Wolves Need Another Deal

[Lipoli390]

The Williams deal upgrades our defense and, in that sense, it's a positive. But he's another one-way player -- in this case a defender who can't shoot. We still lack, depth and scoring punch off the bench, and we still have a huge scoring void at the SF position with Luc and Corey.

This team just needs an infusion of talent to make a really good run at a playoff spot this season. I just don't think it's enough to fill a niche need with a player like Luc. And no telling what we'll get or when from Budinger. Here are the players the Wolves should have as acquisition targets in order of preference:

1. Evan Turner
2. Courtney Lee
3. Rodney Stuckey
4. MarShon Brooks

With Derrick gone, I'm not sure what player we can offer up who would have meaningful trade value. Obviously, the Wolves are not going to offer Love, Ricky, Pek or Kevin Martin. I don't think we have the assets to get Turner. But I do think we have the assets to get one of the other three.

Here are some assets other than Love, Rubio, Pek, Martin, Brewer and Luc who I see as having some decent value:

1. 2016 1st round pick
2. Barea
3. Cunningham
4. Shabazz
5. Dieng

And here are some additional assets that might have some value as part of a package:

1. Shved
2. Budinger (if he comes back healthy)
3. Bjelica -- Euro stash
4. Henke -- Euro stash
5. Presets -- Euro stash
6. Price (can't trade him until Dec. 30)
7. Turiaf (can't trade until Dec. 30)

[60WinTim]

You might be right, Lip. But I am pretty confident you won't see the Wolves in any sort of hurry to make a move until they see how the team operates with Bud back in the rotation.

Did you listen to the "Emergency Funkadelic" today? It's pretty good. While Flip is not counting on an early return for Bud, it sounds like people are telling him that Bud is progressing really well!

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I think the Wolves biggest weakness right now is the minutes they are getting at C when Pek is not on the floor.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Lip, if we trade Barea, who is our backup PG? Price? Meh . . . not sure I like that. Shved? Yikes, he** no! And our bench needs a scorer, and JJ is it right now.

I agree our bench is still not where we need to be. We will not be a playoff team to even bat an eye at if we're relying on Robbie Hummel as a regular rotation guy. But outside of Turner (who we won't get), I don't think any of those guys you mentioned would really help out a bunch.

At this point, I'd be surprised if we added a player through a trade who would make a difference for us. We all complain about how weak our bench is, but that's also basically our trade assets. So if our bench is weak, so are our trade assets. Shabbazz and a 2016 first could get a contributor later in the season from a lottery-bound team, but even that's a stretch unless Shabbazz shows he has some value (which he hasn't--speaking of which, why not send him to the D-League?).

So what do we do? Honestly, I agree we should wait for Bud and Ronny to get healthy. In the meantime, try to keep developing Dieng as much as possible, Shabbazz too, although I think we should do that in the D-League, because he'd hurt us too much right now and we can't afford to lose any games. Ultimately, we're going to want to go into the playoffs (if we can get there) with an 8 or 9 man rotation anyway, although we'll need to ride more guys to get there, and have some backups in case of injury.

It'll be interesting to see if Cunningham gets squeezed out of playing time now. In terms of rotations, if we were going with a 9 man rotation by the time the playoffs roll around (if we make the playoffs), it might make more sense if we could bring Turiaf or Dieng in now that we've got Luc to give us more backup down low.

Rubio
Martin
Brewer
Love
Pek

JJ
Luc
Bud
Cunningham or Turiaf or Dieng

The key is for everybody to find a role. That was what worked so great for us in 03-04. Hoiberg and Hassell and Erv were not particularly good players on their own, but they all had a role to play, and they plugged into it perfectly. If I remember, that team had a relatively short rotation. We need depth in case of injury, and to keep guys fresh for the playoffs. But come playoffs, the key is that we've got clear roles for everybody, everybody knows what to do, and the team develops a real chemistry and faith in themselves. If we've got those things, we'll have a chance. Talent is only part of the equation. DWill proved that. You need to be able to put it all together. Here's hoping we can do it with these guys!

[WildWolf2813]

Here's an idea. USE MUHAMMAD! Why not let Muhammad give us a reason to doubt him? instead of trying to make him into something he isn't, let's see if he can actually do what he was already good at, which is score the ball? That's why he's in the NBA. Let him at least see if he can help in the one way he can.

I'm convinced not many people in or out of the Wolves organization wants to see this kid make it.

[thedoper]

Here's an idea. USE MUHAMMAD! Why not let Muhammad give us a reason to doubt him? instead of trying to make him into something he isn't, let's see if he can actually do what he was already good at, which is score the ball? That's why he's in the NBA. Let him at least see if he can help in the one way he can.

That would require patience and teaching. Not Adelman's strengths.

[Lipoli390]

All good points, Drew.

As you know, I'm a big Barea fan, so I'd be very reluctant to deal him. For me it's not the fact that he's a PG; it's that he's the only gut on our roster who can score effectively on dribble penetration. And I also think his fiery competitiveness is important to this team. But as always,it depends on who we could get in return.

You're right about the limited value of our bench players as trade assets. But I was thinking along the lines you suggested -- i.e., that we would do a deal a bit later in the season when some teams accept the inevitability of their status as rebuilding teams. At that point those teams might see substantial value in a package that includes some assortment of the following: our 2016 first rounder, Shved, Shabazz, Bjelica, Henke, Prestes.

[thedoper]

I think that (the 2016 pick) is a lot to give up to make us marginally better. The rest of those guys won't make a trade for something better unless it is linked to a horrible contract. This is the make or break moment with our current roster. I say let them play it out and if it makes Love want to leave so be it. Trading any future potential is not the way to go with our future in limbo. We can't redo the KG mess of year after year trying to placate our star. We have to be ahead of the curve on this one.This is our most talented roster since KG was here and if we can't make the playoffs with this group I think we have to really analyze Love's value to winning, not just putting up great individual stats.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm convinced not many people in or out of the Wolves organization wants to see this kid make it.

That's ridiculous. The bottom line is that he was a train wreck in Summer League, preseason, and in the brief stints he's played in garbage time. He is totally overmatched by the NBA game right now. He should really be in the D-League to get some reps. If he performs well down there, then yeah, let's bring him back up and give him another shot.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Should Chauncey Billups get his knee right, I'd put him on the "Wolves Watch" list. We had interest this summer. DET may decide to deal him with Jennings/Stuckey/Bynum/KCP all ahead of him in the rotation. I'd love Billups leadership, veteran know-how and ability to run an offense on this team. Again, only if he's healthy. Barea's a spark plug. That can be nice and sometimes he can win a game by himself. He's not a backup PG that can run a second unit, though. Billups is that guy.