X's T'wolves (NBA 2K11)

[Larvae]

What a crazy Draft Lottery! 3 Picks? Your more crazy than the RL Cavaliers.
Although, i hope you can make the right decisions with your Draft Picks! I like you Association much. although i didn't scan all 23 pages.

[Houndy]

Kahn with some beast GMing there, getting 3 lottery picks smells great

[The X]

2012 OFF-SEASON RECAP - MOCK DRAFT (POST-DRAFT LOTTERY)

X's MOCK DRAFT (POST-DRAFT LOTTERY)

1. Minnesota: C- Jesse Brown (Arkansas), Jr

Armed with the number one pick the Timberwolves can go many different ways. The three most likely options are that they either go with need (i.e. Jesse Brown to fill the centre position); or go with best upside (i.e. power forward Franklin Fleming); or go with the most proven collegiate prospect who has best chance of contributing straight away (i.e. Vanderbilt senior small forward Jaime Buford). It's hard to get a gauge on where the Wolves are leaning but they may not be able to look past filling their position of need in the middle, which also happens to be the hardest to fill so I've got them taking a beast down low in Jesse Brown.


2. Phoenix: PF- Franklin Fleming (Colorado), Jr

I think the Suns will snatch up Fleming if he is available at two. He's just the type of player that would thrive in Phoenix's uptempo system. Whilst he's played three years of division one college, his body still hasn't filled out so initially in the NBA he'll be better defensively off the ball than on it. Franklin Fleming can get it done close to the hoop and he seems to be a can't miss prospect who may very well end up being the best prospect to emerge from this draft.


3. Minnesota: SF- Jaime Buford (Vanderbilt), Sr

Minnesota has probably been playing Beasley slightly out of position at the 3, so wouldn't be surprising to see them snap up Buford if he's available. The Timberwolves have three lottery picks this year and if they don't trade this pick, you can see that they'll want to add players that can help them immediately in their quest to make the playoffs.


4. Sacramento: PG- Thierry Trichet (France)

With the first of their two lottery picks, I can see Sacramento bombing this pick and taking a point guard (either Texas' Maxwell Gomez or Thierry Trichet of France). The Kings' greatest need is indeed a starting point guard and a starting small forward. Jaime Buford would be their ideal pick at this spot but he's likely gone, which leads to the dilemma. Either take a point guard when they might be able to get one just as good, if not better, at nine. Really the Kings should just take the best available player on the board, Penn's slightly undersized power forward Gordon Burks, and sort out the position logjam later. In the end I think they'll get enamoured with the Frenchmen, I mean Argentine, and reach a little for him.


5. Portland: PF- Gordon Burks (Penn), Jr

The Kings' loss is the Blazers' gain. The Blazers need more depth in the frontcourt and the Ivy league standout will provide that in spades and help them return to the playoffs after a dismal 2011-12 campaign.


6. New Jersey: PG- Max Gomez (Texas), Sr

New Jersey seem destined to go small with this pick and shore up their point guard position and hopefully find an eventual successor for Devin Harris. It's a toss up between Miami of Ohio's Marvin Hale, who many have likened to Steve Nash given his developing game at a mid major, and Texas' Maxwell Gomez. I tip Gomez at this pick because he is defensively a lot more savvy and can change the game on that end. The Nets need to get tougher and Gomez helps their cause.


7. Detroit: SG- Andrew Andrew (BYU), Sr

Pistons will be looking at getting best available talent at SG, PF or C positions. The smooth shooting Morman Andrew Andrew is a great prospect that will be hard to pass up at this point. If not AA, then the Pistons might reach slightly and nab Arkansas power forward Mark McCloud.


8. Philadelphia: PF- Mark McCloud (Arkansas), Jr

Elton Brand's career is done but his contract is unfortunately not for the 76ers. Philly is in desperate need of help up front and won't let McCloud go any lower than eight. How much he helps is another story.


9: Sacramento: SF- Brandon Payton (Penn), Soph

Whilst under this mock they probably should've grabbed Burks at four and taken one of the many good point guards (Hale and Hasselhoff to name a couple), they'll probably try to make up for it by snapping up his more perimeter oriented teammate Brandon Payton. If they do then he'll likely battle Greene for spot duties off the bench.


