Taylor: I think it's most likely we'll keep the pick

[cpfsf]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/122426364.html

"I think it's most likely we'll keep [the pick] ... but we're open to look at a trade," said Taylor, who will let Kahn make the final decision. "But most likely we'll keep [the player who is drafted]. I just think when you get a pick that high, you would want to keep it for the future."

The Wolves won 17 games last year, the worst record in the league, and Taylor said some changes will have to be made if the team is to improve.

"I think we'll make a few changes this summer that will help, but at this stage we have a long ways to go," Taylor said, then added: "I'm OK with Kahn."

Kahn cut the payroll, but the Wolves still lost as much as $20 million last year.

[Esohny]

"I'm OK with Kahn."

[Foye]

I'm okay with keeping it. Kanter or Williams will turn out solid players.

Don't make trades just for the sake of making trades.

Saying we keep the pick also increases it's value considering other teams will have to offer more if they want to trade for it.

[moss_is_1]

Well, he's probably just assuming that the likelyhood of getting a Bogut/Bynum for the pick is low. It very well could be. I'm warming up to Derrick Williams if he really thinks he can play the SF spot. We've been talking about needing an athletic 3/4 and I think Randolph showed he's more of a 4/5. We'd almost have to find a taker on Beas/Randolph/Tolliver.

[HartfordWhalers]

Same article says the league has 32 teams.

"I don't know what is going to happen," said Taylor, who claims one reason a new collective bargaining agreement is needed is because 24 of the 32 NBA teams lost money last season.

[Klomp]

Same article says the league has 32 teams.

"I don't know what is going to happen," said Taylor, who claims one reason a new collective bargaining agreement is needed is because 24 of the 32 NBA teams lost money last season.

Thats our Sid!

[mg]

IMO Kahn needs to keep the #2 pick and select BPA (likely D. Williams)..

Does anyone know the track record of teams trading lottery picks for established players? Just look at the Washington Wizards from a few years ago..

With that said I would AVOID Andrew Bynum..he is damaged goods. He's missed 160 games in 6 seasons....that's 27 missed games a season playing only 24mins a game. He's had three knee surgeries in three years. He had his first knee surgery when he was 12 years old. Sounds like it could be a skeletal issue.

Bogut is nearly as injury prone as Bynum.

[shrink]

As you guys may have noticed from my last few years here, I'm a wee bit trade oriented. However, I can certainly see the logic in keeping the pick.

The biggest thing this team needs is a superstar. We're unlikely to get one in trade, and we're unlikely to pick one up in free agency, so our best chance is with a high lottery pick. When you're dead last in standings, you can't let position fit play as big a role in your longterm decisions. If they feel Williams (or Kanter I suppose) has a chance at becoming a superstar, then that is valuable to us.

Now this obviously isn't the only course. Many fans would say that the team needs to start winning now, and it's hard to argue with that. However, we aren't even dreaming about getting a superstar in trade with the #2. At best, we dream about very good payers on fairly expensive contracts (Iguodala, Bogut, etc). If our goal is championships, its tough to win a ring with just a bunch of "good" players.

Chances are, Taylor's comments aren't anything conclusive, and may even be made to simply raise our bargaining power. If Kahn says, "We'll trade the pick!" teams can say "Take our weaker offer because you can't keep it yourself." Still, I think keeping the pick (and trading other players) is a legitimate approach.

[rennytwentyone]

IMO Kahn needs to keep the #2 pick and select BPA (likely D. Williams)..

Does anyone know the track record of teams trading lottery picks for established players? Just look at the Washington Wizards from a few years ago..

With that said I would AVOID Andrew Bynum..he is damaged goods. He's missed 160 games in 6 seasons....that's 27 missed games a season playing only 24mins a game. He's had three knee surgeries in three years. He had his first knee surgery when he was 12 years old. Sounds like it could be a skeletal issue.

Bogut is nearly as injury prone as Bynum.

I agree with all that you have said.

[Krapinsky]

Well, he's probably just assuming that the likelyhood of getting a Bogut/Bynum for the pick is low. It very well could be. I'm warming up to Derrick Williams if he really thinks he can play the SF spot. We've been talking about needing an athletic 3/4 and I think Randolph showed he's more of a 4/5. We'd almost have to find a taker on Beas/Randolph/Tolliver.

Don't be fooled by WIlliams. He's a PF all the way. He'd be the heaviest SF drafted in the top 15 since Rodney Rogers in 1993 (who spent most of his time a the 4 in the NBA) according to DX.

I think Kanter is an equivalent prospect to Williams. I say just take him or trade down to 4 with Cleveland and make sure we get Verajao. I'm still open to Jonas! but I need to see more.

[revprodeji]

This is not news. He has no idea. He could be positioning, or he could just be giving the no-answer answer.

[Esohny]

Well, he's probably just assuming that the likelyhood of getting a Bogut/Bynum for the pick is low. It very well could be. I'm warming up to Derrick Williams if he really thinks he can play the SF spot. We've been talking about needing an athletic 3/4 and I think Randolph showed he's more of a 4/5. We'd almost have to find a taker on Beas/Randolph/Tolliver.

