2024 Draft - Who you got?

[shangrila]

He is listed at 6' 3", he isn't tiny.

He is 2 inches taller than JMac, he is also a much better shooter than JMac.

JMac was never an 80% FT Shooter in college [He was 79%], Kolek is a 90% this year and 80% the past 2 seasons.

Kylan Boswell is a PG Prospect who may be gone by the 20s but is promising, as is Iowa State's Tamin Lipsey.

He doesn't look 6-3 when I've watched him play. Given that players usually measure shorter at the Combine I wouldn't be surprised if he's closer to 6-2 or even 6-1 which, while taller than JMac, is still tiny comparative to the rest of the league. I'd also point out that he doesn't have the footspeed JMac has, although the point wasn't to compare the two anyway. I only said that I thought he could play a similar role.

But as I also said...I'm horrible at picking small guards. I was big on Kennedy Chandler and Tyty Washington after all.

Worth noting now that the Combine happened.....Kolek measured 6'1.25" barefoot....by comparison, in 2007 our Mike Conley measured 5'11" barefoot.

Jamal Shead came in at 6'0.25"

True, Kolek measured pretty close to how Marquette listed him. Same as Oso. So it looks like Marquette is one of the few schools you can trust with that.

In terms of comparing Shead and Kolek, Shead did give up an inch in height but actually had a slightly longer wingspan (6-3 vs 6-2.75) and strangely had an extra inch on standing reach. So despite being shorter Shead might practically be "taller".

[KATKlownFeet]

if he is available, would you invest one of our pick on Bronny James?

-draft combines are good
-if I remember well he should be an high IQ player with good defense ability

Only if LeBron agrees to come here on a minimum deal if we draft Bronny.

[minimus]

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[shangrila]

We also have Clark coming off redshirt. Do we need a D focused G?

I haven’t dove into prospects just asking in general since we probably can only draft players with one really good trait where we’re at.

Unless Clark has been blowing the coaches away with a newfound ability to score the ball, I wouldn't let him dictate who we draft at all.

To add to this, Shead is a legitimate PG. Clark is more of a 2/3 wing defender.

[cmoss84]

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Does da Silva have some Adjiva to his game?

[cmoss84]

Avdija.

[shangrila]

if he is available, would you invest one of our pick on Bronny James?

-draft combines are good
-if I remember well he should be an high IQ player with good defense ability

Hell no. He's a 6'1" "shooting guard" with a mediocre shot and below average handles. The kid wasn't even a starter on a below average college team. It is very likely the only reason he got invited to the combine is because his dad is LeFlop. The Wolves 2nd rounder from last year - Jaylen Clark - has more upside.

To play devil's advocate for a second.

He measured 6-1 without shoes. So realistically he's closer to 6-3 when he's playing. Combined with a 6-7 wingspan and good athletic testing, he has the tools to be an NBA player.

Skill-wise he generally makes good decisions with the ball, he's committed on the defensive end and his shot form is good so I buy that even if his percentages aren't great. Given all of the above, his age, and the good feedback he's apparently had for interviews does make him, on paper, a Tim Connelly guy.

That said...he's not an NBA player right now. And with the recent article that he's getting invites from 10 different teams and he's going to only choose to workout for a few teams (like he's not literally at the very edge of the draft)...I doubt the circus will be worth the show. Which is unfortunate for him because he seems like a nice kid.

[shangrila]

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Does da Silva have some Adjiva to his game?

Avdija had some point-forward potential that Da Silva doesn't.

I'm not sure what a good comp for him is actually. You'd think it would be easy to find someone who matches a 6-9 guy who can shoot and make smart decisions but I'm coming up blank.

[shrink]

Do you think we have the roster spots to trade #27 for two early picks in the second round?

Tim Connelly has a background in scouting and a history of finding talent in the second round, so we may get more value out of him if he gets to choose one more player. Since the team is going to become very expensive next year, and unlikely to break up the team (ownership pending) after a rare, remarkable season, the question is whether we have the roster spots.

I suspect we go for a 14 man roster to save lux taxes.

7. The top seven rotation is locked in (Gobert, KAT, McDaniels, Ant, Conley, Naz, NAW)
2? We have three more young players under contract (Leonard Miller, Josh Minnot, Wendell Moore Jr),
0? Kyle Anderson (likely too expensive),
0-1? Monte Morris (can they get him on a short, cheap deal after a lost season?),
1-0? Jordan MacLaughlin (can we keep him on another cheap deal?),
0? Luka Garza (likely gone, could be 14th man),
0? Jaylen Clark (likely gone, maybe Hinkie Special).
1. Pick 27
1. Pick 37

I guess the bigger question here is, if the 2024-25 roster has 14 players, and 7 are locked in, who do you think the other 7 are?

[shangrila]

Do you think we have the roster spots to trade #27 for two early picks in the second round?

