[kaimurdahParticipant]

This has got to be a record. If they scout properly, they could easily be a contender for the 2011 championship, thats not even hype. How can someone not be a contender after six draft picks

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Haha they could easily be a contender for 2011…not if they keep drafting PGs.  Seriously though it is going to take more than draft picks for them to be title contenders.  They have to sign somebody good in free agency. They can become a lot better through this draft though.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Minnesota has 6 draft picks- 3 in the 1st round

Ramon Sessions- who could command a good player back in trade
Al Jefferson- Could command good player and a 1st rounder in a trade
Ricky Rubio- Commanding 1st round picks as we speak

and David Khan has some 6-11 Euro who’s pretty good.

David Khan is making moves and I’m interested to see whats next

[M-DYMESParticipant]

More than likely, Minny will be trading a few of those picks either for established NBA players or to move up in the draft. They aren’t gonna bring in 6 rookies thinking they would all make the squad. They seem to like stashing some guys oversees as well so that could be another possibility, but I seriously doubt Minny ends the draft with 6 draft picks.

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

well they could also end up with 0 1st rounders if things don’t go their way since 3 of them are subject to change due to protected picks.

[hotshotschampParticipant]

there is almost a zero % chance minnesota would have to give their pick to the clippers this year. It’s top 10 protected.

Wolves are real bad. and are by no means a threat to make that happen.

Also the way Utah is playing that pick will be the wolves.

[hotshotschampParticipant]

The wolves are in good position.

3 1st round picks – most likely. Likely one of them to be a top 3 pick.

Pekovic- one of best big men in Euro ball, coming over next year it sounds almost a given.
Rubio- Coming not next year, but year after most likely

Lots of expiring contracts and cap room next year.

They can’t be a big player next year, maybe the year after though.

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

all their best players/future players play the same position! either pg or pf.

pg: flynn, sessions, rubio*

pf: jefferson, love, pekovic*

on a normal team u would just say well then they can trade them. well do u really trust david kahn? really, he drafted 4 pgs with 5 picks in the 2009 draft. also, their pick in 2012 goes to the clippers unprotected. plus, it will be tough for them to sign FA’s due to being minnesota and it will be tough for them to keep them since they are in minnesota and will be free agents around the same time. minny is lost, not going up to be contenders.

[hotshotschampParticipant]

minnesota drafted Lawson for Denver via charlotte. It wasn’t our pick, it was theirs. We simply said the name of the player they wanted. They wanted a pick in a stronger/deeper draft, and had nobody they wanted at pick @18 last year, when Bulls took the guy they wanted.

Calathes was never intended to be used here, it was traded for a future 2nd

They drafted 2 pg’s, and 1 of them who we most likely thought probably wouldn’t come over for a while anyways.

Minnys future is very bright, say what you want.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Minnesota had six picks on draft day last year, how is that working for them?

The Wolves are a dysfunctional organization. They have a great young big man in Jefferson with whom they should be building themselves around, but they throw away O.J. Mayo to grab a smaller, less conditioned version of Jefferson in Kevin Love. They completely screwed up draft night with the Rubio-Flynn debacle. They are a horrible defensive team, and their wings are as bad as any in the NBA, and even though Flynn looks like a solid player not one person wouldn’t put him on the bench if they could get Wall. But they have six picks and the rights to three young players doing very well in Europe, so everything is going to be fine. Right???

[hotshotschampParticipant]

flynn
rubio
brewer
love
jefferson
pekovic
3 1sts ( possibly landing a wall, turner cousins ) type
Cap money or trade using expirings.

I agree, everything will be just fine.

Love it

[quinceyhodges]

easily be a contender????..can i have what youre smoking?…its not liek they will have the top 6 picks in the draft and even with that they wouldnt be contenders in one year. that line up you mmentioned hot is a good building block but they arent challeneging for a couple of years. they have some time before they are even in playoff talk

[llperez]

yeah, easily be a contender next year because of some draft picks? Please, i’m surprised you don’t have negative 20 already.

[hotshotschampParticipant]

that is sober…

However in 2012 or so…when rubio is here…if we land a turner/cousins type + trade expirings for a legit player or get a guy in FA.

Twolves can be a big factor in 2012 forsure, and next year they will show some good things.

[quinceyhodges]

actually the guy who made the post said it. and no one knows how good rubio will be..also flynn is already good . and its ture any team can change byy getting a free agent and a good draft pick

[the I in winParticipant]

probably not contenders in 2011 but not long after that i would have to agree. rookies don’t usually get their teams into the playoffs, let alone the championship.

