Such a letdown, despite getting the highest pick we've ever had.

What I heard is the Cavs are taking Irving unless his foot breaks off before the draft or something similar.

If we dont trade the pick, I think we need to take the BPA which is clearly Williams. This team needs talent more than anything else and he has more talent than anyone else not named Irving. He's an efficient scorer and has a good, aggressive attitude. I think he has the least chance of sucking of all the remaining players.

It sounds like Kahn is looking to shop the pick. I think it has significant value. We'll see if he can pull off a good trade while giving up something significant. Keep in mind, his good trades so far (Beasley, Randolph) basically were because the other teams were trying to unload those guys. This could be interesting. Please Kahn, dont **** this up!!

By the way, why hasnt Rambis been fired yet??!!

i disagree with the idea that williams is clearly the 2nd BPA. why? what's so good about him? he's a 3/4 tweener who can score but projects as a so-so defender and poor rebounder. we already have one of those and he sucks.

i just think that it's irving>>>>everyone else. if williams is the next best player it's by an eyelash, so i think it would be a large mistake not to use team needs as the tie breaker

i mean i'm not convinced that derrick williams is a better player/prospect than anthony randolph. he probably is, but it's close imo.

Shopping the pick is actually a good move. I heard Kahn wants veteran help which, if you can't get Irving, is a good idea because Wolves are the youngest team in the league and really don't have a veteran presence besides Ridnour.

Additionally until we start winning again, no solid veteran will want to sign as a FA here so we'll have to get them via trade. Think Spree and Cassell - both via trade.

Best case scenario is Wolves can get some solid veteran talent and maybe even pick up a first round pick next year since we finally have to pay LAC for the one McHale ****ed away for Jaric. Our first round pick is completely unprotected next year and goes to Clips no matter what.

I sense a fine coming for Kahn:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...05b64ec8d22def
Wolves general manager David Kahn said he knew Minnesota was "dead" when it got down to the final three of himself, Utah executive Kevin O'Connor and Nick Gilbert.

"This league has a habit, and I am just going to say habit, of producing some pretty incredible story lines," Kahn said. "Last year it was Abe Pollin's widow and this year it was a 14-year-old boy and the only thing we have in common is we have both been bar mitzvahed. We were done. I told Kevin: 'We're toast.' This is not happening for us and I was right."

lol


willie - clearly in my mind, Williams>everyone not named Irving. He has the highest downside (lowest risk) of all the others and a pretty good upside. Here's where the "experts" think he's going to be drafted:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/
http://espn.go.com/nba/draft
http://www.canishoopus.com/2011/4/25/2127394/biggybigs

Here's a good breakdown of his strengths & weaknesses:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...Williams-5811/

I'm not super excited about the possibility of the Wolves taking him or anything, but if we keep the pick, I think it'd be at least a small mistake, possibly a big one, to pass on him at #2.

Trade to clips to get next year's #1 back.

I don't think that would be a bad idea. I like it, actually.

I wonder if it would be possible to trade down to 5-8 and get Biyombo and something else.

we don't need someone with a high downside. we need someone who can be a valuable piece on a contending team along side love. (not that we will necessarily ever get there- but the goal of drafting is to try.) if derrick williams is not better than beasley he has virtually no value to us. if (as a 3) he is better than both randolph and beasley, which is not a lock, he has value about to the extent that he is better than the midway point between them. but biyombo and kanter have value to the extent that they are better than the midway point between darko and pek which is obviously way lower. guards would depend on the rubio situation and how good rubio is, but they are also potentially more valuable to us than forwards.

your whole thing about just picking the BPA because we suck is just dead wrong. we have 1 good player (plays williams' primary position) and between 2-4 potentially good players (all of whom play his secondary position). what do we need more, another potentially good player at those positions or one at the 5? it's just not true that we are starting from scratch no matter how often you repeat it.

i mean i could see your point if we were talking about kevin durant or lebron james, but we're talking about a guy who would probably be a 5th or 6th pick most years.

Dude, you're not winning anything with any of the guys on this team. Love is good enough to be the best player on a 15 win team. Take the best player and trade anyone else as needed.

and I think "high downside" is being used wrong. I'm mean how could you want a guy with "high downside" and "high upside" at the same time?

The Wolves need to get lucky with whoever they pick or trade for imo.

And luckier with Beasley.

And get rid of Rambis and Kahn.

And get Rubio over.

And not get injured.

The problem I have with drafting Williams is that it will make the current roster (of guys who actually matter to the team):

PG: Ridnour, Flynn, Telfair, Rubio(?)
SG: Ellington, Webster
SF: Wes, Beasley, Williams
PF: Love, Randolph
C: Darko, Pekovic

Not sold on either Ellington or Webster being our SG and there aren't enough minutes to go around at SF between Wes/Williams/Beasley. Wes could play SG I suppose but it's not his natural position. Team is way too heavy in PG's and SF's.

