PorkChop wrote:Russell is the best example of a player needing some time to mature. It should give teams hope that patience will be rewarded.
D'Angelo Russell? He's had All-Star type talent from the moment he got drafted. He just needed a team that didn't have morons around him and a coaching staff who was willing to let him have the keys to the offense. Los Angeles failed him in both regards.
Not sure u can say with 100% certainty that he would've been successful right out the gate.
PorkChop wrote:Russell is the best example of a player needing some time to mature. It should give teams hope that patience will be rewarded.
D'Angelo Russell? He's had All-Star type talent from the moment he got drafted. He just needed a team that didn't have morons around him and a coaching staff who was willing to let him have the keys to the offense. Los Angeles failed him in both regards.
Not sure u can say with 100% certainty that he would've been successful right out the gate.
I was a fan of his talent from the beginning but there have been some reports that he really has benefited from being with the Nets and grown up since his early days with the Lakers. I think both the Lakers and Russell probably have some blame in him having some issues early on. It's a good story of a young player finding himself. I think there are other talented players that do need the right situation...I hope the Wolves can start being more of that type of franchise instead of the one that keeps guys from being better.
PorkChop wrote:Russell is the best example of a player needing some time to mature. It should give teams hope that patience will be rewarded.
D'Angelo Russell? He's had All-Star type talent from the moment he got drafted. He just needed a team that didn't have morons around him and a coaching staff who was willing to let him have the keys to the offense. Los Angeles failed him in both regards.
Not sure u can say with 100% certainty that he would've been successful right out the gate.
I was a fan of his talent from the beginning but there have been some reports that he really has benefited from being with the Nets and grown up since his early days with the Lakers. I think both the Lakers and Russell probably have some blame in him having some issues early on. It's a good story of a young player finding himself. I think there are other talented players that do need the right situation...I hope the Wolves can start being more of that type of franchise instead of the one that keeps guys from being better.
I agree, Monster. It would be nice to see the Wolves become an organization that identifies and acquires young talented players who struggle elsewhere and then blossom here. The Wolves almost pulled that off when they acquired Chauncey Billups. But alas, the Wolves lost patience and stupidly cast their lot with their oft-injured veteran PG instead. So part of it is identifying talented players who are struggling but can still become great. Another part of it is have the patience to see it through. It simply comes down to being smart. The Wolves just haven't had smart people running the organization.
PorkChop wrote:Russell is the best example of a player needing some time to mature. It should give teams hope that patience will be rewarded.
D'Angelo Russell? He's had All-Star type talent from the moment he got drafted. He just needed a team that didn't have morons around him and a coaching staff who was willing to let him have the keys to the offense. Los Angeles failed him in both regards.
Not sure u can say with 100% certainty that he would've been successful right out the gate.
I was a fan of his talent from the beginning but there have been some reports that he really has benefited from being with the Nets and grown up since his early days with the Lakers. I think both the Lakers and Russell probably have some blame in him having some issues early on. It's a good story of a young player finding himself. I think there are other talented players that do need the right situation...I hope the Wolves can start being more of that type of franchise instead of the one that keeps guys from being better.
I agree, Monster. It would be nice to see the Wolves become an organization that identifies and acquires young talented players who struggle elsewhere and then blossom here. The Wolves almost pulled that off when they acquired Chauncey Billups. But alas, the Wolves lost patience and stupidly cast their lot with their oft-injured veteran PG instead. So part of it is identifying talented players who are struggling but can still become great. Another part of it is have the patience to see it through. It simply comes down to being smart. The Wolves just haven't had smart people running the organization.
It's not just young players though either. Look at a guy like Fred Hoiberg. Heck of a signing he had a a terrific career here before...having a heart condition and his career was over. Of course they used that exception they could have used on another bad contract. Hassell was a pretty solid find and was a younger guy. Flip and McHale were actually decent at finding guys to keep the roster afloat which helped offset some other flawed decisions. Right now we have 2 vets in Rose and Deng. A lot of the success of these players young or vets is getting the next contract right. Miami has gotten a lot of good/worthwhile players but they are in trouble for resigning a bunch of guys to too much money etc. we have seen that happen often. Troy Hudson was a terrific first signing and the 2nd contract was not so good. Even pretty good organizations make some mistakes like that.
My theory that Demarcus Cousins could never be on an NBA champion is going to be put to the test this year. I'm afraid that much talent will overcome his personality
I can't believe the millenials can't just flip on the game they want to watch. Maybe if they followed their home town team it would be a little easier!
Isn't the fact that they can't flip on the game tells us that they don't care about the NBA.
Wouldn't it be fun in Andrew Wiggins wanted to beat Jimmy Butler that bad too?
Screw that. Wouldn't it be fun if he had this mentality with all the people talking poorly about him all the time? Just goes on a tear against all the teams, alas that will never be
