VOTE: Pick or Play-offs?

[shrink]

Suppose we go into the final game of the season battling UTA for the 8th play-off spot. If we win, we make the play-offs. If they win, we get their 16th pick in the 2012 draft. Which would you hope happens?

I know we are starved for a play-off appearance, and it would be a big help for marketing and fan interest, and maybe even drawing free agent interest.

However, we claim that we want to be contender for years to come, and this is probably the best possible outcome for that pick, as a player or more likely, a trade asset. Moreover, we'd likely get knocked out in 4 or 5 games in the play-offs, so is that really worth the pick?

[champalift]

Purely based on confidence building, I take the playoffs. Sure, we get knocked out early (or do we? ask GSW) but at least we were there.
What value is there in the 16th pick really? We would likely screw it up and would have another (yes small) guaranteed contract on our hands. I would much rather save some salary and look for a vet minimum kind of guy and have some post season experience.

[prefuse73]

Great question.

I think (as I am second guessing myself as I am writing this) if it gets to that point, I would rather get into the playoffs for all the reasons you mentioned. Yes, we probably get knocked out immediately, but at we will no longer be considered a bottom dweller.

[bluethunder0005]

I'm tired of worrying about getting a good player in the draft to help us make the playoffs, I'd rather do it now.

[VivaRubio]

And if MIN and UTA are classified, what about the pick?

[teven_1]

I don't think we're going to make the playoffs this year, but if we could it would be huge and more important than all the mid first round picks in the world.

[Foye]

Playoffs. Easily.

[C.lupus]

Can I vote a million times for playoffs? We've been doing the draft pick thing for years. We need to start winning and getting playoff experience. We don't need to add more young, inexperienced players. Playoffs will A. show Love and Rubio the team is on the right track and B. show potential free agents the team is serious about winning.

And lets face it, our drafting history is not stellar.

[Krapinsky]

It's the 16th pick. Who cares?

[Esohny]

Playoffs, no contest.

[cpfsf]

OKC will be the first hurdle, but just want to note that Minnesota is 6-5 against against Western Conference teams (6-4 if you remove Utah from that list). In addition, this team is much better now because Rubio is playing more, Milicic is playing less, and the team is nearly at full strength.

[The J Rocka]

Late lottery picks are almost meaningless with this team/Kahn. Playoffs no question.

[funkatron101]

I would venture to say that a playoff appearance would do much more to the building of this team than the 16th pick. Especially since we know Kahn draft pick history of trading down later picks for money or deferring them.

[theGreatRC]

Playoffs do so much for a young team trying to get better.

First, it gives experience to players like Love, Rubio, etc who haven't made the playoffs. It shows those players what a different atmosphere a playoff game is and how to handle the pressure.

It creates a rivalry if the series is interesting. Imagine if we play the Thunder in the first round if we make it as an 8th seed and them a 1st and the whole series is loaded with smack talk and hard fouls, it would become a story and the two teams will be linked from that point on in future seasons as teams that "hate each other and mark each time they play on the calendar" type of thing.

It gives the team exposure and more nationally televised games. Making the playoffs would most likely net us some televised games on TNT and ESPN and we wouldn't be a team everyone sleeps on, doesn't want to be.

Lastly, players from other teams will look at us and "maybe" they'll want to join the core that we're building (If the Wolves impress in the playoffs) and turn us from first round feeder into serious contenders.

[teven_1]

It's the 16th pick. Who cares?

just to play devils advocate (although I agree with you) APPARENTLY this years draft is stackeddddddddddd

[theGreatRC]

It's the 16th pick. Who cares?

just to play devils advocate (although I agree with you) APPARENTLY this years draft is stackeddddddddddd

Let's be real here.

Where in Kahn draft history does it show that he's a great drafting GM? He was practically gift wrapped Rubio with a bow on top and his other picks are all busts(So far).

I don't trust his GMing skills to make the correct pick @ 16.

I mean, ****, everyone knew we should have taken MarShon Brooks, but our own GM who gets paid to do this, picked some Euro players who probably won't even dawn a wolves uni and some guy who lied about his age..

I'd rather make the playoffs than stash another euro or stiff that will be out of the league in two-three years after riding the pine.

[theGreatRC]

It's the 16th pick. Who cares?

just to play devils advocate (although I agree with you) APPARENTLY this years draft is stackeddddddddddd

Let's be real here.

Where in Kahn draft history does it show that he's a great drafting GM? He was practically gift wrapped Rubio with a bow on top and his other picks are all busts(So far).

I don't trust his GMing skills to make the correct pick @ 16.

I mean, ****, everyone knew we should have taken MarShon Brooks, but our own GM who gets paid to do this, picked some Euro players who probably won't even dawn a wolves uni and some guy who lied about his age, but then again..you have to think about how much influence Ronzone had on those picks..but anyway:

I'd rather make the playoffs than stash another euro or stiff that will be out of the league in two-three years after riding the pine.

[Klomp]

I mean, ****, everyone knew we should have taken MarShon Brooks, but our own GM who gets paid to do this, picked some Euro players who probably won't even dawn a wolves uni and some guy who lied about his age..

If everyone knew we should've taken him, why wasn't he drafted until the 25th pick, 5 spots AFTER us? If he was such a slam dunk superstar, why did he last so long?

MarShon Brooks is closer to being the next OJ Mayo than being the next Kobe Bryant. The hype will eventually die. He will be a solid role player in this league and maybe a fulltime starter, but lets not get carried away here.

[theGreatRC]

I mean, ****, everyone knew we should have taken MarShon Brooks, but our own GM who gets paid to do this, picked some Euro players who probably won't even dawn a wolves uni and some guy who lied about his age..

If everyone knew we should've taken him, why wasn't he drafted until the 25th pick, 5 spots AFTER us? If he was such a slam dunk superstar, why did he last so long?

MarShon Brooks is closer to being the next OJ Mayo than being the next Kobe Bryant. The hype will eventually die. He will be a solid role player in this league and maybe a fulltime starter, but lets not get carried away here.

Everybody on here wanted Brooks, not just our team, but every fan wanted him. I remember the Bucks were even considering taking him @ 10 after working him out multiple times, but ended up trading the pick for SJAX.

I don't know why he slipped so far, but he is a long shooting guard with ability to create his own shot and with our multiple picks after #2, we could have gotten a low-risk, high reward player, but good job on the Nets for acquiring him from Boston.

And he's been showing every team why they should have taken him. He's been a top 5 rookie this whole year, too bad he got injured.

14.8ppg / 4.4rpg / 1.6apg / 1.1spg on 45%FG for the 25th pick.

[theGreatRC]

BTW, i'm not saying Kahn is the only GM to pass on MarShon Brooks, i'm just saying I don't trust his drafting skills enough to choose getting the 16th pick over making the playoffs.

I wouldn't even want to miss the playoffs for a top 10 pick.