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

[Mattya]

I see us somewhere between 6-12. I don't see any realistic chance we have at the playoffs. OKC, LAC, GSW, Houston, Memphis, Utah, and SA. Then you have teams like Portland and Dallas who could have some turnover this year, but if they keep their core together should be better than us.

[Mattya]

You think the Wolves will be in the playoffs?

If the team can stay healthy, I think it's a very real possibility. Of the Western Conference playoff teams, I could see Memphis, San Antonio, Dallas and Portland all falling off next year due to age (San Antonio, Dallas) or free agency (Memphis, Portland), with OKC being the only outside team definitely getting back in next year.

Maybe not the playoffs, but I think the team will be closer to the playoffs then they will be to another top 3 pick.

You do know we won't have our pick if it is outside the top 12 right?

Completely slipped my mind.

I don't see San Antonio falling off so much that we can surpass them, that would be an epic downfall, they could also be adding Aldridge or Gasol this summer. Memphis and Portland possibly fall off if they lose their core. Dallas could still keep their guys together and let Rondo go, add free agents and still be better than us.

[AQuintus]

I see us somewhere between 6-12. I don't see any realistic chance we have at the playoffs. OKC, LAC, GSW, Houston, Memphis, Utah, and SA.

OKC, GSW, LAC, and Houston I agree with.

SA's best players (minus Leonard, who I don't think can carry a team) are on the verge of retirement, and they're finally showing their age. Memphis' best player (Gasol) is a free agent and could walk, and Z-Bo is getting old and seems to be falling off.

Utah? There core is nice, but I would put a healthy Wolves team + the number 1 pick right there with them.

Then you have teams like Portland and Dallas who could have some turnover this year, but if they keep their core together should be better than us.

There's a good chance that Aldridge leaves, and Dirk is only getting older.

[AQuintus]

I don't see San Antonio falling off so much that we can surpass them,

If Ginobili, Duncan, and Pop all retire, they're going to be fairly bad. I would definitely expect them to be out of the playoffs.

they could also be adding Aldridge or Gasol this summer.

In which case the Spurs would be in, but Portland, Memphis, or both would likely be out.

Dallas could still keep their guys together and let Rondo go, add free agents and still be better than us.

Depends entirely on Dirk, imo. If he stays at a high level, they'll be in. If he starts to show his age, then they're borderline.

Edit:

We also saw this year with OKC that injuries to top guys can drop surefire playoff teams out. If LAC, for example, loses both Paul and Griffin for an extended time, they'd be out. Same with Houston and Harden and Dwight.

[No-Man]

It is too early to tell, but I dont see a way or scenario where the Wolves dont have a guaranteed top10 in next years Draft, most likely in the 5-10 range.

[Mattya]

I see us somewhere between 6-12. I don't see any realistic chance we have at the playoffs. OKC, LAC, GSW, Houston, Memphis, Utah, and SA.

OKC, GSW, LAC, and Houston I agree with.

SA's best players (minus Leonard, who I don't think can carry a team) are on the verge of retirement, and they're finally showing their age. Memphis' best player (Gasol) is a free agent and could walk, and Z-Bo is getting old and seems to be falling off.

Utah? There core is nice, but I would put a healthy Wolves team + the number 1 pick right there with them.

Then you have teams like Portland and Dallas who could have some turnover this year, but if they keep their core together should be better than us.

There's a good chance that Aldridge leaves, and Dirk is only getting older.

San Antonio still finished last year 55-27 and have been on the verge of retirement for years. Gasol could stay on a 50+ win team in Memphis, and if he leaves San Antonio looks like a very possible option. I would put Utah 1 year ahead of us in development. They are adding a legit starting point guard away from being a playoff lock in my opinion. There is a possibility Aldridge leaves, and again he is another guy who could go to San Antonio. Dirk is getting older(still a great player), but they just finished with 50 wins, if they keep there team together, or possibly add DeAndre Jordan they likely are still better than us.

