thedoper wrote:Smarter teams want Bazz. He is still trending upward, trading him isn't our best move.
Actually, he's trended backwards this season. Last season was better. That's not to say that he still can't improve; I just don't see the upward trend you speak of. What really has hurt is his 3-point shot falling off (what a shock - he's a Timberwolf after all).
Technically your right q. last 10 games has dipped him below his last year numbers in 38 games. Until those 10 he was well ahead of his numbers from last year. His TS% is still relatively close to his small sample size from last year, nothing to indicate a backwards trend especially since the trend would be judged on 10 games. In the last 10 his playing time has been erratic. Flip was playing him more and used him in more unique ways (starting him at the 2 for matchups). This is exactly what a good coach will do with him if we a dumb enough to trade him. I'd like to see him used to his strengths again before blindly shipping him out and watching him flourish under a real coach. There is a reason why a smart guy like Brad Stevens wants him.
Great point, Doper. All the more reason why this organization should not deal any of our young guys now or this summer. We need to first see them perform under a high quality head coach and coaching staff.
thedoper wrote:Smarter teams want Bazz. He is still trending upward, trading him isn't our best move.
Actually, he's trended backwards this season. Last season was better. That's not to say that he still can't improve; I just don't see the upward trend you speak of. What really has hurt is his 3-point shot falling off (what a shock - he's a Timberwolf after all).
Technically your right q. last 10 games has dipped him below his last year numbers in 38 games. Until those 10 he was well ahead of his numbers from last year. His TS% is still relatively close to his small sample size from last year, nothing to indicate a backwards trend especially since the trend would be judged on 10 games. In the last 10 his playing time has been erratic. Flip was playing him more and used him in more unique ways (starting him at the 2 for matchups). This is exactly what a good coach will do with him if we a dumb enough to trade him. I'd like to see him used to his strengths again before blindly shipping him out and watching him flourish under a real coach. There is a reason why a smart guy like Brad Stevens wants him.
Great point, Doper. All the more reason why this organization should not deal any of our young guys now or this summer. We need to first see them perform under a high quality head coach and coaching staff.
I don't see how a quality head coach, or Brad Stevens, could help Bazz on the defensive end or into a suitable off the dribble attacker. Those seem to be individual parts of a player's game. I think we know what Bazz is and will be in the NBA. He's a semi-efficient, energy scorer off the bench with defensive issues. He's going to crash the offensive glass, get some FTAs and find open areas in the half-court via cut. He does have a place in this league. He could have a place on this team. I just think it's in the best interest of this organization to explore trades using him (and Dieng) to sure up other weaknesses we have, such as 3P shooting and defense, regardless of the position.
I wouldn't say Bazz is trending up. He's playing worse than last year. I don't think we should give Bazz away for peanuts, but if we get a young guy that fits in better with our needs or can get a mid first rounder we need to consider it. I don't know if we could get Olynyk, McLemore, TJ Warren or Jeremy Lamb for him but it doesn't hurt to try.
thedoper wrote:Smarter teams want Bazz. He is still trending upward, trading him isn't our best move.
Actually, he's trended backwards this season. Last season was better. That's not to say that he still can't improve; I just don't see the upward trend you speak of. What really has hurt is his 3-point shot falling off (what a shock - he's a Timberwolf after all).
Technically your right q. last 10 games has dipped him below his last year numbers in 38 games. Until those 10 he was well ahead of his numbers from last year. His TS% is still relatively close to his small sample size from last year, nothing to indicate a backwards trend especially since the trend would be judged on 10 games. In the last 10 his playing time has been erratic. Flip was playing him more and used him in more unique ways (starting him at the 2 for matchups). This is exactly what a good coach will do with him if we a dumb enough to trade him. I'd like to see him used to his strengths again before blindly shipping him out and watching him flourish under a real coach. There is a reason why a smart guy like Brad Stevens wants him.
Great point, Doper. All the more reason why this organization should not deal any of our young guys now or this summer. We need to first see them perform under a high quality head coach and coaching staff.
