Wolves Offseason Point Guard Options

[rapsuperstar31]

The more I look at who’s available and what it might take to acquire each potential PG, the more convinced I am that Ayo is our best PG option. We don’t have to give up any assets to get him. He’s an excellent 3-point shooter but also excellent at dribble penetration and scoring at the rim. He’s a very good, tenacious defender with very good length for a PG. He’s just entering his prime. He’s a big upgrade over Donte at PG because he’s a much better distributor, penetrator and defender. Regarding the backup PG position, there are plenty of low-cost options. Bones is fine in that role, but I would think we can sign Tyus Jones at a very low cost to give us a more traditional game-manager type PG. Maybe trade Randle to Detroit for Isaiah Stewart and Duncan Robinson.

I'm not against Ayo getting the chance to start, but if that is the bet we make we better be right otherwise it's a wasted year if it doesn't work out. Ayo has started in about 50% of his NBA games, but only 45 games in the last two years with most coming due to injuries. If Ayo is to start I would interested if he can his 3pt volume up, he shot 4.1 per game last year and Donte shot 7.9 threes per game. I'd like to see Ayo put up at least 6 per game if he's going to start. The other part of his game would be assists. Ayo has averaged 3.3 per game in his career with 4.5 being his highest season and only season above 3.6. If Ayo is starting I would need him to average at minimum 5 assists per game, but would like to see 6.5 or more.

[Wolvesfan21]

Howls and Growls latest vid is worth a watch.

He goes over Suggs, Quickly and Morant specifically in the video, but it really more about understanding risk assessment

After watching and giving it some thought, I'm most preferential to Suggs even with his limitations as a shooter and ball handler. What he offers for McDaniels is so just valuable in my opinion. I'd like to see an additional move to get someone like Jerome as well but that seems unlikely so you're still putting a lot on Ayo and TJ to be bench scorers, which is probably a worth gamble.

I'm still super intrigued with Quickley cause of his shooting and off the bounce creation; he would thrive next to Ant.

Paynting brings up a really great point with Morant that I've struggled to make. Despite all of his foibles and negative regressions, he has remained an elite playmaker/floor general, in fact it's probably the one area he has consistently improved, it's just not worth the price and headache when he as bad a shooter and defender as he is. Average to above average at one of those and he's probably worth it, but I think they'd regret trading for him

Those guys are all flawed, not as flawed as our current pg options to be sure, but still flawed and a bit expensive too, especially Ja.

We all knew we were toast going into the season with no good PG/ball handler on the team and it showed throughout the season that we'd probably struggle on offense. Especially against the elite defenses (SA / OKC).

That's why I keep coming back to Kyrie as someone who can create shots, get buckets and assist others without turning it over a ton. Quickley is probably the most similar cheaper, younger, but lesser version, so out of those three I'd lean that way.

I just don't see how we have any shot to beat the SA and OKC combo without an upgrade on offense, obviously PG is the weakest slot too. You can't just turn it over a bunch like we did and get beat by 30. You also need shooting too. I kind of rule out JA because of that, and Suggs isn't good either.

[Wolvesfan21]

The more I look at who’s available and what it might take to acquire each potential PG, the more convinced I am that Ayo is our best PG option. We don’t have to give up any assets to get him. He’s an excellent 3-point shooter but also excellent at dribble penetration and scoring at the rim. He’s a very good, tenacious defender with very good length for a PG. He’s just entering his prime. He’s a big upgrade over Donte at PG because he’s a much better distributor, penetrator and defender. Regarding the backup PG position, there are plenty of low-cost options. Bones is fine in that role, but I would think we can sign Tyus Jones at a very low cost to give us a more traditional game-manager type PG. Maybe trade Randle to Detroit for Isaiah Stewart and Duncan Robinson.

I'm not against Ayo getting the chance to start, but if that is the bet we make we better be right otherwise it's a wasted year if it doesn't work out. Ayo has started in about 50% of his NBA games, but only 45 games in the last two years with most coming due to injuries. If Ayo is to start I would interested if he can his 3pt volume up, he shot 4.1 per game last year and Donte shot 7.9 threes per game. I'd like to see Ayo put up at least 6 per game if he's going to start. The other part of his game would be assists. Ayo has averaged 3.3 per game in his career with 4.5 being his highest season and only season above 3.6. If Ayo is starting I would need him to average at minimum 5 assists per game, but would like to see 6.5 or more.

Ayo's shot is on the slower side, his jump is also short. He needs space and time to get his shot off. That's why he can't get the number up like DDV and simply never will. He's not super skilled either creating space for his shot.

