Getting Cute
by Stop-n-Pop on Jun 17, 2010 11:52 PM CDT
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OK folks, there was a workout yesterday. Derrick Favors came to town and he ran up and down at the Target Center and jumped very high. According to Tweets, emails, and a few phone calls, we can tell you that he may have been a tad out of shape, very impressive for an 18 year old, and he can run the court like a gazelle (even when out of shape?). None of that matters. What really matters is below the fold...
The Minnesota Timberwolves hold the 4th pick in a 4 player draft. They also have two point guards (Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions), two power forwards (Kevin Love and Al Jefferson), two additional first round picks, two second round picks, and two stashed Euros (Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic) to move in any number of combinations to get additional serviceable starting-level players, additional picks, whatever.
The bottom line for the team is that if they are unable to use their assets to get the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd best player in this draft, they take the BPA and use their assets to adjust the roster accordingly. At this stage of the game, it should be Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins or bust. I cannot tell you how big of a gap there is between these 3 players (and John Wall) and Wes Johnson. It's the Grand Canyon of the 2010 NBA Draft. This isn't to say that Wes Johnson isn't a nice player (he should be a very nice 3rd or 4th option and a terror in transition); rather, it's to say that for the first time in a long time, the Wolves have not found themselves as the one-pick-too-late player in a sparsely populated draft. For once, they aren't on the Laettner outside looking in at the beautiful O'Neal/Mourning interior. They're on the inside. They get to pick one of the big boys no matter what happens.
Keeping this in mind, there is nothing a 15-win team should worry about in terms of fit, roster cohesiveness, or locker room dynamics that should prevent them from taking one of the best 4 players in a 4 player draft with the 4th pick. It's that f'ing simple. If it's Derrick Favors, fine. If it's DeMarcus Cousins, even better. If it's Evan Turner, go nuts. If Derrick Favors is ranked higher on their board than DeMarcus Cousins, then they should try to do whatever they can to get him. If Evan Turner is ranked higher than that, the same thing holds true.
What should not happen is for this team to trade out of the plush O'Neal/Mourning surroundings into Laettner-ville. That's insane. Unless the team is able to move the 4th pick for an honest-to-Pete NBA All Star level performer, there is no reason to pull a Hello Kitty and get all cute. None. Zilch. Zip.
What will be especially frustrating about this draft is if the top talent in the draft falls in their laps at the 4th spot and they pass on him for a 23 year old athletic swingman.
Getting off my soapbox for just a little bit, at this point I think the Wolves' draft should be viewed in the very stark terms of Turner, Favors, Cousins or bust. While I think that DeMarcus Cousins is the best player in this draft (teenagers with that type of size, skill and production are once-in-a-decade type talents), there is absolutely nothing wrong with "settling" for Derrick Favors. Nothing at all.
If Evan Turner is taken with the 2nd pick, and the Wolves are unable to move up for his services, Favors and Cousins offer the Wolves two high percentage chances of success with similar roster implications. Either player makes it necessary to move one of their power forwards for a wing player. Either player lets them use their remaining assets to move up for another draft pick. Do not get cute. If Wall and Turner are off the board, there should be no excuse for this team not to walk away with Cousins or Favors. Wes Johnson is a massive step down from these two players.
Just what sort of players are we talking about with Favors and Cousins?
| %poss | TS% | OR%/DR% | TORate | Blk% | FD/40 | FTR | 2p% | pts/poss | PPR | |
| DMC | 31.3 | 57.9 | 19.6/25.1 | 15.8 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 72.6 | .565 | .1.14 | --5.93 |
| DF | 22.1 | 62.1 | 12.3/20.5 | 23.2 | 7.9 | 4.7 | 48.8 | .613 | .1.11 | -6.63 |
It really is hard to overstate just how efficient and productive DMC was during his single season at Kentucky. When he was on the court, he ended nearly a 3rd of his team's possessions while shooting the ball at a fair clip, dominating the glass, blocking shots, scoring more than a point/possession, and hardly turning the ball over. The guy flat out ends mountains of possessions in a positive fashion. Again, it's that simple.
