Grading the Timberwolves Draft

 I still dont know who the hell the Wolves have…

One things for sure is that David Kahn has a serious gambling problem O_o

 I still dont know who the hell the Wolves have…

One things for sure is that David Kahn has a serious gambling problem O_o

 Just because you can trade them, doesn’t mean you have to!

The wolves did well,

Anybody else get the feeling that Kahn completly gets off on this draft stuff?

 Just because you can trade them, doesn’t mean you have to!

The wolves did well,

Anybody else get the feeling that Kahn completly gets off on this draft stuff?

I watched the entire draft start to finish and I just figured out this morning that the Wolves actually got DWilliams, Malcom Lee and Targuy Ngombo.

DERRICK WILLIAMS (NO. 2)

Age: 20 (May 25, 1991)

Hometown: La Mirada, Calif.

Height/Weight: 6-8/241

Position: Forward

College stats: Sophomore (2010-11) — averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for Arizona; Pac-10 Player of the Year; consensus second team All-America; scored career-high 32 points, including 25 in first half, in the Wildcats’ 93-77 victory over Duke in Sweet 16; ninth in nation with 59.5 field-goal percentage. Freshman (2009-10) — led team with 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game; Pac-10 freshman of the year; first-team All-Pac-10.

Personal: Originally committed to USC, but switched to Arizona after resignation of Trojans coach Tim Floyd; dropped football and baseball to focus on basketball after growing 8 inches between eighth and ninth grade; enjoys the beach, music and watching "classic" television such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

Scouting report: Great size for a combo forward; strong frame and 7-1 wingspan will create matchup problems; very efficient shooting percentage and high basketball IQ; explosive, energetic athlete with dangerous inside-out game and versatile skill set; questions about what position he will defend at NBA level.

MALCOLM LEE (NO. 43)

Age: 21 (May 22, 1990)

Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA

Height/weight: 6-5/198

Position: Guard

College stats: Junior year (2010-11) — averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds for UCLA; first team All-Pac-10; Pac-10 all-defensive team; scored 20 or more points five times.

Scouting report: Combo guard with good quickness and length, especially in transition; solid open-court ball-handler; lateral speed will allow him to defend both guard positions in NBA.

TARGUY NGOMBO (NO. 57)

Age: 21 (July 10, 1989)

Hometown: Congo

Height/weight: 6-6/230

Position: Forward

Stats: Averaged 19.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for Qatar during the 2010 Asian Games, including 24 points and nine rebounds vs. China; Timberwolves international scout Pete Philo was an assistant on Chinese team.

I watched the entire draft start to finish and I just figured out this morning that the Wolves actually got DWilliams, Malcom Lee and Targuy Ngombo.

DERRICK WILLIAMS (NO. 2)

Age: 20 (May 25, 1991)

Hometown: La Mirada, Calif.

Height/Weight: 6-8/241

Position: Forward

College stats: Sophomore (2010-11) — averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for Arizona; Pac-10 Player of the Year; consensus second team All-America; scored career-high 32 points, including 25 in first half, in the Wildcats’ 93-77 victory over Duke in Sweet 16; ninth in nation with 59.5 field-goal percentage. Freshman (2009-10) — led team with 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game; Pac-10 freshman of the year; first-team All-Pac-10.

Personal: Originally committed to USC, but switched to Arizona after resignation of Trojans coach Tim Floyd; dropped football and baseball to focus on basketball after growing 8 inches between eighth and ninth grade; enjoys the beach, music and watching "classic" television such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

Scouting report: Great size for a combo forward; strong frame and 7-1 wingspan will create matchup problems; very efficient shooting percentage and high basketball IQ; explosive, energetic athlete with dangerous inside-out game and versatile skill set; questions about what position he will defend at NBA level.

MALCOLM LEE (NO. 43)

Age: 21 (May 22, 1990)

Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA

Height/weight: 6-5/198

Position: Guard

College stats: Junior year (2010-11) — averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds for UCLA; first team All-Pac-10; Pac-10 all-defensive team; scored 20 or more points five times.

Scouting report: Combo guard with good quickness and length, especially in transition; solid open-court ball-handler; lateral speed will allow him to defend both guard positions in NBA.

TARGUY NGOMBO (NO. 57)

Age: 21 (July 10, 1989)

Hometown: Congo

Height/weight: 6-6/230

Position: Forward

Stats: Averaged 19.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for Qatar during the 2010 Asian Games, including 24 points and nine rebounds vs. China; Timberwolves international scout Pete Philo was an assistant on Chinese team.

