Players who fit the mold

[Vindicater]

Looking at our team and the way it is set up now after 2 pre-season games who are some players who might fit next year in the draft?

These are some guys I feel are interesting and could fit.

Jan Vesely- Is a great athlete who can create his own offence. He would fit in perfectly for what Rambis wants to run.

Chris Singleton- Another freak athlete who will be amazing on the break in the NBA. Poor slasher though in the half court set he will be a great energy guy off the bench for whatever team gets him.

Nolan Smith- In the second round or late first round, this guy will be a great combo guard off the bench/3rd point guard. His defence is fantastic.

Keith Benson- An offensive version of Ryan Hollins. Too small to be relied upon in the post but can be a good stretch five who will run the floor.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas- Our guy to stash overseas again. Has the looks of being a poor mans Peja. A big shooter for Rubio to hit with great passes.

[Twolves98]

I think that this has been posted before

And I responded "The only person I care about is Barnes"

The Timberwolves need a star not another starter

[Devilzsidewalk]

my mom told me Perry Jones is gonna be better than Barnes

[shangrila]

It's a bit early isn't it? I mean usually I'd be the first to scout next year's draft but this is the first year in half a decade where what's actually on the floor looks more exciting then what the team could potentially get in the draft.

The other thing is that this team is stacked at every position. The guys you've listed all look good on paper but I doubt the team would seriously consider them. Nolan Smith wouldn't be better then guys like Rubio, Flynn, Ridnour or SGs like Webster and Johnson, for example.

But still, I could see the team letting Brewer go and looking for someone to replace his (presumably) 4th wing minutes. Guys like Wesley Witherspoon, Elias Harris or even someone like Jordan Hamilton could all be candidates with the later picks. I'd also personally like to see them get something different from the power forward position. Whether that's a high skill level, perimeter type of player like John Henson or an athletic freak like Mason Plumlee I don't care. Just as long as it's different from the same grounded kind of players they have at the moment in Love and Tolliver. Although now that I think about it, I guess that's what Bjelica is.

EDIT: On further thought, I think Tyler Honeycutt and Jared Sullinger will be names mentioned with the Wolves when the draft rolls around, depending on their position. Honeycutt is a similar player to Brewer with a bit better passing and Sullinger, while duplicating a lot of the things the frontcourt already has, also has the passing skill set the team likes and makes sense if the team (hopefully) ends up picking between 5-10.

[Foye]

Our rotation seems like pretty set up for the upcoming years now. We've got a quality player at every position. So I guess we will try to use our pick to acquire a star player or (in case we don't get a top 3 pick) to move up to hopefully become a superstar player in the draft.

[john2jer]

#1 rule when drafting Euros: If you can't easily pronounce their name, they will suck.

[revprodeji]

You made that point a couple years ago and it has been true.

This thread is waaaaaay too early. We have the foundation. We need to determine our stud and then fill the gaps. Our draft is no longer based on trying to find "starters"

[Vindicater]

Its not too early at all.

The players I listed will fall anywhere from 1st to 60th. These are guys who I think we should keep an eye on during the college season to see how they progress.

[Foye]

#1 rule when drafting Euros: If you can't easily pronounce their name, they will suck.

So do you consider Nowitzki easy to pronounce?

[shangrila]

The players I listed will fall anywhere from 1st to 60th. These are guys who I think we should keep an eye on during the college season to see how they progress.

Why those players specifically?

Vesely looks nice but is still raw and isn't the shot creator you mentioned. Singleton is a raw athlete without the skills or IQ to be a part of something like the Triangle. Nolan is alright, but I don't see the point of drafting someone who'd be behind Rubio, Flynn and/or Ridnour, Johnson, Webster and Ellington and if the team is looking for a 3rd point guard, assuming Flynn or Ridnour is moved, then it'd be better to go for someone who's actually a point, like Kalin Lucas or Tyshawn Taylor. Benson is definitely unneeded and Mindawhatever isn't worth watching, he'd be a late 2nd rounder at best.

I think you need to look at what the team and Rambis wants (fundamentally smart players, athletes, two way players) and what the team needs are long term (maybe a replacement for Brewer or a backup power forward) and chose accordingly. It's exciting to think this is the first year when you have to think "who fits" instead of "who's the most talented".

