The 2011 NBA Draft hasn't even been complete for 24 hours. That hasn't stopped the experts from weighing in with their draft grades for the Minnesota Timberwolves, however, so let's take a gander around the internet.
Canis Hoopus, SB Nation's Timberwolves blog, had the most glowing review despite the crew not always being the most positive fanbase (not that we blame them).
"In the meantime, enjoy the fact that the Wolves finally picked the guy they needed to pick while using a mid round pick to create more value....oh, they also have Ricky f'ing Rubio," they wrote. "The lockout starts in a few days and we still don't really know what will happen with Kurt Rambis. Enjoy the optimism while it lasts. I know I am."
Keeping it in the family, SB Nation's Tom Ziller gave the team an ugly 'D' despite acknowledging the team was able to acquire solid assets for the future, two good picks and a decent amount of cash in the short-term.
"Minnesota had assets and the will to make stuff happen," Ziller wrote. "Instead, Kahn traded a mistake he made two years ago for future assets at the helm of a 17-win team. Barf."
Alright, we're off to a rough start, but surely it has to get better. Not with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, though, as he count the Wolves as one of the Draft's three losers. Mannix doesn't make much of an argument about what the Wolves acquired, but focused on their consistent trades.
"Minnesota has a smart and experienced scouting department," Mannix wrote, "which makes it perplexing why they would ship out three high-level international talents."
If he trusted that the scouting department was that smart, wouldn't it be possible they may have known more about the players they decided to pass on?
Moving on, Matt Moore at CBS Sports also panned the Timberwolves for taking Williams despite his not fitting in the lineup. He does see some redeeming qualitites, however, for the future.
"If Williams turns out to be worthy of the No.2 pick, and count me among the people that think he is, and the Wolves recognize that versus burying him as they did Kevin Love, this can be salvaged," Moore wrote. "From this vantage point, it doesn't look great."
Moore later teamed with Ben Golliver to hand out grades, though, and it seems Golliver apparently took the lead on the Minnesota analysis as they picked up a solid 'B'.
"Williams was the best player on the board and a no-brainer, although you always have to wonder when the Timberwolves are on the clock," they wrote. "His fit on Minnesota's roster isn't perfect, but it's not terrible, especially if David Kahn can find a way to ship out Michael Beasley for future assets."
Last on the list of mainstream media outlets reporting on the draft is Kurt Helin at Pro Basketball Talk. Helin also gave the Wolves a 'B', but it doesn't seem he put a lot of thought into it past their first pick.
"They traded Jonny Flynn and drafted a bunch of Euros (some very obscure). I do like the trade for Malcolm Lee, he can defend at the NBA level," Helin wrote. "But in the end they got Derrick Williams to run the floor with Ricky Rubio, and that should make them better."
At the end of the day all of this should be taken with a grain of salt, but it's worth gauging for the time being.