Around the league thread

[TheFuture]

Wiggins is stinking up the joint again lol, Wiseman is looking good though

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nba-haters-ball/?ex_cid=538twitter

[Lipoli390]

I'm watching the Hawks/Grizzlies game on NBATV and had two thoughts.

1. This is the kind of game the Wolves need their fellow playoff contenders in the Western Conference to lose.

2. I still think there are trade possibilities between Atlanta and Minnesota. Both teams have some oddly built rosters with a surplus of talent at a few positions.

Atlanta and the Kings both seem to have a glut of forwards. But do their PF's fit our system?

I'd imagine that all of John Collins, DeAndre Hunter, and Danilo Gallinari from the Hawks do as well as Nemanja Bjelica and Harrison Barnes from the Kings do. Obviously, the value differs among all of them, but all of them would provide a huge upgrade to what the Wolves currently have.

Who would you be willing to give up for one of those players on the Hawks?

John Collins is the best of that lot in my view, but he's at the end of his contract and demanding a max contract, which means there's a big risk he'd be a one-year rental. The Wolves won't be able to afford him without going well over the luxury tax threshold. So I don't know that I'd want it give up much for him under those circumstances.

I don't know that I'd want to give up much for Gallinari either. If healthy, he'd be a big offensive upgrade at the PF position. However, 32 and has a hard time staying healthy. Moreover, he doesn't provide either defense or rebounding - two things we really need at that spot next to KAT.

De'Andre Hunter seems like the right guy to pursue among those three. Back on draft night, I suggested trading Culver straight up for him. But after watching Culver so far this season and considering how well he finished last season, I don't think I'd give up Culver for Hunter now. Moreover, even thought Hunter is reputed to be a good defender, he was a pretty poor rebounder for his size and position in college and seems to be no better in the NBA. He doesn't get steals or blocks either. He's certainly better than RHJ, but how much better? Would he be worth giving up Culver or Okogie? Maybe Okogie, but watching the Detroit game again reminded me of just how valuable Okogie is as a disruptive force who forces turnovers and makes the opposing offense uncomfortable. He's at least as good a rebounder as Hunter as well. I'd still probably do that deal if I were Rosas, although I suspect Atlanta would expect more in return and I'm not sure how much more I'd be willing to give.

If it were me, I'd bring back RHJ and roll with him as our starting PF. Then I'd see where things are at as the trade deadline approaches. Unfortunately, we're stuck with Juancho at $7M per year for two years. We'll be able to trade him in six months, but I can't image any team giving us anything of value for him in a trade. In fact, he's one of those guys we'd have to package with one of our own draft picks to get some other team's interest.

[thedoper]

I dont really know why the Sixers would want to trade Simmons. If I were them I'd ditch Embiid.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Agreed. Though I think Randle could have been had for Johnson, 33, and a future 2nd.

I just dont like him as a player or as a fit here. I'm unsure why you do. He is a black hole on offense.

Maybe you can extrapolate a bit on why you like him so much? Because from the limited viewing I have seen, he is Shabazz in a PF body, just with an added spin move.

I think Randle's a versatile, medium/high-level talent that's been forced into some bad situations aside from his lone year in New Orleans with Anthony Davis. He's shown the ability to score, rebound, and facilitate at above average levels in the NBA. He's a big body with good mobility and an aggressive mindset. I love that he can grab defensive rebounds and start the break, often going coast to coast and finishing by himself. He routinely increases his team's physicality and draws fouls as a result. He also brings a competitive, almost angry mindset on the court that I always enjoy from a fan's perspective. Somehow he's just 26-years old and the perception is that he's available on the trade market.

I would love to see how he could coexist with a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt, but I realize it's unlikely to happen with this front office in place.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Speaking of Julius Randle, he's also balling out tonight against the Sixers. 18 points in the first half on 8-9 shooting including two threes, which is unexpected but perhaps something to watch this season.

[Lipoli390]

Speaking of Julius Randle, he's also balling out tonight against the Sixers. 18 points in the first half on 8-9 shooting including two threes, which is unexpected but perhaps something to watch this season.

He would have been a much better acquisition than Ricky and I suspect we could have acquired him for the same package we gave up for Ricky. Myles Turner would have been my first choice for a preseason acquisition, but it probably would have required the Wolves to give up too much.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Russell Westbrook is shooting 15-41, 0-6 from three through two games. The Wizards are 0-2.

[kekgeek]

Speaking of Julius Randle, he's also balling out tonight against the Sixers. 18 points in the first half on 8-9 shooting including two threes, which is unexpected but perhaps something to watch this season.

He would have been a much better acquisition than Ricky and I suspect we could have acquired him for the same package we gave up for Ricky. Myles Turner would have been my first choice for a preseason acquisition, but it probably would have required the Wolves to give up too much.

Think we need to be patient with Ricky. Even though he "struggled" he still had a 9/4/4 stat line and was one again +6. Think it really helps having a guy who can just run a offense. Can set up others and I am curious to see the numbers for Ant and Culver when they are on the floor with Rubio

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Speaking of Julius Randle, he's also balling out tonight against the Sixers. 18 points in the first half on 8-9 shooting including two threes, which is unexpected but perhaps something to watch this season.

He would have been a much better acquisition than Ricky and I suspect we could have acquired him for the same package we gave up for Ricky. Myles Turner would have been my first choice for a preseason acquisition, but it probably would have required the Wolves to give up too much.

Think we need to be patient with Ricky. Even though he "struggled" he still had a 9/4/4 stat line and was one again +6. Think it really helps having a guy who can just run a offense. Can set up others and I am curious to see the numbers for Ant and Culver when they are on the floor with Rubio

I thought Jordan McLaughlin raised the bar last year of what we can expect from a backup point guard. I'd argue that last year's version of him is better than what I've seen from Ricky Rubio through three preseason games and two regular season games. Also, there is no logical reason to trade a mid-first-round pick for a backup point guard, especially one making $17M annually. Wolves fans have officially gotten caught up in nostalgia.

[kekgeek]

Speaking of Julius Randle, he's also balling out tonight against the Sixers. 18 points in the first half on 8-9 shooting including two threes, which is unexpected but perhaps something to watch this season.

He would have been a much better acquisition than Ricky and I suspect we could have acquired him for the same package we gave up for Ricky. Myles Turner would have been my first choice for a preseason acquisition, but it probably would have required the Wolves to give up too much.

Think we need to be patient with Ricky. Even though he "struggled" he still had a 9/4/4 stat line and was one again +6. Think it really helps having a guy who can just run a offense. Can set up others and I am curious to see the numbers for Ant and Culver when they are on the floor with Rubio

I thought Jordan McLaughlin raised the bar last year of what we can expect from a backup point guard. I'd argue that last year's version of him is better than what I've seen from Ricky Rubio through three preseason games and two regular season games. Also, there is no logical reason to trade a mid-first-round pick for a backup point guard, especially one making $17M annually. Wolves fans have officially gotten caught up in nostalgia.

I like Jmac, I really do but it's still such a small sample size. It's just not nostalgia for me with Ricky I think he does a lot of little things to help us win. Like if Randle was on this team, he is with sub par defender and another mouth to feed. Turner I think has pretty much 0 trade value in the league because the Celtics didn't even want him in a SnT. Its a wait an see but Ricky 17 million dollar expiring will be an asset next year and he is a big contract the Wolves can put into a trade that isn't a negative asset without giving up a member of the "core"