Timberwolves Pre-Draft Summit

[APerna]

I apologize for the fact that the Timberwolves are no longer playing, but there is one bright side to the "unofficial" start of the offseason. It's time for the annual Pre-Draft Summit, led by myself (Andrew Perna). The pieces will be turned into articles, and will be part of a three-pronged attack of draft coverage on RealGM.

Thanks in advance for the answers, and please remember to try keeping the answers as tight and concise as possible.


1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?


Thanks for taking the time, and contributing answers. We appreciate that you all help make RealGM what it is today!

[PeeDee]

1.) There was no chance for this group to make the playoffs in the west this year. We're only in the 2nd year of rebuilding.

2.) Rebounding, clear and simple.

3.) Love turned out better than many of us thought. So much so that he is now viewed as an integral part to our rebuilding effort by a lot of Wolves fans.

4.) Foye. It's starting to look like he'll never put it together.

5.) Clueless. We've got a brand new sheriff in town. Will it be status quo? Will there be a shake-up? It should be interesting to say the least.

6.) The most talented backcourt player available. Please, please, please, someone who has a lick of perimeter defense.

7.) I just want a new, invincible back court. One that is taller than me. Thanks.

[4ho5ive]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Short of dealing our young assets for vets at the deadline, probably nothing. Though staying healthy would have helped

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Rebounds, rebounds, rebounds.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Kevin Love and Rodney Carney. Most of us believed in Carney, but he really played hard when he finally got big minutes

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Foye was inconsistent and Telfair was up and down. But this award goes to Mike Miller, hands down.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

With Kahn's recent hiring, im skeptical. But we need to stop worrying about his past, and worry about this teams future.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Anything to solve our backcourt issues. PG play, defense, size.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?

If we keep all 3, #6 Tyreke Evans, a big slasher who is crazy athletic and has great size and can play defense. #18 BJ Mullens, a big, raw Center, who if he lives up to his potential is a better player than Thabeet in my opinion. #28, I'm less enthused for this pick. Collison or Ellington since Calathes is no longer an option.

[john2jer]

PeeDee and 4ho5ive hit it pretty good.

As far as the picks...

6th - One of the three big guards; Harden, Evans, or DeRozan
18th - Mullens or a PG that drops
28th - Summers or Casspi

[4ho5ive]

Dammit, i forgot all about Dajuan Summers. I always forget about Summers.

[Howler21]

1) Making the coaching change long before the season would have been a great help for sure.Forcing Mike Miller to shoot the ball more often could have opened up things some more.

2) Rebounding and the post scoring from Al.

3) Who had a surprisingly effective season?
The suprise was Love. Jefferson was on a whole new level before he went down.

4) Telfair

5)Too soon to tell but the search for a GM doesn't bode well.

6. PG and a defensive center

7. 6- Derozan 18-Mullens 28-Ellington

[El_Lobo_3]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Found a way to get a vet point guard with serious experience as well as found a way to make everyone invincible from injury. Oh and keeping Ray Allen, Brandon Roy, and not draft Christian Laetner would have helped too.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Definitely the PF position with Al and Kevin. Also, the team chemistry seems great and especially post-rashad they really never quit working hard together.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Kevin Love

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Mike Miller didn't do what I thought he was capable of for us.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Much more confident than I was a few months ago!!

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Point Guard, SG/SF and Center
7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?
6th - DeRozan/Evans
18th - Maynor/Lawson
28th - Any one that could help down low

[ChazzleDazzle]

1) Health of Jefferson, Brewer and Foye, paired with an actual plan by the coaches and front office. Meaning the playoffs weren't in the cards, and won't be for a few years.

2) I agree--rebounding

3) Love was better than anyone (even those of us in favor of the Mayo trade) expected, and continued to exceed expectations even as we raised them.

4) I disagree that Miller was ineffective. He just wasn't effective in the way we expected. Foye was occasionally effective, but not enough. Foye gets the nod for me...

