monsterpile wrote:There has been quite a bit of talk about Russell but I'm going to go back to some positives of his game this season. There were areas he actually improved this season.
Career bests:
2 point FG 49.7%
53.1% of overall shots taken from 3
2.9 turnovers per 36
82.5% FT
.246 Ft rate
5 DUNKS!!!! Lol
Maybe none of these especially on their own are huge factors and sure there are other areas that he was lower than past years. Some of these stats are ones that matter. I still believe Russell can be valuable and maybe even continue to evolve in how he helps an NBA team win games but the question for the Wolves mostly comes down to money.
Highly competent play at a position makes a difference. Ask the Suns who went from fringe NBA players at PG to Rubio to a future HOFer. The coaching change was pretty dramatic for them too... The Wolves need to add another frontcourt player that's an upgrade at times over Naz or Vanderbilt (and even Knight) that's going to make a legit difference. That can be done via FA or maybe a trade that doesn't include Russell.
That's where I'm at, Monster. If a really good deal for DLO presents itself, then sure. But he's a highly competent PG on an expiring contract. I'm fine with that as the Wolves focus on filling their primary need. As a general matter, the Wolves need to substantially improve their rebounding. More specifically, they need to upgrade the starting PF or C position next to KAT. These are actually two separate needs that can potentially satisfied in large part by one personnel move - adding a really good rebounding big like Drummond. But we could also improve our rebounding by adding better rebounders at the PG and SF positions. Neither DLO nor McDaniels is a good rebounder. Prince isn't a particularly good rebounder either. The need to add a starting big to replace Vando is based on the need to get more size in the lineup, help KAT defensively and improve the team's rim protection. Vando's actually a terrific rebounder.
I think if McDaniels is at SF he is plenty good as a rebounder. His per 36 this year (some of that was as a PF) was just under 6 a game. I would say it's probably similarly for Prince. As a perimeter player his rebounding is fine it's when he is playing much at PF that it becomes more of a problem.
What would he really nice is seeing Vanderbilt giving them some rebounding off the bench. That was something they lacked this season. He won't be Brandon Clarke on the offensive end but I could see him bouncing all over the place as a bench player causing havoc against teams playing their 2nd units. Plus since he can defend perimeter players he can play against teams that just bring in a small guy. Vanderbilt and Naz might compliment each other on offense and Vanderbilt might even help Naz some on defense*. Ok that's it let's sign a legit player to start next to Towns at either spot do some savy drafting and maybe a trade here or there, maybe another cheap value signing, bring back Prince and let's go!!! Lol
I realize that if we sign someone that even plays 20-25 minutes Vanderbilt and/or Reid's minutes will be cut but unless we get a really good player at least one of them is gonna play legit minutes every night. One of them would be a really nice player to plug in in case of injury etc.
I think Naz has to go no matter what.
This team needs someone who is different than KAT backing him. If Naz was a better rebounder, sure, but he's not. They need someone who won't embarrass themselves offensively, but does more of the dirty work. We need someone who has the potential to combine both Reid and Vando's skillsets to a degree.
monsterpile wrote:There has been quite a bit of talk about Russell but I'm going to go back to some positives of his game this season. There were areas he actually improved this season.
Career bests:
2 point FG 49.7%
53.1% of overall shots taken from 3
2.9 turnovers per 36
82.5% FT
.246 Ft rate
5 DUNKS!!!! Lol
Maybe none of these especially on their own are huge factors and sure there are other areas that he was lower than past years. Some of these stats are ones that matter. I still believe Russell can be valuable and maybe even continue to evolve in how he helps an NBA team win games but the question for the Wolves mostly comes down to money.
Highly competent play at a position makes a difference. Ask the Suns who went from fringe NBA players at PG to Rubio to a future HOFer. The coaching change was pretty dramatic for them too... The Wolves need to add another frontcourt player that's an upgrade at times over Naz or Vanderbilt (and even Knight) that's going to make a legit difference. That can be done via FA or maybe a trade that doesn't include Russell.
That's where I'm at, Monster. If a really good deal for DLO presents itself, then sure. But he's a highly competent PG on an expiring contract. I'm fine with that as the Wolves focus on filling their primary need. As a general matter, the Wolves need to substantially improve their rebounding. More specifically, they need to upgrade the starting PF or C position next to KAT. These are actually two separate needs that can potentially satisfied in large part by one personnel move - adding a really good rebounding big like Drummond. But we could also improve our rebounding by adding better rebounders at the PG and SF positions. Neither DLO nor McDaniels is a good rebounder. Prince isn't a particularly good rebounder either. The need to add a starting big to replace Vando is based on the need to get more size in the lineup, help KAT defensively and improve the team's rim protection. Vando's actually a terrific rebounder.
I think if McDaniels is at SF he is plenty good as a rebounder. His per 36 this year (some of that was as a PF) was just under 6 a game. I would say it's probably similarly for Prince. As a perimeter player his rebounding is fine it's when he is playing much at PF that it becomes more of a problem.
What would he really nice is seeing Vanderbilt giving them some rebounding off the bench. That was something they lacked this season. He won't be Brandon Clarke on the offensive end but I could see him bouncing all over the place as a bench player causing havoc against teams playing their 2nd units. Plus since he can defend perimeter players he can play against teams that just bring in a small guy. Vanderbilt and Naz might compliment each other on offense and Vanderbilt might even help Naz some on defense*. Ok that's it let's sign a legit player to start next to Towns at either spot do some savy drafting and maybe a trade here or there, maybe another cheap value signing, bring back Prince and let's go!!! Lol
I realize that if we sign someone that even plays 20-25 minutes Vanderbilt and/or Reid's minutes will be cut but unless we get a really good player at least one of them is gonna play legit minutes every night. One of them would be a really nice player to plug in in case of injury etc.
I think Naz has to go no matter what.
This team needs someone who is different than KAT backing him. If Naz was a better rebounder, sure, but he's not. They need someone who won't embarrass themselves offensively, but does more of the dirty work. We need someone who has the potential to combine both Reid and Vando's skillsets to a degree.
If the Wolves trade for a starting big to pair with KAT, then I think the logical outgoing package would include Beasley and Naz.