 As far as grading the players the Wolves got in the draft I give them an A-

But DWilliams doesn’t fit perfectly in their roster…if there’s two positions Kahn loves it’s PG and SF. Now they have a logjam at the SF/PF position, however they cleared some room at PG by letting Flynn go for Brad Miller (Epic fail by Kahn on that one).

 As far as grading the players the Wolves got in the draft I give them an A-

But DWilliams doesn’t fit perfectly in their roster…if there’s two positions Kahn loves it’s PG and SF. Now they have a logjam at the SF/PF position, however they cleared some room at PG by letting Flynn go for Brad Miller (Epic fail by Kahn on that one).

Overall I give us a B+.

Happy that we went after one of the top 2 prospects in the draft and didn’t let need force us to take a lesser player IMO. 

Taking Motiejunas at 20 was the right move based on value.  Then they were able to trade him and recieved solid value back for him.  I think Lee is going to be a great player and gives us an option at the 2 guard and a backup PG for letting Flynn go (personally hated to see us give up on Flynn that fast though).   Brad Miller is still solid and gives Love’s shooting prowess when Love hits the bench for those minutes.  Adding a 1st round pick in 2013 is a big plus as well IMO.

They ended up continuing to trade down and ended up getting that Qatar guy they targeted, so IMO it was a successful draft all around.  We made bank while improving several position, but we still need to add some vets and a defensive center IMO.

Overall I give us a B+.

Happy that we went after one of the top 2 prospects in the draft and didn’t let need force us to take a lesser player IMO. 

Taking Motiejunas at 20 was the right move based on value.  Then they were able to trade him and recieved solid value back for him.  I think Lee is going to be a great player and gives us an option at the 2 guard and a backup PG for letting Flynn go (personally hated to see us give up on Flynn that fast though).   Brad Miller is still solid and gives Love’s shooting prowess when Love hits the bench for those minutes.  Adding a 1st round pick in 2013 is a big plus as well IMO.

They ended up continuing to trade down and ended up getting that Qatar guy they targeted, so IMO it was a successful draft all around.  We made bank while improving several position, but we still need to add some vets and a defensive center IMO.

So what does the new lineup look like? Starting, bench

I think you start Luke Ridenour for the first quarter or half of the season and I think you do the same for Beasley. Although I think Wes Johnson is more of a SF I think you give him a shot at SG for the sake of the lineup. 

PG – Ridenour, Rubio, Telfair

SG – Wes Johnson, Webster, Ellington

SF – Beasley, DWilliams, Lazar Hayward

PF – Love, Randolph, Tolliver

C – Darko, Brad Miller, Pekovic

So what does the new lineup look like? Starting, bench

I think you start Luke Ridenour for the first quarter or half of the season and I think you do the same for Beasley. Although I think Wes Johnson is more of a SF I think you give him a shot at SG for the sake of the lineup. 

PG – Ridenour, Rubio, Telfair

SG – Wes Johnson, Webster, Ellington

SF – Beasley, DWilliams, Lazar Hayward

PF – Love, Randolph, Tolliver

C – Darko, Brad Miller, Pekovic

 Forgot Malcom Lee…he comes off the bench at SG behind Webster or Ellington

 Forgot Malcom Lee…he comes off the bench at SG behind Webster or Ellington

I like that we picked the best player available even though he playes the position that our top three players play. Love, Beasley, Johnson. Only other pick I would’ve taken with #2 would’ve been Kanter but depends on where you look he is 6’11 or 6’9 if he is 6’9 then don’t want him. We need a true 7’0 center with back to the basket skills. As far as the #20 pick, we should’ve grabbed Marshon Brooks or kept the foreign guy we actually picked. I don’t know anything about any of these foreign players but some mocks had him in the lottery last year so if he’s that good why not keep him. I am happy with Lee cause UCLA has a good recent history of producing over acheiving gaurds. (Collison, Afflalo. and Westbrook) So I give us a B as a whole.

I like that we picked the best player available even though he playes the position that our top three players play. Love, Beasley, Johnson. Only other pick I would’ve taken with #2 would’ve been Kanter but depends on where you look he is 6’11 or 6’9 if he is 6’9 then don’t want him. We need a true 7’0 center with back to the basket skills. As far as the #20 pick, we should’ve grabbed Marshon Brooks or kept the foreign guy we actually picked. I don’t know anything about any of these foreign players but some mocks had him in the lottery last year so if he’s that good why not keep him. I am happy with Lee cause UCLA has a good recent history of producing over acheiving gaurds. (Collison, Afflalo. and Westbrook) So I give us a B as a whole.

I love Jerry West!!!!!!

