2013 Draft Targets (#9, #26, #52, #59)

[Klomp]

ESPN lists him at 200 lbs. Which is more than Mclemore (185ESPN/181DX) and similar to Pope (205ESPN/185DX).

Ray Allen weighs 205. Avery Bradley one of the best guard defenders in the league weighs 180.

I don't think you can dismiss him because of his "reported" size at all.

Bradley is the only one thats a fair comparison. Everyone else is two inches taller than CJ.

And just because Bradley is a good defender doesn't mean McCollum will be. Thats like saying we should draft MCW because he's big and long like Rubio is. And yes, if I had a choice, I would draft Carter-Williams over McCollum 9 times out of 10.

[Krapinsky]

ESPN lists him at 200 lbs. Which is more than Mclemore (185ESPN/181DX) and similar to Pope (205ESPN/185DX).

Ray Allen weighs 205. Avery Bradley one of the best guard defenders in the league weighs 180.

I don't think you can dismiss him because of his "reported" size at all.

Bradley is the only one thats a fair comparison. Everyone else is two inches taller than CJ.

And just because Bradley is a good defender doesn't mean McCollum will be. Thats like saying we should draft MCW because he's big and long like Rubio is. And yes, if I had a choice, I would draft Carter-Williams over McCollum 9 times out of 10.

I'm not saying that means he's a good defender. I'm saying you shouldn't dismiss McCollum because of his size.

And why would you draft a point guard that can't shoot for our team? One that weighs 175 at that. He's Shved's size.

[Klomp]

And why would you draft a point guard that can't shoot for our team? One that weighs 175 at that. He's Shved's size.

I'd rather draft a 6'5" PG than a 6'3" SG. We need size.

[NikolaPekovic]

You can always put on muscle. but u cant get any taller.

[[RCG]]

I don't think McCollum will be a good on-ball defender but an above-average off-ball defender, he has good instincts but lacks the size/athleticism. I think he's an upgrade over Ridnour as the kid can really shoot and score but if we want size we could trade down and get Caldwell-Pope who could develop into a solid perimeter shooter with solid on-ball defense. He doesn't have the ball-skills or instincts that McCollum has though.

[Krapinsky]

McCollum's wingspan is actually longer than Pope's.

[Klomp]

Timberwolves PR ‏@Twolves_PR 4m
#Twolves will have No. 26 pick in the first round of @NBA Draft as #Clippers won tiebreaker today w/ #Grizzlies. MIN owns MEM pick.

[Grits n Gravy]

really REALLY hope nemanja nedovic lasts until one of our second rounders, even then i'd be more than happy to take him with the memphis pick - would be nice to get a cheaper replacement for barea or ridnour with big upside. looking forward to seeing karasev and jaiteh tommorow as they could definitely be targets....karasev in particular sounds extremely interesting.

[Joel Embust]

Off topic but Krapinsky, that's one awesome avatar you got there. Any chance I can watch and hear the little fella do his thing on video (youtube)?

Sorry, i just found it on imgur/r/aww

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgdkifRN4c[/youtube]

[Gideon]

Many people are overestimating the impact we are going to get from a #9 pick in a fairly weak draft IMO. McCollum might not be a sexy pick, but the guy is almost surely going to be a day-one contributor... he's an excellent shooter, very polished, and can step in right away as a combo guard, Jason Terry is a very good comparison for him IMO.

If we sign somebody like Redick or Mayo in free agency, and then have McCollum as a back-up PG/SG and Shved as a 6th-man SG/SF, that's a really solid perimeter rotation IMO.

Another option is to trade up and go for a true impact player... I like that option as well (obv depending on what we have to give up, but I like it as a general concept). If we don't trade up, however, I would rather take McCollum than a raw player who is a little taller and/or younger.

[Klomp]

Many people are overestimating the impact we are going to get from a #9 pick in a fairly weak draft IMO. McCollum might not be a sexy pick, but the guy is almost surely going to be a day-one contributor... he's an excellent shooter, very polished, and can step in right away as a combo guard, Jason Terry is a very good comparison for him IMO.

Hmm...

[Jukeness]

All in for McCollum!

[Calinks]

Was looking over the drafts since 2003. Look at players drafted at nine or one spot below or above. Here is everybody I saw of note.

