Minnesota Sports Forum

Camden wrote:

How many roster spots do you think we need? We have three available to us next year without cutting Rudez, Garnett retiring, Pekovic retiring or being stretched, or trading Payne. Three spots is more than enough for what we want to do, and if we really need one more, Rudez can simply be released and it costs the team nothing. We have even more (six, specifically) available when Bazz is likely to be a free agent.

Look, the situation is this. Bazz either has value as a player here or has value via trade. Him walking as a free agent provides no value so it's much better to make up your mind about him before it gets to that point. That's really all I'm saying. Your points don't really matter when it all boils down because $3M and one roster spot don't really impact a franchise's flexibility when there's already going to be six spots available and plenty of cap space.

As for my tone, I haven't insulted anyone personally, nor have I been vicious in any way. You might be confusing me strongly disagreeing with you for an act of a poor attitude, but I can assure you there hasn't been any. My sarcasm above was nothing more or less than your sarcasm towards Abe the other day. I'd simply tell you to get over it and move along with the discussion.

First of all, there is no guarantee that KG retires. Or that Pek retires. Or that they can trade Payne. As of right now, they are three roster spots and a collective $22M that must be accounted for going into next year. Two of those guys were acquired via trade last year. So it shouldn't be hard to understand why I want to throw up a caution flag for another trade. And I'll repeat - I have no problem with a "good value trade". That applies to any player - any time. But I don't share your opinion that there is this impending urgency to deal a guy before his contract is up just to get "something". $3M cap space and an open roster spot is better than $3M locked up in another stiff. I don't think it's a big deal to just let the string play out in some cases. There were people wanting to deal Dieng at the start of this year because he was getting to the end of his deal and not playing well. Now it's looking like it was a good thing they didn't. Sometimes the best trade is the one you don't do.

Q12543 wrote:

Camden wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I spoke with the agent for Ben McLemore this week and he said the Twolves would be an interesting fit for his client. I asked him what kind of dude he was because of the solid character guys we already have, and he said he would fit in well with our group and that he is a really good guy.

Flip had high interest in him in the past, especially during the draft process from what's been reported. As recent as this season, Milt had reached out to the Kings when he was rumored available.

He hasn't finished the season as well as I'd hoped. I don't know what to make of him. Promising skill set and physical gifts, but really, really unproven.

Hard for me to get excited about this guy. Three years and 6,000+ minutes and he hasn't made a bit of difference. He's almost like Wes Johnson-lite, in that he passes the eye test and has a sweet looking jumper, but he hardly produces anything when he's on the court.

Kind of where I land on McLemore, too. The one saving grace for him is that Sacramento is a clownshow (to be fair, the same could be said of MN when W.Johnson was here.) But reading Cool's post made me think of something else.

What were the odds of the agent saying, "Yeah, that might be a problem." when it came to McLemore fitting in on a high-character team. "My client is a real asshole."

We should bring back smiling Wes back to anchor that second unit. Ok, maybe not, who's his best comp?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

Camden wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I spoke with the agent for Ben McLemore this week and he said the Twolves would be an interesting fit for his client. I asked him what kind of dude he was because of the solid character guys we already have, and he said he would fit in well with our group and that he is a really good guy.

Flip had high interest in him in the past, especially during the draft process from what's been reported. As recent as this season, Milt had reached out to the Kings when he was rumored available.

He hasn't finished the season as well as I'd hoped. I don't know what to make of him. Promising skill set and physical gifts, but really, really unproven.

Hard for me to get excited about this guy. Three years and 6,000+ minutes and he hasn't made a bit of difference. He's almost like Wes Johnson-lite, in that he passes the eye test and has a sweet looking jumper, but he hardly produces anything when he's on the court.

Kind of where I land on McLemore, too. The one saving grace for him is that Sacramento is a clownshow (to be fair, the same could be said of MN when W.Johnson was here.) But reading Cool's post made me think of something else.

What were the odds of the agent saying, "Yeah, that might be a problem." when it came to McLemore fitting in on a high-character team. "My client is a real asshole."

Abe, he had no reason to try and sell ME on the guy. I know the agent really well and I fully trust what he's saying. Might be the type of guy who just needs a change of scenery.

If he's a good agent he wouldn't say anything negative to anyone, no matter how trustworthy, about any of his clients. Just my take as someone who has clients.

I think it makes sense to put Bazz on the block to see who/what we can get in return. I like Cam's idea of getting a future 1st round pick as part of a return package. But I wouldn't trade him unless I got at least equal value in return. Which means I'd be perfectly content to hang onto Bazz through the end of his rookie deal as Carlos suggested. An extra $3 million in cap space for free agents could have some meaningful value. Every million counts in a bidding war - even in the NBA.

In any event I wouldn't entertain dealing him for Ben Mac. I see Ben as a classic underachiever with little passion for the game. I'd take Bazz's passion and rebounding any day over that.

