Rocco Zikarsky
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2025 3:03 pm
Welcome to the Wolves Rocco! I’m really liking this pick, you can’t teach size. 
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What do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
Most people that size really struggle with lower body problems.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:33 pmWhat do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
AS I said, it will take at least 4 years before he is NBA ready. It would be foolish to bring him over next season even on a 2 way contract. Let him get better in Australia and maybe after 2-3 years move to a higher level Euro league. That is the best course for him.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:33 pmWhat do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
Where would Chazz Lanier have been on their depth chart? Two way deal?somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:57 pm I wish we would have stayed at 36 and just taken either Raynaud or Chazz Lanier.
I didnt compare Raynaud's game to Luka, just what level of a player he is. The AAAA baseball level is a guy who is good at the lower levels but just not good enough to be a major league guy. I suspect Raynaud will not be as effective in all aspects of his game like he was at Stanford, and because of that just isn't quite good enough.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 7:25 pm He would have been on the depth chart if we looked to move DDV. Another big volume three point shooter and not a kid. So I could see an eventual depth chart at SG being Ant/Clark/Lanier. Probably start the year on a two way - see how it goes. Besides the three point prowess, Lanier also has very decent NBA athleticism - so projecting good things for him isn't entirely out in left field.
Raynaud - with an A - I think will be a decent backup big man in the league. Which is perfectly a great outcome for a 36th pick. I disagree with you about him being a Luka level player. Runs better, puts the ball on the floor better, is bigger. I think he will have fewer of the downsides that Luka has and that prevents him from being a legit NBA minutes option.
As for the late Rocco pick, I am interested to see if Javon Small pans out - who got selected a few picks later. I'm not sure how he tips any needle that Tristan Newton doesn't tip - but there are certainly people who think Small can be a good NBA player.
And that is by far the best course for him. Stay in Brisbane for at least 2 years. Then I would actually like him to go to Europe to play in a senior Euro league. The added 30 lbs of mass should make him more effective next year the NBL.
Exactly…. Maybe a wing at those spots, but not with this roster stacked with wings.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:11 pm For a contending team, a 17 and 45 generally aren't going to contribute right away. You add that in FA.
Name more than 4 players from this draft that could crack the top 8 or even 9 rotation spots on this team. The Wolves are deep, no rookie available to them is going to beat out Shannon, Clark, Dillingham or even Minot. Drafting a couple of higher ceiling prospects that could potentially play a role in 2-3 years was absolutely the right decision.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:11 pm For a contending team, a 17 and 45 generally aren't going to contribute right away. You add that in FA.
Exactly. You can't neglect the long game just because you're currently in the short one.Wide left wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:23 pmName more than 4 players from this draft that could crack the top 8 or even 9 rotation spots on this team. The Wolves are deep, no rookie available to them is going to beat out Shannon, Clark, Dillingham or even Minot. Drafting a couple of higher ceiling prospects that could potentially play a role in 2-3 years was absolutely the right decision.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:11 pm For a contending team, a 17 and 45 generally aren't going to contribute right away. You add that in FA.
Yeah, I was hoping Rasheer Fleming was going to be our pick or a trade for a future 1st.Beef Supreme wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:34 pmMost people that size really struggle with lower body problems.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:33 pmWhat do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
It’s worth the gamble on him, I guess. But staying at 31 and making a safer pick probably made more sense to me.
But we’ll see how it plays out.
I do t think any team was offering a 1st. Boston had the very next pick and got 2 2’d rounders. Obviously that was what the price was for 31 and 32. And someone brought up a good point that 31 would have wanted a guaranteed contract and we probably don’t want to give that l.witljon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:23 pmYeah, I was hoping Rasheer Fleming was going to be our pick or a trade for a future 1st.Beef Supreme wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:34 pmMost people that size really struggle with lower body problems.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:33 pm
What do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
It’s worth the gamble on him, I guess. But staying at 31 and making a safer pick probably made more sense to me.
But we’ll see how it plays out.
I’m just saying I preferred just taking Fleming when there was no offer of a future 1st. Obviously the Wolves weren’t high enough on him, but the team that traded for him was. And we probably had no spot for him on the roster.aztimberwolves wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:47 pmI do t think any team was offering a 1st. Boston had the very next pick and got 2 2’d rounders. Obviously that was what the price was for 31 and 32. And someone brought up a good point that 31 would have wanted a guaranteed contract and we probably don’t want to give that l.witljon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:23 pmYeah, I was hoping Rasheer Fleming was going to be our pick or a trade for a future 1st.Beef Supreme wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:34 pm
Most people that size really struggle with lower body problems.
It’s worth the gamble on him, I guess. But staying at 31 and making a safer pick probably made more sense to me.
But we’ll see how it plays out.
Jace frederickaztimberwolves wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:47 pmI do t think any team was offering a 1st. Boston had the very next pick and got 2 2’d rounders. Obviously that was what the price was for 31 and 32. And someone brought up a good point that 31 would have wanted a guaranteed contract and we probably don’t want to give that l.witljon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:23 pmYeah, I was hoping Rasheer Fleming was going to be our pick or a trade for a future 1st.Beef Supreme wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:34 pm
Most people that size really struggle with lower body problems.
It’s worth the gamble on him, I guess. But staying at 31 and making a safer pick probably made more sense to me.
But we’ll see how it plays out.
That was last year. Minnesota and Baston wernt so fortunate this year. Obviously no one offered a 1st or else they would have taken it. Boston got the same deal we did so that was obviously the market offer for those picks.weimy froob wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 8:16 amJace frederickaztimberwolves wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:47 pmI do t think any team was offering a 1st. Boston had the very next pick and got 2 2’d rounders. Obviously that was what the price was for 31 and 32. And someone brought up a good point that 31 would have wanted a guaranteed contract and we probably don’t want to give that l.
@JaceFrederick
Someone told Matt Lloyd that Toronto received offers of future 1sts for No. 31 last year
I would have just drafted Fleming. But they already knew they would resign Naz Reid. That would have made Fleming mostly redundant.witljon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:23 pmYeah, I was hoping Rasheer Fleming was going to be our pick or a trade for a future 1st.Beef Supreme wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:34 pmMost people that size really struggle with lower body problems.somuchyummy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:33 pm
What do you suppose it's like being 7-4 260 lbs at age 18? Super coordinated and all grown up into your man strength? Or kind of gawky and awkward?
It’s worth the gamble on him, I guess. But staying at 31 and making a safer pick probably made more sense to me.
But we’ll see how it plays out.
To go from 7 to 45, reality must have set inRusty Kuntz wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 3:03 pm Welcome to the Wolves Rocco! I’m really liking this pick, you can’t teach size.
Probably had a lot more to do with lack of playing time than skill, and those two things do not go hand in hand in the NBL. For example if he were to play college ball in the states, he's probably on a team getting 20+ mpg playing against other 19 year olds, instead he played in the NBL sitting behind two of the better centers in the league (one listed as the 22nd best player in the league according to a Fox sports article I just read), playing with and against guys in their prime.witljon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 7:24 amTo go from 7 to 45, reality must have set inRusty Kuntz wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 3:03 pm Welcome to the Wolves Rocco! I’m really liking this pick, you can’t teach size.
once they actually seen him play.