With the 2nd pick in 2011 NBA Draft, Minnesota selects

[TheProdigy]

Enes Kanter...do not want. Why'd we trade Al Jeff if we draft him?

Take D Williams. Trade up for Biyombo. Trade #20 and Webster for a solid vet.

Well Al Jefferson made $13M and couldn't pass or stretch the floor. I agree that defensively it raises some old concerns against more athletic front courts. We have Randolph, Tolliver, and Darko to mix in however.

I like Kanter's ability to stretch the floor. That will be nice with Rubio on the roster. Ideally though the best big man to pair with Rubio would be a guy that can get out and run on the fast break and then on defense make people afraid to enter the paint.

[PeeDee]

As opposed to Iguodala, Bogut, or Ellis?

Bynum makes nearly 3 million more than Bogut next year. Thats significant when all you have is small salaries to trade.

[phonzadellika]

I don't think that Big Al couldn't pass...I think it was that he had no one really worthy to pass it to. Agree on stretching the floor though...

Although Beasley and Williams do a lot of the same things, I believe that Williams will be the better player...Beasley's problems are mostly mental and the brain is the hardest thing to fix. Williams seems to have whatever 'it' is...

We had Darko when we had Al Jeff...and they did work well together...but if the Wolves go to the playoffs I'd ideally like them, when it counts, to put next to Love and Beasley, who both have to play in crunch time, a legitmate rim protector. Kanter provides an extra way to get buckets...maybe he tests out really well though and can be a rim protector...he certainly won't be pushed around in the paint.

Biyombo + Love = no rebounds, ever again, for the other team.

[rennytwentyone]

I don't think that Big Al couldn't pass...I think it was that he had no one really worthy to pass it to. Agree on stretching the floor though...

Although Beasley and Williams do a lot of the same things, I believe that Williams will be the better player...Beasley's problems are mostly mental and the brain is the hardest thing to fix. Williams seems to have whatever 'it' is...

We had Darko when we had Al Jeff...and they did work well together...but if the Wolves go to the playoffs I'd ideally like them, when it counts, to put next to Love and Beasley, who both have to play in crunch time, a legitmate rim protector. Kanter provides an extra way to get buckets...maybe he tests out really well though and can be a rim protector...he certainly won't be pushed around in the paint.

Biyombo + Love = no rebounds, ever again, for the other team.

Solid insight sir. Sticking points for me:
"Williams seems to have whatever 'it' is..."
"Biyombo + Love = no rebounds, ever again, for the other team"

I have been one of the biggest fans of getting Michael Beasley, but he just seems to have a little bit of that "I don't reallllly care a whole lot about anything" thing going on, so if we could draft D-Will, and trade Beasely ( teamsa HAD to take notice of him this year, he did have some sick games and around 20 pts a game.) If somehow we go into the season with Rubio, D-Will, Biyombi and whoever we get for Beasley added onto the current roster, we will have a BRIGHT future. Like, sun an inch away from your face bright. Even though, at that point you would be dead.

[Krapinsky]

I'd be really disappointed if we didn't give Beasley one more year to figure it out. I don't think anyone would be too surprised if he averages 24-25 points per game next year.

[phonzadellika]

^ I'd like to keep Beas if possible...he did enough last year to warrant a second look after he spends an off-season improving his weaknesses...his trade value will be higher next year if he improves and by then we should have an idea of what a future Derrick Williams actually looks like in case Beas turns out to be the superior player, which is really possible.

I'm not sure how can really trade back into the lottery to grab Biyombo...might have to do something like a 20+AR+Flynn or whatever with Charlotte, Detroit, or Sacramento.

[rennytwentyone]

I'm definitely not WANTING to trade Beasley either, if we can keep him and have D-Will that'd be great, just means one of them is most likely sitting. Unless Love slid over to center for some stretches of games so we could have:
Rubio
Wes
D-Will
Beas
Love

[horaceworthy]

I'd be really disappointed if we didn't give Beasley one more year to figure it out. I don't think anyone would be too surprised if he averages 24-25 points per game next year.

I think drafting Williams would mean that either he or Beasley would eventually be out the the door, but I'm really intrigued by the offensive potential of a Love/Beasley/Williams frontcourt with Rubio directing the offense, even though I'm a bit horrified at the prospect of that lineup defensively.

At the moment I think Williams should be the guy, with Kanter being next in line.

I hope #20 is kept, there could be some nice prospects there, like Bebe Nogueira, Klay Thompson, Leslie, Selby, CoJo, Jimmer, etc. I'm wondering if Jeremy Tyler will creep into the discussion in that range as well depending on how well workouts go for him.

Right now I think I'd like to see them draft Williams at #2, Nogueira at #20, and buy a 2nd rounder to pick up Jimmy Butler, David Lighty, Travis Leslie, Brooks or Holiday. Then use any combination of Darko, Pek, Wes, Flynn, Webster, Tolliver, Ellington or Beasley (if it comes to that) to try and bring in some vet help.

