2014 Draft Prospects Thread

[minimus]

I would PREFER to give them Martin in the deal. Would also prefer Olynyk over Bass...
I would also try to pressure them into giving us their Boston Picks.. Or both. Ainge would hardball us though, he would realize we think he has the best package.

I like Bass expiring contract, also he's really solid PF, and has consistent mid range game, those pick and pop plays can really open game for Rubio. Basically he will do what Dante failed to do on consistently: hit mid range shots, defend. I don't see PT for Olynyk if we have Pek/Dieng/Sully/Vohlen. Budinger finished with couple of really good games, but I'm affraid without athleticism, ballhandling skills he won't be the same player. Those injuries... Martin can be 6th player from the bench, volume scorer, spot-up shooter.

[volk_bart]

Trade Love to the Kings for Evans, Terry, McLemore and 8th, then Martin to the Hornets for 24th. Release Evans and Terry if needed. Package 24th, 13th and Budinger for 7th and draft Vonleh and Gordon. And Package 40th and 44th for 35th and draft Inglis and Larsen to leaf them. One or two years in Europe.



Pekovic/Dieng/Thuriaf
Vonleh/Mbah a Moute
Brewer/Gordon
McLemore/Shabazz
Rubio/Barea

What you think? I Know its easier Said That done.

[MinneOOPalis]

I would PREFER to give them Martin in the deal. Would also prefer Olynyk over Bass...
I would also try to pressure them into giving us their Boston Picks.. Or both. Ainge would hardball us though, he would realize we think he has the best package.

I like Bass expiring contract, also he's really solid PF, and has consistent mid range game, those pick and pop plays can really open game for Rubio. Basically he will do what Dante failed to do on consistently: hit mid range shots, defend. I don't see PT for Olynyk if we have Pek/Dieng/Sully/Vohlen. Budinger finished with couple of really good games, but I'm affraid without athleticism, ballhandling skills he won't be the same player. Those injuries... Martin can be 6th player from the bench, volume scorer, spot-up shooter.

Im assuming they would want us to choose two out of the three PF. I havent watched two much of Olynyck and Sully so I'm not sure who I would choose I suppose


And I see your reasoning but I want Martin gone for a couple reasons.

1) We are most likely drafting another two guard, along with Shabazz getting more playing time next year.

2) Martin is a black hole, whether he is on the starting lineup or the bench he will chuck a shot whenever he gets a chance.. especially with all the young players on the team.. All his presence would do is impede the improvement of our young players...And I'm not sure I would want him influencing our players style of play...


We aren't going to have Love next year so there is no pressure to make the playoffs. Our goal will be the improvement of our players and developing a new culture with our young guys..Sooner we accomplish this the sooner we compete.. Featuring Martin as a scorer does nothing for us..


Who knows, maybe Flip can set him straight...I just don't see a need to keep him around..

[minimus]

And I see your reasoning but I want Martin gone for a couple reasons.
1) We are most likely drafting another two guard, along with Shabazz getting more playing time next year.
2) Martin is a black hole, whether he is on the starting lineup or the bench he will chuck a shot whenever he gets a chance.. especially with all the young players on the team.. All his presence would do is impede the improvement of our young players...And I'm not sure I would want him influencing our players style of play...

We aren't going to have Love next year so there is no pressure to make the playoffs. Our goal will be the improvement of our players and developing a new culture with our young guys..Sooner we accomplish this the sooner we compete.. Featuring Martin as a scorer does nothing for us..

Who knows, maybe Flip can set him straight...I just don't see a need to keep him around..

I have same concerns about Martin, I think Flip shoud decide based on Budinger recovery progress (i've seen tweets that he is healthy now), Shabazz shooting progress as well as conditioning (Shabazz needs to lose 10-15 lbs to play adeguate perimeter defense). Shabazz potential is a bit mystery to me. He clearly needs better coaching, clear role and consistent PT.

[MinneOOPalis]

And I see your reasoning but I want Martin gone for a couple reasons.
1) We are most likely drafting another two guard, along with Shabazz getting more playing time next year.
2) Martin is a black hole, whether he is on the starting lineup or the bench he will chuck a shot whenever he gets a chance.. especially with all the young players on the team.. All his presence would do is impede the improvement of our young players...And I'm not sure I would want him influencing our players style of play...

We aren't going to have Love next year so there is no pressure to make the playoffs. Our goal will be the improvement of our players and developing a new culture with our young guys..Sooner we accomplish this the sooner we compete.. Featuring Martin as a scorer does nothing for us..

Who knows, maybe Flip can set him straight...I just don't see a need to keep him around..

