I think Wiggins rookie year he was just fine. He got his butt handed to him but it was a developmental year and he showed some real flashes of being a really high level player. It was later in his young career that I had problems with him coasting, not playing D etc and rarely did anyone drop the hammer on him in terms of playing time.
Edwards...yes make him earn it tell him we are trying to make the playoffs (don't laugh to hard folks!) and we got a bunch of guys you have to beat out and beat in practice. Make him and Beasley earn their minutes. The Wolves even if they move someone will have enough guys that are worthwhile to play minutes ahead of him if he isn't ready.
Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
monsterpile wrote:I think Wiggins rookie year he was just fine. He got his butt handed to him but it was a developmental year and he showed some real flashes of being a really high level player. It was later in his young career that I had problems with him coasting, not playing D etc and rarely did anyone drop the hammer on him in terms of playing time.
Edwards...yes make him earn it tell him we are trying to make the playoffs (don't laugh to hard folks!) and we got a bunch of guys you have to beat out and beat in practice. Make him and Beasley earn their minutes. The Wolves even if they move someone will have enough guys that are worthwhile to play minutes ahead of him if he isn't ready.
Yes, Wiggins showed great promise his rookie year. But back then I had good connections with the Wolves front office and there were already concerns then about his lack of competitive intensity in practice. The fact that he plateaued so early in his career is actually the point. When you lack the requisite competitive intensity you won't develop over time to reach your potential. I can see Edwards having some really exciting moments this next season. He might put himself in the running for rookie of the year. But over time, who he is will catch up with him and stifle further development.
I agree that the Wolves' organization needs to make Edwards earn his minutes. But my take on Edwards is that telling him we're trying to make the playoffs won't motivate him. And that's the core problem with him. Every team he's played on has been a losing team. He doesn't seem highly motivated to win, Instead, he seems motivated by the show and the fun of the game. Watch his highlights and the entire Michigan State game as I did and you'll see a player who get excited by his own dunks far more than his team's success. His dream is to spike the ball and do touchdown dances. That's who he is. I understand I'm extrapolating, but the signs aren't good.
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Wolvesfan21
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Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
monsterpile wrote:I think Wiggins rookie year he was just fine. He got his butt handed to him but it was a developmental year and he showed some real flashes of being a really high level player. It was later in his young career that I had problems with him coasting, not playing D etc and rarely did anyone drop the hammer on him in terms of playing time.
Edwards...yes make him earn it tell him we are trying to make the playoffs (don't laugh to hard folks!) and we got a bunch of guys you have to beat out and beat in practice. Make him and Beasley earn their minutes. The Wolves even if they move someone will have enough guys that are worthwhile to play minutes ahead of him if he isn't ready.
If I am Ryan I tell the entire team every spot is open for competition. The best players play. That might rub KAT and DLO the wrong way as I'm sure they feel they are entitled to it but screw it. Sure they should/will beat out the competition anyways and they will probably play harder in practice too. Set a standard that we don't hand out anything here. You earn it. KAT and DLO will likely see it as making the other positions better too, so they might be all for it from the get go.
Reason why Miami is successful is they have high standards to live up to. I don't think we've held players accountable enough to live up to the highest standards. Miami has body fat percentages amongst other things I'm sure the players must pass to play. Miami only accepts high effort which is why their players all play that way.
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
WolvesFan21 wrote:monsterpile wrote:I think Wiggins rookie year he was just fine. He got his butt handed to him but it was a developmental year and he showed some real flashes of being a really high level player. It was later in his young career that I had problems with him coasting, not playing D etc and rarely did anyone drop the hammer on him in terms of playing time.
Edwards...yes make him earn it tell him we are trying to make the playoffs (don't laugh to hard folks!) and we got a bunch of guys you have to beat out and beat in practice. Make him and Beasley earn their minutes. The Wolves even if they move someone will have enough guys that are worthwhile to play minutes ahead of him if he isn't ready.
