RealGM

By the way, we currently own

8 - Our own pick
25 - From Memphis
*Acquired in Donatas Montiejunas 2011 draft day trade
51 - From Brooklyn
*Acquired in Bogdanovic 2011 draft day trade, traded away in Miller trade, reacquired in Johnson trade
59 - From Oklahoma City
*Acquired in Lazar Hayward trade

I think I have it right

I am confused as to why we can't give up the Memphis pick to Phoenix?

Vindicater wrote:I am confused as to why we can't give up the Memphis pick to Phoenix?

I'm not sure either.

I just know its been verified with both the Phoenix and Minnesota front offices that the only way that would happen is if Minnesota makes the playoffs.

Vindicater wrote:I am confused as to why we can't give up the Memphis pick to Phoenix?

The pick only goes to Phoenix if the Wolves make the PO, and the Wolves can send the worse pick between yours and Grizz's

Through 2/19

1. Charlotte (13-40) .245
2. Orlando (15-38) .283
3. Washington (15-37) .288
4. Cleveland (16-37) .302
5. Phoenix (18-36) .333
6. Sacramento (19-36) .345
7. New Orleans (19-35) .352
8. Minnesota (19-31) .380
9. Detroit (21-34) .382
10. Toronto (22-32) .402
11. Philadelphia (22-29) .431
12. Dallas (23-29) .442
13. Los Angeles (25-29) .463
14. Portland (25-29) .463
----------
16. Houston (29-26) .527 *Current 8th seed
26. Memphis (34-18) .654

2/20 Key Games
Memphis @ Toronto
Detroit @ Charlotte
New Orleans @ Cleveland
Oklahoma City @ Houston
Philadelphia @ Minnesota
Orlando @ Dallas

Through 2/20

1. Charlotte (13-41) .241
2. Orlando (15-39) .278
3. Washington (15-37) .288
4. Cleveland (17-37) .315
5. Phoenix (18-37) .327
6. Sacramento (19-36) .345
7. New Orleans (19-36) .345
8. Minnesota (20-31) .392
9. Detroit (22-34) .393
10. Toronto (22-33) .400
11. Philadelphia (22-30) .423
12. Dallas (24-29) .443
13. Portland (25-29) .463
14. Los Angeles (26-29) .473
----------
17. Houston (30-26) .536 *Current 8th seed
26. Memphis (35-18) .660

right out of range of the guy(s) we really need, as usual. Shabazz, Noel, McLemore, and Oladipo probably all gone when we pick

Through 2/25

1. Charlotte (13-43) .232
2. Orlando (15-41) .268
3. Phoenix (18-39) .316
4. Cleveland (18-38) .321
5. Washington (18-37) .327
6. Sacramento (19-38) .333
7. New Orleans (20-37) .351
8. Detroit (22-37) .373
9. Minnesota (20-33) .377
10. Toronto (23-34) .404
11. Philadelphia (22-32) .407
12. Dallas (25-30) .455
13. Portland (26-30) .464
14. Los Angeles (28-30) .483
----------
17. Houston (31-27) .534 *Current 8th seed
26. Memphis (37-18) .673

Tuesdays Games
ORL @ PHI
MIN @ PHX

While I can't watch a game and actually root against us, I realize the team will be better off in the long run if we get a better chance at a top 3 lottery pick.

I'm amazed that the #3 seed has 20 wins, while we're at #9 with 22. Sure, lots of more games to play that we could win, but that seems tightly packed to me, and a good chance to add more ping pong balls.

I'm seeing Oladipo mostly projected around #9 (both nbadraft and draftexpress have him there) -- right where we would likely pick if the lottery happened now.

I saw somebody mention that he will likely be gone by the time we pick -- are these projections out-of-date? If not, I actually really like the idea of getting Oladipo... a high energy 2/3 who plays excellent defense and can hit open threes seems like a perfect fit. I get that he's not expected to have the massive upside of somebody like McLemore (or even Muhammad), but he seems like he would be a very good puzzle piece for us.

