Wolves at Grizz with Rubio - GDT

[Monster]

When reading some of these posts it hit me--what player on this roster can you say "I know what I will get out of that guy if he plays 20-30mpg." There isn't anyone because the guys that are legit are either old (KG) or likely to be injured Martin. So basically the ENTIRE roster is made up of question marks of one fashion or another. 6 players are brand new to the team and 3 are rookies. 2 other players are mid season additions from last year. Bazz is the third highest in tenure on the team behind Pek and Rubio (no I am not counting KG's previous time).

Let that all sink in. This coaching staff (and the players) has their work cut out for them both trying to develop guys and just putting a team out there on the floor.

[Porckchop]

Sheesh guys usually it takes till about game 25 before u change your minds on this team. I'm a lil suprised by the negativity on here already.

[Carlos Danger]

When reading some of these posts it hit me--what player on this roster can you say "I know what I will get out of that guy if he plays 20-30mpg." There isn't anyone because the guys that are legit are either old (KG) or likely to be injured Martin. So basically the ENTIRE roster is made up of question marks of one fashion or another. 6 players are brand new to the team and 3 are rookies. 2 other players are mid season additions from last year. Bazz is the third highest in tenure on the team behind Pek and Rubio (no I am not counting KG's previous time).

Let that all sink in. This coaching staff (and the players) has their work cut out for them both trying to develop guys and just putting a team out there on the floor.

Bingo Monster. That's why I have a tough time with the line of thinking of "don't worry, it's just year two of rebuild - everything is on schedule". Not only do we not have any certain building blocks, we don't have a coach! If guys like Wiggins, LaVine, Towns, Bazz etc. take steps backwards, there is no rebuild. Instead, we'll be back in limbo. Will that be the end of the world? No - of course not. But it sure will suck to grind out another year like last year.

I'm generally an optimist, but the Flip situation just put a huge cloud over things. Obviously I feel for him and his family. But now with Sam in charge, I'm not sure of the direction anymore. For those hoping for a year of development, can Sam really afford to tank a year the same way Flip could? I don't think so. Sam's interim coach right now. He's gotta show something to keep his job or add something to his resume for other teams doesn't he? I mean, I'm ok with that. But I'm just saying I can't see him having the same protection as Flip last year if this team goes for 17 wins. I'm sick of pre-season already and want to see what this team looks like for real!

[bleedspeed]

The hard things is I would want to develop players and clear cap. It would be nice to have a bunch of cap room before LaVine or Wiggins is extending so you can add parts. Players like Dieng don't help this team go anywhere. Hopefully Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine all look like they can become top 10 at their position and then we can sign another guy like the Bucks did with Monroe. That would be the best things to happen to this team. I don't think we are managing the cap well enough to do that though.

And if we are lucky in the lottery again this year. Ben Simmons would be perfect here.

[Monster]

When reading some of these posts it hit me--what player on this roster can you say "I know what I will get out of that guy if he plays 20-30mpg." There isn't anyone because the guys that are legit are either old (KG) or likely to be injured Martin. So basically the ENTIRE roster is made up of question marks of one fashion or another. 6 players are brand new to the team and 3 are rookies. 2 other players are mid season additions from last year. Bazz is the third highest in tenure on the team behind Pek and Rubio (no I am not counting KG's previous time).

Let that all sink in. This coaching staff (and the players) has their work cut out for them both trying to develop guys and just putting a team out there on the floor.

Bingo Monster. That's why I have a tough time with the line of thinking of "don't worry, it's just year two of rebuild - everything is on schedule". Not only do we not have any certain building blocks, we don't have a coach! If guys like Wiggins, LaVine, Towns, Bazz etc. take steps backwards, there is no rebuild. Instead, we'll be back in limbo. Will that be the end of the world? No - of course not. But it sure will suck to grind out another year like last year.

I'm generally an optimist, but the Flip situation just put a huge cloud over things. Obviously I feel for him and his family. But now with Sam in charge, I'm not sure of the direction anymore. For those hoping for a year of development, can Sam really afford to tank a year the same way Flip could? I don't think so. Sam's interim coach right now. He's gotta show something to keep his job or add something to his resume for other teams doesn't he? I mean, I'm ok with that. But I'm just saying I can't see him having the same protection as Flip last year if this team goes for 17 wins. I'm sick of pre-season already and want to see what this team looks like for real!

