Muhammad: A work in process

[Monster]

What Bazz has going for him is he is a different wing than other guys. He has that post game and a power game that might be handy on both ends of the court. None of the Wings on the team has what he has so that's good. My guess is things work themselves out one way or another but I don't see any trades other than JJ leaving.

I watched the interviews of Bazz around the draft last year. He seems reasonably smart but not comfortable. He had tough questions to answer that for sure which probably didn't help. It really doesn't seem like he is a spotlight type guy overall despite being a guy that got a bunch of hype. Ever since he was drafted he seems to be engaged with teammates on the court and all I've heard about him last year was he worked hard went about his business etc. Jim Peterson is one guy I can think of that really raved about his attitude etc. I get the feeling Bazz is a good guy and he is feeling much more comfortable as a person than he was a year ago. The interviews of him this summer he just seems more relaxed and at ease.

[kekgeek]

I think Bazz would need to beat out Bud for minutes, or he might play some small ball 4 this year. Bud can shoot threes, what the wolves will be missing this year, and Bazz is a great rebounder what also would be missing this year.

[thedoper]

I think that Bazz will get some burn just because Flip drafted him. I suspect if we deal Martin Flip will try him at the 2 a bit which is why I think they want him doing the intense workouts. I think Bazz is the biggest matchup problem for other teams as a guard and not at the 3. I also don't think it is a problem at all that he has a go to scoring move. Many of the great players do. I am really excited to see Shabazz this season and believe he will get plenty of playing time to get a proper evaluation. It just doesn't make any sense to try and play Bud before unless we really are battling for a playoff spot.

[bleedspeed]

I agree he would be best as a guard. Would he be a better defender then Martin there?

[thedoper]

I agree he would be best as a guard. Would he be a better defender then Martin there?

Can't be too much worse. I actually like Martin, and think he was a good player for us but Adelman gave him more responsibility than he should have had. Unless we are in a playoff race Bud, Matin and JJ should all be gone. It really doesn't make sense to have those guys on our squad as I see it.

[bleedspeed]

I agree he would be best as a guard. Would he be a better defender then Martin there?

Can't be too much worse. I actually like Martin, and think he was a good player for us but Adelman gave him more responsibility than he should have had. Unless we are in a playoff race Bud, Matin and JJ should all be gone. It really doesn't make sense to have those guys on our squad as I see it.

I like him too. I think if Flip gets a chance to dump these guys for expiring they are gone. Bud would be the first guy I would try to move. Martin seems like the perfect bench scorer that you don't want finshing the games.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"Unless we are in a playoff race Bud, Martin and JJ should all be gone. It really doesn't make sense to have those guys on our squad as I see it."

You realize we don't have a starting caliber SG, right? I agree Barea needs to go, and I would be searching for deals for Budinger, but Martin has significant value when you consider his production for his annual salary. The guy's not a piece of trash.

"I think if Flip gets a chance to dump these guys for expiring they are gone."


Barea's already an expiring. I don't see why trading him for an expiring makes any sense at all. He'll either be kept, dumped for a 2nd (or other compensation) or released.

Martin won't be dealt for an expiring, unless that player also has significant value or there's a lottery pick attached with the contract. I don't see that happening, though. He'll stay and produce for us. People to need stop acting like Martin needs to be dumped. He doesn't.

Budinger could be dealt, but I don't think Flip wants to give up on him so soon. He also knows he needs shooters on this team for them to be able to operate smoothly. This point also goes for keeping Martin.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I guess it's too convenient to hope Flip turns Martin, Bud and JJ into Eric Gordon. It only clears all the log jams and returns a starter who can replace Martin. Also none of our wings can do what Bazz can do because wings aren't supposed to specialize in what he specializes in. He needs to be 4 inches taller and he'd be a great PF off the bench. Otherwise his game just doesn't fit what a wing needs to be good at aka 3 point shooting, some ball handling and perimeter defense.

[bleedspeed]

Cam, I get the value of Martin. He was a bargain last year. My concern is he is going to be 32 soon and we have him for 3 more years. He is not going to e worth his contract at 35. Depending on how the season goes and how the kids are developing I think it would make sense to dump him around the all-star break. Even if all we get back is an expiring contract. JJ should be moved just to move him, but not if it means taking back long term contract. Budinger will all come down to how he looks. The better he looks the easier it is to trade him, but the less likely we should unless Wiggins and Shabazz are locking up all of the SF minutes. I wish Budinger could play more SG.