Prospect Watch Thread

[Krapinsky]

Chad Ford now has Wolves draft board as 1. Irving, 2. Barnes, 3. Jones.

http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2011/mockdraft

[[RCG]]

I was hoping Sullinger would declare, that way he'd bump players down

[phonzadellika]

I think Valanciunas and Kanter will be picked in the lottery despite contract problems and knee problems, respectively. I would think that the Wolves would probably be the landing destination
for one of them at the top of the draft. Washington, Cleveland, and Sacramento all have centers already. The Wolves are the only team that has big question marks at that position.

If we draft 4th I think we're taking one of those two, unless Kahmbis falls in love with Perry Jones.

[Mattya]

Anybody have a feeling that we might trade this pick? 1. I think Kahn is tied to Rubio too strongly to draft another young PG in Irving, no matter how good he is. 2. He has to be feeling heat from Taylor after these two years. Which might push him to trade for established vets. 4. This draft at the top looks like Irving, DWill, Barnes, PJ3, and Kanter. There are a couple teams out there that might be looking to unload talent(Suns, Hawks) for picks. With a few other teams trading their picks already does anyone think the only reason we didn't at the deadline was because we have to ensure we have a top ten pick. Especially with the Nash love Kahn had. Just my bored out of my mind with this season opinion but barring Williams or Barnes have a great combine and workouts I could see the pick moved for a good player and bad contracts.

[Krapinsky]

I think Valanciunas and Kanter will be picked in the lottery despite contract problems and knee problems, respectively. I would think that the Wolves would probably be the landing destination
for one of them at the top of the draft. Washington, Cleveland, and Sacramento all have centers already. The Wolves are the only team that has big question marks at that position.

If we draft 4th I think we're taking one of those two, unless Kahmbis falls in love with Perry Jones.

So at #4, you've narrowed it down to three choices. Good job?

[Klomp]

Honestly, I'd draft Kemba at 1 over Kyrie

[Esohny]

Honestly, I'd draft Kemba at 1 over Kyrie

I wouldn't.

[AQuintus]

Honestly, I'd draft Kemba at 1 over Kyrie

This is the kind of ridiculous tournament overreaction that got the Wolves stuck with Randy Foye and Jonny Flynn.

Just look at their per 40 pace adjusted stats.
Walker on the left and Irving on the right

Points: 25.6 to 24.1
FGA: 19.3 to 13.1
PPS: 1.32 to 1.84
FG%: 43.3 to 52.9
3p%: 34.6 to 46.2
FTA: 8.3 to 8.9
FTA/FGA: 0.43 to 0.68
FT%: 81.8 to 90.1
REB: 5.7 to 4.7
Ast: 4.8 to 5.9
TOs: 2.4 tp 3.4
AST/TO: 2 to 1.7
Sts: 2.1 to 2.0
Blks: 0.2 to 0.8

On top of that, Irving has better size and is almost 2 years younger. Walker looks like he'll be a good prospect and worthy of a top 10 pick, but he's not close to Irving or close to being worthy of the number 1 overall pick.

[phonzadellika]

So at #4, you've narrowed it down to three choices. Good job?

It's what I do

[eyeteeth]

I am trying to understand why we might take Perry Jones. It seems like his upside is exactly AR-15's. Maybe a draft and trade makes sense on this one, but draft and keep him? Why?

[phonzadellika]

I don't think that we should take Perry Jones. From the two Baylor games I went out of my way to see this year I really didn't understand the hype, and I think that AR has more upside than PJones because PJones is too passive for his abilities.

But I think Kahn, if he were drafting at 4 where the more-sure stars were already gone, might fall in love with PJones III based on 'potential' , especially if Perry Jones has a Jonny Flynn-type workout which I read somewhere is what made Kahn fall in love with Flynn in the first place.

I bet that if Kahn, provided the chance to either swing and miss or hit a home run with Jones or hit a double and grab someone who will be useful but ultimately not a superstar, will try for the home run as long as the guy doesn't have bodies buried in the back yard.

[The J Rocka]

If we cannot get Barnes or Irving in this draft, just trade the pick for a proven player at the position(s) we need help at (if one is available with equal value). I don't want Jones because we have AR, Kanter I've read has had knee problems in the past, that's really an automatic turnoff for me, Jonas V, don't know much about him, but is he worth the pick and gamble? Kemba, really think he's gonna be the Randy Foye of the draft.

[phonzadellika]

Kanter I've read has had knee problems in the past, that's really an automatic turnoff for me

I think it depends on the problems...Blake and Amare are doing ok. Oden and Roy are hobbled. We're not the trailblazers so if we drafted Kanter we might not automatically be cursed. Edit that: Kanter would just not pan out instead of being awesome and then having his leg fall off.

But yeah, between Jonas V's potential Rubio-like buyout problems and Kanter's need, the two C prospects are a bit dodgy.

[Saltine]

Flynn, Webster and the draft pick for Nash

[phonzadellika]

^ that would be fantastic. I would love to see the look on Nash's face if Phoenix took that deal.

[eyeteeth]

If we cannot get Barnes, Williams or Irving in this draft, just trade the pick for a proven player at the position(s) we need help at (if one is available with equal value). I don't want Jones because we have AR, Kanter I've read has had knee problems in the past, that's really an automatic turnoff for me, Jonas V, don't know much about him, but is he worth the pick and gamble? Kemba, really think he's gonna be the Randy Foye of the draft.

Fixed it for you.

Flynn, Webster and the draft pick for Nash

This, obviously, would be superb.

[The J Rocka]

If we cannot get Barnes, Williams or Irving in this draft, just trade the pick for a proven player at the position(s) we need help at (if one is available with equal value). I don't want Jones because we have AR, Kanter I've read has had knee problems in the past, that's really an automatic turnoff for me, Jonas V, don't know much about him, but is he worth the pick and gamble? Kemba, really think he's gonna be the Randy Foye of the draft.

Fixed it for you.

He's pretty talented, don't see the fit on this team when we already have Beas and WJ. Also wouldn't mind seeing AR play some time at the 3 when Love gets healthy. Think Williams will get dominated guarding NBA 3s.

[Saltine]

The Nash trade works in the checker...
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=6xdoes7

I've seen a couple Suns fans suggest they would move him for a top 5 pick. He would be an awesome mentor for Rubio... Ridnour would be easy to move.

[Worm Guts]

I am trying to understand why we might take Perry Jones. It seems like his upside is exactly AR-15's. Maybe a draft and trade makes sense on this one, but draft and keep him? Why?

I'm not saying we should draft Perry Jones, but you don't draft around Anthony Randolph. Also, if Jones and Randolph reach their upsides you don't worry about duplication. You can't be too long, too athletic or too versatile. Jones and Randolph could play together.

[Twolves98]

Or we could trade are pick for one in the 2012 draft... just an idea