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Remember when a 2012 offseason trade that involved Hakim Warrick and Robin Lopez netted us Wesley Johnson and a future first-round pick? That was a fantastic trade for Phoenix Suns, and the future is now.

If all goes well, we could potentially have three first-round picks in June. One is our own, one is from Indiana, and one is from Minnesota. However, Minnesota's pick is protected if it falls within the 1st and 13th picks in next year's draft. But that means that if they either finish the season as the league's best lottery team, or they are able to make the playoffs, we will receive a mid first-rounder in what could potentially be one of the greatest drafts of the decade.

So, are they up for the challenge? Is this the year Minnesota makes some noise in the playoffs? Right now, ESPN has projected them to be the 8th seed in the West with a record of 40-42. That would give us the pick, but they also have plenty of competition this season.

For example, Dallas will be a threat for the 8th seed once again after adding explosive shooting guard Monta Ellis.

The Blazers may also make some noise. Lillard, Aldridge and Batum is a fine trio, plus the additions of Robin Lopez, Thomas Robinson and C.J McCollum make them even better.

Or how about the Pelicans, who now have four great young stars in Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evansand Anthony Davis?

It will certainly be a close race. Let's just hope that Rubio, Love and Pekovic can get the job done.

Lease them our medical staff for this year.

LV-Suns wrote:Lease them our medical staff for this year.

Pretty much, if they stay healthy they are definitely a talented enough team to make the playoffs.

However, they are never fully healthy.

Just like the Lakers last year and us rooting for them to lose, we'll be rooting for the T-Wolves to win.

I think if the T-Wolves have the 14th worst record in the league, we still get their pick (top 13 protected). It would be great if they just missed the playoffs and we get another lottery pick.

EDIT: Although I would feel kind of bad if they missed the playoffs again considering they have the longest active drought in the NBA right now.

EB2 wrote:I think if the T-Wolves have the 14th worst record in the league, we still get their pick (top 13 protected). It would be great if they just missed the playoffs and we get another lottery pick.

I know we do, I mentioned that in my post. We need them to either make the playoffs, or make sure they're the absolute best of all the lottery teams.

To sum it up, they need to end up top-9 in the west, cuz there's no way any lottery team in the East is gonna have a better record than west's 9th seed.

Best in west: OKC, SA (will never doubt them again), LAC (Doc will make them a serious contender)

Next tier: GSW, HOU, MEM

Fight for the last seeds: DEN, MIN, POR, DAL, NOP(doubtful tho), LAL(only cuz the refs will help them, plus proper Nash with Gasol and Kobe is always a threat)

Bottom-dwellers: PHX, SAC, UTA

So we need MIN to be better than 3 of the DEN, POR, DAL, NOP, LAL group.
I think our chances our good.

The T'Wolves should be better team this season, Rubio & Love is coming back and they got Shabazz. They should be able to get at least the 8th spot in the west.

They also signed Kevin Martin, a shooter they needed last season at wing position.

Not sure if the thread title is serious as I don't think any logical Suns fan wasn't aware of what's at stake if Minny does or doesn't make the playoffs.

It'd be nice to catch another break and get a mid round pick though in this deep a draft.

Is it protected the same amount for subsequent year drafts? Might be worth watching them tank this year and getting a great pick in 2015...

DarkHawk wrote:Not sure if the thread title is serious as I don't think any logical Suns fan wasn't aware of what's at stake if Minny does or doesn't make the playoffs.

It'd be nice to catch another break and get a mid round pick though in this deep a draft.

This title was absolutely serious. I hadn't seen anything about this posted on the forum before, so I figured some people probably didn't know.

With our luck tho, Wolves will end up 9th and win a 1-3 spot in the lottery

WTFsunsFTW wrote:Is it protected the same amount for subsequent year drafts? Might be worth watching them tank this year and getting a great pick in 2015...

I think it's top twelve protected (2015) if we don't get it this season, and then it turns into two second rounders after that.

scooper1030 wrote:

DarkHawk wrote:Not sure if the thread title is serious as I don't think any logical Suns fan wasn't aware of what's at stake if Minny does or doesn't make the playoffs.

It'd be nice to catch another break and get a mid round pick though in this deep a draft.

This title was absolutely serious. I hadn't seen anything about this posted on the forum before, so I figured some people probably didn't know.

It's def good to have a place to discuss it nonetheless. Maybe use this as a 'T'Wolve pick watch' type of thread during the season.

The title makes more sense now that I see you posted this on Bright Side.
I'm a bit surprise that writers for them or the Suns haven't published something like this already considering the slow point in the summer.

Isn't there a way we would get Memphis' pick instead? Something like, if both make the playoffs, whoever has the better record or something.

Much like the "Titanic" Laker thread (named by your's truly), Ive come up with a few names for this thread as we track the Wolves' progress this season.

"Wolf Watch 2013"

"Ryan McDonough's Wolf Hunt"

"The Wolf Hunt 2013"

"The Wolf, A Protected Species" ( see what I did there?)

"Shiver Me Timbers, Wolf Watch 2013"

"Pick of the Bunch: The Story of a Mother (****ing) Wolf!"

"The Official I Love Ricky Rubio Thread" (Again, see what I did there?)

"Wolf Tracker 2013 -Love me some Wolves"

Never mind that most of them are puns.

I Wolf thought of better ones, but I couldnt Pick which ones to use.

I think they will clinch the 7th seed, the West as I see it,

OKC
Clippers
Spurs
Houston
Memphis
Warriors
Minnesota
Dallas
Denver
Portland
Lakers
Pelicans
Kings
Phoenix
Jazz

DRK wrote:Much like the "Titanic" Laker thread (named by your's truly), Ive come up with a few names for this thread as we track the Wolves' progress this season.


"Ryan McDonough's Wolf Hunt"

This one's my favorite. DRK my friend, you have a gift for this kind of thing.