Wolves Summer league thread

[Monster]

Two things I'm absolutely sure of:

1. Thibs will be the Wolves head coach Ricky Rubio opening night; and
2. Ricky Rubio will be the Wolves starting PG.

Two things I'm not sure of:

1. Whether KG will be on the Wolves roster opening night; and
2. Whether Pek will every play another minutes of NBA basketball with the Wolves.

That's the frustrating part with KG and Pek-20 million dollars tied up where we could have brought in a really good wing on a short-term deal. Who? I'm not sure since everybody and their brother were getting 4 year deals.

The Wolves had the money to do that. It they didn't. Heck they still have 14million in cap space now. Those 2 contracts didn't keep them from doing anything they wanted to do in FA.

Really monster? It didn't affect their decisions at all?

Who would you have wanted them to sign if they had another 20 million?

[Porckchop]

Thibs said again during an interview today that he felt Rubio and Dunn could play together for stretches. This is like the umpteenth time I've heard either Layden or Thibs say this. If they didn't believe it was possible, they wouldn't have said it. And we saw it in practice in the two games Dunn played in Vegas.

I don't doubt they've said it, and probably believe it. I'M THE ONE who doesn't think it will work in league play. And define "stretches". Two minutes? That could work occasionally. Five minutes? We're asking for trouble. Ten Minutes? We would lose most games.

If #5 overall pick Kris Dunn isn't good enough to play 10 mins off the ball likely against backup SGs that at are also at least half are combo guards the problem will be he isn't a very good basketball player and we have a lot to worry about then.

Look we are all just guessing at what some rotation minutes are looking like. We should know the minutes don't get played out in neat packages every night. I don't know what amount of time Dunn can or will see at SG but it seems odd that you so quickly absolutely dismiss the idea. It wasn't that long ago teams were looking for attacking off the dribble SGs. If Rubio can create space with nearly no threat to score than it seems like Dunn would be able to do something with his athletic gifts skill and general talent to get to some spots to create for himself and others if he really is a PG playing as a SG. It's ok if we just agree to disagree though we will find out soon enough. :)

Ricky was the number 5 pick, would you be comfortable playing him off the ball at sg? Does that mean he's not a very good basketball player too? Frankly Ricky offers nothing in the way of skill offensively from the sg spot .

[Phenom]

Thibs said again during an interview today that he felt Rubio and Dunn could play together for stretches. This is like the umpteenth time I've heard either Layden or Thibs say this. If they didn't believe it was possible, they wouldn't have said it. And we saw it in practice in the two games Dunn played in Vegas.

I don't doubt they've said it, and probably believe it. I'M THE ONE who doesn't think it will work in league play. And define "stretches". Two minutes? That could work occasionally. Five minutes? We're asking for trouble. Ten Minutes? We would lose most games.

If #5 overall pick Kris Dunn isn't good enough to play 10 mins off the ball likely against backup SGs that at are also at least half are combo guards the problem will be he isn't a very good basketball player and we have a lot to worry about then.

Look we are all just guessing at what some rotation minutes are looking like. We should know the minutes don't get played out in neat packages every night. I don't know what amount of time Dunn can or will see at SG but it seems odd that you so quickly absolutely dismiss the idea. It wasn't that long ago teams were looking for attacking off the dribble SGs. If Rubio can create space with nearly no threat to score than it seems like Dunn would be able to do something with his athletic gifts skill and general talent to get to some spots to create for himself and others if he really is a PG playing as a SG. It's ok if we just agree to disagree though we will find out soon enough. :)

Ricky was the number 5 pick, would you be comfortable playing him off the ball at sg? Does that mean he's not a very good basketball player too? Frankly Ricky offers nothing in the way of skill offensively from the sg spot .

It depends for me. Are we talking about parking Ricky in the corner as a spot up guy like Adelman did? I think that is a waste of his skills.

Now if we said Ricky could play off the ball while Dunn and Kat run a PnR where Ricky gets to slash off curls and be the guy who completes a hockey assist. That could be money for stretches. Would Thibs dare?