Derrick Favors had about 70% of DMC's usage rate and he was unable to match not only his efficiency rates, but, in most cases, his net production. That's crazy. Now put that production into a guy with a massive wingspan, amazing standing reach, and...well, let's take a look at the physical numbers:
| Height w/shoes | Weight | Wingspan | Standing Reach | No-Step Vert | Lane Agility | |
| DF | 6'10.25" | 245 | 7'4" | 9'2" | 31.5" | 11.74 |
| DMC | 6'10.75" | 292 | 7'5.75" | 9'5" | 23.5" | 11.4 |
Favors clearly can jump with the best of them but DMC has what we Wolves fans have grown to love: small area quickness. For those of you who watched Kentucky this year, the big fella can hedge on screens, run the floor, and even make his way out to 15-17 feet to contest some jump shots with a bit of room to recover. He's clearly not in Favors' league in terms of getting from end to end, but with 1/2 court defense and the pick and roll, the guy will do just fine.
As for Favors, the guy is a huge athletic marvel with phenomenal shooting numbers and amazing defensive potential at age 18. Age, rebounding, athleticism....if the kid picked a better college he probably could be in the conversation for the top pick. Big 18 year olds who can shoot over 60% from 2 are pretty hard to find too.
Cutting back to the main point of this post, the Wolves are damn-near guaranteed one of these two players. If they don't get one of these guys, they are guaranteed the 2nd best player in the draft in Turner. Think about that for a moment before you think about how nice it would be for Wes Johnson to be a Timberwolf. The Wolves, if they just stand pat with the 4th pick, get one of the 4 best players in a 4 player draft. If Kevin McHale were still GM, they'd finally be in a position where he couldn't screw it up. All they have to do is take the BPA and be done with it.
Anywho, no matter what happened at yesterday's workout, and no matter what happens with DMC's agent, nothing is going to change the fact that the Wolves will get a shot at one of the 4 best players in a 4 player draft. They cannot mess this up...unless they get cute. They can then use the rest of their considerable assets to build a winning team. Please, do not over think this one.
OK, here's where we stand with the Community Draft Board:
- John Wall (54%)
- Evan Turner (81%)
- Derrick Favors (50.8%)
- DeMarcus Cousins (64.3%)
- Wes Johnson (85.9%)
- Al Faroq Aminu (38%)
- Greg Monroe (30.4%)
- Paul George (37.1%)
- Xavier Henry (61.7%)
- Cole Aldrich (35.1%)
- Gordon Hayward (28%)
- Luke Babbitt (33.6%)
- Ed Davis (26.9%)
- Hassan Whiteside (29.4%)
- Ekpe Udoh (41.4%)
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Again no Patrick Patterson
He’s got to be better than like half these guys! At least I think so.
DMC
apparently was retarded in his interview with the Wolves. Which from some things that I’ve read is the reason why his agent said the Wolves were set on Johnson. It’s one thing to pass up on a huge talent, it’s another to take a talent that could be a blatant train wreck in maybe the most important off-season of your franchises history. Plus I think Favors/Johnson fit with Rubio better as far as a transition team.
Now that being said, I will settle for Johnson at 4, but we need a go-to guy on the team and Johnson definitely isn’t and won’t be that guy. I really think we need Johnson on our team but we also need to find a way to acquire the 2/3 w/o giving up the 4 or do as PA is reporting and get “one of the best talents in the world” whom he claims will be linked to the Wolves in the next couple of days.
That's why we have to draft Anderson
Of all of the guys we could draft at either 16 or 23, he’s the most likely to become a go to guy. His usage in college was pretty damn high, but he still managed pretty good efficiency. Obviously, it will be harder for him to do that in the pros, especially with his unexceptional-for-an-NBA-player athleticism, but at least if he can do it in college there’s still a chance he could do it in the pros.
by oblivionspocket on Jun 18, 2010 1:34 AM CDT up reply actions
I can't say enough
how well I think Cousins will fit with Rubio. It’s not in transition, though he was phenomenal in transition as well (I think Biggity2Bit posted some numbers that said he got about 10% of his possessions in transition and was second in the NCAA in bigs in doing so, IIRC). But so much of the game is played in the half court, no matter what Kahn wants to do with an uptempo team. Yeah, ball movement and running are good. But in the playoffs, the ball slows down. Watching the Lakers/Celtics tonight should be a perfect example of this.
