Minnesota Sports Forum

KG4Ever wrote:I'd really only want a couple 30 something vets for locker room leadership. I would resign Deng and then try to sign one of the following cheaply: Patrick Lin, Dante Cunningham, Sefolosha, Bogut or Vince Carter

I'm not sure we are going to even sign a guy like that since we supposedly passed on Tolliver. Right now we have 14 roster spots filled assuming we sign Nowell and keep Tyus. Graham and Napier on non guaranteed so either of those guys could go. Wolfson said that Graham's people have been led to believe he will be around past the guarantee date. At this point the vet mentor types are Teague, Covington, and Dieng.

I think the 30-something locker room leadership thing is way overrated. In any event, the Wolves are beyond that now. KAT and Tyus have been in the League 4 seasons while Wiggins has been in the League 5 seasons. Teague is a long-time 31/32 year old vet and Covington turns 30 this season. Gorgui is going on 30 and has been in the League 6 seasons. The Wolves need talent, preferably young players with lots of upside who could possibly form the core of a contender in a few years.

lipoli390 wrote:I think the 30-something locker room leadership thing is way overrated. In any event, the Wolves are beyond that now. KAT and Tyus have been in the League 4 seasons while Wiggins has been in the League 5 seasons. Teague is a long-time 31/32 year old vet and Covington turns 30 this season. Gorgui is going on 30 and has been in the League 6 seasons. The Wolves need talent, preferably young players with lots of upside who could possibly form the core of a contender in a few years.

I think having a vet presence does have value. I would be fine if we added one other guy. On the other hand I'm perfectly fine using that other roster spot for a younger player that could turn into something of value. When Flip brought in some old guys I think that was good (even if he gave up to much for KG). Back then in theory we had our core. Right now we have Towns and a legit high end vet in Covington and guys that are either question marks (even if they are intriguing talents) or guys that won't be a significant part of the team in the future. Like you said ts not like its a roster full of rookies or something. A number of these guys are now young vets including Towns. It also helps we aren't trying to break in some young PG into the rotation.

Not much left, but still a few guys I'd like to see us get at minimum or near minimum deals:
Trey Burke, KCP, RHJ, Cheick Diallo, Alan Williams, Justin Patton (flier on his foot), Angel Delgado and Cam Reynolds

Any interest in signing any of the above guys?

monsterpile wrote:

KG4Ever wrote:I'd really only want a couple 30 something vets for locker room leadership. I would resign Deng and then try to sign one of the following cheaply: Patrick Lin, Dante Cunningham, Sefolosha, Bogut or Vince Carter

I'm not sure we are going to even sign a guy like that since we supposedly passed on Tolliver. Right now we have 14 roster spots filled assuming we sign Nowell and keep Tyus. Graham and Napier on non guaranteed so either of those guys could go. Wolfson said that Graham's people have been led to believe he will be around past the guarantee date. At this point the vet mentor types are Teague, Covington, and Dieng.

Teague is our mentor and he seems very accepting of that role. I may have issues with him at times on the court, but off the court i think he's a fantastic teammate and loves the young guys.

Hes working with all the new guys in summer league and will be on the bench as a coach. He was the anti-teague, non timberbull that the others went to.

KG4Ever wrote:Not much left, but still a few guys I'd like to see us get at minimum or near minimum deals:
Trey Burke, KCP, RHJ, Cheick Diallo, Alan Williams, Justin Patton (flier on his foot), Angel Delgado and Cam Reynolds

Any interest in signing any of the above guys?

Interesting that KCP is still out there. He had such great potential coming out of college. I was really high on him - one of my big misses. I think he's had multiple DUIs -- sign of an alcohol problem. I don't think I'd sign him, but I wouldn't complain if we did. Trey Burke hasn't shown anything since he's been in the League and I don't really see any upside there. Patton's foot is the least of his problems. Someone who knows him said the same thing about him I heard someone in the Wolves organization say years ago about Derrick Williams - he likes the NBA lifestyle a lot more than he likes the game. Patton's time with the Wolves was too long as it was. He won't be in the League much longer. And his name is as painful reminder to me of the guy we should have drafted, John Collins.

Cheik Diallo would be my first choice, but having signed both Bell and Vonleh, he no longer makes sense for the Wolves. Alan Williams is another PF who wouldn't make much sense for the Wolves in light of our last two signings. Delgado is interesting as another center, but I haven't seen anything in him that suggests he's worth our last one or two roster spots.

