Poll: Who should the Wolves take with the #1 overall pick?

[Note30]

I feel like Town's defense might be a product of the system. I mean the guy had Stein on his team who really was a monster defensively, and I think Towns may have had an easier time as a result. Anyone else feel that?

I kinda agree with that.

KAT could expend more energy because he wasnt needed to play 30+ minutes a game. KAT may have played C, but WCS was the anchor of that defense. That kid made everyone on the Cats look better defensively.

I think it makes sense then, that the only real way to look at their unbiased system-free defensive potential would be workouts/interviews. Because at the end of the day thats the best way to understand the players. Do you know if their workouts are posted?

[Curuch13]

I'm starting to think you never even watched UK play, Towns would usually guard the biggest player on the other team while WCS would be this long athletic presence on the perimeter.

Exactly what I was going to say but raged too hard. Trill ****, real ****

I watched a bunch of UK games, but never really paid attention to who was guarding who unless I had actually heard of the players on the opposing team. Thus why I phrased it in the form of a question, lol. I do recall the bigs on the opposing team usually being much smaller though.

And don't rage about this stuff please. There's a very very good chance the best player will be the in field when considering Towns/Okafor/Field. In fact, if I were betting my life, I would take field for sure.

Which is why it baffles me that only Towns and Okafor are in the discussions here. Screw the idea of limiting ourselves in going big. There is a case for 4-5 guys to go #1 in this draft. I would even rather trade down a few spots (where guys like Russell, Mudiay or Porzingis could be available) and see whether a team is willing to give us either a first round pick, players on reasonable deals, take on our more expensive guys, or all of the above.

[Curuch13]

I feel like Town's defense might be a product of the system. I mean the guy had Stein on his team who really was a monster defensively, and I think Towns may have had an easier time as a result. Anyone else feel that?

I kinda agree with that.

KAT could expend more energy because he wasnt needed to play 30+ minutes a game. KAT may have played C, but WCS was the anchor of that defense. That kid made everyone on the Cats look better defensively.

I think it makes sense then, that the only real way to look at their unbiased system-free defensive potential would be workouts/interviews. Because at the end of the day thats the best way to understand the players. Do you know if their workouts are posted?

Not exactly a fan of keeping our pick and drafting Towns but to his defense (forgive the pun), Kentucky still had good rim protection numbers (around 40% I think) even with WCS off the floor and with Towns in the game.

[Note30]

I kinda agree with that.

KAT could expend more energy because he wasnt needed to play 30+ minutes a game. KAT may have played C, but WCS was the anchor of that defense. That kid made everyone on the Cats look better defensively.

I think it makes sense then, that the only real way to look at their unbiased system-free defensive potential would be workouts/interviews. Because at the end of the day thats the best way to understand the players. Do you know if their workouts are posted?

Not exactly a fan of keeping our pick and drafting Towns but to his defense (forgive the pun), Kentucky still had good rim protection numbers (around 40% I think) even with WCS off the floor and with Towns in the game.

First time we ever get a 1st overall and you want to dump it...

[Curuch13]

I think it makes sense then, that the only real way to look at their unbiased system-free defensive potential would be workouts/interviews. Because at the end of the day thats the best way to understand the players. Do you know if their workouts are posted?

Not exactly a fan of keeping our pick and drafting Towns but to his defense (forgive the pun), Kentucky still had good rim protection numbers (around 40% I think) even with WCS off the floor and with Towns in the game.

First time we ever get a 1st overall and you want to dump it...

I do not exactly mean dumping it. As I earlier said, I would explore trading down a few spots if it could get us more assets (i.e. first round picks, players on reasonable contracts, etc.). This isn't the draft where there is a runaway #1 prospect at the top. About 4-5 guys could make a case for going #1 in this draft. Just because this is the first time we get a 1st overall should not mean that we get emotional about it and not explore better options.

[sfernald]

Exactly what I was going to say but raged too hard. Trill ****, real ****

I watched a bunch of UK games, but never really paid attention to who was guarding who unless I had actually heard of the players on the opposing team. Thus why I phrased it in the form of a question, lol. I do recall the bigs on the opposing team usually being much smaller though.

