Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:56 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:48 pm Ant
Googs
KG
JR Rider
Pek

Wish we had them longer:
Spree
Cassell
Marbury

If we did a “wish we had them longer” thread, I start my list with Chauncey Billups. Letting him go remains one of the dumbest moves in a long list of dumb moves by a string of incompetent T-Wolf front office regimes. Keeping Billups as our starting PG rather than Terrell Brandon would have set the Wolves up for multiple championship runs with both KG and Billups in their prime.

Yeah, that one hurts. Though it is tough because that Pistons team is one of my favorite non-Wolves teams of all time.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:35 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:56 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:48 pm Ant
Googs
KG
JR Rider
Pek

Wish we had them longer:
Spree
Cassell
Marbury

If we did a “wish we had them longer” thread, I start my list with Chauncey Billups. Letting him go remains one of the dumbest moves in a long list of dumb moves by a string of incompetent T-Wolf front office regimes. Keeping Billups as our starting PG rather than Terrell Brandon would have set the Wolves up for multiple championship runs with both KG and Billups in their prime.

Yeah, that one hurts. Though it is tough because that Pistons team is one of my favorite non-Wolves teams of all time.

Billups hurt for sure. But he kept getting better and better, crazy to think how many teams gave up on him.

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:02 pm

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:35 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:56 pm

If we did a “wish we had them longer” thread, I start my list with Chauncey Billups. Letting him go remains one of the dumbest moves in a long list of dumb moves by a string of incompetent T-Wolf front office regimes. Keeping Billups as our starting PG rather than Terrell Brandon would have set the Wolves up for multiple championship runs with both KG and Billups in their prime.

Yeah, that one hurts. Though it is tough because that Pistons team is one of my favorite non-Wolves teams of all time.

Billups hurt for sure. But he kept getting better and better, crazy to think how many teams gave up on him.

If you go back and look at his stats you’ll see that he broke through while he was still here. And those are just the stats. I recall watching him and, based solely on the eye test, concluding that Chauncey was well on the way to living up to his promise that came with him when he was the 3rd pick in the 1997 draft. By the time he came to the Wolves he had been with three teams - Celtics, Raptors and Nuggets. But it was all coming together in his two seasons here, averaging over 38% from behind the arc while averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 assists his final season here in 28 minutes per game. He was only 25 years old at the time.

I’ll point to Billups as an example of why we need to be patient with our young guys. Ant, Jaden and Naz are still all under 25 years old. Minott is 21, Miller 20. Now we’ve added the 23 year old TSJ and 19 year old Dilly.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:32 pm

BloopOracle wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:14 pm Allen Iverson should be in this list, but birdbrain McHale refused to put Randy Foye on the table. Fuck you McHale

I either never heard about that or rightfully erased it from memory.

2006 Foye's rookie season, played at Villanova and Philly refused to trade AI without us including him. AI was for it since he wanted to play with KG, McHale refused so AI went to Denver the following off season and Foye ended up being a JAG.

I watched it like a hawk since AI was by far my favorite non Wolves player, I will never forgive Kevin for that shit

I know there are a couple other threads like this floating around out there. It would be interesting to go back and try to bump those and see how people's lists have evolved. Anyway, here's my list, not exactly in a particular order, but Corey's at the top for a reason. Obviously, this is mostly not based on talent.

Corey Brewer-My favorite guys tend to be the guys who play at full throttle 100% of the time (especially on defense), despite whatever level of talent they have, and maybe especially when they're not that talented. Guys who play like it'll be their last game on earth, with equal parts desperation, competitiveness, joy and just maximum emotion. Corey Brewer, step right up.
Anthony Edwards-No explanation needed. Doesn't always play the way I'd like him to, but his personality shines so bright and there are times when he plays with the effort of a Corey Brewer even though he's got more talent than Corey in his pinky finger.
KG-Not quite as much joy to his game as I'd like, but the dude played at 100% almost all the time and competed at such a high level. And he was so talented at the same time. No-brainer pick.
Josh Okogie-Charter member of the Corey Brewer All-Stars.
Jimmy Butler-He was one of my favorite players in the league in Chicago, and I was over the moon when we got him. To this day, I don't blame him for forcing his way out. If it were me, I would have traded Towns and Wiggins after that legendary practice, and I'm pretty sure I said so at the time. A little too much crazy, but his intensity in the clutch is exactly what I love.
Ricky Rubio-I was such a hater on this guy early on. I thought the hype was so far overblown and anyone who questioned it got blasted on the old boards. But over time, the dude completely won me over and I loved him. It felt like most people initially loved him and then later wanted to get rid of him. It was like the opposite for me. Just a great guy. Unfortunate tattoos though.
Mark Madsen-Talent level: 0. Effort level: 100. Yes please.
NAW-Corey Brewer effort, and it's looking like probably more talent. Still not as much joy as Corey played with, but man, I love to watch him defend.
SamIAm-Old man game with just an unbelievable level of confidence and shit-talking, and he fucking backed it up. So much fun to watch. Loved him.
Big Al-Just the nicest guy. So easy to root for.
Naz-Same, but even easier to root for because we didn't trade KG for him or pay him a ton of money like Big Al. Love him.
Mike Conley-I'm on a streak here. Al, Naz, Conley. Just guys I can't imagine anyone not liking. I dare anyone to try not to like one of those guys.
Pek-Ok, here's another type I really like: characters. Just weird, goofy guys. Pek SMASH!

Honorable mentions
Pat Bev
JJ Barea
Tayshaun Prince
Jared Vanderbilt
SloMo
Chauncey (liked him when he was here but loved him in Detroit so he doesn't make the main list)
Craig Smith (mostly for the nickname: Cookie Monster)
Gary Trent (the 'stache, the muscles, just everything)
Jeff Adrien (I know, I know, multiple felonies. But I really did love the energy he brought on the court!)
Taj Gibson
Gorgui (member of the likeable All-Stars with Big Al, Naz, Conley, Taj, and SloMo)
Covington (really, just for the defense, so I gotta put Jaden on here too)
Jordan McLaughlin (short, bald, high effort, what's not to like?)