Russell to the Wolves?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Russell's RPM was 425th in league, close to the bottom.

Zach Lavine was the worst player in the NBA for 3 months during his rookie year. Who would want that scrub now? Oh, all 30 NBA teams. Guys improve.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I highlighted last year how Russell plays poorly against good teams and feasts on terrible teams. Guess what happened this past year. His 2 best games were against Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans (with Davis and many starters out). Against good teams he is shooting worse than 40%.

[Monster]

Wow, great find crazysauce! I'm looking forward to reading people's thoughts on this topic, because I'm up in the air. If the Lakers are really trying to move Russell, and the Wolves are deemed to be a likely partner because of #5 and his relationship with KAT, this topic isn't quite as hypothetical as some of the other topics we've covered recently.

I thought about where Russell might go in this year's draft before I read any responses, and Cam might be going in the same direction I'm going in. A freshman coming off a good year is usually more highly regarded than an upperclassman, so I tend to think Russell would be top five this year...ahead of Dunn and Hield, but perhaps behind Murray. I think he would be somewhere in a tier with Murray and Bender, so trading a #5 pick for him has some logic from both sides.

Then there is the KAT relationship. I think all of us have been enormously impressed with KAT's character and basketball acumen, and if he was supportive of a deal like this, that would be a terrific endorsement.

Russell's first season was mixed, but I think his results have to be tempered by the oddity of the situation he found himself in. But still, his post All-star stats were quite good. 15-3-3 and 39% on threes. Yes, the assist total is low, but keep in mind Kobe handled the ball most of the time.

Defensively, he needs some work. I didn't watch him much his rookie season and actually thought he was impressive in his 2 games the prior year against the Gophers, but clearly his defensive reputation is not very good.

I thought Russell was a highly skilled, almost unique, offensive player coming out of college, with a very high ceiling. I was not surprised that he went #2 last year in a pretty good draft. But I'm not sure about the fit here. I don't know if he is a classic PG, or if he has some potential to play SG. Like I said, I'm on the fence on this one...it's certainly intriguing.

LST I am surprised you didn't shoot this down right away. Think of all that extra money we are gonna have to pay Russell over #5 or trading down and have to give him that big contract a year earlier!

Just giving you are hard time.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Russell's RPM was 425th in league, close to the bottom.

Zach Lavine was the worst player in the NBA for 3 months during his rookie year. Who would want that scrub now? Oh, all 30 NBA teams. Guys improve.

Russell shot like crap last year too. Rusell was taken 2nd overall and was voted 10th place in the rookie of year voting. He didn't perform well and he's not worth the 5th pick this year. Also you have character issues in place with this guy with the Young incident and even last year he rubbed me the wrong way with his bragging and showboating.

Zach has loads more athleticism than Russell and I'm not happy with Zach's overall play last year, but he has the athleticism and work ethic to be a decent player. Russell, I'm much less sure about.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Oh, man. I'll just say this. The vast majority of rookie point guards are trash their first year in the NBA. And Russell's numbers stack up well to some of the game's best when they were rookies.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Russell's RPM was 425th in league, close to the bottom.

Zach Lavine was the worst player in the NBA for 3 months during his rookie year. Who would want that scrub now? Oh, all 30 NBA teams. Guys improve.

I get that, but Russell shot like crap last year too. Rusell was taken 2nd overall and was voted 10th place in the rookie of year voting. He didn't perform well and he's not worth the 5th pick this year. Also you have character issues in place with this guy with the Young incident and even last year he rubbed me the wrong way with his bragging and showboating.

39% from 3 after the all-star break is not crap. He has to adjust to the next level to get more efficient, but that's most rookies (including out own Wiggins and Lavine). NBA players carry themselves with a swagger normal human beings do not. If bragging and showboating rub you the wrong way you must hate the entire Warriors roster, Lebron and Westbrook.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Oh, man. I'll just say this. The vast majority of rookie point guards are trash their first year in the NBA. And Russell's numbers stack up well to some of the game's best when they were rookies.

You make some very ridiculous statements and don't put forth any facts to support your assertions. He was voted 10th for Rookie of Year. Obviously he didn't fare well given that he was taken 2nd overall. RPM which you claim you think is a good stat portrays him as a poor player. His True Shooting Percentage is not very good either. He had a lousy year, just admit it.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Russell's RPM was 425th in league, close to the bottom.

Zach Lavine was the worst player in the NBA for 3 months during his rookie year. Who would want that scrub now? Oh, all 30 NBA teams. Guys improve.

I get that, but Russell shot like crap last year too. Rusell was taken 2nd overall and was voted 10th place in the rookie of year voting. He didn't perform well and he's not worth the 5th pick this year. Also you have character issues in place with this guy with the Young incident and even last year he rubbed me the wrong way with his bragging and showboating.

39% from 3 after the all-star break is not crap. He has to adjust to the next level to get more efficient, but that's most rookies (including out own Wiggins and Lavine). NBA players carry themselves with a swagger normal human beings do not. If bragging and showboating rub you the wrong way you must hate the entire Warriors roster, Lebron and Westbrook.

When mediocre players like Russell and McCants think they are superstars and brag about how good they are, that turns me off. Guys that are great don't need to boast about themselves and most don't. They let their actions speak for themselves. I watch lots of Warriors games and they are a classy bunch. LeBron is a classy guy too and one of the best players ever, so there is no comparison. Nice to cherrypick stats, but Russell has not been impressive.

[Duke13]

It my opinion a large number of decision makers in the NBA would take Dunn over Russell at this point.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

It my opinion a large number of decision makers in the NBA would take Dunn over Russell at this point.

I agree with that.