Rosa's vision

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

Cams point is pretty important. We will have 0 rim protection with a Covington/Towns pairing. I am not sure the alternative is better though - somehow finding a real rim protector isnt going to help Towns on the other end (or the team at all) - and on defense either Towns chases the stretch 4 out to the perimeter or the Unicorn-FA-rim-protecting-4 has to run out to the perimeter on defense. Either way one of them is going to have to chase someone out of the paint.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Mmmm, not sure where you are getting your numbers. At the combine, Siakam beat Covington in height, wingspan, and standing reach by a couple inches and weighed 15 lbs more. The other thing about Siakam is on the offensive side he can actually exploit a mis-match where Covington is simply a stretch 3 or 4 who has a pretty limited offensive arsenal.

I have to admit that I just checked their length and weight from Basketball-reference. There both are listed 6'9 and Siakam weigths 230lbs that would be 5lbs more than Covington's current weight.

Since Siakam's draft measurements were clearly superior compared to Covington's, it's quite probable that he is longer than RC. But we can compare Covington's numbers to power forwards from other top teams.

Covington wingspan 7'1.75, standing reach 8'10 and weight 225lbs
Giannis 7'3, 9'2 and 242lbs
Aminu 7'3.25, 9'0.5 and 220lbs
Siakam 7'3.25, 8'11.5 and 230lbs
Jerami Grant 7'2.75, 8'11 and 220lbs Draymond Green 7'1.25, 8'10 and 230lbs
Thad Young 6'12.5, 8'10 and 221lbs
Millsap 7'1.5 8'9.5 and 246lbs
Marcus Morris 6'10, 8'9.5 and 235lbs
Tobias Harris 6'11, 8'7.5 and 235lbs
Tucker 7' and 245lbs

So it look like most of the top teams won't have starting power forward with kore length than Covington has. And only Tucker, Giannis and Millsap are clearly heavier than him. I think RC would do just fine as starting power forward next season.

- Giannis is way longer and stronger.
- Aminu has a better wingspan, standing reach, and plays next to Nurkic.
- Siakam has a better wingspan, standing reach, and plays next to Gasol
- Grant plays next to Steven Adams who is way tougher and stronger than KAT.
- Young plays next to Myles Turner who is a better defender than KAT.
- Milsap is stronger and plays next to a bigger, stronger player in Jokic.
- Morris I concede...he plays next to Horford, who isn't bigger than KAT but is 5X the defender.
- Tobias Harris plays next to Embiid
- Tucker I concede....plays next to Capela who isn't that huge, cut is still better than KAT on defense.

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

Ok - name a better PF to pair with Towns (that we can get) that can beat all those matchups.

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

Here is a side by side photo of Towns and Covington. Covington sure looks bigger and more defined then Towns
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/wolves-draft-day-approach-paints-exciting-picture-how-they-want-playTowns and Covington photo

[Lipoli390]

I think Covington can play some PF depending on matchups. But given KAT's strengths and weaknesses, I think this team needs a good rim-protector next to him. I've always thought that KAT would flourish best if moved to PF paired with a really good defensive, rim-protection center. KAT guards better on the perimeter than in the paint. Offensively, he has such a versatile skill set that needs to put to better use than just posting him up nearly every possession. Heck, he's our best 3-point shooter and an elite one by NBA standards. I'd like to have a good offensive rebounder with KAT so we can use KAT more as a perimeter offensive threat - 3-point shooting and passing.

[Monster]

I think Covington can play some PF depending on matchups. But given KAT's strengths and weaknesses, I think this team needs a good rim-protector next to him. I've always thought that KAT would flourish best if moved to PF paired with a really good defensive, rim-protection center. KAT guards better on the perimeter than in the paint. Offensively, he has such a versatile skill set that needs to put to better use than just posting him up nearly every possession. Heck, he's our best 3-point shooter and an elite one by NBA standards. I'd like to have a good offensive rebounder with KAT so we can use KAT more as a perimeter offensive threat - 3-point shooting and passing.

Towns shouldn't be limited in his role almost regardless of what type of player plays next to him. Having a rim protector means one less shooter on a team that needs shooting. Towns doesn't have to be stuck playing in the post but...if we somehow ever put 4 shooters around him (not easy to do) that would be lethal.

