Fixing the T-Wolves - Part 4: The Clipper Pick
Among the many reasons I hate Marko Jaric is that McHale gave away a 1st round pick to the Clippers to acquire him. This pick was protected - last year it was top 10 protected, this year top-3 protected, and next year is unprotected. No matter what happens, the Clippers will get an excellent player with this pick, and the Wolves will lose out. Most likely, the Wolves will pick in the top 5 this year and next. But there might be a way to alleviate the pain.
If the Wolves get the 1st or 2nd pick this year, I say they use it and take their medicine next year. The silver lining is that the Wolves can play to win and not worry about tanking for ping pong balls - but even without trying to lose, I see the Wolves in the 5 or 6 position next year. This opinion is based on my analysis that Mike Beasley or Derrick Rose are worth missing a draft. I prefer Beasley, but I could build this team around PG Rose, it would just be a smaller team.
If the Wolves get the 4th pick, they are screwed and completely lose out. The silver lining is that they will enter next year as the favorite to land the 1st pick - a distinction they held going into this year. If this happens, the later picks I'm hoping the Wolves will trade for will be crucial - as will continued development of young players such as Foye and Brewer.
If the Wolves land the 3rd pick, I would urge them to make a deal with the Clippers. Ideally they could trade the 3rd pick for the Clips pick this year (6-10) and for their own pick back. I think the Clips would do this because they have a huge need at PG and SG, and I expect both SG OJ Mayo (and local USC star) as well as PG Eric Gordon to be available here. And imagine if the Clips win the lottery and get #2 or #4 pick as well - they could take both or mix in Derrick Rose! But even if all they get is one or the other, they have to take that offer seriously. The upside for the Wolves is that there is a big drop off after Beasley and Rose, they can get someone useful in the 7-10 range (Augustine or Roy), and they have a good shot at the premiere player in 2009.
If the Wolves get the 1st or 2nd pick this year, I say they use it and take their medicine next year. The silver lining is that the Wolves can play to win and not worry about tanking for ping pong balls - but even without trying to lose, I see the Wolves in the 5 or 6 position next year. This opinion is based on my analysis that Mike Beasley or Derrick Rose are worth missing a draft. I prefer Beasley, but I could build this team around PG Rose, it would just be a smaller team.
If the Wolves get the 4th pick, they are screwed and completely lose out. The silver lining is that they will enter next year as the favorite to land the 1st pick - a distinction they held going into this year. If this happens, the later picks I'm hoping the Wolves will trade for will be crucial - as will continued development of young players such as Foye and Brewer.
If the Wolves land the 3rd pick, I would urge them to make a deal with the Clippers. Ideally they could trade the 3rd pick for the Clips pick this year (6-10) and for their own pick back. I think the Clips would do this because they have a huge need at PG and SG, and I expect both SG OJ Mayo (and local USC star) as well as PG Eric Gordon to be available here. And imagine if the Clips win the lottery and get #2 or #4 pick as well - they could take both or mix in Derrick Rose! But even if all they get is one or the other, they have to take that offer seriously. The upside for the Wolves is that there is a big drop off after Beasley and Rose, they can get someone useful in the 7-10 range (Augustine or Roy), and they have a good shot at the premiere player in 2009.
posted by Bill Gilles | 4:57 PM
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