Unless Diallo is interested, I think Cam Reynolds emerges as the most sensible signing in this group. I'm still scratching my head over the decision to release him in the first place. Rosas and Gupta aren't dumb. They must have released him as a favor to him and his agent. In any event, he might be back.

I think cam comes back.

I think our starters are capable enough shooting 3's, but our bench is weak. Is vonleh pur best 3pt shooter on the bench?

I would say either Deng or Reynolds. I still think there is value in Deng a player that just knows where he needs to go, makes the right cut and still brings solid vet leadership (I agree with Lip I think vet leadership is overrated but we have a lot of young players right now and I am fine with one bench vet that just knows what he is doing). Also bring Tyus back

So a lineup of
PG: Teauge/Tyus/Napier
SG: Okogie/Culver/Nowell
SF: Wiggins/KBD/(Deng or Reynolds)
PF: Cov/Vonleh/Graham
C: Towns/Dieng/Bell

With 2-way guys in Ried and a guy who impresses in summer league like Tyus Battle.

*I understand that a lot of the guys I put in the lineup can play multiple positions.

crazy-canuck wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

KG4Ever wrote:I'd really only want a couple 30 something vets for locker room leadership. I would resign Deng and then try to sign one of the following cheaply: Patrick Lin, Dante Cunningham, Sefolosha, Bogut or Vince Carter

I'm not sure we are going to even sign a guy like that since we supposedly passed on Tolliver. Right now we have 14 roster spots filled assuming we sign Nowell and keep Tyus. Graham and Napier on non guaranteed so either of those guys could go. Wolfson said that Graham's people have been led to believe he will be around past the guarantee date. At this point the vet mentor types are Teague, Covington, and Dieng.

Teague is our mentor and he seems very accepting of that role. I may have issues with him at times on the court, but off the court i think he's a fantastic teammate and loves the young guys.

Hes working with all the new guys in summer league and will be on the bench as a coach. He was the anti-teague, non timberbull that the others went to.

I agree with you on Teague. I've been a vocal critic of the contract Thibodeau gave Teague as well as Teague's tendency to stall the ball. But by all accounts and what we've all seen, he's a terrific teammate and great mentor to the younger guys. I love that he called out Thibodeau for a number of things, including the lack of minutes for Tyus and Thibodeau's failure to incorporate switching into the team's defense. I get the sense that Teague has a high basketball IQ. I think he'll eventually become an NBA or college coach. So no wonder he's coaching summer league practices.

I was all for trading him if necessary to free up cap space for Russell. But at this point, I'm happy to have him as our starting PG to open the season and perhaps for the entire season.

lipoli390 wrote:

KG4Ever wrote:Not much left, but still a few guys I'd like to see us get at minimum or near minimum deals:
Trey Burke, KCP, RHJ, Cheick Diallo, Alan Williams, Justin Patton (flier on his foot), Angel Delgado and Cam Reynolds

Any interest in signing any of the above guys?

Interesting that KCP is still out there. He had such great potential coming out of college. I was really high on him - one of my big misses. I think he's had multiple DUIs -- sign of an alcohol problem. I don't think I'd sign him, but I wouldn't complain if we did. Trey Burke hasn't shown anything since he's been in the League and I don't really see any upside there. Patton's foot is the least of his problems. Someone who knows him said the same thing about him I heard someone in the Wolves organization say years ago about Derrick Williams - he likes the NBA lifestyle a lot more than he likes the game. Patton's time with the Wolves was too long as it was. He won't be in the League much longer. And his name is as painful reminder to me of the guy we should have drafted, John Collins.

Cheik Diallo would be my first choice, but having signed both Bell and Vonleh, he no longer makes sense for the Wolves. Alan Williams is another PF who wouldn't make much sense for the Wolves in light of our last two signings. Delgado is interesting as another center, but I haven't seen anything in him that suggests he's worth our last one or two roster spots.

Unless Diallo is interested, I think Cam Reynolds emerges as the most sensible signing in this group. I'm still scratching my head over the decision to release him in the first place. Rosas and Gupta aren't dumb. They must have released him as a favor to him and his agent. In any event, he might be back.

I'd take a flier on any of these guys if there was a reasonable role for them.

Burke's per 36 numbers the last 2 seasons would have him a 20ppg scorer. If you need a guy like that (who also dishes out some assists) for dirt cheap then sure.

As far as Cam Reynolds I think Graham is his replacement. I certainly wouldn't mind having Cam back though. I wonder if either the Wolves or Cam would consider a 2-way deal. We will have to see what the summer league brings both for Terrell and any other players the Wolves have a chance at signing. Troy Williams unfortunately still can't shoot the three.