[BallBeenLifeParticipant]

I’ve been playing around with the draft lottery simulator and the Wolves are a team that keeps moving up in the lottery and occasionally winning it. But if that is indeed the scenario what should they do? 

My personal preference would be Lonzo for the fact that he can pretty much be the distributor Rubio has been over the years but with a better shot. I also think that him and LaVine in the backcourt would be scary! They have similar games and could play well off one another. Fultz would be a good fit too but I’m not 100% sure that he’s a true point guard. And with all the talent already on the roster we need a guy that can share the ball while still being able to create his own offense when needed. 

I know that Rubio had a career year (especially the 2nd half of the season) but if we land a top 2 pick I would trade Rubio since his trade value is as high as its ever been. And I am still not sold on Dunn being the point guard of the future, but definitely could be our backup PG as a lock down defender that all championship teams need.

 

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 No. If the Wolves get the number one pick, they have to take Fultz. I’ve been down on the Wolves championship potential after seeing the marginal improvements, specifically from Wiggins defensively and it just makes me think he can’t be a viable second superstar if he not a good three-point shooter, defender or passer to go along with his scoring. On a championship team, he should be your create-and-finish player like a James Worthy, which means they need to find a second superstar type, someone who can create for himself and others on the perimeter, alas Fultz. 

I don’t think Lonzo Ball is going to be a star due to his lack of separation and his funky jumpshot being a hindrance off-the-dribble and he’s also not a good enough defender at the point to make up for it, especially with the Wolves having bad defenders already with Wiggins and Lavine. Fultz is the true superstar bridge gap that Towns needs next to him on the perimeter to create a devistating pick-and-roll combo. And while he’s not a great defender as well, he at least has the tools to be, all with Thibs being a great teacher at that end to help him grow there. Fultz is a good enough passer while being one of the best offensive scoring prosepcts in the last decade, they have to take him over Ball or Jackson.

[BallBeenLifeParticipant]

Fultz would be a good fit too, no doubt! But Ball is clearly the better distributor and has elite court vision. And with this roster that’s what is needed most.

I know his shot isn’t the most traditional but look at guys like Shawn Marion and Kevin Martin! Both had good careers (as shooters). It’s not like he’s going to take a shot that he thinks will get blocked. He creates enough space to still get his shot off with his stepback/sidestep moves to get a good look and his release is still quick enough to hit shots in the face of closeout situations.

But how can you already be down on their championship potential? It’s Thibs first year as coach and do I need to remind you how young the go to players are?? KAT has proven he’s a future hall of famer and Wiggins can be that 2nd star or like you said 3rd option (for that future championship team). And Wiggins isn’t as bad of a defender as you think, He’s forced to matchup with the opp teams best scorer every night. Just be patient. 

And if they traded Rubio for some veteran bench help that would make a huge difference (in addition to a solid free agency signing). I said solid not ELITE, obviously they’re not going to land any of the big fish in this FA pool. 

 

 

[VintageKobeParticipant]

 Towns is statstically the worst defensive center in the game. Wiggins isnt a good defender but defense is anchored by the center 

[VintageKobeParticipant]

 Towns is statstically the worst defensive center in the game. Wiggins isnt a good defender but defense is anchored by the center 

[negguaryParticipant]

and get jimmy butler or Paul George  

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 They’d just leave after their contracts are up

[negguaryParticipant]

Jimmy butler loved playing for thibs and has maybe two or three more years left on his contract. In addition to this with a verteran star on their team that is familiar with thibs I’m sure they’ll be a much better team. Now Paul George your right he MAY leave but again with Paul George Kat Wiggins and Rubio distributing they are a really REALLY competitive team. BUT that’s just my stance on what they should do if they got number 1!  

[Russell0WestbrookParticipant]

 You take Josh Jackson and make the playoffs next year. The guy to me is Wiggins with a motor a level down in athletics but besides Jackson I believe Ball is the guy that could help on the winning side as far as intangibles. The Wolves have 3 players that averaged 20 a game so they don’t need Fultz. Draft Jackson and you can bring Dunn and Lavine off the bench and you have a guy in Jackson that can play in a system and play well with others because he passes well and he showed as a 1 and done he was willing to do the dirty work.

