Minnesota Sports Forum

I would. It is really tough. I don't think he would cause chemistry issues. It would be a step back this year, but I think it is harder to find a good SG than PG. It would be better if it also meant we had a trade that sent Shabazz for a PG. If the trade also include Shabazz and MCW it would be easy for me. (not a huge MCW fan, but he would be a good stop gap player and good future backup when you address PG in FA or draft)

Man is it still tough, because I almost think the trade would be more about LaVine than Rubio and how it would impact him. He would become our 6th man.

I voted no. Close call for me and was initial reaction was yes. Two main reasons for my no:

1. The trade would leave a huge hole at a key position - PG - with no obvious successor.

2. We already have a SG named Zach LaVine with the potential to be great. Zach and Wiggins are best friends. Towns and LaVine are also tight. There's a chemistry among these three young talents that needs to be factored in. As a rebuilding team I'd rather cast my lot with Zach as our SG while keeping Ricky as our PG, knowing that at age 25 it's unlikely Ricky's trade value will decline and may even increase.

I would but mainly because I really like Middleton. I also feel that currently it is easier to find average point guard than to find elite three and D guy like Middleton. We could try to get Conley next summer or Teague one year later and have great starting five

I believe that Middleton is following Jimmy Butler in his development steps and might be all star level wing already next season. This year he has clearly improved his passing and he is averaging more than 4 assists per game. He is also drawing much more fouls than in previous years.

Voted no. If you don't move Zach to point guard I don't see How Middleton starts for us. I'd prefer Zach to be our starting 2 going forward, and we find a dynamic point guard later.

Zach would get plenty of minutes with Middleton on the team. All 3 could easily play 32 minutes a night. Since both Wiggins and Middleton could play SF. I could even see a small ball lineup where all 3 would be on the court. It would really come down to what you do with PG. It would either go the route of Dallas and the musical point guards, draft a PG and hope, or go all in on Conley and hope the Griz let him walk.

Mikkeman wrote:I would but mainly because I really like Middleton. I also feel that currently it is easier to find average point guard than to find elite three and D guy like Middleton. We could try to get Conley next summer or Teague one year later and have great starting five

I believe that Middleton is following Jimmy Butler in his development steps and might be all star level wing already next season. This year he has clearly improved his passing and he is averaging more than 4 assists per game. He is also drawing much more fouls than in previous years.

I was thinking the same thing as you. Also was thinking he is going to be the next Butler.

bleedspeed177 wrote:Zach would get plenty of minutes with Middleton on the team. All 3 could easily play 32 minutes a night. Since both Wiggins and Middleton could play SF. I could even see a small ball lineup where all 3 would be on the court. It would really come down to what you do with PG. It would either go the route of Dallas and the musical point guards, draft a PG and hope, or go all in on Conley and hope the Griz let him walk.

Excellent point. Minutes are key and there are enough minutes for Wiggins, Middleton, and LaVine to share.

If you could do Bazz for MCW in the trade as well I think you're set up with a decent stop gap PG. Hopefully we can get a PG in the draft as well.

TRKO wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:Zach would get plenty of minutes with Middleton on the team. All 3 could easily play 32 minutes a night. Since both Wiggins and Middleton could play SF. I could even see a small ball lineup where all 3 would be on the court. It would really come down to what you do with PG. It would either go the route of Dallas and the musical point guards, draft a PG and hope, or go all in on Conley and hope the Griz let him walk.

Excellent point. Minutes are key and there are enough minutes for Wiggins, Middleton, and LaVine to share.

If you could do Bazz for MCW in the trade as well I think you're set up with a decent stop gap PG. Hopefully we can get a PG in the draft as well.

Who else with Muhammad?

MCW is readily disparaged and has his issues... but I think he has more value than Muhammad.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

TRKO wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:Zach would get plenty of minutes with Middleton on the team. All 3 could easily play 32 minutes a night. Since both Wiggins and Middleton could play SF. I could even see a small ball lineup where all 3 would be on the court. It would really come down to what you do with PG. It would either go the route of Dallas and the musical point guards, draft a PG and hope, or go all in on Conley and hope the Griz let him walk.

Excellent point. Minutes are key and there are enough minutes for Wiggins, Middleton, and LaVine to share.

If you could do Bazz for MCW in the trade as well I think you're set up with a decent stop gap PG. Hopefully we can get a PG in the draft as well.

Who else with Muhammad?

MCW is readily disparaged and has his issues... but I think he has more value than Muhammad.

I think we all can agree the Rubio for Middleton trade won't happen and for the trade to work MCW has to somewhere and if the Wolves add Middleton Bazz has to go. So year Rubio Bazz for Middleton MCW makes sense. I actually sorta feel Bazz may have more value long term than MCW. Why? If MCW isn't a starter how useful is he? He is a poor shooting PG that doesn't have a good defensive reputation and there seems to be a little bit of an attitude type issue with him. Bazz might never be a starter but it's pretty easy to see a role for him as a bench scorer energy guy. I agree Abe MCW for all his worts probably is more valuable right now and he could get to the right place and be better than he is (Dallas would be a good spot for him) but I've soured on him a little the last few months.

Anyway this conversation outlines sort of the issue with saying yes to the Rubio for Middleton deal. It basically means you have to start making at least 2 other fairly significant moves. That could be just fine but it's also worriesome about whether or not they will be the right moves.

So the problem people are stating about LaVine would also be an issue if we signed Batum in the offseason. I would say Middleton is better than Batum, but like Rubio better than Conley. It is interesting to think of this outside the vacuum of just this deal.