I love Jerry West!!!!!!

In getting Derrick Williams, I give them an A, because Kahn didn’t screw up by reaching horribly and took arguably the best player in this draft. Hopefully, some of their hybrid SF/PF’s (Beasley, Randolph, Hayward, Webster, etc.) will be traded to clear up a logjam, but then again, this is Kahn we’re talking about.

However, the Jonny Flynn for Brad Miller trade really doesn’t make any sense. Knowing how outrageously cheap Glen Taylor is, I have a gut feeling that Miller is going to b***h and moan until he gets bought out and then sign with a contender. In that sense, that trade feels like we just gave away Flynn for a future first rounder (in 2013, NOT next yr.), and it feels like a cop out, salary dump deal. That said, if that pick ends up being high (I don’t know how it’s protected), then it’ll be worth it. But right now, because the trade reeks of cheapness, and because Miller is past his prime and a slow big man, I’ll give that deal a D

Malcolm Lee was good value at 43, but I still don’t understand why Kahn traded down so many times. If it’s true that Glen Taylor was just saving money in paying for Rambis’ buyout, then that’d be a logical explanation, but it was still kinda ridiculous. Glen Taylor is worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes (I checked his wikipedia last night, lol), and there’s really no reason for him to worry about money other than the fact that he’s approaching Don Sterling level of cheapness. But since this was ok value, despite the weirdness of it all, I’ll give this pick a B.

Overall, I give them an Incomplete though, because so much needs to be done to clear up the logjam at SF/PF, and now at C (with 3 on the roster, none of them being really *that* good). And they still have a gaping hole at the 2, which they didn’t address.

In getting Derrick Williams, I give them an A, because Kahn didn’t screw up by reaching horribly and took arguably the best player in this draft. Hopefully, some of their hybrid SF/PF’s (Beasley, Randolph, Hayward, Webster, etc.) will be traded to clear up a logjam, but then again, this is Kahn we’re talking about.

However, the Jonny Flynn for Brad Miller trade really doesn’t make any sense. Knowing how outrageously cheap Glen Taylor is, I have a gut feeling that Miller is going to b***h and moan until he gets bought out and then sign with a contender. In that sense, that trade feels like we just gave away Flynn for a future first rounder (in 2013, NOT next yr.), and it feels like a cop out, salary dump deal. That said, if that pick ends up being high (I don’t know how it’s protected), then it’ll be worth it. But right now, because the trade reeks of cheapness, and because Miller is past his prime and a slow big man, I’ll give that deal a D

Malcolm Lee was good value at 43, but I still don’t understand why Kahn traded down so many times. If it’s true that Glen Taylor was just saving money in paying for Rambis’ buyout, then that’d be a logical explanation, but it was still kinda ridiculous. Glen Taylor is worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes (I checked his wikipedia last night, lol), and there’s really no reason for him to worry about money other than the fact that he’s approaching Don Sterling level of cheapness. But since this was ok value, despite the weirdness of it all, I’ll give this pick a B.

Overall, I give them an Incomplete though, because so much needs to be done to clear up the logjam at SF/PF, and now at C (with 3 on the roster, none of them being really *that* good). And they still have a gaping hole at the 2, which they didn’t address.

I whole heartedly agree with the idea of picking Brooks at 20, however I’m just as happy to have eventually gotten Lee, Miller, and a 1st (although I hate giving up Flynn).  With the recent succcess of UCLA transfers to the NBA, I’m excited to see what Lee brings to the table, other than solid D which was a great need.  

If we kept Motie, Kahn would be dealing with "OMG another PF, this guy is insane". 

Next year I see the lineup starting as…

PG:  Rubio/Ridenour/Telfair/Lee

SG:  Johnson/Webster/Ellington/Lee

SF:  Beasley/Williams/Randolph/Webster/Hayward

PF:  Love/Williams/Randolph/Tolliver

C:  Darko/Miller/Pekovic/Love

I see it ending as…

PG: Rubio/Ridenour/Lee/Telfair

SG:  Johnson/Lee/Webster/Ellington

SF:  Beasley/Williams/Randolph/Webster/Hayward

PF:  Williams/Randolph/Tolliver (with Love still seeing minutes at PF when Miller or Darko are on the floor with him)

C:  Love/Darko/Miller/Pekovic

I think while Love isn’t an ideal C, putting your best talent on the floor at one time is going to be the best option for the Wolves eventually.  Love needs to spend this offseason working on his post D to make this work.  If he can be a competent defender, Williams can provide enough additional help @ PF to atleast limit the subjectability of the lineup’s frontcourt presence defensively.  

