Wolves Tried To Trade Out Of No. 1 Even While On The Clock

[RealGM Wiretap]

Gersson Rosas had a difficult decision to make with the No. 1 pick as the top two prospects, James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball, play the same positions as the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise cornerstones in Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell. Minnesota selected Anthony Edwards, who made more sense for the team due to his positional need.

"If he had drafted either Wiseman or Ball, he would have crowded either one of those guys who can block vote against him, frankly," said Brian Windhorst. "He tried like hell for months to get out of that No. 1 pick. All the way up until draft night. In fact, the story I've heard, even on the clock he was trying to posture that he was going to take Wiseman in an effort to get the Warriors, who wanted Wiseman really bad, to swap with him and give him his draft pick back."

Wiseman specifically avoided working out for the Wolves, presumably due to the presence of Towns.

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[hyberx]

Comparing the rookies so far, I'd take Wiseman over Edwards any day.

[Bentley1225]

Yet another example of the #1 pick being a blessing and a curse.

[The_Hater]

If they deemed that Ball and Russell play the same position, that was a mistake. Russell has okayed plenty of SG throughout his career and Ball is playing a ton of SF with the Bobcat right now, a team that starts 2 PG’s.

Either way, drafting for need is always the wrong direction at the top of the draft. Draft the best player and it will either work itself out or you trade that now valuable player for that better fit.

[Lockdown504090]

edwards isnt garbage and they have towns, so like they say, a broken clock is right twice a day. take the W and build from here.

[Lalouie]

maybe i'm looking at it too simply, but if you're looking to trade the #1 pick that means you don't like any player.

and if you don't like any player then why draft a player for fit. minnie should have just gone bpa and told their two stars "screw you, we're cr@p anyway. you can't even elevate us in covid." once again at the bottom of the heap. this is no time for hurt feelings

[BadWolf]

maybe i'm looking at it too simply, but if you're looking to trade the #1 pick that means you don't like any player.

and if you don't like any player then why draft a player for fit. minnie should have just gone bpa and told their two stars "screw you, we're cr@p anyway. you can't even elevate us in covid."

but.... they did...
It's way to early to predict the outcome here.
Saying there were two top prospects,Ball and Wiseman,is revisionist history. For most of the year and then up till the very end Edwards was ahead on mocks.

[Stillwater]

Just bad gm you draft the bpa in that situation every time then flip them after since the demand immediately goes up once he aint on the board anymore

[MegaK]

Meanwhile Quickley is the best player in the draft and goes all the way at the end of the first round. Wolves stupid bro.

[Harry Garris]

Meanwhile Quickley is the best player in the draft and goes all the way at the end of the first round. Wolves stupid bro.

Quickley is not the best player in the draft lmao. He's averaging 10 and 2 on 52% TS%.

Haliburton is averaging 11 and 5 on 62% TS%, and Haliburton is a better defensive player.

I like Quickley, he brings great energy to the floor and is a good team player, but he's still a rookie and he's playing like one. Tyrese looks like a 5 year vet already. Lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

[BlackNoir]

Meanwhile Wiseman goes for 25pts in 24 min on 9-14 shooting last night, 6 Reb and 3blk.

[LightTheBeam]

I sorta understand Wiseman, although I woulda tried to trade KAT and see what I could have got for him. That said, Russell is a fake pg. Hes really a 2 in a points body. They woulda been far better off positionally and talent wise taking Ball or Hali.

[TheSeeker]

I sorta understand Wiseman, although I woulda tried to trade KAT and see what I could have got for him. That said, Russell is a fake pg. Hes really a 2 in a points body. They woulda been far better off positionally and talent wise taking Ball or Hali.

Always take the BPA. Draft Wiseman and then talk to Golden State about trading their pick. And they don't offer anything good, you keep him and assess other trades. Too many teams have learned that picking for a position can lead to poor drafting.

[dc]

Meanwhile Wiseman goes for 25pts in 24 min on 9-14 shooting last night, 6 Reb and 3blk.

I thought Edwards was every bit as impressive last night, and I say that as a Warrior fan.

[BlackNoir]

Meanwhile Wiseman goes for 25pts in 24 min on 9-14 shooting last night, 6 Reb and 3blk.

I thought Edwards was every bit as impressive last night, and I say that as a Warrior fan.

Yea, looked much better last night, previous 6-7 games he has been shooting 24% avg

[Tofubeque]

Oh no, they would've had to bring Wiseman off the bench... like the Warriors are now doing... and like they're doing with Edwards anyway

[dc]

Oh no, they would've had to bring Wiseman off the bench... like the Warriors are now doing... and like they're doing with Edwards anyway

Interestingly, the Top 3 picks are all currently coming off the bench.

And should add that the most impressive rookie so far (Haliburton) is also coming off the bench.

[LightTheBeam]

I sorta understand Wiseman, although I woulda tried to trade KAT and see what I could have got for him. That said, Russell is a fake pg. Hes really a 2 in a points body. They woulda been far better off positionally and talent wise taking Ball or Hali.

Always take the BPA. Draft Wiseman and then talk to Golden State about trading their pick. And they don't offer anything good, you keep him and assess other trades. Too many teams have learned that picking for a position can lead to poor drafting.

I don;t disagree. But the thought was Wiseman wasn't the clear cut #1 guy. It could have been Ball/Wiseman or Edwards. They picked the wrong one out of all 3.

[ericwright1218]

Russell is no PG, he'd be better off as a Jason Terry style hybrid playing next to a bigger point guard like LaMelo Ball. I think a Ball/Russell backcourt would of been fine, they both kind of make up for the deficiency of the other.

[arasu]

Russell has had the questions surrounding his status as a PG his whole career. His passing ability is off the charts elite in terms of passing techniques and accuracy. Unfortunately his decision-making has not improved much over the years. He is capable of playing off-ball some, but not really as a fulltime SG. Defensively, while he's pretty good in the passing lanes, his overall defense has been a weakness, as he's a bit slow both guarding point or chasing off-ball, and he doesn't make up for it in effort, communication, or floor awareness. He is a very good and versatile offensive player who could lead a competitive team from the point guard position, but he clearly needs the perfect system and complementary teammates.

As much as KAT and D-lo are friends and complement each other offensively, they're a poor fit as franchise cornerstones, since neither is willing to fully commit to doing the dirty work. Maybe if they luck out and find some two-way competitor in the mold of a Jimmy Butler, it could work for the T-Wolves, but it looks like one or both of these "cornerstones" will need to be traded, and the rebuilding will grind on for more years.