Trade Talk (Part Four)

[KGdaBom]

He would be the only SF on the court most likely.

I don't think he'd have to be necessarily. He could easily tandem with Layman for example.

Layman is a swing forward. So is Juancho. I would consider them to be PFs on the court. Or SFs. Bridges I have no interest in. First of all I'm almost certain they would take Wiseman who is the player I'm hoping we take, but even if we have no interest in him as you mentioned before the Warriors might take who we want or trade the pick to someone who will. Bridges is not worth that. Not even close.

[karch34]

I think the biggest issue for Wiseman is that there's 3 college games to draw assumptions from. I think it could be a brilliant pick that could allow us to go smaller at the wing than we'd maybe try otherwise or it's another big taken at the top that doesn't work out. Ceiling is high and floor is low for the top 3 in my mind and the concern.

You think Wiseman’s floor is low? He has the highest floor in the draft if you ask me and probably not particularly close even in the top 3.

3 games of 20 and 10 against week competition doesn't tell me much. High school reports are bigger and more athletic vs competition might be reason for hype before season so hard to go by. Lack of tape a concern.

Do I think at worst he can be an above average and potentially elite rim defender and a poor man's Capella? Without a doubt. Do I hate idea of him at 1? No. Great fit potential? Yes.

I'm just saying with #1 overall at crucial point for franchise that I'm not without concerns and trade down for proven production/defined role with shot at nitger player with at least one defined skill set at lower cost gives me more comfort. Might not be the right path but I see the argument.

[Wolveswin]

I think the biggest issue for Wiseman is that there's 3 college games to draw assumptions from. I think it could be a brilliant pick that could allow us to go smaller at the wing than we'd maybe try otherwise or it's another big taken at the top that doesn't work out. Ceiling is high and floor is low for the top 3 in my mind and the concern.

You think Wiseman’s floor is low? He has the highest floor in the draft if you ask me and probably not particularly close even in the top 3.

3 games of 20 and 10 against week competition doesn't tell me much. High school reports are bigger and more athletic vs competition might be reason for hype before season so hard to go by. Lack of tape a concern.

Do I think at worst he can be an above average and potentially elite rim defender and a poor man's Capella? Without a doubt. Do I hate idea of him at 1? No. Great fit potential? Yes.

I'm just saying with #1 overall at crucial point for franchise that I'm not without concerns and trade down for proven production/defined role with shot at nitger player with at least one defined skill set at lower cost gives me more comfort. Might not be the right path but I see the argument.

Wiseman is a glass half full or half empty discussion and talent evaluation.

Zion was the most hyped NBA draft prospect and outlier of any #1 overall value since Davis or maybe even James. Does everyone know Zion was ranked 5th in his class coming out of high school (espn had him 3rd).

Wiseman was a unanimous #1 recruit in his high school class by all legitimate rankings.

You can also find early 2019 NBA draft mocks in which Zion is not top 3. BR had one where he was not top 10.

I am not saying Wiseman is same NBA draft prospect as Zion, or that high school rankings prove anything in direct correlation to NBA draft slotting.

But imagine if Wiseman plays more than 3 games. Does his freak size and athletic abilities, prove he is more than just that (in Zion’s parallel more than a YouTube jumper)? Does Wiseman trend upwards in NBA draft hype, starting from a even more hyped launch point than outlier Zion? So Wiseman glass half full.

But Wiseman didn’t. He played 3 games. 3 games that leave scouts, talking heads, fans, NBA executives guessing if Wiseman would trend down as a hyped NBA draft prospect. Could he be just a really tall guy with freak abilities (just a leaper in Zion’s parallel)? Would Wiseman be like many other #1 high school top recruits and sink in hype based on NCAA play? So Wiseman glass half empty.

[Wolveswin]

Wolves and Hawks help Pacers retool.

Pacers Give: Turner + Dipo + Leaf
Pacers Get: #1 Overall (Edwards) + #17 + Huerter + J. Johnson + Dedmon

Hawks Give: #6 + Huerter + Dedmon
Hawks Get: Dipo + Leaf

Wolves Give: #1 + #17 + J. Johnson
Wolves Get: Turner + #6

Pacers start a retool with locked in rookie contract Edwards (or Ball), another 1st and Huerter.