I have same concerns about Martin, I think Flip shoud decide based on Budinger recovery progress (i've seen tweets that he is healthy now), Shabazz shooting progress as well as conditioning (Shabazz needs to lose 10-15 lbs to play adeguate perimeter defense). Shabazz potential is a bit mystery to me. He clearly needs better coaching, clear role and consistent PT.

Budinger won't be traded unless a team really wants him in a Love deal... No point in moving him until we can showcase him playing 100%, to get max value.. And personally I like Bud.. Good shooter and is a ball mover. Nice role player to have.

Bazz is somewhat of a mystery but he earned the chance to get playing time this year. He's actually a good shooter imo..But I think he didn't feel confident in it because Adelman would usually yank him for chucking a jumper early in the shotclock. He shot 40% in catch in shoot in college and he has a nice form on his jumper...

We basically need to see what he have with him.. He's shown he can play.. lets see how he does with some consistent minutes.

[minimus]

Budinger won't be traded unless a team really wants him in a Love deal... No point in moving him until we can showcase him playing 100%, to get max value.. And personally I like Bud.. Good shooter and is a ball mover. Nice role player to have.

Keeping Bud is huge risk because he is injury prone. And much worst thing is that he recovers slowly. Basically one injury cost him a season. Even before his injuries he was one of the worst 1 vs 1 defenders in the NBA. Last season he was in worst catch-shoot wing players in NBA. He showed some signs of shooting stroke, which may indicates that he struggled because of slow recovery process. But I woldn't trust him. Another injury, another lost season.

Martin is loser, no clutch, black hole in offense, no defense. His stats are inflatted by Ademlan system. So he is NOT 20+ ppg scorer. But he moves well without the ball, can be efficient spot-up shooter, he gets FT and make them at high %. We should admit that he is 6th man type player, who can get hot in 1-3 quaters. Don't use him as primary offensive option in the clutch. So he is ~15 ppg guy. If we move Barea, just make Martin the first bench player, instant point of offense.

[MinneOOPalis]

Budinger won't be traded unless a team really wants him in a Love deal... No point in moving him until we can showcase him playing 100%, to get max value.. And personally I like Bud.. Good shooter and is a ball mover. Nice role player to have.

Keeping Bud is huge risk because he is injury prone. And much worst thing is that he recovers slowly. Basically one injury cost him a season. Even before his injuries he was one of the worst 1 vs 1 defenders in the NBA. Last season he was in worst catch-shoot wing players in NBA. He showed some signs of shooting stroke, which may indicates that he struggled because of slow recovery process. But I woldn't trust him. Another injury, another lost season.

Martin is loser, no clutch, black hole in offense, no defense. His stats are inflatted by Ademlan system. So he is NOT 20+ ppg scorer. But he moves well without the ball, can be efficient spot-up shooter, he gets FT and make them at high %. We should admit that he is 6th man type player, who can get hot in 1-3 quaters. Don't use him as primary offensive option in the clutch. So he is ~15 ppg guy. If we move Barea, just make Martin the first bench player, instant point of offense.

Good point. I wasn't aware Bud was such a bad defender before his injury...

I think for the most part Martin is ours.. Nobody is going to want him and his contract..

[wildvikeswolves]

He's really strong and still moves well... In athleticism he really only lacks explosiveness..doesn't get off the ground very quickly.

Randle and Gordon are better all around athletes for sure.

Based on what Doogie was saying in his tweet above, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Vonleh is the top guy (of the three) on the Wolves' board. He's definitely the best shooter of the three, and he's got good defensive potential. Personally, I'd go with Gordon. I want a big that can consistently finish above the rim and act as a lob target for Rubio.

yea I think they got Vonleh at the top of there list because he replicates Love the most of the three.

I like all three and dont mind which one we get. Or if we chose to go Smart

[Worm Guts]

I hope it's not because of that, because Vonleh isn't a very good replica of Love, but shooting is always valuable and Vonleh has great measurements too.

[wildvikeswolves]

replicate was probably the wrong way to put it. He seems to have the best potential of the three to fill the shooting void left by Love with his range though

[Krapinsky]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/472114650721820672[/tweet]

If that's most important, would explain why they are high on Vonleh.

Then you would think they would not be big fans of Stauskas, Lavine, and Young at 13. Perhaps more interested in Harris, McDaniels, maybe Hairston.

[Krapinsky]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQzmWSparEI[/youtube]

Still time to get on the Hairston at #13 bandwagon. It's getting lonely on here.

[mondry]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/472114650721820672[/tweet]

If that's most important, would explain why they are high on Vonleh.

