Trenton Hassell and Ervin Johnson

[SameOldNudityDrew]

You guys remember those two?

Individually they were not very good players, but they both fit exactly what we needed when we had the big three. Now, you need to get your stars first, and then worry about surrounding them. But assuming Towns is one, and Wiggins or LaVine should be be another (hopefully), we're in a position where we should think a bit about fit and what guys would match up really well with them. Like Hassell and Johnson.

The crazy thing is, we got those two for basically nothing. Johnson was a throw-in from the Bucks on the Cassell deal if I remember, and Hassell we somehow got (with Hoiberg) from the Bulls for like, nothing, right? Did we get them off waivers or something? Crazy to think how you could accidentally stumble into 3 great-fit role players in one offseason.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You guys remember those two?

Individually they were not very good players, but they both fit exactly what we needed when we had the big three. Now, you need to get your stars first, and then worry about surrounding them. But assuming Towns is one, and Wiggins or LaVine should be be another (hopefully), we're in a position where we should think a bit about fit and what guys would match up really well with them. Like Hassell and Johnson.

The crazy thing is, we got those two for basically nothing. Johnson was a throw-in from the Bucks on the Cassell deal if I remember, and Hassell we somehow got (with Hoiberg) from the Bulls for like, nothing, right? Did we get them off waivers or something? Crazy to think how you could accidentally stumble into 3 great-fit role players in one offseason.

The problem is that none of our "stars" are even close to the 2-way player KG was. Unless we get Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, or Kawhi Leonard on this squad, there is no role player that can make up for the defensive softness of these guys.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The no handchecking rules killed Trenton Hassell's career. He was a very good defender when he could use his hands on 3s and 2s... not fast enough otherwise. And his offense... yikes.

I remember using my Abe's Ridiculous Stat of the Day back on ESPN's message boards to chronicle Hassell's lack of free throw attempts.

He went something like 500+ minutes without a free throw attempt. He was so passive. He shot 10 free throws in 63 games one season.

[TheFuture]

You guys remember those two?

Individually they were not very good players, but they both fit exactly what we needed when we had the big three. Now, you need to get your stars first, and then worry about surrounding them. But assuming Towns is one, and Wiggins or LaVine should be be another (hopefully), we're in a position where we should think a bit about fit and what guys would match up really well with them. Like Hassell and Johnson.

The crazy thing is, we got those two for basically nothing. Johnson was a throw-in from the Bucks on the Cassell deal if I remember, and Hassell we somehow got (with Hoiberg) from the Bulls for like, nothing, right? Did we get them off waivers or something? Crazy to think how you could accidentally stumble into 3 great-fit role players in one offseason.

Both are two of my favorite Wolves of all time. Trenton Hassell was a damn pitbull on defense. Ervin Johnson looked like a guy who didnt belong on a basketball court, but he was surprisingly good.

[TheFuture]

The no handchecking rules killed Trenton Hassell's career. He was a very good defender when he could use his hands on 3s and 2s... not fast enough otherwise. And his offense... yikes.

I remember using my Abe's Ridiculous Stat of the Day back on ESPN's message boards to chronicle Hassell's lack of free throw attempts.

He went something like 500+ minutes without a free throw attempt. He was so passive. He shot 10 free throws in 63 games one season.

I think his entire offensive game was built around hot potato

[AbeVigodaLive]

The no handchecking rules killed Trenton Hassell's career. He was a very good defender when he could use his hands on 3s and 2s... not fast enough otherwise. And his offense... yikes.

I remember using my Abe's Ridiculous Stat of the Day back on ESPN's message boards to chronicle Hassell's lack of free throw attempts.

He went something like 500+ minutes without a free throw attempt. He was so passive. He shot 10 free throws in 63 games one season.

I think his entire offensive game was built around hot potato

That's awesome. Basketballreference.com includes nicknames with each Player Bio.

I need to figure out how to get that added to Hassell's.

[Monster]

The no handchecking rules killed Trenton Hassell's career. He was a very good defender when he could use his hands on 3s and 2s... not fast enough otherwise. And his offense... yikes.

I remember using my Abe's Ridiculous Stat of the Day back on ESPN's message boards to chronicle Hassell's lack of free throw attempts.

He went something like 500+ minutes without a free throw attempt. He was so passive. He shot 10 free throws in 63 games one season.

I think his entire offensive game was built around hot potato

That's awesome. Basketballreference.com includes nicknames with each Player Bio.

I need to figure out how to get that added to Hassell's.

I remember him being pretty good on open jumpers inside the 3 point line. It's weird how he was a bigtime scorer in college and was more allergic to shooting than Rubio. Still they got him for nothing and he was a solid contributor for a few years. He was another guys the Bulls let go that turned out to be worthwhile. I still think losing Hoiberg to the heart condition was a more significant loss than it may have seemed at the time and he is another type that is being suggested here that the Wolves need.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The no handchecking rules killed Trenton Hassell's career. He was a very good defender when he could use his hands on 3s and 2s... not fast enough otherwise. And his offense... yikes.

I remember using my Abe's Ridiculous Stat of the Day back on ESPN's message boards to chronicle Hassell's lack of free throw attempts.

He went something like 500+ minutes without a free throw attempt. He was so passive. He shot 10 free throws in 63 games one season.

I think his entire offensive game was built around hot potato

That's awesome. Basketballreference.com includes nicknames with each Player Bio.

I need to figure out how to get that added to Hassell's.

I remember him being pretty good on open jumpers inside the 3 point line. It's weird how he was a bigtime scorer in college and was more allergic to shooting than Rubio. Still they got him for nothing and he was a solid contributor for a few years. He was another guys the Bulls let go that turned out to be worthwhile. I still think losing Hoiberg to the heart condition was a more significant loss than it may have seemed at the time and he is another type that is being suggested here that the Wolves need.

Hassell was huge in the 2004 playoffs vs. Sacramento while guarding Stojakovic. He followed (fouled) him all over the court and held him to 17 ppg (36%) during his breakout season.

And Hassell hit just enough baseline jump shots (9 ppg) to help offensively, too.