This piece does not reflect the views of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Happy Two Days Before The NBA Draft Day, my friends.
It’s about 10:30 p.m. here in New York. We just landed a little bit ago. I planned on posting this on the flight, but Wi-Fi wasn’t offered. Because you know, it’s not 2015 or anything.
I did listen to this song about 30 times, though. Mostly because it’s a song on the only album I own on my phone. Beside U2 I guess, but that really doesn’t count because I’m pretty sure Bono just stole my phone and downloaded it.
Anyways, not a lot to talk about right now. What I will say is that I’m excited, amazed and blessed to be in this situation. Fifteen-year-old Kyle would be psyched.
(Heck, 25-year-old Kyle is psyched.)
Earlier today, I reached out to the fine folks on Twitter for some mailbag questions. As always, they delivered. This is the first-ever “Ratke On The Road” mailbag. Enjoy.
“Heard anything about Wolves moving down? Russell is an exciting prospect from 3 spot.” - @VincentAnderso
I’ve probably heard every rumor imaginable at this point.
“The Wolves are trading down.”
“The Wolves are trading back into the first round.”
“The Wolves are trading for Byron Buxton.”
You guys all know how talk before a draft is about as credible relationships on ‘The Bachelor’ are (this is coming from a big fan of the show). I do know that Flip Saunders liked what he saw out of D’Angelo Russell at Ohio State, but then again, that’s not exactly breaking news. A lot of people were fans of his work.
The issue with drafting Russell is the logjam it would create at the guard position. Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Zach LaVine…
Saunders is going to take the best player available. If he feels it’s Russell, that’s who he’ll take. I don’t see a trade down happening, though.
Then again, my girlfriend will remind you that I’m wrong a lot.
“Chances that we try to move up in the late first round and select Tyus?” - @UncleDrew87
I think there’s a chance. The team is in need of a backup point guard, so that right there opens up the possibility. Now it’s up to Saunders and General Manager Milt Newton to decide whether or not they want a young player as their backup or a veteran. If it’s a young guy, Jones could be that guy. The Minnesota connection is nice for fans, but that won’t be the reason the Wolves move up (if they do) to get him. It will be because they think he can help the team.
One thing that does benefit Jones with being a local kid, though, is that everyone knows what a class act Jones is. There aren’t many GMs or coaches who wouldn’t want Jones on his or her roster.
“Don’t you find it at least a little odd the Tyus Jones draft party is taking place ONE BLOCK from Target Center?” - @atmiller14
What I want to know is how in the world does Jones plan on staying there past 8 p.m.? As a young guy, I was kicked out of 508 as soon as they started ID’ing people who were already in after 8 p.m... Was I a role model? No. Was I looking to get away with a Coors Light at the ripe age of 20? Maybe. Whatever. Sue me.
Of course that’s not why Jones is there, as ESPN 1500 reported. Jones is there to celebrate himself likely going in the first round with a family that he’s very close with.
I would find it odd if Jones was at 508 because he thought he was going to be drafted by the Wolves, though. Maybe that’s what he wants, but I mean, at this point, how could he have any idea? The Wolves could have promised him they would take him, but that’s pretty impossible to do being they don’t have a mid to late first-round pick and Jones is expected to go there.
Side note: The author of this tweet works for an agency downtown. I worked with him for a little bit and he’s been like a big brother to me for a while. He used to rock some killer yellow b-ball shoes back in the day. I paid him $12 to send me this tweet. I was worried we wouldn’t have any questions for the mailbag.
“How will a guy like Towns or Okafor affect if the Timberwolves evolve into a new 3pt reliant offense or 90’s pound the inside.” - @connolicious
Well, Connolicious, I think you answered your own question.
If the Wolves take a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns, it would certainly improve their three-point shooting. That’s evident after watching Chad Ford’s scouting video.
It doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they would turn into the Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors, though. But the addition of Towns would help the three-point shot for the Wolves, assuming that he’s able to hit that shot in games. Remember, it wasn’t a big part of his game (because it didn’t need to be) at Kentucky. Nobody knows for sure whether it will translate to the NBA.