He's best suited as a backup because of his limitations. Great numbers last year for sure when he does get time and space, but those things are a premium, especially against the best defenders/defenses.

I really think we need a more dynamic option, better handler and passer too of course.

[Monster]

The more I look at who’s available and what it might take to acquire each potential PG, the more convinced I am that Ayo is our best PG option. We don’t have to give up any assets to get him. He’s an excellent 3-point shooter but also excellent at dribble penetration and scoring at the rim. He’s a very good, tenacious defender with very good length for a PG. He’s just entering his prime. He’s a big upgrade over Donte at PG because he’s a much better distributor, penetrator and defender. Regarding the backup PG position, there are plenty of low-cost options. Bones is fine in that role, but I would think we can sign Tyus Jones at a very low cost to give us a more traditional game-manager type PG. Maybe trade Randle to Detroit for Isaiah Stewart and Duncan Robinson.

I'm not against Ayo getting the chance to start, but if that is the bet we make we better be right otherwise it's a wasted year if it doesn't work out. Ayo has started in about 50% of his NBA games, but only 45 games in the last two years with most coming due to injuries. If Ayo is to start I would interested if he can his 3pt volume up, he shot 4.1 per game last year and Donte shot 7.9 threes per game. I'd like to see Ayo put up at least 6 per game if he's going to start. The other part of his game would be assists. Ayo has averaged 3.3 per game in his career with 4.5 being his highest season and only season above 3.6. If Ayo is starting I would need him to average at minimum 5 assists per game, but would like to see 6.5 or more.

I think what Lip is getting and and it's kinda what I've been mulling over is that if we are gonna give up assets and or take on a salary to get a player they better be an actual upgrade over what we have. Some players I feel like well they are better than Bones Hyland and then you put the bar as being better than Ayo which is probably more worthwhile. Lol a guard version of Randle a player with various flaws sounds good but if you are a person frustrated with Randle would a guy like that actually be more useful? That's kinda why I've been looking at lower cost players that aren't as good but maybe fit the roster better.

As for what Ayo can do...idk how much volume on 3's is realistic for him. I think it actually went down from his volume in Chicago but his role will be different since Donte will be out even if nothing else changes. His ability to attack the defense is definitely different than Donte if he was a starter and I think he will be enough of threat from 3 teams will have to account for him even if it's not like Donte.

I know a lot has been talked about with ball handling and playmaking but it does feel like the Wolves could use another shooter. Bringing back Bones could be a low cost option in that regard. Does anyone have numbers on what his catch and shoot numbers were and if he have much of that type of shot?

[AussieWolf3]

I'm ready to be proven wrong but I super don't like just going with Ayo as the starting PG unless there is a significant upgrade at PF or C.

I'm legit curious about how much Quickly would cost to acquire. Even at his contact he's not a negative asset where Toronto would have to attach something to trade him, but he's clearly overpaid so I don't know if they can get a lot of value for him or not if they do want to move him.

My sense is Toronto isn't desperate to move him but they do want to make some moves this off-season and he'd likely be a piece of that movement.

I get a similar sense with Suggs but I'm guessing he'd be harder to trade for, or at higher cost I guess. His shooting is a real concern but he's a significant upgrade from Ayo as a defender

[FNG]

I'm ready to be proven wrong but I super don't like just going with Ayo as the starting PG unless there is a significant upgrade at PF or C.

I'm legit curious about how much Quickly would cost to acquire. Even at his contact he's not a negative asset where Toronto would have to attach something to trade him, but he's clearly overpaid so I don't know if they can get a lot of value for him or not if they do want to move him.

My sense is Toronto isn't desperate to move him but they do want to make some moves this off-season and he'd likely be a piece of that movement.

I get a similar sense with Suggs but I'm guessing he'd be harder to trade for, or at higher cost I guess. His shooting is a real concern but he's a significant upgrade from Ayo as a defender

Yeah, I also don't like the idea of Ayo at PG, and I hope TC doesn't either. He's one of my favorite guys on the roster, but in the right role...and to me that's as a scoring SG backing up Ant. I don't disagree that he protects the ball fairly well, but I find him far too cautious when he's running the point...he very seldom makes a pass that I find productive, more often settling for the safe pass around the perimeter rather than attacking (and I'm only talking about his passing here, because I agree that he is quite good at attacking and getting to the rim off the dribble) TC needs to find someone who will allow Ant and Ayo to play the position they are best suited for.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Ayo he is probably more like a traditional point guard than Donte was this past year, but I still think of him more like a combo guard like Donte and TJ too. Add Clark, and we basically have three backups for Ant (Ayo, TJ, Clark), even with Donte out. That's not great balance, though I know those guys can defend some SFs, so we could theoretically play a little smaller and put one of them out there with Ant and another PG at the same time.