 

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 The Wolves are good on guards. Regardless of team, I think Tatum is the most certain to be successful and should be considered. 

I do fear that Fultz might just be good at everything and great at nothing, that Ball’s shot will fall apart and he won’t be able to drive, that Jackson’s jumper stays weird forever, that Fox forever shoots a low percentage at the rack (when it’s not a dunk), that Monk will never be anything more than an outside shooter, etc. I have some of these guys rated above Tatum, but he will be more ready than everyone else on Day 1, and the Wolves want to start getting into the playoffs. 

Positionally, yes he’s in Wiggins’ spot, but Wiggins can play SG and Tatum can play small ball PF (if not permanent PF). He doesn’t way a ton, but he looks and is strong. He’d also add shooting: something you can never have enough of. 

 

[ThenilonatorParticipant]

 It doesn’t matter who they pick, thibbs ain’t playing them.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Despite KAT and Wiggins averaging 25 and 23ppg respectively and good contributions from Dieng, Rubio and esprcially LaVine before he got injured plus having a proven coach in Thibs, the T-Wolves only improved by 2 wins on last season. Are they still in development or could they be an Orlando type team where good collective players never seem to gell as a team.

The T-Wolves do need depth and there is a strong case for bringing in a veteran FA or two. They will have some big renewals coming up in the next year or so but should have room for one good FA at least short term.

With the draft being PG loaded and them having a lot of PG depth, that makes their draft decision tricky as apart from Rubio, LaVine can play point and Dunn was drafted as a PG last summer. I never get the clamour to move Rubio, sure he isn’t a great shooter but he is a pass first PG and plays good defence. Wiggins and KAT are the bulk scorers and LaVine an excellent 3rd option when fit.

The team is still young so moving Rubio unless it was for an established player would not make sense.

People say that Thibs doesn’t like playing youngsters but he had 3 guys with under 3 years experience playing huge minutes this season.

I think that drafting Dunn might have been a mistake – Murray is younger and has more upside and Hield could have been an ideal 6th man and gives them a nice shooting option.

I don’t agree with trying to trade for Jimmy Butler as I think Wiggins can do that role perfectly adequately. Wiggins is 5 years plus younger and should have much more longer term upside.

As regards the draft if T-Wolves got top pick, I’d have to take Josh Jackson – Wiggins and LaVine played far too many minutes and taking Josh would allow Thibs to run a legit 3 man SG/SF rotation and all guys could get good minutes. Also they would have the option of going smallball with 3 guards and someone playing PF possibly Josh if needed.

The T-Wolves could use depth in frontcourt too but I’d look at Taj Gibson or Ersan in free agency as I don’t think Jonathan Isaac could be considered a top pick although he’d be a nice fit for them. Thibs had Taj in Chicago and he’d be a good veteran enforcer from the bench, Ersan blossomed next to Embeast and would give them a nice shooting option. Even Amir Johnson from Boston could be an option but I’d guess he’d like to stay put.

If T-Wolves do draft at 4 to 6 then Isaac or Tatum would be very easy picks for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Numbers_CruncherParticipant]

A couple things I’d like to add.

1) They can’t get the 4th or 5th pick (sorry to nitpick)

2) Not since the 1998 season did a team lose so many games when having a 10 point lead or higher. I think it was 19 times. A lot of them were 15+. The team lacked depth and Wiggins and Towns basically played the most minutes in the league this year. LaVine was leading the league before he went down. 

Get some legit veteran depth; my hope is for PJ Tucker and Taj Gibson or Patrick Patterson. Move Dieng and LaVine to the bench and draft Isaac. 

I have no idea what we’d do if we got a top 3 pick. I don’t think they’d trade it in a package for Butler. 

