Anyone else want a Kanter, Leonard, Rubio rookie class?

[JMillott]

To me I think this is the best possible chance the Wolves have at fixing all the big holes on the roster while accouting for fit with what is already on hand. Obviously to get Kanter and Leonard the Wolves would have to aquire a second lottery pick and as i've said in a different thread i'd like the Wolves to use Beasley, Pekovic, Flynn to do so although obviously i'm fine with sending out Ellington and Hayward too.

My current idea as stated in other threads would be to cut the Cavs out of a deal with the Pistons offering up the Beasley, Pekovic, Flynn pu pu platter to land the #8 pick for Leonard and taking on Rip Hamilton's last two years of his current contract.

I think and the Wolves have said so, that they need a little veteran leadership and while Rip's name is in the mud right now he was a key member of a team that contended for over half a decade and his play hasn't actually dipped in my opinion and isn't likely to either considering his playing style and the shape he keeps himself in.

What has changed for Rip Hamilton with the Pistons is that they up and decided to trade away an elite PG in Billups a few years ago and still haven't brought in an actual PG to replace him as they continue to bring in SG's with either some PG like skills Stuckey or T-Mac or just undersized SG's like Gordon and Bynum. Its just not smart of Dumars to extend an off the ball SG into his 30's for big money and then to not have a true PG on hand to feed him.

Basically I think Hamilton is still very capable of his 16-18/4/4 on reasonable efficiency and defense, in fact I think he should be roughly that type of guy until around age 35-37 as he fits the mold of the Ray Allen, Dale Ellis, Reggie Miller type SG.

I know people view Hamilton as vastly overpaid but I think he's actually only making around 2-3.5 million over his worth and at only two years its not a bigdeal for a team with all their other salaries under 6 million a year. With Rubio he might even prove to be more productive then he was in the Pistons slow down system next to Billups?

In this scenario, i'm drafting Enes Kanter at #2 and giving him every chance to beat out Darko Millic for the starting job from day one. I personally think he's a better version of Brook Lopez with better rebounding and deeper range on his jumper. Basically I think he's going to be the evolutionary Jack Sikma which is something I think can work nicely next to Kevin Love.

The main reason i'd want to trade back into the lottery is because I think they can land Kawhi Leonard. In the absense of being able to land a dymanic wing player in this draft and with them lacking a pick in next years draft when such talents might be availible i'm thinking they go after a guy who has the mentality and physical gifts to be a legit stopper on the wing who can cover anyone from PG's to PF's ala a young Artest or a current LeBron. If you can't get one of those types, the next best thing is to have someone who can slow or stop most of them. Not to mention it'd give the Wolves legit defense and length in many combos from the perimeter with Rubio, Leonard, Wesley, Martell so that Love and Kanter aren't being asked to erase many mistakes.

PG Rubio - Ridnour
SG Hamilton - Johnson - Webster
SF Johnson - Leonard - Webster
PF Love - Randolph - Tolliver
C Kanter - Millic - Love/Randolph

I actually think that team gives up 5-10 fewer points per game next year then this year and scores just as many.

[Worm Guts]

Leonard shooting percentages scare me, sort of make me think Corey Brewer part 2. And if I'm trading Beasley, I'm taking Williams at 2 as BPA for sure. I actually wouldn't be targeting a 2nd lottery pick at all though, I'd rather try to use our assets for players that can make an immediate impact. If we have to trade back because we're not taking Williams, I'd probably take Kanter/Biyombo at 4 and Burks at 8, although I'd try to trade 8 for veteran help.

[younggunsmn]

could not pick 2 realistic guys I want less at 4 and 8 than Kanter and Leonard. That wolves team could not shoot from the outside and our interior defense would be terrible.

[Esohny]

I agree with WG. I'm not a Leonard fan, and if the Wolves had 4 and 8, I'd also go Kanter/Biyombo and either go Burks at 8 or preferably package #8 with other assets to get a vet SG.

[pumunga]

i wouldnt doubt if we took Leonard, move to sg.

[shangrila]

I like Leonard as a player but he doesn't fit this team.

[Devilzsidewalk]

would hate trading Beasley for 8, or taking Kanter @ 2; I'd do the 4/8 trade and I'd go Biyombo and hopefully Kemba Walker finds his way down to 8, or failing that I'd take El Jimmer

[GopherIt!]

El jimmerino.

[moss_is_1]

Leonard I think is going to be a real nice player. It seems he has the work ethic to be good, and if I remember right he's already improving his shot.

[horaceworthy]

That's the same thing that was being reported about Aminu before the draft last year (improving his shot), and he didn't even get to 40% from the field his rookie season.

