Post by sonnyblack on Oct 20, 2010 6:57:16 GMT -5
The Wolves entered the offseason with means to add more talented players to a deep young team. With Brian Grant, who was acquired for virtually nothing in a deadline trade with Orlando, being the only player over 27 you could say that this young squad overachieved last season. Now they have 3 rookies on the team whom they can integrate into a winning tradition right away while watching them develop.
Here's a rundown of the Wolves newest additions:
With the 10th Overall Pick, the Wolves select Freshman
Kwame Brown out of Florida, C/F 20 6'11'' 243 C+ D+ D+ C+ B- A
While the pick was questioned by some so-called draft experts, I think that the Wolves made the right choice by drafting for talent rather then positional needs in the backcourt (aka Flip Murray). Not that the need was that big with Odom manning the point and Stephen Jackson backing him up, but neither is a traditional playmaker so that arguement was valid. However, there was no playmaker in this draft left worth taking this high, so the Wolves opted to trade the 14th pick and their 2004 1st rounder to Orlando in order to nab Brown with the 10th pick. Brown is a raw talent, but some scouts rave about his potential to become a quality post player with the right development. Buried on the depth chart behind Kevin Garnett, Adonal Foyle, Brian Grant and maybe even Tom Gugliotta (if the team decides to bring him back), Kwame will have all the mentoring and time to develop he could possibly need. That said, I dont expect him to play more than garbage minutes this season.
With the 22nd Overall Pick, the Wolves select Freshman
Theodore D. "Tito" Maddox out of Fresno State, PG 21 6'4'' 190 C+ C+ B C+ C- A
At 6'4", 190 lbs. Maddox made his mark his sole year at Fresno State, being named the 2001 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals. While at Fresno State, Tito was the center of a major illegal benefits scandal, involving major NCAA rules violations. As a result, Fresno State ruled him ineligible for the 2001-02 season and Maddox opted to sit out the season and declare for the 2002 SSBL Draft. These circumstances surely hurt his odds in the draft, but the Wolves felt that they have great mentors in Garnett, Jackson, Grant and Foyle to show him the ropes and get him back on the right track. So they decided to move their own 1st Rounder this year and cash considerations to the Mavericks to move up in the draft once again and secure the player they coveted. Maddox is not very developed, but he already has great court vision and passing skills. On top of that he also fills their need for a point guard in the rotation, but will have to fight for a spot with another rookie we will take a look upon.
With the 43rd Overall Pick, the Wolves select Junior
Frank Williams out of Illinois, PG 22 6'3'' 205 C B- B B- D+ C
With already 3 seasons at Illinois under his belt, Williams is the most developed player out of the 3 Wolves' rookies. Maybe even the best playmaker in the draft, but his upside is a huge questionmark, which is the reason he dropped so far into the 2nd round. However you cannot go wrong with a 2nd rounder and I feel the Wolves might have gotten one of the biggest steals in the draft. He is an average defender with a decent jump shot, but is limited by his athleticism. His position in the rotation will probably determined by the developement of Tito Maddox and the upcoming Free Agent signings by the Wolves.
Here's a rundown of the Wolves newest additions:
With the 10th Overall Pick, the Wolves select Freshman
Kwame Brown out of Florida, C/F 20 6'11'' 243 C+ D+ D+ C+ B- A
While the pick was questioned by some so-called draft experts, I think that the Wolves made the right choice by drafting for talent rather then positional needs in the backcourt (aka Flip Murray). Not that the need was that big with Odom manning the point and Stephen Jackson backing him up, but neither is a traditional playmaker so that arguement was valid. However, there was no playmaker in this draft left worth taking this high, so the Wolves opted to trade the 14th pick and their 2004 1st rounder to Orlando in order to nab Brown with the 10th pick. Brown is a raw talent, but some scouts rave about his potential to become a quality post player with the right development. Buried on the depth chart behind Kevin Garnett, Adonal Foyle, Brian Grant and maybe even Tom Gugliotta (if the team decides to bring him back), Kwame will have all the mentoring and time to develop he could possibly need. That said, I dont expect him to play more than garbage minutes this season.
With the 22nd Overall Pick, the Wolves select Freshman
Theodore D. "Tito" Maddox out of Fresno State, PG 21 6'4'' 190 C+ C+ B C+ C- A
At 6'4", 190 lbs. Maddox made his mark his sole year at Fresno State, being named the 2001 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals. While at Fresno State, Tito was the center of a major illegal benefits scandal, involving major NCAA rules violations. As a result, Fresno State ruled him ineligible for the 2001-02 season and Maddox opted to sit out the season and declare for the 2002 SSBL Draft. These circumstances surely hurt his odds in the draft, but the Wolves felt that they have great mentors in Garnett, Jackson, Grant and Foyle to show him the ropes and get him back on the right track. So they decided to move their own 1st Rounder this year and cash considerations to the Mavericks to move up in the draft once again and secure the player they coveted. Maddox is not very developed, but he already has great court vision and passing skills. On top of that he also fills their need for a point guard in the rotation, but will have to fight for a spot with another rookie we will take a look upon.
With the 43rd Overall Pick, the Wolves select Junior
Frank Williams out of Illinois, PG 22 6'3'' 205 C B- B B- D+ C
With already 3 seasons at Illinois under his belt, Williams is the most developed player out of the 3 Wolves' rookies. Maybe even the best playmaker in the draft, but his upside is a huge questionmark, which is the reason he dropped so far into the 2nd round. However you cannot go wrong with a 2nd rounder and I feel the Wolves might have gotten one of the biggest steals in the draft. He is an average defender with a decent jump shot, but is limited by his athleticism. His position in the rotation will probably determined by the developement of Tito Maddox and the upcoming Free Agent signings by the Wolves.
