Hmm, reacquiring Love would be interesting. Could him and Towns start together? I don't know enough about the difference in offensive systems between the T Wolves and the Cavs, but Love certainly isn't getting the rebounding numbers he used to. I've got to imagine that's a system thing instead of Love just not being able to rebound like he used to. 

 

The new Bill Simmons project had an interesting article about Love last week. The key quote was:

 

"In an ideal scenario, Love needs a more offensive-minded version of Chandler, a guy who can command a double-team and collapse interior defenses like his former teammate Nikola Pekovic, while still being able to step out on the perimeter and give Love room to operate in the post. In other words, Love needs a unicorn. A unicorn like Karl-Anthony Towns."

 

With that said, I think Cleveland wants a new member of a big three if they trade Love and we don't have a lot of high salary stars right now. You'd need a three-team trade.

 

Rubio/Lavine/Wiggins/Love/Towns would be a fun lineup to dream about though.

It all depends on whether or not Cleveland enters the offseason with a 'Love will not come back' or 'We will trade Love if...' mindset. If they are selling for the best offer then it won't take another Big 3 type player. I can't see the Cavs trading him back to the Wolves though. 

 

I am not seeing how the Wolves/Bulls match up for Butler. Wiggins is way too much considering his age and low salary. Lavine and #5 probably isn't enough. It is funny though reading FB/forum comments about Butler. Butler is a near elite player.

 

One interesting chemistry issue that was brought up by NBA Lockdown (ESPN podcast). Could Butler mess up Wiggins/Towns development?

 

Kevin Love appears to be perfect for this team. I think that bridge has been burned though.

That's one problem that I see with Butler. I'd prefer Towns, Wiggins, and Lavine grow together like Durant and Westbrook (and Harden should have been there too) did.

 

Loves ability to stretch the floor, but isn't his defense awful enough to avoid him?

The Wolves need to get better at rebounding, and Love can definitely provide that. Also, don't forget the Thibodeau effect in terms of defense that should happen.

What's everyone's thoughts with the draft one week away?

 

My board is 1. Simmons 2. Ingram 3. Bender 4. Murray 5. Hield 6. Ellenson 7. Dunn

 

Murray is my hopeful pick right now.

 

With that said, I think Cleveland wants a new member of a big three if they trade Love and we don't have a lot of high salary stars right now. You'd need a three-team trade.

 

Rubio/Lavine/Wiggins/Love/Towns would be a fun lineup to dream about though.

Good call I forget that the salaries need to match up closely to make a deal happen. The Wolves could toss Pekovic in there for salary matching purposes, but I don't know if he's anything more than a salary dump. 

 

What's everyone's thoughts with the draft one week away?

 

My board is 1. Simmons 2. Ingram 3. Bender 4. Murray 5. Hield 6. Ellenson 7. Dunn

 

Murray is my hopeful pick right now.

Simmons seems to be the consensus #1 on boards... Is it weird to be skeptical about that? I mean, when was the last time that a player that good couldn't get his team to the NCAA tournament? 

 

Simmons seems to be the consensus #1 on boards... Is it weird to be skeptical about that? I mean, when was the last time that a player that good couldn't get his team to the NCAA tournament? 

There might be some character issues going on there. I've heard that the team didn't really get along and maybe resented how much attention Simmons got. I'd still take him #1 even though I really like Brandon Ingram too.

 

The situation kinda reminds me of when O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley played each other in a 6 vs. 11 game in the NCAA tournament. Both had mediocre talent around them, and it doesn't really help make a case for elite high schoolers to go anywhere besides Kentucky/Duke/Kansas.

1. Ingram (from the Wolves standpoint)

2. Simmons

3. Bender.

4. Pull a name out of a hat?

 

Murray, Dunn, Hield. They all have big strengths and equally big weaknesses-- the biggest one being we kind of need a small forward or power forward more than another guard. Still, you have to go BPA and my gut says Murray, Hield then Dunn.

FWIW, NBADraft.net has us passing on Bender and Murray to grab Marquess Chriss. Which is a little too bold for my taste.

 

Good call I forget that the salaries need to match up closely to make a deal happen. The Wolves could toss Pekovic in there for salary matching purposes, but I don't know if he's anything more than a salary dump. 

This is one reason why I have been saying that Pekovic and Martin's salaries were actually beneficial to the team even if they don't play. It gives them substantial salary that can be exchanged if a high priced player becomes available.

 

FWIW, NBADraft.net has us passing on Bender and Murray to grab Marquess Chriss. Which is a little too bold for my taste.

I really can't see the Celtics and Suns both drafting guards so I question their methodology in the mock draft.

 

Simmons seems to be the consensus #1 on boards... Is it weird to be skeptical about that? I mean, when was the last time that a player that good couldn't get his team to the NCAA tournament? 

This doesn't concern me at all. Simmons not having a jump shot (or at least not showing it) concerns me in the current NBA game.

 

I am pretty set to expect Hield or Murray as a means to give the 2nd team a top scorer.

