Minnesota Sports Forum

leado01 wrote:Fun way to finish.

Very excited to see what kind of off-season work these guys put in.

Get some rest and blow off some steam.... we just can't have these guys coming back in the shape that Ricky and Juancho were in this year.

Covid or not... pandemic or not... isn't it sort of embarrassing that guys making $7M or $17M would NOT be in shape to begin a season.

NBA players have unique special access to so many different things to stay in shape. There shouldn't be many excuses...

I think with Ricky it's a bit of an age thing too. His lateral speed has really slowed down. What did improve throughout the course of the year was his 3-point shot and he finally cut down on dumb turnovers, which were really uncharacteristic for him early.

Either way, if he is on the roster next season, it will very much be as a support player and vet mentor. We needed a lot more than that from him this season, especially early, and he didn't deliver. But with Edwards' emergence as a real force and secondary ball handler, Rubio's importance on the floor is more diminished.

Q12543 wrote:I think with Ricky it's a bit of an age thing too. His lateral speed has really slowed down. What did improve throughout the course of the year was his 3-point shot and he finally cut down on dumb turnovers, which were really uncharacteristic for him early.

Either way, if he is on the roster next season, it will very much be as a support player and vet mentor. We needed a lot more than that from him this season, especially early, and he didn't deliver. But with Edwards' emergence as a real force and secondary ball handler, Rubio's importance on the floor is more diminished.

I agree, Q. Your assessment of Ricky's role on this team next season suggests that the Wolves should seek to trade him since $17 million is a bit pricey for a support player and mentor. However, I think Ricky would have meaningful value to the Wolves in those two roles - especially given the relationship he's built with Edwards. Moreover, Ricky will be in the last year of his contract. That fact alone would likely enhance Ricky's value at next February's trade deadline or provide salary-cap value to the Wolves after next season. Therefore, in my view the Wolves shouldn't trade Ricky this off season just to clear salary space unless done specifically to accommodate the addition of a player who will significantly move the needle.

lipoli390 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:I think with Ricky it's a bit of an age thing too. His lateral speed has really slowed down. What did improve throughout the course of the year was his 3-point shot and he finally cut down on dumb turnovers, which were really uncharacteristic for him early.

Either way, if he is on the roster next season, it will very much be as a support player and vet mentor. We needed a lot more than that from him this season, especially early, and he didn't deliver. But with Edwards' emergence as a real force and secondary ball handler, Rubio's importance on the floor is more diminished.

I agree, Q. Your assessment of Ricky's role on this team next season suggests that the Wolves should seek to trade him since $17 million is a bit pricey for a support player and mentor. However, I think Ricky would have meaningful value to the Wolves in those two roles - especially given the relationship he's built with Edwards. Moreover, Ricky will be in the last year of his contract. That fact alone would likely enhance Ricky's value at next February's trade deadline or provide salary-cap value to the Wolves after next season. Therefore, in my view the Wolves shouldn't trade Ricky this off season just to clear salary space unless done specifically to accommodate the addition of a player who will significantly move the needle.

It's also no guarantee that Bolmaro is an upgrade. He'll be a 21-year old rookie. Do we really think he will be a better all-around player than Ricky, despite Rubio's early season struggles? I'd kind of want to find that out if I were Rosas before dealing Ricky.

Q12543 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:I think with Ricky it's a bit of an age thing too. His lateral speed has really slowed down. What did improve throughout the course of the year was his 3-point shot and he finally cut down on dumb turnovers, which were really uncharacteristic for him early.

Either way, if he is on the roster next season, it will very much be as a support player and vet mentor. We needed a lot more than that from him this season, especially early, and he didn't deliver. But with Edwards' emergence as a real force and secondary ball handler, Rubio's importance on the floor is more diminished.

I agree, Q. Your assessment of Ricky's role on this team next season suggests that the Wolves should seek to trade him since $17 million is a bit pricey for a support player and mentor. However, I think Ricky would have meaningful value to the Wolves in those two roles - especially given the relationship he's built with Edwards. Moreover, Ricky will be in the last year of his contract. That fact alone would likely enhance Ricky's value at next February's trade deadline or provide salary-cap value to the Wolves after next season. Therefore, in my view the Wolves shouldn't trade Ricky this off season just to clear salary space unless done specifically to accommodate the addition of a player who will significantly move the needle.

It's also no guarantee that Bolmaro is an upgrade. He'll be a 21-year old rookie. Do we really think he will be a better all-around player than Ricky, despite Rubio's early season struggles? I'd kind of want to find that out if I were Rosas before dealing Ricky.

Another good point, Q. If the Wolves trade Ricky, it can't be based at all on the assumption that Bolmaro could step in and fill Ricky's role. If you trade Ricky, you do with JMac in mind as your main backup PG and maybe Nowell or Culver filling that role.

I love the idea of DLO, Ant, McDaniels,?,Towns.

I believe we are up against the cap, so I am not sure if we will be hitting the FA market, and we might not keep our pick (Mobley would be perfect).

Can Vando be our starting PF, since our C is so great at floor spacing?

TheFuture wrote:I love the idea of DLO, Ant, McDaniels,?,Towns.

I believe we are up against the cap, so I am not sure if we will be hitting the FA market, and we might not keep our pick (Mobley would be perfect).

Can Vando be our starting PF, since our C is so great at floor spacing?

You're right about us hitting the luxury tax threshold, Future. So we don't have much flexility to pursue free agents. In fact, if we keep our pick, we'll probably have to trade a player to sign our pick without paying the luxury tax. I actually think Vando could be our starting PF with KAT at C. But then Okogie can't be in the starting lineup. I could see a starting lineup of DLO, Edwards, McDaniels, Vando and KAT. I think that lineup provides a nice balance of scoring and defense. Ricky, Beasley, Okogie, Juancho and Naz would be our second unit.