Fixing the T-Wolves - Part 5: Draft Analysis

I've made it clear that I love F Mike Beasley and PG Derick Rose for the upcoming draft. Beasley is a solid 6'9" who can play and guard either Forward position. Imagine the defensive, tall lineup the Wolves could run with:
PG - Randy Foye 6'4"
SG - Corey Brewer 6'7"
SF - Mike Beasley 6'9
PF - Al Jefferson 6'11"
C - Roy Hibbert 7'2" (We need that mid round pick, make the trade!)

This lineup features 3 excellent defenders and 3 excellent scoring threats. You could win a championship with this lineup. The downside is that Foye is not a true PG so the team will lack the boost you get from true PG that makes everyone else better. I think this team is talented enough to overcome this.

PG Derrick Rose is also the real deal and a very good team can be built around him, just smaller:

PG - Derrick Rose 6'4"
SG - Randy Foye 6'4"
SM - Corey Brewer 6'7"
PF - Al Jefferson 6'11"
C - Roy Hibbert 7'2"

Plenty big on the big end, but Foye and Brewer will likely give up inches, probably not a big deal for Brewer. This lineup still has three excellent scorers and two D specialists in Brewer and Hibbert - this team reminds me most of the Pistons. If they learn to play as a team and Rose can make everyone better, this team is a contender.

SG Eric Gordon is #3 on ESPN's prospect list, but I just don't believe. He might be a better version of Randy Foye, but is also a tweener and I'm willing to run with Foye.

#4 is Center DeAndre Jordan. A wise man once told me that success as a center is all about effort, thus the big contract years. The knock on Jordan is effort... no thanks.

#5 is Center Brook Lopez - this is a good player and a big man who can score, but lets his twin brother do the rebounding and defense. Well, the Wolves already have Al Jefferson who can score and not play D. I want my next big man to have the mindset of Ben Wallace, not Al Jeff.

#6 is an Itallian, no thanks

#7 is SG OJ Mayo - Mayo topped this board at one point, but is deemed one dimensional - that dimension being offense, and lots of it. That's fine, but with Foye, I'm comfortable at SG. Should be a Clipper...

#8 is F Donte Green - tall and skinny, but explosive. If the Wolves make the swap with the Clips I detailed in an earlier post, I'd look at Green in that range (7-10).

Clearly I think the Wolves should look for a C or PG if they can't get Beasley (even though the Wolves desperately need a good 3, I think they should hold out for an elite one or trust that the NBA is deep at the position and a Kobe trade demand is right around the corner...)

Here are other notable players at the C or PG position I'd like them to look at once they MAKE TRADES for these picks.

C Marreese Speights - ranked #11 by ESPN, but is an undersized center. Good player, but I don't think he'd fit next to AlJeff

PG Ty Lawson - ranked #13 and described as streaky by ESPN. A PG should not be streaky.

PG DJ Augustine is ranked #14 by ESPN and they post this note - "Augustin is a huge fan of Steve Nash and it shows in his game." YES! Now that's the kind of PG I want. Even if he's coming off the bench to give a Beasley lineup the "makes team better PG" or starts in the "we got screwed by the Clippers" lineup, I like this guy.

C Kevin Love is ranked #15 by ESPN, and in my opinion should not enter the draft this year. Too soon.

C Roy Hibbert is ranked #18 by ESPN and is falling on most scouts scorecards because the senior has not improved his averages, but I still love the guy. Will be able to focus on D and rebounding next to AlJeff and has played well against other big prospects. Please, please, please trade for Atlanta's pick!