10: San Antonio: PG- Christophe Hasselhoff (Germany)

Spurs are in desperate need of a backup point guard to Tony Parker. I think they'll do what the Spurs generally do and that's go international by grabbing "The Hov" who may end up being the best point guard in this year's draft if he can stay healthy. The added bonus with this pick for the Spurs is that Hasselhoff doesn't believe in hitting on teammate's (or former teammate's) wives


11: Memphis: SF- Franklin Murray (Oregon), Sr

Memphis needs some tweaks that this draft won't resolved. In the meantime I can see them taking a stretch 3/4 in 6'10" Murray who will make teams pay if they clog the lane.


12: Indiana: PF- Jeffery Morgan (West Virginia), Soph

The Pistons are probably still ruing Danny Granger's transition from fringe All-Star to superstar in the months that followed their trade with Cleveland. In that deal they also gave away Tyler Hansbrough so that they could get Antawn Jamison's expiring contract. The Pacers will look big, but at 6'8" Morgan is more of a faceup 4, who plays a lot like a 3. He won't replace what Psycho T brought to the table.


13: Detroit: PG- Marvin Hale (Miami [OH]), Sr

Under this scenario, savvy Joe Dumars completes his backcourt of the future by taking the highly rated Marvin Hale, who dominated the MEAC a year after Benjamin Dragic left. He'll learn the ropes as Stuckey's backup.


14: Minnesota: SG- Richard Sharpe (Oregon State), Soph

Minnesota should look to bolster its wing with their third and final pick in the lottery. Richard Sharpe is an intriguing southpaw who will fit in well with some of the other athletes that the Timberwolves already have.

[Larvae]

Someone to replace Darkoooo! Or Not
With the draft picks you have, your up for a ride this season.

[Andrew]

Looks like a solid plan for the Timberwolves in that Mock Draft. Still, I have to imagine it's difficult to pass up Andrew Andrew.

[The X]

Just to give a bit more background on the draft, it's weak as previously said. There are about 4 good prospects (Fleming, Buford, Brown & Burks) & then there is a drop-off with many close talents between 5 & 12. I haven't done draft but I could see guys that could go as high as 6 or 7 (like houndy & Agent420's prospects) dropping 5 to 10 spots. It's really tough to call. Aside from that draft has good PF's at the top (shame I'm already stacked at that position) & the deepest position is PG (thanks to three of the NLSC prospects), which I am also pretty stacked at. Outside of Jesse Brown, who is an undersized centre at 6'10", the draft is extremely weak at that position, with the next best prospect projecting to go in the early 2nd Round (I think somebody will snap him up late 1st) & after that mostly undrafted. A few solid SF's to be had, SG's spot is weakish also.

Kahn with some beast GMing there, getting 3 lottery picks smells great

What a crazy Draft Lottery! 3 Picks? Your more crazy than the RL Cavaliers.
Although, i hope you can make the right decisions with your Draft Picks! I like you Association much. although i didn't scan all 23 pages.

A bit late on the spoilers, I posted draft lottery ages ago

Yes, I also hope I can make the right decisions, but hey, the draft isn't an exact science so I may not. Will have to see how it goes.

Someone to replace Darkoooo! Or Not
With the draft picks you have, your up for a ride this season.

As said above, it's a weak draft. I think the player I get at one (whoever that may be) will have an impact. After that it's mostly role players, at least for their first year or two, and that's why I might trade one or more of my picks.

Looks like a solid plan for the Timberwolves in that Mock Draft. Still, I have to imagine it's difficult to pass up Andrew Andrew.

The mock is an objective view on what might happen, it's not really my plan per se.

You never know with Andrew Andrew, a potential draft night trade might be in order if it makes sense. I think if my lottery pick from Raptors had of held at 6 then I think the pick would've been a no brainer (due to need & the name of course )

[Andrew]

Well, it's a solid scenario at any rate. I do recall you mentioning that you were considering swinging a few Draft Day trades involving the 3rd and 14th picks.

[The X]

What I do at number 1 isn't too much of a concern right now, it's just the other picks & how the dominoes fall. Not sure I want to stick at 3 but trade offers for it are pretty weak so far (may be different on draft night).

