Draft grade: Minnesota: C-

[Mcfale313]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13107

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Round 1: Ricky Rubio (5), Jonny Flynn (6), Wayne Ellington (28)
Round 2: Henk Norel (47, from the Heat)

Comments: There is no other way to say it – David Kahn dropped the ball. From what we are hearing, Rubio's camp was lukewarm to Minnesota from the jump, Kahn did a great last minute pitch and Rubio's people were getting comfortable with the idea. The 5th pick dropped and they said "OK, we'll make the best of it" – then ten minutes later they drafted Jonny Flynn torching the Rubio situation. It's not over, and there are still things to be resolved, but the initial thought process is – one of them has to be traded. The Wolves may have gotten their point guard of the future in Flynn, but that means Ricky has to go and while the media is in love with Rubio, most NBA team are not, meaning the Wolves may not get back the kind of future talent they could have drafted at #5. Wayne Ellington's selection at 28 was a great pickup but ultimately was lost in the discussion on Rubio and Flynn. Henk Norel may not play in Minnesota any time soon, but he's a good prospect. The Wolves did a good job getting talent, but the chaos they brought on themselves makes this draft a negative because it remains to be seen how this pans out. One thing seems clear as much as David Kahn thinks Flynn and Rubio would be "great together" neither players wants to see that happen.

Grade: C-

I think this is unilateral idea, but i also believe many people are having the same questions for Kahn's decisions, we'll see how everything plays out

personally I think u can't grade a draft until at least one or two years later, but for now, I'd give Kahn a B


the only other teams that have a worse grade than us are the heats who doesnt have a 1st rounder, and Portland who meant to be sucks one day in draft anywayz

[Esohny]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13107

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Round 1: Ricky Rubio (5), Jonny Flynn (6), Wayne Ellington (28)
Round 2: Henk Norel (47, from the Heat)

Comments: There is no other way to say it – David Kahn dropped the ball. From what we are hearing, Rubio's camp was lukewarm to Minnesota from the jump, Kahn did a great last minute pitch and Rubio's people were getting comfortable with the idea. The 5th pick dropped and they said "OK, we'll make the best of it" – then ten minutes later they drafted Jonny Flynn torching the Rubio situation. It's not over, and there are still things to be resolved, but the initial thought process is – one of them has to be traded. The Wolves may have gotten their point guard of the future in Flynn, but that means Ricky has to go and while the media is in love with Rubio, most NBA team are not, meaning the Wolves may not get back the kind of future talent they could have drafted at #5. Wayne Ellington's selection at 28 was a great pickup but ultimately was lost in the discussion on Rubio and Flynn. Henk Norel may not play in Minnesota any time soon, but he's a good prospect. The Wolves did a good job getting talent, but the chaos they brought on themselves makes this draft a negative because it remains to be seen how this pans out. One thing seems clear as much as David Kahn thinks Flynn and Rubio would be "great together" neither players wants to see that happen.

Grade: C-

I think this is unilateral idea, but i also believe many people are having the same questions for Kahn's decisions, we'll see how everything plays out

personally I think u can't grade a draft until at least one or two years later, but for now, I'd give Kahn a B

What a schmuck the author is. He readily admits Kahn did a good job adding talent, but we had a bad draft because of additional press attention? Idiot.

[horaceworthy]

I saw one review that gave us a D and Washington a B+. That's the one I found funniest.

[Basti]

the author also failed to mention the future 1st rounder that we got. I wouldn't take this article serious if it lacks fundamental parts.

plus even if you discount the trade I think that we shouln't get a worse grade than B-. I mean we added tons of talent and that's what the draft is all about eh?

[MagnusPinus]

Seems like the Minnesota fans and their Gm Kahn are the only ones who think a Flynn-Rubio couple can work..

[Krapinsky]

Everyone criticizes, but no one gives one possible alternative to drafting j-flynn.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Everyone criticizes, but no one gives one possible alternative to drafting j-flynn.

Curry of course. Ideal shooting guard apparently.

[MagnusPinus]

Everyone criticizes, but no one gives one possible alternative to drafting j-flynn.

DeRozan, Curry, even T-will(probably a bit of a reach,but who knows).

