If Minnesota picks 3rd, who do they take?

[OrangeBull]

I don't see ANYBODY as a great fit for the Timberwolves here because they need either a pure 1, or an active, defensive center. I consider Mayo the best talent left, and I don't necessarily consider Bayless better at playing PG (neither are ideal PGs, though OJ for sure plays 2 in NBA), so to me it'd be between Mayo and Lopez.

I'm not so sure a guy like Brook would compliment Al that well, they're both offense-first players, and Brook isn't that great on the outside to provide more space... but you can't deny the trouble they'd bring to other teams.

Mayo on the other hand, I think him and Foye could feed off each other platooning and making plays, and of course Brewer could be potentially be benefited by having 2 guys who can create with limited space. But the drawback is both are too ball-dominant and thus might not mesh together well.

I consider Brook to be the safest player in this draft, with OJ right behind him. Brook might be a better fit than Mayo too, but I think I'd take Mayo here just for the sheer superstar factor.

What do you guys think?

[ponder276]

I could definitely see Foye + Mayo working as a good back court combo, with Foye at the 1 and Mayo at the 2. Mayo's play making ability would make up for the fact that Foye isn't really a pure PG, and Mayo has the size and defensive ability to guards NBA SGs. I agree that Lopez is probably not the best C for Al - a defensive C would be way better.

I also see a good chance of them trading down if they end up at 3rd overall.

[DanTown8587]

Gotta go Mayo IMO. I don't think McCants is a long term answer and Mayo would be the second scorer that they need to build around Al Jefferson.

[bill curley II]

Brook Lopez isn't the real flashy, come from the weakside and block it into the 3rd row type of defender, but he's definitely a very good defensive C. He could take on the other team's best post player, and let Al grab boards and concentrate on offense.

Also, if Foye's strong enough to guard SG's, I think Bayless would be a nice choice. I know they're pretty similar, but I do like backcourts with 2 combo guards that can create off the dribble. Washington did it fine when they had Arenas and Hughes a couple years back, as did Chicago with Gordon and Hinrich.

[NBAMAN2006]

I think Lopez is the best fit. Mayo seems like a more attractive fit, but in the long run I go with Lopez. You just cant pass up a potentially dominant PF/C combo. Think of the future, in the next 10+ years in the Western conference, I can think of no better PF/C combo to go up against Aldridge/Oden than Jefferson/Lopez.

[Canomad]

i think the best bet would be lopez. pair him up with jefferson in the frontcourt because you need size in the west. the only reason i wouldnt go mayo is because you have mccants who isnt obviously the long term answer but the year after minny will still most likley be in the lottery and can pick up a shooting guard then.

[richboy]

they will take whoever mchale saw play in the tournament.

[sonic-ben]

mayo or westbrook

[john2jer]

Mayo or Lopez, clearly. Please be an obvious decision. Of course nothing is obvious with McHale. Still fuming about the "clear" decision two years ago when he blew the Roy/Foye mess.

Mayo and Foye would be a good backcourt together. Both can create, for themselves and others, enough to make up for the fact that neither is a true point guard. Also Mayo brings the potential superstar factor. The guy can put the ball in the bucket. Beasley is probably the only better true scorer in this draft. Wolves have issues with scoring points.

But, the Wolves also have a huge SIZE issue, with no true center. Lopez is the closest thing to that in the area that the Wolves will be drafting. Lopez reminds me a little of Bogut, I might be wrong on that. Maybe it's a white-guy center thing? I don't know. Just the fact that we'd actually have a 7-footer on the roster, and that Jefferson and Gomes could move back to their natural positions. This would help our rebounding enormously.

[C.lupus]

Gotta go BPA and that is probably Mayo. I don't see McCants as good enough to not pick Mayo over Lopez. Ideally Minny can trade some assets (maybe McCants) and get another pick (mid-first round) and grab Thabeet as the defensive C to play next to Al.

Foye
Mayo
Brewer
Jefferson
Thabeet

Looks good to me.

[Malinhion]

I like the OP reasoning. I think the biggest area of need for Minny is a big man. But I have a hard time believing that they would be a better team with a Lopez/Jefferson frontcourt than a Foye/Mayo backcourt.

[gswhoops]

I think they go with Brook Lopez. Foye and Mayo are too similar IMO (both are 6' 4" shooting guards with some PG skills). So unless they've given up on Foye, Lopez looks like the better guy for them IMO.

Lopez
Jefferson
Brewer

^ That is a savage potential frontcourt IMO.

[deeney0]

I'd take Mayo, which isn't giving up on Foye, but rather giving up on McCants.

[Malinhion]

I'd take Mayo, which isn't giving up on Foye, but rather giving up on McCants.

QFT. In fact, if they drop to three and decide to take this route, maybe they could get some draft-day value out of Rashard. There are plenty of teams clamoring to take a second chance on a point guard.

[deeney0]

Rashad isn't a PG, he's about as pure a SG as they come.

[cucad8]

I think either Mayo or Lopez would be a good grab for Minnesota. Another possible option, I dunno if it is enough value or what for trading picks, but they can swap their 3rd, if NJ wanted someone there, like Mayo or Lopez, for NJ's 1st (10), and ther first they got from Dallas, currently 21 I believe. Then they could have the possibility of grabbing both a C and a PG, although then you can debate the merits of the quality of #3 over quantity of #10 and #21. Augustin, Westbrook, Collison at 10, Hibbert, R. Lopez, Thabeet possibly at 21. Just a thought.

[prefuse73]

I think either Mayo or Lopez would be a good grab for Minnesota. Another possible option, I dunno if it is enough value or what for trading picks, but they can swap their 3rd, if NJ wanted someone there, like Mayo or Lopez, for NJ's 1st (10), and ther first they got from Dallas, currently 21 I believe. Then they could have the possibility of grabbing both a C and a PG, although then you can debate the merits of the quality of #3 over quantity of #10 and #21. Augustin, Westbrook, Collison at 10, Hibbert, R. Lopez, Thabeet possibly at 21. Just a thought.

Add sean williams to that deal and then you could be onto something. I would then take a chance with DeAndre Jordan at #10 and then Brandon Rush at #21.

Williams - Jordan
Jefferson - Gomes
Brewer - Gomes
Rush - McCants
Foye - Telfair

That being said, I see the wolves going for Lopez or trading down if they don't get in the top 2.

[gswhoops]

[quote="prefuse73"][/quote]
Sean Williams, #10 and #21 for #3??? NJ overpays by a LOT IMO.

[deeney0]

I wouldn't need #21 in that trade, #10 and Williams is probably fair value. #10 and #21 isn't close in my opinion, theres a trade on the trade board right now #3/Jaric for #6/Wolves future pick back/Tim Thomas which blows 10/21 out of the water.

[PowerBull]

If MIN gets the 3rd or 4th pick the Bulls should be a good trading partner IF they offer Noah who would be a perfect fit next to Al