NBA Draft 2011: Minnesota Timberwolves Have To Take Enes Kanter
The Timberwolves have been afflicted with the wonderful curse of selecting second in the NBA draft. While they have the chance to select an extremely talented player, there really is not a clear-cut selection for the team.
Everyone knows of the myriad of problems the organization has faced since the departure of Kevin Garnett. There is no direction, no defense and no fans in the seats. There were a few glimmers of hope last year with the improvement of Kevin Love.
Many people think Derrick Williams will be that guy to bring the Timberwolves back to some semblance of respect. While Williams is a very talented player, Kanter is a much better fit for the team.
Here are some of the reasons why...
Brings an Inside Presence
1 of 7The 'Wolves need a destructive force in the paint. They have no problem shooting the ball, but they are soft when trying to score down low.
Scouting reports on Kanter emphasize that he is an emphatic finisher and that he can score easily down low. Beasley and Love can split the defense with their range, leaving more room for Kanter to work his magic in the paint.
Gives the Franchise a Clear Direction
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A lack of direction plagues this team. Ever since KG left there have been more questions than answers going into the season. The Flynn/Rubio debacle and the Jefferson/Love logjam are two of the most notable.
Drafting Kanter immediately says to the fans, "This is our starting lineup and we're ready to go."
A Kanter-Love-Beasley-Johnson-Rubio lineup sounds tantalizing, right?
Explosive Playmaking with Rubio
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No matter who the Timberwolves select at No. 2, all of the attention is going to be on Rubio.
The Spanish baller is a creative passer who can work in the pick-and-roll. The 'Wolves do not have a forceful presence in the post and the thought of a Love-Kanter pick-and-roll play sounds like the zip the team needs.
A Complement to Darko
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Even though the jokes still haunt the former No. 2 pick, many forget that he had a fairly respectable season last year. He is one of the better shot-blockers in the NBA.
Defense is probably the weakest part of Kanter's game, but he has the size to really become a defensive standout. Williams is a "tweener" and has a much lower ceiling for the defensive area.
Darko and Kanter have similar attributes and could teach each other a thing or two.
Helps Form a Nucleus
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Many teams are talking about following the "Oklahoma City model" by developing young talent. A Kanter pick immediately produces a lineup that, initially, does not need tweaking on the surface.
A secondary part to this is showing Kevin Love that the team is focused on building around him. The team cannot afford to lose the clear face of the franchise post-KG.
Fills a Need and Is the Best Option Available
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The 'Wolves need a center. It has been a glaring weakness for as long as I can remember (Michael Olowakandi, anyone?).
Looking over the other big men in the draft, there are reasons the 'Wolves should avoid them. Valanciunas is too skinny, Biyombo is too raw and Vessey is more of a power forward.
Granted, Kanter has his own question marks, but he has the best chance to contribute right away.
Moving Forward
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Minnesota will probably catch a lot of flak for not taking Williams, but the Timberwolves are lost in the wilderness (no pun intended). Kanter is the way forward. He is an emphatic finisher who gives the team immediate direction and purpose.
There are many ways to go about doing drafting the Turkish big man. Trading down somewhere in the range of picks No. 4 to No. 8 would be doable because Kanter will most likely still be available. The team could also gain a veteran out of the deal.
(And if Enes wears half as cool a suit as Wes, we need to get him.)
