Who will benefit most from KG's mentorship?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

There are lots of ways KG can help mentor and impact the team. My hope is that he does the following:

1A. Acknowledge and support Ricky Rubio as the clear leader of the team. This is Ricky's team now.

1B. By deferring to Rubio, everyone else will fall line. When you have a HOFer vet listening and supporting the young team leader, everyone will follow his lead.

2. Lead by example: Give that trademark intensity, preparation and competitiveness that he's always demonstrated.

3. Carry a big stick, but use it judiciously. As Alex said, no one wants a drill sergeant in their ear. It gets old fast and it doesn't work effectively for everyone. On the other hand, it probably makes sense for him to speak up and get in someone's face occasionally.

4. Pick and roll defense. If there is one area this team sorely needs help on, it's communicating on PnR defense. Whatever the coaching staff has done has either not sunk in or is worthless. Please KG, teach these guys how it's done!

5. Post defense. KG isn't built like a brick shithouse, yet has done quite well battling in the paint for many years. Guys on the skinny side like Dieng and Payne can learn a ton from how KG establishes and maintains good defensive position in the paint.

I honestly don't think Wiggins needs a lot of mentoring from KG. His Dad was an NBA player and he is surrounded by a very strong support system. He's already extremely well grounded. He'll never thump his chest and trash talk - that's not who he is. The best thing KG can do with Wiggins is to give him room to grow in his own way.

[Lipoli390]

There are lots of ways KG can help mentor and impact the team. My hope is that he does the following:

1A. Acknowledge and support Ricky Rubio as the clear leader of the team. This is Ricky's team now.

1B. By deferring to Rubio, everyone else will fall line. When you have a HOFer vet listening and supporting the young team leader, everyone will follow his lead.

2. Lead by example: Give that trademark intensity, preparation and competitiveness that he's always demonstrated.

3. Carry a big stick, but use it judiciously. As Alex said, no one wants a drill sergeant in their ear. It gets old fast and it doesn't work effectively for everyone. On the other hand, it probably makes sense for him to speak up and get in someone's face occasionally.

4. Pick and roll defense. If there is one area this team sorely needs help on, it's communicating on PnR defense. Whatever the coaching staff has done has either not sunk in or is worthless. Please KG, teach these guys how it's done!

5. Post defense. KG isn't built like a brick shithouse, yet has done quite well battling in the paint for many years. Guys on the skinny side like Dieng and Payne can learn a ton from how KG establishes and maintains good defensive position in the paint.

I honestly don't think Wiggins needs a lot of mentoring from KG. His Dad was an NBA player and he is surrounded by a very strong support system. He's already extremely well grounded. He'll never thump his chest and trash talk - that's not who he is. The best thing KG can do with Wiggins is to give him room to grow in his own way.

Great post, Q!! I agree and hope KG does everything on your list.

[Porckchop]

There are lots of ways KG can help mentor and impact the team. My hope is that he does the following:

1A. Acknowledge and support Ricky Rubio as the clear leader of the team. This is Ricky's team now.

1B. By deferring to Rubio, everyone else will fall line. When you have a HOFer vet listening and supporting the young team leader, everyone will follow his lead.

2. Lead by example: Give that trademark intensity, preparation and competitiveness that he's always demonstrated.

3. Carry a big stick, but use it judiciously. As Alex said, no one wants a drill sergeant in their ear. It gets old fast and it doesn't work effectively for everyone. On the other hand, it probably makes sense for him to speak up and get in someone's face occasionally.

4. Pick and roll defense. If there is one area this team sorely needs help on, it's communicating on PnR defense. Whatever the coaching staff has done has either not sunk in or is worthless. Please KG, teach these guys how it's done!

5. Post defense. KG isn't built like a brick shithouse, yet has done quite well battling in the paint for many years. Guys on the skinny side like Dieng and Payne can learn a ton from how KG establishes and maintains good defensive position in the paint.

I honestly don't think Wiggins needs a lot of mentoring from KG. His Dad was an NBA player and he is surrounded by a very strong support system. He's already extremely well grounded. He'll never thump his chest and trash talk - that's not who he is. The best thing KG can do with Wiggins is to give him room to grow in his own way.

Great post, Q!! I agree and hope KG does everything on your list.

Yep, u nailed it Q. And I have confidence he can do those things.. I'd like to add that off the court KG has never gotten himself in the kind of trouble that becomes a distraction to the team. Some may say hes an asshole but even in his prime he found a way to ward off to much media attention on himself . Id like to see him show these guys how to handle the attention and fame that comes with the job ..
And yes guys I have no doubts that KG made his share off mistakes that u may Have more knowledge of then myself, but that's the point . Its never been bad enough to roll out on the bottom line on ESPN !

[60WinTim]

Did anyone catch the Funkadelic today? It played right at 3:00 on the Thursday Barreiro show.

Danny Boy asked this polls' question: who will receive the most influence from KG's presence?

Flip's answer was "a bunch", and he went on to detail 3 players who will benefit.

1) Ricky Rubio - leadership.
2) Wiggins - will get more "dawg" in him, be fierce more often.
3) Payne - long and athletic like KG, will learn more about playing PF (he mentioned Dieng, too).

[Tactical unit]

I guess Wiggins?
"He made everybody go harder, work harder," said rookie Andrew Wiggins, who has averaged 23.0 points in the last three games. "It rubs off."

To all that didn't see the point in trading for KG, its an "old school" move that Flip pulled off that effects the whole team. Its an investment in bringing a teacher and a role model for the kids to learn from.

[bleedspeed]

I am saying LaVine after the first game. He has the most upside on the team and I could see how he was buying into KG already as they talked on the bench. He is going to learn to channel his skill and energy into the game from KG. You could see it in how he played. How he was pissed when Martin didn't give up the ball on a 2 on 1 and then missed the lay in. He wanted the ball and he would have flushed it home.

I hope he gets more minutes at SG next to Rubio.

[Tactical unit]

I think Dieng and KG in the off season is going to have the biggest impact but that is just a hunch. The best part is how he is not going to only improve one guy, all of them will improve with KG being around. Lets not down play Sam Mitchell either, you can tell he is committed and having fun with these guys even though our record is junk.

@BS177 I'm calling BS (LOL see what I did there) on LaVine having the most upside. Wiggins has more upside though LaVine ain't far behind, exciting future we have as Wolves fans.....FINALLY!!!!!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I think flip nailed the answer..."a bunch" of players are going to benefit from playing next to a HOFer who goes 100% every second he's on the court.

Has a player ever been so universally praised after scoring 5 points in a game?

[Tactical unit]

I think flip nailed the answer..."a bunch" of players are going to benefit from playing next to a HOFer who goes 100% every second he's on the court.

Has a player ever been so universally praised after scoring 5 points in a game?

People can point at stats for KG and Rubio to down play them but there team presence is real and improves the whole team.

[bleedspeed]

@BS177 I'm calling BS (LOL see what I did there) on LaVine having the most upside. Wiggins has more upside though LaVine ain't far behind, exciting future we have as Wolves fans.....FINALLY!!!!!

It is not BS. LaVine has more room to grow at this point. Wiggin's is certainly more proven, but I think LaVine upside might be higher due attitude, handle, etc. I like Wiggin's think he is a quiet star. LaVine shows more personality.