[eyeteeth]

Enes Kanter...do not want. Why'd we trade Al Jeff if we draft him?

Take D Williams. Trade up for Biyombo. Trade #20 and Webster for a solid vet.

Well Al Jefferson made $13M and couldn't pass or stretch the floor. I agree that defensively it raises some old concerns against more athletic front courts. We have Randolph, Tolliver, and Darko to mix in however.

Yeah, imagine Al Jeff with a 3 point shot and good passing and you've got Kanter. This does not suck. It is in fact, pretty cool.

[revprodeji]

I'd be really disappointed if we didn't give Beasley one more year to figure it out. I don't think anyone would be too surprised if he averages 24-25 points per game next year.

He really did have it going before the ankle injuries. If he really focuses on defense and works at getting to the line--then he could be special.

[Klomp]

Yeah, imagine Al Jeff with a 3 point shot and good passing and you've got Kanter. This does not suck. It is in fact, pretty cool.

Enes Kanter does not have, and never will have, 3-point range.

[horaceworthy]

Yeah, imagine Al Jeff with a 3 point shot and good passing and you've got Kanter. This does not suck. It is in fact, pretty cool.

Enes Kanter does not have, and never will have, 3-point range.

The jump shot seems to be an odd thing to question Kanter on. You should hit up youtube or something if that's what you think. It would have been much more accurate to rag on his footwork in comparison to Al, which is the main reason I'd poo poo that comparison.

[Peezo]

I don't really understand why so many people want D-Will when we already have Mike Beasley. I think Beas was arguably the better college player (one year vs. two) and has already shown flashes of becoming a star. Beas is only 22, and Williams is about to turn 20. I also think the notion that Beas "doesn't care" or anything of that nature is totally off base. He might not have the best basketball instincts but he wants to be great. I also don't think he is a bad kid. I think getting rid of Beasley, especially in favor of a very similar player (who may actually be less talented) would be a huge mistake.

[Peezo]

Kanter does appear to be a player who can stretch the floor some, but I don't know how consistently he will rely on that (or be able to rely on that) in the pros. I don't think he is THAT strong of a shooter...

[Esohny]

Yeah, imagine Al Jeff with a 3 point shot and good passing and you've got Kanter. This does not suck. It is in fact, pretty cool.

Enes Kanter does not have, and never will have, 3-point range.

Wow, you're batting 1.000 lately.

[horaceworthy]

I don't really understand why so many people want D-Will when we already have Mike Beasley. I think Beas was arguably the better college player (one year vs. two) and has already shown flashes of becoming a star. Beas is only 22, and Williams is about to turn 20. I also think the notion that Beas "doesn't care" or anything of that nature is totally off base. He might not have the best basketball instincts but he wants to be great. I also don't think he is a bad kid. I think getting rid of Beasley, especially in favor of a very similar player (who may actually be less talented) would be a huge mistake.

Because he looks like he has the chance to be a very good basketball player, something this team is sorely lacking. Beasley hasn't shown enough to be drafted around at this point in time, as much many of us wish that were the case.

[eyeteeth]

The thing with Kanter, whether the 3 pt shot translates to the pros or not, is that he is a center who can score. You guys who want Bogut, this guy has a similar build (an inch or two shorter maybe) and from the little I've seen, maybe better shot creating potential. You want to make Kevin Love and Michael Beasleys' games really take off? Put them next to a compatible scoring big man. I'm not sure Kanter can defend Howard or Bynum one on one, but not many can, and certainly no one available to us so easily.

That's hardly our problem right now anyway. And if you look, neither Howard nor Bynum are in contention at the moment, and they were both defeated by committee.

[revprodeji]

Did Klomp just make a definitive statement that Kanter does not have 3 range? Awesome.

3 questions he needs to answer.

1.) Is he a center or a pf?
2.) How are those knees?
3.) Can he not-hurt us on defense?


Answer those 3 about Kantar. His offensive game is not the question.

[phonzadellika]

3 questions he needs to answer.

1.) Is he a center or a pf?
2.) How are those knees?
3.) Can he not-hurt us on defense?


Answer those 3 about Kantar. His offensive game is not the question.

I think he has to be able to more than not-hurt us on defense. He'd have to be close to an elite defender for the Wolves to be championship-worthy someday, and that's allowing for Love and Beas to be average defenders.

[Klomp]

Yeah, imagine Al Jeff with a 3 point shot and good passing and you've got Kanter. This does not suck. It is in fact, pretty cool.

Enes Kanter does not have, and never will have, 3-point range.

The jump shot seems to be an odd thing to question Kanter on. You should hit up youtube or something if that's what you think. It would have been much more accurate to rag on his footwork in comparison to Al, which is the main reason I'd poo poo that comparison.

I never said he doesn't have a jump shot. You said he's got a 3-point shot.

Tim Duncan is one of the best jump-shooting bigmen, maybe in NBA history. But he is a career 18.2% 3-point shooter. Big difference.