And don't rage about this stuff please. There's a very very good chance the best player will be the in field when considering Towns/Okafor/Field. In fact, if I were betting my life, I would take field for sure.

Hmm that is an interesting point... Would anybody take Towns or Okafor over the field?

Look at recent history...

2014 draft - Wiggins, Parker or field (way too early to even think about, but Embiid has a shot)
2013 draft - Bennett, Olapido or field (great chance it's not the top 2, Giannis or NN may end up better but it's early)
2012 draft - Davis, Gilchrist or field (Bingo - think this one's a winner)
2011 draft - Irving, Derrick Williams or field (I like Kahwi and maybe Klay better than Kyrie at this point already)
2010 draft - Wall, Evan Turner or field (Cousins, Paul George maybe are better, it's arguable)
2009 draft - Griffin, Thabeet or field (Once again strong arguments can be made that Curry or Harden are better players)

So probably one sure draft in the last six has the best player in the draft taken at #1 or #2. The one thing I noticed is how bad some of these #1/#2s ended up: Bennett, Williams, Turner, Thabeet --- UGH. Don't make the wrong pick!!

[NewWolvesOrder]

I watched a bunch of UK games, but never really paid attention to who was guarding who unless I had actually heard of the players on the opposing team. Thus why I phrased it in the form of a question, lol. I do recall the bigs on the opposing team usually being much smaller though.

And don't rage about this stuff please. There's a very very good chance the best player will be the in field when considering Towns/Okafor/Field. In fact, if I were betting my life, I would take field for sure.

Hmm that is an interesting point... Would anybody take Towns or Okafor over the field?

Look at recent history...

2014 draft - Wiggins, Parker or field (way too early to even think about, but Embiid has a shot)
2013 draft - Bennett, Olapido or field (great chance it's not the top 2, Giannis or NN may end up better but it's early)
2012 draft - Davis, Gilchrist or field (Bingo - think this one's a winner)
2011 draft - Irving, Derrick Williams or field (I like Kahwi and maybe Klay better than Kyrie at this point already)
2010 draft - Wall, Evan Turner or field (Cousins, Paul George maybe are better, it's arguable)
2009 draft - Griffin, Thabeet or field (Once again strong arguments can be made that Curry or Harden are better players)

So probably one sure draft in the last six has the best player in the draft taken at #1 or #2. The one thing I noticed is how bad some of these #1/#2s ended up: Bennett, Williams, Turner, Thabeet --- UGH. Don't make the wrong pick!!

So what if the best player comes of the field? Your list players shows that #1 pick gives you a damn good player and mostly a franchise centerpiece (outside of Bennett who was a dumb pick in a weak draft). #2 pick is historically more dicey but last 2 drafts were not bad for #2 selection. Plus we already have a franchise centerpiece who happens to be a perimeter player. Drafting a franchise big is not a bad strategy even if the best player in this draft will turn out to be somebody else.

[AQuintus]

This isn't the draft where there is a runaway #1 prospect at the top. About 4-5 guys could make a case for going #1 in this draft.

Maybe. That's extremely arguable. However, this team's biggest need is in the front court, and the two best prospects in the draft are front court players There's really no good reason to trade back; especially since we already have good, young prospects at PG (Rubio), SG (LaVine), and SF (Wiggins).

[wildvikeswolves]

Exactly what I was going to say but raged too hard. Trill ****, real ****

I watched a bunch of UK games, but never really paid attention to who was guarding who unless I had actually heard of the players on the opposing team. Thus why I phrased it in the form of a question, lol. I do recall the bigs on the opposing team usually being much smaller though.

And don't rage about this stuff please. There's a very very good chance the best player will be the in field when considering Towns/Okafor/Field. In fact, if I were betting my life, I would take field for sure.

Which is why it baffles me that only Towns and Okafor are in the discussions here. Screw the idea of limiting ourselves in going big. There is a case for 4-5 guys to go #1 in this draft. I would even rather trade down a few spots (where guys like Russell, Mudiay or Porzingis could be available) and see whether a team is willing to give us either a first round pick, players on reasonable deals, take on our more expensive guys, or all of the above.

