Minnesota Sports Forum

SameOldNudityDrew wrote:Ryan Saunders when asked why Anthony Bennett isn't here: "I believe it's a (Canada) national-team commitment but I'm not sure."

(the scene: a shadowy parking garage somewhere in the Twin Cities Metro area, shortly after the end of the regular season)


Flip Saunders: Look, we just want him gone, ok?

Canadian Gangster: What, like gone gone?

Ryan Saunders: No, just someplace far away from Las Vegas.

Flip: Until we find a trade partner for him.

Canadian Gangster: Ok, I know I guy in Edmonton who . . .

Ryan: Don't tell us where he is or what he's doing, we don't want to know.

Flip: Just take care of it.

Canadian Gangster: Consider it done, eh.

Ha, funny stuff, Drew!

That's the only plausible scenario for Ryan's peculiar comment.

lipoli390 wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

I can't imagine why we'd trade Bennett for Morris or any other PF. With Bennett or another PF obtained in return for Bennett, we would have 4 pure PFs in KG, Payne, Bjelica & Bennett/Morris/other. In addition we'd have 2 center/PF combos in Dieng and Towns. That's 6 roster players who play the PF position. And that's without Robbie Hummel. To say we have a glut at the PF position is a gross understatement.

This is a best-case scenario, however. Pek is unsure what his basketball future holds and we can't afford to make assumptions based off of him playing regularly. That puts Dieng and Towns firmly at the 5. The only reason that one will see extended minutes at the 4 is to play alongside the other, which may be inevitable with Bennett and Payne as alternatives. I think Flip also said NB will play some 3. I know Flip wouldn't do it but I would trade Bennett and Payne for him provided that his contract wouldn't be killing the spending abilities for upcoming free agencies. That would be the biggest deterrent for me.

I am sure Flip is willing to trade AB for anything that doesn't require contract commitment past next year.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

Markieff Morris is a MUCH better basketball player than Bennett. Will he bring baggage you can't unpack? That's the only issue. Here's a pretty in-depth article on Morris... both good and bad.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/5/6/8548715/phoenix-suns-2014-15-report-cards-markieff-morris-steps-up-on-the

Unfortunately flip wanted Payne last year so that means AB is out, but nobody will offer anything for him, so he'll sit on the bench until somebody gets hurt, which means he'll play a lot this year

I'd jump all over the Morris idea. He is signed for four years at next to nothing compared to what most PF's just got in FA. His limited rebounding is my biggest concern, but separating him from his brother (who was traded already) is likely to help with the headcase issues. If we could move Bennett and Payne, we could open a roster spot ( not for Hummel, Q :) ) and tighten up our PF position by having a guaranteed capable healthy starter. Don't see a downside. At his price, he will always be moveable.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Would anyone here trade AB for Markieff Morris? Is he too much of a jackass to take a chance on? He is on the hook for another 3 or 4 years I think. He is a helluva lot more effective than AB is though. I'd throw in Payne as well.

Markieff Morris is a MUCH better basketball player than Bennett. Will he bring baggage you can't unpack? That's the only issue. Here's a pretty in-depth article on Morris... both good and bad.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/5/6/8548715/phoenix-suns-2014-15-report-cards-markieff-morris-steps-up-on-the

We know that the 25 year old Morris is a much better basketball player than the 21 year old Bennett, but is that really a fair comparison. This board has largely written AB off after two seasons...I would argue that we would have written Morris off also. Here is the comparison between AB and Morris in their second seasons (keeping in mind that Morris was two years older in his second season).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2013&p1=morrima02&y2=2015&p2=bennean01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

On a per 36 basis, points and rebounds are nearly identical. As are almost all the other offensive measures. Morris has a clear advantage in defensive stats, but we all know defensive stats are muddier than offensive ones, and he also benefited from being 2 years older and having more minutes played.

So what happened to Morris in his third and 4th years that makes some of us want to consider trading AB for him? He got better, as so many NBA players do after their first couple years. Morris' experience is not that unusual, and that's exactly why I advocate patience as the right approach to the AB situation.

now that its happened and over does anyone else have a hard time NOT reading something into Bennett not being there last night? every other young player healthy was there. Maybe LST was on to something maybe Bennett is unhappy or at the very least unsure about his situation and didn't want to be a part of anything. I usually try not to read too much into stuff but I can't help but think there is something going on especially with Ryan Saunder's quote.

Below is a link to an article from April 15 and then a quote from Flip.

http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_27919498/timberwolves-andrew-wiggins-will-play-canadian-national-team

Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said Wiggins and fellow Canadian Anthony Bennett will be with assistant coach Ryan Saunders and a strength coach during the games in Monterrey, Mexico.

"It will be a controlled situation," Saunders said. "He will be under a watchful eye. We've talked to (Canadian officials), and they have been open in both (Wiggins) and AB, these are big summers for them."

I'd honestly rather have Bennett keep working on his game than worry about hanging out with the rest of the team right now. If he doesn't get significantly better he won't be around the team much longer anyways. Practicing with the summer league team isn't as important as him bringing his best to training camp this year.

Article on Bennett and Team Canada for the Pan Am games. I will take back my earlier speculation on why Bennett was missing from the scrimmage since the naming of the team for Canada for the Pan Am games is the 18th which only a few days away. At least there are a couple other guys on that team I like so its not just Bennett to watch if I can see any games. lol

http://www.bramptonguardian.com/pan-am-games-story/5715892-bennett-to-lead-canada/

on the plus side it looks liek Bennett will be playing for both the Pan Am games and some Fifa qualifying games. The Wolves may have something decent to go on before they even get to training camp.