Potentially I may try to get into that 7 to 9 range to grab our man Andrew Andrew but I don't want to pull a deal to do that just in case somebody at 4 to 6 grabs him, which is a very real possibility given the parity of the draft. I like a couple of players in the 12 to 18 range, just not sure at this stage. I also like a prospect that is projected as a 2nd Rounder but could sneak into 1st. If I could get an early 2nd Round pick cheap then I may consider grabbing this player so that I can stash them in the D-League.

So it wouldn't surprise me if it was a very active draft night, or vice versa where I just stand pat.

[Valor]

Would be very interesting to see you pick up Andrew Andrew

[Houndy]

Andrew Andrew would be the hero of Minnesota

[Larvae]

ANDREW ANDREW!

[Axel The Great]

Nicely done with the mock draft. Hoping I go fourth to Sac-town instead of NJ, though.

[Lamrock]

It'll be interesting to see what you do. I love mock drafts in your associations

[Mavs4Life]

Rebuilding Take Double-Drew & Mark McCloud. Sure Brown is problably your best bet, but just wanna see how Andrew Andrew's career goes

[hova-]

Ending up under Pop would be great. I don't know, but I think you're gonna have some deals struck at the draft because you don't need that much of more talent. Depth would be more important now, i.e. solid players for your top 8 rotation.

[The X]

Would be very interesting to see you pick up Andrew Andrew

Andrew Andrew would be the hero of Minnesota

ANDREW ANDREW!

Seems Mr Andrew is getting a big follower, ala RL Jimmer Fredette.

Nicely done with the mock draft. Hoping I go fourth to Sac-town instead of NJ, though.

It'll be interesting to see what you do. I love mock drafts in your associations

Cheers guys. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Rebuilding Take Double-Drew & Mark McCloud. Sure Brown is problably your best bet, but just wanna see how Andrew Andrew's career goes

Rebuilding?!?

We finished last season 40-42 & finished tied for 8th in West. I think we're a young team that continues to build to the future & will be a contender for years to come, ala OKC's path. Gotta luv Presti

I hope you're not talking AA & MM at 1 & 3. If so that draft grade would be a F

Ending up under Pop would be great. I don't know, but I think you're gonna have some deals struck at the draft because you don't need that much of more talent. Depth would be more important now, i.e. solid players for your top 8 rotation.

I agree depth is more important. Once injuries hit last season I was crippled. I not only need more depth but more versatile depth.

[The X]

2011 OFF-SEASON RECAP - PRE-DRAFT NOTES/RUMOURS

T-WOLVES/RAPTORS DEAL FALLS APART AT THE LAST HURDLE

Minnesota had agreed in principle to trade newly resigned forward Michael Beasley, along with guard Marcel Moore, to Toronto for swingman Chuck Smith and forward Tayshaun Prince. Timberwolves' GM David Kahn had coveted Smith since working him out before last season's draft before reluctantly giving him away in a trade that netted Minnesota with Floyd Bradley and Toronto's 2012 1st Round draft pick. The trade was not to be as Tayshaun Prince refused to waive his no trade clause and the negotiation subsequently fell apart. The big non-trade might suggest that the Timberwolves are looking to draft a forward, rather than a centre, at number one.

KAHN NOT WORRIED ABOUT FILLING NEED

A few days out from the 2012 NBA Draft, Minnesota GM David Kahn had this to say, "the draft is always a bit of a crapshoot so I think it's most prudent to take the best available player than trying to fill a position. You saw us do it last year, take Floyd & Johan in positions that we were deepest in (PG and PF), but these things have a way of working themselves out. If a player can play, they will play."

Read into Kahn's musings however you like, but with three lottery picks he's bound to be once again instrumental in how draft night plays out.

DIRK TO MAVS: TRADE UP FOR HOFF

Word on the street is that Dallas Mavericks' star Dirk Nowitzki is lobbying the front office to trade up into the lottery so that it can draft his German compatriot, Christophe Hasselhoff. Nowitzki has noted his vocal displeasure with the Mavericks' recent moves, which included trading Jason Terry to Detroit for Charlie Villanueva and Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd's recent retirement. Is it believed by many in the organisation that adding 'The Hov' will go some ways into simmering their German superstar.

