So what to do with that sixth pick
Posted on May 20th, 2009 – 1:34 AMBy Jerry Zgoda
Provided they don’t trade it away, here are some thoughts on what to do with that first of three first-round picks, given the fact that I haven’t spent all season scouting college players and have only seen some of these guys on youtube clips or briefly on television:
1. Spare no expense to learn everything you can about Brandon Jennings. The point of emphasis in this supposedly weak draft is, well, point guard, perhaps the Wolves’ greatest need. You might have the pick of the lot after Rubio goes first and Jennings was so highly regarded before spending that tough season in Italy. I’d expect Sacramento to look at him awfully hard with that fourth pick, but do your homework and make sure you’re not missing on him if you elect to go elsewhere with that sixth pick.
2. At this point, I’d like Tyreke Evans over DeMar DeRozan if the choice comes down to that, strictly from what I saw him do after Calipari moved him to point guard and particularly in the tournament (DeRozan was pretty good, too). Granted, that’s not where he’ll play mostly in the NBA, but I’m still not ready to give up on Randy Foye (unless you can include him to sweeten a deal for something really good). Evans’ size (6-6) and the fact that he’s best with the ball in his hands conceivably could solve two problems: The Wolves’ small backcourt with Telfair and Foye in it and what to do with Foye. I’ve asked this before, but could you use Evans much like Miami does DWade and still play Foye as your “point,” where his size almost requires him to play, but off the ball like Chalmers mostly does.
3. I think there’s a pretty decent chance James Harden could fall to six, but I think I still like Evans better. Something about that funny body and his NCAA tournament play didn’t help convince me, either. I wasn’t sold on Eric Gordon either and I’m still not totally convinced either, even after a pretty good rookie season.
4. Some early mock drafts out after tonight’s lottery have Jrue Holiday falling to the Wolves’ second pick, at No. 18. Don’t believe that, not with all the Russell Westbrook comparisons, but how would you like a Holiday-Evans or Holiday-DeRozan backcourt for the next decade? Or what do you think about Pat Calathes with one of the later picks to pair with your favorite scoring guard at No. 6. That certainly would be an immediate upgrade in backcourt size.





