The day of it appears to be confirmed that the Wolves do not intend to take Cousins at 4 so it's likely that my mock will swap Johnson and Cousins. But I still wonder if Kahn has pulled the wool over our eyes and makes the pick anyway. If that happens I'll throw my arms up in mixed emotion.
I will be at the Target Center tonight to breath it all in.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tomorrow night!
As I prepare for bed I know I'll have a hard time sleeping. Will the Wolves move up to get Turner? Will they stand pat and get Wes Johnson, Derrick Favors, or DeMarcus Cousins? It seems 100% certain to be one of those 4.
Almost all mocks lately have us selecting between Favors and Cousins and it seems nobody knows for sure. I've got a gut feeling the Wolves select Cousins and probably for good reason. I'd say his ceiling is above Favors in terms of complete domination at the center position and perennial all-star appearances.
But I'm leaning personally towards Favors. Perhaps it wont matter too much and they'll both be equally great (or, hopefully not, equally bad). Perhaps its more of a Okafor/Howard decision and you know Orlando is happy to have Dwight.
It seems to be the ultimate test of Kahn and his staff. Making the wrong decision sets the Wolves back while the right one paves the way for Rubio and a bright future.
I'm gambling that even in failure Favors is the better defender and athlete that could thrive in the up-tempo offense we intend to run. But just because Cousins is overweight doesn't mean he can't play up-tempo. He did so just fine at Kentucky last year.
In summary it could go either way and I know that's what's going to keep me up tonight.
But for the record: "I prefer Favors."
Almost all mocks lately have us selecting between Favors and Cousins and it seems nobody knows for sure. I've got a gut feeling the Wolves select Cousins and probably for good reason. I'd say his ceiling is above Favors in terms of complete domination at the center position and perennial all-star appearances.
But I'm leaning personally towards Favors. Perhaps it wont matter too much and they'll both be equally great (or, hopefully not, equally bad). Perhaps its more of a Okafor/Howard decision and you know Orlando is happy to have Dwight.
It seems to be the ultimate test of Kahn and his staff. Making the wrong decision sets the Wolves back while the right one paves the way for Rubio and a bright future.
I'm gambling that even in failure Favors is the better defender and athlete that could thrive in the up-tempo offense we intend to run. But just because Cousins is overweight doesn't mean he can't play up-tempo. He did so just fine at Kentucky last year.
In summary it could go either way and I know that's what's going to keep me up tonight.
But for the record: "I prefer Favors."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
2010 Mock
1. Wizards - John Wall
2. 76ers - Evan Turner
3. Nets - Derrick Favors
4. Wolves - DeMarcus Cousins
** Why Cousins? All we've heard about is Turner, Wesley Johnson and Derrick Favors!! Exactly. My conspiracy theory is that Kahn orchestrated Cousins blowing off the Wolves workout as a smokescreen to cover up an internal promise **
5. Kings - Wesley Johnson
6. Warriors - Greg Monroe
** Honestly I don't know why I keep projecting bigs to GSW. They'd probably rather have Wes Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu but Monroe is my guess **
7. Pistons - Ekpe Udoh
** They need a big and quite honestly Cole Aldrich seems a more natural fit as a defensive presence but 7 is probably just a little high of a reach. I also like Luke Babbitt here **
8. Clippers - Paul George
** They have enough bigs, and I like them all, so its time to add a true SF to fill the spot vacated by Al Thornton. Travis Outlaw may be a long term piece and they could also look at Xavier Henry**
9. Jazz - Luke Babbitt
10. Pacers - Al-Farouq Aminu
** They desperately want a point guard but none are to be found at this spot in the draft. Time to take best player available **
11. Hornets - Cole Aldrich
** I'd expect Okafor to get moved eventually as a cost saving maneuver. Ed Davis is another possibility here **
12. Grizzlies - Xavier Henry
** In case Rudy Gay moves on or they look to play OJ Mayo at PG more often a swing man capable of playing both of those spots is a solid option on the pleasantly improving Griz roster **
13. Raptors - Ed Davis
** If Davis is here they can play Davis at PF for Chris Bosh if he so chooses to leave **
14. Rockets - Larry Sanders
** The center spot might be their weakest spot with the injury prone Yao. **
15. Bucks - Patrick Patterson
** It was rumored they wanted Sanders, but Patterson seems like a Skiles guy ... **
16. Wolves - Gordon Hayward
** Really at this point its a toss up who's here and if the Wolves even keep the pick. I like a guy who can play multiple positions, really shoot the ball, create, and sort of fill that Lamar Odom spot in the triangle. Still depending on what they do with their first pick they could also go with Hassan Whiteside **
I can't wait to see just how wrong I was!
