Wolves-Lakers-Jazz - The DLO Deal

[Q-is-here]

Excerpt from Jon K's article on the deal:

When the Wolves started negotiating with the Jazz for Gobert last summer, they did so in part because they believed Gobert could help unlock Russell's game."

My comment: Another miscalculation by the great TC. DLO was feeding Allen with bounce passes in Brooklyn. That's DLO's game, but it's not Rudy's game with his hands and coordination.

An issue I have with that is they have a head coach in Chris Finch who just doesn't like incorporating much pick-and-roll in into the offense, right or wrong. That's been a stigma since before Finch landed in Minnesota too. It feels like he grits his teeth just talking about it. So then why trade the sun and the stars for a roll man in Rudy Gobert? Why spin it as a move that would "unlock" D'Angelo Russell when they didn't really take full advantage of that? Weird all around. Weird move by Tim Connelly to go get Gobert and then weird usage from Finch. Makes me think they didn't really have an actual vision when they started all of this. Now they're in panic mode trying to do whatever it takes to make Gobert fit versus assembling the best team possible.

I still think that the front office is trying to work two timelines simultaneously, but one is in service to the other.

The short to medium-term timeline is to be a perennial playoff team that is competitive and can potentially win a series or two, but probably not contend (despite how folks may have spun it). Gobert and KAT are central to this timeline.

However, the more important timeline is the Ant-Jaden timeline, both of whom are still 3+ years away from their prime. The first timeline is in service to the longer-term timeline in order to get these guys to stack up games on a competitive team during the regular season and playoff reps early in their career.

Think about this for a second. There are currently only two players on the roster who I absolutely want on the floor no matter what the other team throws at us in terms of matchups - whether they go big, small, or something in between. Ant and Jaden are those two guys. I can't say that with Gobert and KAT. Both could theoretically be played off the floor depending on the opposing team's lineup in crunch time.

[mjs34]

I think it is even worse. The suns just picked up KD for what we gave out for Gobert. We had a young core with all of our picks intact coming off a PO appearance. This season we likely miss the play-in, and have no draft assets for the foreseeable future. The DLO trade is less about what his perceived value was to us, and more about the lakers not wanting Conley. DLO was the prize for them, but somehow Utah comes out with the first round pick. Our GM is being taken to the cleaners on these deals.

What is our defense ranked compared to last year? I asked this because one of our worst defenders has missed a huge portion of the season and essentially replaced by a DPOY. Is our defense better?

Why do you think we will miss the play in tournament?

Yes, our defense is better, but not by much. Also, Gobert has missed a fair amount of games as well.

On top of our extremely difficult remaining schedule, we have lost a huge part of our offense. I don't think Conley can make up for the boost that DLO could give us, and I don't see his D, and game management being a difference maker at this point in his career.

Rudy is going to miss games. He is over 30, and a 7 footer.

[Carlos Danger]

I still think that the front office is trying to work two timelines simultaneously, but one is in service to the other.

The short to medium-term timeline is to be a perennial playoff team that is competitive and can potentially win a series or two, but probably not contend (despite how folks may have spun it). Gobert and KAT are central to this timeline.

However, the more important timeline is the Ant-Jaden timeline, both of whom are still 3+ years away from their prime. The first timeline is in service to the longer-term timeline in order to get these guys to stack up games on a competitive team during the regular season and playoff reps early in their career.

Think about this for a second. There are currently only two players on the roster who I absolutely want on the floor no matter what the other team throws at us in terms of matchups - whether they go big, small, or something in between. Ant and Jaden are those two guys. I can't say that with Gobert and KAT. Both could theoretically be played off the floor depending on the opposing team's lineup in crunch time.

I agree with the two timeline thought process. As Wolves fans, we've certainly watched many groups of young guys come and go (LaVine/Wiggins/KAT) but they didn't have success. Give the young guys a little time and some help from veteran players. It's an investment in the future for the young guys. And, for the coach/GM, it gives them some level of immediate success to keep away the "Fire the coach and GM" mob.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Realistically, we're probably a year away from blowing this shit up entirely, especially with the Western Conference as loaded as it is. They will pivot fully towards the Anthony Edwards + Jaden McDaniels timeline quicker than most think.

[Carlos Danger]

Realistically, we're probably a year away from blowing this shit up entirely, especially with the Western Conference as loaded as it is. They will pivot fully towards the Anthony Edwards + Jaden McDaniels timeline quicker than most think.

I think that only happens if this team falls on it's face this year and to start next year. But - we just don't know yet how they will look or play until we see all the pieces after the trade deadline (including KAT). Maybe it will look pretty good?

[Lipoli390]

Another excerpt from Jon K's article:

Russell did not have that patience with Gobert this season. When he's not catching lobs for dunks, Gobert has an awkward aesthetic around the basket. It can lead to ugly missed layups, wild runners and fumbled passes. The lack of fluidity frustrated Russell. He didn't hide his displeasure from teammates or opponents, who heard him lamenting Gobert's offensive shortcomings during games. It was part of a messy acclimation process for a team being asked to play a completely different style than the one that got them to the playoffs last year.

