Have you ever dated a girl who had an ex that you were friends with? If so, did you find it hard to still be chummy with that friend because he just couldn't get that you didn't appreciate him saying unkind things about the girl you were moving forward with? And so goes the last thing I'll say about KG's classless performance on Friday night. He was paid well and well liked but he's simply not in the picture anymore and he just can't seem to say the right things about the team and players (and fans) who left him behind...rather well off, it should be added.
Sooooooo...in the spirit of moving forward without the nonsense, let's forget about a recap of the Celts game (quick rundown: Bassy and Brewer played well except their last plays, Big Al shouldn't attempt 10 foot running baby hooks with the game on the line, Witt shouldn't call for an entry play into the low post to a guy who can't handle the ball away from the basket with 16 seconds left on the clock, etc) and update our Wolves Draft Board
Tier 1 Players (players you have to draft no matter what if given the chance):
- Michael Beasley- Folks, with each passing game it is becoming more and more obvious that Beasley is far and away the best player in the upcoming draft and the only guy who warrants aa must pick status. He’s averaging 24.6 points and 12.6 rebounds a game while shooting nearly 57% from the floor. He has a stunning 38 PER while gathering almost 30% of his team’s total rebounds. He’s also averaging 2 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest. He has shown improvement on the defensive end as well as a clear potential to play the 3 in the Association. He is this year’s Kevin Durant. Talent: 5 Crunches. Need: 4 Crunches.
Tier 2 Players (players which can be ranked for value or traded):
- Donte Green- The Syracuse freshman is rapidly improving as the season wears on. A 6’10” combo forward with unlimited range and silky smooth athleticism, Green would instantly provide the Wolves with a legit perimeter threat at their 2nd weakest position: the 3. Talent: 4 Crunches. Need: 4 Crunches.
- Ty Lawson- I know, I know, Derrick Rose is a nice player with tantalizing athletic ability. However, Ty Lawson is quietly putting together the best season at the point in college basketball and it’s really not close. For those who haven’t seen him play, Lawson is essentially a right-handed version of Mike Conley, an undersized but ultra-quick point who makes smart decisions and controls the tempo. Take a look at the following point stats:
Player PPR Age Ast/40 Stls FG%
Lawson 3.74 20 8.3 1.9 53
Augustin 2.36 20 6.7 1.3 47.8%
Rose -0.60 19 6.2 1.2 48%
Going deeper, Lawson has a higher rebound rate, a higher per40 efficiency rate, and is a better free throw shooter than the other two players. He is a truest point in the draft (should he enter it). Talent: 4 Crunches. Need: 4 Crunches.
- Derrick Rose- I know that Augustin has slightly better stats than does Rose but here is where the physical attributes come into play. Augustin is not a burner like Lawson and his hustle stats don’t blow you away enough to rank him above a 19 year old point who is 6’4” and can jump out of the gym. Talent: 4 Crunches. Need: 4 Crunches.
Tier 3 Players (not worth the hassle in the top-5; trade down)
- Roy Hibbert: Ok, did any of you see the game against Memphis where Hibbert got worked by a 6’9” Joey Dorsey? That’s a little worrisome. However, he’s increased his numbers each and every year in college and he’s a smart player with soft hands, but is this the guy the Wolves want with their small-ball lineup? That being said, he’s polished and has performed and improved on a consistent basis. Talent: 3 Crunches. Need: 3 Crunches.
- Deandre Jordan- Yes, he’s big and athletic. However, do you really want the Wolves to draft a guy who shoots 75% from the floor and 30% from the line? Red flag!!! Red flag!!! More red flags are a lack of blocks, steals, and a dominant rebound rate. Talent: 4 Crunches. Need: 2 Crunches.
- DJ Augustin- As you may have noticed from the statistics in the prior section, Augustin is having a pretty damn good season. Out of the 3 points, he is the best outside shooter but his physical attributes are questionable at the next level. Talent: 3 Crunches. Need: 3 Crunches.
Overall Rankings:
- Michael Beasley
- Donte Green
- Ty Lawson
- Derrick Rose
- Roy Hibbert
- Deandre Jordan
- DJ Augustin
- Chris Douglas-Roberts
- Brook Lopez
- DeVon Hardin
- OJ Mayo
As it stands right now, if the Wolves have the opportunity to draft Beasley, it should be a no brainer. I have gone back and forth about the young man’s defense and where he would fit in on the squad, but the simple fact remains that he’s a 19 year old 6’9” player who hustles, rebounds, scores, and dominates. He’s one of those players where you find a place for him to play if you get the chance to get him.
Moving down the list, there’s really no other player in this draft that would provide the Wolves with a ton of value compared to trading down. Ty Lawson is the best point in this draft and he’ll likely go in the teens. If the Wolves could be in a position to draft Derrick Rose and then move him for a later pick (Lawson) and some other considerations, they would be well served to make that move. Rose is tantalizing because he can jump high and make crazy layups. Lawson is tantalizing because he makes the right pass and is the fastest player on the court. Green is really the only other college player the Wolves should toy with drafting in the top 3. He’s a big combo forward who can hit from long range and take his man off the dribble. A 2 man in/out game with Green and Jefferson would be problematic for opposing defenses. The Wolves need a perimeter player that can line up on Big Al’s side of the court and force defenses to be honest. Yes, the team needs a point and a center, but if we’re talking top 3 picks, there aren’t any 1s or 5s that have that kind of value in this year’s draft…Derrick Rose included.
Overall Position Need
- Perimeter-proficient combo swingman
- Defensively minded center
- Point guard
- Shooting guard
- Power forward
That should about wrap up this edition of the Draft Board. I encourage all of you Wolves fans to start taking a good look at Donte Green as well as thinking about the benefits of trading down for a player like Lawson or Hibbert if the team can get enough in return. Also, the better Bassy plays, the less valuable Rose becomes; especially when players like the aforementioned Lawson and Augustin are available. Time to start thinking about Beasley, Green and trading down.