Tim Connelly has a background in scouting and a history of finding talent in the second round, so we may get more value out of him if he gets to choose one more player. Since the team is going to become very expensive next year, and unlikely to break up the team (ownership pending) after a rare, remarkable season, the question is whether we have the roster spots.

I suspect we go for a 14 man roster to save lux taxes.

7. The top seven rotation is locked in (Gobert, KAT, McDaniels, Ant, Conley, Naz, NAW)
2? We have three more young players under contract (Leonard Miller, Josh Minnot, Wendell Moore Jr),
0? Kyle Anderson (likely too expensive),
0-1? Monte Morris (can they get him on a short, cheap deal after a lost season?),
1-0? Jordan MacLaughlin (can we keep him on another cheap deal?),
0? Luka Garza (likely gone, could be 14th man),
0? Jaylen Clark (likely gone, maybe Hinkie Special).
1. Pick 27
1. Pick 37

I guess the bigger question here is, if the 2024-25 roster has 14 players, and 7 are locked in, who do you think the other 7 are?

In terms of roster construction it's too hard to call the financials at this point. I'm sure Finch would love to have Anderson back but as you say, likely too expensive. Unless whoever the owners end up being actually put their money where their mouths have been and pay what's required to keep the team together.

Monte Morris might be available for cheaper. I could see him on something similar to NAW which, while I understand works out to be more with the tax, is still easier to swallow for a good NBA player.

I don't see McLaughlin getting more than the minimum so I assume he stays. Garza is likely in a similar situation, especially since I don't believe he's eligible for a 2-way anymore. Not sure why you think Clark is gone; TC stated they had a 1st round grade on him last year and I'm sure they'd like to keep him. I'm not sure what they want to do with Nix either; Finch had positive comments about him, he obviously won a spot on our 2-way list, his measurements are good and the Wolves look to have long term goals in mind for development (e.g. Garza, who's been grinding for a while now).

Given how flat this draft is I'd personally be fine trading back, say with Portland at 34 and 40, to pickup 3 guys in that range. I'd be surprised if the team wants to have anywhere from 6 to 9 players on the roster on their rookie contracts however.

[Klomp]

Do you think we have the roster spots to trade #27 for two early picks in the second round?

Tim Connelly has a background in scouting and a history of finding talent in the second round, so we may get more value out of him if he gets to choose one more player. Since the team is going to become very expensive next year, and unlikely to break up the team (ownership pending) after a rare, remarkable season, the question is whether we have the roster spots.

I suspect we go for a 14 man roster to save lux taxes.

7. The top seven rotation is locked in (Gobert, KAT, McDaniels, Ant, Conley, Naz, NAW)
2? We have three more young players under contract (Leonard Miller, Josh Minnot, Wendell Moore Jr),
0? Kyle Anderson (likely too expensive),
0-1? Monte Morris (can they get him on a short, cheap deal after a lost season?),
1-0? Jordan MacLaughlin (can we keep him on another cheap deal?),
0? Luka Garza (likely gone, could be 14th man),
0? Jaylen Clark (likely gone, maybe Hinkie Special).
1. Pick 27
1. Pick 37

I guess the bigger question here is, if the 2024-25 roster has 14 players, and 7 are locked in, who do you think the other 7 are?

Whether or not we trade back with our other pick, I wonder if we could use our second much in the same way we did to draft Jaylen Clark last year. Someone who falls due to injury concerns, but is a great value in the second round. I also think about how Connelly drafted Jarred Vanderbilt much in the same way.

Another reason I have my eye on Jamal Shead...

[minimus]

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Does da Silva have some Adjiva to his game?

From what I see Adjiva is a better athlete and defender, Silva is a better shooter. Both are good passers for a comboforward.

[Mattya]

AJ Johnson seems like a great high upside pick to have mentored by Conley and to get to be around Ant’s competitive spirit.

Djurisic seems like a good draft and stash. Seems to have improved as a shooter.

I still think Edey is going to be good and undervalued because he won’t be able to guard the perimeter like modern bigs. I would trade Miller for him if I could, but I’m pretty low on him after watching his defense.

[wolves_89]

Do you think we have the roster spots to trade #27 for two early picks in the second round?

Tim Connelly has a background in scouting and a history of finding talent in the second round, so we may get more value out of him if he gets to choose one more player. Since the team is going to become very expensive next year, and unlikely to break up the team (ownership pending) after a rare, remarkable season, the question is whether we have the roster spots.

I suspect we go for a 14 man roster to save lux taxes.

7. The top seven rotation is locked in (Gobert, KAT, McDaniels, Ant, Conley, Naz, NAW)
2? We have three more young players under contract (Leonard Miller, Josh Minnot, Wendell Moore Jr),
0? Kyle Anderson (likely too expensive),
0-1? Monte Morris (can they get him on a short, cheap deal after a lost season?),
1-0? Jordan MacLaughlin (can we keep him on another cheap deal?),
0? Luka Garza (likely gone, could be 14th man),
0? Jaylen Clark (likely gone, maybe Hinkie Special).
1. Pick 27
1. Pick 37

I guess the bigger question here is, if the 2024-25 roster has 14 players, and 7 are locked in, who do you think the other 7 are?

