Prospect Watch Thread

[theGreatRC]

I honestly want to take Derrick Williams. I love his game.

I would rank these prospects in the order I would want them in:

Irving
Williams
Barnes

If we pick any lower, I say package it with Flynn and hope for the best..Not a fan of Burks or Perry Jones and I haven't seen the euro bigs to comment on them

[cpfsf]

I don't care if we pick as high as 2. If Barnes is gone already, I have NO ISSUE taking Burks.

I'd rather just trade the pick. There are very few guys that I would draft with the intention of keeping.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I still vote P Jones, I almost hope not to get the #1 so I dont have to think about Irving. I really had high hopes for Baylor but that drew is a bit of a meshugener, he treats the team like a union; ie those w/ more seniority get more privilege whether earned or not. Dunn had too much control of that offense, Jones could've had a bigger role for the better of the team I thought

[[RCG]]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

[Esohny]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

I'd rather take and keep Irving and trade Rubio for one of those lottery picks or package him with other assets for a vet SG.

However, not to sound like a broken record, but the Wolves will never get the #1 pick.

[Krapinsky]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

I don't think Irving has separated himself to the point where he's worth 3 and 8 for Cleveland. If he has, I would definitely trade him for Barnes/Jones and Kanter/Valanciunas. A lot of teams might not even take Irving 1. DX loves Irving and that's where the he's the absolute clear cut #1 thing is coming from. I think there's a lot more debate out there then people realize.

[[RCG]]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

I don't think Irving has separated himself to the point where he's worth 3 and 8 for Cleveland. If he has, I would definitely trade him for Barnes/Jones and Kanter/Valanciunas. A lot of teams might not even take Irving 1. DX loves Irving and that's where the he's the absolute clear cut #1 thing is coming from. I think there's a lot more debate out there then people realize.

That's more of what I was thinking, I don't think he is that much better than the rest of the players in the top-8 or so, so why not, if possible, get a 2-for-1? I know what is more likely is that the Wolves get the #4 or #5 and Rubio may not come over but hypotheticals sure are fun! The only team that would probably pass up Irving #1 is Washington, otherwise maybe the Kings if they decide Evans is a PG, otherwise a Irving/Evans backcourt could be scary, Jazz IF they go with Harris.

[phonzadellika]

Who is a better NBA prospect...Rubio with improved shooting or Irving?

[eyeteeth]

Who is a better NBA prospect...Rubio with improved shooting or Irving?

How much improved? 50% and 40% 3pt, maybe Rubio. But there will still be an NBA adjustment period.

Probably overall, Irving is the better prospect regardless, since Rubio's shooting cannot be magically improved instantly (magic, as everyone, knows, takes time, effort and practice ).

But it really doesn't matter, since Kahn is set on Rubio playing here as a matter of personal pride.

[phonzadellika]

Let's say that Rubio, despite all the practice he puts in, plateaus at Corey Brewer's 2010 season of effectiveness shooting-wise, say something like 45% 33%, which is I think is probably fair considering Rubios current struggles and the present coaching staff. Do you think that's good enough to facilitate the rest of his game?

If Irving is BPA and we're number 1, I suppose we're not in a position to not grab the BPA, but even if Irving is a better prospect, if the difference between a better-shooting Rubio and Irving is less than the difference between adding a C or 1st option scoring threat do you still draft BPA?

[wildvikeswolves]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

I'd rather take and keep Irving and trade Rubio for one of those lottery picks or package him with other assets for a vet SG.

However, not to sound like a broken record, but the Wolves will never get the #1 pick.

yea id take Kyrie number 1 then see if we can trade Rubio for Barnes, if not then then just keep them both, they sound like they would compliment each other well.

[Esohny]

If we get the #1 and Rubio comes over (two big ifs), would anyone be against sending the #1 to Cleveland for their two lotto picks (should be around #3/#8). We'd then be in a position to pick up something like Barnes/Valanciunas or Kanter.

K. Irving
D. Williams
J. Sullinger
P. Jones
H. Barnes
J. Valanciunas
E. Kanter
A. Burks

I'd rather take and keep Irving and trade Rubio for one of those lottery picks or package him with other assets for a vet SG.

However, not to sound like a broken record, but the Wolves will never get the #1 pick.

yea id take Kyrie number 1 then see if we can trade Rubio for Barnes, if not then then just keep them both, they sound like they would compliment each other well.

I wouldn't keep them both. I don't think they compliment each other much at all.

[wildvikeswolves]

Both are pretty good defenders, Rubios got above average size for a PG and is the better passer, and irving is a way better scorer.

watchin the nuggets game last night they seemed to play Lawson and Felton together for a decent amount of time and it worked pretty well for them against a good team like the spurs to

[horaceworthy]

yea id take Kyrie number 1 then see if we can trade Rubio for Barnes, if not then then just keep them both, they sound like they would compliment each other well.

I wouldn't keep them both. I don't think they compliment each other much at all.

Likely not enough to pay both of them when their rookie contracts are up, but probably well enough that they could play some minutes together. It isn't a Flynn/Rubio or Flynn/Sessions situation. A couple of Irving's biggest selling points are his jumper and ability to break his man down. It's not ideal, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world given the lack of backcourt talent on the Wolves.