Gobert has taken accountability for his struggles, saying he has to do a better job of catching passes in traffic.

"Whether it's offensively or defensively, I do a lot of things to impact winning, but it takes time for guys around me to figure out that," Gobert said in January. "And it takes time for me to figure out the guys around me, too, and the coaching staff and everything."

That process reached a nadir in Denver on Tuesday, when the Wolves were down 49-19 after one quarter and trailed by as many as 40 points in a 146-112 loss. Gobert didn't score a point, took two shots and had only five rebounds in 19 minutes, another in a growing pile of paltry stat lines. Nikola Joki? torched Gobert, racking up a triple-double in the first half and finishing with 20 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in three quarters.

My comment: You have to be a fan of one of the other 14 Western Conference teams or an ostrich to like the Gobert deal. This DLO deal is just a small ripple from the Gobert deal tsunami.

[Q-is-here]

I think it is even worse. The suns just picked up KD for what we gave out for Gobert. We had a young core with all of our picks intact coming off a PO appearance. This season we likely miss the play-in, and have no draft assets for the foreseeable future. The DLO trade is less about what his perceived value was to us, and more about the lakers not wanting Conley. DLO was the prize for them, but somehow Utah comes out with the first round pick. Our GM is being taken to the cleaners on these deals.

What is our defense ranked compared to last year? I asked this because one of our worst defenders has missed a huge portion of the season and essentially replaced by a DPOY. Is our defense better?

Why do you think we will miss the play in tournament?

Yes, our defense is better, but not by much. Also, Gobert has missed a fair amount of games as well.

On top of our extremely difficult remaining schedule, we have lost a huge part of our offense. I don't think Conley can make up for the boost that DLO could give us, and I don't see his D, and game management being a difference maker at this point in his career.

Rudy is going to miss games. He is over 30, and a 7 footer.

It's true our remaining schedule is difficult....on paper. But we don't know how many of those teams will either be tanking, resting guys, or have injury issues. We just got two recent wins because of these variables - the one against Denver at home where they rested 80% of their starters and the one last night against Utah where effectively they are mailing in the season. We now have a two game cushion between us and being outside the play-in tournament.

Golden State is missing Curry for weeks. Zion won't be back until at least after the ASB. Utah is no longer a playoff threat. You can't just look at the schedule and assume all those teams are going to be full strength and going 100% full throttle when they play us.

[FNG]

Lip, there are two ways to look at Jon K's comments, and if you listen to his segments on KFAN, it's clear to me how to read them. TC has wanted to move DLo from Day 1, but was "hoping" Rudy might unlock DLo's potential. Instead there was no chemistry between the two, and with Russell's grumbling, it became clear he had to be moved. I'm looking forward to hearing Jon on KFAN, but I think he will look at this trade as completing the vision TC had when he traded for Rudy.

In any event, I'm enjoying watching a replay of last night's game currently...it's clear to me that the trade left one team joyful and the other team depressed!

[WildWolf2813]

Realistically, we're probably a year away from blowing this shit up entirely, especially with the Western Conference as loaded as it is. They will pivot fully towards the Anthony Edwards + Jaden McDaniels timeline quicker than most think.

I hate the logic of fitting someone's timeline. Get good players that function well together. I don't care about the age. Phoenix has never tried to fit Booker's timeline. They got really good players regardless of how old they were and now they're back to being title contenders. Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson don't necessarily fit RJ Barrett's timeline, but they're really good and now they win as a result.

For example, does RJ Barrett fit Ant's timeline? Sure. Does he also suck? Absolutely. But these will be the type of players we'll be bombarded with when it's time to trade KAT.

[Tactical unit]

Realistically, we're probably a year away from blowing this shit up entirely, especially with the Western Conference as loaded as it is. They will pivot fully towards the Anthony Edwards + Jaden McDaniels timeline quicker than most think.

All due to the loss of DLO?

I don't think they are blowing it up, maybe a redirection in the off season with a major move such as giving up Rudy for pennies on the dollar or a big KAT trade possible but if they obtain a meaningful player or two in return I wouldn't see that as a blow up the team scenario.

There is still plenty of talent on this team and the shake up I have been wanting hasn't really happened yet. Now if they make a deal or two more I would be happy that at least they are trying to shake things up a bit.

I think correlating moves like Prince for Bones which I don't like as a one for one but don't hate if there is a correlating move with it could be good. My correlating move would be that deal along with a deal for R. O'neal, B. Bagdanovic, or maybe J. Crowder. I like Prince quite a bit, but if we can take a chance on a young PG like Bones and replace a lot of what Prince does with a veteran addition and maybe more playing time for Minott it could be the type of shake up that pans out.

Prince for Bones (I do realize Bones has flaws but he's young and wouldn't be that expensive to obtain)
+
W. Moore, N. Knight for R. O'neal