If I am Ryan I tell the entire team every spot is open for competition. The best players play. That might rub KAT and DLO the wrong way as I'm sure they feel they are entitled to it but screw it. Sure they should/will beat out the competition anyways and they will probably play harder in practice too. Set a standard that we don't hand out anything here. You earn it. KAT and DLO will likely see it as making the other positions better too, so they might be all for it from the get go.
Reason why Miami is successful is they have high standards to live up to. I don't think we've held players accountable enough to live up to the highest standards. Miami has body fat percentages amongst other things I'm sure the players must pass to play. Miami only accepts high effort which is why their players all play that way.
It doesn't hurt to have a HOF guy like Pat Riley who could come down and chew someone out if they aren't doing what they are supposed to do.
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
monsterpile wrote:WolvesFan21 wrote:monsterpile wrote:I think Wiggins rookie year he was just fine. He got his butt handed to him but it was a developmental year and he showed some real flashes of being a really high level player. It was later in his young career that I had problems with him coasting, not playing D etc and rarely did anyone drop the hammer on him in terms of playing time.
Edwards...yes make him earn it tell him we are trying to make the playoffs (don't laugh to hard folks!) and we got a bunch of guys you have to beat out and beat in practice. Make him and Beasley earn their minutes. The Wolves even if they move someone will have enough guys that are worthwhile to play minutes ahead of him if he isn't ready.
If I am Ryan I tell the entire team every spot is open for competition. The best players play. That might rub KAT and DLO the wrong way as I'm sure they feel they are entitled to it but screw it. Sure they should/will beat out the competition anyways and they will probably play harder in practice too. Set a standard that we don't hand out anything here. You earn it. KAT and DLO will likely see it as making the other positions better too, so they might be all for it from the get go.
Reason why Miami is successful is they have high standards to live up to. I don't think we've held players accountable enough to live up to the highest standards. Miami has body fat percentages amongst other things I'm sure the players must pass to play. Miami only accepts high effort which is why their players all play that way.
It doesn't hurt to have a HOF guy like Pat Riley who could come down and chew someone out if they aren't doing what they are supposed to do.
That's such a great point, Monster. You can't underestimate the impact of a hall of famer with a strong personality like Pat Riley at the top of your organization or as your head coach.
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
lipoli390 wrote: I think he works hard, but I question whether he has much if any true dog in him.
I suspect he's been spending too much time at the cat shelter, I blame Monster!
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
TheSP wrote:lipoli390 wrote: I think he works hard, but I question whether he has much if any true dog in him.
I suspect he's been spending too much time at the cat shelter, I blame Monster!
Gotta wonder about a guy named KAT right?
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
This is probably the most insightful review of the Wolves decision to draft Edwards. It's from CBS Sports:
In a year of uncertainty, altered timelines and general chaos, the Minnesota Timberwolves knew three months before Wednesday's NBA Draft that they would be making the No. 1 overall pick. Yet, up until just before NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced their selection of Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, it was unclear what the Timberwolves planned to do with the pick.
In fact, the Timberwolves were working the phones "discussing possible trade scenarios," until just minutes before the pick became official, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. While an optimist may see that and choose to applaud Timberwolves' president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas for conducting his due diligence in an effort to turn the fortunes of a woebegone franchise, reality may not be so rosy.
The truth appears to be that Minnesota had three months to convince itself of who to pick, yet lacked the conviction to commit fully to Edwards until just minutes before the moment of reckoning, when it became clear that no acceptable trade offers were available. Looking at what Edwards did at Georgia last season, who could blame the Timberwolves for their desire to shop the pick?
To be clear, Rosas told reporters Wednesday night that Edwards stood "head and shoulders" above the competition as the franchise considered who to take. But that can be interpreted more as an indictment of a weak draft than a ringing endorsement for a shooting guard who made just 29.4 percent of his 3-point shots in college last season. For a franchise that just traded an underwhelming former No. 1 overall pick in January when it parted with Andrew Wiggins, Edwards carries some alarming similarities.