My expectation is that the 10 of Conley, Ant, McDaniels, KAT, Gobert, Naz, NAW, Minott, Moore, and Miller are likely to make up the rotation. I also expect there to be one draft pick signed to a regular contract (with a second pick on a 2-way deal). That would total 11 players with 3 spots to fill.

I think Garza (RFA) and McLaughlin are possibilities, but I believe there is a chance that one or both get an offer slightly more than a minimum deal and leave. I also expect Anderson and Morris to get offers above what the Wolves can pay (though I could see a path for Morris to come back if he was willing to sign a bargain deal). Jaylen Clark should be back on a 2-way deal since his initial contract was for 2 years. I have no idea on Nix since I never really got any type of feel for what the organization thought of him. I am also hopeful that the Wolves might be able to sign a useful ring chaser to a vet minimum deal.

[younggunsmn]

1. Zero chance Morris re-signs here after getting no run in the playoffs
2. Minott can be cut before July 1 with no 2024 guaranteed salary to open a roster spot.
3. Clark is already signed to a 2-way for next year

If mcLaughlin and Slo Mo come back it will have to be for the one year vet minimum, barring a big salary being dumped.
Good chance each receives a better (maybe only slightly better) offer.

There's a chance Garza is back on a standard deal if we don't sign a better backup big.

If KAT or Rudy gets traded I expect Moore to be going out with them, and we will likely be taking at least 2-3 players back to match salary.

So, guaranteed salaries: Gobert, KAT, McDaniels, Ant, Conley, Naz, NAW, Miller, Moore (9)
27, 37 (2)
Non-Guaranteed: Minott
Own Free Agents: Anderson, McLaughlin, Garza, Morris

I expect one rotation capable vet wing and one if not 2 vet PGs if no trades.

[minimus]

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Is Topic the next great PG from Europe?

[Klomp]

1. Zero chance Morris re-signs here after getting no run in the playoffs
2. Minott can be cut before July 1 with no 2024 guaranteed salary to open a roster spot.
3. Clark is already signed to a 2-way for next year

With the level to which Connelly has been about development, continuity and the like, I don't think those are as locked in as you might think. If cap savings in 2024 were so paramount, they probably wouldn't have picked up Moore's option. So I can't see them doing the same to Minott, who arguably has a higher ceiling. And Morris is the ultimate Conley safeguard, and I think he understands too that beyond Conley there's no real next man up for the position. Lastly, while Clark is already on a two-way, they could still bump him up to a standard deal like the previous front office did for Naz Reid five years ago.

[Klomp]

Perfect fit for the "draft a year early" mentality Connelly and staff have. Would be an easy pick for me at 37 (Tankathon has him at 42, ESPN at 34) and I wouldn't be upset if they grabbed him at 27 either because I believe in his upside.

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[shangrila]

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Is Topic the next great PG from Europe?

Potentially.

The shot isn't there though and I had questions about his defence, particularly at the 1 (he's big enough to slide to the 2 like Haliburton though, so maybe you can hide him a bit if there is an issue). This was before he suffered multiple injuries to the same knee however which is very concerning. I know the latest one isn't keeping him out long term but watching him...his knee just buckled.

[younggunsmn]

1. Zero chance Morris re-signs here after getting no run in the playoffs
2. Minott can be cut before July 1 with no 2024 guaranteed salary to open a roster spot.
3. Clark is already signed to a 2-way for next year

With the level to which Connelly has been about development, continuity and the like, I don't think those are as locked in as you might think. If cap savings in 2024 were so paramount, they probably wouldn't have picked up Moore's option. So I can't see them doing the same to Minott, who arguably has a higher ceiling. And Morris is the ultimate Conley safeguard, and I think he understands too that beyond Conley there's no real next man up for the position. Lastly, while Clark is already on a two-way, they could still bump him up to a standard deal like the previous front office did for Naz Reid five years ago.

Anyone who still feels like they're a rotation player isnt signing up for a bunch of DNP-CD's at the minimum.
Minott isn't going to be a rotation player next season. Or IMHO any season.
We leveled up this year, the level of experience/IQ we are going to be looking for in our fringe rotation players next year is going to go up. We win another game or two next year, we have a real nice chance at snagging 2 or 3 capable ring chasers to hold the 8-10 range bench spots. That leaves 4 roster spots, 2 probably going to draft picks, and 2 probably to quality emergency depth at the PG and 5.

IMHO it's far far more likely that Clark gets cut outright for another prospect than bumped to a standard deal.
The only downside to the 2-way is the games limit and can't use them in playoffs.
The only way he gets bumped up is late in the year if he's earned it, like Luka Garza did this year.