Then you would think they would not be big fans of Stauskas, Lavine, and Young at 13. Perhaps more interested in Harris, McDaniels, maybe Hairston.

As a casual basketball fan (last year being my first one really focusing on the wolves again since KG) getting more into it, it seems really obvious to me that 2 way players are the way to go, or what you should ultimately aim for. Why on earth would you draft someone who will almost certainly be a liability on defense (or the other way around) if you can help it?

From what I can tell, the NBA draft, talent wise, is just not deep enough to have a lot of two way players. So you're often picking a guy who's great at this, might develop that, but usually doesn't. Is that accurate? Or do teams really just value a guy highly if he's most likely going to be a good to great scorer, even if he doesn't play much defense? That seems short sighted to me but I guess I understand it if you're thinking "i'd rather get a guy great at one thing than guy whos just mediocre at both".

[AQuintus]

What you think?

I think that there's zero chance that the Lakers would move 7 for 13 and 24, and that Gordon, like every other tweener ever, will be a bust if he's developed at SF instead of PF.

[Krapinsky]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/472114650721820672[/tweet]

If that's most important, would explain why they are high on Vonleh.

Then you would think they would not be big fans of Stauskas, Lavine, and Young at 13. Perhaps more interested in Harris, McDaniels, maybe Hairston.

As a casual basketball fan (last year being my first one really focusing on the wolves again since KG) getting more into it, it seems really obvious to me that 2 way players are the way to go, or what you should ultimately aim for. Why on earth would you draft someone who will almost certainly be a liability on defense (or the other way around) if you can help it?

It's easier said than done. Just about every prospect has holes in his game and two way players are a rare commodity. Look at Harris. He projects as a two way player, but he has his own ?'s. Is he too small to guard bigger SG's? Is he too small to finish at the rim? If Harris were bigger he would be a top 4 pick like Beal or Wade. But you move down the draft and you kind of have to pick and choose and project who can improve in what areas.

[Devilzsidewalk]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/472114650721820672[/tweet]

If that's most important, would explain why they are high on Vonleh.

Then you would think they would not be big fans of Stauskas, Lavine, and Young at 13. Perhaps more interested in Harris, McDaniels, maybe Hairston.

2 way players - I like this sentiment.

[mondry]

It's easier said than done. Just about every prospect has holes in his game and two way players are a rare commodity. Look at Harris. He projects as a two way player, but he has his own ?'s. Is he too small to guard bigger SG's? Is he too small to finish at the rim? If Harris were bigger he would be a top 4 pick like Beal or Wade. But you move down the draft and you kind of have to pick and choose and project who can improve in what areas.

Yeah, from what I can tell NBA players are just super raw, most of them seem to come out as freshman where in the NFL most guys are playing college ball for 2-3 even 4 years so a lot more questions have been answered and they've had more time to develop and realize some of that potential.

It's not that you draft knowing the guy will always suck at something, you draft knowing he's decent at something and you hope the other stuff develops along the way. Just to throw a name out there, Aaron Gordon is 18 years old so it's pretty much impossible to know what he'll look like at 22-23 years old.

[MinneOOPalis]

I really like Gordon...but what scares me is he doesn't seem like a power forward at all. Skinny legs, no post game.. He will battle but doesn't have the body to bang down low for rebounds.


He reminds me of a bigger Iggy tbh.. He seems like a SF who will be able to guard 4 positions at a high level. He shows a decent handle and says hes been putting in a lot of work into his shot...

Whoever drafts him is going to need to be really creative in his development.



I am however, very intruiged in his fit with Rubio.

[AQuintus]

I really like Gordon...but what scares me is he doesn't seem like a power forward at all. Skinny legs, no post game.. He will battle but doesn't have the body to bang down low for rebounds.

Some of Gordon's biggest concerns can be alleviated a little by looking at his older brother, Drew Gordon:



He's never going to be a wide-body like Love, but given a few years to develop his body and add muscle (Drew was 6-9", 240 as a Senior), and he should be just fine at PF.

Also, Garnett was (and still is) a skinny legged guy, but he was able to use his length and leaping ability to be the best rebounder in the league for a big chunk of his career. With Dieng already showing that he can be a really high level rebounder, I'm not too concerned about rebounding.

[MinneOOPalis]

I understand the KG analogy but Gordon doesn't have the length to shoot over guys. He even struggled to get his shot off against college guys.. its one of his key weaknesses.

I just see him as a liability in certain phases of the game. I can't imagine him being a full-time starter at any position.


Even both of his best comparisons in AK47 and Shawn Marion mostly played the 3...


Maybe he could go the Lamarr Odom route and gradually shift over to a PF.