Prospect Watch Thread

[Krapinsky]

Irving just doesn't have that flaw. His game is well rounded for a 10 year veteran, let alone a freshman in college, and he's got the right physical tools and mentality to be great. I'm not going to say he's the best thing since sliced bread yet and maybe he won't turn out to be as good as Chris Paul, but he plays a lot like him and has been hella good so far.

Okay, I know you love Australia and what not, but let's hone down the euphemisms a bit. He's played 7 games, 3 of which were against some pretty weak progams. Now he's a perfect point guard and the #1 pick? I'm all for bringing up players for the sake of discussion but let's not plan the future of the Timberwolves around this guy, or anyone player just yet. There's lots of ball to be played. When you hype a prospect as much as you are his flaws get overlooked. Sure, in hindsight we can point to all the guys I named and say they have a flaw, but throughout the college season no one was calling Beasley a tweaner or Mayo too short.

[shangrila]

Sure they were. Maybe they weren't shouting it from the rooftops, but when people asked what were the bad points they'd say Beasley was an undersized 4 or how Mayo struggled to beat guys off the dribble in college and how that probably would get worse in the league.

I'm not saying Irving is perfect or even that he IS Chris Paul. If you look at the post you quoted, I said he's looked awesome so far and plays a lot like Chris Paul, which he does. And considering how raw Jones is and Barnes' disappointing start to the season I don't see how saying he's the #1 pick right now is ridiculous.

And that "Irving>Rubio because he's Australian" comment was a joke. I shouldn't have had to explain that.

[horaceworthy]

Irving just doesn't have that flaw. His game is well rounded for a 10 year veteran, let alone a freshman in college, and he's got the right physical tools and mentality to be great. I'm not going to say he's the best thing since sliced bread yet and maybe he won't turn out to be as good as Chris Paul, but he plays a lot like him and has been hella good so far.

Okay, I know you love Australia and what not, but let's hone down the euphemisms a bit. He's played 7 games, 3 of which were against some pretty weak progams. Now he's a perfect point guard and the #1 pick? I'm all for bringing up players for the sake of discussion but let's not plan the future of the Timberwolves around this guy, or anyone player just yet. There's lots of ball to be played. When you hype a prospect as much as you are his flaws get overlooked. Sure, in hindsight we can point to all the guys I named and say they have a flaw, but throughout the college season no one was calling Beasley a tweaner or Mayo too short.

Both those things, along with Mayo's underwhelmingness in general, were huge sources of debate during the college season. There was a lot of debate surrounding most of the prospects you listed. I just figured you were engaging in some hyperbole at first.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Perry Jones is exactly like Durant times KG

[Krapinsky]

Irving just doesn't have that flaw. His game is well rounded for a 10 year veteran, let alone a freshman in college, and he's got the right physical tools and mentality to be great. I'm not going to say he's the best thing since sliced bread yet and maybe he won't turn out to be as good as Chris Paul, but he plays a lot like him and has been hella good so far.

Okay, I know you love Australia and what not, but let's hone down the euphemisms a bit. He's played 7 games, 3 of which were against some pretty weak progams. Now he's a perfect point guard and the #1 pick? I'm all for bringing up players for the sake of discussion but let's not plan the future of the Timberwolves around this guy, or anyone player just yet. There's lots of ball to be played. When you hype a prospect as much as you are his flaws get overlooked. Sure, in hindsight we can point to all the guys I named and say they have a flaw, but throughout the college season no one was calling Beasley a tweaner or Mayo too short.

Both those things, along with Mayo's underwhelmingness in general, were huge sources of debate during the college season. There was a lot of debate surrounding most of the prospects you listed. I just figured you were engaging in some hyperbole at first.

Well I was engaing in hyperbole. But to my latter point, I don't think people were engaged in "huge debates" over Mayo's size or Beasley's tweenerness. Maybe these things were commonly pointed out, i.e. maybe even listed on DX as weaknesses, but I think they got largely overlooked since they were so clearly identified as the best players at the time. I would be surprised if you found anyoen who beleived either was anythign less than an all star talent the time tehy were drafted let alone 7 games into their freshamn season.

[horaceworthy]

Maybe you didn't spend much time on the draft board that year, but Beasley's tweenerness was a common topic of conversation. The majority still thought of him as an all star talent (which he still may be if he works at it), but there were a lot of people questioning his position and his mental state throughout the year.

