lipoli390 wrote:Here's an interesting tidbit. In my lunch with Flip, I mentioned Vonleh as a possible pick because I really liked him in that draft. Flip said he wouldn't consider him. I asked why and he said there are some issues but wouldn't elaborate. So we can all guess. But the fact that he's bounced around and couldn't even stick with the Knicks sort of confirms the presence of some red flags of come kind.
Nevertheless, signing Vonleh and Bell are precisely the types of moves this organization needs to make. It's what I've wanted for years -- signing young players with high upside who for one reason or another haven't developed but who are still young enough to have promise. Signing multiple players who fit that profile is the way to go for a mid-market capped-out team like the Wolves in my opinion. You only have to hit on one of them. And of course, there will be one or more red flags associated with any such player. That's why they're available and cheap.
All I can see is - keep going Gersson!
Good info Lip. It's certainly something to keep in the back of our minds. It was 5 years ago so who knows. The Knicks let him go but...and Portland let him go last year but remember they had like 34 bigs so it would make sense they would let him go. Also just looked it up I think they moved him to get under the Lux tax. Still good info but worth having some context. It's also a positive IMO he played for a good team and organization in Portland for about 2.5 seasons.
So with that info you shared in the back of my mind...remember after the Saric trade I said there was likely an opportunity to bring in a guy that may actually have value not that dissimilar to Saric a year from now? We just got Vonleh and we also have Jordon bell. Opportunity partly because Saric is gone helped us get these guys. Maybe neither guy ends up being all that great but I think the chances one guy becomes a legit rotation player for us beyond this year is at least 30%. That's not bad odds. What was the chance Saric was just the next Illyasova? 30%. Keep in mind I like Saric AND Illyasova. :)
Actually, Vonleh has played for 4 different teams - Charlotte, Portland, Chicago and New York. That's 4 teams in 5 seasons. He definitely has some issues -- probably character issues. But this last season with the Knicks was his best. It included nearly 8 rebounds per game in around 25 minutes. So we'll see.
Reading Wild's post, I think I agree I'd rather sign Hollis-Jefferson. But who knows how much that would cost.
I wonder where the $2 million will come from. It's above the vet minimum. Will it be part of our MLE?
I think this is another cheap deal that absolutely makes sense right in line with the Bell deal. Again I wish we had a team option for year two but this another young player with upside and ability to protect the rim. The thing with both these players are if they are good you can try to work something out long term, if not they expire and don't hamper your future. They can also become trade assets as expiring deals and serviceable bigs. I remember last year Vonleh was rumored to be of interest to the 76ers before they obtained Mike Scott. I am happy with what MN has done with very little room to be players.
lipoli390 wrote:Here's an interesting tidbit. In my lunch with Flip, I mentioned Vonleh as a possible pick because I really liked him in that draft. Flip said he wouldn't consider him. I asked why and he said there are some issues but wouldn't elaborate. So we can all guess. But the fact that he's bounced around and couldn't even stick with the Knicks sort of confirms the presence of some red flags of come kind.
Nevertheless, signing Vonleh and Bell are precisely the types of moves this organization needs to make. It's what I've wanted for years -- signing young players with high upside who for one reason or another haven't developed but who are still young enough to have promise. Signing multiple players who fit that profile is the way to go for a mid-market capped-out team like the Wolves in my opinion. You only have to hit on one of them. And of course, there will be one or more red flags associated with any such player. That's why they're available and cheap.
All I can see is - keep going Gersson!
Good info Lip. It's certainly something to keep in the back of our minds. It was 5 years ago so who knows. The Knicks let him go but...and Portland let him go last year but remember they had like 34 bigs so it would make sense they would let him go. Also just looked it up I think they moved him to get under the Lux tax. Still good info but worth having some context. It's also a positive IMO he played for a good team and organization in Portland for about 2.5 seasons.
So with that info you shared in the back of my mind...remember after the Saric trade I said there was likely an opportunity to bring in a guy that may actually have value not that dissimilar to Saric a year from now? We just got Vonleh and we also have Jordon bell. Opportunity partly because Saric is gone helped us get these guys. Maybe neither guy ends up being all that great but I think the chances one guy becomes a legit rotation player for us beyond this year is at least 30%. That's not bad odds. What was the chance Saric was just the next Illyasova? 30%. Keep in mind I like Saric AND Illyasova. :)
Actually, Vonleh has played for 4 different teams - Charlotte, Portland, Chicago and New York. That's 4 teams in 5 seasons. He definitely has some issues -- probably character issues. But this last season with the Knicks was his best. It included nearly 8 rebounds per game in around 25 minutes. So we'll see.
Reading Wild's post, I think I agree I'd rather sign Hollis-Jefferson. But who knows how much that would cost.
I wonder where the $2 million will come from. It's above the vet minimum. Will it be part of our MLE?
The Wolves have the BAE so it could come out that. Sorta weird they paid that little extra over the vet min but whatever.
Vonleh kinda harkens Ed Davis type career for me. What's up with that guy 3 teams in the last 3 seasons. Is there something wrong with him or is he a guy that continually gets undervalued? Kinda being a little facetious with the 3 teams in 3 years but I do think just because someone has bounced around doesn't always mean it's a negative.
It may be worth noting that David Vanterpool would have coached vonleh for 2.5 years. It might be good to have some familiarity and the Wolves probably know a bit what they are getting there.
monsterpile wrote:It may be worth noting that David Vanterpool would have coached vonleh for 2.5 years. It might be good to have some familiarity and the Wolves probably know a bit what they are getting there.
Ah ha. I didn't think of the Vanderpool connection. He must have vouched for Vonleh.
"B+ Overall, Vonleh receives this grade because he really turned the corner in his fith year in the NBA. Adding the 3 point shot and playing the small ball center will get him paid this summer. The New York Knicks will probably not bring him back as they set their sights on bigger fish. Still, Vonleh had an excellent season and the future is bright for him, some team is going to be very happy to get him. He fits the mold of today's NBA center, shoot threes and be able to guard smaller players on switches."
Another somewhat speculative signing by Rosas on the cheap. I guess we just hope one or both of these two bigs (Bell and Vonleh) eventually become high-level role players. But yeah, this is the market inefficiency I have been talking about. LOTS of cheap bigs out there. We could benefit more than most if one of these guys can defend and help KAT on the interior.
Q12543 wrote:Another somewhat speculative signing by Rosas on the cheap. I guess we just hope one or both of these two bigs (Bell and Vonleh) eventually become high-level role players. But yeah, this is the market inefficiency I have been talking about. LOTS of cheap bigs out there. We could benefit more than most if one of these guys can defend and help KAT on the interior.
That was a great insight you had about the market inefficiency that you predicted would produce a lot of cheap bigs. It's unfolding before our eyes. The good news is that Gersson is capitalizing on it. It's nice to have a front office doing some sensible things -- nothing great -- but sensible.
He isnt a stretch 4, but he does get up a few every game.
He can rebound, especially on the defensive end.
He can get out and guard in space on switches.
