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

[theGreatRC]

I can't handle this at all. I thought the whole Kevin Love trade was bad, but this is MUCH worse.

You thought getting Wiggins for someone who didn't want to be here was bad?

You know what he meant Klompy.

I see this as Flip just doing his homework, it's not uncommon for the guys who aren't considered the #1 pick in the draft to become the best player in the draft.

[Merc_Porto]

Mudiay with the #1 ?
He may be available at #5.

#1 + Pekovic - Orlando

#5 + Vucevic - Minnesota

___________________________

Rubio + Bjelica - Sacramento

#6 + Landry - Minnesota

____________________________

Mudiay #5
Lavine
Wiggins / Shabazz
Porzingis 6#
Vucevic / Dieng

[Krapinsky]

Mudiay with the #1 ?
He may be available at #5.

#1 + Pekovic - Orlando

#5 + Vucevic - Minnesota

___________________________

Rubio + Bjelica - Sacramento

#6 + Landry - Minnesota

____________________________

Mudiay #5
Lavine
Wiggins / Shabazz
Porzingis 6#
Vucevic / Dieng

Ick that front court defense.

I would need Noel or Embiid if I'm trading back out of #1 to take Mudiay.

Rubio + Towns for Embiid/Noel + Mudiay. Something like that.

[Devilzsidewalk]

My guess would be that they think they could potentially trade for a highish-mid lotto pick and want to check him out in case he's available, but if you say "we think you might drop in the draft and in case we trade for another draft pick, we would like to work you out" then his camp will say no, so you say "you're in the mix for #1 overall".

Second most likely scenario would be they might be considering a small trade-down scenario. Actually considering taking him #1 seems least likely to me.

I really wonder about a Rubio-based trade lately. Wolves working out Mudiay, they've mentioned Russell, Bledsoe last year, the Chad Ford stuff...feels like somewhere in there is some truth. I would never open up myself to the abuse I'd get by putting it up on the trade board, but with the talk that Sacramento has had interest in Rubio, I wonder if there's some combination of Rubio/Dieng/Shabazz/2nds/whatever that would get the #6 pick/filler? If the Sixers go Russell and NY passes on Mudiay, then he falls to #6 since Orlando has no need for a PG. Draftexpress actually has him going there right now. I know Wolves fans don't want to hear it, but I think Flip would trade Rubio for Mudiay if he could.

[Merc_Porto]

Mudiay with the #1 ?
He may be available at #5.

#1 + Pekovic - Orlando

#5 + Vucevic - Minnesota

___________________________

Rubio + Bjelica - Sacramento

#6 + Landry - Minnesota

____________________________

Mudiay #5
Lavine
Wiggins / Shabazz
Porzingis 6#
Vucevic / Dieng

Ick that front court defense.

Instead of Porzingis at #6.

WCS.

[Klomp]

I know Wolves fans don't want to hear it, but I think Flip would trade Rubio for Mudiay if he could.

But would Sacramento do the opposite?

[Devilzsidewalk]

I know Wolves fans don't want to hear it, but I think Flip would trade Rubio for Mudiay if he could.

But would Sacramento do the opposite?

Possibly - if their organization had interest in him last summer like Wolfson said, he could be viewed as a good fit for their team of scorers and shooters. We know they want to compete ASAP, maybe they don't want to wait for a rookie.

[Devilzsidewalk]

We've seen how impatient teams can get when they feel like they're on the clock with a superstar's dwindling patience.

[Worm Guts]

My main worry with trading Rubio for Mudiay is that we're setting ourselves back again. That seems like too much youth to contend for the playoffs in the next 2-3 seasons. Next thing you know, Wiggins is at the end of his rookie contract without ever having sniffed the playoffs.

[horaceworthy]

So Sacramento was interested in Rubio last summer, and then brought in George Karl (documented Rubio fanboy) as HC? I didn't really think he could net a pick in the top half of the lottery coming off an injury, but Sacto might be the perfect storm.

Don't really know how I'd feel about it. If Rubio hadn't missed 20+ games all but one season I'd hate it, but that's not the world we live in. Even if it were to happen I might prefer WCS, Winslow, Porzingis or Hezonja at 6, trade up for Tyus, and bringing in a vet to start to picking Mudiay.

[horaceworthy]

I can't handle this at all. I thought the whole Kevin Love trade was bad, but this is MUCH worse.

