with a grain of salt. On the other hand Wiseman deserted Memphis.

Penny is more than just his college coach. He’s known Wiseman for a long time and gave him money long before he became the Memphis coach, which later resulted in Wiseman’s suspension. Thus, like you said, to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, if our scouts see Wiseman as the next Embiid or Bosh, you take him and make it work. I’m a Edwards or trade the pick guy, but it would be kind of fun to see KAT next to a giant athletic rim running shot blocker.

You're preaching to the choir on the bolded parts.

If the Embiid situation in Philly continues to spiral, go after the actual Embiid?

Third Team: Culver + #17 + Spellman

76ers: Wiseman (mentored by Horford) + Third Team win-now player (LaVine maybe?) + Wolves Future Pick Consideration

Wolves: Embiid

76ers would still be win-now with Horford starting center. But if he can quickly school Wiseman to be Simmons sidekick (officially Simmons team with Embiid trade), they have nice young core intact.
Horford | Wiseman
Harris
Simmons
Richardson
LaVine?

Wolves get the real deal win-now twin towers in Twin Cities. Yes, the whole Embiid - Towns fight would be interesting. Talk about pushing each other to be better big man. Practices would be epic.
Embiid
Towns
Layman | Hernangomez
Beasley
Russell

[Jedzz]

I’ve explained this multiple times, but Edwards’ team would have been significantly worse had he not had a score-first mentality every time down the court. Context is immensely important when analyzing Draft prospects.

Sure. But that doesn't necessarily explain his missing shots. It's been described as a hot/cold type of scenario.

The question is, can he develop to hit more of those in that heated mode or not. He has to. And can he learn to play as part of an offense of better players, better shooters, off ball at all? People are talking about whether he can play defense. I still want to make sure they can get great offense out of him in a team environment where he isn't going to carry each possession.

I hope they can get him in and have some players with hands in his face for a workout so they can get a good close up and and decide if he's everything people are claiming.

[Jedzz]

Penny is more than just his college coach. He’s known Wiseman for a long time and gave him money long before he became the Memphis coach, which later resulted in Wiseman’s suspension. Thus, like you said, to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, if our scouts see Wiseman as the next Embiid or Bosh, you take him and make it work. I’m a Edwards or trade the pick guy, but it would be kind of fun to see KAT next to a giant athletic rim running shot blocker.

You're preaching to the choir on the bolded parts.

If the Embiid situation in Philly continues to spiral, go after the actual Embiid?

Third Team: Culver + #17 + Spellman

76ers: Wiseman (mentored by Horford) + Third Team win-now player (LaVine maybe?) + Wolves Future Pick Consideration

Wolves: Embiid

76ers would still be win-now with Horford starting center. But if he can quickly school Wiseman to be Simmons sidekick (officially Simmons team with Embiid trade), they have nice young core intact.
Horford | Wiseman
Harris
Simmons
Richardson
LaVine?

Wolves get the real deal win-now twin towers in Twin Cities. Yes, the whole Embiid - Towns fight would be interesting. Talk about pushing each other to be better big man. Practices would be epic.
Embiid
Towns
Layman | Hernangomez
Beasley
Russell

With Embiid's attitude? I give that one month before they are planning for trade partners to get rid of him. If they were to have twin talls in the offense it might as well be Wiserman who they could have some semblance of control over. Embiid here would be a total mess I bet.

[Jedzz]

Pope, Burke. In the playoffs. Seems like I've heard these names before over the years regarding the Wolves.

[Mattya]

If he slips to the #17 pick I think you have to take Cole Anthony. Not perfect, not really a high level distributor, but I think he has a lot of potential to create for himself and then hopefully create for others. He plays physical for his size and rebounds as well. People talk about the prospects who have the swagger and confidence, I think he has it.

Watch on YouTube

[Neeva]

If he slips to the #17 pick I think you have to take Cole Anthony. Not perfect, not really a high level distributor, but I think he has a lot of potential to create for himself and then hopefully create for others. He plays physical for his size and rebounds as well. People talk about the prospects who have the swagger and confidence, I think he has it.

Watch on YouTube

I am down with Anthony/Anthony draft. They were both top 4 recruits before their college seasons who might be better pro players than they showed their freshmen season.

[jpatrick]

If he slips to the #17 pick I think you have to take Cole Anthony. Not perfect, not really a high level distributor, but I think he has a lot of potential to create for himself and then hopefully create for others. He plays physical for his size and rebounds as well. People talk about the prospects who have the swagger and confidence, I think he has it.

Watch on YouTube

I am down with Anthony/Anthony draft. They were both top 4 recruits before their college seasons who might be better pro players than they showed their freshmen season.

I too would take the Anthony squared draft. Can never have enough shooters.

[KGdaBom]

If he slips to the #17 pick I think you have to take Cole Anthony. Not perfect, not really a high level distributor, but I think he has a lot of potential to create for himself and then hopefully create for others. He plays physical for his size and rebounds as well. People talk about the prospects who have the swagger and confidence, I think he has it.

Watch on YouTube

It would be hard to pass on him. I hear he has the dawg in him. I don't think he makes it to 17.

[Klomp]

I find it interesting that people are now willing to talk about Towns as a 6 foot something guy instead of always saying 7 footer/legit 7 footer, now that a real 7+ footer is in the conversation.

I've brought it up a few times in the past. This is one reason Wiseman is quite intriguing.

[KGdaBom]

If he slips to the #17 pick I think you have to take Cole Anthony. Not perfect, not really a high level distributor, but I think he has a lot of potential to create for himself and then hopefully create for others. He plays physical for his size and rebounds as well. People talk about the prospects who have the swagger and confidence, I think he has it.

Watch on YouTube

I am down with Anthony/Anthony draft. They were both top 4 recruits before their college seasons who might be better pro players than they showed their freshmen season.

I too would take the Anthony squared draft. Can never have enough shooters.

Well they both shoot a lot if that's what you mean by Shooters. If you want the ones who shoot well we're talking Nesmith, Haliburton, and Vassell.

OMG I just looked up Cole Anthony shooting percent. 38% not from 3 38% overall.

[GopherIt!]

I have reservations about Edwards. I see a potential Wigginsesque trio of questionable motor, poor shooting and an indifference to playing defense. IF we were picking #2 I’d say sure and roll the dice.

The Wolves really lucked out though and won the dang lottery. Wiseman is an absolute no brainer #1 overall pick. 7’1/7’6/9’3.5 240 and can shoot the ball. He has potential to stretch the floor out to the 3pt line. That would allow us to play 5 out while vastly improving our rebounding and interior D. He would also feast on feeds from both KAT & DLo. Kat would still get plenty of min at center.

DLo/J-Mac
Beas/Okogie
Culver/Juancho/Layman
Kat/JJ
JW/Kat

bn: #17, Nowell, Reid, Spellman, Evans or Martin

[jason bourne]

ESPN's Jonathan Givony has the TWolves taking LaMelo #1 and passing to DLo (playing Devin Booker role) and KAT. DLo isn't a real PG who brings the ball down and sets up his teammates like Ball. He's a combo guard. He may fit better as a SG if you have Ball who would give other teams a fit with his size. DLo could also set Ball up with back door cuts and such. You would not do it with Lonzo, but LaMelo is different, would be comfortable with the ball in his hands all the time, and would be a different type of threat. What do you guys think?