Wolves offseason thread

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I like Belly's ability to hit the 3, but let's be honest, the number 3 is the amount of minutes he played in game 4. You can't pay a guy who has trouble getting on the floor during the playoffs.

As much as I like the progress Belly made last year you absolutely can't pay him and really don't want him back because come playoff time he's a non difference maker. We need defenders first and foremost because guys that can make and want to take shots on this team are already in place. Stellar defense is not in place, guys like T. Jones, J. Crawford, & Belly that lacked defense and didn't make up for it on the other end enough need to be replaced with defenders. I hope to see J. Patton stay healthy and make a big jump in year two but not holding my breath on him or the front office adding good defenders :(

Personally I think this is a bit harsh but even though I'm a big fan of Belly he just hasn't been consistent enough to be a guy you can count on part of that is due to some injuries. If you can bring him back at the right number it's a no brainer. He is the type of guy that can help this team as a versatile guy that can hit the 3. IMO he can play enough D in the playoffs. I hope he is a guy no team really priotizes and we can bring him back for a decent number even if it's just a 1 year deal.

Honestly I just think Belly has been misplayed. For whatever reason he's always on the hockey shift 2nd unit when really he and Tyus need some run with Butler, Wiggins and Towns as support pieces who move the ball. He's a supporting piece, but seems to get very little time with the actual good players he can support. He needs to be more aggressive with his shot, but at the same time he's never going to be a guy who looks for his offense first. Put him next to the guys who will and just give him the green light to shoot it when he's open. His injury history sucks but at the same time he's the type of guy the league is looking for as a combo forward and he's been on some of our best defensive units in the past. I would be willing to go as high as 8 million for him and give him a larger role.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, Bjelly may need to be sacrificed if the asking price is too high. I like him, but he isn't assertive enough to be a big difference maker. He is one of the few reliable 3-point shooters we've got, but we can't overpay for him just because of our skill shortage in that area. Trades and other free agent signings need to be explored.

As for Tyus, his name is all over the place when you go back and look at our top producing lineups. He's not a catalyst in terms of scoring, but he just seems to make the right decision all the time, on both ends of the court. Great, inexpensive complimentary piece.

[Tactical unit]

Tyus looked good in place of Jeff during an injury stint but what I am saying is come playoff time Tyus will be exposed for his lack of defense. Thibs should also be heavily evaluated / probably fired this year because he was supposed to bring this team defense and that hasn't happened. He had defense with BOS K. Perkins in his prime, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo and T. Allen off the bench was it the players or the coach? In CHI he was more impressive but Butler, Gibson, Noah, L. Deng, ext. again was it the players or the coach?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Tyus looked good in place of Jeff during an injury stint but what I am saying is come playoff time Tyus will be exposed for his lack of defense. Thibs should also be heavily evaluated / probably fired this year because he was supposed to bring this team defense and that hasn't happened. He had defense with BOS K. Perkins in his prime, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo and T. Allen off the bench was it the players or the coach? In CHI he was more impressive but Butler, Gibson, Noah, L. Deng, ext. again was it the players or the coach?

It's almost always a combination of the two -- players and coach. However, if the players don't buy into the system or aren't mentally grasping schemes, then the coaching impact is going to be limited or nonexistent. I think in our case, both -- players and coach -- are at fault and perhaps the influx of different players can help with the overall issue. For instance, replacing a Jamal Crawford with an Avery Bradley, drafting a wing with a defense-first mindset such as a Khyri Thomas, Troy Brown and/or Rawle Alkins, signing/trading for an athletic, scrappy big like Montrezl Harrell. These switches can help change the tide. It'd also help if our two young stars-to-be improved their defensive play as well.

[Monster]

I like Belly's ability to hit the 3, but let's be honest, the number 3 is the amount of minutes he played in game 4. You can't pay a guy who has trouble getting on the floor during the playoffs.

As much as I like the progress Belly made last year you absolutely can't pay him and really don't want him back because come playoff time he's a non difference maker. We need defenders first and foremost because guys that can make and want to take shots on this team are already in place. Stellar defense is not in place, guys like T. Jones, J. Crawford, & Belly that lacked defense and didn't make up for it on the other end enough need to be replaced with defenders. I hope to see J. Patton stay healthy and make a big jump in year two but not holding my breath on him or the front office adding good defenders :(

Personally I think this is a bit harsh but even though I'm a big fan of Belly he just hasn't been consistent enough to be a guy you can count on part of that is due to some injuries. If you can bring him back at the right number it's a no brainer. He is the type of guy that can help this team as a versatile guy that can hit the 3. IMO he can play enough D in the playoffs. I hope he is a guy no team really priotizes and we can bring him back for a decent number even if it's just a 1 year deal.

Honestly I just think Belly has been misplayed. For whatever reason he's always on the hockey shift 2nd unit when really he and Tyus need some run with Butler, Wiggins and Towns as support pieces who move the ball. He's a supporting piece, but seems to get very little time with the actual good players he can support. He needs to be more aggressive with his shot, but at the same time he's never going to be a guy who looks for his offense first. Put him next to the guys who will and just give him the green light to shoot it when he's open. His injury history sucks but at the same time he's the type of guy the league is looking for as a combo forward and he's been on some of our best defensive units in the past. I would be willing to go as high as 8 million for him and give him a larger role.

In my mind it's some of both. He was playing well for a good stretch later in the season filling in for Butler and then he had a stretch of like 3 games where he basically disappeared. Was he tired from too many minutes? Maybe. Regardless he has actually played well under Thibs and his defense has been a pleasant part of his game. I think 8 million is gonna be too much for him because of his inconsistency age and injury history. I agree tha 8 million is probably the right top end number though. They might have to pay the money to keep him because they are limited in other ways to bring in talent. He is too versatile not to have a bit more of a role in the regular rotation if he is brought back.