[horaceworthy]

I don't think Irving has separated himself to the point where he's worth 3 and 8 for Cleveland. If he has, I would definitely trade him for Barnes/Jones and Kanter/Valanciunas. A lot of teams might not even take Irving 1. DX loves Irving and that's where the he's the absolute clear cut #1 thing is coming from. I think there's a lot more debate out there then people realize.

How much of that debate comes from Irving missing the bulk of the season? I agree that Cleveland likely wouldn't make a 3 and 8 deal for him, but his presence atop the draft board isn't a DX creation. When he's been on the floor he's looked like the best prospect in the nation. The only guy I think should possibly challenge him for the first slot is Barnes.

[horaceworthy]

I have a hard time seeing how Barnes could be a franchise player. He's not going to be an elite scorer unless he learns to get to the line, something which he's currently really bad at, and he doesn't seem to be elite at anything else. He could be a nice solid player, maybe even an all-star, but he's not a franchise player.

I don’t really have that hard of a time seeing Barnes develop into a franchise player, which I would define as someone capable of being the best player on a Conference Finals team (not a perfect definition, but it cuts down on hemming and hawing, might even be too high a standard). I could see Barnes becoming a Ray Allen/Reggie Miller type player, both of whom meet that criteria.

Barnes was billed as a bigger Ray Allen coming out of high school, and he’s fulfilled that hype since he hit his stride. Obviously a lot has to happen between Barnes now and Barnes becoming an all time great marksman, but if he pans out, that’s the type of player I see him being.

[Krapinsky]

I don't think Irving has separated himself to the point where he's worth 3 and 8 for Cleveland. If he has, I would definitely trade him for Barnes/Jones and Kanter/Valanciunas. A lot of teams might not even take Irving 1. DX loves Irving and that's where the he's the absolute clear cut #1 thing is coming from. I think there's a lot more debate out there then people realize.

How much of that debate comes from Irving missing the bulk of the season? I agree that Cleveland likely wouldn't make a 3 and 8 deal for him, but his presence atop the draft board isn't a DX creation. When he's been on the floor he's looked like the best prospect in the nation. The only guy I think should possibly challenge him for the first slot is Barnes.

First bold: On the other hand you might say the only reason he's atop the draft board still is because of the injury -- less time to scrutinize.


Second bold: I've heard the same said about Sullinger and Williams. I think if we were fans of a team that had a heavy need at PF and no need at PG, we might convince ourselves to see it a different way.

Here's one scout that said he is "top 3"

Kyrie Irving, 6-2 freshman guard, Duke

Do I have any reservations if he doesn't play this year? Not even a little bit. He's that good. He'll still be a top three pick if he comes out. This is a point guards' league, it's not a centers' league anymore. He's a good athlete, not a great athlete, so he'll never be electric like John Wall or Derrick Rose, but Chris Paul is not electric in that way either.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1HYXzF347

nbadraft.net has him #3

Chad Ford says "He won't be an elite-level point guard. He's not an allstar. He is what he is."

and "Kyrie Irving may be safest pick."

TO reiterate, the only people I've read that had him separated as the "clear cut #1" are DX and their loyal readers.

[Krapinsky]

Now, that's not saying Irving isn't the favorite to go #1 or even perhaps the best graded player, but I don't think he's separated himself as the Blake Griffin or John Wall of this years draft so as whoever drafts number 1 would have to take him.

What helps the argument though is that all the teams at the top of the lottery pretty much have question marks at point guard.

[horaceworthy]

First bold: On the other hand you might say the only reason he's atop the draft board still is because of the injury -- less time to scrutinize.

Not if he displayed the prodigious skill and insane efficiency throughout the whole year he's shown when he actually has played.

Second bold: I've heard the same said about Sullinger and Williams. I think if we were fans of a team that had a heavy need at PF and no need at PG, we might convince ourselves to see it a different way.

Irving's an appropriately sized PG with a yoyo handle, top notch breakdown ability, plus maturity and combines that with a jump shot good enough for him to be a 50/40/90 threat in the pros. He has a defined position (unlike Williams) and good physical tools for his position (unlike Sullinger).

nbadraft.net has him #3

Chad Ford says "He won't be an elite-level point guard. He's not an allstar. He is what he is."

and "Kyrie Irving may be safest pick."

TO reiterate, the only people I've read that had him separated as the "clear cut #1" are DX and their loyal readers.

Meh. I'm just going by what I've seen this year. I don't put too much stock in .net or Ford's evaluations for most players. DX is fine, but they're far from infallible (they didn't have Irving at #1 until around Christmastime, a couple weeks after he got hurt against Butler. He was getting plenty of #1 hype before then).

I'd agree that he's the safest pick, but that's largely because I feel he's the best prospect. I realize that you're all about Barnes right now, and for whatever reason down on Irving (Mike Conley?), but Irving earned his hype, and not just from sitting on top of an internet mock for a few months.

[Grits n Gravy]

only gonna get to watch an hour of jimmer today then go to wolves game, dam the schedulers who make them the same time