I don't think Mitchell is all that concerned with his job security. Mitchell said his job is to develop talent and it could be at the expense of a future career as a head coach and I don't see him as a guy going to feed people a line. He has KG here and this is the franchise he has the most ties too. Glen is supportive of him. Basically my point is Mitchell is doing this franchise a favor by taking one. For the team coaching this bunch somewhat like poor Byron Scott is over there with the Lakers (another coaching staff that's probably not much better than what we have here and I like Scott) except Mitchell doesn't have cranky Kobe and ridiculous expectations to live up to. Sure Sam also likely getting some sort of a shot at the job full time at the same time and the thing he need to do is get the young guys playing well. He has said it numerous times that old vets won't be here years from now. He has said he wants to play the young guys. I am sure that's going to happen a lot. I also think you might see a couple night in a row where a guy a few minutes while a vet does their thing showing the young player how it's done and giving them a mental break of sorts. Fans are likely gonna be plenty frustrated by a lot of stuff this year. Be ready.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I know it's just pre-season, but man, Bobby Portis has looked great. For some unknown reason, he slipped down to No. 22 in this summer's draft! Keep in mind that I had this guy in my top-10 and most had him somewhere around 14-18, but the Bulls continue getting good players in the late first. Jimmy Butler was once the 30th overall pick too!

[Monster]

I know it's just pre-season, but man, Bobby Portis has looked great. For some unknown reason, he slipped down to No. 22 in this summer's draft! Keep in mind that I had this guy in my top-10 and most had him somewhere around 14-18, but the Bulls continue getting good players in the late first. Jimmy Butler was once the 30th overall pick too!

You got me on the Portis band wagon before the draft and Bleed posted he is willing to trade Dieng and Martin for him in another thread. He would have been a fantastic guy to get in a trade up.

[Lipoli390]

This teams biggest issue is they have no long-term plan, or at least are incapable of sticking to it. You can't build or rebuild a team in one and a half seasons, and that is what they have tried for the last decade. Bringing Adelman in was a bigger mistake than Rambis imo. We settled for a .500 ceiling team, rather than waiting it out a season or two longer and finishing the rebuild. Flip screwed up last season as well having no patience when giving up a first for Young, and then compounded the problem with the "Pain deal".

I realize that Zach is struggling, but Sam was clear that starting SG was something that could change. I think it was a motivating tool that Sam used, and nothing more.

Wiggins (as well as Zach) were posting significant numbers at the end of last season, and there is no reason not to believe that will be the case again this season. I think we are getting way too picky on some of our young guys. Based on preseason results I guess we would say Jimmy Butler isn't a starter either because he is shooting 32%, totaling 10pts in 25 minutes.

KAT has been very impressive, and has blown me away with his aggressiveness offensively. He, more than any #1 pick I have seen in the last five years, looks the part of a future superstar.

If I see Rudez getting 10-15 minutes opening night, I will start to worry more. My only concern right now is with our health.

You nailed it, SJM! Flip's trade for Thad was the product of Flip's refusal to fully accept that the Love trade put this team in year 1 of a full rebuild. Everyone, from fans on up through the Wolves front office execs and ownership have to come to terms with the fact that this franchise is just entering the second year of a complete rebuild. The actions of our front office and ownership should consistently reflect that reality. In other words, as you suggested, they need to put a long-term plan in place and stick to it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'd like to eliminate the term "rebuild" from this site. When it comes to the Wolves, only "re-re-rebuild" should be used. Although, I'd be fine with "re-re-re-rebuild" as well.

[TheFuture]

The hard things is I would want to develop players and clear cap. It would be nice to have a bunch of cap room before LaVine or Wiggins is extending so you can add parts. Players like Dieng don't help this team go anywhere. Hopefully Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine all look like they can become top 10 at their position and then we can sign another guy like the Bucks did with Monroe. That would be the best things to happen to this team. I don't think we are managing the cap well enough to do that though.

And if we are lucky in the lottery again this year. Ben Simmons would be perfect here.

This is just homerism to me. So we're only content if we have 3 top 10 players at their positions plus a signing of a top 10-20 player at another position??

Dieng does nothing for this team?? Really?? He's a good player that some people believe can be packaged with another to get an all star type, yet he's scraps for us? Are fans of this team so out of touch with reality that they don't remember the amount of talent we've had on our teams the last 20 years?? Remember having KG and Love with absolutely no talent surrounding them year after year?? Players like dieng are exactly what we will need if one of our young guys becomes a superstar. The knee jerk reactions around here lately have become too much...

Cleveland has Kyrie, Love, and Lebron signed to big money yet has plenty of room to overpay one way players and still more to fill out the roster. Dieng and his pay is a tiny concern here. If you want to talk about salary/play talk about those who have already been overpaid and hardly show up on the court like pek or rubio.