So I'd still be on the lookout for a more traditional PG. If we did get somebody good enough that we'd want to play them a good amount, could you guys see TC moving on from TJ or Clark because there just wouldn't be many minutes to go around, especially for guys who don't shoot from outside much?

I wonder whether we trade Donte this offseason. I'd love to have him back when he's ready, probably for the 27-28 season, but who knows what the situation will be after this season.

I can also see the possibility of just resigning Bones and even Mike, and going ahead with Ayo as your starting point guard and primary ballhandler. I don't think I'd feel great about that, as much as I love Ayo, because I still see him as a combo guard, and last season showed that we couldn't really rely on Mike for consistent minutes (much as I love him too).

It's a tough situation. I do still hope we can somehow turn Julius into somebody like Jrue Holiday.

[Lipoli390]

Ayo he is probably more like a traditional point guard than Donte was this past year, but I still think of him more like a combo guard like Donte and TJ too. Add Clark, and we basically have three backups for Ant (Ayo, TJ, Clark), even with Donte out. That's not great balance, though I know those guys can defend some SFs, so we could theoretically play a little smaller and put one of them out there with Ant and another PG at the same time.

So I'd still be on the lookout for a more traditional PG. If we did get somebody good enough that we'd want to play them a good amount, could you guys see TC moving on from TJ or Clark because there just wouldn't be many minutes to go around, especially for guys who don't shoot from outside much?

I wonder whether we trade Donte this offseason. I'd love to have him back when he's ready, probably for the 27-28 season, but who knows what the situation will be after this season.

I can also see the possibility of just resigning Bones and even Mike, and going ahead with Ayo as your starting point guard and primary ballhandler. I don't think I'd feel great about that, as much as I love Ayo, because I still see him as a combo guard, and last season showed that we couldn't really rely on Mike for consistent minutes (much as I love him too).

It's a tough situation. I do still hope we can somehow turn Julius into somebody like Jrue Holiday.

The NBA hasn’t been a traditional PG League in a long, long time. Brunson’s certainly not a “traditional PG” and neither is SGA. The obsession with getting a traditional PG among the Wolves fan base and possibly in our front office is sort of weird. Ant needs a backcourt mate who can handle the ball, hit open shooters as a passer and pose a threat while he has the ball in his hands. Ayo checks all those boxes while also being a good defender. Ayo puts pressure on the rim. He’s a terrific dribble drive scorer who finishes at a high rate. That’s exactly what Ant needs next to him. The fact that Ayo is an efficient three-point shooter is a bonus. Ant doesn’t need a volume three-point shooter next to him at PG. Ant is a volume 3-point shooter. Naz is a terrific three-point shooter.

Based on what the Wolves would likely have to give up to get a starting PG who is better than Ayo, I’m left seeing Ayo as our best PG option right now. We can use Randle and free agency to acquire a quality defensive PF and a good perimeter shooter or two for our rotation. And we can sign Tyus Jones as a backup game-manager PG off the bench.

[rapsuperstar31]

Ayo he is probably more like a traditional point guard than Donte was this past year, but I still think of him more like a combo guard like Donte and TJ too. Add Clark, and we basically have three backups for Ant (Ayo, TJ, Clark), even with Donte out. That's not great balance, though I know those guys can defend some SFs, so we could theoretically play a little smaller and put one of them out there with Ant and another PG at the same time.

So I'd still be on the lookout for a more traditional PG. If we did get somebody good enough that we'd want to play them a good amount, could you guys see TC moving on from TJ or Clark because there just wouldn't be many minutes to go around, especially for guys who don't shoot from outside much?

I wonder whether we trade Donte this offseason. I'd love to have him back when he's ready, probably for the 27-28 season, but who knows what the situation will be after this season.

I can also see the possibility of just resigning Bones and even Mike, and going ahead with Ayo as your starting point guard and primary ballhandler. I don't think I'd feel great about that, as much as I love Ayo, because I still see him as a combo guard, and last season showed that we couldn't really rely on Mike for consistent minutes (much as I love him too).

It's a tough situation. I do still hope we can somehow turn Julius into somebody like Jrue Holiday.