Both were one-and-done guards considered the No. 1 overall player in their respective recruiting classes by 247Sports. Neither did anything in college to hurt their NBA Draft stock, but neither were the model of efficiency during their brief college careers, either. Wiggins was actually a better 3-point shooter than Edwards, though Edwards showed more promise as a distributor.
So what reason is there to believe that Edwards will be the difference maker that Wiggins never was in the Timberwolves' push to consistently compete in the ever-difficult Western Conference? An examination of Edwards' intangibles reveals more questions than answers with just over a month to go until he is scheduled to begin his NBA career.
Edwards practically waved a red flag in Minnesota's face with comments made to ESPN in a story published earlier this week by saying of basketball that, "it's a job." He did say that "I love basketball." But that was preceded by Edwards remarking that "I'm still not really into it." At best, that's just the immaturity of a 19-year-old coming through. At worst, it's an indictment of his desire to be an elite player and a sign that he will lack the drive necessary to help the Timberwolves get traction.
A player with Edwards' natural talent can be a good NBA player -- just as Wiggins is a good NBA player -- but teams don't draft someone No. 1 overall hoping they will be good. It takes a different level of commitment to embrace the grind of an 82-game season and not just survive it but actually thrive within it and become great. But that's what is expected from No. 1 overall picks.
It was hard to watch Wednesday night's festivities and not be touched by the emotion expressed by so many of those selected. One who stood out was Obi Toppin, who fell to the Knicks at No. 8 overall. Though he surely expected to be picked sooner, Toppin fought back tears of joy as he acknowledged that, "a lot of people pray to be in this position, and I'm not going to take it for granted."
Edwards, by contrast, seemed pleased but not particularly moved to be taken No. 1 overall. Comparing their reactions to being drafted may seem like splitting hairs. But how about comparing them as players? When Georgia and Dayton met in the Maui Invitational last November, Edwards finished with six points on 2-of-10 shooting with no assists and three turnovers in 28 minutes. Toppin finished with 25 points and led his Dayton Flyers to an 80-61 victory.
Ultimately, Minnesota may have truly believed Edwards was the best player in the draft. But is he a winner? There is a difference.
In a year of uncertainty, altered timelines and general chaos, the Minnesota Timberwolves knew three months before Wednesday's NBA Draft that they would be making the No. 1 overall pick. Yet, up until just before NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced their selection of Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, it was unclear what the Timberwolves planned to do with the pick.
In fact, the Timberwolves were working the phones "discussing possible trade scenarios," until just minutes before the pick became official, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. While an optimist may see that and choose to applaud Timberwolves' president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas for conducting his due diligence in an effort to turn the fortunes of a woebegone franchise, reality may not be so rosy.
The truth appears to be that Minnesota had three months to convince itself of who to pick, yet lacked the conviction to commit fully to Edwards until just minutes before the moment of reckoning, when it became clear that no acceptable trade offers were available. Looking at what Edwards did at Georgia last season, who could blame the Timberwolves for their desire to shop the pick?
To be clear, Rosas told reporters Wednesday night that Edwards stood "head and shoulders" above the competition as the franchise considered who to take. But that can be interpreted more as an indictment of a weak draft than a ringing endorsement for a shooting guard who made just 29.4 percent of his 3-point shots in college last season. For a franchise that just traded an underwhelming former No. 1 overall pick in January when it parted with Andrew Wiggins, Edwards carries some alarming similarities.
Both were one-and-done guards considered the No. 1 overall player in their respective recruiting classes by 247Sports. Neither did anything in college to hurt their NBA Draft stock, but neither were the model of efficiency during their brief college careers, either. Wiggins was actually a better 3-point shooter than Edwards, though Edwards showed more promise as a distributor.