They're the only people that us here are discussing but it's been said that Flip plans to workout Towns, Oak, Russell, and Mudiay plus 2 others, Porzingis and Winslow/Hezonja being my guesses

[sfernald]

Hmm that is an interesting point... Would anybody take Towns or Okafor over the field?

Look at recent history...

2014 draft - Wiggins, Parker or field (way too early to even think about, but Embiid has a shot)
2013 draft - Bennett, Olapido or field (great chance it's not the top 2, Giannis or NN may end up better but it's early)
2012 draft - Davis, Gilchrist or field (Bingo - think this one's a winner)
2011 draft - Irving, Derrick Williams or field (I like Kahwi and maybe Klay better than Kyrie at this point already)
2010 draft - Wall, Evan Turner or field (Cousins, Paul George maybe are better, it's arguable)
2009 draft - Griffin, Thabeet or field (Once again strong arguments can be made that Curry or Harden are better players)

So probably one sure draft in the last six has the best player in the draft taken at #1 or #2. The one thing I noticed is how bad some of these #1/#2s ended up: Bennett, Williams, Turner, Thabeet --- UGH. Don't make the wrong pick!!

So what if the best player comes of the field? Your list players shows that #1 pick gives you a damn good player and mostly a franchise centerpiece (outside of Bennett who was a dumb pick in a weak draft). #2 pick is historically more dicey but last 2 drafts were not bad for #2 selection. Plus we already have a franchise centerpiece who happens to be a perimeter player. Drafting a franchise big is not a bad strategy even if the best player in this draft will turn out to be somebody else.

Yep, just saying. If we can get a better sure thing like a stud vet or more assets to move back it's not necessarily the end of the world.

But I'd sure rather pick #1 than #2 based on recent history. If you throw out the best pick #1 AD (2012) and the worst pick #1 AB (2013), that leaves you with Wiggins, Irving, Wall or Griffin. Not exactly a bad haul as you said! Let's just not blow and make sure we get the true #1 guy.

[FargoWolf]

SI.com on "stretch" Towns...

We didn't see the full version of Towns at Kentucky​. It is a pre-draft rite of passage for big men who didn't shoot many jumpers in college to claim to have that skill in their arsenal—that it was merely under-showcased. Most of the time this is nonsense, an agent's ploy to boost draft stock. But in the case of Towns, who attempted just eight treys as a Kentucky freshman, there's reason to believe he could eventually become Stretch-Towns in the NBA, and not just because of his pure stroke from the free-throw line.

During the NCAA tournament, I was interviewing Dave Turco, Towns' high-school coach from St. Joseph's (Metuchen, N.J.), and brought up the topic of his limited three-point opportunities as a Wildcat. That Towns had attempted just eight, Turco said, "Is insane, because I'm telling you, that's his best shot. He can knock down threes."

And Towns is not just a practice shooter: In three years at St. Joseph's, Towns made 127 treys, and his senior season, he shot 51.6% from deep. When he played for the Dominican Republic's U17 team in 2011, he shot 45.5% (10-of-22) on FIBA-length threes. And there were occasional glimpses of this in Lexington, like this fluid, corner catch-and-shoot against Eastern Kentucky in December:



Kentucky big men under John Calipari are not typically green-lit to take threes, and Calipari felt that Towns, even with his past as a shooter, was more valuable to the Wildcats playing near the rim. Towns' development as an interior force at Kentucky is what put him in the No. 1-pick conversation, so that strategy didn't hurt his stock one bit, but it does seem probable that he can take on an expanded offensive role.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/05/29/nba-draft-karl-anthony-towns-jahlil-okafor-frank-kaminsky-delon-wright

[Takingbaconback]

SI.com on "stretch" Towns...

We didn't see the full version of Towns at Kentucky​. It is a pre-draft rite of passage for big men who didn't shoot many jumpers in college to claim to have that skill in their arsenal—that it was merely under-showcased. Most of the time this is nonsense, an agent's ploy to boost draft stock. But in the case of Towns, who attempted just eight treys as a Kentucky freshman, there's reason to believe he could eventually become Stretch-Towns in the NBA, and not just because of his pure stroke from the free-throw line.

