Who's excited for Jonny Flynn?

[coolhandgopher]

Obviously most of the attention from the Wolves draft has been on Ricky Rubio, but I'm pretty happy that Flynn is a part of this organization. He was one of my favorite college players over the last couple years and besides being very gifted, he also seems extremely tough and also a solid leader. That he has been only positive about the possibility of playing with Rubio also is a nice sign from my perspective. I think he's a great breath of fresh air for this franchise. I wouldn't mind seeing the Wolves talk to his high school and college teammate Paul Harris about coming to training camp either; he's a pretty tough, gritty competitor who might be a stronger version of Corey Brewer on the defensive side of the ball.

I also liked the pick of Ellington at 28. I'm no NBA scout, but he seemed as pure a shooter in the college game this past season as anyone I watched. With some space, he could be very effective from long range for the T-Wolves.

[Gopher4Life]

Could Flynn add about 4 more inches of length prior to the season's start?

[2nd Degree Gopher]

Could Flynn add about 4 more inches of length prior to the season's start?

Based on the numerous e-mails I receive touting various products, I'd say yes.

[Stan]

Based on the numerous e-mails I receive touting various products, I'd say yes.

Best. Response. Ever.

[jamiche]

Based on the numerous e-mails I receive touting various products, I'd say yes.

Brilliant!

[GopherVotary]

You get those emails too? And here I thought they were targetting me.

[Pewterschmidt]

Flynn plays bigger than his 5'11" or 6' frame would suggest. He's strong and had the best measured vertical in the draft (40"). While it would be even better if he were 6'3", he'll play no smaller than some of the other pgs picked in the first round.

He's a good character guy who seems like a big time competitor. I like the pick.

I'm going to save most of my Rubio thoughts for later once the situation becomes clear but I liked the pick when it was made but was confused a bit right when Flynn was drafted. After thinking about it, my opinion has changed slightly.

As for Ellington...no doubt a great shooter, which is a skill needed by the Wolves. SG is also a position of need so it appears to be a good match. However, I say caution your expectations. There's a reason why he lasted until 28. He's just a slightly better defender than McCan't. He will struggle guarding his counterparts in the NBA. I've heard people describe him as athletic. That was never my impression. He's not a sloth but I don't think he's nearly athletic enough to make up for his defensive deficiencies. View him as a roll player. He'll get minutes because he can shoot the ball and he'll be as good offensively as the point guard allows him to be (set him up for shots). Just don't expect him to be the long term answer at the position. Good spot starter but bette suited to come off the bench and play 20 minutes per game.

[coolhandgopher]

My thoughts are along the same line as yours Pewter on Ellington-I view him as a second unit, long range gunner type of guy versus the starting shooting guard, when the dust settles for the Wolves.

[Gopher4Life]

If his new four inches lasts longer than four hours, Flynn should call the team physician.

Pewter,

Flynn is a good guy and plays hard. I'm not sure he'll handle NBA athletes. His selection appears to be insurance against Rubio's non-signing.

cool,

I fear we've done little but add some depth. I don't see any of the Wolves' picks (including Rubio) having much of an impact. When has a franchise drafted two top-six players with so little return? Maybe the trade of Rubio will bring us something we really need.

[coolhandgopher]

When has a franchise drafted two top-six players with so little return?

Wow, way to make a judgement on two players before either has even donned a warm up jersey for the T-Wolves. This has to rank up there with your all-time outlandish statements (no easy task)

I'm not too worried at all about Flynn's ability to handle the NBA athlete. There have been several other small point guards who have thrived in this league and Flynn's strength and athleticism should allow him to stick with the best. If I have a concern, it would be a consistent jump shot. As for Rubio, I laid out a few scenarios on him and what I think he may equate to for the T-Wolves. Even if he stays in Europe this season, he is still a valuable asset for Kahn to work out trade possibilities.