Noel - injured
McLemore - shooting but what else?
Muhammad - can score but not super athletic and doesn't play much D
Porter - stock will rise IMO
Zeller - questions about position in NBA
Len - still needs a little polishing
Bennett - haven't heard much buzz around him
Smart - combo guard, tough defensively
Burke - a little undersized
Austin - not as strong as you'd like for an NBA big man

Many guys have some questions surrounding them that could cause Oladipo to pass them. I honestly don't think there is that much separating him right now from McLemore & Muhammad.

We should be able to get a good player. There's 3 guys who are above the rest right now(McLemore/Noel/Shabazz), but that could tighten with McLemore/Shabazz struggling and Noel hurt. I think there is a lot of good talent in this draft, just no superstar types.

If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally, but if we decide to move either Love or Pek (not trying to start a debate on this in this thread... just saying if we do move either of them), I think he would be a great choice or even worth packaging our pick and D-Will to get the #4 or whatever (if we know Noel will be there).

A player who doesn't need the ball in his hands to make a huge impact is just SO valuable -- Noel is the sort of player you can team up with almost anybody and have it work. If we had Noel along with AK and Ricky, that would just be an insanely good defensive team... then we could look to the two other spots for scoring/shooting, possibly even utilizing a player who isn't that great defensively, since we would be able to cover for him so well.

Detroit and Sacto won,

Devilzsidewalk wrote:right out of range of the guy(s) we really need, as usual. Shabazz, Noel, McLemore, and Oladipo probably all gone when we pick

Would you have confidence that the Wolves would pick the right player, anyway?

Gideon wrote:If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

i'm not endorsing trading the pick. just wondering though, has there been any offers on the trade board yet?

NikolaPekovic wrote:

Gideon wrote:If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

I agree that Noel fits a need right now... but I also feel like you don't draft somebody on his level to be a back-up. Sure, in his first season (which he will probably miss the start of anyway and then be coming back from injury) it would likely be fine for him to back up Love and Pek and play 28 mpg or whatever, but in the long run somebody that talented drafted that high isn't meant to be a back up. Pek and Love are also too good to be back ups IMO, so somebody would probably have to be dealt at some point.

It probably would have been more accurate of me to say he would cause a positional logjam than that he doesn't fit a current need. I would still lean towards picking him if it's viable, but I think this issue would have to be addressed of moving either Pek or Love (if not now than a season from now) if we pick Noel. I'm really all for drafting Noel -- however I don't want to pick him and then under-utilize him in the maddening way the Jazz have with Favors... so there is the big issue of whether we are willing to move Love or Pek if we draft Noel.

Gideon wrote:

NikolaPekovic wrote:

Gideon wrote:If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

I agree that Noel fits a need right now... but I also feel like you don't draft somebody on his level to be a back-up. Sure, in his first season (which he will probably miss the start of anyway and then be coming back from injury) it would likely be fine for him to back up Love and Pek and play 28 mpg or whatever, but in the long run somebody that talented drafted that high isn't meant to be a back up. Pek and Love are also too good to be back ups IMO, so somebody would probably have to be dealt at some point.

It probably would have been more accurate of me to say he would cause a positional logjam than that he doesn't fit a current need. I would still lean towards picking him if it's viable, but I think this issue would have to be addressed of moving either Pek or Love (if not now than a season from now) if we pick Noel. I'm really all for drafting Noel -- however I don't want to pick him and then under-utilize him in the maddening way the Jazz have with Favors... so there is the big issue of whether we are willing to move Love or Pek if we draft Noel.

I see what you mean. But he still has alot of things to work out in his game. He could still be playing 20 mins a game as a rookie backup PF/C on a playoff team.

Drafting him gives us insurance as well. If pek doesn't end up being worth his contract after we see him next to love than we can move on with the Love/Noel frontcourt combo for the future. Which could end up being one of the best Big men duos in the league depending on how Noel devolops.

Starting doesn't really matter as long as he gets good minutes. Someone is bound to get injured or miss a couple games here or there too.

Love(36)/Noel(12)
Pekovic(30)/Noel(18)