[White ChocolateParticipant]

Jonas Valanciunas could be a top five pick in this upcoming draft, especially with Sullinger and probably others going back to school? 

DraftExpress has him as the #3 overall prospect, ESPN has him as the #7 overall prospect, and this site has him as the #17 overall prospect so mixed feelings all around.

Pretty much the only team I could see taking a chance on Valanciunas with a top five pick is the Minnesota Timberwolves. They need a center and unless they get the #1 pick, they will get a pick in the 2-5 range so I could see Kahn taking a chance on him.

[Scottoant93Participant]

You never know with Khan, he might draft another pg,sg or center but there is a good chance he lands in minny

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

I keep watching some of his tapes and looking at his measurables, and the best comparison I can think of is Andres Biedris. He has that long wiry frame that Biedris has and I think defense and rebounding will be his strengths and his offense is somewhat raw/limited just like Biedris.

[butidonthavemoney]

He also shoots 92% from the free throw line.

Something to keep in mind if you’re going to compare him to the man who shot 32% from the line this season and only 16% last year.

[TeamShowtimeLakersParticipant]

kahn makes the dumb picks…so watch out because he might just draft kyrie irving while having rubio and jonny flynn…

[butidonthavemoney]

Kahn had better take Irving if he gets the first overall pick.

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

 I really think he can be very good center in this league ,he has amazing length and he isn’t a bad athlete at all

he is also  good rebounder ,shoot blocker and actually do have an offensive game,also from what I read he has gr8 work ethic

that said I hate the fact he is very foul prone,he is also still project and he really needs the right team to draft him,b/c he isn’t gonna impress you from day one 

[JoeWolf1]

 There are questions as to when he’ll come over next year and how much his buyout would be so, maybe a team with two lotto picks like Cleveland or Utah could grab him.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

This is Kahn’s dream line-up lol

PG – Irving
SG – Rubio
SF – Flynn
PF – Ridnour
C – Milicic
 

But back to the serious topic, Minnesota has a very good team IMO. They have a lot of talent in Beasley, Johnson, Love but their main weakness at this moment is the C position. I still think they can upgrade the SG position, but C is more of a need. Here I see two options either go with Kanter or Valanciunas. With Valanciunas, you have a talent player who can score, rebound and is a good free throw shooter. Kanter IMO, will be a good player and I agree with his Al Horford comparision. He has good hands, solid rebounder and with the right coaching he could possibly be a 20-10 player in this league. I just hope he doesn’t go with another PG unless he gets the first round pick, that way he can trade Flynn or Rubio and get a C that way.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I actually think that Toronto would take him. They would either take Kanter or Jonas for the center and if both are gone then Barnes. Even though the Raps are open to trading Bargs they still need a Center. Davis is not a traditional Center and he’s only 6’9. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an NBA team start a center that is 6’9. 

Kahn seems to like Darko, I don’t, and I think the Wolves should take either Kanter or Irving but who knows who the Wolves will take while Kahn is in charge.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Didn’t the Pistons start Ben Wallace and he is 6’9? I hope Kahn is smart enough to know he needs an upgrade at C. I like Darko, but these prospects will be better in the long run.

I don’t think Toronto is going to draft either players…. If Sullinger, Barnes decide to stay in college and they don’t have the #1 pick and Irving is gone, then I can see the Raptors drafting Kanter or Valanciuas. If they can get Harrison Barnes, I can see him coming to Toronto.

[WolvesFutureParticipant]

I’m hearing more and more locally here that Rubio is coming, even if there’s a half season, and they’ll be avoiding Kyrie Irving like the plague to avoid giving Rubio the impression that he’s not their PG of the future.  Whether this is the right thing to do or not, I don’t know, I’m not familiar with Irving’s game enough.  About Flynn, yes, absolutely terrible pick, he will definitely be traded this offseason, but there were other teams besides the Wolves that were willing to take him in the Top 10 if he was available.  He needs to work on his game immensely this offseason and come back with the same quickness/athleticism he had at ‘Cuse and in his rookie year with the Wolves.  On Valanciunas, expect the Wolves to keep Pekovic, their org feels euro big men need a season to transition between the Euroleagues and the NBA and think he’ll be much better next season.  Not sure about Darko, he has his moments, but there very far and few in between, he looked much better the first two months of the season, they need to relegate him to a 15 minute defensive presence, I see why Rambis likes him for his vision/passing ability/defensive presence, but the guy is just one mental lapse after another on the court.  If Love is their future they need to surround him with athletes in the frontcourt, a big reason they didn’t take Cousins, their org felt he’d always be out of shape, he needs guys that can guard those quick face up 4s and athletic 5s (LaMarcus Aldridge/Andrew Bynum), maybe a guy that’s athletic and can block shots (DeAndre Jordan), is Valanciunas that guy?  I haven’t seen him play, but I have seen a couple of Tyson Chandler/Andris Beidrins comparisons on him, is this correct? 

