Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:Bazz "proven ability" was scoring in his own unique way. I probably shouldn't be too much a shock that skill isn't as valuable as the league has changed. Plus he simply wasn't good this year. As a scorer his efficiency this is comparable or even worse than MGH which...is very bad. I don't even think the people that didn't like Bazz saw it going as bad this year as it did. I was really excited about him coming back but the possibility of it not working out was always there. Cleveland is one other team that has brought back or added young players and they simply didn't work out or get better. Fortunately the Wolves didn't lose out financially and also any player they missed out on signing because they signed Bazz they will likely have the opportunity to bring in next year.

Monster -- I agree with your assessment and I think you nailed it with the words, "next year." I can't dispute anything you said about Bazz, but he has shown that he can get hot, score 20+ points, rebound and help the team win. He has that in him. My point is that, with an open roster spot, Butler out and Jamaal our only bench scorer, it made more sense to keep him to potentially help us the remainder of this season. We gain nothing by buying him out since his salary next season would have been a rounding error. But if we have or sights set on next season, then buying Bazz out makes no difference. Next season will be all about the MLE and the June draft.

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Bazz "proven ability" was scoring in his own unique way. I probably shouldn't be too much a shock that skill isn't as valuable as the league has changed. Plus he simply wasn't good this year. As a scorer his efficiency this is comparable or even worse than MGH which...is very bad. I don't even think the people that didn't like Bazz saw it going as bad this year as it did. I was really excited about him coming back but the possibility of it not working out was always there. Cleveland is one other team that has brought back or added young players and they simply didn't work out or get better. Fortunately the Wolves didn't lose out financially and also any player they missed out on signing because they signed Bazz they will likely have the opportunity to bring in next year.

Monster -- I agree with your assessment and I think you nailed it with the words, "next year." I can't dispute anything you said about Bazz, but he has shown that he can get hot, score 20+ points, rebound and help the team win. He has that in him. My point is that, with an open roster spot, Butler out and Jamaal our only bench scorer, it made more sense to keep him to potentially help us the remainder of this season. We gain nothing by buying him out since his salary next season would have been a rounding error. But if we have or sights set on next season, then buying Bazz out makes no difference. Next season will be all about the MLE and the June draft.

If Bazz wanted out and we let him that matters plus it's nice to save your owner a few bucks either this year and/or next year especially when he may be in line to pay some Lux tax in the future possibly even next year in which case not having to pay Bazz would matter even more. Sure in the past Bazz has shown an ability to get hot and score some points that's is thing. His rebounding is overrated. He averages like 1.5 more rebounds per 36 than the guy people whine about his rebounding all the time on this forum Andrew Wiggins. If you want a guy to score and do basically nothing else just play Aaron Brooks for 10 minutes a game and let him do whatever he wants. He will probably hit a couple 3's and infinitely more likely to get an assist or 2. Just let it go and this is coming from a guy that likes Bazz.

If the Wolves need someone this season they can play someone they have including MGH or Anthony Brown or sign your guy Anthony Morrow or something. I think they clearly weren't dying to get rid of him or they would have just shown him the door weeks ago when he asked for it. If he goes on to be fairly worthwhile somewhere else it could look bad but I wouldn't hold my breath. One of my best friends texted me today that his Bucks added Bazz and the emojis that followed were not positive and I've talked up the guy to him over the years. Lol