[Krapinsky]

That's the same thing that was being reported about Aminu before the draft last year (improving his shot), and he didn't even get to 40% from the field his rookie season.

(neither did Wes)

[horaceworthy]

Quiet, Philly fans might hear you.

[GopherIt!]

Quiet, Philly fans might hear you.

[pumunga]

That's the same thing that was being reported about Aminu before the draft last year (improving his shot), and he didn't even get to 40% from the field his rookie season.

Whats a good shooting % ?

I like Leonard as a player but he doesn't fit this team.

How doesnt he fit this team ?

[Breakdown777]

I'm going to go with the popular kids and vote Jonas/Biyombo at the 4 and Burks at 8 if we end up with 4 and 8.

On a sidebar, Where would Beasley go in this draft. I know its impossible to judge because he's already been in the league for awhile, but I think Beasley would have a shot of going #1 in this draft, or being 50/50 with Derrick Williams since PG are all the rage. Because of this, I find dealing Beasley more difficult to swallow. He still has loads of potential AND nba experience, compared to anyone in the draft this year.

[shangrila]

I like Leonard as a player but he doesn't fit this team.

How doesnt he fit this team ?

He's a raw, 3/4 tweener/high energy guy at this point. He just doesn't really add anything to this team.

[JMillott]

I like Leonard as a player but he doesn't fit this team.

How doesnt he fit this team ?

He's a raw, 3/4 tweener/high energy guy at this point. He just doesn't really add anything to this team.

He's not a tweener in the bad sense like a Beasley or Derrick Williams, he's a tweener in the sense that he projects as being able to defend anyone from 1-4. His position isn't in doubt offensively, he'll be a SF with the question about his future being his ability to shoot the basketball which is about the easiest thing for a player to develop once they make the league.

How can a guy who has a chance to be a special defensive player not be a reasonable fit on a team that needs defense more then anything? The best case scenario for this guy is a rich mans Ron Artest without the side of insanity.

In a weak draft class if the Wolves bring him in alongside Kanter and Rubio that would be a massive influx of talent. Not to mention that in my scenario they'd also be bringing in a veteran SG in Rip Hamilton who even at this stage would still likely be the best SG in Wolves history.

[moss_is_1]

I don't see how an elite defender at the 2-4 potentially couldn't help out our team that is near dead last in defense. People were all over Gerald Wallace, I think Leonard has potential to be a better Wallace. I'm warming to taking him, even though we have a logjam at his spot.

I have my prospects ranked like this right now:

1.Kanter - very high on him. injuries worry me, but above average athlete, good size at only 18, rebounding, post scoring.
2.Irving - not near as high on him as other people. good athlete, not great, doesn't seem like a great passer, seems more like a devin harris/conley then cp3.
3. Leonard - athletic, rebounder, defensive potential, work ethic
4. Derrick Williams - good athlete for a pf, size for a sf, effecient, but he's a tweener
5. Burks - like him more then the PGs because of need for us, slasher, go to guy, came up big in games, athletic, long arms.

[shangrila]

He's not a tweener in the bad sense like a Beasley or Derrick Williams, he's a tweener in the sense that he projects as being able to defend anyone from 1-4. His position isn't in doubt offensively, he'll be a SF with the question about his future being his ability to shoot the basketball which is about the easiest thing for a player to develop once they make the league.

He's a tweener skill-wise, and that makes him just as much of a question mark. He doesn't have handles, doesn't have a shot, doesn't have a perimeter game at all.

How can a guy who has a chance to be a special defensive player not be a reasonable fit on a team that needs defense more then anything? The best case scenario for this guy is a rich mans Ron Artest without the side of insanity.

We can both do this; his worst case is James Posey. Besides, if they want an elite defender they can draft Singleton a hell of a lot later.

In a weak draft class if the Wolves bring him in alongside Kanter and Rubio that would be a massive influx of talent. Not to mention that in my scenario they'd also be bringing in a veteran SG in Rip Hamilton who even at this stage would still likely be the best SG in Wolves history.

Seriously? Rider? Sprewell? Missed some names for best SG in Wolves history there.

And the talent you bring in here comes at the cost of talent going out. Beasley is a better player than Rip is right now. He's a better player than Leonard is right now. Getting rid of him would push the team back next year and be ANOTHER roster overhaul, which they really can't afford to do. They need some sort of consistency, that's how Memphis got to where they are now.

[Klomp]

Leonard doesn't have the star quality, but he will be a key piece for a number of years somewhere. Reminds me a lot of Gerald Wallace.