Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 5:58 pm
I get not going after Lilliard because he is older or whatever but the idea that Edwards can’t play next to a HOF guard makes no sense to me. If that’s the case we are screwed because Edwards ain’t that guy and might as well go on with our lives and start watching Pickleball and get ourselves some more of Dave Benz.
At the ages they are it’s a pretty big difference but something to consider Lilliard is less than 3 years younger than Conley. It’s also worth remembering that for a couple seasons in Memphis Conley was a 20ppg scorer. IF……..for some reason Conley is able to beat Father Time even for this season the Wolves could already be a contender right now…this season with the guys they have. Conley can be a really good player and I think we saw that towards the end of the season in the playoffs.
I’m not all in on Mike Conley playing till he is 40 (or even 38!) or anything (FNG might be!) but maybe there is some hope he can be something more significant than just a bridge player. Chris Paul is still a pretty good player and he recently turned 38. I don’t think any of these 3 guards really rely on their wild athleticism anymore.
It's a bit of a reach to lump Mike Conley in with Chris Paul or Dame Lillard.
Whether we're talking about them in their primes, as they've aged, or even as they near the end of their careers.
For what it's worth, Chris Paul is coming off what statistically would be one of the better seasons in Mike Conley's career. The hopeful contending team he was in didn't think he was even worth it anymore.
There are two ways to look at Mike Conley:
- Good enough to start for a play-in team.
- Not good enough to start for a serious contender.
I guess it's all about expectations.
You might want to look up Conley’s stats again. I think it’s a bit is a stretch to suggest Chris Paul’s last season was comparable to Conley’s 2016-2017 season and maybe even the 2018-2019 season.
You make a fair point and I wasn’t trying to suggest Conley is as good as either guy but it’s worth making that clarification. I would say Conley is certainly much closer to 38 year old Chris Paul (who will make a lot of money) than 33 year old Dame Lilliard. I was saying if Conley is the highly effective player he had been for years then the Wolves may have the guy they need next to Ant for this year. Conley was an All Star in 20-21 season. He is a 2 way guy that does stuff that helps his team win. Again I said this was a big if…first he has to even stay healthy. Of course there are other parts of the roster that might not be good enough to get the Wolves to be an contender even if Conley is pretty good.
Trust me if the Wolves could trade Conley for a better option I would be all about it. I’m far from all in on him but it’s a little bit interesting to think about in light of some other impactful smaller guards around the league right now that are well past 30. I haven’t really thought about it too much maybe FNG’s optimism is rubbing off on me. Lol
Crazysauce wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:58 pm
This thread is wildin. How do we choose who takes the last shot between Ant and Dame? Really? My question is how do they defend both Dame and Ant at the same time. Good luck.
Kat and moore for dame works according to trade machine. Dame has that dog in him that Kat doesn't. Guys that don't have it do not end up champions. There is a reason that the Heat are able to win. I would do this trade. Kat is very overrated. An added tidbit is the espn trade machine has us plus 15 wins in this deal.
Dame's dog is a bit overrated as he has never played in an NBA finals and only made it to one conference final his whole career and he is a poor defender. We might be better by 15 games without Dame. For a lot of reasons, I expect this team to be much better than last year even if we don't trade for Dame; healthy KAT, further integration of Rudy, Conley is a much better fit than DLO, Shake is upgrade over Nowell, we get NAW all year and Ant, Jaden and Naz are still young and have improved every year. Also, hoping MacLaughlin gets healthy and reverts back to form. And don't forget the X factor-Corliss Williamson.
Crazysauce wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:58 pm
This thread is wildin. How do we choose who takes the last shot between Ant and Dame? Really? My question is how do they defend both Dame and Ant at the same time. Good luck.
Kat and moore for dame works according to trade machine. Dame has that dog in him that Kat doesn't. Guys that don't have it do not end up champions. There is a reason that the Heat are able to win. I would do this trade. Kat is very overrated. An added tidbit is the espn trade machine has us plus 15 wins in this deal.
Dame's dog is a bit overrated as he has never played in an NBA finals and only made it to one conference final his whole career and he is a poor defender. We might be better by 15 games without Dame. For a lot of reasons, I expect this team to be much better than last year even if we don't trade for Dame; healthy KAT, further integration of Rudy, Conley is a much better fit than DLO, Shake is upgrade over Nowell, we get NAW all year and Ant, Jaden and Naz are still young and have improved every year. Also, hoping MacLaughlin gets healthy and reverts back to form. And don't forget the X factor-Corliss Williamson.
I can’t believe we are arguing fit here. What I thought we were getting in Gobert was not the player we ended up with. If we received peak Gobert, me thinks it would have worked.
We are talking about Dame. In a guards league. Curry and Klay anyone? Not apples to apples, I get it. It’s not peak Dame, but he’s a first ballot hall of famer still bending the game to his will.
Injury concerns are legit.
Ifs it’s KAT for Dame, sign me up.
If it’s Gobert and the rest of our draft picks until 2053, Larry O’Brien trophy here we come.
We are talking about Dame.
Ant WOULD love Dame
Ant wants to win
Period
I also don’t understand the idea of building a sustainable contender in todays NBA. There is so much parity. There is so much random chance in regards to health of team versus health of the opponent being played against. Let’s push it in for a chip…..As long as Ant and Jaden are part of that core….. Would you rather win one NBA championship or make several runs to the WCF? The days of dynasty are much less likely than when there was less talent and parity in the league. Denver looked untouchable in the playoffs. Do we think they will three peat? Even go back to back? There is too much fluidity in the league. Even a player signed for 5 more years doesn’t guarantee they will be on the roster for said time frame preforming at expected performance the entire time…Ahem Gobert
“Who cares. The Blazers should do what’s best for the Blazers, which is to trade him to Minnesota along with 2 1sts for Rudy Gobert. The propaganda on this topic has been fierce…”
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:08 am
My favorite post in today’s blogosphere :
“Who cares. The Blazers should do what’s best for the Blazers, which is to trade him to Minnesota along with 2 1sts for Rudy Gobert. The propaganda on this topic has been fierce…”
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:08 am
My favorite post in today’s blogosphere :
“Who cares. The Blazers should do what’s best for the Blazers, which is to trade him to Minnesota along with 2 1sts for Rudy Gobert. The propaganda on this topic has been fierce…”
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:08 am
My favorite post in today’s blogosphere :
“Who cares. The Blazers should do what’s best for the Blazers, which is to trade him to Minnesota along with 2 1sts for Rudy Gobert. The propaganda on this topic has been fierce…”
Did you see that on the Sci-Fi channel?
Mystery Science Theater 3000?
Just googled Timberwolves news. I always appreciate bloggers with a good sense of humor. . Whoever the blogger was, he/she was just making fun of all the silly Dame trade talk.
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:08 am
My favorite post in today’s blogosphere :
“Who cares. The Blazers should do what’s best for the Blazers, which is to trade him to Minnesota along with 2 1sts for Rudy Gobert. The propaganda on this topic has been fierce…”
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