Minnesota Sports Forum

Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

I'd say when Pek was healthy he was a pretty good player but that was a special situation which the Wolves actually had something go their way for once and McHale actually made a decent trade to get that pick. Honestly if I was going to get a young pretty good center for this team I've been thinking getting a young Stephen Adams would be nice.

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

Kat is a Center, he plays all his minutes as Center. I am not in the belief that Kat is a PF. I don't think he can guard the Paul George's, LBJs of the world at PF.

So Kat has been a top 10 Center for the last 5 years. Pek was a top 10 Center, Al Jefferson was a top 10 Center. Wolves have had good moments of having top ten center guys.

Im just saying in todays NBA you can go get some great Centers for pretty cheap in Marc Gasol, Nurkic, Capela, Drummond who were traded for 2nd round pick, one had a 1st attatched to him and the most expensive buy was a lotto protect 1st in a projected weak draft to get Capela. Pretty low standards to acquire that talent.

kekgeek1 wrote:

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

Kat is a Center, he plays all his minutes as Center. I am not in the belief that Kat is a PF. I don't think he can guard the Paul George's, LBJs of the world at PF.

So Kat has been a top 10 Center for the last 5 years. Pek was a top 10 Center, Al Jefferson was a top 10 Center. Wolves have had good moments of having top ten center guys.

Im just saying in todays NBA you can go get some great Centers for pretty cheap in Marc Gasol, Nurkic, Capela, Drummond who were traded for 2nd round pick, one had a 1st attatched to him and the most expensive buy was a lotto protect 1st in a projected weak draft to get Capela. Pretty low standards to acquire that talent.

You are missing a MASSIVE point when you talk about these guys and compensation received. They were traded for the small amounts you mention because of their contract size, and/or team strategy. The Rockets, as an example, are misguided in thinking they can win with like 5 G/F types (my opinion obviously). But this strategy made Capela expendable in favor of a guy like Cov. These guys were all making a ton of money, and blocking the opportunity for teams to get better at other spots. It is not easy in today's NBA to trade anyone that makes $20M+, as almost no one has that kind of extra cap space. Thus, teams are forced to take pennies on dollar to focus roster attention on different positions. If Capela was making $8M per season, he would have certainly commanded a ransom in a trade.

Hicks123 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

Kat is a Center, he plays all his minutes as Center. I am not in the belief that Kat is a PF. I don't think he can guard the Paul George's, LBJs of the world at PF.

So Kat has been a top 10 Center for the last 5 years. Pek was a top 10 Center, Al Jefferson was a top 10 Center. Wolves have had good moments of having top ten center guys.

Im just saying in todays NBA you can go get some great Centers for pretty cheap in Marc Gasol, Nurkic, Capela, Drummond who were traded for 2nd round pick, one had a 1st attatched to him and the most expensive buy was a lotto protect 1st in a projected weak draft to get Capela. Pretty low standards to acquire that talent.

You are missing a MASSIVE point when you talk about these guys and compensation received. They were traded for the small amounts you mention because of their contract size, and/or team strategy. The Rockets, as an example, are misguided in thinking they can win with like 5 G/F types (my opinion obviously). But this strategy made Capela expendable in favor of a guy like Cov. These guys were all making a ton of money, and blocking the opportunity for teams to get better at other spots. It is not easy in today's NBA to trade anyone that makes $20M+, as almost no one has that kind of extra cap space. Thus, teams are forced to take pennies on dollar to focus roster attention on different positions. If Capela was making $8M per season, he would have certainly commanded a ransom in a trade.

You make a good point but Capela was making pretty reasonable money. He tops out at just over 18 million in his final year of his contract. He made under 15 million the season he was traded and then his deal goes up about a million a year. Sure a lot of teams didn't/won't have much money but with the cap Likely to be going up Every year when that trade was made his deal was at least market value. Now can a team sign a guy that does say around 75% of what Capela does for like a third or maybe even a tenth of what he will get paid? Probably. For example much can a team get Whiteside for this offseason? To continue your point part of why Covington has the value he does is his contract is very reasonable for his value. He costs about 4 million less per year than Capela. That's a decent chunk of money.

monsterpile wrote:

Hicks123 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

Kat is a Center, he plays all his minutes as Center. I am not in the belief that Kat is a PF. I don't think he can guard the Paul George's, LBJs of the world at PF.

So Kat has been a top 10 Center for the last 5 years. Pek was a top 10 Center, Al Jefferson was a top 10 Center. Wolves have had good moments of having top ten center guys.

Im just saying in todays NBA you can go get some great Centers for pretty cheap in Marc Gasol, Nurkic, Capela, Drummond who were traded for 2nd round pick, one had a 1st attatched to him and the most expensive buy was a lotto protect 1st in a projected weak draft to get Capela. Pretty low standards to acquire that talent.

You are missing a MASSIVE point when you talk about these guys and compensation received. They were traded for the small amounts you mention because of their contract size, and/or team strategy. The Rockets, as an example, are misguided in thinking they can win with like 5 G/F types (my opinion obviously). But this strategy made Capela expendable in favor of a guy like Cov. These guys were all making a ton of money, and blocking the opportunity for teams to get better at other spots. It is not easy in today's NBA to trade anyone that makes $20M+, as almost no one has that kind of extra cap space. Thus, teams are forced to take pennies on dollar to focus roster attention on different positions. If Capela was making $8M per season, he would have certainly commanded a ransom in a trade.