So what reason is there to believe that Edwards will be the difference maker that Wiggins never was in the Timberwolves' push to consistently compete in the ever-difficult Western Conference? An examination of Edwards' intangibles reveals more questions than answers with just over a month to go until he is scheduled to begin his NBA career.
Edwards practically waved a red flag in Minnesota's face with comments made to ESPN in a story published earlier this week by saying of basketball that, "it's a job." He did say that "I love basketball." But that was preceded by Edwards remarking that "I'm still not really into it." At best, that's just the immaturity of a 19-year-old coming through. At worst, it's an indictment of his desire to be an elite player and a sign that he will lack the drive necessary to help the Timberwolves get traction.
A player with Edwards' natural talent can be a good NBA player -- just as Wiggins is a good NBA player -- but teams don't draft someone No. 1 overall hoping they will be good. It takes a different level of commitment to embrace the grind of an 82-game season and not just survive it but actually thrive within it and become great. But that's what is expected from No. 1 overall picks.
It was hard to watch Wednesday night's festivities and not be touched by the emotion expressed by so many of those selected. One who stood out was Obi Toppin, who fell to the Knicks at No. 8 overall. Though he surely expected to be picked sooner, Toppin fought back tears of joy as he acknowledged that, "a lot of people pray to be in this position, and I'm not going to take it for granted."
Edwards, by contrast, seemed pleased but not particularly moved to be taken No. 1 overall. Comparing their reactions to being drafted may seem like splitting hairs. But how about comparing them as players? When Georgia and Dayton met in the Maui Invitational last November, Edwards finished with six points on 2-of-10 shooting with no assists and three turnovers in 28 minutes. Toppin finished with 25 points and led his Dayton Flyers to an 80-61 victory.
Ultimately, Minnesota may have truly believed Edwards was the best player in the draft. But is he a winner? There is a difference.
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
The fact that the Wolves drafted Edwards at #1 and the Hornets drafted Ball at #3 gives us a window into why these two franchises are perennial losers.
Re: Chance Edwards becomes an All Star in a Wolves uniform
I'm glad people like some guys showing emotion at getting drafted. I do too. There is something about watching guys dreams come true I just find sports drafts compelling.
Edwards...when I watch the clip of him with the paintings of his mom and his grandma sitting there on the couch...I wonder if he just didn't really have a reaction. I'm sure he has some people in his life he is close to but every other prospect had at least one parent there next to them rubbing their shoulders etc as they showed their emotion. Edwards has nobody like that there for him. He has known it was gonna he like that for weeks and months maybe years. I just don't think it's fair to judge him based on his reaction or lack of reaction to his being the #1 selection. There are other reasons to question him I think it's a little tough to knock a guy that turned 19 weeks ago that has lost his close parental figures to react the way you want him to. It reminds me of the wild overreaction to Lavine's "Fuck me" at the draft.
Having said that I think I actually liked the virtual draft better than the real one. It seemed like the draftees got a better chance to savor the moment themselves and with their families than in the bigger stage. I'd bet there will be even more draftees from here on out that opt out of going to the in person draft experience than there was before.
Edwards...when I watch the clip of him with the paintings of his mom and his grandma sitting there on the couch...I wonder if he just didn't really have a reaction. I'm sure he has some people in his life he is close to but every other prospect had at least one parent there next to them rubbing their shoulders etc as they showed their emotion. Edwards has nobody like that there for him. He has known it was gonna he like that for weeks and months maybe years. I just don't think it's fair to judge him based on his reaction or lack of reaction to his being the #1 selection. There are other reasons to question him I think it's a little tough to knock a guy that turned 19 weeks ago that has lost his close parental figures to react the way you want him to. It reminds me of the wild overreaction to Lavine's "Fuck me" at the draft.
Having said that I think I actually liked the virtual draft better than the real one. It seemed like the draftees got a better chance to savor the moment themselves and with their families than in the bigger stage. I'd bet there will be even more draftees from here on out that opt out of going to the in person draft experience than there was before.