Zgoda's Chat Today

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It's not just about potential with LaVine - there is actually something more practical that favors keeping him: He's the only guard/wing on the roster right now that can hit 3's in high volume.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't think Thibs will want to move any of our young core guys, including Rubio, Shabazz, Dieng, and LaVine. But, I do agree with Jerry about that 5th pick. I can definitely see them shopping that around for a vet. We'll see.

[Lipoli390]

I can say this about Zgoda. He has no connection to any inside information whatsoever. A typical Zgoda moment was the night of the 2014 draft. We were almost on the clock for the pick we used to take LaVine and Zgoda tweeted that the Wolves were going to take Payne. I knew that was crap at the time because Flip told me 10 days earlier they were going to take LaVine. I've also noticed at draft parties and other Wolves events. He's usually there, but you'll never see him talking to anyone in the organization. In other words, Zgoda is a windbag with no connection to the organization that would give him any information or special insights.

He might have some value if he were a sharp basketball mind and did his homework. But he isn't very bright and doesn't do his homework. Case in point is this last chat. He declares that Murray is bigger than Hield. In truth, Hield is bigger than Murray by every measure - height, overhead reach, wingspan and weight. When a couple people call him on it, he comes back with a middle school response admonishing the guy who called him out not to lose his head in the numbers. What?? Zgoda didn't know that we give up our conditional 1st round pick in 2018 rather than 2017. I knew that and it's not even my job to know it. But he's the Strib's beat writer for the Wolves and that's something he should know off the cuff.

Bottom line is there is nothing of value to be gained from anything Zgoda says. The only value in his chats is the insight you get from others participating in the chat and the fact that it generates conversation on our Board.

As for Zgoda's comments. First, it's fair for Zgoda to say there's a better than 50-50 chance we trade the #5 pick. How about 51% chance? 52%? 49%? That sort of prediction is meaningless and, in Zgoda's case, totally uninformed. As for Zgoda's assertion that Thibs has already made up his mind this team will be built around KAT and Wiggins while everyone else is expendable ..., well I'd like to think Thibs is a little more deliberate than that and that he'll do more evaluation before jumping to the conclusion that anyone other than KAT is or isn't expendable. Thibs has mentioned Zach, Gorgui and Bazz enough to suggest he sees them as part of the core going forward. In light of the fact that Thibs said our two main needs are defense and 3-point shooting, you have to wonder why Thibs would be inclined to move our best 3-point shooter, Zach LaVine, especially given Zach's other gifts and his improvement late last season on both ends of the court.

[Monster]

I can say this about Zgoda. He has no connection to any inside information whatsoever. A typical Zgoda moment was the night of the 2014 draft. We were almost on the clock for the pick we used to take LaVine and Zgoda tweeted that the Wolves were going to take Payne. I knew that was crap at the time because Flip told me 10 days earlier they were going to take LaVine. I've also noticed at draft parties and other Wolves events. He's usually there, but you'll never see him talking to anyone in the organization. In other words, Zgoda is a windbag with no connection to the organization that would give him any information or special insights.

He might have some value if he were a sharp basketball mind and did his homework. But he isn't very bright and doesn't do his homework. Case in point is this last chat. He declares that Murray is bigger than Hield. In truth, Hield is bigger than Murray by every measure - height, overhead reach, wingspan and weight. When a couple people call him on it, he comes back with a middle school response admonishing the guy who called him out not to lose his head in the numbers. What?? Zgoda didn't know that we give up our conditional 1st round pick in 2018 rather than 2017. I knew that and it's not even my job to know it. But he's the Strib's beat writer for the Wolves and that's something he should know off the cuff.

Bottom line is there is nothing of value to be gained from anything Zgoda says. The only value in his chats is the insight you get from others participating in the chat and the fact that it generates conversation on our Board.

As for Zgoda's comments. First, it's fair for Zgoda to say there's a better than 50-50 chance we trade the #5 pick. How about 51% chance? 52%? 49%? That sort of prediction is meaningless and, in Zgoda's case, totally uninformed. As for Zgoda's assertion that Thibs has already made up his mind this team will be built around KAT and Wiggins while everyone else is expendable ..., well I'd like to think Thibs is a little more deliberate than that and that he'll do more evaluation before jumping to the conclusion that anyone other than KAT is or isn't expendable. Thibs has mentioned Zach, Gorgui and Bazz enough to suggest he sees them as part of the core going forward. In light of the fact that Thibs said our two main needs are defense and 3-point shooting, you have to wonder why Thibs would be inclined to move our best 3-point shooter, Zach LaVine, especially given Zach's other gifts and his improvement late last season on both ends of the court.

