Andre Miller - per Doogie

[Lipoli390]

Cam -- The Wolves will probably give up Barea and something else. I share your frustration with Barea's hero ball, but I honestly can't see any PG making his teammates better on our horrible second unit. Can't get blood from a turnip. That cliche applies to our second unit. I wish I had a dollar for every time JJ set upon Dante for a completely wide open mid-range jumper that he missed. Shved makes Ricky look like a sharp-shooter. Turiaf takes the term "offensively challenged" to a new level. Luc is a right-handler with two left hands. Thankfully it appears that Adelman has gotten over his crush on Robbie. Maybe Budinger will come around, but so far this decent-shooting career bench player has looked horrible, missing wide open jumpers, and we can't blame his horrific shooting thus far on JJ.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I understand that our bench isn't perfect by any means. Hell, it's not even good right now without some tweaks (Neal trade please). I believe a huge part of the bench being bottom of the league quality is Barea. He doesn't put anyone in good position to score. That Cunningham 18-footer is a really inefficient shot and that's the only one that JJ can consistently set up, in my opinion.

[Lipoli390]

Cam - Let's not mince words. Our bench is horrible!! JJ has been surrounded by guys who simply can't shoot or do anything else on the offensive end. Chris Paul couldn't get anything out of these guys.

Believe me, I'd like to deal JJ, but not for a a 38 year old plodder who happens to be one of the worst three-point shooting point guards in NBA. I'd wait to find out whether, based on JJ 'a play for Dallas in the playoffs several years, a true contender sees JJ as that final piece for a playoff run. Otherwise I'd hold onto JJ until this summer when we might be able to package him with draft picks or wait until the trade deadline next season when JJ's expiring contract will enhance his value.

[Coolbreeze44]

The Wolves will get Miller. The Kings have more assets to get him, but they're too smart to give up much. Miller is Flip's kind of guy -- he's old (turning 38 in March) with an old man's game, slow and unathletic. Did I mention that Miller is a 21% three-point shooter? On a young team with a lot of fast, high flying athletes, miller might have value as a solid, steadying presence. But on the already slow, plodding, poor-shooting Wolves 2nd unit, he won't add much -- particularly when you consider he'll likely be replacing a 35% career three-point shooter who happens to be this team's
only player who can score on dribble penetration. Barea frustrates me too, but consider who he's been playing with as part of our team's pathetic D-League caliber second unit. And that's an insult to the D-league.

Totally agree Lip

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Lip, I disagree here. You are absolutely correct that Miller brings us basically NOTHING as a 3 point shooter. But I would say, who cares. He will be a MUCH better facilitator of the basketball, which I would argue is more important with the team of misfits on this 2nd line. He is also a much better defender than JJ, even at 37. While you are correct that this unit has little talent, I can't believe that you actually think that a better facilitator won't make life easier for these guys. Also, while not the 3pt threat, Miller provides virtually the same scoring on fewer shots...he is simply the more efficient player. And the fact that he is a plodder doesn't matter either. What we need from this unit is CONSISTENCY, which over his career is Miller's strength, but JJ's weakness. Miller won't likely win you many games on his own like Barea does once in a blue moon, but he also won't destroy your team flow and lose you games on a regular basis as we have seen from JJ this year. Also, the big win for us here would be to shed JJ's salary from our future roster. This would be a HUGE win for us....assuming we don't give up all that much in the process.

While Miller wouldn't be my top choice, I think he provides several solid "wins" for this team.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I've always liked Miller, and still think that he must have been separated at birth with legendary Richard Pryor, but he's just not the answer right now for the Wolves. I don't have anything new to add here that hasn't already been said, so just weighing in. We need to get more athletic, not less, and a soon to be 38 year old who had an old man's game 10 years ago doesn't make us more athletic. I would prefer to save our "assets" for someone more meaningful.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

If you wanna get a nuggets guard, I'd rather have nate robinson. It would take too much to get him though

[Lipoli390]

Hicks -- You make a solid argument, but we just disagree on this. As for JJ's salary, it is a very reasonable one and not a contract we should be looking to shed. He has only one year left after this one and his salary next season is only $4.3 million. The bad contracts on this team are Budinger's, Brewer's and Martin's.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Hey Lip, I am fine with a disagreement here. I don't dislike Martin's salary as much as some, and I agree that Bud and Brew are really bad contracts, but I find JJ's equally as bad. None of them are horrible players, but none are good either. You can find many similar talents in the NBA making far less money. They are all $2M per players being paid double or more...JJ included. Also, there is no freakin way we find a taker for Bud, and I am almost certain for Brew either. If we have a chance to shed JJ's deal, while not toxic, it would be a win. He just provides so little for $4.3M.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Lip, I disagree here. You are absolutely correct that Miller brings us basically NOTHING as a 3 point shooter. But I would say, who cares. He will be a MUCH better facilitator of the basketball, which I would argue is more important with the team of misfits on this 2nd line. He is also a much better defender than JJ, even at 37. While you are correct that this unit has little talent, I can't believe that you actually think that a better facilitator won't make life easier for these guys. Also, while not the 3pt threat, Miller provides virtually the same scoring on fewer shots...he is simply the more efficient player. And the fact that he is a plodder doesn't matter either. What we need from this unit is CONSISTENCY, which over his career is Miller's strength, but JJ's weakness. Miller won't likely win you many games on his own like Barea does once in a blue moon, but he also won't destroy your team flow and lose you games on a regular basis as we have seen from JJ this year. Also, the big win for us here would be to shed JJ's salary from our future roster. This would be a HUGE win for us....assuming we don't give up all that much in the process.

While Miller wouldn't be my top choice, I think he provides several solid "wins" for this team.

Bingo. 100% agreed.

I've always liked Miller, and still think that he must have been separated at birth with legendary Richard Pryor, but he's just not the answer right now for the Wolves. I don't have anything new to add here that hasn't already been said, so just weighing in. We need to get more athletic, not less, and a soon to be 38 year old who had an old man's game 10 years ago doesn't make us more athletic. I would prefer to save our "assets" for someone more meaningful.

Is Barea the answer, LST? 40 games in and it's pretty evident the answer is no. A 5'8, inconsistent, Puerto Rican no. Miller's pretty much the exact opposite of Barea and as I and plenty others have stated, this bench needs a facilitator, not a sparkplug, which is what JJ is. Age also doesn't mean a thing to me when we're in "win now" mode. In 2010 the Mavs won a title with a 37 year old Jason Kidd. Different players, obviously, but the age thing remains. Both players (JJ/Andre) are maxed out in their potential and they are what they are. Have to think Miller's going to provide what this bench needs even without 3P shooting.

We also don't have the "assetts" to go get a bigger name. Moving JJ for Andre makes sense all around and it's not wasting anything. I'd be willing to bet that Miller actually has more value around the league than Barea does, contract and all.