Cousins is a better half court player than any of these guys and he could run the PnR to perfection with Rubio… it’s just disgusting to think how good he could be. The next Stockton/Malone or Nash/Stoudemire. He has tremendous hands and, as SnP points out, solid small area quickness, and he sets a mean screen. Add to that his apparent ability to hit a midrange J and all of a sudden he can run the pick and pop as well? And we are thinking about NOT drafting this guy?!
Honestly if we draft Wes Johnson straight up at 4 or even for Randolph and Wes for Cousins… I’ll be so f’ing disappointed. Randolph will not become the next KG or even close, he has proven that already. Sure he’s a pretty hard worker, but I just don’t see it. GS would be keeping him if it was even remotely likely, they’ve been trying to dump him for a while now (enter StinkyFingers). Quality over quantity. And I don’t mean trading all our picks for Turner as we already have the same quality at 4 that we could get at 2. I’m talking about trading away the quality we do have for the quantity that we apparently “need” for a 15 win team.
Even if we somehow get the 3 from NJ, I’d rather take Favors/Cousins than Favors/Johnson. Figure out the fit later. Start a bidding war. Best case: Play these guys together and enjoy. I can’t even imagine how much fun that would be. Certainly a lot more fun than watching Johnson and Randolph run the break with Favors (you don’t need 5 guys to run the break, by the way).
Please, please, please, please, please take Cousins if he is the one that falls.
Buckeyes are red, Wildcats are blue,
I wanted Evan Turner, But DeMarcus Cousins will do.
Shogun
I don’t like Cousins’ so-called “issues” one bit, but it seems to me he’s clearly the BPA at number four and could be great alongside Rubio & Love. So I fully agree with Mplax about the potential of a Rubio/Cousins duo. The Showtime Lakers could dump the ball to Kareem when they couldn’t score off of the break, and the early 2000s Lakers could do the same with Shaq. It works.
With Cousins shouldering the scoring load, Love could focus on rebounding and starting the break—his greatest strengths—and Rubio could do what he does best. Brewer could run with Rubio on one of the wings, and if we could get another fast wing—preferably one who could also shoot the long ball—we’d be in business.
Chad Ford just came out with updated Tiers
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=5301543&addata=2009_insdr_mod_nba_xxx_xxx
Based off of feedback he is hearing from all GM’s
Tier 1
John Wall
Tier 2
Evan Turner, Wes Johnson, Cousins, Favors
Tier 3
Ed Davis, Aminu, Monroe
…
Because it's good to believe what GMs are saying right now?
Good call, Chad.
by Krotz the Wall on Jun 18, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ford's been pretty consistent
He’s had Wes Johnson in that 3-5 range for the last 4 months at least. I was a littl surpised to see him in the second tier.
It may just be optimistic thinking, but I think the Nets are seriously looking at drafting Johnson at #3. They seem pretty sure that they are going to be able to sign a 4 in FA and they have Lopez. I just hope their tiers look like this and they draft Johnson.
Other teams supposedly would do it.
Golden State among them. Supposedly.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
Yes, he has been.
Talking about Johnson getting consideration from 3 – 5 is different than adding him to Tier 2 based on what GMs are currently saying.
Hey, I’d really enjoy it if Johnson went before we were on the board. It would prevent us from taking him with the 4.
by Krotz the Wall on Jun 18, 2010 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
????
Give Chad Ford SOME credit, it’s not like he based his tiers only off of things he’s heard in the last 2 days. He does this for a living and follows prospects all year long. His tiers are a culmination of what he has been hearing and seeing for months not days or weeks. Obviously this is only his opinion, but I think his opinion should be a weighted a little more than the average joe’s.
With Ford the rule is:
He’s well-sourced; but
he doesn’t always know what to do with that information.
He had Cole Aldritch going to Golden State for a while, for reasons I’m still puzzled over.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
Amen!
The one thing that can’t happen is that we draft Johnson with the 4. (I would accept a trade down if that trade netted a serious upgrade of talent in an all-star caliber wing). I agree that the Wolves should look to trade up to get their guy, whoever it might be. If they can’t make that happen for a reasonable package, they need to sit on the 4 and take whichever of the top 4 falls.
