NBA Draft 2011: Derrick Williams and 5 Options for the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have the highest draft pick in their history sitting at the No. 2 spot in the 2011 NBA draft. There are many questions that are swirling around Minnesota as draft day creeps closer and closer.
There is one thing we are sure of: The T'wolves need help.
This past week, Ricky Rubio came back to the teem that drafted him just short of two years ago. After refusing to play in the NBA, Rubio went to play in Europe where he put up less than stellar numbers. Hopeful to turn his career around along with the style and level of play in Minnesota, Rubio will have his hands full playing in the NBA.
Two major areas of weakness for the Wolves would be the center position and the shooting guard spot. Now, I have said that this draft is extremely young and that in this draft it is not a bad idea to draft value over need. Now that Rubio is back, the T'wolves have some options going forward.
A Trade with Toronto Forthcoming?
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It has been reported by HoopsWorld.com that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors are in talks about swapping picks and players.
The skinny of the trade would be the No. 2 overall pick and Jonny Flynn for the services of guard DeMar DeRozan and the No. 5 overall pick. This sounds like a no-brainer. With Rubio now coming to play for Minnesota, Flynn immediately becomes expendable and you are able to grab a tremendous young shooting guard heading into his third year of the NBA.
DeRozan may not be the most polished player, but the fact that he is young and athletic is reason enough that he has the potential to become a top-flight shooting guard. If I am a T'Wolves fan, I would love this trade.
By snagging the fifth overall, the pressure of drafting the best available player lessens and they are able to feel more free with their pick. If this were to happen, drafting Enes Kanter would be their best option.
So now, they not only fill one hole, but two: shooting guard and center. T'wolves would instantly have the best draft this year, based on that move alone. Tyler Honeycutt at No. 20 might not hurt either.
A Wildcat Turned Timberwolf
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Now, in the mock draft I put out last week, I predicted that barring any unforeseeable trade, the Timberwolves would draft Derrick Williams out of Arizona.
Yes, I know Williams plays the same position as an above-average player in Minnesota's Michael Beasley and for that matter, Kevin Love, but he is a true talent. T'wolves faithful are very upset with the thought of this pick, but it is an option and if for some reason Derrick Williams has an amazing workout with the coaching staff on June 16th, then who knows?
When building a young team, you need players who will play and I get that, but value and depth do not hurt either, especially if they want to make moves in trades.
Now again, I know I picked them to take Williams, but as the days go on, I find it harder and harder to believe that Williams will end up in Minnesota.
Kyrie Irving Anyone?
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Arguably the best player in the NBA draft is Kyrie Irving. If the Cleveland Cavaliers were to somehow pass on Irving with the No. 1 overall (which they won't) then Minnesota has a lot of thinking to do.
Drafting him may not be the answer, but packaging some sort of deal together might be an option. An unlikely scenario now that Rubio has come back to the states and as of now, Jonny Flynn is still in Minnesota (we shall see how long that will last).
Irving is a gifted, athletic, shooting talent who has a bright future in the NBA, but if he were to fall to them we all know how David Kahn loves to draft point guards regardless of which point guards he has already drafted.
Minnesota Can't or Kanter
4 of 5The overwhelming favorite of Minnesota Timberwolves fans is the Turkish center/forward Enes Kanter. This kid is a talent; a European big man with a nice jump shot as well as great strength. The T'wolves are in desperate need of a young, productive and, most importantly, consistent big man. Kanter is your man if that is the No. 1 priority.
His individual workout day is the same as Arizona's Derrick Williams, so come June 16th the T'wolves will have a strong read of who will be their next man.
I think Kanter would be a perfect fit the more and more I hear about him. His strength is comparable to not many, his shooting ability is tops among big men, but his biggest issue may be his knees. Known to have problems with both knees, his health is a reason he is not projected in the top three.
A nice pick, but at the No. 2 spot it is tough to miss out on the value available in place of a less valuable need.
3-Way with Cleveland and Detroit?
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A final option could be a trade that was reported by ESPN's Chris Broussard that the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to have the top two picks in the 2011 NBA draft.
The basics of the deal are that Cleveland would absorb Richard Hamilton's gaudy contract from Detroit and receive their eighth overall pick. The Cavs would then send that pick along with their own fourth overall pick to Minnesota.
This may not be the worst deal in the world for Kurt Rambis and the Wolves. Not only do they get out of the top two picks, but they get the fourth overall where they can select their big man in Enes Kanter and have their choosing at the eighth overall spot for a guy like Kemba Walker out of UConn. Even though he is a natural point guard, the kid is a natural scorer most importantly and would not hurt to have him on the floor with Rubio, Love, Kanter and Beasley.
I do not think that this trade is far off, but if it is presented it will be tough for the Wolves to pass on it.
Again, the options are endless as to what they could end up doing. Which one of these scenarios do you all like best?
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