Minnesota Sports Forum

TeamRicky wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Just remember just because we have a D-League team dosen't mean we get 12 minor league players. Like with what Ricky said if we signed Bentil and English those 2 still count against our 15 man roster.

But overall nice step by the wolves

Actually the roster expands to 17 next season but two of the roster spots are for players who will spend some time in the D-League.

if the Wolves do their job this summer, hopefully one of those spots is our first rounder

There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

Thanks to you (I'm pretty sure it was you) and a couple other posters here for recommending the book "Boys Among Men" it was terrific. The story that made me laugh and makes me laugh as I sit here was the author said he co tacked Ebi and after the conversation was near the end Ebi said "What did I lean from my time in the NBA?....The Staples Center had the best nachos". Lol lol lol that just cracks me up.

The author said Ebi felt like he was owed something and Flip said That was the opposite of KG who had notebooks on every player he would face working hard like someone was going to take his spot. People close to Ebi said he used to do those things before he was drafted but then stopped doing all those types of things that make you better and listening to anyone who would tell him constructive advice.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

Thanks to you (I'm pretty sure it was you) and a couple other posters here for recommending the book "Boys Among Men" it was terrific. The story that made me laugh and makes me laugh as I sit here was the author said he co tacked Ebi and after the conversation was near the end Ebi said "What did I lean from my time in the NBA?....The Staples Center had the best nachos". Lol lol lol that just cracks me up.

The author said Ebi felt like he was owed something and Flip said That was the opposite of KG who had notebooks on every player he would face working hard like someone was going to take his spot. People close to Ebi said he used to do those things before he was drafted but then stopped doing all those types of things that make you better and listening to anyone who would tell him constructive advice.

I think there might be something to the "owed him something" thing.

Just today, I brought up Jonathon Simmons. The undrafted, 4-time D-League reject was the primary reason the Spurs held off the Rockets and put them in the driver's seat to make the WCF. Years prior... it was undrafted Bruce Bowen doing similar things.

Yet, the Wolves with its bevy of 1st round picks -- with guaranteed contracts -- over the years haven't broken through with those sorts of guys very often. I don't think that's a coincidence. And it's why I don't think we can automatically assume guys like Wiggins or Towns are going to follow this guaranteed path to superstardom.

Complacency is a bitch. Entitlement is a bitch. It has derailed... or more likely curtailed... so so many NBA careers that it's ridiculous to count them. After two seasons together... I hope the Wolves future stars are being held accountable and aren't complacent and are willing to do whatever is necessary to become great.

Words are great. Actions are another thing, entirely. Everybody says they want to be an NBA superstar. Few become legit game-changing legendary stars. And so much of whether guys get there is in the head.

Good stuff. You always have to watch out for the teams that have a lot of players that are full of players in the last year of their contracts.

I also think having players that feel like they are owed something are huge cancers and you have to trade them or cut them. I think a lot of the addition by subtraction happens from these moves.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

Thanks to you (I'm pretty sure it was you) and a couple other posters here for recommending the book "Boys Among Men" it was terrific. The story that made me laugh and makes me laugh as I sit here was the author said he co tacked Ebi and after the conversation was near the end Ebi said "What did I lean from my time in the NBA?....The Staples Center had the best nachos". Lol lol lol that just cracks me up.

The author said Ebi felt like he was owed something and Flip said That was the opposite of KG who had notebooks on every player he would face working hard like someone was going to take his spot. People close to Ebi said he used to do those things before he was drafted but then stopped doing all those types of things that make you better and listening to anyone who would tell him constructive advice.

I think there might be something to the "owed him something" thing.

Just today, I brought up Jonathon Simmons. The undrafted, 4-time D-League reject was the primary reason the Spurs held off the Rockets and put them in the driver's seat to make the WCF. Years prior... it was undrafted Bruce Bowen doing similar things.

Yet, the Wolves with its bevy of 1st round picks -- with guaranteed contracts -- over the years haven't broken through with those sorts of guys very often. I don't think that's a coincidence. And it's why I don't think we can automatically assume guys like Wiggins or Towns are going to follow this guaranteed path to superstardom.

