Pre-Draft Thread / Workout Updates

[theGreatRC]

BTW, all the talk during these Finals about the Spurs' shooting coach makes me wonder if Archie Goodwin would be a good fit there. He wouldn't be asked to contribute right away, and could be groomed to take over for Ginobili in a year or two.

Speaking of Archie:

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have another round of pre-draft workouts on tap this weekend, with UCLA swingman Shabazz Muhammad highlighting the group.

The Wolves announced that Muhammad and five other prospects will work out with team officials Sunday afternoon at Target Center. Also scheduled to participate are Long Beach State swingman James Ennis, Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin, Minnesota forward Rodney Williams, Delaware forward Jamelle Hagins and Idaho center Kyle Barone.

Muhammad has been projected by many analysts to be picked around where the Wolves are with the ninth selection in the first round of the draft in two weeks. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Muhammad played only one season at UCLA, averaging almost 18 points per game and shooting better than 44 percent from the field.

Williams worked out previously for the Wolves.

[zerogravity15]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO6TXUrZTzk[/youtube]

[Calinks]

Tis a pipe dream. KCP is our only hope.

Any SG should be intrigued to play with the wolves. Not only do you have one of the best front courts in the league You have two unselfish players in AK and Rubio who will get you the ball in the places you like. If you like to score you will get plenty of opportunity on the wolves and most likely a day one starting spot.

[cpfsf]

Tis a pipe dream. KCP is our only hope.

Any SG should be intrigued to play with the wolves. Not only do you have one of the best front courts in the league You have two unselfish players in AK and Rubio who will get you the ball in the places you like. If you like to score you will get plenty of opportunity on the wolves and most likely a day one starting spot.

i agree a lot of sg prospects would want to play in minnesota. personally if i was a prospect, i wouldn't scare off any team by refusing workouts (show me the money!). i'm just very much skeptical we manage to keep both kirilenko and pekovic.

[ThatsWhatIShved]

Lol at the Ola sigs. Nice work

[Coda]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

[FinnTheHuman]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

Yup, there are some of us...

[Howard Cosell]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

Quickly replaced with the feeling of euphoria of having an incredible NBA outstanding defensive backcourt.

[[RCG]]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

Yup, there are some of us...

At least 3.

[Coda]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

Quickly replaced with the feeling of euphoria of having an incredible NBA outstanding defensive backcourt.

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

[Howard Cosell]

Is anyone else worried about the possibility of having a backcourt that can't shoot?

Quickly replaced with the feeling of euphoria of having an incredible NBA outstanding defensive backcourt.

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

We have an offensive minded PF & C who neither can protect the rim. Budinger, who very well could become our starting SF, is not a defensive stopper by any means. I want Rubio to actually defend the other teams PG on Defense, he will be able to do so with Oladipo at his side. I want a guard who can actually get up and down the court with Rubio, Oladipo fills up that request.

12 more days, the dream is still alive!!!!!

[NikolaPekovic]

Depending on who we can get in free agency i would be more comfortable with getting Mcelmore at starting day 1.

[Howard Cosell]

Depending on who we can get in free agency i would be more comfortable with getting Mcelmore at starting day 1.

I would be ok with that as well.

I wonder if Rubio could light a fire under Mclemore, make him less passive as a player on the court?

[Coda]

Quickly replaced with the feeling of euphoria of having an incredible NBA outstanding defensive backcourt.

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

We have an offensive minded PF & C who neither can protect the rim. Budinger, who very well could become our starting SF, is not a defensive stopper by any means. I want Rubio to actually defend the other teams PG on Defense, he will be able to do so with Oladipo at his side. I want a guard who can actually get up and down the court with Rubio, Oladipo fills up that request.

12 more days, the dream is still alive!!!!!

I hear you, I just can't stand the thought of watching us use another lotto pick on a wing that can't shoot. We have had enough buyers remorse with that type.

[Klomp]

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

Considering Rubio averaged 10.7 ppg and Kirilenko averaged 12.4 ppg, you're expecting Oladipo to average a negative 3.1 ppg?

Makes sense...

[Coda]

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

Considering Rubio averaged 10.7 ppg and Kirilenko averaged 12.4 ppg, you're expecting Oladipo to average a negative 3.1 ppg?

Makes sense...

I guess I'm all in favor starting 3 in the backcourt as long as we still get to start a front court consisting of 2 forwards and a center. I would even be ok with letting VO shoot threes on the other teams hoop until he gets his -3 in that scenario. In all seriousness though, I guess we just differ on the SF being considered part of the front or backcourt.

[Klomp]

That excites me too, but if we end up with a backcourt that scores 20 points combined, they will really have to play good D to hold the opposing backcourt below 20. Not to mention that poor outside shooting would allow the other team's D to collapse our the front court that we will be relying on to score all of our points. I won't be upset at all if we get VO as he is as good of a prospect as anyone in the draft. I just worry that both players in this potential starting backcourt never develop into decent shooters.

Considering Rubio averaged 10.7 ppg and Kirilenko averaged 12.4 ppg, you're expecting Oladipo to average a negative 3.1 ppg?

Makes sense...

I guess I'm all in favor starting 3 in the backcourt as long as we still get to start a front court consisting of 2 forwards and a center. I would even be ok with letting VO shoot threes on the other teams hoop until he gets his -3 in that scenario. In all seriousness though, I guess we just differ on the SF being considered part of the front or backcourt.

Sorry, I brain-farted on that one. Carry on...

I certainly think VO can average 10+ ppg. VO scored 13.6 ppg in 28.6 mpg (0.47 ppm). Mac scored 15.9 ppg in 32.2 mpg (0.49 ppm). Hardly a big difference, except Oladipo (59.9%, 44.1%) was more efficient than McLemore (49.5%, 42%).

[Klomp]

According to multiple league sources with knowledge of the situation, Oladipo has declined the Wizards’ invitation to work out at Verizon Center. But Oladipo has given the team the option of watching him work out at DeMatha or another facility in Bowie, where he has been preparing for the NBA draft.

Oladipo grew up in Upper Marlboro but doesn’t expect his career to begin with his hometown team, which already has its backcourt set with John Wall and Bradley Beal. When asked about the possibility of playing for the Wizards during the NBA combine last month in Chicago, Oladipo didn’t sound as if he thought it would be the best fit.

“It would be interesting because they already have John Wall and Bradley Beal,” he said, “but I feel like if I land there, I can make an impact in whatever area they want to, and just help the team win.”

The Wizards have expressed an interest in Oladipo, who averaged 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds as a junior and helped the Hoosiers win the Big Ten title and advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

With an open invitation, the Wizards would still like a visit with Oladipo early next week, according to sources. Oladipo met with the Wizards on the first night of the NBA combine. But members of Oladipo’s camp are pessimistic that the team would actually take him with the third overall pick in the NBA draft on June 27 at Barclays Center.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... on-center/

[Klomp]

I've read that McLemore only wants individual workouts. Is he scared that he might show his flaws if he was matched up against someone?

[MinotauroBigNog]

Doubt he is, but I'm sure his agent knows he will be pick 1 or 2 and doesn't wanna risk it changing via getting worked in a workout by Oladipo or someone.