Right now, I’m not certain who it might be sitting at 4. I keep looking at Philly, and I just don’t get the sense that Turner is the pick there. They’d probably have to shop Iggy and his contract at that point… wonder if the Wolves could put together a decent offer in that case.
Regardless, Turner/Favors/Cousins should be the pick at 4. Any one of those guys will be a good result walking away from the draft. The work will then be on to use the rest of the Wolves assets to craft a winning, balanced team… or at least a team that will quickly become one.
what about this three way trade
Al to DAL, Iggy to MN and Dampier to PHI? Everyone happy?
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jun 18, 2010 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
that dampier contract...
..is going to play large in the draft/free agency. just a gut feeling.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
Cuban is going to be aggressive this summer.
Like any other.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
I'd be happy to switch Al for Iggy
If that meant we were more likely to draft Cousins.
by aarendsvark on Jun 18, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Even without that, it would make sense of the roster.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
missing picks
Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton aren’t in the top 24?
good catch...
…with patterson. orton is headed back to college. i was distracted by the game last night while typing. i’ll add patterson back tomorrow.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
orton back to college?
When did this happen?
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jun 18, 2010 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I am guessing that Orton has a guarantee from OKC
They need a center and he fits the bill.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jun 18, 2010 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
my bad..
…i swear i read that the other day.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
i have a stupid question - like usual....
How do you link a picture on this site? Does it have to be a picture on the internet or can you link something from your hard drive? I can’t seem to get this image link to work.
by Breaking Ankles on Jun 18, 2010 8:45 AM CDT reply actions
you have to link..
…to images already on the web in the comments. if you write you own fan post, you can upload images. if you just want to comment, upload a pic to something like flickr and then link to it by clicking on the little tree next to the hyperlink button.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
Agree 100%
If they take Wes I will be despondent. He’s just not the player this team needs right now. It would affirm that Kahn has absolutely no idea what he’s doing and that he values fluff like wanting a running team over actual production. Ugh.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
"It would affirm that Kahn has absolutely no idea what he’s doing..."
That’s a strong statement. Let’s revisit it next season, after we’ve seen Wes play a while for the Wolves.
If Russell Westbrook and Tyreke Evans have taught me anything, it’s that guys who seem like reaches at #4 don’t always turn out to be.
Fair enough
but I reserve the right to freak out on draft night just like I did after the Mayo-Love swap.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
A Posssible Trade Scenario to throw out there
Who says no first?
Indiana gets Al Jefferson #4 pick
Minnesota gets Granger #10 pick
Wolves can still draft a big or a 2 at #10.
Indy has already turned down...
….a Jefferson package and they are in the market for a PG.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
Understand
I know they turned down a Jefferson for Granger straight up trade but there is quite a difference between that offer and the one I posted. Just a thought. There has been talk of the Pacers trying to trade up and down.
I've heard...
…whatever they do has to involve a PG.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
That's pretty solid.
Does it work in the trade machine?
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
Good to know
So how about Jefferson, Sessions and #4 for Granger, TJ Ford, and #10?
Terrible
Sorry, that one doesn’t do it for me. Granger isn’t good enough to justify taking on Ford’s deal AND the massive drop off in talent from 4 to 10.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
I've decided
It’s all smokescreen. All of it. From before the lottery even, the whole ‘3 man’ draft thing. Cousins is their guy, and they’re doing everything they can to get him to drop to 4, from ‘leaking’ his bad interview, to getting his agent to cancel his workout. They’ve rightfully identified him as the highest ceiling guy in the draft (Wall included) and they’ve worked from the outset to position themselves to nab him.
It is brilliant.
Now I’m going to go stick my fingers in my ears so I don’t hear Wes Johnson’s name when it’s called. Oh yeah, the ref from Mali was terrible.
Not a bad theory
I still can’t get over the fact that Theus is on the staff, and by all accounts Cousins is a huge fan of Theus from college recruiting days.
Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore High coach Otis Hugley, the coach of Demarcus Cousins, Rivals.com’s No. 2-ranked recruit, said the 6-foot-9 power forward and McDonald’s All-American will “very strongly consider playing for any school Reggie Theus gets hired to coach.”
