Minnesota Sports Forum

thedoper wrote:

Camden wrote:D'Angelo Russell is no longer on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against Portland. Maybe, just maybe, the guy actually had an illness or personal issue to take care of. That doesn't mean he can't or won't get traded at some point, but who knew we had Judd Zulgad and Phil Mackey on the board with their reckless speculation bit? Good one.

Additionally, Naz Reid is still considered questionable with back spasms, but Taurean Prince has gone from out to questionable with his shoulder injury. With the team sending Wendell Moore Jr. back to Iowa recently, and Prince reportedly participating more in practice, he might be a surprise tomorrow night.

Good news about Prince. Hopefully there is little to no rust on that shot.

Prince being out has really hurt us. It led to a domino effect that meant we had guys like Forbes and now Ryan having to play. Neither of these guys have been effective. It would be welcome news if he was finally healthy. Now let's hope it doesn't take him a month to get his damn shot back, as that continues to be the #1 issue with this team in my opinion!

So, I have to admit Matt Ryan has been a pleasant surprise on defense. Wish his shot was falling

Q-was-here wrote:

thedoper wrote:

Camden wrote:D'Angelo Russell is no longer on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against Portland. Maybe, just maybe, the guy actually had an illness or personal issue to take care of. That doesn't mean he can't or won't get traded at some point, but who knew we had Judd Zulgad and Phil Mackey on the board with their reckless speculation bit? Good one.

Additionally, Naz Reid is still considered questionable with back spasms, but Taurean Prince has gone from out to questionable with his shoulder injury. With the team sending Wendell Moore Jr. back to Iowa recently, and Prince reportedly participating more in practice, he might be a surprise tomorrow night.

Good news about Prince. Hopefully there is little to no rust on that shot.

Prince being out has really hurt us. It led to a domino effect that meant we had guys like Forbes and now Ryan having to play. Neither of these guys have been effective. It would be welcome news if he was finally healthy. Now let's hope it doesn't take him a month to get his damn shot back, as that continues to be the #1 issue with this team in my opinion!

I agree...that is really good news about Prince. I was down on him early last season, but he has been a key rotation player since the middle of last year and even better this year. It was painful to watch his shoulder injury live...it looked like he would be out a long time. Welcome back!

Would anyone want P. Beverley back? I know he's playing poorly so far this year. But man, he seemed to change the demeanor of the squad last year as far as just being tougher and buying into defense. I can't believe his trade value is very high. Maybe he'd revive his game back here and bring back some of that swagger we are missing?

Carlos Danger wrote:Would anyone want P. Beverley back? I know he's playing poorly so far this year. But man, he seemed to change the demeanor of the squad last year as far as just being tougher and buying into defense. I can't believe his trade value is very high. Maybe he'd revive his game back here and bring back some of that swagger we are missing?

I'd like to have Pat Bev back, but I wouldn't want out give up any valuable assets to get him. Beverley's salary would require the Wolves to give up Taurean Prince or Kyle Anderson for matching purposes. I wouldn't give up either one for Pat straight up. I think I'd be willing to give up Prince, but only if the Lakers also gave us the two future 1st-round picks they're allowed to trade under League rules. In other words, I don't see a realistic path to re-acquiring Beverley this season.

If the Wolves are going to make a deal by the trade deadline, I think it should involve Rudy Gobert. I don't see that happening. I like the way this team plays with Edwards and Nowell and Anderson on the floor. I also like what we've seen from Garza, Knight and Naz Reid. I want to see playing time for Moore.

Carlos Danger wrote:Would anyone want P. Beverley back? I know he's playing poorly so far this year. But man, he seemed to change the demeanor of the squad last year as far as just being tougher and buying into defense. I can't believe his trade value is very high. Maybe he'd revive his game back here and bring back some of that swagger we are missing?

He would have to be bought out because like lip said I'm not trading Prince or slow Mo got him (what I think is realistic) but the only guy I think could get cut by the wolves is Forbes he has played himself out of any minutes.