[jamiche]

I think Rubio will play in the NBA this season with about a 50-50 chance it will be for the wolves. If he comes to the NBA, which he is dying to do, he'll make about $50M in endorsements. Too much money to pass up. Rubio will never have more trade value than the day before he puts on a uniform. For once, the wolves have set themselves up nicely.

[Gopher4Life]

Cool.

At #5, they drafted a kid (literally) who can't shoot and doesn't want to live in cold weather. Maybe the franchise is relocating.

At #6, they drafted a 5'11'' guard, perhaps dreaming of Allen Iverson, as insurance in case they can't sign #5.

The Wolves' draft day motto has always been "roll the dice and hope for the best."

jamiche,

Time will tell.

[jamiche]

Cool.

At #5, they drafted a kid (literally) who can't shoot and doesn't want to live in cold weather. Maybe the franchise is relocating.

At #6, they drafted a 5'11'' guard, perhaps dreaming of Allen Iverson, as insurance in case they can't sign #5.

The Wolves' draft day motto has always been "roll the dice and hope for the best."

jamiche,

Time will tell.

G4: I never said that Rubio would be a great player. I said he would be a valuable player. Big difference.

[weezy]

ESPN has an article (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-41-157/Ricky-Rubio--Playing-Minnesota-Poker.html) that sums the situation up pretty well. If you are too lazy to click on the link, here is the main point:
"Much to Minnesota GM David Kahn's surprise, Rubio fell all the way to the fifth pick, where he was blatantly too talented to pass up. And of course, Minnesota also had the sixth pick, which means Kahn barely had any choice at all. If you're attempting to rebuild a franchise on the fly, you can't very well pass on Ricky freaking Rubio twice, and let him fall to seventh. What's the likelihood Rubio becomes an All-Star? 30 percent? 60 percent? Whatever the number is, that's about the same likelihood David Kahn would have become an NBA laughingstock if he hadn't take Rubio."

As far as the thought process for drafting Flynn goes, my guess is as good as yours, but I think the wolves were set on taking him no matter what. They had a workout with all the top guards (excluding Rubio) and Flynn really stood out. It was love at first site for Kahn.
I like Flynn. Do I like him and Rubio together? Not as much but the alternatives weren't that great either. This was after all a very weak draft.

[Iceland12]

Cool.

At #5, they drafted a kid (literally) who can't shoot and doesn't want to live in cold weather. Maybe the franchise is relocating.

At #6, they drafted a 5'11'' guard, perhaps dreaming of Allen Iverson, as insurance in case they can't sign #5.

The Wolves' draft day motto has always been "roll the dice and hope for the best."

jamiche,

Time will tell.

Rubio isn't much of a shooter now but seriuosly, he's just 18. Curry was arguably the best shooter in the draft but who knows if he was that good at 18 no matter who his dad was.

Avery Johnson probably said it best. Tim Legler (I think), who doesn't seem to think that Rubio belongs in a JC let alone the NBA, was griling Johnson about Rubio's lack of skill as a shooter and a defender.

Avery said that Rubio was named Defender of The Year in his league last year. A league that is supposedly the best in Europe and maybe the best outside of the NBA. As for shooting Johnson said that HE couldn't shoot when he came into the NBA either and that wasn't that unusual.

It's also possible that the posturing of Rubio and his dad is directed at the club in Spain not the Wolves. The buyout is anywhere from 4 to 6 million depending on the report. He lost $3 million when he dropped from 2 to 5 in the draft. If he stays in Europe for two years the buyout drops to about $100,000. That's a lot of incentive for Rubio to say he's going back and the Spanish Club (or Spain's IRS if it's true that THEY own the debt) to negotiate the buyout downward.

Rubio is 6'3 and growing. A backcourt of him and Flynn won't be that small in a couple of years.

What bothers me the most G4L is Khan's insistence that they won't contend for "3 or 4 years" A statement that makes everything he's doing make sense, is probably true and will break a lot of fan hearts.