Buddy Hield

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Hield might be a better fit than people think. Who is our backup to LaVine right now? We don't really have one, as both Prince and Shabazz are natural 3's. We literally have no one else on the roster that is a natural SG. It also gets some floor spacing into that second unit, where Shabazz and Prince are pretty much non-factors or have struggled from beyond the arc.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Hield might be a better fit than people think. Who is our backup to LaVine right now? We don't really have one, as both Prince and Shabazz are natural 3's. We literally have no one else on the roster that is a natural SG. It also gets some floor spacing into that second unit, where Shabazz and Prince are pretty much non-factors or have struggled from beyond the arc.

Don't disagree. My take was more about the Wolves possible thinking... and less about my own.

We do know they've been pretty vocal with concerns about lack of size on the wing and the pounding Wiggins/LaVine take. We do know (allegedly) they flirted with Middleton (larger wing). And we know they don't value the three pointer as much as other organizations.

So, a larger wing who could play both spots and offer more versatility defensively vs. what they currently have could be in the cards. All conjecture.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It's been reported that the Wolves love Harrison Barnes. Wouldn't surprise me any if we were a team that threw the max at him. It's a huge risk and is quite the overpay, in my opinion, but the fit is hard to ignore. 3/D player with a great SF body and plays plenty of PF for the Warriors in small ball lineups. It's unclear to me what we'd do in terms of starting lineups. I really don't want to mess with LaVine/Wiggins on the wings and if we started him at PF, we'd certainly get a beating on the glass. We already do lose the rebounding battle with Dieng there.

[Coolbreeze44]

His handle has looked a bit shaky at times.

Ok, now that we have that out of the way... what a shooter. Damn. And as mentioned, these aren't just wide-open looks. The step-back threes have been more than impressive.

Watching him and Villanova play almost make up for my disappointment that all-time nice guy, J. Boeheim is in another Final Four.

As unlikeable as he might be, you have to hand it to him. Virginia had that game totally under control and then Boeheim threw that press on them. It totally turned the game around.

Great coach. I'm still surprised the Carmelo Anthony-led team won a title.

Doesn't mean he's not a smug, entitled, corrupt dink though.



[Note: As for Hield. The one knock I see on him is his lack of prototypical 2-guard size. Isn't that also a knock on LaVine? And even Wiggins in a different way? I'd think the Wolves would dig 3 guys who were more interchangeable than having 2 sorta smaller 2 guards.]

It will be interesting to see how Buddy measures out. DX has him at 6' 4.5" in shoes which is what Lavine is without shoes. Same wingspans Buddy has the stronger body but Lavine has the better athletic abilities. The comp has been made of CJ McCollum in Portland. Let's say Buddy is a little longer and stronger version of CJ that would be pretty good. :)

I'll add this if you draft Buddy I think you pretty much need to move Bazz at some point.

I'm cool with moving Muhammad at any point.

And this has nothing to do with his recent struggles. I've been on record for a long time about his style of play...

I've never been a big fan of his style of play, and he's been hard to watch lately.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Hield might be a better fit than people think. Who is our backup to LaVine right now? We don't really have one, as both Prince and Shabazz are natural 3's. We literally have no one else on the roster that is a natural SG. It also gets some floor spacing into that second unit, where Shabazz and Prince are pretty much non-factors or have struggled from beyond the arc.

Don't disagree. My take was more about the Wolves possible thinking... and less about my own.

We do know they've been pretty vocal with concerns about lack of size on the wing and the pounding Wiggins/LaVine take. We do know (allegedly) they flirted with Middleton (larger wing). And we know they don't value the three pointer as much as other organizations.

So, a larger wing who could play both spots and offer more versatility defensively vs. what they currently have could be in the cards. All conjecture.

I agree with that. Prince won't be back and Shabazz, while big and strong, is poor defensively. So yeah, our backup wings could use an entire re-vamp.

The other option on the table is to go get a Harrison Barnes or Batum and start a bigger wing tandem (with Wiggins sliding to SG) and turn LaVine into a super-sub 6th man. There is some merit to that approach, although there wouldn't be any room for Buddy Hield.

The draft is the first domino to fall in our offseason. Perhaps they just take a best-talent-available approach and then let that guide their free agent/trade targets.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

It's been reported that the Wolves love Harrison Barnes. Wouldn't surprise me any if we were a team that threw the max at him. It's a huge risk and is quite the overpay, in my opinion, but the fit is hard to ignore. 3/D player with a great SF body and plays plenty of PF for the Warriors in small ball lineups. It's unclear to me what we'd do in terms of starting lineups. I really don't want to mess with LaVine/Wiggins on the wings and if we started him at PF, we'd certainly get a beating on the glass. We already do lose the rebounding battle with Dieng there.

You start him at the 4 and run PnR's with Ricky and Towns with the other three behind the arc and Ricky finds the right passes. Rebounding would be a problem but looking at our offense now with Dieng and swapping him for a 3pt threat and another year of development for the big 3, I don't know how you really stop that team.

[Monster]

I think we'd have to be opportunistic and play some three-guard lineups, similar to what the Suns were doing last year with Bledsoe/Dragic/Thomas. Ours would be Rubio/Lavine/Hield with Wiggins catching his breath on the bench for a little bit. Hield could get 20-30 MPG doing that and being LaVine's full-time backup at SG.

Note: That's actually the role I'd like Bazemore playing if we were able to sign him.

I was thinking of the 3 guard lineup also

[Monster]

The Wolves backup SG is Wiggins and Bazz (to a smaller extent). Sure the Wolves could use a more dynamic ball handling and shooting SG than either guy but I don't know if drafting a guy like Buddy that high to have a backup works for me but sure it works and there is a spot there. I just don't have a good grasp of:

A. How overall talented I really think he is

B. How much he could play PG or create off the dribble

C. His ability to defend.

That makes me have a hard time valuing him but of course a lot of these guys have other questions too just sort of laying out where I am with him.

If you could count on him being healthy (which isn't the case) and he would come here a guy like Gary Neal would be a decent vet Backup guard for this team. I know that's not an awe inspiring name but there has to be some decent vet players the Wolves can get this summer that can help.

Let's be honest about Bazz he is still strong but he isn't big. He just isn't that long as a SF. That's just another part of the problem with him. As much as I truly like Bazz I am starting to think it may be time to cash in and move him this offseason. Ugh I hated saying that. I get why some people have no problem moving him it's just he has some endearing qualities.

Adding a legit big SF with the length of an undersized PF to this team would be big. That seems like something you can get in FA either with a big time guy like Harrison Barnes or something cheaper. I'd hold out some hope they can bring Prince back if they don't find that type of player and therefor there is some decent amount of playing time which would make it worth bringing him back.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Buddy is a top 4 player with Ingram, Simmons and Bender. He might be the safest pick in the draft as you know what you are getting with him. Hopefully we get a top 4 pick and can get one of those guys. The next tier guys Dunn, Brown, Poeltl would be ok, but I really hope we stay away from Murray as he is by far the weakest defender in the guys slated to be drafted in the lottery and will do nothing to improve our biggest weakness--our bench's inability to defend anyone.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I like Sabonnis at #5 and Wiltjet at #45. Use caproom/exception for a backup PG. Allow KG to retire, and trade/waive Payne. Bring everyone else back, even Rudez, Who has a $1.3m team option.