Now with Okafor, I think that’s a different case. I think by drafting Okafor, the Wolves would be taking the “do the opposite” approach that I often do in fantasy football. For example, if the running backs are going like cheap wine at a retirement home, I’ll do the opposite and snag the best WRs, or the best quarterback.
The league today is based on shooting. By taking Okafor, the Wolves are betting that they can take advantage of weak defensive centers around the league by doing the opposite.
“Which teams do you project to be mighty on the wheeling and dealing? #NBADraft2015” - @KylaRadha
As always, you can expect teams in the mid to late first round to trade out. Why? Because they are ready to win now and don’t want to spend their cap room on an unproven rookie when they could spend it on a proven veteran. Teams like this probably include the Mavericks, Rockets, Warriors and Cavaliers.
Other teams to watch are the Kings and Knicks. The Kings have struggled lately in the draft, while nobody really knows what Phil Jackson will do. Will he trade the pick? Will he draft Porzingis? Will he look at his roster while listening to Taylor Swift and think 'Man, Kendrick Lamar kind of screwed up this song.'
Nobody knows.
Should be a fun night with P-Jack.
“What do you think the Timberwolves will do with their second round picks? Who do you see them taking? Is it an opportunity to draft and store a Euro player?” – Matt Bishop
Well, Matt. That’s a great question and one that isn’t asked nearly enough. Everyone is focused on the No. 1 pick, and I get it… It’s the freaking No. 1 pick. But the 31 and 36 picks have some value.
Let’s look at four options, listed from least probable to most probable.
4.) Make both selections and keep both players for Training Camp. Why is this the least likely? Because the Wolves have such a young team the way it is and bringing in three rookies doesn’t exactly scream “leadership” in the locker room.
3.) Draft and stash, baby! This is my favorite scenario because I love when players come to America five years after being drafted and light it up. It’s almost like a free draft pick because everyone forgets about them. It’s like opening your fridge after a late Friday night to Papa John’s pizza. You didn’t know you ordered the pizza, but you’re not in a position to ask questions. You will eat the pizza.
Examples of this are guys like Nikola Pekovic and Nikola Mirotic. According to Fran Fraschilla, though, there aren’t many solid oversea prospects past the top-10.
2.) Package the two picks for a veteran. Like I said before, the Wolves could use some older dudes on the squad for some leadership. Maybe a team is interested in taking a flier on an early round second-round pick in exchange for a low-end rotation player. I’m not sure exactly what the market is like, but there are teams trying to drop cap space all the time. This could be an opportunity for the Wolves to take advantage of that.
1.) With all respect to option No. 2, trading back into the first round is the most probable, in my humble opinion.
“But why Kyle?”
Because this draft class is loaded with studs. Even getting into the top-25, there are guys like Jones, Rashad Vaughn, Justin Anderson, Christian Wood, Montrezl Harrell and who knows who will fall? What if Devin Booker falls? What if Cameron Payne falls? What if Frank Kaminsky falls? By God, what if Willie Cauley-Stein falls? Obviously you’d need more than the two second round picks to move up, but with so many solid players… there are so many possibilities. As your boy KG once said, “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Karl Anthony Towns or Jahil Okafor #1 over all? And which becomes the better NBA future in 5 years?” – Sean Doherty
Sean isn’t holding back here at all, is he?
By NBA rules, I’m not sure I can answer that question. But I’ll do my best.
Personally, I’ve gone back and forth on the two. The consensus among the media seems to be Towns right now, and I love the guy. Seems like a great guy on and off the court. Great defender, can hit the outside shot and hits his free throws.
With Okafor, you have a dominant, maybe once-in-a-decade post player. His moves have been compared to Tim Duncan, which is comparing your Aunt Vickie’s syrup to Aunt Jemima’s syrup. You don’t mess around with comparisons like that. But he can’t hit free throws and isn’t a great defender.
It’ rare to have two of the top prospects play the same position. What’s even rarer is to have their skill sets so different.
If I had to guess who will be a better pro in five years, I would pick Towns just because I think he fits today’s NBA better. But then again, who thought five years ago that a team starting 6’7” center (Draymond Green) could win an NBA title?
That’s all I’ve got for tonight, folks. Time to get some rest. We have media availability tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be sure to check in after that.