Complacency is a bitch. Entitlement is a bitch. It has derailed... or more likely curtailed... so so many NBA careers that it's ridiculous to count them. After two seasons together... I hope the Wolves future stars are being held accountable and aren't complacent and are willing to do whatever is necessary to become great.

Words are great. Actions are another thing, entirely. Everybody says they want to be an NBA superstar. Few become legit game-changing legendary stars. And so much of whether guys get there is in the head.

Good points Abe.

A couple thoughts.

1. I get the feeling from both what's thins has said and the playing time he has handed out that Wiggins Lavine and Towns aren't entiteled guys they put in the effort you want from guys. They are actual basketball junkies they aren't playing for a paycheck. That probably sounds like a bit of a homer take but do you think Thibs is a guy that would put up with guys that weren't fairly serious about their craft? I don't. That doesn't mean they will get all of it though but I get the impression from Thibs and everyone else that has coached those guys and been around them that they are not like the cautionary tales I read in that book.

Another issue with the Wolves the last chunk of years is the lack of a consistent coach or person in charge. Some of those guys fighting for their careers need more than just an opportunity they need development. Having the same folks around for more than months at a time helps. So yeah there is a reason the Wolves haven't done well in that dept the last 10+ years...not having consistency is one of the reasons.

Some guys like you mentioned that have played for the Wolves that I can think of off the top of my head:

Anthony Tolliver. Shined for the Warriors then Kahn signed him had a nice season then the 2nd season struggled and we thought we could do better. Nope probably should have kept him around although he wouldn't have made a difference.

Sean Kilpatrick was here for a cup of coffee and went on to do well other places. May we shoulda kept him around.

Jeff Adrian was a solid deep bench player that stole Q's heart. Too bad it seems like that's not all he stole.

It feels like I am forgetting a couple guys but yeah.

Not having their own D-league team was a significant factor in not being able to develop or find a couple of these guys. That's how the Spurs ended up with Jonathon Simmons who has his famous tryout that he paid to be a participant of. I've been so frustrated over the years we haven't had one of those squads.

Some of these entitled guys you mention...I think there in some cases with Wolves payer there was some issue with them putting in the time effort to get better and in some casss I think those guys maybe didn't have the talent people though they did. For example Derrick Williams was some of both. Beasley that guy had the talent he was just a goofball and knucklehead. Anthony Bennett. Terrible although I feel a bit bad for him in a way because he was picked #1 and he simply shouldn't have. This is partly why it's easy to like a guy like Dieng. He isn't entitled. He gets all this is a privilege. He plays his ass off basically every night. He trys to get whatever he can out of what he has including those slow feet and wind up shot that takes seconds to get the ball off etc. I think we need more guys like that that are hungry and haven't been giving everything even if like I said The young 3 I think have the right intentions it's good to have some dudes who have lived the life where they have to play and claw for everything. Kris Dunn seems to be kinda a guy like that even if he is a top 5 pick.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

Thanks to you (I'm pretty sure it was you) and a couple other posters here for recommending the book "Boys Among Men" it was terrific. The story that made me laugh and makes me laugh as I sit here was the author said he co tacked Ebi and after the conversation was near the end Ebi said "What did I lean from my time in the NBA?....The Staples Center had the best nachos". Lol lol lol that just cracks me up.

The author said Ebi felt like he was owed something and Flip said That was the opposite of KG who had notebooks on every player he would face working hard like someone was going to take his spot. People close to Ebi said he used to do those things before he was drafted but then stopped doing all those types of things that make you better and listening to anyone who would tell him constructive advice.

I think there might be something to the "owed him something" thing.

Just today, I brought up Jonathon Simmons. The undrafted, 4-time D-League reject was the primary reason the Spurs held off the Rockets and put them in the driver's seat to make the WCF. Years prior... it was undrafted Bruce Bowen doing similar things.

Yet, the Wolves with its bevy of 1st round picks -- with guaranteed contracts -- over the years haven't broken through with those sorts of guys very often. I don't think that's a coincidence. And it's why I don't think we can automatically assume guys like Wiggins or Towns are going to follow this guaranteed path to superstardom.

