Minnesota Sports Forum

Just to clarify: Cole is owed 7.3 mil this season, but only 2 mil is guaranteed next season.

Another side note: Miles is probably holding out to see if a big pay day might head his way. The Wiz have until midnight tonight to match Porter's max contract. When they do, the Nets will have a bunch of money again, but most people assume they will take a run at KCP.

lipoli390 wrote:

TheSP wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Absolutely no way I'd include the OKC pick for CJ. The guy is an unrestricted FA so the Pacers stand to get nothing in return for him. They should be pleased to get Cole and a 2019 2nd round pick. If some other team comes along and offers more than that in a sign-and-trade, then so be it. I like Miles, but there are other free agents out there.

Why should any team be happy to accept Cole's $14M when he couldn't even get on the floor for a 31 win team? I think you're overestimating the Wolves leverage minus the OKC 1st.

That's only $7.3 million next season and under $7 million the last year. Not a big contract. Indiana's in rebuild mode. They need bodies for next season but should have their sights set on good lottery position. Cole gives them a big body and another asset that's relatively cheap by today's NBA standards. So it seems to me he's better than getting nothing in return. If the Pacers don't see it that way, then so be it. CJ Miles isn't going to be a key to the Wolves season.

So if the Wolves were still in rebuild mode you wouldn't be unhappy with facilitating a S&T for that return? I tend to think this board would be more than a little pixxed off if they did.

Crawford's name recognition is better than his actual game at this point. He's a low-efficiency volume shooter, that yes, can create a shot when the offense breaks down and you need someone to get a shot off. But with Teague/Butler/Wiggins/KAT, do we really need another shot creator on the team?

He can handle the ball and pass, but he and Tyus in the backcourt are going to be BRUTAL defensively.

Q12543 wrote:Crawford's name recognition is better than his actual game at this point. He's a low-efficiency volume shooter, that yes, can create a shot when the offense breaks down and you need someone to get a shot off. But with Teague/Butler/Wiggins/KAT, do we really need another shot creator on the team?

He can handle the ball and pass, but he and Tyus in the backcourt are going to be BRUTAL defensively.

I think they wanted a bucket getter off the bench. Is he the best no but I think he is the best bucket getter left.

I like the signing. If we get miles without a first I will give the offseason a A

TheSP wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

TheSP wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Absolutely no way I'd include the OKC pick for CJ. The guy is an unrestricted FA so the Pacers stand to get nothing in return for him. They should be pleased to get Cole and a 2019 2nd round pick. If some other team comes along and offers more than that in a sign-and-trade, then so be it. I like Miles, but there are other free agents out there.

Why should any team be happy to accept Cole's $14M when he couldn't even get on the floor for a 31 win team? I think you're overestimating the Wolves leverage minus the OKC 1st.

That's only $7.3 million next season and under $7 million the last year. Not a big contract. Indiana's in rebuild mode. They need bodies for next season but should have their sights set on good lottery position. Cole gives them a big body and another asset that's relatively cheap by today's NBA standards. So it seems to me he's better than getting nothing in return. If the Pacers don't see it that way, then so be it. CJ Miles isn't going to be a key to the Wolves season.

So if the Wolves were still in rebuild mode you wouldn't be unhappy with facilitating a S&T for that return? I tend to think this board would be more than a little pixxed off if they did.

Honestly I would be all for it, trying to acquire as many assets as possible so cole,a second round pick, and no threat to my tanking expedition would be great

....very worried about our efficiency offensively and whether we'll be able to build on our #10 offense from last season. That might sound crazy given the addition of Teague and Butler, but the league is changing quickly and teams are beginning to eradicate the "long 2". Guess who loooooves those 2s? Butler, Wiggins, and Crawford. Over 20% of their shots come from this range. Wiggins and Crawford are two of the less efficient scorers in the game because of this. Butler makes up for it by getting to the line a ton and making a very high percentage of free throws, but he's still not as efficient as the truly elite scorers like Durant, Leonard, Curry, and Harden.

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Crawford's name recognition is better than his actual game at this point. He's a low-efficiency volume shooter, that yes, can create a shot when the offense breaks down and you need someone to get a shot off. But with Teague/Butler/Wiggins/KAT, do we really need another shot creator on the team?

He can handle the ball and pass, but he and Tyus in the backcourt are going to be BRUTAL defensively.

I think they wanted a bucket getter off the bench. Is he the best no but I think he is the best bucket getter left.

I like the signing. If we get miles without a first I will give the offseason a A

If we get Miles, I'll certainly feel better.

I actually didn't think a shot creator was as much of a need given the fact we have four starters that were all #1 or #2 options last year. With that many scorers, we can always have at least one or two on the floor at all times.

I'd much rather have a low mistake catch-and-shoot 3-baller that can also play passable defense. Hell, I might even prefer Thabo Sefolosha because he can defend, rebound, get deflections, and is OK-ish from 3.

Q12543 wrote:....very worried about our efficiency offensively and whether we'll be able to build on our #10 offense from last season. That might sound crazy given the addition of Teague and Butler, but the league is changing quickly and teams are beginning to eradicate the "long 2". Guess who loooooves those 2s? Butler, Wiggins, and Crawford. Over 20% of their shots come from this range. Wiggins and Crawford are two of the less efficient scorers in the game because of this. Butler makes up for it by getting to the line a ton and making a very high percentage of free throws, but he's still not as efficient as the truly elite scorers like Durant, Leonard, Curry, and Harden.

I share your concern, Q. It's been strange. Thibs has repeatedly talking about the importance of the three point shot in today's NBA and talked abou the need to improve in that area. Yet, he seems caught in some sort of time warp that prevents him from acting consistent with what he knows he should do. My initial reaction to the Crawford signing was positive. But when I think about it in the broader context of a Wolves team that lacks true 3-point marksmen after losing LaVine, I start to wonder. Adding a 37-year old 35% career 3-point shooter who takes a lot of long twos and isn't known for his defense doesn't seem like the best use of our biggest remaining financial tool to attract a free agent (the RE).

We have to hope that Wiggins takes another big step forward on his three-point shooting. And listening to Thibs, I got the sense he plans to make more use of KAT and Dieng as three-point shooters. KAT is an excellent 3-point shooter in my view. Thibs said that we have 3 bigs who can shoot the three. He must have been referring to KAT, Belly and Gorgui.

The thing with KAT is he is one of the few players in the league that might be just as efficient on non-dunk 2's as he is on 3's. He shot 58% from 2 last season! That is a crazy for a guy that doesn't just sit in the dunker's position and plays off others (like DeAndre Jordan for example). So him taking a 3 instead of a 2 isn't as much of a positive tradeoff versus Wiggins taking a 3 versus one of his super difficult pull up long 2s, or worse, the dreaded step back long 2.

Again, I don't have a problem with Wiggins having these shots in his arsenal, but he simply relies too much on them to generate his offense. I'm really hoping Thibs finds a way to get Butler and Wiggins more open corner 3 looks. Both are 40%+ from that range in their career.

As for Dieng, yes, his corner 3 ball was a very positive development. They need to build on that with him.

Is anyone else hoping Thibs exploits matchups in the post with KAT, Wigs, or Butler? I'm ok with three points the old fashioned way.