You make a good point but Capela was making pretty reasonable money. He tops out at just over 18 million in his final year of his contract. He made under 15 million the season he was traded and then his deal goes up about a million a year. Sure a lot of teams didn't/won't have much money but with the cap Likely to be going up Every year when that trade was made his deal was at least market value. Now can a team sign a guy that does say around 75% of what Capela does for like a third or maybe even a tenth of what he will get paid? Probably. For example much can a team get Whiteside for this offseason? To continue your point part of why Covington has the value he does is his contract is very reasonable for his value. He costs about 4 million less per year than Capela. That's a decent chunk of money.

Agree Monster. It just needed to be said that while some Centers were seemingly traded for pennies, this is NOT a realistic avenue for Wolves due to cap constraints. That could not likely take on a Capela or Drummond contract for a "2nd round pick" due to cap.

I am seemingly one of only a few that think this team will only succeed if they can get a big guy that can play next to KAT that is an elite defensive player. Our interior defense is atrocious, and I just don't believe this team is set up to win any other way.

Hicks123 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Hicks123 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

Kat is a Center, he plays all his minutes as Center. I am not in the belief that Kat is a PF. I don't think he can guard the Paul George's, LBJs of the world at PF.

So Kat has been a top 10 Center for the last 5 years. Pek was a top 10 Center, Al Jefferson was a top 10 Center. Wolves have had good moments of having top ten center guys.

Im just saying in todays NBA you can go get some great Centers for pretty cheap in Marc Gasol, Nurkic, Capela, Drummond who were traded for 2nd round pick, one had a 1st attatched to him and the most expensive buy was a lotto protect 1st in a projected weak draft to get Capela. Pretty low standards to acquire that talent.

You are missing a MASSIVE point when you talk about these guys and compensation received. They were traded for the small amounts you mention because of their contract size, and/or team strategy. The Rockets, as an example, are misguided in thinking they can win with like 5 G/F types (my opinion obviously). But this strategy made Capela expendable in favor of a guy like Cov. These guys were all making a ton of money, and blocking the opportunity for teams to get better at other spots. It is not easy in today's NBA to trade anyone that makes $20M+, as almost no one has that kind of extra cap space. Thus, teams are forced to take pennies on dollar to focus roster attention on different positions. If Capela was making $8M per season, he would have certainly commanded a ransom in a trade.

You make a good point but Capela was making pretty reasonable money. He tops out at just over 18 million in his final year of his contract. He made under 15 million the season he was traded and then his deal goes up about a million a year. Sure a lot of teams didn't/won't have much money but with the cap Likely to be going up Every year when that trade was made his deal was at least market value. Now can a team sign a guy that does say around 75% of what Capela does for like a third or maybe even a tenth of what he will get paid? Probably. For example much can a team get Whiteside for this offseason? To continue your point part of why Covington has the value he does is his contract is very reasonable for his value. He costs about 4 million less per year than Capela. That's a decent chunk of money.

Agree Monster. It just needed to be said that while some Centers were seemingly traded for pennies, this is NOT a realistic avenue for Wolves due to cap constraints. That could not likely take on a Capela or Drummond contract for a "2nd round pick" due to cap.

I am seemingly one of only a few that think this team will only succeed if they can get a big guy that can play next to KAT that is an elite defensive player. Our interior defense is atrocious, and I just don't believe this team is set up to win any other way.

Hicks - I had to chime in here as one of those few with you who believe the Wolves need to put a quality defensive big next to KAT. There are some draft prospects who could potentially fill that role, including Wiseman, Okongwu, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed and Ukoka Azubuike. Of course, the Wolves organization doesn't appear interested in a defensive big to play alongside KAT. But we'll see.

Wiseman would be my number 1 target. I agree with all those who said that we need a rim protecting big next to KAT. KAT is so good offensively that he can play with anybody and any style of play.

Forget the 1 big lineup. KAT-Wiseman frontcourt gives us an advantage over most frontcourt. With DLO, Beasley(resign) and KAT, we got 3 top tier volume 3 pt shooters to spread the floor. All 3 are below average defender so you need Wiseman there and 1 of culver/okogie with them in the starting lineup and we have a well balance team.

KAT is going to be a matchup problem for most teams at the 4. We got 3 scorers/shooters and a athletic and mobile rim protector(wiseman) and a above average wing defender (culver/okogie) in the starting lineup. Roles and pecking order are clearly defined in that theoretical starting lineup. The best teams have players that play their roles perfectly. KAT is the man on offense. DLO is the 2nd in command and Beasley is the sharpshooter/ energy 3rd guy. Wiseman protects the rim on defense and rim run on offense. Culver/okogie defends the best perimeter guy and contribute on offense with movement off the ball, improve 3pt shooting, opportunistic drive and playmaking.

monsterpile wrote:

mrhockey89 wrote:Question for those saying we can get a Clint Capella-type top 10 center in the 2nd round. Not that I disagree that it's possible to get those players later, when is the last time the Wolves had a center of that caliber (I'm going to count Towns and KG as PF here since KG was primarily PF and we all seem to agree Towns needs a center next to him). Have we ever had a center of the Capella caliber? And if not, what makes us think we're suddenly going to find one now?

I'd say when Pek was healthy he was a pretty good player but that was a special situation which the Wolves actually had something go their way for once and McHale actually made a decent trade to get that pick. Honestly if I was going to get a young pretty good center for this team I've been thinking getting a young Stephen Adams would be nice.

Good point about Pek, I had forgot about him. I seem to recall we could have also taken DeAndre Jordan that year. I'm a fan of Stephen Adams as well.

I agree with those saying the Wolves need a defensive big that can protect the rim (and rebound) next to Towns to win. If we can get a Gobert/Jordan/Capela/Adams in the draft with our 2nd or 3rd pick, by all means. Last time we tried, we ended up with Dieng over Gobert, so that makes me nervous. Not like Dieng was terrible, but getting another Dieng won't do anything for this team.