5) I like the personnel side of things that made the Love deal and gut us expirings for junk. Don't know enough about Kahn yet, but at least he's saying (some of the) right things. We desperately need Taylor to spend his time writing checks and letting his basketball people make the basketball decisions

6) Backcourt scoring and defense. Consistency.

7) #6 Curry, #18 Mullins, #28 Budinger if he slips, or Ellington

[shrink]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Their goal this years was not the play-offs but to continue to shed bad contracts and increase their youth. They had a phenomenal January, but in the Western Conference, I don't think they were going to make the play-offs.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

The PF position, and financial strength. At a time when everyone was selling, that strength allowed them to get a bargain for their TPE, buying a future 1st and a look at Carney. It is becoming even bigger. However, this team only has one superstar, and his name is Al Jefferson. He is one of the most effective offensive big men in the game.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Kevin Love surprised many of us (except devilsidewalk). He was better than advertised, and he proved that even with his lack of athleticism, he could till compete against NBA competition and win. His rookie rebounding numbers are historic.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

I think people expected Mike Miller to shoot more. However, as I often point out, he had a very effective season. He was the #1 rebounding guard in the league, his 2P% was shockingly in the top ten, and he provided ball-movement our younger players often had trouble with.

Foye probably fits here. his overall numbers weren't too bad, but he was horribly inconsistent by the end of the season. Foye in January though was a world-beater.


5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
I'm pretty confident, if Kahn doesn't muck things up. MIN has made several blunders before, but I think over the last two years, they've done extremely well. When you look at the roster they had two years ago, filled with so many over-paid and under-talented vets, and you compare it to our roster only two years later, it demonstrates some achievement.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Best Player Available - star potential if possible. With the #18 we'll probably take a PG, if we don't get one earlier.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?

We'd like them to use the multiple picks to move up.

[dunkonu21]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? We have many problems. There was no prospects of the playoffs, maybe if Foye started playing like DWade or BRoy we coulda done it. Ha, that's not likely though. Al Jefferson's injury was when the team became unbearable to watch.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths? We dominated the low post on the offensive end with amazing scoring and offensive rebounds.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season? Rodney Carney did. He was very good for us, but it prolly won't get him a contract with us.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season? Randy Foye and Rashad McCants. McCants clearly didn't want it enough. Foye just doesn't get it.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason? It's hard to know. I'm very confident in our talent evaluators as far as the draft goes. And I think the draft will be the only really big part of the offseason. So I guess I have a good outlook.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft? A scoring guard and some defensive players at any position.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks? DeRozan or Harden with #6. Jeff Teague at 18th. Jermaine Taylor or Damion James with 28th.

[wolves_fan_82au]

1.What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
to many injuries pretty much destroyed any hope we had,not that this group has much chance in the west anyways

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
rebounding with jefferson avg 10 plus rebounds a game plus love great offensive rebounds

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
most our players at some point looked great and at other times look crap but it would have to be Kevin Love

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Mike Miller

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
its the timberwolves ive never confident with them

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
pg,sg,sf,c anything except another pf

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?
6-Harden or DeRozan
18-Mullins or Lawson
28-Mills

[C.lupus]

Nothing too different than what others have said:

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Glen Taylor could have sold his soul to the devil.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
PF position - low post scoring with Big Al and rebounding

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Mr. Love's Glass Cleaner

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
I'll go with Foye for his inconsistency. Miller didn't do what most of us wanted (shoot) but he was effective as a rebounder and distributer

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Don't know

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
PG, perimeter D, athleticism, height, someone to get to the line, defensive C

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?
Assuming no trades, #6: Evans, Harden, or DeRozan; #18: Holiday, Mullens, Lawson, or Maynor; #28: Casspi or Calathes (stash overseas for a couple years)

[Klomp]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? Fire Wittman earlier; Not get hit by the injury bug

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths? Post play


3. Who had a surprisingly effective season? Sebastian Telfair

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season? Randy Foye - Was expected to have a breakout season

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason? Better now than I was at the beginning of the offseason

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft? Talent; A star player

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks? Too many possibilities to list. Positions include PG, SF, and C.

