2020 NBA Draft Prospects: Thread III

[KGdaBom]

If people are online now, I hear Gersson Rosas and LaMelo Ball about to be interviewed on ESPN “The Jump”

I hope that doesn't mean what it sounds like it means.

[shrink]

Rosas:

“Not picking for need - picking the best overall talent. Not drafting for one night. It’s also a process of developing for multiple years.”

“Not altering the pick because of our fit - versatility at 1 and 5 leaves us with lots of options.”

“We wouldn’t be afraid to draft Wiseman. Look at the current NBA champions - they’ve done well with two bigs.“

“We’re open to deal the #1 and having many conversations on trading the pick.“

“Trying off-season for Towns, with the loss of his mother. But he’s passionate about basketball, it can be a sanctuary. He’s working hard. Finally gets to play with DLo, and adding a #1, may have something special.”

“With DeAngelo, it’s like “he’s home.” He’s excited, passionate, and he’s “finally got a chance to unpack his bags” and he’s been a leader training for the next season”

[jpatrick]

Rosas:

“Not picking for need - picking the best overall talent. Not drafting for one night. It’s also a process of developing for multiple years.”

“Not altering the pick because of our fit - versatility at 1 and 5 leaves us with lots of options.”

“We wouldn’t be afraid to draft Wiseman. Look at the current NBA champions - they’ve done well with two bigs.“

“We’re open to deal the #1 and having many conversations on trading the pick.“

“Trying off-season for Towns, with the loss of his mother. But he’s passionate about basketball, it can be a sanctuary. He’s working hard. Finally gets to play with DLo, and adding a #1, may have something special.”

“With DeAngelo, it’s like “he’s home.” He’s excited, passionate, and he’s “finally got a chance to unpack his bags” and he’s been a leader training for the next season”

Every time he talks I get the vibe he really wants to trade the pick.

[wolves_89]

Rosas:

“Not picking for need - picking the best overall talent. Not drafting for one night. It’s also a process of developing for multiple years.”

“Not altering the pick because of our fit - versatility at 1 and 5 leaves us with lots of options.”

“We wouldn’t be afraid to draft Wiseman. Look at the current NBA champions - they’ve done well with two bigs.“

“We’re open to deal the #1 and having many conversations on trading the pick.“

“Trying off-season for Towns, with the loss of his mother. But he’s passionate about basketball, it can be a sanctuary. He’s working hard. Finally gets to play with DLo, and adding a #1, may have something special.”

“With DeAngelo, it’s like “he’s home.” He’s excited, passionate, and he’s “finally got a chance to unpack his bags” and he’s been a leader training for the next season”

Every time he talks I get the vibe he really wants to trade the pick.

I have no doubt he would prefer to trade the pick, but I also have no doubt he's not going to do a trade that he doesn't think adds value. In my opinion, the biggest problem with Edwards/Ball isn't a lack of upside, it's the reality that neither is likely to be a positive contributor in the next couple of years. The Wolves really need to take sizeable steps forward each of the next two years to convince Towns the franchise is moving in the right direction (before he gets leverage to force a trade).

[Shaka_Zulu]

If people are online now, I hear Gersson Rosas and LaMelo Ball about to be interviewed on ESPN “The Jump”

Watch on YouTube

[gandlogo]

Rosas:

“Not picking for need - picking the best overall talent. Not drafting for one night. It’s also a process of developing for multiple years.”

“Not altering the pick because of our fit - versatility at 1 and 5 leaves us with lots of options.”

“We wouldn’t be afraid to draft Wiseman. Look at the current NBA champions - they’ve done well with two bigs.“

“We’re open to deal the #1 and having many conversations on trading the pick.“

Watch on YouTube

[Shaka_Zulu]

shrink, now they uploaded the Melo interview too:

Watch on YouTube

"Thank you ma'm, have a good day". He went to and passed charm school of controlled/professionable humble interview giving quick quick

[Grits n Gravy]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

[UnFadeable21]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[KGdaBom]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

I see him lasting until the second round in mocks and we still pass on him. I say take him at 17 fine. Don't trade up.