THE RISE OF ANDREW ANDREW?

In a draft devoid of many quality shooting guards, one stands above them all. BYU's Andrew Andrew has been creating quit a stir, not just in the workouts but also with his gathering Mormon army band of supporters heading towards NYC. We've asked a number of NBA team scouts about where he will end up. Some have him as high as three but the consensus is that he won't fall below Detroit at 10.

GOMEZ THINKS KINGS SHOULD PICK HIM

Longhorns' senior point guard Maxwell Gomez believes he's the best point guard prosepct in the draft and isn't shy on letting everybody know. "The Kings should take me at four. They've got a great chance at adding a battle harden point whose played four years of Big 12 basketball. I think the Kings have learnt their lessons after taking a freshman (Washburn) out of the soft PAC-10 last year. The positive is they were quick to realise their mistake and are now positioned to make the right choice, which is me. I don't know why all these mocks have them taken that Frengentian. What they don't understand is that the Kings won't men, not soft boys or even softer Euros. On draft night they'll make the right call."

THE BATTLE OF THE POINT

Every league official that you talk to has a different opinion on this year's point guard rankings. Some think 2012 Bob Cousy Award winner, Max "The Axe" Gomez (Texas) is a can't miss prospect. Others argue that Miami of Ohio's Marvin Hale is the next Steve Nash. Then you've got those arguing for the international point guards Thierry Trichet (France) and Christophe Hasselhoff (Germany). To muddy the waters even more, at least one scout I talked to said that 6'5" Dwight Woolridge (Kansas) is the best point guard prospect despite him being projected to go 19th in this week's draft.

THE FORGOTTEN MEN

Two of the toughest players, both of whom you would like to play next to and not against, seem to be the two most forgotten prospects of this draft. Firstly you've got forward Tracy Lee (California), who is a smaller version of Denver's Chris Andersen and with a motor to match. He's got his character issues and most GM's I talk to believe he could go as high as five or six and possibly drop out of the lottery. The same can be said for LSU undersized shooting guard Willis Lewis, who probably might end up ruing the fact that he left college a year too early without a guarantee that he would go high in this year's draft. It might end up being a long and anxious night for both.

7'4" SOPHOMORE THE BIG UNKNOWN

Raw Vanderbilt sophomore 7'4" centre Alonzo Warren shocked the Commodores' coaching staff when he announced he would be taking his game to the next level. The shock was more in the fact that his raw offensive game, that is based solely on dunks and lay-ins, has never got past junior high level. But any prospective NBA suitor won't be picking on his offensive game, it's his height (7'4"), length and shotblocking ability that has many salivating. With a couple more years in college Warren would've been a chance to be a lottery pick, now he looks like a second round gamble. But it just takes one team late in the first round to be interested to make it a worthwhile jump for Warren. Will he be the next Rik Smits or the next Keith Closs? Draft night won't tell us, but it will at least give us an indication on what the NBA brethen think.

[Larvae]

7'4? He's Big Man!

[The X]

7'4? He's Big Man!

Raw as anything though but he's definitely intriguing. If I still had my 2nd Round draft pick (traded last draft I believe) I'd make a play for him & stash him in D-League.

[The X]

Don't think I'll bother with second version of mock. Player workouts haven't changed my objective thoughts much. If it was stronger draft maybe. Probably do actual draft tonight and will recap it sometime in next week.

[hova-]

Hov & Dirk would be a dream come true

[The X]

Hov & Dirk would be a dream come true

One can dream. In this multiverse he's on a downward spiral in his career (now rated 84). Mavs are now open to trading him (via Trade Finder), which is quite sad

[Fresh8]

Will suck if Dirk is traded from Dallas On another note, you should trade a scrub for a second round pick and get Big Warren!

If that doesn't happen, mabe Blazers will pick him and Wilt and Warren will be the new Muggsy and Manute.

[Valor]

I say take Warren if he's still around and you can trade into the second round without giving up much, but doubt it can happen though.

^^^Will is spam posting!!

[Andrew]

Great coverage. Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.