NBA Draft 2011: What positions should the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets and New Jersey Nets look for?
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft Pick: Lottery Pick and 20th pick
Recommended Position: Point Guard, Shooting Guard and Centre
Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the league’s best and brightest prospects at power forward, in the shape of Kevin Love. His form over the season has been amazing and he has been the main competitor to Dwight Howard as the best
big guy in the league.
However, apart from Kevin, there isn’t much to love in this side. Having two good picks will certainly help Minnesota, but they have at least three positions that need an injection of talent. Darko Milicic is simply not good enough
to be the starting centre. However, there most obvious need is that of a shooting guard.
They can even do with a point guard, and with Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker, two of the better prospects in this year’s draft available, this is perhaps the area they should look to strengthen first. The 20th pick can
then be used to get a shooting guard or a centre, whichever is available.
Team: New Orleans Hornets
Draft Pick: No first round pick
Recommended Position: Shooting guard
Just why did the Minnesota Timberwolves let Marcus Thornton go in the mid-season trade is still a mystery. The New Orleans Hornets have been struggling at the shooting guard position ever since his departure. Marco Belinelli is
simply not reliable enough. The Hornets need to find a running mate for Chris Paul, who has a little too much on his plate at the moment.
The other positions are alright for the Hornets, but if they are to go past the first round of the playoffs next season, Chris Paul has to get a helping hand in the back court.
New Orleans though, don’t have a first round pick. So, there isn’t too much they can achieve in the NBA draft this year. That is a serious concern for the Hornets as now they are neither bad enough to warrant a high draft pick,
nor good enough to push ahead and make a mark in the league. Stagnation beckons for New Orleans.
Team: New Jersey Nets
Draft Pick: 27th pick
Recommended Position: Shooting Guard or Small Forward
The New Jersey Nets have one of the better frontcourt-backcourt tandems in the league with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Williams is solid as ever and has averaged over 20 points and 10 assists this season. Lopez has also developed
into an imposing centre since coming to New Jersey and provides valuable offense to the Nets.
The foundations for a great team are laid, however the plot is lost somewhere in mid court for New Jersey. Their options at small forward and shooting guard, although not bad, are also not very good. At present Anthony Morrow,
Sasha Vujacic, Damion James and Travis Outlaw are juggled around to keep the Nets moving, however it’s hardly a permanent solution. Kris Humphries also has had a good season, but the fact remains that they need a quality player that can impose himself on the
game and take advantage of the havoc that Williams and Brook cause.
If they are lucky, New Jersey could get a good player with their 27th pick. If not, they would be hoping one of their many options at the two pre-mentioned positions will step it up a notch next season.
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