2. 76ers - Evan Turner
3. Nets - Derrick Favors
4. Wolves - DeMarcus Cousins
** Why Cousins? All we've heard about is Turner, Wesley Johnson and Derrick Favors!! Exactly. My conspiracy theory is that Kahn orchestrated Cousins blowing off the Wolves workout as a smokescreen to cover up an internal promise **
5. Kings - Wesley Johnson
6. Warriors - Greg Monroe
** Honestly I don't know why I keep projecting bigs to GSW. They'd probably rather have Wes Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu but Monroe is my guess **
7. Pistons - Ekpe Udoh
** They need a big and quite honestly Cole Aldrich seems a more natural fit as a defensive presence but 7 is probably just a little high of a reach. I also like Luke Babbitt here **
8. Clippers - Paul George
** They have enough bigs, and I like them all, so its time to add a true SF to fill the spot vacated by Al Thornton. Travis Outlaw may be a long term piece and they could also look at Xavier Henry**
9. Jazz - Luke Babbitt
10. Pacers - Al-Farouq Aminu
** They desperately want a point guard but none are to be found at this spot in the draft. Time to take best player available **
11. Hornets - Cole Aldrich
** I'd expect Okafor to get moved eventually as a cost saving maneuver. Ed Davis is another possibility here **
12. Grizzlies - Xavier Henry
** In case Rudy Gay moves on or they look to play OJ Mayo at PG more often a swing man capable of playing both of those spots is a solid option on the pleasantly improving Griz roster **
13. Raptors - Ed Davis
** If Davis is here they can play Davis at PF for Chris Bosh if he so chooses to leave **
14. Rockets - Larry Sanders
** The center spot might be their weakest spot with the injury prone Yao. **
15. Bucks - Patrick Patterson
** It was rumored they wanted Sanders, but Patterson seems like a Skiles guy ... **
16. Wolves - Gordon Hayward
** Really at this point its a toss up who's here and if the Wolves even keep the pick. I like a guy who can play multiple positions, really shoot the ball, create, and sort of fill that Lamar Odom spot in the triangle. Still depending on what they do with their first pick they could also go with Hassan Whiteside **
I can't wait to see just how wrong I was!
Friday, June 18, 2010
2010 NBA Draft
I haven't done as much work in my research this year as usual but I still have my preferences.
With the 4th pick in the draft the Wolves sit in what I consider a bad spot for their needs. Obviously John Wall is the consensus #1 and we've long had our eye on Evan Turner so falling out of the top 2 hurts. But Derrick Favors is actually my 2nd favorite (behind Wall) of this draft. He's roughly the same build and athlete that Blake Griffin was this time last year but getting half the hype.
Wes Johnson would be a nice consolation prize as he's an uber athlete who can shoot well -- a rare combination.
With that said here is the list of guys that are my favorites:
John Wall
Evan Turner
Derrick Favors
Wes Johnson
Gordon Hayward
**Daniel Orton
Luke Babbitt
Xavier Henry
**Willie Warren
**Jordan Crawford
** = Sleepers
Let's see
With the 4th pick in the draft the Wolves sit in what I consider a bad spot for their needs. Obviously John Wall is the consensus #1 and we've long had our eye on Evan Turner so falling out of the top 2 hurts. But Derrick Favors is actually my 2nd favorite (behind Wall) of this draft. He's roughly the same build and athlete that Blake Griffin was this time last year but getting half the hype.
Wes Johnson would be a nice consolation prize as he's an uber athlete who can shoot well -- a rare combination.
With that said here is the list of guys that are my favorites:
John Wall
Evan Turner
Derrick Favors
Wes Johnson
Gordon Hayward
**Daniel Orton
Luke Babbitt
Xavier Henry
**Willie Warren
**Jordan Crawford
** = Sleepers
Let's see
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