Mayo people soured on pretty quickly. He had some loyal followers, but there was already a pretty large contingent set to hate him due to backlash from his high school hype, and if memory serves he had a massive amount of turnovers in his USC debut that made it easy for people to criticize. He didn't jump into consensus 3rd overall pick status until well after the season ended and the pre draft process was underway. Even then, there were plenty of people who didn't see him as an all star talent at the time he was drafted.

[Esohny]

How dare you, Krapinsky.

I've always HATED Thabeet.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I always felt like he'd be a dominant shot blocker if nothing else, but people just line up to take it to him and he backs down every time

[shangrila]

He needs some roid rage

[canucklife21]

Anyone see Perry jones play tonight?

[cpfsf]

It's funny how everyone gets so hard on all these prospects so early intot the season. Then every year we hype them all year until the draft. Then they enter the league and all these can't miss guys fizzle.

OMG OJ MAYO!!! Like a 2 guard Lebron!!
MICHAEL BEASLEY!! Melo 2.0???
HASHEEM THABEET!!! Dikembe 2.0????
EVAN TURNER!! Scottie Pippen 2.0???
DEMARCUS COUSINS!!!! Shaq meet Derrick Coleman?????
KYRIE IRVING!!! Chris Paul 2.0????

ZOMG!!

Let's temper the excitement a little bit, shall we fellas? It's a long season.

We're only high on one player that we're not going to get anyway.

[shangrila]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

[Esohny]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

I'd still be thrilled to draft Harrison Barnes and put him in at SG. Delicious.

[shangrila]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

I'd still be thrilled to draft Harrison Barnes and put him in at SG. Delicious.

Me too, but it'd still create some problems with playing time.

[canucklife21]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

I'd still be thrilled to draft Harrison Barnes and put him in at SG. Delicious.

Me too, but it'd still create some problems with playing time.

thats a problem i would love us to be in.... time to speed up the rebuilding period!

[Krapinsky]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

Right, but none as covered as PG. We'll have 3, with two recent top 6 picks that haven't had much of a chance to prove themselves. Rubio will have 4 years on his deal. Ridnour 3. Flynn 2. Webster, Beasley, and Love will all be in the last years of their deals.

Personally, I would want Kanter or Barnes or Jones more than any PG not projected to be the next Magic Johnson at this point.

[shangrila]

But if we were to ever get the #1 pick it'd be this year. Weak draft and the candidates for the pick are all at positions we have fairly covered.

Right, but none as covered as PG. We'll have 3, with two recent top 6 picks that haven't had much of a chance to prove themselves. Rubio will have 4 years on his deal. Ridnour 3. Flynn 2. Webster, Beasley, and Love will all be in the last years of their deals.

Personally, I would want Kanter or Barnes or Jones more than any PG not projected to be the next Magic Johnson at this point.

I see what you're saying, but if Irving keeps this up he'll be the runaway #1 pick. He'd be more polished then Jones, have the production to back it up unlike Barnes and still have oodles of potential as well as possibly a national championship thanks to that ridiculous Duke team. Even with Rubio it'd be tough to turn him down.

[moss_is_1]

Williams is ridiculously overrated as a coach.

Roy Williams is a crappy coach. His teams plays 0 defense. He's a great recruiter but he can't coach. There's a reason he couldn't win the big one.


I want Perry Jones on the Wolves. But I also want a sg who can get his own shot.

Looking forward I don't know if I see Beasley as a true #1. His handles are average, he doesn't look to pass at times, and his defense is lazy half the time. It'd be nice if we could use Beasley as a trade chip when we get shafted in the lotto for either Barnes or Jones. Jones reminds me of kg coming out a lot. We would probably need to lose Love though.

I still think Alec Burks is going to be a stud. He's averaging over 20 points and he has no outside shot right now. One thing you look for in a college player that usually translates to the NBA is getting to the foul line. Burks is average 9.2 FTA per game right now.. Maybe we could grab him by combining the Memphis and Utah picks?

i totally agree with you about burks i really think he can be a top ten pick.. he needs to hit the weight room and start to create for others aswelll.. i love perry jones however do you really think he can be a nba four? wouldnt the three postion be better for his skill sets to the highest level

I'm sure he will. According to dx he's 6'11 220, which is really skinny, but there's alot of skinny pf/c out there. Jones has elite athleticism and anyone can bulk up. I think strength is less of a worry then shooting/ballhandling for him.

[Krapinsky]

Hahahaahha every year kids want to turn 6'11" pf's that can dribble into a SF. It never ends.

[moss_is_1]

Hahahaahha every year kids want to turn 6'11" pf's that can dribble into a SF. It never ends.

Blake Griffin is the one I remember..I was thinking that least year there was another one, can't remember though.