Have we ever played a perimeter type guy next to him defensively? At this point why not try? Honestly the closest thing to that may have been KG. Nobody is gonna argue Towns is some sort of DPOY sleeping giant but it's also fair to wonder about whether schemes has brought out the best of him and the roster. I don't see some awesome rim defender walking through the door right now. Should the Wolves look for one and maybe even sign some guy to maybe be the next Dedmond or Bynes? (they came from the Spurs so..lol) Yes they should. Meanwhile why not try something else? I thought this is what we wanted someone with some new ideas?

Having said all that I'm not convinced Covington will spend 30 or whatever minutes at PF when you go look at what Rosas said. I could see him start and play 15-20 of his minutes there including possibly finishing the game as a small 4 which is something this board and plenty of other people have been clamoring for (and in some cases rightly so) playing a small ball player next to Towns late in the game. Ideally KBD is good enough to play some legit minutes for this team this season. I'm also expecting players minutes to be a little lower across the board than what we have seen in the past. That will give more opportunity for others to make an impact.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think Covington can play some PF depending on matchups. But given KAT's strengths and weaknesses, I think this team needs a good rim-protector next to him. I've always thought that KAT would flourish best if moved to PF paired with a really good defensive, rim-protection center. KAT guards better on the perimeter than in the paint. Offensively, he has such a versatile skill set that needs to put to better use than just posting him up nearly every possession. Heck, he's our best 3-point shooter and an elite one by NBA standards. I'd like to have a good offensive rebounder with KAT so we can use KAT more as a perimeter offensive threat - 3-point shooting and passing.

Towns shouldn't be limited in his role almost regardless of what type of player plays next to him. Having a rim protector means one less shooter on a team that needs shootingHaving a rim protector means one less shooter on a team that needs shooting. Towns doesn't have to be stuck playing in the post but...if we somehow ever put 4 shooters around him (not easy to do) that would be lethal.

Have we ever played a perimeter type guy next to him defensively? At this point why not try? Honestly the closest thing to that may have been KG. Nobody is gonna argue Towns is some sort of DPOY sleeping giant but it's also fair to wonder about whether schemes has brought out the best of him and the roster. I don't see some awesome rim defender walking through the door right now. Should the Wolves look for one and maybe even sign some guy to maybe be the next Dedmond or Bynes? (they came from the Spurs so..lol) Yes they should. Meanwhile why not try something else? I thought this is what we wanted someone with some new ideas?

Having said all that I'm not convinced Covington will spend 30 or whatever minutes at PF when you go look at what Rosas said. I could see him start and play 15-20 of his minutes there including possibly finishing the game as a small 4 which is something this board and plenty of other people have been clamoring for (and in some cases rightly so) playing a small ball player next to Towns late in the game. Ideally KBD is good enough to play some legit minutes for this team this season. I'm also expecting players minutes to be a little lower across the board than what we have seen in the past. That will give more opportunity for others to make an impact.

But to your point, who are these other shooters that help us create this magical 4-out, 1-in spaced out offense? Moving RoCo to the 4 simply means we are playing one more non-shooting wing versus a non-shooting big. Okogie, Wiggins, and Culver don't scare anyone with their 3-point shooting.

I ultimately agree that RoCo playing some 4 at the end of halves makes sense with a lot of matchups. But I still think he should be our starting 3 to begin halves. We need a legit, defensive oriented big next to KAT to start games.

[Monster]

I think Covington can play some PF depending on matchups. But given KAT's strengths and weaknesses, I think this team needs a good rim-protector next to him. I've always thought that KAT would flourish best if moved to PF paired with a really good defensive, rim-protection center. KAT guards better on the perimeter than in the paint. Offensively, he has such a versatile skill set that needs to put to better use than just posting him up nearly every possession. Heck, he's our best 3-point shooter and an elite one by NBA standards. I'd like to have a good offensive rebounder with KAT so we can use KAT more as a perimeter offensive threat - 3-point shooting and passing.

Towns shouldn't be limited in his role almost regardless of what type of player plays next to him. Having a rim protector means one less shooter on a team that needs shootingHaving a rim protector means one less shooter on a team that needs shooting. Towns doesn't have to be stuck playing in the post but...if we somehow ever put 4 shooters around him (not easy to do) that would be lethal.