Lots of good discussion it has helped me process where I am with Bazz

Pete and Benz had some interesting comments about Bazz the other night saying basically he feels like he can really play. I don't think that makes him a selfish player or delusional but it's interesting and probably blows my hypothetical scenario out of the water. What was also interesting is that Jim said he thinks Bazz also just needs to feel wanted. It sort of reminded me of the article about Isaiah Thomas findings home in Boston and I do think there still could be a spot for Bazz on this team however...

Basically what I get out of this thread is nobody feels like Bazz really has a place on this team because of his weaknesses and skill set and really we don't know for sure what Bazz is and even if he is just a really nice bench scorer nobody feels like it would be fair to lowball the guy with a cheap deal. Like I said before with the cap going up what a fair deal for both sides is sorta hard to decide. A couple people have mentioned waiting it out and seeing what the market dictates when he hits RFA. I could see that happening and it also give Bazz and the Wolves another year to see him grow or not grow etc. that's risky obviously because the Wolves may end up with. Itching but a roster spot and having a few bucks to spend on another guy. As the point has been Meade sure you could end up with a worse later with a contract for longer but it would suck to lose Bazz who was at least a worthwhile draft pick for nothing.

Milt was on the latest Wolves weekly and he talked about how they need to find some guys that fit the team and also kinda said something about moving on from guys that may not have fit. It wasn't said strongly as I just stated it but it was there. What guys don't fit? Milt likes Bazz but maybe he sees what many in this thread see that Bazz may not be a fit for this team long term. He could have just been thinking how he could dump Payne or something though so I don't want to read into it too much. Lol

Ben McLemore seems like a Wes Johnson type I agree with Lip I wouldn't deal Bazz for him. Here is the deal with Wes he is a nice player to sign for dirt cheap and have him as an option to play as a complimentary wing player. Ben still has a chance to be better than that but it's possible he ends up being that type or maybe a little better version of that.

Getting a future first rounder for Bazz makes a lot of sense I would be interested in that. I may even be interested in a 1st rounder this year depending on who would be available even though we don't need another young player on this team.

It feels like Bazz is the only significant decision of the players on the roster the Wolves have to make. I tend to think they will have to receive a pretty good offer to deal him in the offseason which may happen idk. It SEEMS to me watching him the past few games he has not been the liability he had been on defense but at least somewhat solid. To be a more useful player he needs to improve in at least 1 of 3 areas.

Become a better ball handler. He doesn't have to be super amazing but if he could even get to the level Brewer is that would be good enough to make him more able to use his offensive abilities and make plays with his more willingness to pass he has shown.

Hit 3 point shots. He has hit corner 3's the past 2 seasons but he has to be able to hit more than that and the corner 3's still probably is a small sample

His defense has to be decent enough you can live with him being out there. Like Insaid earlier the last few games have actually been somewhat encouraging. I know I'm probably dreaming but hey the guy is 23 so it's not completely out of the question but I am not banking on it.

We know what Bazz is which is why some of us are willing to deal him. Can anyone say he has significantly improved since he entered the league? I would argue he's regressed this year which is never good to have in your third year in the league. He needs to go somewhere where he is covered defensively and can just score. That's not what we need or can provide for him which is why he isn't a good fit. I'd see if Philly would do a Bazz for Covington swap. They need another scorer with Okafor because he's the only guy averaging more than 15 a game for them. They get a player who's a little younger than Covington since they are still rebuilding. We get a lower level 3 and D wing we need (Covington still could use some work on his 3pt shooting, but he's a solid defender). I think they get the talent upgrade and we get the fit upgrade and we just have to hope we can develop Covington a little more than he's shown to this point and maybe a more specialized role brings out the best in him instead of being overmatched night in and night out.

Well, here's what I won't miss about Bazz if he goes. 2nd worst RPM in league and 2nd worst DRPM in league. I don't see his production as hard to replace at all, and I would expect our top draft pick, a free agent signee or an improved Belly to give us better production out of Bazz's minutes. If we could trade him for a first or even an early second rounder, we should do it.

Bazz is going to be a key piece on a winning team. Scoring in bunches is an asset that helps you win. I hope it is with us, but if not I hope he finds a situation where a coach can accentuate his strengths.

thedoper wrote:Bazz is going to be a key piece on a winning team. Scoring in bunches is an asset that helps you win. I hope it is with us, but if not I hope he finds a situation where a coach can accentuate his strengths.

He seems to do best as a cutter, in post ups, and running the floor. Theoretically, it seems like Bjelica is a good forward for him to play next to because he can handle the ball and likes to park out beyond the 3-point line. That gives Bazz space to get the ball near the basket.

Bazz indeed does have a skill that is valuable, but if we draft a shooter/scorer like Hield or Murray, we really need a more defensive-oriented backup SF.