PG: Ray Felton – until RR is ready, he’ll maintain good trade value/Ricky Rubio
SG: Wes Johnson/Martell Webster/Raja Bell
SF: Mike Beasley/Perry Jones/Lazar Hayward
PF: Kevin Love/Anthony Randolph/Anthony Tolliver
C: DeAndre Jordan/Nikola Pekovic/Darko Milicic

Draft Perry Jones (He has the quickness to be a SF, but skill?  Yeah that remains to be seen, I think they need to draft the player with the most potential)
Trade for Felton (Ridnour or Flynn, Memphis 1st Round Pick, Wayne Ellington or Martell Webster)
Sign DeAndre Jordan

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

@Wolves Future, Are the Wolves planning on trading Flynn to the Jazz around draft time? I saw Bell’s name in the trading block right around the trade deadline, and the Wolves were interested. This is the trade that I was thinking of (Flynn for Bell). Although I am pretty set on the Jazz drafting Brandon Knight, I don’t think Flynn would be an upgrade over Knight. I’d be open to the trade but the only question is would Knight be the better prospect over Flynn?

I don’t think Felton would be coming over next year. The Nuggets do like him as their 6th man energy guy. The Wolves might just stick with Ridnour until Rubio is ready and then use Ridnour as a backup. And the Clippers would never give up Jordan. I don’t know why so many people think the Clippers will not sign him. They are more open to trading Kaman. They like the combo of Blake and Jordan and they want to keep it. Expect the Clips to resign Jordan. The only offseason acquisitions that you mentioned that I see happening are drafting Perry Jones, and trading Flynn to Utah for Raja Bell.

@Raptors, I forgot about the Pistons starting Big Ben in the finals against the Lakers. (Don’t know how but whatever) the point is that he is a traditional Center while Davis is not. I still think the Raptors would be better off drafting Kanter instead of Barnes. Besides how is Barnes gonna be available with the 5th pick? He’s going top 3 imo.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

I know the T-wolves need vets, but IMO the idea of trading Flynn straight up for Bell makes very little sense.  Let’s face it, the Wolves aren’t going to be competing for the title while Bell is still in the league.  By the time we are ready, he is going to be done.  I think it makes more sense to continue to shop Flynn around for a younger player or a vet younger than Bell, or continue to develop him and hope he recovers his athleticism and quickness.  Maybe even trade him for a pick next year since I believe we traded ours. 

 

 

[WolvesFutureParticipant]

No way the Wolves trade Flynn for Bell straight up, he may have laid an egg this season, but there are still some in the NBA that see potential in Flynn, I don’t know why, but they do.  If anything they’ll get Bell for a future 2nd, but maybe he’ll force the Jazz to release him after they didn’t communicate to him that they were giving his starting spot to Miles.  Heard he had an issue with that.

[omphalosParticipant]

I really don’t think Minnesota have any great need for a C, Darko is doing a decent job and is low maintenance at this stage of his career. It does leave the question of who to draft, because as has been pointed out, they can’t get Irving without scaring off Rubio. That said, I think unless Rubio signs before the draft they take Irving if available and just trade Rubio, because this kid is lacking all sorts of commitment.

[WolvesFutureParticipant]

There’s probably a slight chance Ridnour stays, but he has been absolutely attrocious at the end of games, the Wolves need a vet that shows composure and poise at the end of games, they may have won 25-30 games with a legitimate starting PG this year.  He’s had great shooting percentages this year though, I think he’s 3rd in the NBA in 3PT%, but his best role should be as a backup on a good team, not a developing one.  I can’t see Rubio or Ridnour starting for the Wolves next year, they’ll need to get a good vet.  From what I’ve heard Felton isn’t content with his role in Denver, he wants to start, he’d have that opportunity in MN until Rubio develops and then at that point they can trade him.  You really see Donald Sterling resigning Jordan to an Amir Johnson type of contract if not better?  Hopefully he does, they’ve got some good, young pieces.

[omphalosParticipant]

Ridnour did a pretty good job mentoring Brandon Jennings last year, I think his absence is a big part of Jennings’ slump this season. I agree that he shouldn’t be starting, but if Rubio comes you have to give him the starting nod just to see what he can do. Keep in mind he’s been playing pro for years now, albeit in Europe.

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