Hawks who don’t want to go younger, pull a Raptors Kawhi style trade for expiring Dipo. He may be a rental, so they don’t depart with Hunter or Reddish.
Capela
Collins
Hunter
Dipo | Reddish
Young

If one believes Wolves want to do with Towns what Carlisle has done with Porzingis, they get a rim protecting 5 with some range in Turner, to make Towns a majority 4 who spreads floor and sets offense from deep (but due to Turner range Towns still can get post time with and without Turner on floor).
Turner | Towns
Towns | Hernangomez
Culver | #6?
Beasley | Okogie
Russell
And with #6 overall, my guess a forward is the pick.

[Neeva]

Wolves and Hawks help Pacers retool.

Pacers Give: Turner + Dipo + Leaf
Pacers Get: #1 Overall (Edwards) + #17 + Huerter + J. Johnson + Dedmon

Hawks Give: #6 + Huerter + Dedmon
Hawks Get: Dipo + Leaf

Wolves Give: #1 + #17 + J. Johnson
Wolves Get: Turner + #6

Pacers start a retool with locked in rookie contract Edwards (or Ball), another 1st and Huerter.

Hawks who don’t want to go younger, pull a Raptors Kawhi style trade for expiring Dipo. He may be a rental, so they don’t depart with Hunter or Reddish.
Capela
Collins
Hunter
Dipo | Reddish
Young

If one believes Wolves want to do with Towns what Carlisle has done with Porzingis, they get a rim protecting 5 with some range in Turner, to make Towns a majority 4 who spreads floor and sets offense from deep (but due to Turner range Towns still can get post time with and without Turner on floor).
Turner | Towns
Towns | Hernangomez
Culver | #6?
Beasley | Okogie
Russell
And with #6 overall, my guess a forward is the pick.

How about make it four team, send turner to the warriors and Wolves get the second pick to draft Wiseman and Avdija (assuming Indiana takes Edwards)

[KGdaBom]

I think the biggest issue for Wiseman is that there's 3 college games to draw assumptions from. I think it could be a brilliant pick that could allow us to go smaller at the wing than we'd maybe try otherwise or it's another big taken at the top that doesn't work out. Ceiling is high and floor is low for the top 3 in my mind and the concern.

You think Wiseman’s floor is low? He has the highest floor in the draft if you ask me and probably not particularly close even in the top 3.

3 games of 20 and 10 against week competition doesn't tell me much. High school reports are bigger and more athletic vs competition might be reason for hype before season so hard to go by. Lack of tape a concern.

Do I think at worst he can be an above average and potentially elite rim defender and a poor man's Capella? Without a doubt. Do I hate idea of him at 1? No. Great fit potential? Yes.

I'm just saying with #1 overall at crucial point for franchise that I'm not without concerns and trade down for proven production/defined role with shot at nitger player with at least one defined skill set at lower cost gives me more comfort. Might not be the right path but I see the argument.

I think Wiseman's floor is very high. If he doesn't develop a 3 point shot and his lateral quickness isn't quite good enough to be a good perimeter defender, he still has the height, reach and athleticism the be a quite good player. Very high floor and very high ceiling in a draft that isn't supposed to have any one great player. Sign me up for Wiseman at #1.

[KGdaBom]

Wolves and Hawks help Pacers retool.

Pacers Give: Turner + Dipo + Leaf
Pacers Get: #1 Overall (Edwards) + #17 + Huerter + J. Johnson + Dedmon

Hawks Give: #6 + Huerter + Dedmon
Hawks Get: Dipo + Leaf

Wolves Give: #1 + #17 + J. Johnson
Wolves Get: Turner + #6

Pacers start a retool with locked in rookie contract Edwards (or Ball), another 1st and Huerter.

Hawks who don’t want to go younger, pull a Raptors Kawhi style trade for expiring Dipo. He may be a rental, so they don’t depart with Hunter or Reddish.
Capela
Collins
Hunter
Dipo | Reddish
Young

If one believes Wolves want to do with Towns what Carlisle has done with Porzingis, they get a rim protecting 5 with some range in Turner, to make Towns a majority 4 who spreads floor and sets offense from deep (but due to Turner range Towns still can get post time with and without Turner on floor).
Turner | Towns
Towns | Hernangomez
Culver | #6?
Beasley | Okogie
Russell
And with #6 overall, my guess a forward is the pick.

How about make it four team, send turner to the warriors and Wolves get the second pick to draft Wiseman and Avdija (assuming Indiana takes Edwards)

Turner is not enough to drop from 1-6 and give up our 17. However, I like your idea Neeva. It would be so awesome to get both Wiseman and Avdija. However, IMO Avdija goes either 4 or 5 so we'd have to settle for somebody less at pick 6.