Don't be fooled by WIlliams. He's a PF all the way. He'd be the heaviest SF drafted in the top 15 since Rodney Rogers in 1993 (who spent most of his time a the 4 in the NBA) according to DX.

I think Kanter is an equivalent prospect to Williams. I say just take him or trade down to 4 with Cleveland and make sure we get Verajao. I'm still open to Jonas! but I need to see more.

Agree on Williams, and Kanter as well. Not sold at all on Jonas though.

[south_fl_twolf]

Let's say we keep the pick and select Williams, we need to make a trade to even out the roster right?
I dont want us to lose Beasly so im trying to figure out a way to keep Williams and Beasly. Face it, we need to stock pile as much talent as possible. So, im thinking something like:

Rubio/luke
wes/webster
beasly/williams (6th man/scorer/ energry guy) ie Manu, terry, crawford
Love/Tolly/Randolph
Darko/randolph

Trade assets: FLynn, Wayne, #20, pek

That could get us vets like Bell, Redd, or any other soild vet to fill out the roster.
Feel free to add ideas, I know its a pretty basic plan.

Edit: i dont think Wes will give us enough from the SG position, he is just not aggressive enough any ideas?

[AQuintus]

Wiretap: Taylore: Timberwolves To Keep No. 2 Pick

2nd line of the article: "I think it's most likely we'll keep [the pick] ... but we're open to look at a trade," said Taylor,

I love RealGM.

[horaceworthy]

Well, he's probably just assuming that the likelyhood of getting a Bogut/Bynum for the pick is low. It very well could be. I'm warming up to Derrick Williams if he really thinks he can play the SF spot. We've been talking about needing an athletic 3/4 and I think Randolph showed he's more of a 4/5. We'd almost have to find a taker on Beas/Randolph/Tolliver.

Don't be fooled by WIlliams. He's a PF all the way. He'd be the heaviest SF drafted in the top 15 since Rodney Rogers in 1993 (who spent most of his time a the 4 in the NBA) according to DX.

I think Kanter is an equivalent prospect to Williams. I say just take him or trade down to 4 with Cleveland and make sure we get Verajao. I'm still open to Jonas! but I need to see more.

I still think that if a team takes Williams and attempts to play him exclusively at the 3 or 4 they won't be maximizing his value. He'll be best off floating between the two, at least early in his career.

The DX observation is accurate, although a bit misleading. It's not like thick framed SF's are non existent, LeBron being the most obvious, although he's obviously a freak. Still, there's also guys like Artest, Pierce (who's tipped the scales at 250 at times in his career despite being 2-3 inches shorter than Williams), Wally Z was 245 or so, Larry Johnson was 250+ and saw time at SF even after injury sapped a good amount of his athleticism, Gomes weighed in at 248 at the combine, Glenn Robinson was 240, etc.

I do think him insisting that he's a 3 is largely due to the teams holding most of the top 3 picks, he should see a good amount of time at the 4 throughout his career. I also think that the roster would need some shaking up in order to get full value from Williams if they were to draft him, which sucks.

[TyKixx]

Is anyone else even at all concerned with a Love-Kanter pairing? Admittedly, I have only seen a limited amount of Kanter in action, but I just don't see them ever coexisting on the defensive end.

[eyeteeth]

Kanter is by far the more likely pick for us. He is skilled enough and big enough to warrant the no. 2 pick, and he fills a distinct need where Williams creates massive roster headaches.

Taylor is either gaming the pick and trying to get bids up, or is relaying informed conclusions based on previous offers or both. I think the team would have to be pretty happy to get Kanter.

Is anyone else even at all concerned with a Love-Kanter pairing? Admittedly, I have only seen a limited amount of Kanter in action, but I just don't see them ever coexisting on the defensive end.

It's hard to say for sure how he projects on defense, but he has the size and the reach to defend very well. It is also clear from the film that is out there that he plays passionately. He could be fine on D. Certainly practicing against Darko every day would give him a pretty good sense of how to defend well in the NBA low post area.

[moss_is_1]

Also, look at Memphis. Everyone is talking about going after their blueprint, neither Randolph or Gasol are great defenders, but they are both very good on offense and Memphis is still a really good defensive team.

Love/Kanter would eat up all the boards, and would be nice compliments on offense, and at least Kanter is a legit 6'11 and an above average athlete, instead of when he had Al at 6'9 and below average.

[horaceworthy]

Randolph/Gasol is a huge frontline though, and while Love/Kanter has the bulk, both are undersized from a length standpoint for the positions they'd play in that scenario. Memphis also has quick, disruptive perimeter players to take some of the pressure of Gasol/Randolph.

Also, who is this everyone of which you speak?

[Klomp]

Kanter is by far the more likely pick for us. He is skilled enough and big enough to warrant the no. 2 pick, and he fills a distinct need where Williams creates massive roster headaches.

Doesn't really sound like we're too concerned with filling a distinct need vs. creating massive headaches.


Tony Ronzone: "[We are looking at] a wide variety of positions. The reason for that is we have to get better, we're going to get better, so we're going to look at 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s. Whoever it shall be, best players, we need you, and we're going to get you."