Official Speculation Thread (Pt. LV - NBA Draft Edition)

[cedric76]

Min r win mode now, so trading there pick for AA really make sense for them

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I love the fact that we live in a world where a team who hasn't made the playoffs in 10 years is in "win now mode."

No winning mode = love leaving

So they r in win mode now

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[Noonskadoodle]

Sometimes I get the feeling that about half of this board would rather have an all-rookie prospect team than a championship squad. I fall into that group, gotta stay focused on the rings.

It's all about acquiring all those prospects & pieces to then go after a ring by moving them for a higher caliber player.

Not sure we should really be focused on rings right now. Gotta get the young talent in here first then go from there.

[Noonskadoodle]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moXPN0a8Q3g[/youtube]

[Skin]

As of now:

Dream Draft

I LOVE YOU.

[KingRobb02]

Min r win mode now, so trading there pick for AA really make sense for them

Sent from my HTC One using RealGM Forums mobile app

I love the fact that we live in a world where a team who hasn't made the playoffs in 10 years is in "win now mode."

No winning mode = love leaving

So they r in win mode now

Sent from my HTC One using RealGM Forums mobile app

The problem with Love in Minnesota was that his GM told him he wasn't a max player and constantly kept him in trade rumors. They cleared out Kahn for Love. Trust me, love wants to get paid. The winning is secondary. If Flip Saunders could put a 5 year extension on the table right now, Love would sign.

On May 22, Flip tweeted:

Off to Brooklyn Combine. Knowing draft position now helps moving forward. K.Love committed and excited about team!

Talked with Love and Rubio even more excited about #Twolves.

The only way Love leaves is if he is willing to walk away fro max money. The new rules basically prevent him from getting a sign and trade and joining a winning team. He can either take the max extension that he thinks he deserves, or just jump ship and be a hypocrite. The Wolves know this. They will use their 4 picks this year to add healthy bodies, and let Flip actually build a successful team instead of going the Orlando/Cleveland route and overpaying for other teams' role players and hoping a first round exit can convince Kevin Love he is on a good team.

[Skin]

Sometimes I get the feeling that about half of this board would rather have an all-rookie prospect team than a championship squad. I fall into that group, gotta stay focused on the rings.

Gotta stay focused on "sustained" success.

[Noonskadoodle]

As of now:

Dream Draft

I LOVE YOU.

[Truth24]

As of now:

Dream Draft

I LOVE YOU.

I wouldn't mind that one bit I love Tony Mitchell as a prospect and player, I was hoping he would have a big year and be in contention for a top pick but this may work out well for him. The guy is crazy explosive, can shoot, weak side shot blocker, and rebounder. I think he would and could be a great player next to Vuc and in injury cases he could play some three.

[Noonskadoodle]

I wouldn't mind that one bit I love Tony Mitchell as a prospect and player, I was hoping he would have a big year and be in contention for a top pick but this may work out well for him. The guy is crazy explosive, can shoot, weak side shot blocker, and rebounder. I think he would and could be a great player next to Vuc and in injury cases he could play some three.

Him next to Vuc would be ideal. I also love the way he came off in his interview I posted. Seems like he knows what he needs to do & is willing to work for it.

Can stretch the floor a bit for Vuc to work down low & his weak side defense & rebounding would be awesome next to Vuc. If Nicholsons offense continues to progress we could bring him off the bench & have him as the low post scoring threat when Vuc is on the bench.

[Bensational]

What was Mitchell's excuse for taking a step backwards this season? Down on all his numbers, and draft express suggest he has a questionable attitude. Any insight on that front?

[Truth24]

I wouldn't mind that one bit I love Tony Mitchell as a prospect and player, I was hoping he would have a big year and be in contention for a top pick but this may work out well for him. The guy is crazy explosive, can shoot, weak side shot blocker, and rebounder. I think he would and could be a great player next to Vuc and in injury cases he could play some three.

Him next to Vuc would be ideal. I also love the way he came off in his interview I posted. Seems like he knows what he needs to do & is willing to work for it.

Can stretch the floor a bit for Vuc to work down low & his weak side defense & rebounding would be awesome next to Vuc. If Nicholsons offense continues to progress we could bring him off the bench & have him as the low post scoring threat when Vuc is on the bench.

No doubt I really hope that if we acquire another first round pick that we give him a look if he is around because he is an ideal four next to Vuc. I love his interviews because he doesn't have any illusions of what he is, he knows that he is a four that can play three from time to time.

[Truth24]

What was Mitchell's excuse for taking a step backwards this season? Down on all his numbers, and draft express suggest he has a questionable attitude. Any insight on that front?

I think the biggest reason why his numbers slipped is because this year he tried to play the three and have more a perimeter game which just dropped his numbers. His freshmen year he played the five and four and I think after seeing this year he realizes that he is a four which is why he has been telling scouts and people that he is a four.

[Noonskadoodle]

What was Mitchell's excuse for taking a step backwards this season? Down on all his numbers, and draft express suggest he has a questionable attitude. Any insight on that front?

It is hard to escape the feeling that one way or another Tony Mitchell is going to get somebody fired. His combination of physique, athleticism and physical impact is reminiscent of Derrick Favors, Kenneth Faried, Josh Smith or Amar'e Stoudemire, which makes him one of the more enticing players in the entire draft.