[llperez]

i think people throw the “cotenders” word around too easily every time a team gathers some young talent. I think Minnesota is in a good position to build for the future, but so are the nets. You have young up and coming teams like portland, okc, memphis and atlanta ready to compete right now. And it’s not like the lakers, cavs, magic, or nuggets are gonna pack their bags and call it a day in the next summer or two. Make the playoffs before we start talking about how every young team is gonna compete for the title.

And if you look at minnesota, not all those picks are gonna be top 10 where you know you are getting a difference maker. And I’m still not sure if love and jeferson can play together. And I’m not realy feeling like Flynn is gonna be a top 10 pg in this league. There are a ton of holes, and a couple rookies does not make me think they should be advancing in the playoffs anytime soon.

[butidonthavemoney]

Yeah. It might surprise some people that the Utah Jazz are the third youngest team in the NBA.

[j1232eParticipant]

for losing those picks due to kevin mchale’s cheating. They feel the need to secure as many drafts picks as possible, because they missed those picks so bad!

[marcusfizer21Participant]

Simple statement… 6 draft picks doesn’t guarantee a contender for the next season… MOST especially when you got a GM who’s doing a lot of moves of which none of them are that impressive… Minnesota would be wasting those 6 picks UNLESS they get the number 1 pick for the John Wall bonanza…

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

they be lucky if they make it to the playoffs.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Contrary to what many people are saying, I really like what Kahn is doing. He is going for value as opposed to need, which when you have a young team that you are building, I think is the way to go. They may not be a perfect fit for the team now, but they weren’t going to be championship contenders regardless. Might as well get the best value for your picks and then look to build them and trade them for guys that are established NBA players who fit your needs when the time comes. I support Kahn 100%.

[NashyMingParticipant]

I think they are doing a good job in collecting draft picks and young players. They look like Portland a few years ago. If they don’t screw up in the draft or getting bad luck, then they can be back to playoff in 2/3 years.

I think they signed Ramon Sessions on a great discount, and can use him as a good trading chip or keep him as a good backup PG (I actually think he can be a starting PG on a decent team).

Rubio is the real deal, and I think they should let him stay in Spain for another year.

A lot of good european talents did not plan out because they joined the NBA too early. The Euro game can provide the kids experiences and fundamental that would help them succeed in the NBA.

[NorthernLights666Participant]

“Rubio-Flynn debacle”

If Kahn wouldn’t have taken Rubio he would’ve been crucified by MN fans, he was considered to be the best player available at that spot by everybody and Flynn was a workout warrior, plus Jennings came in with Lawson and Flynn, looked like garbage and refused to take coaching direction, to be honest, I truthfully believe he can attribute a lot of his early success due to the fact that he plays for a Coach who was a PG and lets him control the ball, in the system Rambis is trying to teach most plays the ball is out of Flynn’s hands the minute he brings across half court, it’s only when the game is on the line or in garbage time that he lets him be free, even Chris Paul remarked about how good Flynn will be once he’s given more freedom, even Rambis has remarked that once Flynn has an understanding of how he wants the ball moved he will give him more freedom to create. Yes, I believe Curry will be good and so will Jennings, but will Flynn be that much worse? I don’t think so, taking Rubio and Flynn back to back, especially when the next year’s draft is completely devoid of PG talent, was a great move, hindsight is always 20/20, I’m just happy they didn’t reach for Derozan or Williams and not to have Rubio come over, just imagine how bad they would be then?

[tonyl33Participant]

With 6 draft picks, they can do a lot of things. I am pretty sure the Wolves are not going to draft all 6 players and yes, they will atleast get 5 drafts because Bobcats are making the playoff and thier draft is only protected through the lotterry. The 6th draft pick will depend on Utha because it’s protected through 17th and we’re only 1/2 way through the season and their out west. Things change quickly out west.

Anyways; the wolves have a lot of assest that they can combine and trade away to other teams. Just amagine a couple of the scenarios:

Draft:
If they get 1st pick: No Brainer it will be Wall; If this is the case, Sesson and Rubio will be traded away and they will play Flynn and Wall. Flynn and Wall will be able to play together because Wall can play great off the ball just the same way he is doing now with Bledso in KU. This won’t be full time but this is way better then Flynn/Rubio combo. Wall will be able to guard the 2 guards becase he’s standing at 6’4.

You can also package Love/Sesson or Rubio along with a late 1st round pick like they did last year with Lawson, moving up in the draft to get a Big, Cusions, Monroe, or Aldrige.

