Anthony Bennett

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If Bazz and Bud are both looking good, maybe Bud can play well enough to be worthy of a decent trade to open up the minutes for Bazz. I read somewhere that during the few practices down the stretch last year that Bazz was just destroying everyone. I'm definitely in favor of handing out as much play time as possible to the young guys that they can take because we aren't a playoff team. I'd play the vets until the trade deadline and then try to move JJ, Bud or Brewer and possibly Martin. I'm also excited for Bennett off the bench because I think he is a much better option than Dante and could really help out with the lack of bench scoring we had last year.

[bleedspeed]

Anyone else hear that during camp Flip had Mo and Zach together and he and he wanted Zach to bring the play up and run the team. Zach might be more PG then SG and that is a really good thing. This team really has a special group of young players. All gifted and they don't seem to have the baggage of past young talented players we had like Rider/McCants/Beasley. We just have to hope they have more drive then WJohnson and DWill. I hope Flip gives the kids as many minutes as they can handle. I am open to trading vets once they have proven they deserve to play 30+ minutes a night. I would love to see Flip rest Martin and Pek on back to backs. Just to give them rest and to give the young guys more minutes.

Anyways here is to the 2017 WCF starting lineup of:

Lavine/Wiggins/Shabazz/Bennet/Dieng

[60WinTim]

There is nothing wrong with a wing having PG skills. I see LaVine as our Kobe Bryant, and Wiggins as our Michael Jordan.

Rubio / LaVine / Wiggins / Bennett / Dieng

(in a few years...)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

If Bazz and Bud are both looking good, maybe Bud can play well enough to be worthy of a decent trade to open up the minutes for Bazz. I read somewhere that during the few practices down the stretch last year that Bazz was just destroying everyone. I'm definitely in favor of handing out as much play time as possible to the young guys that they can take because we aren't a playoff team. I'd play the vets until the trade deadline and then try to move JJ, Bud or Brewer and possibly Martin. I'm also excited for Bennett off the bench because I think he is a much better option than Dante and could really help out with the lack of bench scoring we had last year.

I agree with your take, kahns. Bud looked really good in the opening scrimmage, and apparently has had an excellent camp. I think that he and Martin are going to get most of the minutes early in the season at SG, and hopefully they will both play well...both to help us win but also to showcase them for possible trade deadline deals. Bazz is not going to be happy if he doesn't get regular minutes, but we'll just have to see how the Wiggins/Brewer/Bazz rotation works at SF.

Right now, Flip's job of finding minutes for all deserving players seems impossible. But injuries to Martin (groin) and Pek (Achilles), and even Corey to some extent (teeth), remind us that injuries will always be a reality. The combination of injuries and gradual development for Wiggins/LaVine will make Flip's rotation puzzle a little easier.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/278142461.html

Another article about the brutal training that AB, Bazz and Turiaf went through this summer. So many things to get excited about here. Nobody has ever questioned Bazz's or Ronny's work ethic, but AB at times in the past has looked like the kind of guy who would coast and rely on his freakish size and athleticism. It's heartening that he took everything that the crazy trainer handed out, and didn't quit...especially since the trainer says 70% of his clients quit before the training is finished. Not only did our guys complete the whole program, but they also said they plan to return next summer...maybe guys like Wiggins and LaVine will join them and add a little muscle.

It's clear that both Bazz and AB have enormous chips on their shoulders, and they used that to get through their Santa Monica training. And the drive has continued in Mankato, as both have been dominant in practice. They both want to be starters, and although neither Brewer or Young seem to be the kind of guys who need to be pushed, it can't hurt to have these young, hungry guys behind them trying to take away their minutes.

[Monster]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/278142461.html

Another article about the brutal training that AB, Bazz and Turiaf went through this summer. So many things to get excited about here. Nobody has ever questioned Bazz's or Ronny's work ethic, but AB at times in the past has looked like the kind of guy who would coast and rely on his freakish size and athleticism. It's heartening that he took everything that the crazy trainer handed out, and didn't quit...especially since the trainer says 70% of his clients quit before the training is finished. Not only did our guys complete the whole program, but they also said they plan to return next summer...maybe guys like Wiggins and LaVine will join them and add a little muscle.

It's clear that both Bazz and AB have enormous chips on their shoulders, and they used that to get through their Santa Monica training. And the drive has continued in Mankato, as both have been dominant in practice. They both want to be starters, and although neither Brewer or Young seem to be the kind of guys who need to be pushed, it can't hurt to have these young, hungry guys behind them trying to take away their minutes.

I think what we tend to forget is that these guys don't have a true sense of what they may need to do to be the players they need to be physically. For years they probably did whatever their programs did in school or whatever basketball camps and opportunities they participated in. These guys are still young kids and maybe none of what they were shown really worked for them. Both have thicker body types and will always have to work harder than others to keep from getting chubby. Diet is likely a huge change they need to make.

This training they went to may have been just the right fit for them. It reminds me of Matt Birk used to train with the former player Morris at his house and one year he did the Vikings offseason training and he felt it was partly why he had a down year. He went back to working with Morris and was an all-pro again the next year.

My point is that some people have to find something that works for them and do that. Love's plan and execution for his body is nothing short of amazing.

An example of finding your own way is I always struggled with writing and it was something that really hurt me in college. At some point through some odd circumstances (including posting on the ESPN boards) I found more and more ability to write and a system for how to complete a paper without basically doing it all in one giant cram session which sometimes ended with me just giving up. After graduating I helped a couple students find their way to being able to write also and it was gratifying.

Sometimes people have to find their own way to do things and this whacky guy might be just what Bazz, Bennett needs. Turiaf did it too but it might not work for anyone else with the team now or in the next 10 years. I'm somewhat fascinated by people who have an innate ability to train someone like that. Hopefully this is something that helps all 3 of these guys in their career. If Turiaf somehow ends up being able to stay healthy from doing this well then he becomes a much more valuable player. I'm expecting him to miss 20+ game this year though but IMO the guy can be a pretty good bench big. He can't score the ball but he does everything else.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/519532832809828352

Damn...hopefully they will both be ready for Friday's home game.

This gives Flip a chance to try out some SF's as stretch 4's.

[60WinTim]

Or Dieng at the 4...

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Or Dieng at the 4...

Could be Tim...I'm not a fan of G at the 4, but I'm willing to be convinced.

[bleedspeed]

Would it be horrible to cut both GR3 and Hummel to bring back Cunningham? I don't want him taking minutes from AB, but it would be nice to have a backup that can play PF.