[horaceworthy]

Yeah, I don't get it when people criticize pairing two PG's then say we should have drafted Curry over Flynn. I like Curry, but it still presents the same problems.

[revprodeji]

even if he projects as a ball dominate PG that will struggle on defense?


MinniePinus is getting annoying. Maybe the cold of MN is causing shrinkage?

[revprodeji]

for the 87, 467 time. Flynn was our personal BPA so we went BPA not positional. Get over it MinniePinus

[theGreatRC]

for the 87, 467 time. Flynn was our personal BPA so we went BPA not positional. Get over it MinniePinus

I don't post much anymore, but;

Rev taking shots at other posters! I love the draft...brings out the best in us.

[Dewey]

I've taken a day to step away and I'll admit I'm acutally warming up to the ide of Rubio and Flynn. I don't think it's really going to be the end result, but I do see it as a possibility.

Here's the nuts and bolts of the concern as far as our options at the draft ...
Rubio(6'4") + /Curry(6'0) vs. Rubio(6'4") + Flynn(6'0)

Flynn is equal to or better than Curry at virtually everthing except mid to long-rang shooting. I've actually come to the conclusion that Curry is a jerk. Flynn is a much better defender and built well for the NBA (slightly short), but the media has gone nuts trying to tell us Rubio/Flynn won't work, but they suggest Rubio/Curry would have been much better. The ONLY reason you take Curry is for the long-range j-shot. Period. We took the best two players on the board and that's what you do when you're a rebuilding team. Odviously they did not feel Henderson or DeRozan (etc...) were the way to go or we could have traded down right away and taken our pick.

So, we've seen teams win the NBA championship without a classic PG, so why can't we expect to win with two ... Maybe Kahn is right in that they can co-exist. I'm now kind of hopin we keep both and we get Rubio over here. I love Flynn's appraoch ... "lets get him here and try to make this go!"

[revprodeji]

Rubio is 6'5 190 with a 6'8 wingspan. FYI.

Flynn also rated very similar to Curry as catch and release shooting,

Curry 1.33 PPP when left open both land him well above average.

Flynn shot 1.24 PPP in unguarded catch and shoot situations

Curry is a better overall shooter. But most of that is pull up jumpers. (1.15 vs .94)

Good post Dewey

[4ho5ive]

I think Curry is closer to 6'3.

Derozan maybe, but he wouldnt have brought outside shooting or defense which are the two of the major things people are knocking Flynn for. Curry is determined to be a PG, and i think grabbing Williams with the #6 may have been an even bigger reach then some of your arguments here.

[revprodeji]

w/ shoes Curry is 6'3.25

Who is knocking Flynn for defense? He is a very good defensive guard. One of the reasons Kahn liked him.

The problem people have is putting them in boxes. Rubio=pg, Flynn=pg. So they do not see it working, but the game will compliment them and defensively Rubio will have an easier time with SG where he can play the passing lanes then he will chasing around parker/rose/rondo/etc

[4ho5ive]

Its not so much a knock on Flynn's defense as much as it is his size and Rubio's thin frame that some think it wont work. Fact remains Flynn was the best option on our board, so i dont really understand some of the hate for going with him.

Having two young studly PG's (you liar Rev) is a great problem to have, some teams *cough*newyork*cough* dont have one good young PG.

[Krapinsky]

Curry might be a better fit to play off the ball on offense, but on defense I don't think he'll be able to guard 1's or 2's.

[collin_k41]

C- is way off....

#5: We got lucky and Rubio dropped to us. A
#6: We took the best player available and the one who fits best with Rubio. B
#18: No one we wanted was available besides more PGs so we traded for a VERY NICE 1st rounder. B+
#28: We took Ellington who I thought was a great pick. B+
#45: Nick Calathes was a great pick and then traded because we have too many PGs. C
#47: Henk Norel is a buddy of Rubio and according to another poster "this was strictly political" C

The higher picks have more weight so with my California math that averages to a B. I could easily up some of those too and not think twice about it. Plus Jay Bilas said we had a good draft so what's the point of even talking about this. Bilas=truth...

[wolves_fan_82au]

anyone else just a tiny bit worried we may end up trading the wrong pg