Most of the moves the wolves will do will come after the lottery day, knowing where they will draft will give them a better insight on what moves to make with what players. Khan is a good GM with a young team, making a lot of good moves. Worst case, the wolves Draft 5.

FA:
If the wolves don’t get the top 3 pick in getting; Wall, Turner or W. Johnson, I think they will try to make a move for R. Gay. They have enough money to offer Gay in a long term contract for about 12 mill which I’m sure Memphis will not match.

They won’t be contender in 2011 but look like they’ll be there within 2012.

I’ll love to see the Wolves get 1st pick, Wall. Then during FA; do a sign and trade deal with Memphis, getting R. Gay and Thbeet, Trading away Love and Sesson/Rubio.

Memphis already has 2 centers in Thabeet and M. Gasol, they need a PF for the future and they can’t afford Gay so why not get something out of it. They also need a PG, Sesson fits here. 🙂

Thabeet
Jefferson
Gay
Brewer
Wall

[WizardofOzParticipant]

You’re crazy if u think Minnesota is gonna be a contender next year. If they draft wisely, they will become better in a few years just like OKC did and maybe contenders. But definitely not next year.

[butidonthavemoney]

Minnesota has some cap-room and some trade bait. I personally hope they trade Jefferson, because I think Love is a very special player. I think they should sign Joel Przybilla, and maybe trade Jefferson for Gay.

As for the draft picks…

Pick Number/Projected Pick – Possible Player

1/1-5 Wesley Johnson – With their first pick, they should address their biggest need. Shooting. If they do trade Jefferson for Gay, they would have a very solid three-man rotaion on the wings. Flynn and Rubio would create the offense, so Johnson, Gay and Brewer could do what they do best — play off the ball.

2/13-18 – Solomon Alabi – With the Charlotte pick, they can draft their coveted center. If they can sign Przybilla, they can play Alabi behind him. This way he won’t be asked to do much besides block shots, develop, and not make mistakes. Could take Hollins place halfway through the season.

3/24-27 – Luke Babbitt – Minnesota drafts another shooter. He isn’t a very capable defender, but he works hard. At the very least he would give the T’Wolves depth.

4/32-34 – Trevor Booker – For the extra punch in practice and the energy off the bench that all good teams in the NBA have, the T’Wolves draft the fiesty player out of Clemson.

5/42-47 – Vladimir Dasic – Minnesota goes international to get themselves a combo-forward with a lot of potential. Another stasher?

6/49-52 – Deon Thompson – Some post scoring off the bench isn’t bad for such a late pick. Insurance in case they lose Jefferson.

Next Year…

Flynn/Rubio/Sessions
Brewer/Johnson/Ellington
Gay/Gnomes/Babbitt
Love/Thompson/Booker
Przybilla/Alabi/Hollins

[tonyl33Participant]

I am not saying they will become a contender next year, regardless of who they have. They’ll still have to learn the offense and mesh together before they can become a contender. If they can get the right pieces during the off season, they’ll use next year as a learning process for the offense and figureing out their role on the team. Meaning, 2012 at the earliest to become a contender.

[butidonthavemoney]

It should be noted that they had 6 picks last year too.

[darkman97Participant]

I don’t know how this works but I would give one of our first round picks to the Clippers because we will owe them one sooner or later. Does the Clippers have to accept this pick if we decide to give it this year? Do it now before it’s a top 3 pick we would be getting rid of, cause I think it’s not protected in a couple years. I’d rather get it over with now unless there is a can’t miss player available.

As far as the last couple years of drafting, we really screwed up. When we took Brewer, I wanted Al Thornton wasn’t upset with the trade of Roy for Foye but I wanted Gay. In 08 I wanted Lopez even over Mayo and hated the Love pick. Last year I was disappointed when Evans was taken before us so I was cool with them taking Rubio (not knowing he wasn’t gonna come over) then shocked when they took more and more point gaurds.

I didn’t have faith in Mchale making the selections so it is a breath of fresh air to have Kahn but I hope he does better than last year.

[quinceyhodges]

youre right people do tend to think a team will be a contender because of the young players they get. they haveyears to go before they will be contenders. how long is it taking portland? how long has it taken any team that has had young players. unless they sign a real big free agent or 2 then 2012 is still to early

[arman]

you draft six rookies and you are contender?.. ok good to know…. and minnesota cannot bring any a class fa cause nobody wants to go there…. that organization needs a complete rebuilding…

[Author]

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