[urinesane]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

Sounds good to me.

[theGreatRC]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

When I look at how skinny he is:

Watch on YouTube

[Shaka_Zulu]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

Blatt raves about him, while still being realistic about the growing pains/patience required:

Watch on YouTube

[wolves_89]

Having watched 15 minutes of highlights I'm convinced Aleksej Pokusevski is the second coming of Michael Jordan. I hope we can package 17 and something to move up and get him. nbadraft.net has him at 17 for us but he's not lasting that long.

Here's how I look at the draft:

Range 1-3:
Ball, Edwards, Wiseman

Range 4-11:
Haliburton, Avidja, Toppin, Okongwu, P. Williams, Okoro, Vassell, Hayes

Range 12-14:
S. Bey, Nesmith, Lewis

Range 15-18:
Pokusevski, Hampton, Maxey, Achiuwa

Other guys who go 12-18:
Terry, J. Smith, C. Anthony

If the Wolves were to move up from #17, I think the targets would be Bey or Nesmith. I'd bet there's a pretty good chance Pokusevski is still on the board at #17 and I think he would be a good swing for the fences type of pick at that spot.

[TheProdigy]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

"To be honest" he says, "I can't watch basketball".

Are we really going to draft a guy #1 who doesn't have a passion for basketball? This sounds like Wiggins all over again. Wanted to like him but no f'ing way.

[Merc_Porto]

That is concerning

[Jedzz]

Rosas:

“Not picking for need - picking the best overall talent. Not drafting for one night. It’s also a process of developing for multiple years.”

“Not altering the pick because of our fit - versatility at 1 and 5 leaves us with lots of options.”

“We wouldn’t be afraid to draft Wiseman. Look at the current NBA champions - they’ve done well with two bigs.“

“We’re open to deal the #1 and having many conversations on trading the pick.“

Haha, Rosas described the Lakers as playing with Two bigs! Deny it more people! The Lebron/AD Smallball!

[jpatrick]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

"To be honest" he says, "I can't watch basketball".

Are we really going to draft a guy #1 who doesn't have a passion for basketball? This sounds like Wiggins all over again. Wanted to like him but no f'ing way.

So much talent and I wouldn’t touch him. I’ve read that his “circle” wouldn’t let him go to a bigger HS or AAU team because they were worried about losing their influence over him. So, he was in losing environments on every team he’s ever been on and everyone has told him that’s fine. Never been pushed. Sounds like similar reasons he went to Georgia, to keep him close and let him do what he wants, even on a losing team.

What’s more shocking is that he had 8 months to get in the best shape of his life and kill that draft workout. Instead, he looked in poor shape and was simply not good.

[UnFadeable21]

That is concerning

I’m scared of this from Edwards. He says he’s willing to Quit basketball tomorrow.

His eyelids are heavy, and his mind wanders. He says he stayed home and went to Georgia rather than a powerhouse like Duke or North Carolina in order to be closer to his newborn nephew. But later he says, "I'm ready to get out of Atlanta." (The Hawks hold the sixth pick in Wednesday's draft.) He says he doesn't think about being the first player taken. He'll be ready when the time comes, but "other than that, I don't even care."

"To be honest," he says, "I can't watch basketball."

He retells the story about the first time he dunked and how it signaled to him that he was talented and could accomplish something he might not have been able to in football, which was his first love. So that's the direction he went, simple as that, hanging up his cleats. "That's all I needed to see," he says.

So when after that did he get into basketball?

"I'm still not really into it," he says. "I love basketball, yeah. It's what I do."

He's not entirely convincing. He says if he were drafted by the NFL tomorrow, he'd let basketball go.

"Because you can do anything on the field," he explains. "You can spike the ball. You can dance. You can do all type of disrespectful stuff." In the NBA, he says, "you can't do any of that. You'll get fined."

He goes on to say that he's an aspiring rapper

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30321844/the-pain-promise-top-nba-draft-prospect-anthony-edwards?platform=amp

[Neeva]

Melo is the pick!