Have we ever played a perimeter type guy next to him defensively? At this point why not try? Honestly the closest thing to that may have been KG. Nobody is gonna argue Towns is some sort of DPOY sleeping giant but it's also fair to wonder about whether schemes has brought out the best of him and the roster. I don't see some awesome rim defender walking through the door right now. Should the Wolves look for one and maybe even sign some guy to maybe be the next Dedmond or Bynes? (they came from the Spurs so..lol) Yes they should. Meanwhile why not try something else? I thought this is what we wanted someone with some new ideas?

Having said all that I'm not convinced Covington will spend 30 or whatever minutes at PF when you go look at what Rosas said. I could see him start and play 15-20 of his minutes there including possibly finishing the game as a small 4 which is something this board and plenty of other people have been clamoring for (and in some cases rightly so) playing a small ball player next to Towns late in the game. Ideally KBD is good enough to play some legit minutes for this team this season. I'm also expecting players minutes to be a little lower across the board than what we have seen in the past. That will give more opportunity for others to make an impact.

But to your point, who are these other shooters that help us create this magical 4-out, 1-in spaced out offense? Moving RoCo to the 4 simply means we are playing one more non-shooting wing versus a non-shooting big. Okogie, Wiggins, and Culver don't scare anyone with their 3-point shooting.

I ultimately agree that RoCo playing some 4 at the end of halves makes sense with a lot of matchups. But I still think he should be our starting 3 to begin halves. We need a legit, defensive oriented big next to KAT to start games.

Q and Lip just to be clear I'm more arguing the other side of this not disagreeing with your opinion. Like I said I'm probably more in the middle but also open to the Covington at PF experience. IMO you are both making good points.

Q the counterpoint to the non-shooter question of Okogie Culver Wiggins is...are those guys more threats to take and make 3's than a defensive big? Most likely. Dedman is a guy that's extended out to shot corner 3's. That's becoming less of an anomaly but still not the norm. It's probably more likely to get one of your wings to convert them at a decent rate than hope some guy that never shot farther away than MAYBE 15 feet to start hitting 3's in the corner. If you don't feel good about us developing shooters then it seems even less likely to develop one of those guys.

As for the defensive end could you have some benefit to basically having another wing player defending? Is there a scheme that could take advantage of that? I'm more skeptical of the defensive end but the reality is that one way or another the team needs better defensive players on the floor. I'd guess if you had Covington and 2 other wings that were good at defense and were smart in how to play in whatever scheme you put together it would be a basis of at least a league average defense. Remember one of the things the Wolves have been REALLY bad at was giving up the 3. This COULD be a way to combat that weakness. Weren't they bad as a rebounding team last year? Can they get worse? lol

[TheGrey08]

I think Covington can play some PF depending on matchups. But given KAT's strengths and weaknesses, I think this team needs a good rim-protector next to him. I've always thought that KAT would flourish best if moved to PF paired with a really good defensive, rim-protection center. KAT guards better on the perimeter than in the paint. Offensively, he has such a versatile skill set that needs to put to better use than just posting him up nearly every possession. Heck, he's our best 3-point shooter and an elite one by NBA standards. I'd like to have a good offensive rebounder with KAT so we can use KAT more as a perimeter offensive threat - 3-point shooting and passing.

YES. That would also make this team crazy flexible and versatile. They could play pretty much every which way and style. 2 "bigs" with KAT at PF, small ball, 3 lengthy defensive wings with KAT + PG, dual PGs, you names it.. especially if they get Russell.

C Rim protector, KAT, backup big
PF KAT, Gibson?, Cov, KBD
SF Cov, Wigs?, Culver, KBD
SG Wigs?, Okogie, Culver, Nowell
PG Russell?, Tyus/Rose?, Nowell

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

The main problem I see with Covington at the 4 is just going to be our issues rebounding. We already had rebounding issues outside of KAT with Gibson playing the 4. Now we are getting smaller and shifting Wiggins to the 3 where his rebounding is a problem and his hands are so bad he's not gonna get much better if at all at getting boards. Everyone has to rebound when you play small and I don't think we have the personnel to do that well. You have to be long, strong and have good hands when you play small and we don't fit that mold.