Would the warriors trade #2 for Turner? I think they can do better.

[Ball4life32]

He's athletic and somewhat skilled. Rumor has it he has a decent mid range jump shot. From what I heard he was 247, He could possibly be very good. Collins is a borderline proven young star in the league. Pick 6 according to many will be about as good as pick one in this years draft. It's not going to happen anyway. It was fun discussing it, but until a trade is made I'm not going to get into it anymore. At least not today.

I think 4-8 is wide open and 9-20 is wide open. The gaps between those categories is pretty large if you ask me. John Collin good young player about to be paid large.. Not the game changer or as valuable a player as we should want or need in exchange for the #1 pick.

This is my answer too.

It’s not that John Collins isn’t a good player. He is (though I think he would struggle with the defensive demands our team needs). The problem is that he’s about to get paid. Like all of these “good” players seeking a max or near max deal, they suck away all their trade value with the contract. For us, would you think a Big Three of KAT, Russell and Collins is a contender? It needs to be, since we won’t have the money for another big name player.

Said a different way, it isn’t about whether you’d get more production from Collins or the #1. It’s about whether you’d get more production from the Collins or the #1 PLUS an $18 mil free agent.

Finally, while Collins is a good player, his ceiling is not “Star.” His floor is much higher than the pick, but the pick has a chance to be a star. If you are giving up the upside chance, you shouldn’t also be giving up all the finances too.

Unless a player’s salary is limited artificially (by rookie scale or the max rules), any time a player goes through free agency he will be paid up to the highest market, and it steals most of their trade value.

What do you constitute as a star? Like how does Collins average 22 & 10 on 66 TS% on medicore usage (at 22 yrs old) but he has no chance to be a star? His defense was also above average by many defensive metrics but somehow is classified as a horrible defensively.

Remember he was out at the beginning of the year for 25 games....by the time he came back Hawks were already 18 games below .500 - 30 games in. They played better when they had both Trae & Collins playing.

Also Collins is only due for extension....he’s a RFA next year. He doesn’t have to be paid this offseason.

[KGdaBom]

I think 4-8 is wide open and 9-20 is wide open. The gaps between those categories is pretty large if you ask me. John Collin good young player about to be paid large.. Not the game changer or as valuable a player as we should want or need in exchange for the #1 pick.

This is my answer too.

It’s not that John Collins isn’t a good player. He is (though I think he would struggle with the defensive demands our team needs). The problem is that he’s about to get paid. Like all of these “good” players seeking a max or near max deal, they suck away all their trade value with the contract. For us, would you think a Big Three of KAT, Russell and Collins is a contender? It needs to be, since we won’t have the money for another big name player.

Said a different way, it isn’t about whether you’d get more production from Collins or the #1. It’s about whether you’d get more production from the Collins or the #1 PLUS an $18 mil free agent.

Finally, while Collins is a good player, his ceiling is not “Star.” His floor is much higher than the pick, but the pick has a chance to be a star. If you are giving up the upside chance, you shouldn’t also be giving up all the finances too.

Unless a player’s salary is limited artificially (by rookie scale or the max rules), any time a player goes through free agency he will be paid up to the highest market, and it steals most of their trade value.

What do you constitute as a star? Like how does Collins average 22 & 10 on 66 TS% on medicore usage (at 22 yrs old) but he has no chance to be a star? His defense was also above average by many defensive metrics but somehow is classified as a horrible defensively.

Remember he was out at the beginning of the year for 25 games....by the time he came back Hawks were already 18 games below .500 - 30 games in. They played better when they had both Trae & Collins playing.

Also Collins is only due for extension....he’s a RFA next year. He doesn’t need to be paid this offseason, which is what I can see Hawks doing & waiting until next yr to see if they take a leap.

Great post. I hope to see you posting more.

[KGdaBom]

Ball4Life32 The 32 means you're a KAT fan right? Are you a true Wolves fan or just a fan of the Wolves while KAT is playing here?

[Ball4life32]

Ball4Life32 The 32 means you're a KAT fan right? Are you a true Wolves fan or just a fan of the Wolves while KAT is playing here?

No I’m a Hawks fan but yes i do like KAT for sure...32 just a random number though.

Also I know Malik Beasley a little (went to my old school - near atl area) Loved to see him shine when he got more of an opportunity.

[shrink]

I think 4-8 is wide open and 9-20 is wide open. The gaps between those categories is pretty large if you ask me. John Collin good young player about to be paid large.. Not the game changer or as valuable a player as we should want or need in exchange for the #1 pick.