Now I suppose its possible that Theus gave a terrible review of Cousins to Rambis, Kahn and the FO, and that even though he recruited him in college, he doesn’t see him as a great player in the NBA, but this quote at least shows they were friends. Why wouldn’t Cousins at least want to come in and visit if he liked Theus so much for a possible college coach. Something doesn’t add up and your theory could definitely explain it.
Who knows…
It would be genius if Kahn, DMC and DMC’s agent are pulling off this level of charade.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Jun 18, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
DMC and his agent would not be involved
This would only support their cause, they would let everyone know in the hopes that he went 2 or 3 because of it.
Buckeyes are red, Wildcats are blue,
I wanted Evan Turner, But DeMarcus Cousins will do.
Yeah.
But if Kahn really is smokescreening, why would he act like he wanted DeMarcus Cousins to come in? Wouldn’t it be better to just act like you’ve dismissed the possibility of drafting him?
not necessarily
what if he didn’t want someone trading up over the wolves to get him? If they think he will slide past the wolves, they could trade with SAC. At this point, I don’t know and just need to shut down until draft night.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jun 18, 2010 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I get that.
That’s what acting all in love with Wes Johnson accomplishes. But Kahn has gone on record saying he wants to get DMC in for a workout, and that he’s “intrigued” by him. Isn’t that counterproductive to the goal you just described?
no no
Kahn saying that he doesn’t care if one of the consensus top 4 picks doesn’t come in – when we have a top 4 pick – would be what we call ‘over selling’. The best response is a half-hearted ’we’re talking, and…hopeful (cough)…that he’ll still come in’.
As I said. Brilliant. Simply Brilliant.
(Putting fingers back in ears now, and on 2nd viewing, the ref from Mali was worse than terrible)
Basically, I agree with the idea that the Wolves shouldn't get cute, BUT
the one thing that even uber-Cousins advocate SnP has said as a caveat is that the Wolves should do really their homework on Cousins’ attitude/personality issues, because the talent is there. Well, what if they did that homework, and Cousins didn’t pass? I’m not ready to just assume that Kahn/Ronzone/Rambis can’t make that call correctly.
I really don’t want to start another debate about whether Cousins’ issues are or are not a problem (because I don’t know the answer), but I think we can agree that the Wolves get access to a lot more information than most of us do. That’s why even though I won’t be thrilled if they pass on Cousins for a guy like Wes, I’ll also reserve my final judgment until I see how well they both do in the league.
We can be sure...
that Kahn & Co. will be called idiots for making such an unconscionable decision — despite the good point that you make — if they pass on DeMarcus. This decision, like all draft decisions, awaits the test of time.
In fact, I’m already looking forward to the Patrick Reusse column after the draft, where he either:
a) bashes Kahn for passing on the premier talent; or
b) bashes Kahn for taking on the lunatic headcase.
If it’s not Reusse, it’ll be Souhan. It sets up for a talking point and one of them will make it.
Sid's version will either be that Cousins is
1. Just like George Mikan
2. Or nothing like George Mikan
by PoorDick on Jun 18, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is interesting
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5288990
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
If what we see on the court is simply FIRE to play the game, to win...
but it’s just coming from a guy who doesn’t know how to channel it yet because he is young…
Cousins is difficult to pass on. What he did this past season is nothing short of remarkable. The way he grades out as a prospect is remarkable. If all that is fueled by a fire to win, to be the best, the show it every game, every play, and if he can funnel that into effective and dominant play… DAMN.
Yeah, there are question marks. He pulls faces. He jaws with coaches. I did that when I played football and hockey in high school. It was because I was revved up, giving my all, willing myself into every play. I think a question mark that is even bigger than the one poised over Cousins as a person and team mate is this one… How can you pass on him?
by Krotz the Wall on Jun 18, 2010 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm starting to get a little scared
that Favors falls to us at #4. The more I see and read about Favors the more I think he might be too passive and timid to turn himself into a star. The track record of athletic bigs lacking in toughness and desire is not a good one. Conversely the fiery over-passionate players tend to succeed on a much more consistent basis.