When you look at the overall size of the players on that floor though, they should be a tough matchup for many teams. 

I whole heartedly agree with the idea of picking Brooks at 20, however I’m just as happy to have eventually gotten Lee, Miller, and a 1st (although I hate giving up Flynn).  With the recent succcess of UCLA transfers to the NBA, I’m excited to see what Lee brings to the table, other than solid D which was a great need.  

If we kept Motie, Kahn would be dealing with "OMG another PF, this guy is insane". 

Next year I see the lineup starting as…

PG:  Rubio/Ridenour/Telfair/Lee

SG:  Johnson/Webster/Ellington/Lee

SF:  Beasley/Williams/Randolph/Webster/Hayward

PF:  Love/Williams/Randolph/Tolliver

C:  Darko/Miller/Pekovic/Love

I see it ending as…

PG: Rubio/Ridenour/Lee/Telfair

SG:  Johnson/Lee/Webster/Ellington

SF:  Beasley/Williams/Randolph/Webster/Hayward

PF:  Williams/Randolph/Tolliver (with Love still seeing minutes at PF when Miller or Darko are on the floor with him)

C:  Love/Darko/Miller/Pekovic

I think while Love isn’t an ideal C, putting your best talent on the floor at one time is going to be the best option for the Wolves eventually.  Love needs to spend this offseason working on his post D to make this work.  If he can be a competent defender, Williams can provide enough additional help @ PF to atleast limit the subjectability of the lineup’s frontcourt presence defensively.  

When you look at the overall size of the players on that floor though, they should be a tough matchup for many teams. 

 The good thing with your ending lineup is that you can have all of our best players on the court and take advantage of some mismatches.

That lineup is particularly good in this era in the NBA where there isn’t very many dominat centers in the league so KLove can handle the center position and still outboard teams. And when you face teams with bigger lineups you can switch the lineup back to Darko and Beasley or Williams at SF depending on who’s the better matchup or whos playing better at the time.

 The good thing with your ending lineup is that you can have all of our best players on the court and take advantage of some mismatches.

That lineup is particularly good in this era in the NBA where there isn’t very many dominat centers in the league so KLove can handle the center position and still outboard teams. And when you face teams with bigger lineups you can switch the lineup back to Darko and Beasley or Williams at SF depending on who’s the better matchup or whos playing better at the time.

 nothing like having a center combo like milicic-miller-pekovic

 nothing like having a center combo like milicic-miller-pekovic

I think Malcom Lee was drafted more for a back up at PG more then SG. but i could see them putting him @ SG for role matters sometimes. idk why we traded Telfair and then traded and got him back the next season when we could had pg d-west over him, i’d buy out or trade Telfair befor Brad miller IMO that is. PG line up Rubio/Ridnour/Lee.

I think Malcom Lee was drafted more for a back up at PG more then SG. but i could see them putting him @ SG for role matters sometimes. idk why we traded Telfair and then traded and got him back the next season when we could had pg d-west over him, i’d buy out or trade Telfair befor Brad miller IMO that is. PG line up Rubio/Ridnour/Lee.

What I find interesting is that ESPN kept labeling Malcolm Lee as a SF, which I don’t see at all.  I see defensive combo guard written all over him.  But I also see potential in him game which excites me about his prospects as a SG as well.

What I find interesting is that ESPN kept labeling Malcolm Lee as a SF, which I don’t see at all.  I see defensive combo guard written all over him.  But I also see potential in him game which excites me about his prospects as a SG as well.

If the Wolves did try starting Love at center and they have befor a few times never really stuck but… i think B-easy would start at PF and D-will would still be at SF, Mike is 6’9 and Derrick is almost 6’8 so i’v read. So the Wolves coulds try line up agin, now that we have the palyer we have. Rubio/Wes/D-will/B-easy/Love

If the Wolves did try starting Love at center and they have befor a few times never really stuck but… i think B-easy would start at PF and D-will would still be at SF, Mike is 6’9 and Derrick is almost 6’8 so i’v read. So the Wolves coulds try line up agin, now that we have the palyer we have. Rubio/Wes/D-will/B-easy/Love

My reasoning for having Williams at the 4 and Beasley at the 3 is because of William’s defensive prowess to help contain the middle since Love is a lacking defensive player.  Beasley is not anywhere near the defender William’s is and if you are going to have Love at the 5, then Williams has to help out down low IMO at the 4.  Beasley would be starting b/c of his scoring ability, not b/c of his D.  In fact, Beasley may be a better option as the 6th man while putting Darko or Randolph into the starting lineup somewhere.

