
ESPN had a marathon conference call Monday with front office insider Bobby Marks and scouting analyst Mike Schmitz in preparation for Thursday's NBA Draft.
A lot of what they were asked pertained to specific players, but some of their comments also spoke to some general truths — at least as both men see them — about the players available this year.
Of particular interest locally, of course, is what the Timberwolves might do with the No. 20 overall pick. While every team would love to hit a home run every time they call a player's name, the more likely scenario with that type of selection is trying to at least find a player with a high floor — that is, a player who should provide valuable minutes but might not necessarily have the ceiling to be a potential star.
Sure, there are examples of players drafted that low (or lower) who have emerged as forces (Rudy Gobert, Clint Capela and Kyle Kuzma were all taken in the 20s in the last five drafts), but a more realistic and efficient model is the one espoused by the Spurs (who are used to drafting in the 20s, unlike the Wolves): find low-cost supporting players who fit a specific need.
The Wolves this year have a very serious need for depth, particularly at shooting guard/small forward. And they are in luck, it would seem, because this year's draft seems to be the intersection of that need and that type of player in about the spot they will pick.
Marks on Monday's call talked about breaking the draft into tiers, and what someone drafting on the fringe of the lottery and beyond might be able to get.
"In that 13 to 35 grouping, we're probably going to see a flurry of 2s and 3s come on the board in that range, " he said. "If you're a team like Boston who probably doesn't have much flexibility salary cap wise, or more Minnesota, Portland, teams like that, you're probably going to get a pretty good rotational player if you want to get a wing. It's like ordering off the menu, it's just a matter of kind of which ones you want."
Added Schmitz, when asked specifically about the Spurs and the No. 18 pick: "I think you can get quite a bit of value at 18, too. Like I said before, I think this is a fairly deep draft, whether it's another guard or a bigger wing."