Obviously I’ve never met either of them, and if I did I might find out Favors does have a fire to succeed and that Cousins is in fact a lunatic. But from an outsider looking in, Favors perceived passiveness and rawness scares me more than Cousins aggressiveness.
+2
Way too many people love the physique and the vertical, and are ignoring the fact that, you know, he’s not very good at basketball.
Oooh…he dunks and block shots…
Has no one noticed he can’t shoot, post up,or pass???
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I've read somewhere
on this site that Cousins’ “attitude” may be valuable to his potential dominance of the game. All of this complaining about his attitude could turn out to be like complaining about Shaq tearing down the rim in college. The dude looks like a force.
by BetterLaettnerThanRider on Jun 18, 2010 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Couple things in here I found interesting, brief preview
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5288990
Buckeyes are red, Wildcats are blue,
I wanted Evan Turner, But DeMarcus Cousins will do.
Not sure
Cousins just posted it on his Twitter so I clicked and that’s all I know :)
Buckeyes are red, Wildcats are blue,
I wanted Evan Turner, But DeMarcus Cousins will do.
Talk about your pre-draft positioning.
He had a documentary done. Bra-vo.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
Sunday
… that’s all I’ve got. Don’t have cable so I don’t know what OTL means, but it’s Sunday’s OTL.
Buckeyes are red, Wildcats are blue,
I wanted Evan Turner, But DeMarcus Cousins will do.
Looks like it's on at 8 am on Sunday.
And OTL is Outside the Lines. Should be interesting.
by Madison Dan on Jun 18, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
The unanswered question
Can we really assume that Kahn is solely behind the interest in Johnson (if true) at #4? There hasn’t been much discussion about what Rambis wants and whether they are in agreement or not about DMC. Last week, Rambis said on Barreiro how important height and length were, saying that Kevin Love could play perfect position defense on guys like Gasol and Bynum and it might not matter because they could reach over the top of him. That screams DMC to me, but I can also see why he’d want Johnson to plug into a running system.
Second, there have always been whispers about Rob Moor (Taylor’s son-in-law) really being the one in charge. Is there some pressure from the higher-ups on Kahn not to take Cousins? It’d surprise me since they didn’t have a problem taking on Ricky Davis (once called the biggest partier in the NBA by Bill Simmons), but maybe Moor and Taylor have some influence on this pick, and maybe they had some influence on last year’s picks.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jun 18, 2010 12:33 PM CDT reply actions
if Taylor is going to handicap
Kahn and Rambis that way, then maybe he should fire himself when the wolves are stuck in mediocrity. Ugh. I already suspect that Taylor has a lot to do with the Roy for Foye swap. Wanted the cash and lower salaried first round pick.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jun 18, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
"maybe Moor and Taylor have some influence on this pick, and maybe they had some influence on last year’s picks"
Oh, I could totally see this—maybe moreso from a marketing standpoint. Especially after Eddie, and Kandi, and Kirk—they’ll shy away from thugs and malcontents and crazycrackers, and more toward the Kevin Loves of the league (hence the reliance on Rubio as the future of the team).
Now, maybe a 15 win season and Target Center’s new motto (“Every Seat is Still Available!”) will change that, and they’ll start to overlook flags and marks of all colors and they’ll focus more on talent and wins. But until we see the change, expect things to remain the same.
Don't forget Chris Wright!
He of the “don’t worry about not getting Rondo” fame. Here’s a question that has been rumored to me for a while but I’ve never been able to get to the bottom of: Was the $1 mil saved from Foye/Roy used on DJ Mad Mardigan?
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
It also paid to have the "Petters Group" ads removed from the blimp.
"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
Amazing that McHale rejected that deal. Maybe Taylor would have listened to him if McHale had been less of a screw up prior to that.
by littleboxes on Jun 18, 2010 5:39 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
DMC? Please no.
I, for one, am not all to excited about seeing the next coming of Eddy Curry(see 300 lb C with heart condition) playing in a T-Wolves uniform. If we do select him, our only saving grace is that we can move him for some one who can shoot worth a lick. I also agree that Johnson at 4 is a bit of a reach, but if we can get a lottery pick for the likes of Foye and Miller, hopefully we got a bit more trickery up our sleeves.
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