Draft Express Article

[Mattya]

From draftexpress.com:
This was posted by Baseline81 on rube chat.

Word on the Street, June 16th
By: Jonathan Givony

No GM in the NBA is apparently more active right now than Minnesota’s David Kahn, as he’s apparently set on “making a big splash in his first draft” according to one NBA executive, and is “talking to everyone” at the moment. One rumor that is making the rounds has Minnesota sending Memphis Kevin Love in exchange for the #2 pick (and filler). Minnesota would then draft Ricky Rubio, which could help them significantly with their ticket sales, and still have the #6 pick at their disposal, which they could use to take someone like Jordan Hill.

Its interesting, becuase he mentions Jordan Hill, but in my opinion, if we take Rubio at #2, OKC will take Harden, Sac would take best PG available, Wiz not really sure, but it gives another shot at Thabeet, maybe Evans, or Derozan. What would you do? Now remember Jefferson could be out for some time at the beginning of the season, leaving a big hole in the middle.

[Mattya]

My fault didn't see this posted in another thread

[Foye]

Trading Love back to Memphis for Rubio in return seems to be the best case scenario because it leaves us left with our own pick and we can fill two starting spots in one draft. I guess we would have to take back Jaric or Buckner in such a deal but I don't mind it then.

[prefuse73]

I was just coming to post this... good job.


This is tough call. I love me some Love, but if we can keep the #6 and get Rubio at #2 that is great deal for a 2nd best PF.

What we do at 6 really depends on the deal. I think if Thabeet is there and we can come away from this draft with a legit pass first pg and a true defensive center, you can't really beat that. I know that both players (Thabeet especially) are very risky, but man the potential is through the roof. If Jefferson is out for awhile, we can certainly secure one more high pick next year to get another wing. Hopefully we still keep #18 and can get maybe Clark

As long as we are not killing our cap situation I would be on board.

Thabeet - Jefferson
Jefferson - Clark - Smith
Clark (#18)- Gomes
Foye - Brewer
Rubio - Telfair

[jpatrick]

Interesting that on the same day DX perpetuates the Love to Memphis talk, Hoopsworld says there is nothing to it and we're going to reaffirm our commitment to him in the coming days.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12958

[FairDinkum]

I don't care what we do, as long as we Keep Love

[SSUBluesman]

Well this looks a great deal better than Love/6 for 2/Gay(or Conley). I still don't like the idea of trading big for small, especially for someone like Rubio.

[collin_k41]

I REALLY like Kevin Love but if we can use him to get the #2 pick and keep our #6 pick I'd probably be down for that. Rubio would be our first pick...then there is a real possibility that Thabeet falls to us. Even if he doesn't, I'd be ok with taking Jordan Hill I guess.

[prefuse73]

I didn't see that hoopsworld article...

I do like Love and it would be really tough to get rid of him since I feel he will eventually be an all-star.

The problem is that our two best players play PF (ideally) and their is plenty of evidence that shows that a great pg can really change a team's fortunes. Now if we believe that Curry, Holiday or Flynn can be that guy...than lets roll.

[PeeDee]

I vote stand pat at 6 and take Curry. Then do what you can to trade for Earl Clark.

I'm sold on Curry/Love/Jefferson pick and roll/pop and Clark's versatility.

[Mattya]

I think if Thabeet is there and we can come away from this draft with a legit pass first pg and a true defensive center, you can't really beat that.

Agreed, i think that would be an ideal draft for me. I know that there isn't a lot of Thabeet love on here, but in this situation, he should work well. Thabeet could also play chandler to rubio's chris paul.

Rubio/Foye/Miller/Jefferson/Thabeet
Telfair/Brewer/Gomes/Smith/Jefferson

I like that a lot

[PeeDee]

From Chad Ford's chat happening right now:

Adam S. (Minnesota)

I have been hearing rumors of the Wolves moving up to #2 to take Rubio. Any truth to this?
Chad Ford

There have been some rumblings around the league that they were talking to Memphis for what would be Kevin Love for the No. 2 pick. But from what I can gather, that's pretty bogus. The Wolves do like Rubio ... but there are all sorts of problems with them trading away Love ... the most obvious is that Love can't be traded back to the team that traded him in the first place for one year. So anything like that would have to happen after the draft. And, I'm not sure that Love is a perfect fit with Marc Gasol. They need more of a long, athletic shot blocker like ... Hasheem Thabeet!

[Devilzsidewalk]

The problem is that our two best players play PF (ideally)

I disagree, K Love can match up with centers' strength better than with PF's speed. Likewise on offense he can use his quickness to beat centers to the offensive glass and if he develops his outside shot, it'll be much more effective against centers that don't like to leave the paint.

[El_Lobo_3]

I would be all over this. Love is a good player but if we got the #2 pick for him? Sign me up. Rubio AND whoever we get at six whether its Thabeet, Evans or DeRozan I would be very happy. Or if we got Rubio, Thabeet and like Terrence Williams at 18 I would be a very happy camper.

I got an invite to watch the workouts that the wolves are hosting on friday. Apparently it is going to be a big point guard melee with all of the top point guard prospects working out against each other. That should be a very interesting session to sit in on. I don't know if their status' have changed but it would be nice to see rubio and/or curry there on friday.

[Dewey]

Speed - Size ......................Skill .................... Intelligence - Leadership - Chemistry
(athleticism) .......... (Fundamentals) ............................... (Attitude)

1.) We may have weaknesses at certain positions, but right now, we lack "length" and "speed" as a team. These are two areas can control as we look to the draft or make trades. EVANS/THABEET/DEROZAN ??????? CHILDRESS TRADE RUMOR ???????

2.) Leadership has been a concern, but should develop as some of these younger players develop. Our veterans have not been productive players (since KG) and I feel that has hurt us. Cardinal may acually be the one veteran player who can still manage to have a positive impact on and off the floor. I personnaly think a PG to take control is the key ... RUBIO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

3.) On KFAN, Maddog mentioned the teams biggest need is a slasher (attack the basket) type player and get to the line. I agree with him if we had a PG to get him the ball ... RUBIO !!!!!!!!!!!!.

4.) The Wolves a .500 team before Jefferson? No. The regular season and post-season are diferent. For years the Wolves had nice regular seasons and floundered in the post-season. We had KG, but lacked team athleticism/skill, thereafter. The bar is raised in the post-season, and if you don't have the horses, your bar just does not raise. We must get faster and longer.

5.) We have players who need to be pushed to perform or pushed out of playing time.

[GopherIt!]

I think Love for the #2 is a horrible idea.
McLovin' is the one guy on this team that I would not trade. No way.

I agree with standing pat. Curry-Love > Rubio-Thabeet

I also agree with Devilz that Love is a better option in the middle than some might think.
Love to Thabeetch would be a nasty downgrade. He is going to be a big bust.

[4ho5ive]

Telfair to Rubio would be an extreme upgrade though. Rubio/Foye/Brew/Jefferson/Thabeet is a solid team. I dont like Thabeet either and i do love Kevlar, but i think Rubio goes a long way in fixing our backcourt issues.

[theGreatRC]

Stupid trade for us.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Telfair to Rubio would be an extreme upgrade though. Rubio/Foye/Brew/Jefferson/Thabeet is a solid team. I dont like Thabeet either and i do love Kevlar, but i think Rubio goes a long way in fixing our backcourt issues.

defensively that team could be dominant but we'd need 40 points a night from our bench to win

[southern wolf]

I know the value is there, but surely Love is 'untouchable' after a rookie season like his. He was one of the few positives in another horrible season, and now he's trade bait?