Minnesota Sports Forum

SameOldNudityDrew wrote:If Moore pans out as a two-way guy, he'll be great for us.

But I worry that with Beverley gone and Okogie too, we've not only lost two of our on-ball defensive specialists, but we've lost two of the guys with the most intense defensive motors, which have a cascading effect on the rest of the squad. I think it'll be really helpful to have another guy like that this coming year. I was kind of thinking Donte DiVincenzo, but he's gone. I don't know if Avery Bradley has anything left in the tank. I just don't know who's out there.

Frankly, losing Josh Okogie doesn't hurt this team because he just didn't play last year. Whatever defensive prowess he possesses wasn't utilized so we shouldn't feel like we're missing it now that he's gone.

Patrick Beverley's impact, however, needs to be replaced. The argument there is whether or not Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels can routinely take on the responsibility of being point-of-attack defenders given the nightly matchup. I think they both can, but we need to see it over an entire season. Edwards needs to stay engaged and consistently provide effort, and not just when his defensive assignment is a star player. McDaniels needs to stay out of foul trouble.

I'd also point out that having Rudy Gobert as your last line of defense protecting the rim will lead to better results than a pesky perimeter defender like Beverley ever could have produced. We still need to add a depth piece of two, but Minnesota is undoubtedly a net positive after these moves.

monsterpile wrote:

SameOldNudityDrew wrote:I'm a bit intrigued by the idea of Shaq Harrison. Connelly signed him to a two-way contract with Denver last year as I understand, and he won G League Defensive Player of the Year. I really don't know much else about him.

EDIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kiFiovAc3I

When he played a decent amount in the league a couple years ago his defensive numbers were very impressive. Looking again I forgot he is more of a shooting guard sized guy. Cam might chime in on him he suggested we sign him an off-season or 2 ago.

Yeah, Shaq Harrison is a quality defender at the NBA level. Impressive athlete and his motor runs hot. He also has more off the dribble than Josh Okogie does, but neither are what I'd describe as offensively-gifted. Very similar roles on a team's roster. Okogie just happens to be half a decade younger. Harrison would be an okay addition to the roster.

I can still beat this man in 3 point competition but yet he gets another nba contract.

jester1534 wrote:I can still beat this man in 3 point competition but yet he gets another nba contract.

Fortunately for Okogie he is a guy that is about to turn 24 is strong and athletic and can play pretty good defense and only cost a vet min deal. The Suns surprisingly are one playoff team that actually had some open roster spots. Okogie's defense is real and I think he is a guy that's willing to do or not do what you ask him to do on offense. I'm happy he got another roster spot but at some point he might not make it. I'll always be cheering for him though.

I know you were just kinda joking about the 3 point shooting contest (which Okogie probably shoots better in an empty gym or working out than in games) against Okogie but it reminds me of a couple guys in college that while watching playoffs games in the dorm would always claim various NBA players sucked and they could score at least once on them or whatever. These were guys that couldn't even make the basketball team at a very small college that played some small college team's JV squads during their season. Anyway one guy that was on the basketball team (a year or so later was offered a chance to walk on at Nebraska) got annoyed with one of them and said something like he would give him $100 if he could score on him in a game to 10 or whatever a few minutes later a bunch of us went over to open gym that night to watch. The guy that said he could score on the worst NBA player never even hit the rim. I think only 3 of his shots even hit the backboard and one of them barely grazed the front of the net. Lol

Good story monster!