This is my answer too.

It’s not that John Collins isn’t a good player. He is (though I think he would struggle with the defensive demands our team needs). The problem is that he’s about to get paid. Like all of these “good” players seeking a max or near max deal, they suck away all their trade value with the contract. For us, would you think a Big Three of KAT, Russell and Collins is a contender? It needs to be, since we won’t have the money for another big name player.

Said a different way, it isn’t about whether you’d get more production from Collins or the #1. It’s about whether you’d get more production from the Collins or the #1 PLUS an $18 mil free agent.

Finally, while Collins is a good player, his ceiling is not “Star.” His floor is much higher than the pick, but the pick has a chance to be a star. If you are giving up the upside chance, you shouldn’t also be giving up all the finances too.

Unless a player’s salary is limited artificially (by rookie scale or the max rules), any time a player goes through free agency he will be paid up to the highest market, and it steals most of their trade value.

What do you constitute as a star? Like how does Collins average 22 & 10 on 66 TS% on medicore usage (at 22 yrs old) but he has no chance to be a star? His defense was also above average by many defensive metrics but somehow is classified as a horrible defensively.

Remember he was out at the beginning of the year for 25 games....by the time he came back Hawks were already 18 games below .500 - 30 games in. They played better when they had both Trae & Collins playing.

Also Collins is only due for extension....he’s a RFA next year. He doesn’t have to be paid this offseason.

Everyone defines a star differently, but for an ownership group (that is making these decisions), a star sells tickets. Collins isn’t doing that. Collins is a good player - any increase in sales is coming from the team improving, but any good player does that, not specifically Collins.

Collins will eventually need to be paid in a year, whether he gets an extension or not, and as I said, that contract will sap his trade value. At that point, LaMelo, Edwards or Wiseman will still only be on the second year of rookie scale, and likely have more trade value for a few years — perhaps significantly more.

[Wolveswin]

Wolves and Hawks help Pacers retool.

Pacers Give: Turner + Dipo + Leaf
Pacers Get: #1 Overall (Edwards) + #17 + Huerter + J. Johnson + Dedmon

Hawks Give: #6 + Huerter + Dedmon
Hawks Get: Dipo + Leaf

Wolves Give: #1 + #17 + J. Johnson
Wolves Get: Turner + #6

Pacers start a retool with locked in rookie contract Edwards (or Ball), another 1st and Huerter.

Hawks who don’t want to go younger, pull a Raptors Kawhi style trade for expiring Dipo. He may be a rental, so they don’t depart with Hunter or Reddish.
Capela
Collins
Hunter
Dipo | Reddish
Young

If one believes Wolves want to do with Towns what Carlisle has done with Porzingis, they get a rim protecting 5 with some range in Turner, to make Towns a majority 4 who spreads floor and sets offense from deep (but due to Turner range Towns still can get post time with and without Turner on floor).
Turner | Towns
Towns | Hernangomez
Culver | #6?
Beasley | Okogie
Russell
And with #6 overall, my guess a forward is the pick.

How about make it four team, send turner to the warriors and Wolves get the second pick to draft Wiseman and Avdija (assuming Indiana takes Edwards)

Turner is not enough to drop from 1-6 and give up our 17. However, I like your idea Neeva. It would be so awesome to get both Wiseman and Avdija. However, IMO Avdija goes either 4 or 5 so we'd have to settle for somebody less at pick 6.

Would the warriors trade #2 for Turner? I think they can do better.

I guess I like Tuner more than you -- I still think maybe not enough value from Wolves. And I guess the idea is, if Rosas and Saunders like Turner with Towns (the Porzingis example I listed above), moving back 5 spots to upgrade to perfect fitting Turner would be awesome. And I would think, if entertaining trading the #1, they would have their eyes on a prospect they think still sitting there at #6.

[Wolveswin]

Maybe this has been a topic before.

Pistons need a serious infuse of youth. And drafting at #7, they kind of sit where prospects don't have massive differences in tiers (4-9 having same evaluation maybe). Pistons could also prefer quantity vs. quality of one #7 overall pick.

Does Culver + #17 + Spellman (plus #33 if needed) get Wolves #7 overall?

I am not the biggest fan of "giving up" on Culver when is value is down. But, owning the #7 and #1 could change who is considered at #1.