Even if we could pull off a deal for Pbev that didn't involve Prince or Anderson, I'm just not sure I'd do it. I totally agree that he was a major asset for us last year. But I think his act can wear thin and I just wonder how the other players would receive him at this stage in the season. And what's worse is if he kept on playing poorly AND doing his whole act. I'm afraid he'd come here and jump the shark.....

I'd welcome Patrick Beverley back on a prorated one-year veteran's minimum deal if he was waived or bought out at some point, if for no other reason than to have him as a reserve, player-coach of sorts. But trading for him is out of the question. I also believe the coaching staff may have grown intolerant of Beverley's voice and antics last season. However, seeing this coaching staff drop the ball this season, I no longer care if their feathers get ruffled by the aging veteran.

As an aside, Beverley is 34-years old and we see Father Time's effects on him this season. Kyle Lowry is currently an old 36. Lowry's been productive-ish this season, but taking on his salary for next season should be a non-starter and it's no guarantee that he stays healthy or effective the second half of this season.

Camden wrote:I'd welcome Patrick Beverley back on a prorated one-year veteran's minimum deal if he was waived or bought out at some point, if for no other reason than to have him as a reserve, player-coach of sorts. But trading for him is out of the question. I also believe the coaching staff may have grown intolerant of Beverley's voice and antics last season. However, seeing this coaching staff drop the ball this season, I no longer care if their feathers get ruffled by the aging veteran.

As an aside, Beverley is 34-years old and we see Father Time's effects on him this season. Kyle Lowry is currently an old 36. Lowry's been productive-ish this season, but taking on his salary for next season should be a non-starter and it's no guarantee that he stays healthy or effective the second half of this season.

I agree with most of your points, Cam. I don't agree that the coaching staff had a serious problem with Beverley's voice and antics, but I do agree that I'd still want Pat back even if it ruffled the feathers of our coaching staff. Like you, I wouldn't trade for Beverley, but I'd welcome him back on a one-year vet minimum deal if he's waived.

I also agree with your take on Kyle Lowry. Trading DLO for Lowry would not move the needle at all for the Wolves in my view. If anything, it would make things worse. Our offense is already struggling with Rudy in the lineup. Swapping DLO for Lowry would make that problem worse. Meanwhile, I don't think Lowry is close to the defender he used to be. As Charles Barkley often says, "Father Time is undefeated."

1. Beverley. He was arguably the worst player in the NBA through his first 15 games, shooting 27% fg and 23% 3fg. He's been much improved over the past 15 games, shooting 48% fg and 42% 3fg. I don't know if the Lakers would be willing to just dump him anymore.

2. Kyle Lowry is old. And his stats show that he's not the same player he was. He's not going to suddenly hit the time machine and improve later this season or next season. He's nearing the end.

BUT... he's also considered the anti-D. Russell in many circles. He's been an analytics darling (see R. Gobert) during his career. Compare his VORP with Russell and it's pretty startling... Russell's been above +1.4 only once. Lowry has been above +1.4 for 12 straight seasons... and at least +2.3 for 11 of those years. He's also regaled as a guy who does so many little things that may not show up in the boxscore to help a team win. He's considered a leader. Conversely, Russell's reputation is as a guy who might post the stats but who doesn't do the grunt work to help a team win.

I could see the Wolves making this trade through... and hoping for 55 - 60 games from Lowry next season. It's a risk... because the bottom will fall out sooner than later. And they may not get even 40 games from him.

The other rub... would Miami want Russell? We've all heard about the "Heat Culture" ad nauseam. Let's just say Russell's reputation does not fit into it. BUT... as we've seen with Wiggins... fitting in with a proven team and culture can do wonders sometimes. They'd have to really sour on Lowry to make this trade, and that would give me even more pause. ("If that historically super smart team that's seen a lot of Lowry think he's cooked... maybe they know something?")