[TwolvesFanRome]

Hi guys..

Here in Italy lot of people talk about the possibility to see Okafor called by Minnie: a) because KAT has not a great ambition to become a Twolves b) because Okafor has proven to be more ready than kat and more functional for the project ...

Anyway i see in this forum that KAT it's the pick

I have a question...why i'm reading a lot of post and news like " c mon minnie call KAT and Tyus Jones " ...TJ will be drafted in the first round...how we can acquire him????

Other question...when we'll get a star already shining? it is possible that we can not ever take one ? we will make a trade for a star ? We will never acquire a free agent strong ?

I apologize for grammatical errors that surely there are . CMON Timberwolves from Rome!!!

[AQuintus]

San Antonio still finished last year 55-27 and have been on the verge of retirement for years.

On the verge, but not actually retired. Either way, guys like Duncan won't maintain an elite level of play forever, next year could be the year that they finally fall off due to age/injuries due to age.

Gasol could stay on a 50+ win team in Memphis,

Yep. In which case they'd probably stay in.

and if he leaves San Antonio looks like a very possible option.

In which case, Memphis would probably be out. You can't have it both ways.

I would put Utah 1 year ahead of us in development.

Maybe. I think if Minnesota had their same relative health, our record would be pretty close to theirs.

There is a possibility Aldridge leaves, and again he is another guy who could go to San Antonio.

In which case Portland is out, and SA is probably in.

Dirk is getting older(still a great player), but they just finished with 50 wins,

And bad health + Dirk falling off could easily put them below 40.

if they keep there team together, or possibly add DeAndre Jordan they likely are still better than us.

And adding Jordan would make LAC worse.

Edit:

All I'm saying is that it's not a foregone conclusion that the Wolves will miss the playoffs again next year. There's a distinct, but small, chance that they'll get in. Either way, I don't think that the Wolves will be drafting top 3 again next year unless we're extremely unlucky with injuries again, extremely lucky with the lottery, and/or Wiggins, LaVine, and the other young guys don't improve at all. I would expect, like Worm Guts, a pick somewhere 7-14, probably closer to 14.

[jpatrick]

West is too deep and tough, and as much as I LOVE Towns, I don't think he'll be a huge difference maker his rookie year. He'll have more of a Wiggins-type effect, where he is very impressive and you can tell he'll be a star down the road, but he has enough rookie moments that we struggle down the stretch of close games.

I could see us being loosely in the playoff chase though, which means we could finish with the 13 or 14 pick and thus lose it.

[TRKO]

I don't see us as a playoff team next year. Towns and Okafor both need developing and I don't think Wiggins can carry us yet. 2016-2017 looks like a better bet.

[AQuintus]

as much as I LOVE Towns, I don't think he'll be a huge difference maker his rookie year.

and I don't think Wiggins can carry us yet.

I don't think they'll have to. I think that with how bad the team was with injuries this year that people have forgotten how talented the roster actually is (even with Pek likely being done).

[Mattya]

On the verge, but not actually retired. Either way, guys like Duncan won't maintain an elite level of play forever, next year could be the year that they finally fall off due to age/injuries due to age.

People have been saying this for years, and he was good in the playoffs, so you'll have to forgive me if I don't bet against Tim Duncan.

In which case, Memphis would probably be out. You can't have it both ways.

How is it having it both ways, it still means there is 1 team unquestionably better than us.

Maybe. I think if Minnesota had their same relative health, our record would be pretty close to theirs.

I can't bet on Pekovic being healthy and I can't see how adding Rubio and Martin takes us from 16 wins to 38 wins.

And bad health + Dirk falling off could easily put them below 40.

Sorry again, until it actually happens and they lose most of their team, I'm not counting on them being worst than us.

And adding Jordan would make LAC worse.

It would make LAC worse, but worse than the Wolves. Na.

