Prospect Watch Thread

[Krapinsky]

I don't know. Ideal seems like a strong word considering Barnes plays the same postion as Beasley and Johnson. I don't think I'd be looking for another draft pick if I'm trading Rubio.

I'd be looking for best available player that you think has the best chance to one day be a franchise talent/scorer. If you have other, better examples, I'd like to hear him, because there surely aren't many.

Barnes has the right demeanor, work ethic, and size to go with a quickly improving skill set for me to believe he is the best guy we could possibly get that fits the mold. He is quickly emerging. How many freshman have ever scored 40 points in a game?? Not many. Add in the fact that he has ice water in his veins -- he doesn't shy away from the big moment, the big shot. Yes, you would have liked him to have had a more productive, more consistent freshman year, but if that were the case he would be #1 or #2 and the thought of being able to trade Rubio for him would be laughable (like Turner last year). Look at the franchise wings in the NBA. Just about all of them were seen as flawed or question marks when they entered the NBA. Kobe 13. Pierce 10. Manu went something like 28th(?). Roy 6th. Johnson 10th. Heck, even MJ went 3.

I think Barnes looks like he could be a SG just like Paul George did coming out last year or like the 6'7" - 6'8" T-Mac and Joe Johnson have always been SG's. He has shown enough lateral quickness and effort for me to believe he'll have no problem in that regard. Yes, he'll have a problem guarding Dwayne Wade and Monta Ellis, but so does every other SG in the entire league.

[Esohny]

I don't know. Ideal seems like a strong word considering Barnes plays the same postion as Beasley and Johnson. I don't think I'd be looking for another draft pick if I'm trading Rubio.

I think Barnes can play SG, since his handle is good, unlike Johnson's.

And I did add the caveat "if the team were continuing to go really young." If the Wolves actually broke the curse and got a high enough pick to draft Irving, (and Kahn was able to bring himself to trade Rubio and not the pick) I would expect him to package Rubio with other assets to bring in a veteran player, not draft another rookie.

Anyway, this is all theoretical, since the Wolves will be drafting at #5, not #1.

[Klomp]

Johnson has shown he can play SG. Those two would play well together, methinks

[Grits n Gravy]

1. Irving: NBA ready, trade Rubio for a serious SG, count it and one.
2. Valenciunas: Golly we'd have a bunch of big guys, but damn it'd be fun when him and Randolph got their man-muscles.
(Trade)
3. Burks or Brandon Knight

I think Jimmer is gonna have some trouble in this league. I'm just not convinced he can reproduce his game in the NBA at 6'2". But maybe I'm wrong; he has been remarkably consistent.

I am very very dubious of Barnes' lack of lateral quickness. He will need to move a lot better without the ball to succeed in the NBA.

Derrick Williams is very interesting. He might become a more consistent version of Beasley. That's wicked, but do you reach for him with a top 5 pick and hope that's what he becomes? Also, I think our needs would be better met by trading the pick plus an existing player for a proven asset.

i think we'd be best to leave jonas overseas for another year if we did indeed draft him, he'd be a GREAT pick for the future and i have 0 doubts that he would be thge center of the future for this team, a hybrid version of noah with offensive upside.

[moss_is_1]

I sort of agree with Ford on Irving. Even if he is the most "can't miss guy", the player he reminds me of the most in the NBA right now is Mike Conley.

Barnes will be my guy from here on out. Last year I liked George. The year prior I liked Derozan (after Rubio). Maybe I just have a thing for wings? The wild card for me is Vanlanciunas, but I've never seen him play.

Hearing that we might be high on him, I'm all for taking a chance on Jimmer in a trade up situation (after top 8). He fits our current system great.

I'm thinking we are similar in our prospects. I wanted Derozan after Rubio and I wanted George, and now I want Barnes. I also think Irving is massively overrated, sure he looked great in that small sample size, but anyone has a good stretch of games.

Also...anyone see DX's tweets about Barnes pre/post Marshall?

Barnes' FG% Before Marshall took over: 37%
With Marshall: 46%

3pt % Before: 31%
With : 37%

Sure it's a small sample size, but it's encouraging to me. With a real pg in the fold(whether it be Rubio or even Ridnour) I think Barnes will be able to get a ton of easy looks, he also still has the ability to create his own shot despite not having a great handle or elite athleticism. I just think this guy is going to be a monster in the NBA. The Kobe comparisions are worthy, not a prime Kobe, but a Kobe now(where Kobe relies on handles/mid-range/post up).

[Yes We Kahn]

I sort of agree with Ford on Irving. Even if he is the most "can't miss guy", the player he reminds me of the most in the NBA right now is Mike Conley.