Let's say for argument, Rosas is torn between two players at #1. Could owning #7 -- where he could draft a player desired different than what Culver brings -- push his decision in one direction? Maybe even make a trade back from #1 to #3 or #4 more of an option?

To put names to it, say he likes the D of Wiseman next to Towns. But loves Edwards too and he thinks Okongwu will be there at #7. He drafts Edwards.

OR

He loves Wiseman and Edwards, with #7 in hand, he can draft Wiseman at #1 knowing at #7 a guard or wing will be sitting there (Haliburton or Vessell or ?). It is a gamble a wing in 2020 draft is any better than Culver from 2019 draft, but with the added value of steering where the #1 overall draft pick goes...is useful.

[KGdaBom]

How about make it four team, send turner to the warriors and Wolves get the second pick to draft Wiseman and Avdija (assuming Indiana takes Edwards)

Turner is not enough to drop from 1-6 and give up our 17. However, I like your idea Neeva. It would be so awesome to get both Wiseman and Avdija. However, IMO Avdija goes either 4 or 5 so we'd have to settle for somebody less at pick 6.

Would the warriors trade #2 for Turner? I think they can do better.

I guess I like Tuner more than you -- I still think maybe not enough value from Wolves. And I guess the idea is, if Rosas and Saunders like Turner with Towns (the Porzingis example I listed above), moving back 5 spots to upgrade to perfect fitting Turner would be awesome. And I would think, if entertaining trading the #1, they would have their eyes on a prospect they think still sitting there at #6.

I think 3 or 4 years ago Turner was considered a quite valuable commodity. Injuries and declining play later I don't think he is at the value that you are attaching to him.

[KGdaBom]

Maybe this has been a topic before.

Pistons need a serious infuse of youth. And drafting at #7, they kind of sit where prospects don't have massive differences in tiers (4-9 having same evaluation maybe). Pistons could also prefer quantity vs. quality of one #7 overall pick.

Does Culver + #17 + Spellman (plus #33 if needed) get Wolves #7 overall?

I am not the biggest fan of "giving up" on Culver when is value is down. But, owning the #7 and #1 could change who is considered at #1.

Let's say for argument, Rosas is torn between two players at #1. Could owning #7 -- where he could draft a player desired different than what Culver brings -- push his decision in one direction? Maybe even make a trade back from #1 to #3 or #4 more of an option?

To put names to it, say he likes the D of Wiseman next to Towns. But loves Edwards too and he thinks Okongwu will be there at #7. He drafts Edwards.

OR

He loves Wiseman and Edwards, with #7 in hand, he can draft Wiseman at #1 knowing at #7 a guard or wing will be sitting there (Haliburton or Vessell or ?). It is a gamble a wing in 2020 draft is any better than Culver from 2019 draft, but with the added value of steering where the #1 overall draft pick goes...is useful.

I think it's too early to give up on Culver especially if he's just a throw in to move up from 17 to 7. I do like your reasoning about how having 7 could influence who we take at #1. If I knew for Certain Okongwu would be available at 7 that would greatly influence my choice, but I have strong doubts that Okongwu will be available at 7.

[TaylorTag]

My dream scenario right now. Not sure how realistic it is, but...

Cleveland falls in love with Wiseman. They want to get a young, elite big to pair with Garland and Sexton. They realize anyone over 25 years old is not part of the timeline and is expendable. They are willing to trade Larry Nance Jr. plus #5 for #1 and James Johnson to get their guy Wiseman... We get the perfect PF to pair with KAT.

At #5, we then go with Isaac Okoro, giving us another hard-nosed defending, Nigerian wing player who many are projecting to be a Jaylen Brown type player in the NBA.

Right off the bat, we pick up an experienced yet relatively young starting PF and another wing player that could turn into an ideal 3&D player.

Our starting lineup could look like: Russell, Beasley, Okoro, Nance Jr., Towns...

Now, we still have 2 draft picks to shore up our bench. At #17, I think we could go Jaylen Smith, the center from Maryland who is a rim protector but also a decent outside shooter. Smith could play next to KAT and Naz Reid while also being able to anchor the defense by himself with a smaller lineup.

Then with our 2nd round pick, we draft Tre Jones and pray that he is 90% as good as his brother.

[Disclaimer: made some edits below because I was under the impression Turner had one more year on his deal. Thank God he doesn't. Also omitted JMac, which has been corrected.]

