Ban Howard Mass: The new draft thread

[Krapinsky]

If a center (Hibbert, R. Lopez, Thabeet, etc.) slipped in the 20's, what do you think it would take (and what would you give) in order to move up to get him?

Would you give both 08 seconds and Boston's 09? Is that enough to move up? Too much?

I think cash ($3 mil) and either one our 2nds this year or Boston's pick next year is all it would take.

I'd only move McCant's for a player that has at least a chance to be a solid starter and who has significant upside. The consensus on the centers that you named is that they'll be career backups.

[PeeDee]

The consensus on the centers that you named is that they'll be career backups.

Which is fine with me because that is a big time need for the T-Wolves.

[TheProdigy]

We have to acquire a starting caliber center at some point this offseason. If we can't address the problem through free agency or trades then it has to be done through the draft.

If we get a top two pick obviously we have to take Beasley or Rose. After that it gets complicated. If we decide to pick a big man here I like DeAndre Jordan and Marreese Speights. Brook Lopez doesn't strike me as a guy with potential. His low shooting percentages and low rebounds per game are definitely an issue.

Joey Dorsey, Serge Ibaka, and Devon Hardin are some interesting prospects that could be available early in the 2nd round if we decide not to draft a big man in round 1.

[Krapinsky]

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Which is fine with me because that is a big time need for the T-Wolves.

Let's worry about finding a starting C first shall we? If we can find a decent one, then there's no need to invest heavily for a player that's only goign to pkay 15 minutes a game. I'm contetn with just giving those 15 minutes to Richard/a 2nd round pick (Dorsey)/or an NBA journeyman

[C.lupus]

So who do you guys see as starting-caliber centers in the draft. It looks like it is between B. Lopez (probably a career starter but no allstar), Jordan, and McGee (both of whom have high potential but will take 3-4 years to become good NBA players). Anyone else? And isn't Dorsey like 6'9"? Is he an NBA center?

Diop seems like a great fit as a FA and I would love to get him. I just have a bad feeling someone is going to overpay for his services.

[deeney0]

Don't forget Hibbert, Thabeet, Hardin. Lopez is a PF in my eyes - not that starting two PFs would be so bad, better than starting a PF and a combo forward.

[PeeDee]

I think R. Lopez and Hibbert will be servicable right off the bat. They're not going to give you all-star performances but I'm guessing they'll be able to start for us no problem and will eventually make fine pros.

If either of them slips into the 20's I'd say try to make a deal.

[TheProdigy]

Don't forget Hibbert, Thabeet, Hardin. Lopez is a PF in my eyes - not that starting two PFs would be so bad, better than starting a PF and a combo forward.

I believe Thabeet decided to come back for another year rather than enter the draft.

[collin_k41]

The wiretap says that koufos is looking at agents. If he does declare where do you think he would go and would he be on our list in the 2nd round?

[revprodeji]

If we were able to swing Shad for the pick that gets Hibbert and then we pick up ROse with the draft pick I would be happy.

[Krapinsky]

We probably won't be in position to draft him, but Jonte "I'm the better brother" Flowers has impressed scouts at the Portsmouth Invitational.

Jonte Flowers- 13ppg, 5rpg, 2spg

All week he made people believers, and should definitely have secured himself a spot in Orlando. While he doesn

[NO-KG-AI]

I have a Hornets franchise right now on NBA 2k, and this is what the Wolves have done, it's the start of year two.

Foye/Telfair/Duhon/Ty Lawson
Kapono/Jaric/Buckner
Beasley/Gomes/Walker
Al Jeff/Cookie/Madsen
Diop/Ely

Might lack a bit defensively, but Diop helps mask that a bit, and it's got monstrous rebounding, and nice shooting to spread the floor a bit.

[Krapinsky]

I have a Hornets franchise right now on NBA 2k, and this is what the Wolves have done, it's the start of year two.

Foye/Telfair/Duhon/Ty Lawson
Kapono/Jaric/Buckner
Beasley/Gomes/Walker
Al Jeff/Cookie/Madsen
Diop/Ely

Might lack a bit defensively, but Diop helps mask that a bit, and it's got monstrous rebounding, and nice shooting to spread the floor a bit.

Yikes what happened to Brewer and McCants? We traded them for Lawson/Kapono? Love the Beasley and Diop pickups though.

[NO-KG-AI]

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Yikes what happened to Brewer and McCants? We traded them for Lawson/Kapono? Love the Beasley and Diop pickups though.

Brewer for Kapono, then Rashad for Ely....

I think Lawson was a second rounder

[Devilzsidewalk]

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Brewer for Kapono, then Rashad for Ely....

I think Lawson was a second rounder

Yea, u have Lawson as your 4th string PG, how come he sucks so much on 2k?

Brewer and Rashad are 2/5 of my unstoppable juggernaut, how can you trade them for those scrubs? I have McCants posting up guys and Brewer is a beast, he's probably the best finisher and defender I have on the team and he never loses his handle like he does in real life.

[theGreatRC]

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Yea, u have Lawson as your 4th string PG, how come he sucks so much on 2k?

Brewer and Rashad are 2/5 of my unstoppable juggernaut, how can you trade them for those scrubs? I have McCants posting up guys and Brewer is a beast, he's probably the best finisher and defender I have on the team and he never loses his handle like he does in real life.

Devilz, where have you been? I missed you, missed you so.

[Devilzsidewalk]

well, its a complicated life. But I'm here for now. Here today and gone tomorrow, its a mysterious life!

[Devilzsidewalk]

here's my revised top 5 for the Twolves for May 8, 2008

1. Derrick Rose
2. Michael Beasley
3. Brook Lopez
4. Kevin Love
5. OJ Mayo. Then trade him.

[deeney0]

I'm not going to touch the Kevin Love ranking, and I don't think you have any delusions about Lopez, so I'm ready to ask: Why aren't you sold on Mayo?

fwiw, I'm at Rose/Beasley/Mayo/Lopez/Randolph

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm a firm believer that you win championships in the paint. Your big men have to rebound and be tough in the paint and your perimeter guys have to be able to attack the rim and finish with authority or draw fouls.

The second important thing is a team-first mentality. Nothing to do with assists or passing ability, but understanding the game from a 5 on 5 perspective and not a 1 on 1 perspective. Operating within that 5 person flow is very important, but with Mayo I don't get that from him. I've heard it said that he has good court vision, but I don't see that. I think he's a good passer, but making good passes and having good court vision aren't the same thing. I don't think Jose Calderon is a great passer, but he has great court vision and has an elite-level understanding of a 5 man basketball offensive flow. You don't have to thread the needle with dangerous passes to have good court vision, its two separate things.

OJ would probably look very good in a wide open offense where its about making quick decisions to either drive or take an open shot, but for a playoff performer and a championship caliber player, he doesn't have the traits I look for. His shooting is almost a hindrance in that he can rise up at anytime and make a shot, but as we've seen w/ McCants, this can work against the team's offensive flow as guys aren't getting involved and you have a guy taking tough shots instead of looking for something more high percentage via an open teammate.

At the end of the day, I see a lot of Rashad McCants in OJ Mayo. Nothing personal against OJ Mayo, but he doesn't offer much over McCants, and there are guys available that fit the needs of the Wolves better and are equally talented