Rookie Discussion Thread

[TheSP]

I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, but how did Flip Saunders turn the Timberwolves around? They've been consistently bad for an incredibly long time, and last year they were the worst team in the league, and this year they're still one of the worst teams in the league.

When he took over:
Ricky Rubio / JJ Barea
Luke Ridnour / Alexey Shved
Andrei Kirilenko / Chase Budinger
Kevin Love / Derrick Williams / Dante Cunningham
Nikola Pekovic / Greg Stiemsma

I remember that team. The whitest team in the NBA in a long time.

I advocated they sign Birdman just to add a little color to the roster!

[Klomp]

Let's focus this discussion back where it should be: back on Karl-Anthony Towns

Last night was the 20th 25-point game for Towns. It was only the second time that he scored 25 but did NOT grab 10 rebounds.

[Dkillanyk4lyf]

This has to be one of the top three draft classes of all time just based off towns alone.

This draft class has a trancendent player (towns) and mutiple star/allstar types (porzingis,okafor, jokic etc). I dont see how it cant be.

[IAmTheBest]

This has to be one of the top three draft classes of all time just based off towns alone.

This draft class has a trancendent player (towns) and mutiple star/allstar types (porzingis,okafor, jokic etc). I dont see how it cant be.

Jokic is from the 2014 class

2015 is still stacked though.

Towns

Okafor
Porzingis

Mudiay
Booker
Turner

Russell

among others

[Hindenburg]

guess which rookie:

[Klomp]

Easily KAT

[Hedda Gambler]

First 20 point game for Trey Lyles tonight. He's already vital to us and looks like a great pic.

[Mister Smiles]

Big game tonight from Myles Turner after hitting a bit of a rookie wall.

26 Minutes
28 Points (11-17 FG)
10 Rebounds
2 Blocks

Granted, it was against the horrific Nets, but still, a nice performance as the only really promising big man rookie heading into the playoffs.

[HawaiianJazzFan]

Trey Lyles is averaging 20 ppg in his last two starts, tonight in Favors' absence Trey had:

22 points (4/8 from three), 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 32 minutes.

With Towns, WCS, Booker and Lyles how did Wisconsin beat Kentucky last year???? Kentucky was ridiculously stacked.

[HawaiianJazzFan]

Big game tonight from Myles Turner after hitting a bit of a rookie wall.

26 Minutes
28 Points (11-17 FG)
10 Rebounds
2 Blocks

Granted, it was against the horrific Nets, but still, a nice performance as the only really promising big man rookie heading into the playoffs.

Damn, this class could be one of the all-timers, I forgot about Turner. A lot of Jazz fans wanted Booker and while I love what Lyles is doing and probably wouldn't trade him because of his offensive potential, Turner is the one I wanted coming out of the draft. Indy always seems to draft close to us and always takes the players I want... Turner/George/Hibbert

[Marcus]

Trey Lyles is averaging 20 ppg in his last two starts, tonight in Favors' absence Trey had:

22 points (4/8 from three), 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 32 minutes.

With Towns, WCS, Booker and Lyles how did Wisconsin beat Kentucky last year???? Kentucky was ridiculously stacked.

Completely different styles of game between college and the NBA. Wisco's system and team fit together much better.

[Domejandro]

Trey Lyles is averaging 20 ppg in his last two starts, tonight in Favors' absence Trey had:

22 points (4/8 from three), 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 32 minutes.

With Towns, WCS, Booker and Lyles how did Wisconsin beat Kentucky last year???? Kentucky was ridiculously stacked.

Wisconsin should have won it all (refs boned them on a couple major possessions), they were a wonderfully comprised college team. Calipari also is a crappy coach from a scheming perspective.

[Dantares]

Is any rookie in the east playing as good as Jerian Grant this month? He's averaging about 14/3/3 and 1.2 steals in April. I would really like to see him win rookie of the month.

[E-Balla]

Is any rookie in the east playing as good as Jerian Grant this month? He's averaging about 14/3/3 and 1.2 steals in April. I would really like to see him win rookie of the month.

They might give it to Richardson since he's playing for something. I don't think he's been better than Jerian though.

[islanders11040]

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgSD3aCod9o[/YouTube]

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iuc5eYfE1I[/YouTube]

[Piecake]

Trey Lyles is averaging 20 ppg in his last two starts, tonight in Favors' absence Trey had:

22 points (4/8 from three), 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 32 minutes.

With Towns, WCS, Booker and Lyles how did Wisconsin beat Kentucky last year???? Kentucky was ridiculously stacked.

The Harrison twins must play some epic loser basketball

[stitches]

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

[jvovk22]

Another Jazz fan who absolutely hated the Lyles pick. Wanted Turner or Booker in our range. Now - treacherous thoughts of whether Derrick Favors has become expendable have crept up.

Lyles is smart, unselfish and mobile. Will never be a top-notch defender, but isn't a Kanter-level disaster either. On offense has already shown... pretty much all the skills one can except for a post game. 39% from 3, off the dribble long 2s, attacking the rim, floater game, good cuts, passing....

He will end up being a top-5 player from his draft class. Behind KAT and probably Porzingis, possibly Booker - but ahead of WCS, Stanley, Kaminsky, and even Jah imo

[jpatrick]

Trey Lyles is averaging 20 ppg in his last two starts, tonight in Favors' absence Trey had:

22 points (4/8 from three), 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 32 minutes.

With Towns, WCS, Booker and Lyles how did Wisconsin beat Kentucky last year???? Kentucky was ridiculously stacked.

The Harrison twins must play some epic loser basketball

This. I will never understand why Calipari didn't give Ulis 35 minutes a night running the point for that team. Even as a freshman, they were so much better with him on the floor, but because of their rotations, he barely played with KAT.

[Capn'O]

Man, I miss Flip Saunders so much, he turned this franchise around; it is tragic that he cannot watch Karl Anthony-Towns in flesh.

I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, but how did Flip Saunders turn the Timberwolves around? They've been consistently bad for an incredibly long time, and last year they were the worst team in the league, and this year they're still one of the worst teams in the league.

When he took over:
Ricky Rubio / JJ Barea
Luke Ridnour / Alexey Shved
Andrei Kirilenko / Chase Budinger
Kevin Love / Derrick Williams / Dante Cunningham
Nikola Pekovic / Greg Stiemsma

When he passed:
Ricky Rubio / Andre Miller / Tyus Jones
Kevin Martin / Zach LaVine
Andrew Wiggins / Shabazz Muhammad / Tayshaun Prince
Kevin Garnett / Nemanja Bjelica / Adreian Payne / Damjan Rudez
Karl-Anthony Towns / Gorgui Dieng / Nikola Pekovic

The team he inherited had no future. Everyone knew Love was on his way out and Flip got a good haul for him anyways. The team was transformed from a team that finished 12th in the league with no future to a team that is still right around the same place in the standings but is built around a core with three studs 21 and younger, plus other young pieces.

Has every move he made been perfect? No. But to say he didn't turn the franchise around is flat out wrong.

I think he did a great job. Especially putting the vets around those young players.

I've been watching your situation to see how they fill the void. Any clue what the thinking is there? The Wolves could really go either way right now.