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Watch the Cousins interview from the combine and then directly after watch the Johnson interview. I did that, and now i want Johnson lol. One of the more impressive interviews I've ever seen from a 22 year old.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NBA ... nson-3476/

Interesting tidbits --

Favorite players growing up were Scottie Pippen and Hardaway.

He used to play point guard.

Excited about the prospect of playing in Minnesota w/ Jflynn.

Ridiculous hops and athleticism on display here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU3j4RlsZ6E[/youtube]

I hope we draft Cousins and somehow find a way to get this guy too. He's better fit next to Rubio than anyone else in the draft.

It would be nice if he fell to #7 and we could pull off the Al for Prince/#7 trade to get him.

He is an impressive interview. I really want to see more of his handle, if he really played PG for years.

Mattya's trade idea where we end up with Cousins and Johnson, and then maybe following up by trading Pekovic + 23 for George in the late lottery would leave us in a nice spot.

And I guess the other positive to getting Johnson (in addition to Cousins, not at 4 instead of Cousins) would be that as rookies, I'd expect Cousins and Johnson to probably spend a fair bit of time together (probably with Jonny Flynn as well) and that would probably be a good influence on Cousins.

Amen. I stayed up late last night watching interviews and youtube clips and came to the realization that, outside of Turner, who I'm now willing to admit is a longshot, Wesley Johnson and Paul George are the 2 players I covet most in this draft. It will take some wrangling because I think Johnson will probably go 5 or 6 and George may climb into the 8-12 range, but if anyone can pull it off maybe Kahn can.

Whether we keep Cousins or Al or Love or Pekovic is another question, but I don't see us keeping all 4, especially if Darko comes back, so I would like to see our moves (with those guys and our other picks) centered around landing both Johnson and George, if at all possible.

A future core of guards and wings:

Rubio/Flynn
George/Brewer/Johnson
Johnson/Brewer (Also, I think Johnson could do a decent job defending athletic 4's)

+ a frontcourt handpicked out of these guys:

Cousins, Al, Love, Pekovic, Darko

= awesomeness

I'm wondering if our group think of Cousins is not allowing us to be more objective. Cousins measured in with a 16.4% body fat. Right now I am all for Cousins @ 4, but I wonder if we are getting ahead of ourselves. The more I watch his interview the more I begin to worry.

I've seen few players make the game look as effortless as Johnson.

Just something to chew on...

Krapinsky wrote:I'm wondering if our group think of Cousins is not allowing us to be more objective. Cousins measured in with a 16.4% body fat. Right now I am all for Cousins @ 4, but I wonder if we are getting ahead of ourselves. The more I watch his interview the more I begin to worry.

I've seen few players make the game look as effortless as Johnson.

Just something to chew on...

Yep, I'm still very hesitant about Cousins.

Esohny wrote:He is an impressive interview.

So was Jonny Flynn. Those Syracuse alums sure can talk.

I still feel the same way I've always felt. You can pass on Cousins if you're concerned about the attitude but make no mistake, he's far and away the better player.

Tirion wrote:

Esohny wrote:He is an impressive interview.

So was Jonny Flynn. Those Syracuse alums sure can talk.

Yes, which is why you don't pass up on a better prospect for him. Like I mentioned.

For the record, I'm not totally against passing on the better player for better character and better fit. I'd lean towards the better player, but I'm not sure it's the right decision.

There's no way Johnson slips past the Warriors at 6 let alone the Kings at 5. Johnson screams Petrie pick.

I'm really not seeing the attitude concerns with Cousins from his interviews, I think if we pass on him we're really going to regret it..

Meh You have to take cousins if he's there. He's high risk/reward. If its between favors and johnson @4 its a pretty easy johnson for me. Regardless I doubt johnson falls past 5 or 6. So all these detroit al trades wont work imo.

MN should simply offer love straight up for #5. Its the most logical scenario.

I like the johnson clips

the_bruce wrote:Meh You have to take cousins if he's there. He's high risk/reward. If its between favors and johnson @4 its a pretty easy johnson for me. Regardless I doubt johnson falls past 5 or 6. So all these detroit al trades wont work imo.

MN should simply offer love straight up for #5. Its the most logical scenario.

I like the johnson clips

I'd take Favors over Johnson too. Favors and Rubio would be Nash and Amare like...I'd take Johnson at 5.

#4-Cousins/Favors
Package #16 and Gomes? to move up a few spots and grab George.
#23 Seraphin

I think my favorite interview amongst the prospects is Cole Aldrich. There's just a funny mix of intensity/giddiness to them, which combined with the missing tooth and MN roots make him come off like a hockey player being interviewed after winning the state tournament. Plus he's got a sense of humor and keeps things positive. Refreshing after hearing Love start yapping again.

Love for 5!

Discuss?

I think its a very realistic option for us. Some people may not like Wes Johnson but trading Love in this deal does get rid of one power forward off the roster. If we stayed put at 4 and got either Cousins or Favors, Wes Johnson would be a great athletic 2 or 3 to spread the floor. Rubio, Wes Johnson, and Cousins or Favors is a great core to build around.

Yeah but then we are left with Cousins and Jefferson together... not really optimal. If we decide to draft and keep cousins, Darko and Love would be the best bigs to keep around (that we currently have).

I do like Johnson, however I think brewer would need to come off the bench or be traded.

Well Jefferson would have to be moved as well. The Prince + 7 deal is thrown around a lot so that could be an option. With the 7 maybe you take a look at Whiteside or Monroe. Resign Darko and you bring either one of them off the bench for grooming. Either that or you package Flynn, 7, and 16 for a improvement at the Wings.