Minnesota Sports Forum

This is a pretty good radio spot with the AP guy does follows MN sports. I posted this in the Love-Wiggins thread but below are my thoughts because alot of them relate to Thad

Retweeted by Jon Krawczynski
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050 · 21h

Guesting on @TSN1050Radio earlier @APkrawczynski told us he expects the Wolves to hang onto Anthony Bennett. Podcast: http://iphone.tsn.ca/tsnpodcasts/BL_JonKrawczynski_Aug15.mp3 ...

http://iphone.tsn.ca/tsnpodcasts/BL_JonKrawczynski_Aug15.mp3

I thought his point about how Love didn't really have a vet to pull him aside when he was doing something stupid was a good point. This team has been devoid of a true leader for a while and like Flip says leaders tend to be born not made. Its not a rip on guys to a certain extent if they aren't leaders I think you can bring in lesser players that can help you in that regard. Was there a guy on Adelman's staff that was someone that would call guys out? I don't know maybe Porter? Lip may have a feel for that since he was at games I would be curious his thoughts on that.

So it sounds like we are keeping Bennett. That makes sense to me. Why get him in the deal and then just dump him? It seems the draft pick for Thad would make more sense.

Ok now to Thad here are a few reasons I really want Flip to get him and applaud him for if not making the deal trying to make it happen.

I mentioned earlier about the leadership issue on the team. It seems like everything I read Thad is lauded so highly for his approach and willing to lead. That could be huge for a young team to have a young guy thats been in this league been on a winning team. 2011-2012 they took the Celtics to game 7 in the EC semis. I think adding a guy like Thad could have significant impact on the young players on this team. It may go well beyond his impact on the court. Chemistry coaching and vet leadership get over and underrated, but I'll buy in to it at least some on Thad. Mitchell and Terry Porter were both credited with development of the Wolves as players.

After watching that KG video that was posted about how hard he played how much heart he has...wow I couldn't' help but remember the impression reading about Thad and watching him play that he has some KG in him. No not that level of talent or that intensity, but I read about how Thad plays hard every night all about team and just that physical sort of swagger he has on the court like he is built to play basketball. Its difficult to compare any athlete to KG after seeing that video I realize that, but Thad to me seems to have just enough to remind me of KG in parts of him thats really is worth noting. I'm not getting carried away I jut think someone with that sort of makeup is someone I want on the team and someone that would be good for they players to be around.

Thad just seems to embody the type of team Flip has been talking about on Funkadelic. Team, athleticism, versatility, basketball players, guys really going at it all the time. I think adding Thad if he can pull it off could be a really good move both for next year and beyond. I think the chances are actually good we can keep him beyond this year. Bottom line is I really hope this deal for Thad happens.

Hear, hear!

Here is an interesting article on the Wolves interest in getting Thad and makes some interesting comments on his defensive impact.

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/14/nba-timberwolves-thaddeus-young-complications

I think Thad is a good stop gap acquisition. I don't see a long-term fit here unless we get rid of Pek, but Bennett clearly isn't ready to start so it makes sense to get another veteran who can start and give us decent production while not giving us a ton more wins and keeping us in position to add another good talent in next year's draft. I'd let him walk if he gets offered more than 10 million next offseason. I think it's a good plan to essentially have one or more vets available at every position our young guys also play in case any rookie walls are hit or guys just need more time to develop. I've never been a fan of throwing guys out to the no pun intended wolves because very few of them end up like Love who are actually successful, self-made guys. I think more times than not it ends up delaying the development or killing it all together because so much of a young player's success hinges on confidence in their game that they just don't have long-term if they get whooped right out of the gate and aren't given time to add tools to help them not get whooped. August 23rd can't come soon enough to see how this team shapes up after the dust settles.

Great post Khans. One thing about the fit of Thad next to Pek. There aren't a lot of starting PFs. That are a good fit next to Pek meaning defensively. That's why it keeps coming back to Dieng being a real key either as an eventual starter or the defensive big this team has lacked to fix the rim protecting frontcourt problem that's been here since KG left. Bennett is unlikely to be a defensive fit with Pek either.

According to that SI link Bennett will be heading to PHI for Young as part of a 3 team trade. Looks like we will keep the MIA pick and unload an expiring (my guess Barea) to PHI along with Bennett. I can see Shved being bought out or traded for a future 2nd rounder. This would also create a roster space to sign GR3.

My final prediction:

Min receives: Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young, John Lucas (unguaranteed) and MIA 2015 1st.

Cleveland receives: Kevin Love

Philadelphia receives: Anthony Bennett, JJ Barea and future 2nd from MIN.

Rubio / Williams / LeVine
Martin / Budinger / Muhammad
Wiggins / Brewer / GR3
Young / LMAM / Hummell
Pekovic / Dieng / Turiaf

Also if we acquire the MIA pick can that be given to PHX as part of the Wesley Johnson trade?

"Also if we acquire the MIA pick can that be given to PHX as part of the Wesley Johnson trade?"

1. No, we can't. The Johnson trade is already finalized.

2. Why would we want to do this even if it was possible? Chances are we're going to have a top-12 pick next year, barring some great coaching by Flip. That first round pick we owe Phoenix might turn into a couple of second rounders based on the protection on it. That MIA pick should be ours and ours only.

The Wolves could trade it to Phoenix to get the pick back but I doubt that is a legitimate option for the Wolves to consider.

Projecting top 10 PFs for 2014-15

7. Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers
Projected 2014-15 WARP: 8.8 | Win%: 58 percent

If the rumored trade does finally go down, you can see that in going from Love to Young, Minnesota would be losing about six wins of value from its starting power forward position. Young turned into a do-it-all performer toward the end of the Sixers' horrid 2013-14 season after Evan Turner was traded, showing heretofore unseen passing skills and using more possessions than ever. However, that's not his game on a good team.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11384089/nba-projecting-top-10-power-forwards-warp-2014-15

bleedspeed177 wrote:Projecting top 10 PFs for 2014-15

7. Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers
Projected 2014-15 WARP: 8.8 | Win%: 58 percent

If the rumored trade does finally go down, you can see that in going from Love to Young, Minnesota would be losing about six wins of value from its starting power forward position. Young turned into a do-it-all performer toward the end of the Sixers' horrid 2013-14 season after Evan Turner was traded, showing heretofore unseen passing skills and using more possessions than ever. However, that's not his game on a good team.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11384089/nba-projecting-top-10-power-forwards-warp-2014-15

Thanks for posting Bleed. I'm not an insider but I'd like to read that whole article if someone would be willing to post it here.