Several problems. The first is that Mitchell simply fell apart this year. Scouts noted that he failed to exert any effort during many of his games, something he himself has corroborated in draft/combine interviews. The putative reason for this collapse was a disastrous coaching change, a theory which gains credence from the fact that the entire team appears to have fallen apart right along with Mitchell. Even if you accept that as a plausible excuse, I don't think it is out of line to wonder about the mental toughness, professionalism and commitment of someone who lets himself be taken down by such circumstances. Pro athletes need to be focused, solid, unwavering, which is why David Foster Wallace once said they are like modern monks, albeit less sexually active.

The other problem with Mitchell is poor quality of competition. I count only four decent teams he faced during his two years in college (Creighton, Lehigh, UVA, Saint Louis). The good news is he did really, really well against these teams. And what is even more interesting is all of these games took place this year, when Mitchell otherwise imploded statistically. Here are his per40 numbers in those four games versus those of his his stellar freshman season (not pace adjusted):

Soph (4 Games)
Points- 24...OREB- 4...STLS+BLCKS- 4.3...TO- 2.6...2PT%- 64...3PT%- 40

Freshman
Points- 20...OREB- 3.4...STLS+BLCKS- 5.3...TOV- 3.8...2PT%- 60...3PT%- 44

Mitchell separates himself from other chancy athletic freaks with solid production in the "feel" and shooting aspects of the game. His above average assist rate for a power forward (2.00 vs 1.91 per40 pace adjusted) and his unreal finishing ability (83% around the rim-- tied with Anthony Davis for best mark for a prospect in the last three years) show some of his pure basketball skills as opposed to raw athleticism.

http://www.blogabull.com/2013/6/3/43907 ... be-worth-a

[Def Swami]

Sorta OT

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[KillMonger]

A little Victor Oldadipo sizzle video

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdcz4V2iy4[/YouTube]

[Bensational]

It is hard to escape the feeling that one way or another Tony Mitchell is going to get somebody fired. His combination of physique, athleticism and physical impact is reminiscent of Derrick Favors, Kenneth Faried, Josh Smith or Amar'e Stoudemire, which makes him one of the more enticing players in the entire draft.

Mitchell separates himself from other chancy athletic freaks with solid production in the "feel" and shooting aspects of the game. His above average assist rate for a power forward (2.00 vs 1.91 per40 pace adjusted) and his unreal finishing ability (83% around the rim-- tied with Anthony Davis for best mark for a prospect in the last three years) show some of his pure basketball skills as opposed to raw athleticism.

http://www.blogabull.com/2013/6/3/43907 ... be-worth-a

Thanks for the info guys. I'd read about the coaching change and that it might be a potential reason he struggled, didn't know about the change of position.

I love the comparisons and the high FG% and assist rate. The fact he's got those along with freak athleticism and the ability to block shots and grab steals makes him very exciting. I can definitely see him being worth a gamble with a mod to late 1st. Question is, will he pass Hennigan's character test?

Have we brought him in for a workout or interview yet?

[rcklsscognition]

A little Victor Oldadipo sizzle video

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdcz4V2iy4[/YouTube]

meh

[Noonskadoodle]

It is hard to escape the feeling that one way or another Tony Mitchell is going to get somebody fired. His combination of physique, athleticism and physical impact is reminiscent of Derrick Favors, Kenneth Faried, Josh Smith or Amar'e Stoudemire, which makes him one of the more enticing players in the entire draft.

Mitchell separates himself from other chancy athletic freaks with solid production in the "feel" and shooting aspects of the game. His above average assist rate for a power forward (2.00 vs 1.91 per40 pace adjusted) and his unreal finishing ability (83% around the rim-- tied with Anthony Davis for best mark for a prospect in the last three years) show some of his pure basketball skills as opposed to raw athleticism.

http://www.blogabull.com/2013/6/3/43907 ... be-worth-a

Thanks for the info guys. I'd read about the coaching change and that it might be a potential reason he struggled, didn't know about the change of position.

I love the comparisons and the high FG% and assist rate. The fact he's got those along with freak athleticism and the ability to block shots and grab steals makes him very exciting. I can definitely see him being worth a gamble with a mod to late 1st. Question is, will he pass Hennigan's character test?

Have we brought him in for a workout or interview yet?

Listening to him in recent interviews is really encouraging. I love the fact that he is saying he WANTS to play the 4, & the fact that he brought up the Kenneth Faried (who can shoot better) comparison.

In the interview I already posted DX brings up Thad Young.

I just love the way he answered some of these questions:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlMjVOl9UY[/youtube]

Whether it's just an act...not sure...but his potential is DEF there. Best shot blocker by far after Noel, & IMO he fits next to Vuc much better than Noel would.

[Truth24]

http://www.blogabull.com/2013/6/3/43907 ... be-worth-a

Thanks for the info guys. I'd read about the coaching change and that it might be a potential reason he struggled, didn't know about the change of position.

I love the comparisons and the high FG% and assist rate. The fact he's got those along with freak athleticism and the ability to block shots and grab steals makes him very exciting. I can definitely see him being worth a gamble with a mod to late 1st. Question is, will he pass Hennigan's character test?

Have we brought him in for a workout or interview yet?

Listening to him in recent interviews is really encouraging. I love the fact that he is saying he WANTS to play the 4, & the fact that he brought up the Kenneth Faried (who can shoot better) comparison.

In the interview I already posted DX brings up Thad Young.

I just love the way he answered some of these questions:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlMjVOl9UY[/youtube]

Whether it's just an act...not sure...but his potential is DEF there. Best shot blocker by far after Noel, & IMO he fits next to Vuc much better than Noel would.

That is what I really like about Mitchell he understands what he is, as opposed to somebody like Anthony Bennett who sees himself as a three and has said two at one point.

[Orange Ave.]

For my fellow Oladipo fans ... your sig