2012: Drummond #9
2011: Kemba Walker #9
2010: Paul George #10
2009: Demar DeRozen #9 Brandon Jennings #10
2008: Brook Lopez #10
2007: Joakim Noah #9
2006: Rudy Gay #8
2005: Andrew Bynum #10
2004: Andre Iguodala #9
2003: T.J. Ford #8
2002: Amar'e Stoudemire #9

I don't know what it is but this area of the draft seems to have been very lucrative as far as NBA caliber players. Maybe it's because all the high risk high reward players get taken early and these guys are considered the more more solid, average picks. Maybe these guys had solid careers but didn't stand out enough to garner a high pick. Maybe, teams at this position were drafting for fit over potential. I can't say but this looks like one of the more consistent spots to be drafting in the NBA.

Hopefully this bodes well for us on draft night and we can get a regular contrbuter to this team. If anything, this shows that at this position there is usually still very good talent to be found.

[Saltine]

I'm not sure how a guy that doesn't seem to have more game than Luke or JJ is really going to help us at SG. He's a decent shooter, not quick, not big or strong, and will be 22 when the season starts... I doubt he'd start over Luke if he is still here.

at #26 he's a nice fit, but at #9 ?
is he markedly better than Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or Allen Crabbe? or Dario Saric? this draft is a mess....

[The J Rocka]

Was looking over the drafts since 2003. Look at players drafted at nine or one spot below or above. Here is everybody I saw of note.

2012: Drummond #9
2011: Kemba Walker #9
2010: Paul George #10
2009: Demar DeRozen #9 Brandon Jennings #10
2008: Brook Lopez #10
2007: Joakim Noah #9
2006: Rudy Gay #8
2005: Andrew Bynum #10
2004: Andre Iguodala #9
2003: T.J. Ford #8
2002: Amar'e Stoudemire #9

I don't know what it is but this area of the draft seems to have been very lucrative as far as NBA caliber players. Maybe it's because all the high risk high reward players get taken early and these guys are considered the more more solid, average picks. Maybe these guys had solid careers but didn't stand out enough to garner a high pick. Maybe, teams at this position were drafting for fit over potential. I can't say but this looks like one of the more consistent spots to be drafting in the NBA.

Hopefully this bodes well for us on draft night and we can get a regular contrbuter to this team. If anything, this shows that at this position there is usually still very good talent to be found.

Every 10 years there's one bust at #9. We'll be the next team to take the torch from NY (Sweetney).

[Gideon]

Many people are overestimating the impact we are going to get from a #9 pick in a fairly weak draft IMO. McCollum might not be a sexy pick, but the guy is almost surely going to be a day-one contributor... he's an excellent shooter, very polished, and can step in right away as a combo guard, Jason Terry is a very good comparison for him IMO.

Hmm...

I wrote (and you conveniently didn't include in your quote) that McCollum would work well as a backup combo guard. In other words, he would contribute from day 1 as a solid backup. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find an evaluation of him by a credible source that says he isn't more NBA-ready than most other draft candidates or that he wouldn't be able to contribute right away in this sort of a supporting role. This contrast between the more developed McCollum and "high potential" candidates in a weak draft seems like a pretty clear concept to me...

So if you could at least keep from being disingenuous and quoting me out of context because you (mistakenly) think it makes you look clever or something, that would be nice.

[Klomp]

Works for me!

[Klomp]

I wrote (and you conveniently didn't include in your quote) that McCollum would work well as a backup combo guard. In other words, he would contribute from day 1 as a solid backup. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find an evaluation of him by a credible source that says he isn't more NBA-ready than most other draft candidates or that he wouldn't be able to contribute right away in this sort of a supporting role. This contrast between the more developed McCollum and "high potential" candidates in a weak draft seems like a pretty clear concept to me...

So if you could at least keep from being disingenuous and quoting me out of context because you (mistakenly) think it makes you look clever or something, that would be nice.

Still think you're overestimating his impact. Especially for our team.

[Gideon]

I wrote (and you conveniently didn't include in your quote) that McCollum would work well as a backup combo guard. In other words, he would contribute from day 1 as a solid backup. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find an evaluation of him by a credible source that says he isn't more NBA-ready than most other draft candidates or that he wouldn't be able to contribute right away in this sort of a supporting role. This contrast between the more developed McCollum and "high potential" candidates in a weak draft seems like a pretty clear concept to me...

So if you could at least keep from being disingenuous and quoting me out of context because you (mistakenly) think it makes you look clever or something, that would be nice.

Still think you're overestimating his impact. Especially for our team.

Okay... we disagree on that, I guess, but that's fair.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm not sure how a guy that doesn't seem to have more game than Luke or JJ is really going to help us at SG. He's a decent shooter, not quick, not big or strong, and will be 22 when the season starts... I doubt he'd start over Luke if he is still here.

he may not time quick, but look at his tape - repeated change of direction and hesitation moves into mid-range jumpers. That's a very rare skill set. His ball control into his individual offense is very tricky.