I'm sure Zgoda gets some inside info but not that much and he isn't the smartest which is obvious played out by the Murray/Buddy back and forth you laid out which makes me chuckle when I think about it. Part of his problem is his bias shines through pretty heavily. I don't completely dismiss him but I may hold what Wolfson has to say slightly more because well at least he is obviously working his butt off trying to find out something. Thank goodness we have Jon K around to help keep things sane. The dude knows his stuff is connected is a professional and has discretion.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I can say this about Zgoda. He has no connection to any inside information whatsoever. A typical Zgoda moment was the night of the 2014 draft. We were almost on the clock for the pick we used to take LaVine and Zgoda tweeted that the Wolves were going to take Payne. I knew that was crap at the time because Flip told me 10 days earlier they were going to take LaVine. I've also noticed at draft parties and other Wolves events. He's usually there, but you'll never see him talking to anyone in the organization. In other words, Zgoda is a windbag with no connection to the organization that would give him any information or special insights.

He might have some value if he were a sharp basketball mind and did his homework. But he isn't very bright and doesn't do his homework. Case in point is this last chat. He declares that Murray is bigger than Hield. In truth, Hield is bigger than Murray by every measure - height, overhead reach, wingspan and weight. When a couple people call him on it, he comes back with a middle school response admonishing the guy who called him out not to lose his head in the numbers. What?? Zgoda didn't know that we give up our conditional 1st round pick in 2018 rather than 2017. I knew that and it's not even my job to know it. But he's the Strib's beat writer for the Wolves and that's something he should know off the cuff.

Bottom line is there is nothing of value to be gained from anything Zgoda says. The only value in his chats is the insight you get from others participating in the chat and the fact that it generates conversation on our Board.

As for Zgoda's comments. First, it's fair for Zgoda to say there's a better than 50-50 chance we trade the #5 pick. How about 51% chance? 52%? 49%? That sort of prediction is meaningless and, in Zgoda's case, totally uninformed. As for Zgoda's assertion that Thibs has already made up his mind this team will be built around KAT and Wiggins while everyone else is expendable ..., well I'd like to think Thibs is a little more deliberate than that and that he'll do more evaluation before jumping to the conclusion that anyone other than KAT is or isn't expendable. Thibs has mentioned Zach, Gorgui and Bazz enough to suggest he sees them as part of the core going forward. In light of the fact that Thibs said our two main needs are defense and 3-point shooting, you have to wonder why Thibs would be inclined to move our best 3-point shooter, Zach LaVine, especially given Zach's other gifts and his improvement late last season on both ends of the court.

Well, I take it you didn't do Zgoda's performance review, because if you did, he'd be outta there!

It is kind of startling how someone like him keeps his job when there are probably literally hundreds of other folks out there with more passion and skill. Are these guys in a union or something?

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I can say this about Zgoda. He has no connection to any inside information whatsoever. A typical Zgoda moment was the night of the 2014 draft. We were almost on the clock for the pick we used to take LaVine and Zgoda tweeted that the Wolves were going to take Payne. I knew that was crap at the time because Flip told me 10 days earlier they were going to take LaVine. I've also noticed at draft parties and other Wolves events. He's usually there, but you'll never see him talking to anyone in the organization. In other words, Zgoda is a windbag with no connection to the organization that would give him any information or special insights.

He might have some value if he were a sharp basketball mind and did his homework. But he isn't very bright and doesn't do his homework. Case in point is this last chat. He declares that Murray is bigger than Hield. In truth, Hield is bigger than Murray by every measure - height, overhead reach, wingspan and weight. When a couple people call him on it, he comes back with a middle school response admonishing the guy who called him out not to lose his head in the numbers. What?? Zgoda didn't know that we give up our conditional 1st round pick in 2018 rather than 2017. I knew that and it's not even my job to know it. But he's the Strib's beat writer for the Wolves and that's something he should know off the cuff.