Complacency is a bitch. Entitlement is a bitch. It has derailed... or more likely curtailed... so so many NBA careers that it's ridiculous to count them. After two seasons together... I hope the Wolves future stars are being held accountable and aren't complacent and are willing to do whatever is necessary to become great.

Words are great. Actions are another thing, entirely. Everybody says they want to be an NBA superstar. Few become legit game-changing legendary stars. And so much of whether guys get there is in the head.

Good points Abe.

A couple thoughts.

1. I get the feeling from both what's thins has said and the playing time he has handed out that Wiggins Lavine and Towns aren't entiteled guys they put in the effort you want from guys. They are actual basketball junkies they aren't playing for a paycheck. That probably sounds like a bit of a homer take but do you think Thibs is a guy that would put up with guys that weren't fairly serious about their craft? I don't. That doesn't mean they will get all of it though but I get the impression from Thibs and everyone else that has coached those guys and been around them that they are not like the cautionary tales I read in that book.

Another issue with the Wolves the last chunk of years is the lack of a consistent coach or person in charge. Some of those guys fighting for their careers need more than just an opportunity they need development. Having the same folks around for more than months at a time helps. So yeah there is a reason the Wolves haven't done well in that dept the last 10+ years...not having consistency is one of the reasons.

Some guys like you mentioned that have played for the Wolves that I can think of off the top of my head:

Anthony Tolliver. Shined for the Warriors then Kahn signed him had a nice season then the 2nd season struggled and we thought we could do better. Nope probably should have kept him around although he wouldn't have made a difference.

Sean Kilpatrick was here for a cup of coffee and went on to do well other places. May we shoulda kept him around.

Jeff Adrian was a solid deep bench player that stole Q's heart. Too bad it seems like that's not all he stole.

It feels like I am forgetting a couple guys but yeah.

Not having their own D-league team was a significant factor in not being able to develop or find a couple of these guys. That's how the Spurs ended up with Jonathon Simmons who has his famous tryout that he paid to be a participant of. I've been so frustrated over the years we haven't had one of those squads.

Some of these entitled guys you mention...I think there in some cases with Wolves payer there was some issue with them putting in the time effort to get better and in some casss I think those guys maybe didn't have the talent people though they did. For example Derrick Williams was some of both. Beasley that guy had the talent he was just a goofball and knucklehead. Anthony Bennett. Terrible although I feel a bit bad for him in a way because he was picked #1 and he simply shouldn't have. This is partly why it's easy to like a guy like Dieng. He isn't entitled. He gets all this is a privilege. He plays his ass off basically every night. He trys to get whatever he can out of what he has including those slow feet and wind up shot that takes seconds to get the ball off etc. I think we need more guys like that that are hungry and haven't been giving everything even if like I said The young 3 I think have the right intentions it's good to have some dudes who have lived the life where they have to play and claw for everything. Kris Dunn seems to be kinda a guy like that even if he is a top 5 pick.

Great exchange/points guys.

Thanks.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:There's a joke in there somewhere about the Timberwolves being a D-League team for more than a decade... just can't quite place it.

Well Ndudi Ebi said he wasn't a D-league player.

That fucking guy!

Thanks to you (I'm pretty sure it was you) and a couple other posters here for recommending the book "Boys Among Men" it was terrific. The story that made me laugh and makes me laugh as I sit here was the author said he co tacked Ebi and after the conversation was near the end Ebi said "What did I lean from my time in the NBA?....The Staples Center had the best nachos". Lol lol lol that just cracks me up.

The author said Ebi felt like he was owed something and Flip said That was the opposite of KG who had notebooks on every player he would face working hard like someone was going to take his spot. People close to Ebi said he used to do those things before he was drafted but then stopped doing all those types of things that make you better and listening to anyone who would tell him constructive advice.

I think there might be something to the "owed him something" thing.

Just today, I brought up Jonathon Simmons. The undrafted, 4-time D-League reject was the primary reason the Spurs held off the Rockets and put them in the driver's seat to make the WCF. Years prior... it was undrafted Bruce Bowen doing similar things.

Yet, the Wolves with its bevy of 1st round picks -- with guaranteed contracts -- over the years haven't broken through with those sorts of guys very often. I don't think that's a coincidence. And it's why I don't think we can automatically assume guys like Wiggins or Towns are going to follow this guaranteed path to superstardom.

