TD retires now it is KG's turn

[bleedspeed]

Thoughts

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Since we have the cap room and no current prospects for using it, my preference would be that KG play one more year...PROVIDED he can contribute something and not just take up roster space. After all, he was far and away our best plus/minus player before he got hurt last year...that's a real, measurable benefit- not intangible mentoring. My dream for this year would be to have KG on the court for 15 minutes a game like he was early last year. His role as a coach on the court can't be overestimated, and his defensive skills and knowledge of Thibs' system would be invaluable in setting a defensive tone.

But if he is still hurt and can't go, the best solution for both parties is to negotiate a buyout.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

No need for him to retire. We don't need the cap space or the roster spot. Let him have his farewell tour.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Since we have the cap room and no current prospects for using it, my preference would be that KG play one more year...PROVIDED he can contribute something and not just take up roster space. After all, he was far and away our best plus/minus player before he got hurt last year...that's a real, measurable benefit- not intangible mentoring. My dream for this year would be to have KG on the court for 15 minutes a game like he was early last year. His role as a coach on the court can't be overestimated, and his defensive skills and knowledge of Thibs' system would be invaluable in setting a defensive tone.

But if he is still hurt and can't go, the best solution for both parties is to negotiate a buyout.

Yes, agree that he needs to be healthy enough to actually play. We need a 5th big that can replace Payne's minutes (who would move to being our 6th big and hopefully hardly ever see game action). But the whole "I have to start games" thing needs to end. KAT, Dieng, Bjelica, and Aldrich all have more to offer than KG at this point.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I've always grouped Duncan, Bryant, Garnett and Nowitzki in the same group... for obvious reasons.

Considering Duncan and Bryant have had the more celebrated legacies... could their departures from the game be any more different?

Or... fitting?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I certainly don't think that he has to start, Q, but I would argue that is a preferable role for him if he is anywhere near as mobile and healthy as he was at the beginning of last year (if not, he needs to go). I believe our best defensive lineup last year was the starting lineup of KAT/KG/Tay/Wig/Ricky, and replacing Tay with Zach makes that lineup more offensively formidable. And as I mentioned before, it's difficult to argue against KG's team-leading plus/minus (only Rubio was even close to him). And from an eye test perspective, it seemed to me that the ball moved better on offense and the team rotated better on defense when KG was on the court. I'm a big fan of quick starts in games, and if KG gives us a better chance to get off to a quick start, I would prefer to see him in that role.

Ultimately I'll trust Thibs to use a healthy KG as he deems best. But knowing his love for good defense and his seeming lack of love for the mistakes of young players, I would think he would prefer starting out halves with a veteran like KG on the court.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Here's my issue with that LST....Last 4 seasons # of games played for KG: 68, 54, 47, and 38. What makes you think he can even play in half the games this year based on that track record and being one year older? So now we start him in halves knowing that it's just a matter of time before he is hurt and can't play again.

What we did last year was fine coming off a horrific 14-15 campaign and the need to instill some grown-ups in the rotation. But I feel like we're past that stage now. His value will come in training camp, practices, and basically being the team's highest paid assistant coach, who can occasionally check into a game for a 5-minute stint now and then.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Well done Big Fundamental. You did it the right way, I hated your constant foul complaining but your loyalty and solid play was impressive all these years. You didn't need a farewell tour either.

Might as well keep KG now, we could use his expiring contract in a trade later this year if one presents itself.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I'm kind of surprised that there's any opposition to keeping KG on the roster, or even floating the idea of trading him away. No, we cant count on him for the whole season or for many minutes, and I'd be fine with not starting him like last year, but the guy actually was pretty effective when he did play last year. We have to pay his salary anyway since we're still under the minimum. And more importantly, we've got 15 roster spots. Thibs probably will have 9-10 rotation players. So that's 5-6 insurance guys. Why not give one of those spots to the greatest player in Wolves history, a guy who is passionate about the game, a connection to the last great period in our history, a guy who was the cornerstone of Thibs' defense in Boston, a guy who can effectively act as a player-coach and connect with the other players in a way a coach can't? Plus, the guy could become the face of an ownership group that would keep the team in Minnesota. That's really valuable, and I'm really hoping he comes back for another year.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

KG has to start or he can't play. It takes a lot of time and energy to get him physically ready to play every game. He physically can't cool down from the warm up and come in the game. That's why he would never come back in after his stints in the 1st and 3rd quarters. I think he's a guy you start for 5-8 minutes to help us get off to a good start and then he's done for the game. No that's not worth 8 million dollars, but that's the pretty much all he can give you. You might be able to get him 5-8 minutes at the start of the 3rd quarter, but that's it. The dude wears a snow suit of towels on the sideline to try to stay warm. He can't come off the bench.