I don't see how a quality head coach, or Brad Stevens, could help Bazz on the defensive end or into a suitable off the dribble attacker. Those seem to be individual parts of a player's game. I think we know what Bazz is and will be in the NBA. He's a semi-efficient, energy scorer off the bench with defensive issues. He's going to crash the offensive glass, get some FTAs and find open areas in the half-court via cut. He does have a place in this league. He could have a place on this team. I just think it's in the best interest of this organization to explore trades using him (and Dieng) to sure up other weaknesses we have, such as 3P shooting and defense, regardless of the position.
I'm fine with looking at shoring up are weaknesses. But why trade youth right now to do it? That is the philosophical issue I have here. Let's just sign a free agent who does that, you've already mentioned some good options Cam. If we really know what Bazz is there will still be trade interest for him moving forward. I don't think now is the right time. I get that Bazz is a polarizing player, but I think he has more than a place in this league. Scoring the way he does, running the floor, and being able to be disruptive on the glass are skills that many great coaches would feature to an advantage for the team. I think that is the difference with what Brad Stevens might do with Bazz, and what Flip started to do last year with him compared to this year. There is no set action to take advantage of gross mismatches that we could see with the unique collection of players we have.
Someone please tell me where these magical "3 and D" guys exist that are affordable, can do other things, and have good character? And the teams that want to give us these magical players for our scrubs?
BizarroJerry wrote:Someone please tell me where these magical "3 and D" guys exist that are affordable, can do other things, and have good character? And the teams that want to give us these magical players for our scrubs?
Exactly. Let's wait and spend some money in Free agency.
I always like to remind people of how teams end up trading away or letting go of guys that ended up being really useful players and if they had just stuck with the guys they had and added to them they would have had a nice team. My favorite example is the post Jordan Bulls.
Starting with Elton Brand's rookie year and going a couple years later here are guys they added to the roster during that time that they could have kept
Elton Brand
Brad Miller
Ron Artest
Bruce Bowen
Fred Hoiberg
Jamal Crawford
Trenton Hassel
Now is that a championship level team assuming all those guys turned out as good for the Bulls as they did for other teams? Probably not but thats a pretty nice collection of players to add to.
Consider all the wing players many that have been mentioned in this and other threads that were accused for little or signed for very little or pretty reasonable deals before they broke out some of them did it this year.
Tobias Harris
Jae Crowder
Aminu
D Carroll (I remember Lip wanted him very bad when he signed with Atlanta)
Kent Bazemore (more of a SG/SF)
Those are all guys team acquired in the last 5 years and their may be others I have forgotten. It's time the Wolves find their hidden gem of not on the wing somewhere.
I think we all agree that Bazz shouldn't be a "trade him for the sake of trading him" kind of guy. We definitely need to get something of value in return that is a better fit for our team. And if that guy isn't available, we just hold onto Bazz for now.
monsterpile wrote:I always like to remind people of how teams end up trading away or letting go of guys that ended up being really useful players and if they had just stuck with the guys they had and added to them they would have had a nice team. My favorite example is the post Jordan Bulls.
Starting with Elton Brand's rookie year and going a couple years later here are guys they added to the roster during that time that they could have kept
Elton Brand
Brad Miller
Ron Artest
Bruce Bowen
Fred Hoiberg
Jamal Crawford
Trenton Hassel
Now is that a championship level team assuming all those guys turned out as good for the Bulls as they did for other teams? Probably not but thats a pretty nice collection of players to add to.
Consider all the wing players many that have been mentioned in this and other threads that were accused for little or signed for very little or pretty reasonable deals before they broke out some of them did it this year.
Tobias Harris
Jae Crowder
Aminu
D Carroll (I remember Lip wanted him very bad when he signed with Atlanta)
Kent Bazemore (more of a SG/SF)
Those are all guys team acquired in the last 5 years and their may be others I have forgotten. It's time the Wolves find their hidden gem of not on the wing somewhere.
Excellent post. Bazz has very usable skills. A guy that brings scoring off the bench will always be needed. I don't mind trading him to get better, but I don't understand why we would be in a hurry or looking to trade him.