[john2jer]

#1 rule when drafting Euros: If you can't easily pronounce their name, they will suck.

So do you consider Nowitzki easy to pronounce?

Yes, of course.

[Vindicater]

The players I listed will fall anywhere from 1st to 60th. These are guys who I think we should keep an eye on during the college season to see how they progress.

Why those players specifically?

Vesely looks nice but is still raw and isn't the shot creator you mentioned. Singleton is a raw athlete without the skills or IQ to be a part of something like the Triangle. Nolan is alright, but I don't see the point of drafting someone who'd be behind Rubio, Flynn and/or Ridnour, Johnson, Webster and Ellington and if the team is looking for a 3rd point guard, assuming Flynn or Ridnour is moved, then it'd be better to go for someone who's actually a point, like Kalin Lucas or Tyshawn Taylor. Benson is definitely unneeded and Mindawhatever isn't worth watching, he'd be a late 2nd rounder at best.

I think you need to look at what the team and Rambis wants (fundamentally smart players, athletes, two way players) and what the team needs are long term (maybe a replacement for Brewer or a backup power forward) and chose accordingly. It's exciting to think this is the first year when you have to think "who fits" instead of "who's the most talented".

These are players I think we should look at as the college and euro season progresses to watch their development. Vesely I think will be a stud who will learn to create his offence with another season of refinement. Singleton would be a late first round pick, as would Nolan, both would be role players from the start with specific purposes. Singleton would be a garbage man and Nolan would be a defensive terrier off the bench at either guard spot. Benson is a second round project and the euro would be stashed for a couple of years.

[Zeitgeister]

And that rule on Euros started with the one guy we drafted, what's his name? Tschivisli or something? Tarvarisilisi? Tshi not gonna play here anymore anyway.

[john2jer]

And that rule on Euros started with the one guy we drafted, what's his name? Tschivisli or something? Tarvarisilisi? Tshi not gonna play here anymore anyway.

You're thinking of the alphabet guy. Martynas Adhsjuhbfksdfbnikwefknks....

But it goes for the Nuggets guy that we had in camp that one year and scored like 34pts in one game then got hurt. Nichckafaf Tchividitisnds...

But seriously, it's fool proof. Name one Euro/foreign player that's made it in the NBA with a difficult name to pronounce. You can't.

[Klomp]

And that rule on Euros started with the one guy we drafted, what's his name? Tschivisli or something? Tarvarisilisi? Tshi not gonna play here anymore anyway.

You're thinking of the alphabet guy. Martynas Adhsjuhbfksdfbnikwefknks....

But it goes for the Nuggets guy that we had in camp that one year and scored like 34pts in one game then got hurt. Nichckafaf Tchividitisnds...

But seriously, it's fool proof. Name one Euro/foreign player that's made it in the NBA with a difficult name to pronounce. You can't.

You mean Loukas Mavrokefalidis? (no, I did NOT cheat)

[john2jer]

And that rule on Euros started with the one guy we drafted, what's his name? Tschivisli or something? Tarvarisilisi? Tshi not gonna play here anymore anyway.

You're thinking of the alphabet guy. Martynas Adhsjuhbfksdfbnikwefknks....

But it goes for the Nuggets guy that we had in camp that one year and scored like 34pts in one game then got hurt. Nichckafaf Tchividitisnds...

But seriously, it's fool proof. Name one Euro/foreign player that's made it in the NBA with a difficult name to pronounce. You can't.

You mean Loukas Mavrokefalidis? (no, I did NOT cheat)

Yes! But wasn't there a Martynas Avacado guy?

[C.lupus]

Nikoloz Tskitishvili

[Klomp]

Nikoloz Tskitishvili

That one I'd have to look up

[Despot_Stefan]

Yes! But wasn't there a Martynas Avacado guy?

Martynas Andriuskevicius?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3970

[john2jer]

Yes! But wasn't there a Martynas Avacado guy?

Martynas Andriuskevicius?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3970

Shut up, there's an M in Minnesota and in Magic, so I was close.