During the NCAA tournament, I was interviewing Dave Turco, Towns' high-school coach from St. Joseph's (Metuchen, N.J.), and brought up the topic of his limited three-point opportunities as a Wildcat. That Towns had attempted just eight, Turco said, "Is insane, because I'm telling you, that's his best shot. He can knock down threes."

And Towns is not just a practice shooter: In three years at St. Joseph's, Towns made 127 treys, and his senior season, he shot 51.6% from deep. When he played for the Dominican Republic's U17 team in 2011, he shot 45.5% (10-of-22) on FIBA-length threes. And there were occasional glimpses of this in Lexington, like this fluid, corner catch-and-shoot against Eastern Kentucky in December:

Kentucky big men under John Calipari are not typically green-lit to take threes, and Calipari felt that Towns, even with his past as a shooter, was more valuable to the Wildcats playing near the rim. Towns' development as an interior force at Kentucky is what put him in the No. 1-pick conversation, so that strategy didn't hurt his stock one bit, but it does seem probable that he can take on an expanded offensive role.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/05/29/nba-dr ... lon-wright

Nice. Time to see what these guys got hidden up their sleeves in workouts.

[Mattya]

He could eventually be a stretch big.

[mondry]

Love it, that's the kind of versatility you can use in the playoffs if the post game isn't working. Take their shot blocking rim protector out to the 3 point line. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET IT BE TOWNS FLIP!

[sheefo13]

I think that graph that charts NBA big men's ability to shoot Free Throws against their block percentage says it all. Towns could be a player that you can't compare to any previous players. There is not a player that is that good at rim protection and defense that can hit the three consistently. It seems like a match up nightmare. The more and more I compare Okafor and Towns the more it is so obvious Towns needs to be the pick.

[FargoWolf]

Flip on the radio now, talking about how surprised he was to find out about Towns three point shooting. Said he talked with a number of his coaches, coach Cal said he was UK's best three point shooter.

[sheefo13]

Flip on the radio now, talking about how surprised he was to find out about Towns three point shooting. Said he talked with a number of his coaches, coach Cal said he was UK's best three point shooter.

Booker was pretty good too! So that is saying a lot. I hope Flip isn't bluffing on this by building up Towns to try to attract a trade to trade down and grab Okafor.

What else is Flip saying? I don't get why they couldn't wait until Rush hour to air this interview.

[FargoWolf]

Flip on the radio now, talking about how surprised he was to find out about Towns three point shooting. Said he talked with a number of his coaches, coach Cal said he was UK's best three point shooter.

Booker was pretty good too! So that is saying a lot. I hope Flip isn't bluffing on this by building up Towns to try to attract a trade to trade down and grab Okafor.

What else is Flip saying? I don't get why they couldn't wait until Rush hour to air this interview.

He said mostly a lot of nothing. The two things I wouldn't expect him to do is hire Thibs as coach and draft Russell at #1. It seemed like he didn't think Russell was consistent enough to go ahead of the two bigs.

Bump tried to lay out that in today's NBA game that Okafor should be #3 in regards to what you want, Flip didn't really have any of that though. The only thing I could take away from it is that he had been doing some homework on Towns as of late, seemed to be reaching out to his various contacts and they were saying good things.

[horaceworthy]

He compared Tyus to DJ Augustin, said they'll try to get him in here for a workout, along with a couple dozen other players, both for the #1 and in the 22-40 range. Talked about how for the #1 visiting with the kid in a situation he's comfortable, with some of his people, will probably be more important than an hour and a half workout. Said he knows who he'd pick today, but still has a lot more information to get.

[mondry]

He compared Tyus to DJ Augustin, said they'll try to get him in here for a workout, along with a couple dozen other players, both for the #1 and in the 22-40 range. Talked about how for the #1 visiting with the kid in a situation he's comfortable, with some of his people, will probably be more important than an hour and a half workout. Said he knows who he'd pick today, but still has a lot more information to get.

Interesting, I like DJ Augstin, after he started playing for the Thunder their 2nd unit looked a lot better. If he knows who he'd pick today wouldn't that lean towards Okafor still? Seems like he's spent the most time on Okafor so far and Towns is the one he "still has a lot more information to get" on.