longstrangetrip wrote:Lip, good post above. I share your enthusiasm for Zach, and agree that his performance at SG was a major reason for this team's improvement toward the end of the year. But I lean more toward the opinion of the pundits above regarding Zach's best role. Many of their comments are really quite positive about Zach. One of them actually mentions Zach as a potential 6th Man of the Year award winner. That's pretty exciting, because teams that have a player that wins this award often contend for championships.
If the Wolves keep starting Wig and Zach at the wing positions, I think they still make the playoffs next year. But the pundits were asked if the current starting lineup is likely to be the Wolves' playoff lineup, and I would have answered "no" also...and it has as much to do with Wig at the 3 as Zach at the 2. Thibs is a defense/rebounding kind of guy, and he is not going to be satisfied with Wig providing 3.6 rebounds per game at the SF position. Wig ranked 363rd in rebounds per 36 among all NBA players, and while that is marginally acceptable for a SG, it doesn't cut it for a starting SF on a good team. Plus, Wig has proven to be a more dominant defender at the 2 than at the 3. As Wig develops physically, he likely will become a very good NBA SF, but I think Thibs is going to want to play him more at the 2 until then.
Here's what you have to ask yourself: What is a better pair of starting wings next year...Wig/Zach, or Deng/Wig? I think anyone would say the latter, especially if it means you get Zach's offense off the bench. I think a Deng acquisition and Zach to 6th man is what Thorpe has in mind when he says the Wolves can win 55 games next year.
Long --
I think you're right that Thibs won't accept Wiggins' historic rebounding numbers at the SF position. If fact, recall that Thibs mentioned improved rebounding as something he expects to see from Wiggins. Wiggins' size and skill set are far more suited to
SF than SG. His ball handling is no where near decent SG level -- an even bigger gap than the gap between his rebounding and SF level. His passing is also sub-par for an NBA SG and not as good as LaVine's. So I think what Thibs has in mind (and should have in mind) is getting Wiggins to significantly improve his rebounding. Physically, he should be a very good rebounder.
Would I choose Deng/Wiggins over Wiggings/LaVine as my starting wing combo next year? Maybe next year but that's only assuming we retain LaVine and make him our sixth man. And even then I'm not sure for a several reasons. First, we'd lose a lot of 3-point shooting in our starting line-up on a team that's starved for 3-point shooting in a Leage that requires 3-point shooting for success. In fact, Towns would be our only good 3-point shooting in that starting lineup and his 3-point shooting is still in its infancy at the NBA level. Second, LaVine has demonstrated that he's at his best at SG next to Ricky. Third, there was a definite chemistry that developed last season between LaVine and the other starters, especially Wiggins and KAT. Beyond next season the answer I'd choose Wiggins/LaVine because of their age, chemistry and complementing skills sets on a young team that should peak in several years when Deng is on the decline (if he isn't already).
I haven't even factored in how much it would cost to sign Deng or the extent to which Deng's presence would stifle LaVine's development. There are opportunity costs as well. The money spend on Deng is money that could be spent on a player who won't displace one of our young guns with huge upside and 3-point shooting acumen. I think that would be a PF or C bumping Gorgui to the bench as a major part of our second unit. My first choice would be Noah. Yet, even Gorgui isn't someone I'd be eager to replace in the starting lineup given his improvement, worth ethic, intensity and performance last season. He's clearly a late-bloomer with the drive to improve. I've watched the enthusiasm brewing for Biyombo, but I'd take Gorgui in a heartbeat over Biyombo if given a choice between the two as my starting big next to KAT.
Although I'd be fine signing Noah, I see no compelling reason to spend big money to bring in a 28-32 year old veteran as a starter. We were a near .500 team under Sam post all-star break. With Thibs at the helm next season and with an entire summer for our current players to improve their games before next season, I'd be surprised if this team doesn't take the next developmental step and make the playoffs. The smart thing now is to roll with our young core starters from last season post all-star break, draft a guy like Hield or Dunn who will likely be able to contribute pretty quickly, and bring in one or two solid veteran role players who aren't in the geriatric category like Andre Miller or KG. We'll have a much better sense of what personnel changes need to be made after next season and we'll also probably have more cap space.