[Monster]

Tyus looked good in place of Jeff during an injury stint but what I am saying is come playoff time Tyus will be exposed for his lack of defense. Thibs should also be heavily evaluated / probably fired this year because he was supposed to bring this team defense and that hasn't happened. He had defense with BOS K. Perkins in his prime, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo and T. Allen off the bench was it the players or the coach? In CHI he was more impressive but Butler, Gibson, Noah, L. Deng, ext. again was it the players or the coach?

It's almost always a combination of the two -- players and coach. However, if the players don't buy into the system or aren't mentally grasping schemes, then the coaching impact is going to be limited or nonexistent. I think in our case, both -- players and coach -- are at fault and perhaps the influx of different players can help with the overall issue. For instance, replacing a Jamal Crawford with an Avery Bradley, drafting a wing with a defense-first mindset such as a Khyri Thomas, Troy Brown and/or Rawle Alkins, signing/trading for an athletic, scrappy big like Montrezl Harrell. These switches can help change the tide. It'd also help if our two young stars-to-be improved their defensive play as well.

Tyus defense in the playoffs didn't look good at least a couple games. Who was he going against? He was a 21 year old his first go around inthe playoffs agains the #1 overall seed. Also it's worth mentioning that he missed the last game of the series with knee soreness. How long had that been bothering him? I'm not really that concerned about Tyus defense.

Cam pretty much laid it out what the Wolves need to do. Look at what Houston did last offseason. They added tough defensive minded players to their roster. Without CP3 they put up a hell of a fight in most of those last 2 games. Previous Houston teams would have been completely embarrassed in both. PJ Tucker exceeded my expectations of what I thought he would bring them in the playoffs when he signed there.

[Tactical unit]

I will say Tyus is one of the most instinctual steal artist in the game, so maybe I shouldn't rag on him that much but his man defense. Can it really get up to an acceptable level? Will they not try to put him in pick and roll once the switch comes attack him relentlessly?

[Tactical unit]

Tyus looked good in place of Jeff during an injury stint but what I am saying is come playoff time Tyus will be exposed for his lack of defense. Thibs should also be heavily evaluated / probably fired this year because he was supposed to bring this team defense and that hasn't happened. He had defense with BOS K. Perkins in his prime, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo and T. Allen off the bench was it the players or the coach? In CHI he was more impressive but Butler, Gibson, Noah, L. Deng, ext. again was it the players or the coach?

It's almost always a combination of the two -- players and coach. However, if the players don't buy into the system or aren't mentally grasping schemes, then the coaching impact is going to be limited or nonexistent. I think in our case, both -- players and coach -- are at fault and perhaps the influx of different players can help with the overall issue. For instance, replacing a Jamal Crawford with an Avery Bradley, drafting a wing with a defense-first mindset such as a Khyri Thomas, Troy Brown and/or Rawle Alkins, signing/trading for an athletic, scrappy big like Montrezl Harrell. These switches can help change the tide. It'd also help if our two young stars-to-be improved their defensive play as well.

Seeing big steps in Wiggins & Towns in team defense is exactly what is needed!

In alphabetical order (not rank order) here are the free agents that I would like us to go after that we might have a chance in landing.

A. Bradley (Love the athleticism and grit)
M. Belinelli (3 Ball corner pocket this guy out did JJ Reddick last year in the playoffs in my mind)
KCP (would he fit the system well?)
E. Davis (I think this guy is underacted every time I watch him play)
D. Dedmon (Solid big who has gotten better each of the last two years in my opinion)
M. Harrell (Grit has always been his game)
L. Mabah a Moute (I would love to see him back in MN can switch and defend on all players)
N. Noe (Still a young player is there untapped potential?)
K. O'Quinn (Dude just does work down low very fun player to watch)
R. Rondo (Is a headcase the right move? Probably not but he would add toughness and length that I desire)

[Monster]

I will say Tyus is one of the most instinctual steal artist in the game, so maybe I shouldn't rag on him that much but his man defense. Can it really get up to an acceptable level? Will they not try to put him in pick and roll once the switch comes attack him relentlessly?

Sure. On the other hand you can say that about about a lot of teams PGs right? I mean Steph isnt a complete liability defensively (obviously has a huge value on the offensive end) and he isn't much more imposing physically. He puts up enough of a fight to either not get killed every time or hold up long enough to have someone come and help. Sure it's a concern but if Tyus is valuable enough on offense (becomes a better shooter and scorer) to be out there he seems smart enough and likely gritty enough to not get completely exploited. It's not like we are talking about Isaiah Thomas here Tyus is at worst 2 inches shorter than many PGs. He is less than 2 inches shorter that Corey Joseph who plays as a combo guard and is and has been an interesting comp to Tyus. Sometimes we can get a little too concerned about physical measurements and stuff. Remember Curry was a raptor arm guy skinny not athletic enough etc. Looking at his measurements when you consider their wingspans Tyus basically has the same amount of length and was heavier at the time he was drafted and was a few years younger. Steph really strengthened his base Tyus has plenty of time to get stronger which he looked that way this year to me. He turned 22 a few days ago. There can be plenty of physical development ahead for him. To me defense is more about the mental aspect and having some sort of innate ability on that end than the physical aspect. Obviously having better physical gifts help but if you don't have them it's not the end of the world either.

[bleedspeed]

I like this list. I think Okafor is a buy low guy and Towns would excel not being the C. Mario Hezonja seems like a guy that needs minutes. If we didn't have Thibs as a coach and GM I think we would take a risk on them.

https://www.hothothoops.com/2018/6/12/17441950/free-agent-miami-heat-offseason-2018-hezonja-belinelli-okafor-nba