[AQuintus]

How is it having it both ways, it still means there is 1 team unquestionably better than us.

The point is that one team would fall out of the playoffs, and all we need is one team to fall out. You can't have Gasol on both Memphis and SA to keep them both in.

Edit:

I can't bet on Pekovic being healthy and I can't see how adding Rubio and Martin takes us from 16 wins to 38 wins.

1) I think you're underestimating their impact (especially Rubio's), and underestimating the impact of not having to play LaVine 30+ mpg at PG all year.

2) It wasn't just Rubio, Martin, and Pek that were injured.

[Merc_Porto]

I think that with how bad the team was with injuries this year that people have forgotten how talented the roster actually is (even with Pek likely being done).

Yes, we could have in our roster one of the best benchs in the league and that counts a lot too.

[Mattya]

All I'm saying is that it's not a foregone conclusion that the Wolves will miss the playoffs again next year. There's a distinct, but small, chance that they'll get in. Either way, I don't think that the Wolves will be drafting top 3 again next year unless we're extremely unlucky with injuries again, extremely lucky with the lottery, and/or Wiggins, LaVine, and the other young guys don't improve at all. I would expect, like Worm Guts, a pick somewhere 7-14, probably closer to 14.

I don't think it is a forgone conclusion either, but I'm not betting much on all these other teams falling off and everything going right for the Wolves. I never said I expect them to be in the top 3. Like I said 6-12.

[AQuintus]

I never said I expect them to be in the top 3.

The whole thing started because you mentioned Skal, and I don't think we'll be in position to draft him unless we're in the top 3.

[MinneOOPalis]

I might be going a bit far here, but if Towns can translate his shooting to the NBA, I could see him being a bigger, more mobile Kevin Love on offense with his 3-point range, high level outlet and high post passing, and limited but effective post game.

I'd say he's more Tim Duncan than Kevin Love.. Just trade Duncan's elite low post game with better shooting.

[Mattya]

How is it having it both ways, it still means there is 1 team unquestionably better than us.

The point is that one team would fall out of the playoffs, and all we need is one team to fall out. You can't have Gasol on both Memphis and SA to keep them both in.

Edit:

I can't bet on Pekovic being healthy and I can't see how adding Rubio and Martin takes us from 16 wins to 38 wins.

1) I think you're underestimating their impact (especially Rubio's), and underestimating the impact of not having to play LaVine 30+ mpg at PG all year.

2) It wasn't just Rubio, Martin, and Pek that were injured.

1. I never said both would be in but counting all these teams out is ridiculously optimistic.

2. I'm not underestimating Rubio's impact. I'm just not expecting him to be healthy and help us win an extra 20 games.

3. Right it was also Thad who is replaced by KG, who will still sit out a lot of games and only play limited minutes. Gary Neal who I doubt will be around. Pekovic who would be silly to bet on being healthy at this point. Martin who has always been injury prone. Sahibs Muhammad who is still a young player. Gorgui Dieng who played most of the year. Rubio who will have the greatest impact but has been injury prone.

[Mattya]

I never said I expect them to be in the top 3.

The whole thing started because you mentioned Skal, and I don't think we'll be in position to draft him unless we're in the top 3.

Which is possible without finishing in the bottom 3.

[AQuintus]

1. I never said both would be in but counting all these teams out is ridiculously optimistic.

I never said that we should count ALL of those teams out, just that they all have the potential to miss the playoffs next year.

2. I'm not underestimating Rubio's impact. I'm just not expecting him to be healthy and help us win an extra 20 games.

Why shouldn't we expect Rubio to be healthy? He played all 82 games a year ago, and pretty much all of his missed time has been the result of two freak injuries that are unlikely to reoccur.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/605468516687343616[/tweet]

Pretty impressive vert numbers for Russell, but, as always, jumping in the gym is different than jumping in-game and the eye test is probably a better indicator of actual athleticism.