This would be our depth chart after all this--
PG: Russell, McLaughlin, Jones
SG: Beasley, Okogie, Nowell
SF: Okoro, Culver, Layman
PF: Nance Jr., Hernangomez, Vanderbilt
C: Towns, Reid, Smith

[Jedzz]

My dream scenario right now. Not sure how realistic it is, but...

Cleveland falls in love with Wiseman. They want to get a young, elite big to pair with Garland and Sexton. They realize anyone over 25 years old is not part of the timeline and is expendable. They are willing to trade Larry Nance Jr. plus #5 for #1 and James Johnson to get their guy Wiseman... We get the perfect PF to pair with KAT.

At #5, we then go with Isaac Okoro, giving us another hard-nosed defending, Nigerian wing player who many are projecting to be a Jaylen Brown type player in the NBA.

Right off the bat, we pick up an experienced yet relatively young starting PF and another wing player that could turn into an ideal 3&D player.

Our starting lineup could look like: Russell, Beasley, Okoro, Nance Jr., Towns...

Now, we still have 2 draft picks to shore up our bench. At #17, I think we could go Jaylen Smith, the center from Maryland who is a rim protector but also a decent outside shooter. Smith could play next to KAT and Naz Reid while also being able to anchor the defense by himself with a smaller lineup.

Then with our 2nd round pick, we draft Tre Jones and pray that he is 90% as good as his brother.

This would be our depth chart after all this--
PG: Russell, Jones, Nowell
SG: Beasley, Okogie, Turner
SF: Okoro, Culver, Layman
PF: Nance Jr., Hernangomez, Vanderbilt
C: Towns, Reid, Smith

If Tre Jones is 90% of Tyus, then they are both worse than JMac who is 110% of what Tyus was here. Why waste the pick on such things has been my mantra. Maybe you'd want to dump Nowell and keep Russell, JMac, Jones...fine. But wait how did Turner end up in there at SG behind the likes of Okogie and behind Culver at SF? Which Turner are we talking about here?

Also not sure I get the drafting of Smith at C if we are already starting to logjam bigs by adding Nancejr to the starting rotation of what was originally a small ball sort of 1-3-1 plan. I can see them having another big on hand compared to this years roster for when opponents demand it. But two more? Hernangomez might be as big as they plan to have outside of Towns or maybe Wiseman pick. I'm just having trouble figuring out this one.

[KGdaBom]

Ball4Life32 The 32 means you're a KAT fan right? Are you a true Wolves fan or just a fan of the Wolves while KAT is playing here?

No I’m a Hawks fan but yes i do like KAT for sure...32 just a random number though.

Also I know Malik Beasley a little (went to my old school - near atl area) Loved to see him shine when he got more of an opportunity.

So ball4life was taken so you just randomly threw out 32. Interesting. I've been having some fun riling up the Hawks board. Not trolling, but calling them out on a little too high of opinions on their current players.

[KGdaBom]

My dream scenario right now. Not sure how realistic it is, but...

Cleveland falls in love with Wiseman. They want to get a young, elite big to pair with Garland and Sexton. They realize anyone over 25 years old is not part of the timeline and is expendable. They are willing to trade Larry Nance Jr. plus #5 for #1 and James Johnson to get their guy Wiseman... We get the perfect PF to pair with KAT.

At #5, we then go with Isaac Okoro, giving us another hard-nosed defending, Nigerian wing player who many are projecting to be a Jaylen Brown type player in the NBA.

Right off the bat, we pick up an experienced yet relatively young starting PF and another wing player that could turn into an ideal 3&D player.

Our starting lineup could look like: Russell, Beasley, Okoro, Nance Jr., Towns...

Now, we still have 2 draft picks to shore up our bench. At #17, I think we could go Jaylen Smith, the center from Maryland who is a rim protector but also a decent outside shooter. Smith could play next to KAT and Naz Reid while also being able to anchor the defense by himself with a smaller lineup.

Then with our 2nd round pick, we draft Tre Jones and pray that he is 90% as good as his brother.

This would be our depth chart after all this--
PG: Russell, Jones, Nowell
SG: Beasley, Okogie, Turner
SF: Okoro, Culver, Layman
PF: Nance Jr., Hernangomez, Vanderbilt
C: Towns, Reid, Smith

I'm not sure Nance is enough for us to drop to 5 but he might be. As you said he is the perfect PF to play along with KAT. Others here don't even think that Nance and our choice of Garland or Sexton is enough.
As for pick five I'm going with Avdija or Okongwu.

Why are you leaving J Mac off the team? He's better than Nowell who is a SG not a PG. IMO he would also be better than Jones.