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

[C.lupus]

Golden State
Houston
LA Clippers
Portland
Memphis
San Antonio
Dallas
New Orleans
Oklahoma City

Which of those nine do see the Wolves being better than?

I could see them being better than Portland (if Aldridge leaves), Memphis (if Gasol leaves), San Antonio (if their guys retire or if their play drops off due to age), and Dallas (if Dirk's play drops off due to age).

That's a lot of "ifs".

I'd say the odds of Gasol leaving Memphis are slim (maybe 5-10%).
San Antonio will probably lose Manu but will still have Duncan and Parker and Pop (and Kawhi). I expect them to reload (maybe LMA?).
Cuban will just buy more vets like he does every year to at least get in the playoffs.
Portland is the one team I see that has the potential to drop, depending on how things go. And that still doesn't put the Wolves in the playoffs,

[No-Man]

Dallas is at least making the PO, having Carlisle and capspace guarantees you that much kind of.

[NewWolvesOrder]

Not expecting playoffs, unless Rubio is healthy all year and improves on his weaknesses and blossoms into a top tier PG.

[Murphs56]

Man, that video of Towns effortlessly shooting 3's. Wow

[Saltine]

Why don't we get to see Okafor making all these easy 3's at workouts???

[urinesane]

Why don't we get to see Okafor making all these easy 3's at workouts???

I'd be impressed if he had a video making 11 out of 13 free throws without fancy editing needed.

[TRKO]

Don't discount the Lakers as contenders next year provided Love opts out and signs there.

C- Okafor
PF- Love
SF- ?
SG- Kobe
PG- Rondo

Now that lineup isn't as good as the names suggest, but it's a very likely combo if Love opts out. It could compete for that 8 spot as well.

[NewWolvesOrder]

Don't discount the Lakers as contenders next year provided Love opts out and signs there.

C- Okafor
PF- Love
SF- ?
SG- Kobe
PG- Rondo

Now that lineup isn't as good as the names suggest, but it's a very likely combo if Love opts out. It could compete for that 8 spot as well.

That lineup is as scary as a paper tiger,

[FargoWolf]

Don't discount the Lakers as contenders next year provided Love opts out and signs there.

C- Okafor
PF- Love
SF- ?
SG- Kobe
PG- Rondo

Now that lineup isn't as good as the names suggest, but it's a very likely combo if Love opts out. It could compete for that 8 spot as well.

Would be one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

[Cyborg21]

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Kar ... rview-5041

How many times does he have to say that he doesn't care where he goes and that he will work out for everyone?

[jpatrick]

Towns is very well spoken. The key takeaway from the DX interview was that it sounds like he will interview AND workout for teams. Of course that is him, not his agent, talking.

[horaceworthy]

http://youtu.be/mgzgm1DCEaQ

Okafor vs. Towns, among other match ups. Last year's Hoop Summit.

[horaceworthy]

Useless post now that the previous one was edited.

[MinneOOPalis]

Was listening to Barreiro earlier and he brought up an interesting point. Tim Duncans free throw percentage is nearly identical to his NBA%...

I'm guessing with some digging the evidence would suggest most big men don't dramatically improve their free throw stroke from college to the pro's.

[horaceworthy]

Milsapp went from a 62% free throw shooter to an 80+% free throw shooter. Karl Malone's typically the historical example that gets brought up. WCS went from abysmal to not hackworthy. It's something that can be improved, obviously doesn't guarantee it will be.

[Feilong]

I don't see us making the playoffs next year. Going to 30-35 wins is the logical step.
But if we draft Towns i can see a clear path how the team from 35 can go to 45-50 wins and playoffs.
A little more development from the young players plus 1-2 moves will probably be enough.
If we draft Okafor or Russell i can't see an easy path. Roster will need serious adjustments because our primary weakness will still be there waiting for a solution.

We need a defensive big about 10 years. Towns has the tools to be that anchor .
Flip last year was repeatedly saying that he wants 2-way players. Again looks like Towns is the obvious choice.
If we add a big that can stretch the floor? Oh boy how much pressure will this create for the opponents.
Making FTs is also a big plus for Towns.
One big factor for me is how much easier is to pair Towns with another big. You can pair him with a big or a stretch PF, a low post or a mobile Center, or even play him in small lineups where he is the only big. He makes everything so much easier.

[moss_is_1]

Was listening to Barreiro earlier and he brought up an interesting point. Tim Duncans free throw percentage is nearly identical to his NBA%...

I'm guessing with some digging the evidence would suggest most big men don't dramatically improve their free throw stroke from college to the pro's.

As someone else said, Malone, as well as Blake Griffin(he shot 60's and even 50's his first couple years, and 50's in college, and now shoots over 70%).

[Killboard]

Was listening to Barreiro earlier and he brought up an interesting point. Tim Duncans free throw percentage is nearly identical to his NBA%...

I'm guessing with some digging the evidence would suggest most big men don't dramatically improve their free throw stroke from college to the pro's.

As someone else said, Malone, as well as Blake Griffin(he shot 60's and even 50's his first couple years, and 50's in college, and now shoots over 70%).

Griffin shoot .590 in college.
Malone shoot .682 in his second season in Louisiana.

But the point is which is the trend? Cause you cant make assumptions based on exceptions.

[Worm Guts]

Was listening to Barreiro earlier and he brought up an interesting point. Tim Duncans free throw percentage is nearly identical to his NBA%...

I'm guessing with some digging the evidence would suggest most big men don't dramatically improve their free throw stroke from college to the pro's.

As someone else said, Malone, as well as Blake Griffin(he shot 60's and even 50's his first couple years, and 50's in college, and now shoots over 70%).

Griffin shoot .590 in college.
Malone shoot .682 in his second season in Louisiana.

But the point is which is the trend? Cause you cant make assumptions based on exceptions.

Tim Duncan shot both 60 percent and 80 percent as season averages. There are a bunch of examples of players who have improved, although many times they seem to fluctuate. Chris Webber shot in the 50's earlier in his career, had seasons around 80, then dropped again late in his career. Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson are also players who have fluctuated between 60 and 80 percent.

[Killboard]

As someone else said, Malone, as well as Blake Griffin(he shot 60's and even 50's his first couple years, and 50's in college, and now shoots over 70%).

Griffin shoot .590 in college.
Malone shoot .682 in his second season in Louisiana.

But the point is which is the trend? Cause you cant make assumptions based on exceptions.

Tim Duncan shot both 60 percent and 80 percent as season averages. There are a bunch of examples of players who have improved, although many times they seem to fluctuate. Chris Webber shot in the 50's earlier in his career, had seasons around 80, then dropped again late in his career. Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson are also players who have fluctuated between 60 and 80 percent.

Big point is all of them shown more range than okafor besides their FT%. Malone, duncan, webber, Randolph, Griffin they had good mechanics on in game situation jumpers.

Okafor didnt show that last year neither, except for a 10 feet bank shot. He could be an average FT shooter in the future, but the evidence indicate the opposite way.