I'd much rather have my POBO doing his due diligence and looking at all of the top candidates than making his mind up a month before the draft. But maybe that's just me.

You have to be prepared. The guy you like could injure himself, trade opportunities can come up. You never know what can happen.

Another thing to remember is that pre-draft workouts and interviews are chances for teams to gather information on a player not just for the draft, but down the road in trades and free agency as well.

[horaceworthy]

Notre Dame and Wisconsin didn't double KAT for the most part because they were worried about the three point shooters Kentucky had.

3 points shooters (really shooter - Booker) that weren't on the court at the same time as Towns.

Booker played 27 minutes against Notre Dame and 19 minutes against Wisconsin. Towns played 25 minutes against Notre Dame and 31 minutes against Wisconsin. Only one Kentucky guard shot under 38% from 3 (and in the case of Aaron Harrison it was likely more a case of a competent shooter having an off year than having a jumper opponents didn't respect). As has been brought up before, teams weren't exactly ignoring WCS and Lyles either.

The Towns not having space/being put in a poor position by Cal is a strange narrative to see in this thread, since Cal getting him to embrace more of a low block than high post role was quite good for his draft stock, since it allowed for a larger amount of Kentucky's offense to run through him than would have otherwise. He also typically had plenty of room to operate and options to kick it to given the talent he was playing with. Duke level shooting isn't the only thing that creates spacing.

Notre Dame did start sending doubles at Towns, and his handling of them was pretty impressive. Didn't get too creative, but typically made a good decision quickly. It's one of the reasons that game gets brought up so much as a feather in his cap despite him struggling in some areas that he was typically strong in (pick and roll, rim protection).

[NewWolvesOrder]

My main worry with trading Rubio for Mudiay is that we're setting ourselves back again. That seems like too much youth to contend for the playoffs in the next 2-3 seasons. Next thing you know, Wiggins is at the end of his rookie contract without ever having sniffed the playoffs.

+1000

I think Taylor would like to see some playoff games before he's dead. And great point about Wiggins. At some point the team needs to start building some chemistry and cohesion. And the pieces already on the team look to fit in, only a good big is missing. I don't get the fascination with multiple draft picks. If we had bare cupboard as far as young talent goes then it would be understandable.

[kmgarnett21]

Seeing a lot of talk on Twitter from Wolves fans about trading #1 pick to Philly for Embiid & #3. Then take Mudiay or Russell at #3 and then send a package centered around Rubio to Sac for the #6 pick.

I don't get it.

Am I the only one who thinks just sitting at #1 and taking Towns is the best option? Draft Towns, try to trade back into the first to get a backup PG. Re-sign KG to a team friendly deal and try to get a solid outside shooter. Hire a new medical staff. Call it a successful offseason.

[horaceworthy]

If the Wolves were to move in that direction I think it would be more due to Flip's preference for point guards that can score than him wanting to go younger or thinking the cupboard is bare.

[Murphs56]

Next week the talk will be the Wolves are considering Russell at 1

[Devilzsidewalk]

If the Wolves were to move in that direction I think it would be more due to Flip's preference for point guards that can score than him wanting to go younger or thinking the cupboard is bare.

I think that's it. This is all speculation, but if Flip has a certain philosophy of what encompasses successful basketball and he doesn't think Rubio can be a part of that due to injury and/or shooting, then the longer he sticks things out, it's just delaying the inevitable. I'm sure Glen will acquiesce to mostly anything Flip wants to do - he's the basketball decision-maker and the coach.

They aren't under any rush, that first extension is almost automatic in today's NBA. And unless Mudiay is a complete bust, they should start seeing dividends long before then anyways.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Next week the talk will be the Wolves are considering Russell at 1

I doubt they would, but they've already said as much.

[TRKO]

Next week the talk will be the Wolves are considering Russell at 1

Which is smart. Play up Towns the week after that and try to see if the Lakers or 76ers will sell the farm for the top pick.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Seeing a lot of talk on Twitter from Wolves fans about trading #1 pick to Philly for Embiid & #3. Then take Mudiay or Russell at #3 and then send a package centered around Rubio to Sac for the #6 pick.

I don't get it.

Am I the only one who thinks just sitting at #1 and taking Towns is the best option? Draft Towns, try to trade back into the first to get a backup PG. Re-sign KG to a team friendly deal and try to get a solid outside shooter. Hire a new medical staff. Call it a successful offseason.

For Embiid AND #3? That's a slam dunk.