[big3_8_19_21]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
MAYBE if Jefferson didn't get injured and Wittman was fired pre-season we could have made a push, but most likely we would have still been in the lottery plus lost our top-10 protected pick to LAC.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Rebounding and scoring in the paint (from our bigs, scoring in the paint from our guards is a weakness)

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Love was much more effective than I thought he'd be, especially rebounding.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Randy Foye - way too inconsistent, way too low FG%

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Pessimistically hopeful

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
A perimeter athletic slasher who can create for himself especially, but also be able to find the open man

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?
DeRozan, Lawson, Summers

[Winter Wonder]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Injuries were by far the biggest issue. Brewer early, Jefferson mid season, and various games missed throughout the course of the year. Wittman didn't help.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Post offense (Jefferson mainly, some Love, Smith, etc.) and rebounding.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Love played beyond expectations. Personally didn't like the fit of two PF's, but Love played his way into deserving big minutes.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Miller for shooting, but the rest of his game was amazing. Foye for not being able to lead or run the point. McCants for everything (including picking the wrong Kardashian to date), hence the trade.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
New FO, same questions. We have little to no idea what Kahn and company want to do, we simply are hoping that they have a plan and don't mess things up gunning for a quick fix that overpays and puts us in a bind again.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Playmaking, pass first, defensive PG that can hit from the outside or Defensive 7ft plus (we have enough sub 7ft bigs) Center. Possibly athletic, scoring wing.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?
With no pick trades, which I think is more likely and ideal to consolidate for better assets, my ideal would be Thabeet slipping to MN, but will more likely be between Evans and Derozan at 6.

Ideal More likely
6.) Thabeet Evans/Derozan
18.) Lawson/Holiday Mullins/Holiday/Lawson
28.) Cassipi/Llull/Daye/Mills, etc.

If we keep picks, anything can be useful EXCEPT another PF.

[revprodeji]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

-Playoffs are unlikely, but .500 was there if Brewer and Jefferson did not get injured and we got rid of Wittman before the season started.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

-rebounding. We play very good uptempo with post play in the half-court. Al Jefferson is one of the only true back-to-the basket foundations in the league.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

-N/A. When young players showed something they then regressed. Consistency did not exist.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

-Foye was inconsistent, but so was his role. Miller was productive, but not the scorer we needed. Ryan Gomes was my biggest disappointment. He regressed when we needed him to excel. RIP McCants

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

-Cautious. With a new Boss we do not know what to expect so I am cautious, but not optimistic.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

-playmaking wing/guard. Whether it is an on-ball dominate SG or a pg. Someone who can get in the paint and create/run an offense.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?

-Trade. If we have the pick then Thabeast or Harden. 18th Mullens or guard (depending on 6) 28 is someone we can stash in europe.

[mandurugo]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Nothing. Even if everyone stayed healthy and coaching was improved this team wasn't getting above the mid-thirties in wins.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Al's low post scoring and rebounding.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Nobody - most people struggled to play to low expectations. Perhaps Carney, but only in a limited role.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Injury aside, Jefferson was the biggest disappointment. His defense remained among the worst in the league for big men despite his promise to work on it. If he continues to only concentrate on his offense, he is destined to be a second tier star at best.


5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Not confident at all.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

They can be improved at every position, so anything would be acceptable. They need the least help at PF.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?

I'm glad I don't know the answer, knowing could only lead to heartbreak with this team.

[Basti]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

I blame Rev and TF21 for not teaching us proper defensive schemes

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

some bad jokes and derailing cpfsf's threads

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

J2J

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Dr. Krap (yes I'm still envious)

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Shrink, get it done! I trust you!

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

draft me!!! I'm a defensive, pass-first PG who can hit the outside shot with the ability to get to the line. plus there's no buy-out required for me to come over.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 6th, 18th and 28th picks?

combine them to trade up for the opportunity to draft Jonathan Watters