 

Is there any concern about the fact that Murray isn't ideal size for an off-guard and that he is mostly auditioning as a PG?

 

To me, if that's the case, I'd rather have Dunn.  At least Heild has some of the measurables you'd like for an off-guard.

 

Is there any concern about the fact that Murray isn't ideal size for an off-guard and that he is mostly auditioning as a PG?

 

To me, if that's the case, I'd rather have Dunn.  At least Heild has some of the measurables you'd like for an off-guard.

Listed heights and weights

Murray 6'4" 205lbs

Hield 6'5" 215

Lavine 6'5" 189

 

Overall I am just lukewarm on Dunn.

It's not just height, his wingspan is also significantly smaller than Hield's also.  

I think that's the big wart on Murray. He's never going to be long or athletic enough to be a plus defender or a traditional point guard. The question becomes can he get good enough at dishing the ball to become a CJ McCollum-type of shooting guard.

 

With Dunn, you trade out the defensive worries for the shooting and turnover ones. With Hield, you still have defensive worries and he's not as sharp of passer as Murray. On the positive side, his length and athleticism give him a chance at defending where Murray will probably always be a net minus. 

 

It's really pick your poison at the 5 pick. Or, more to the point, what type of team do you want to build?

For me, I'd rather just avoid tweeners.  Dunn has the size and defensive abilities to handle the point.  Heild has the shooting and the size to play on the wing.  I'd choose between those.

 

But damned if I don't like the idea of Dunn.  Even moreso if the reports are accurate that Thibs loves him.  

 

FWIW, NBADraft.net has us passing on Bender and Murray to grab Marquess Chriss. Which is a little too bold for my taste.

Marquess Chriss is the only guy up there that I really don't want. To me, he has bust written all over him. He's got great athleticism, but his rebounding makes Andrew Wiggins look like Moses Malone, so basically the opposite of what the Wolves need.

 

1. Ingram (from the Wolves standpoint)

2. Simmons

3. Bender.

4. Pull a name out of a hat?

 

Murray, Dunn, Hield. They all have big strengths and equally big weaknesses-- the biggest one being we kind of need a small forward or power forward more than another guard. Still, you have to go BPA and my gut says Murray, Hield then Dunn.

Not that it matters for the Wolves, but I think Simmons would be the better pick. He would slide right into the PF spot and help with the rebounding problem. Plus, the Wolves should be competing for a playoff spot next year, and Simmons is more ready to be an immediate help. I wouldn't be too concerned with his lack of shooting with all the other skills he provides. 

Maybe this is totally crazy, but hearing his name bounce around made me think: what about Okafor?  Philly wants to move him, would he be someone to look at?  

 

I would assume he'd play the 5 with Towns at the 4 and then it allows us to look for a versatile SF/wing player.

 

Maybe this is totally crazy, but hearing his name bounce around made me think: what about Okafor?  Philly wants to move him, would he be someone to look at?  

 

I would assume he'd play the 5 with Towns at the 4 and then it allows us to look for a versatile SF/wing player.

It wouldn't be a great match, but I'd definitely trade the #5 pick to get Okafor. Maybe the #5 and Shabazz would be enough. I think Philly wants a guard to go with Simmons, and there should be a good one available for them at 5.

Okafor would be dreadful defensively for the Wolves or any other team that would expect him to guard 4's. He might play the 5 on offense but Towns is the center of the Wolves defense. 

 

I would trade the #5 pick for Saric though and get him over this year.

 

Okafor would be dreadful defensively for the Wolves or any other team that would expect him to guard 4's. He might play the 5 on offense but Towns is the center of the Wolves defense. 

 

I would trade the #5 pick for Saric though and get him over this year.

Okafor averaged 17 and 7 as a rookie last year, and that's without a pg like Rubio setting him up. The defense that you mentioned could be a problem, but you can't pass up on that talent, especially if it  would only cost something centered around the 5th pick in a weak draft.

Why wouldn't Okafor be guarding the 5 and Towns the 4?

 

I mean, Okafor-Towns can't possibly be any worse defensively than Love-Towns.

With Love/Towns. you'd have Towns in his strongest defensive position. With Okafor/Towns you'd create two problem defensive areas, akin to Towns/Dieng this year.

Don't we decide how the defensive matchups happen in basketball?  Short of substitions by the other team, but the PF spot is becoming too athletic for someone like Love to hide from.  

 

That said, I'd rather have Noah and one of hte guards in the draft anyway, just was thinking about a young player that could bring an interesting dimension.

The T wolves desperately need "shooters"

 

Hield fits that bill.

Now that Cleveland won, does Minnesota take over the title of saddest sports market in America?

I still wish there was a way to trade down and wind up with both Sabonis and Valentine. Muhammed and the pick could get it done if Sabonis wasn't climbing these mocks making some of the trade candidates like Denver, Boston, and Phoenix so unlikely.

Okafor for the 5 doesn't interest me. Russell for the five though...