Complacency is a bitch. Entitlement is a bitch. It has derailed... or more likely curtailed... so so many NBA careers that it's ridiculous to count them. After two seasons together... I hope the Wolves future stars are being held accountable and aren't complacent and are willing to do whatever is necessary to become great.

Words are great. Actions are another thing, entirely. Everybody says they want to be an NBA superstar. Few become legit game-changing legendary stars. And so much of whether guys get there is in the head.

Good points Abe.

A couple thoughts.

1. I get the feeling from both what's thins has said and the playing time he has handed out that Wiggins Lavine and Towns aren't entiteled guys they put in the effort you want from guys. They are actual basketball junkies they aren't playing for a paycheck. That probably sounds like a bit of a homer take but do you think Thibs is a guy that would put up with guys that weren't fairly serious about their craft? I don't. That doesn't mean they will get all of it though but I get the impression from Thibs and everyone else that has coached those guys and been around them that they are not like the cautionary tales I read in that book.

Another issue with the Wolves the last chunk of years is the lack of a consistent coach or person in charge. Some of those guys fighting for their careers need more than just an opportunity they need development. Having the same folks around for more than months at a time helps. So yeah there is a reason the Wolves haven't done well in that dept the last 10+ years...not having consistency is one of the reasons.

Some guys like you mentioned that have played for the Wolves that I can think of off the top of my head:

Anthony Tolliver. Shined for the Warriors then Kahn signed him had a nice season then the 2nd season struggled and we thought we could do better. Nope probably should have kept him around although he wouldn't have made a difference.

Sean Kilpatrick was here for a cup of coffee and went on to do well other places. May we shoulda kept him around.

Jeff Adrian was a solid deep bench player that stole Q's heart. Too bad it seems like that's not all he stole.

It feels like I am forgetting a couple guys but yeah.

Not having their own D-league team was a significant factor in not being able to develop or find a couple of these guys. That's how the Spurs ended up with Jonathon Simmons who has his famous tryout that he paid to be a participant of. I've been so frustrated over the years we haven't had one of those squads.

Some of these entitled guys you mention...I think there in some cases with Wolves payer there was some issue with them putting in the time effort to get better and in some casss I think those guys maybe didn't have the talent people though they did. For example Derrick Williams was some of both. Beasley that guy had the talent he was just a goofball and knucklehead. Anthony Bennett. Terrible although I feel a bit bad for him in a way because he was picked #1 and he simply shouldn't have. This is partly why it's easy to like a guy like Dieng. He isn't entitled. He gets all this is a privilege. He plays his ass off basically every night. He trys to get whatever he can out of what he has including those slow feet and wind up shot that takes seconds to get the ball off etc. I think we need more guys like that that are hungry and haven't been giving everything even if like I said The young 3 I think have the right intentions it's good to have some dudes who have lived the life where they have to play and claw for everything. Kris Dunn seems to be kinda a guy like that even if he is a top 5 pick.

Consistency is important. As is culture. Et al. And that's one of the reasons Thibs deserves a bit of a reprieve after this disappointing season. For better or worse, the franchise has to try to create those things here.

Dieng is a good example of a guy who doesn't seem too entitled. Then again, he's being paid $14M year, so it's not like he's a hidden gem either.

I keep hearing about Wiggins, KAT and LaVine's lack of entitlement and commitment. I want to believe it. Really. And I'm not saying it's not true. But we're about to embark on Year 3 or Year 4 with them... if they STILL are subpar to pretty poor defenders after that much time in the L... it's time to put it into question.

And I wouldn't even blame them for it. I've said it before... Wiggins and Towns are looking at MAX deals and potential stardom/superstardom doing things their way. Not playing defense. Not winning. They've been heaped an enormous amount of praise. And they're super duper young millionaires. I'd be a champagne-sipping, stripper-adorned monster in that situation at that age.

To help keep them on the right path... a veteran presence (other than the yelling chubby guy on the sidelines) is an absolute must. Who's teaching these guys about how to juggle multiple chicks in multiple cities. Branding opportunities. Media requests. How to eat. Train. WIN.