My reasoning for having Williams at the 4 and Beasley at the 3 is because of William’s defensive prowess to help contain the middle since Love is a lacking defensive player.  Beasley is not anywhere near the defender William’s is and if you are going to have Love at the 5, then Williams has to help out down low IMO at the 4.  Beasley would be starting b/c of his scoring ability, not b/c of his D.  In fact, Beasley may be a better option as the 6th man while putting Darko or Randolph into the starting lineup somewhere.

sorry but if Love and Beasley see the majority of the time at the 4 and 5,then its gonna be a really really long season! Teams are gonna carve up that interior like Jeffery Dhamer with a freezer full of body parts… D Howard,Blake,Amare, and even Brian Cardinal are salivating at the mouth to play that front line

sorry but if Love and Beasley see the majority of the time at the 4 and 5,then its gonna be a really really long season! Teams are gonna carve up that interior like Jeffery Dhamer with a freezer full of body parts… D Howard,Blake,Amare, and even Brian Cardinal are salivating at the mouth to play that front line

I can’t really compare Williams and Beasley since Williams hasn’t played in the NBA yet. Beasley used to bang just as much inside when he was in college and was a better player as a freshman than Williams as a Fr and Soph. Beasley starts the whole season and Williams comes off the bench and plays the 6th man role ala Jason Terry,Lamar Odom(starter minutes). I can see a line up with Williams Love,Beasley late in games since the Wolves have talked about playing Love at center alot ( and lets be real there aren’t any dominate centers out west especially on offense and with love pulling the centers outside the pain that leaves Beasley and Williams room to go to work down low)

I can’t really compare Williams and Beasley since Williams hasn’t played in the NBA yet. Beasley used to bang just as much inside when he was in college and was a better player as a freshman than Williams as a Fr and Soph. Beasley starts the whole season and Williams comes off the bench and plays the 6th man role ala Jason Terry,Lamar Odom(starter minutes). I can see a line up with Williams Love,Beasley late in games since the Wolves have talked about playing Love at center alot ( and lets be real there aren’t any dominate centers out west especially on offense and with love pulling the centers outside the pain that leaves Beasley and Williams room to go to work down low)

Timberwolves should trade Beasley to the Cavs, now after the draft this is the best place i could found for, Cavs can really use his offensive game, he fit well at SF there, will have the opportunity to play longside real PG – Irving, and on defense T.T in the four position could cover him up as he such a great defender and very mobile.

Cavs should make the call and made an offer, somthing like Hickson, taking bad contracts and/or throw a next year first draft pick(protected, maybe top 8 or top 10).

Timberwolves should trade Beasley to the Cavs, now after the draft this is the best place i could found for, Cavs can really use his offensive game, he fit well at SF there, will have the opportunity to play longside real PG – Irving, and on defense T.T in the four position could cover him up as he such a great defender and very mobile.

Cavs should make the call and made an offer, somthing like Hickson, taking bad contracts and/or throw a next year first draft pick(protected, maybe top 8 or top 10).

Makes no sense to trade Beasley when No one knows how Williams will adjust 2. he’s not as good as Beasley 3. they don’t know if he can play the three. Best thing is to let them duke it out during the season(Beasley is better) and see if they can play on the court at the same time

Makes no sense to trade Beasley when No one knows how Williams will adjust 2. he’s not as good as Beasley 3. they don’t know if he can play the three. Best thing is to let them duke it out during the season(Beasley is better) and see if they can play on the court at the same time

first of all Beasley and Williams can’t play effective together, with your case it only make problem for Timberwolves as both can’t show case themself at one circumstance, they only will lower the value of one of other. between the two Beasley is the one that Timberwolves will be forced to move cause lets be real, with Beasley nature it’s dangerous to do the opposite.

and i just want him in Cleavland, i think it’s the best fit ever for him and great situation for both sides!

first of all Beasley and Williams can’t play effective together, with your case it only make problem for Timberwolves as both can’t show case themself at one circumstance, they only will lower the value of one of other. between the two Beasley is the one that Timberwolves will be forced to move cause lets be real, with Beasley nature it’s dangerous to do the opposite.

and i just want him in Cleavland, i think it’s the best fit ever for him and great situation for both sides!

No one knows if they can play together because………They have’t played together yet. There have been many examples of players that didnt seem to fit end of fitting and vice versa so its premature to think they will or won’t fit. That’s why you tes it first and see if it works or not

No one knows if they can play together because………They have’t played together yet. There have been many examples of players that didnt seem to fit end of fitting and vice versa so its premature to think they will or won’t fit. That’s why you tes it first and see if it works or not