Barnes will be my guy from here on out. Last year I liked George. The year prior I liked Derozan (after Rubio). Maybe I just have a thing for wings? The wild card for me is Vanlanciunas, but I've never seen him play.

Hearing that we might be high on him, I'm all for taking a chance on Jimmer in a trade up situation (after top 8). He fits our current system great.

I'm thinking we are similar in our prospects. I wanted Derozan after Rubio and I wanted George, and now I want Barnes. I also think Irving is massively overrated, sure he looked great in that small sample size, but anyone has a good stretch of games.

Also...anyone see DX's tweets about Barnes pre/post Marshall?

Barnes' FG% Before Marshall took over: 37%
With Marshall: 46%

3pt % Before: 31%
With : 37%

Sure it's a small sample size, but it's encouraging to me. With a real pg in the fold(whether it be Rubio or even Ridnour) I think Barnes will be able to get a ton of easy looks, he also still has the ability to create his own shot despite not having a great handle or elite athleticism. I just think this guy is going to be a monster in the NBA. The Kobe comparisions are worthy, not a prime Kobe, but a Kobe now(where Kobe relies on handles/mid-range/post up).

I am with you guys. My main concern is that Barnes will/has played his way out of our cursed draft position, but I do like the idea of potentially adding him and Rubio next year.

[AQuintus]

Barnes' FG% Before Marshall took over: 37%
With Marshall: 46%

3pt % Before: 31%
With : 37%

he also still has the ability to create his own shot despite not having a great handle or elite athleticism.

If anything, those numbers suggest that he can't create his own shot. Without a PG feeding him easy looks, his shooting numbers were atrocious.

[AQuintus]

According to Jay Bilas, Irving will be playing in the opening game for Duke.

[cpfsf]

According to Jay Bilas, Irving will be playing in the opening game for Duke.

Krzyzewski said Irving will not start and would only play a few minutes at a time if he gets on the court.

I have faith in the Aussie. They're my pick to win it all.

[[RCG]]

Barnes' FG% Before Marshall took over: 37%
With Marshall: 46%

3pt % Before: 31%
With : 37%

he also still has the ability to create his own shot despite not having a great handle or elite athleticism.

If anything, those numbers suggest that he can't create his own shot. Without a PG feeding him easy looks, his shooting numbers were atrocious.

Or he adjusted to the college game, became more comfortable with the offense, had the light go off, stats only tell part of the story.

[The J Rocka]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9QD-18ad9s[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AJFWX-yLgY[/youtube]

He looks better & better each game. He can get his buckets, not afraid to take the last shot, can deliver, and can create or score off screens. I've liked him from the beginning and will continue to support the idea of having him on our team if we are lucky to select him if he's available.

He was slow at first. Had to make the adjustment to college game. He appears to be comfortable with it, so I believe he'll do just fine learning the NBA game. It's not like it took him forever to learn. He seems to have his head on straight.

[jade_hippo]

I see via the wiretap Jimmer's family wants him to play for the Knicks. Not sure how they think the Knicks will get him, muchless find PT behind Chauncey, Paul, Deron and Rubio, but GL with that Fredette family.

[The J Rocka]

Everyone wants to play for them. The good news is it won't happen because he'll be long gone before they're picking. So Jimmer Fam better lower their standards.

[eyeteeth]

Wow, who do they think they are, Rubio's grandma??

[Saltine]

Wow, who do they think they are, Rubio's grandma??

I saw on wiretap that everyone in the draft wants to play for the Knicks, all of them, really, it's just amazing. All the players from last years draft as well, they still want to play with the Knicks. What a great organization, truly legendary, ahead of their time.

[[RCG]]

Wow, who do they think they are, Rubio's grandma??

I saw on wiretap that everyone in the draft wants to play for the Knicks, all of them, really, it's just amazing. All the players from last years draft as well, they still want to play with the Knicks. What a great organization, truly legendary, ahead of their time.

similar to how they were a shoe-in for LeBron?

[Krapinsky]

Barnes moves up to #4 in latest DX mock and rankings: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/

There's plenty of room on the bandwagon.

[Esohny]

Barnes moves up to #4 in latest DX mock and rankings: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/

There's plenty of room on the bandwagon.

I like Barnes a lot, but I would probably prefer picking Kanter/Valunciunas and trading for a vet SG if possible.

[bluethunder0005]

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft

Barnes is #5 on that site which I've used for the past few years. Jonas is way too high. I think Dontas will be a better NBA player than Jonas. Jonas just fits better with our team.

[wildvikeswolves]

Barnes moves up to #4 in latest DX mock and rankings: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/

There's plenty of room on the bandwagon.

LMAO at giving us Sullinger instead of Barnes