 

 

 

 

  

[Andrew1984Participant]

 The Wolves proved they can score with anyone. They were 13th in the league in scoring, 8th in field goal percentage, 8th in FTs attempted, and 9th in assists per game. They were last in the league in 3s made, but the numbers show that they attack the basket and share the ball. So offense isn’t the problem.

That leaves defense, which is why Thibbs was brought in. They were 18th in opponents’ scoring, but it’s not really a question of total points you give up; it has more to with learning how to get TIMELY stops. The Cavs weren’t a very good defensive team last year, but they got stops when they needed them. 

So how long does Thibbs get to teach these young stars to get stops in key moments of key games? That’s what turns losses into wins. Minnesota averages 105.6 ppg but gave up 106.7; that’s a difference of just 1.1 points per game, which is basically one or two possessions. Will another year in Thibbs’ system and another year of maturity get them to make a 1.2-point difference in 20 games? If so, they win 51 games instead of 31. 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 You hope the Sixers are at 4 and 5. Trade 1 for 4, 5, 45, and 49.  Then you trade 5 and some second rounders to the Kings for 8 and 10. Or, 5 and and Kris Dunn for 8, 10, and a second rounder. 

At 4, get an upgrade at small forward with Jonathan Isaac. Great size and range. At 8, get an extra shooter/scorer with Malik Monk. At 10, get KAT a running mate with Zach Collins.  

At 45, get a steady backup point guard in Frank Mason Jr.  Unless they like Tyus Jones as their backup point guard.  Then go with an extra big at 45, and a 3 and D wing at 49… 

I have my guard rotation in Wiggins, Rubio, LaVine, Monk, and Tyus Jones. My small forward in Isaac. My big man rotation in KAT, Collins, and Dieng. To round out that team you get a scrappy, defensive minded 3, then another big. What about even a guy like Johnathan Williams as a stretch 4? Derek Willis for a couple of 3’s, a few boards, and some hustle and fouls? Get ’em both? SIGN a defensive specialist? Maybe Tony Allen?

You can probably get Tony Allen in a sign and trade for 45, 49, cash, and a future second.

If the T Wolves come out of this draft with Isaac, Monk, Collins, and Tony Allen then they win the draft.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Fultz would have to be the guy. 

Imagine in four years when Fultz is 23, Wiggins and Towns are 26 – that’s a scary core. 

People are too hung up on what picking a rookie would do THIS SEASON rather than projecting. With Fultz, it would be adding another supreme talent to a core of exciting talents. 

Yes they need to fine vets…you don’t trade a guarenteed 8/9 years or potential star for 1 year of Paul George or 2 years of Jimmy Butler. 

I don’t want Ball from a baskebtall perspective, but it’d be great theater to see his dad combust when his son has to play in Minnesota. Oh he’d hate that so so much. 

 

 

 

 

[machu46Participant]

I think the two options are Fultz or a trade of some sort. In all likelihood, #1 pick means that Minnesota looks to potentially move Dunn or Rubio. I think Fultz is far and away the best prospect in this year’s draft.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Why would they have to trade Dunn/Rubio? 

If you can’t get anything for them, don’t move em. 

Fultz seems capable of playing with Rubio because he can play on or off the ball. Heck, Rubio can start while Fultz either plays on the wing in spot time or comes off the bench for a year as he gets acclimated to the NBA style. 

And Dunn, I don’t envision him as a long term PG. He looks more like a combo guy to me who can make plays as a secondary handler but might be best served in that Marcus Smart bulldog role – not what you want out of a top-five pick but you can make him useful still. 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

With this small ball fad continuing in the NBA can Josh Jackson play the 4 spot ?

Josh Jackson is an excellent defender and rebounder, he played PF in college and could realistically grow another inch or two and put on another 10-20lbs. Currently listed at 6″8 with 6″10 wingspan.

Rubio/Dunn – Lavine – wiggins – Jackson – Towns would look good for next season and would look even better for the following 18-19 season.

[Author]

Posts