The NBA hasn’t been a traditional PG League in a long, long time. Brunson’s certainly not a “traditional PG” and neither is SGA. The obsession with getting a traditional PG among the Wolves fan base and possibly in our front office is sort of weird. Ant needs a backcourt mate who can handle the ball, hit open shooters as a passer and pose a threat while he has the ball in his hands. Ayo checks all those boxes while also being a good defender. Ayo puts pressure on the rim. He’s a terrific dribble drive scorer who finishes at a high rate. That’s exactly what Ant needs next to him. The fact that Ayo is an efficient three-point shooter is a bonus. Ant doesn’t need a volume three-point shooter next to him at PG. Ant is a volume 3-point shooter. Naz is a terrific three-point shooter.

Based on what the Wolves would likely have to give up to get a starting PG who is better than Ayo, I’m left seeing Ayo as our best PG option right now. We can use Randle and free agency to acquire a quality defensive PF and a good perimeter shooter or two for our rotation. And we can sign Tyus Jones as a backup game-manager PG off the bench.

We don't need a traditional point guard in the Mike Conley role, but we do need someone that can set up good looks for everyone. If we do trade Julius who lead our team in assists at 5 per game which was only the 35th best in the league. Add in Donte who is going to miss most if not all of the season who was 2nd on our team at 3.8 assists per game. 19 players (qualified players playing enough games) averaged 6 assists or more, I'd like to have at least one player average 6 assists per game next season. It doesn't have to be the point guard, but someone on the team you can run the ball through to get others good looks. Boston does have more of a team assist thing going on if that is our approach, but they have 3 guys averaging between 5.1-5.4 assists per game.

[Q-is-here]

Ayo he is probably more like a traditional point guard than Donte was this past year, but I still think of him more like a combo guard like Donte and TJ too. Add Clark, and we basically have three backups for Ant (Ayo, TJ, Clark), even with Donte out. That's not great balance, though I know those guys can defend some SFs, so we could theoretically play a little smaller and put one of them out there with Ant and another PG at the same time.

So I'd still be on the lookout for a more traditional PG. If we did get somebody good enough that we'd want to play them a good amount, could you guys see TC moving on from TJ or Clark because there just wouldn't be many minutes to go around, especially for guys who don't shoot from outside much?

I wonder whether we trade Donte this offseason. I'd love to have him back when he's ready, probably for the 27-28 season, but who knows what the situation will be after this season.

I can also see the possibility of just resigning Bones and even Mike, and going ahead with Ayo as your starting point guard and primary ballhandler. I don't think I'd feel great about that, as much as I love Ayo, because I still see him as a combo guard, and last season showed that we couldn't really rely on Mike for consistent minutes (much as I love him too).

It's a tough situation. I do still hope we can somehow turn Julius into somebody like Jrue Holiday.

The NBA hasn’t been a traditional PG League in a long, long time. Brunson’s certainly not a “traditional PG” and neither is SGA. The obsession with getting a traditional PG among the Wolves fan base and possibly in our front office is sort of weird. Ant needs a backcourt mate who can handle the ball, hit open shooters as a passer and pose a threat while he has the ball in his hands. Ayo checks all those boxes while also being a good defender. Ayo puts pressure on the rim. He’s a terrific dribble drive scorer who finishes at a high rate. That’s exactly what Ant needs next to him. The fact that Ayo is an efficient three-point shooter is a bonus. Ant doesn’t need a volume three-point shooter next to him at PG. Ant is a volume 3-point shooter. Naz is a terrific three-point shooter.

Based on what the Wolves would likely have to give up to get a starting PG who is better than Ayo, I’m left seeing Ayo as our best PG option right now. We can use Randle and free agency to acquire a quality defensive PF and a good perimeter shooter or two for our rotation. And we can sign Tyus Jones as a backup game-manager PG off the bench.

We don't need a traditional point guard in the Mike Conley role, but we do need someone that can set up good looks for everyone. If we do trade Julius who lead our team in assists at 5 per game which was only the 35th best in the league. Add in Donte who is going to miss most if not all of the season who was 2nd on our team at 3.8 assists per game. 19 players (qualified players playing enough games) averaged 6 assists or more, I'd like to have at least one player average 6 assists per game next season. It doesn't have to be the point guard, but someone on the team you can run the ball through to get others good looks. Boston does have more of a team assist thing going on if that is our approach, but they have 3 guys averaging between 5.1-5.4 assists per game.

The more spread out the floor is with great spacing and shooters, the less we need a pick and roll maestro and classic floor general. Drive and kick is waaaay easier to execute. That's a lot of what Boston does.