Bottom line is there is nothing of value to be gained from anything Zgoda says. The only value in his chats is the insight you get from others participating in the chat and the fact that it generates conversation on our Board.

As for Zgoda's comments. First, it's fair for Zgoda to say there's a better than 50-50 chance we trade the #5 pick. How about 51% chance? 52%? 49%? That sort of prediction is meaningless and, in Zgoda's case, totally uninformed. As for Zgoda's assertion that Thibs has already made up his mind this team will be built around KAT and Wiggins while everyone else is expendable ..., well I'd like to think Thibs is a little more deliberate than that and that he'll do more evaluation before jumping to the conclusion that anyone other than KAT is or isn't expendable. Thibs has mentioned Zach, Gorgui and Bazz enough to suggest he sees them as part of the core going forward. In light of the fact that Thibs said our two main needs are defense and 3-point shooting, you have to wonder why Thibs would be inclined to move our best 3-point shooter, Zach LaVine, especially given Zach's other gifts and his improvement late last season on both ends of the court.

Well, I take it you didn't do Zgoda's performance review, because if you did, he'd be outta there!

It is kind of startling how someone like him keeps his job when there are probably literally hundreds of other folks out there with more passion and skill. Are these guys in a union or something?

I take Lip at his word when he said that Flip knew he was going to take Lavine AT LEAST 10 days before the draft.

Bill Polian (not god's gift to the draft process, but still) once said it was pointless to read any "Mock Draft" more than a week before the draft because the teams don't even know who they are taking.

So if Flip KNEW, and the knowing JUST HAPPENED to concern a Duffy client.

[Lipoli390]

On reflection, it was 9 days before the draft that Flip told me he planning to take LaVine if he was still available. :) I asked for his next preference after LaVine. He said Stauskus. He never mentioned Payne. The only point I had in mind was that Zgoda's tweet that the Wolves were going to select Payne minutes before the Wolves ended up taking LaVine underscores Zgoda's complete lack inside information and his willingness to make bold declarations as if he does have information.

I'd disagree a bit with Monster's comment that he's sure Zgoda gets some inside information. I'm not so sure. In fact, I don't think he gets any. Doggie gets some inside info, but not much. Jon K gets a lot of inside info.

It will be interesting to see if things change for Jon or Doogie under the new regime. Flip really trusted Jon K. I hope the new regime has the same trust in him. Jon is a great reporter and a really good guy.

[kurrdog53 [enjin:7013678]]

I agree that Zach will only get better. The only way we should trade Zach is (#1 if the deal is really really good), but if we truly WANT to win now. I think Zach has the ability to be as good or better than Butler and it might take at least 2-3 more years to find out. I hope they keep him and really focus on whether our FA additions, draft pick or Ricky/Gorgui are the right pieces for a championship team.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

On reflection, it was 9 days before the draft that Flip told me he planning to take LaVine if he was still available. :) I asked for his next preference after LaVine. He said Stauskus. He never mentioned Payne. The only point I had in mind was that Zgoda's tweet that the Wolves were going to select Payne minutes before the Wolves ended up taking LaVine underscores Zgoda's complete lack inside information and his willingness to make bold declarations as if he does have information.

I'd disagree a bit with Monster's comment that he's sure Zgoda gets some inside information. I'm not so sure. In fact, I don't think he gets any. Doggie gets some inside info, but not much. Jon K gets a lot of inside info.

It will be interesting to see if things change for Jon or Doogie under the new regime. Flip really trusted Jon K. I hope the new regime has the same trust in him. Jon is a great reporter and a really good guy.

I appreciate the correction, but it really wasn't my point. My point was that this decision was made awfully {sic} early, and it just happened to be a client of his college roommate.

[Lipoli390]

I wasn't sure what your point was, Jason. Pretty silly to think that all organizations in every case never make their draft decisions more than a week before the draft. In fact, I would think a good organization has its draft board pretty well set a week or two before the draft. Flip knew he was taking Towns more than a week before the draft even though he started out preferring Okafor. What organizations may not have a good handle on is what teams in front of them are likely to do. I asked Flip who he'd take among those he expected to be available when we were up. He said Zach, without hesitation. I asked him who he'd take if Zach wasn't available. Again, without hesitation he said Stauskus. Not sure whether Stauskus is a Duffy client. Thankfully, we didn't end up with him.