Lots of needs, but I think it's mainly SG, PG and big, banging C in that order. Darko was aight in spurts but is soft as butter and has no physicality.

Yeah, the Wolves current lineup doesn't really have a good amount of room for Williams, so a trade will likely have to happen. If they think he'll have more trade value after showcasing him then perhaps it makes sense to draft him but I think just trading the pick is a solid idea. Or if there is *anyone* in this draft who could be a potential high-level all star or superstar, just roll the dice. The Twolves need to get lucky with another pick like with Love or their ceiling is 2nd round of the playoffs.

pretty much this^

We have one good player and shouldn't worry much about fit.

and we need a new coach and a new GM.

I dont think it (who we pick at 2) will matter anyways because I dont thing we're keeping that pick.

how about #2 and rubio for #1?

alternately would anyone trade a pick in the 5-7 range straight up for beasley?

then just take williams and you can end up with rubio, williams, biyombo

Is this the draft to be doing that for? I really only know what's been going on in this thread regarding the draft, but it really seems there may be zero superstars and maybe only 1 or 2 all stars coming out this year. So not very good odds that getting 2 of the guys will result in anything helpful.

On the other hand, I like swinging for the fences that way. Just look at the Bulls and OKC. They obv got lucky with their picks but they definitely made sure to retool with multiple good young talents rather than some sort of hodgepodge.

2+Rubio might be too steep for Irving, but maybe not. It doesnt matter though because Kahn is so in love with Rubio that it will not happen.

I dont know if Beasley has that much value or not. I'd take a flyer on Biyombo for Beasley if its available.

Iggy and the #16 for the #2 is what is being discussed at the Philly SB Nation 76ers blog. That interests me more than anything else I've heard.

http://www.libertyballers.com/2011/5...he-second-pick

http://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-...s-phoenix-suns

Sounds like at least a couple teams' fans really want our pick. Hopefully we can get something good. I like the Iggy + 16 a lot better than whatever the Phoenix guy is proposing.

lol the Suns one is ridiculous.

Robin Lopez + Dudley for the #2 and Martell? even Kahn isn't that dumb

I ran this:

http://www.blogicontinuacio.com/post...mb-a-minnesota

through Google translate and it says this:

Catalan to English translation
Ricky Rubio has informed the club of his intention to leave the club at the end of the current season. But to avoid repeating the mistake made ​​in Badalona, and ajornarà any official announcement until the end of the competition with his current club.

Kahn, General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, finished out with his base and made ​​the leap to the NBA will Rock this summer.

Among the pros who have pushed to decide there are three particular elements: the insistence by the interest shown no weakness franchise expiration of the current rookie salary conditions, il'enquistament of his game and the critical pressure growing for its low performance.

Among the cons, the threat of lockout (lockout) is expected and could delay the start of the NBA season a few months. But around the player, and Kahn himself, have tried to turn this situation and appreciate that after the intense seasons drag Ricky (no summer break from 13), this could help you stop to retrieve forces to adapt to the modus vivendi yankee, and individual coaching some of his most significant gaps (especially the shot of course).

I think that's pretty good news, but it doesnt sound like a done deal quite yet.

I'm really hoping the fact that the rookie salary structure could be changed in the next CBA, that it really pushes him to sign now and not risk the $.

Yup. I hope this is Kahn's main pitch.

This guy has me convinced (for now) that we should keep the #2 and draft Williams: http://www.canishoopus.com/2011/5/20/2181685/why-not

Good write up and thread imo.

it's kind of wierd to me that people are focusing on beasley and wes and ignoring randolph and webster. i think randolph is the best player of the bunch and webster is a viable starting 2 and wes is the solid defensive backup. (and beasley is not worthing keeping/paying) i mean, yeah, drafting williams is OK as long as beasley is the one you ditch, but even ditching MB would result in your 3 best players being natural PFs.

An argument could be made that if we draft Williams, our 5 best players would be PFs.

I dont care. I want talent. I think Williams can play SF and potentially be a star. I think at worst he'd be the 3rd best player on this team. Aside from Love, none of the rest of this team matters much. I dont think Webster or Randolph matter much. Its possible they could be helpful players under a good coach, but I dont think we should worry about the small pieces.

Get Rubio here, keep Love, & either draft Williams or get a king's ransom in trade for the pick imo. Worry about how the pieces fit later.

Hopefully we can get a somewhat decent coach in here that would take advantage of our players strengths. I'm not very optimistic about that the longer they wait to fire Rambis. I get the feeling they're putting out feelers to see who they can get for cheap to replace him, and who the hell thats decent would want to come here & work for Kahn?