khans2k5 wrote:Keep in mind that KG only has a year, maybe two left. When he leaves that will leave us with 3 natural PF's left on the roster in AB, Payne and Bjelica and we'd have 2 guys who could fill time there in Dieng and Towns if needed. Payne is barely above a minimum level salary so there's no reason to deal him just to clear a log jam. I would expect Dieng to be the more likely piece to be traded as he is in line to get paid sooner than any of our other bugs, but I don't see anyone getting dealt this year. Once his rookie deal is up he's gonna command an 8 figure deal and I think it comes down to him or Pek that would have to go. We can't have 2 backup C's making 8 figures.
Trading Dieng would be idiotic for what we likely would get back in return. I view him as one of our young core and he fits with the other pieces we have. Given how well he's played this summer, he just might be one of our most improved players. The guys who are expendable are AB, Payne and the old guys once their mentorship is no longer needed.
Camden0916 wrote:True or false: We'll see Tayshaun Prince at PF before Anthony Bennett or Adreian Payne.
I would hope that's a big time false. Prince really shouldn't ever see the floor unless Wiggins or Bazz get hurt.
Not to mention he only weighs 215...a steady wind can knock him over!
I see two scenarios under which Prince sees the floor. If either Muhammad or Wiggins gets injured, or perhaps to shake things up defensively (or to protect a lead late in the game) paired with Wiggins as the other wing.
I think Cam brings up a good point with Prince at PF. I think it's possible depending on matchups especially if Flip wants to go to a player he can count on. At this point I can't reasonably expect either AB or Payne to be counted on. I do actually have hope both can be worthwhile basketball players this year but I think Prince can play and maybe as a small ball PF could make sense. If Bud did it last year with decent results I am sure Prince can do it. With Prince get a shot at PF OVER AB it Payne? Idk that's up to those guys lets hope they show some solid improvement over last year.
Camden0916 wrote:True or false: We'll see Tayshaun Prince at PF before Anthony Bennett or Adreian Payne.
I would hope that's a big time false. Prince really shouldn't ever see the floor unless Wiggins or Bazz get hurt.
Not to mention he only weighs 215...a steady wind can knock him over!
I see two scenarios under which Prince sees the floor. If either Muhammad or Wiggins gets injured, or perhaps to shake things up defensively (or to protect a lead late in the game) paired with Wiggins as the other wing.
I think Flip likes what Prince offers. When Flip wants to insert a guy whose more defensive minded Prince will get playing time. Frankly, I want to see Bazz earn his minutes and give the same kind of effort on defense as he does on offense. I expect some kind of time sharing arrangement until then.
Dieng ain't going anywhere. Next year he will still be cheap the following year is when we would have to pay him and if he wanted to stay and we had to wanted to pay him because he was worth it that's fine. Pek makes less than 12 million that year and then he is off the books. We are getting ahead of ourselves though.
The reality is that worst case scenario is the Wolves can just waive Rudez and keep Bennett. At this point that's what I see happening unless a team trades for Rudez. The more I think about it adding Prince makes it easier to let a guy like Rudez go (even though 3 point shooting is a need) to keep Bennett who may still show he has some worth.
khans2k5 wrote:Keep in mind that KG only has a year, maybe two left. When he leaves that will leave us with 3 natural PF's left on the roster in AB, Payne and Bjelica and we'd have 2 guys who could fill time there in Dieng and Towns if needed. Payne is barely above a minimum level salary so there's no reason to deal him just to clear a log jam. I would expect Dieng to be the more likely piece to be traded as he is in line to get paid sooner than any of our other bugs, but I don't see anyone getting dealt this year. Once his rookie deal is up he's gonna command an 8 figure deal and I think it comes down to him or Pek that would have to go. We can't have 2 backup C's making 8 figures.
Trading Dieng would be idiotic for what we likely would get back in return. I view him as one of our young core and he fits with the other pieces we have. Given how well he's played this summer, he just might be one of our most improved players. The guys who are expendable are AB, Payne and the old guys once their mentorship is no longer needed.
The expendable guys you mention have no trade value. Dieng does and he's going to get paid sooner. That's why I think he's more likely to be dealt than the other 2. In the end I don't think anyone goes, but there's no point trading any player who has no trade value. Dieng can at least bring something of value back.
khans2k5 wrote:Keep in mind that KG only has a year, maybe two left. When he leaves that will leave us with 3 natural PF's left on the roster in AB, Payne and Bjelica and we'd have 2 guys who could fill time there in Dieng and Towns if needed. Payne is barely above a minimum level salary so there's no reason to deal him just to clear a log jam. I would expect Dieng to be the more likely piece to be traded as he is in line to get paid sooner than any of our other bugs, but I don't see anyone getting dealt this year. Once his rookie deal is up he's gonna command an 8 figure deal and I think it comes down to him or Pek that would have to go. We can't have 2 backup C's making 8 figures.
Trading Dieng would be idiotic for what we likely would get back in return. I view him as one of our young core and he fits with the other pieces we have. Given how well he's played this summer, he just might be one of our most improved players. The guys who are expendable are AB, Payne and the old guys once their mentorship is no longer needed.
The expendable guys you mention have no trade value. Dieng does and he's going to get paid sooner. That's why I think he's more likely to be dealt than the other 2. In the end I don't think anyone goes, but there's no point trading any player who has no trade value. Dieng can at least bring something of value back.
I don't see the logic in what you are suggesting. Dieng isn't pulling a Kevin Love and threatening to bolt. He's valuable and I suspect we'll offer him a fair amount when the time comes. By the time he's off his rookie contract, we'll be out of the Pek deal and probably also out of the KG, AB and Martin contracts and the salary cap is going up in a big way. We can afford to pay Dieng when the time comes. This is a losing mentality to trade away players years before their rookie contract is up in fear of losing them. I guess under this logic, we should trade away Bazz and Zach too.
I think the potential argument is that Dieng might not be the player worth what he'll command when the time is here to pay him, if that makes sense. That's why trading him would make sense if the return was fair rather than letting him get a chance to have other teams throw money at him in free agency. It all comes down to two things:
1. How much has Dieng progressed on both ends of the floor after this season?
2. What do you think Dieng's future role on this team is?
I think he's a very good big off the bench capable of spot-starting, but not the guy you expect to help carry your starting unit for 82 games. He could force me to change my opinion this year, but I have a whole season to watch before that happens.
Dieng is a solid rotation player who is only entering his 3rd NBA season and is improving and on a very cheap contract and fits our needs. These are the type of players that teams should covet not trade away. Nobody is going to offer us an all star player for him, so I suspect he'll be here for quit a while.