[Coolbreeze44]

As is often the case, I find myself on a bit of an island in a board debate. This idea that Dunn can play significant time at the 2 is just not one I can endorse at this point. Two summer league games just isn't enough for me. I sincerely hope everybody else is right and I am wrong. So instead of hammering on this point for the next couple months, I'm just going to resort to being a cheerleader on the topic and hope it works out the way the majority thinks it will. It would certainly make us a much more dangerous team and provide greater flexibility.

[Monster]

As is often the case, I find myself on a bit of an island in a board debate. This idea that Dunn can play significant time at the 2 is just not one I can endorse at this point. Two summer league games just isn't enough for me. I sincerely hope everybody else is right and I am wrong. So instead of hammering on this point for the next couple months, I'm just going to resort to being a cheerleader on the topic and hope it works out the way the majority thinks it will. It would certainly make us a much more dangerous team and provide greater flexibility.

Cool I respect you position on Dunn.
I think you respect my position on Dunn that I'm not sure he is really going to be a top level player as a PG. We all have different perspective and being able to share those and consider different ways is a big part of why I am here.

I agree 2 summer league games doesn't tell us much about what Dunn can do playing off the ball. I do think how he was used off the ball suggests they do actually plan on seeing if he can play there.

I know I am not in the majority here but to me the key to Dunn being a good player based on his legit potential in that area is defense. If Dunn becomes the defender he projects to be he will be a heck of a player. imagine if he becomes something near the defensive abilities of Tony Allen (basically the same measurables) AND can be a solid offensive guard even if his jump shot isn't all that great. That would be a really good player as Dunn obviously is a more gifted offensive player than Tony Allen. If Dunn can REALLY defend that well he is gonna play a bunch of minutes. I doubt he will be that good of a defender his rookie year but yeah.

Dunn wasn't my pick but I'm cheering for the guy to become a good or even terrific player. I think there is a few paths for him to do that and it could include being a good PG. It's really nice to have another guard with legit size and skills to be pretty versatile.

[Monster]

I'll add this last point. It would sure help a lot of Bazz could break through and hit 3's this year at a decent rate. I don't think that's a completely far fetched idea. If Thibs could find the right balance and get guys to buy in this could be a nasty attacking squad that could get a lot of efficient buckets around the basket and live at the FT line. Thibs keeps saying play to your strengths but he also wants to improve shooting. Drive and kicks not just from PGs could get guys some wide open 3 point looks. I hope Thibs can get guys feeling more confident (and willing) to take those shots. Bazz seemed to be one guy last year actually ready and willing to let them fly they just didn't go in consistently enough over the entire season.

[Brooklyn_Wolves [enjin:14608167]]

If we run Tyus/Dunn backcourt I think the best fit with them is Rush, not Bazz
Basically
Rubio/Tyus (plus some Dunn next to Zach at SG)
Zach/Dunn
Wiggins/Rush (for basically 12 mpg)

I don't see Bazz as a good fit on this team anymore. Dunn can take all the scoring touches from him on the second unit.

[Monster]

If we run Tyus/Dunn backcourt I think the best fit with them is Rush, not Bazz
Basically
Rubio/Tyus (plus some Dunn next to Zach at SG)
Zach/Dunn
Wiggins/Rush (for basically 12 mpg)

I don't see Bazz as a good fit on this team anymore. Dunn can take all the scoring touches from him on the second unit.

You make a good point putting Rush in there. The keys to Bazz having worth going forward are obvious. He has to become better defensively and he needs to be able to hit outside shots I think its posible both could be improved a decent amount. He needs to be able to move the ball also, but I don't think that's as key to being really effective as the other 2 things but its is important for playing as a team. AS for his fi I think the fact that he could be pairs in the frontcourt with Belly give him a chance to still fit.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

As is often the case, I find myself on a bit of an island in a board debate. This idea that Dunn can play significant time at the 2 is just not one I can endorse at this point. Two summer league games just isn't enough for me. I sincerely hope everybody else is right and I am wrong. So instead of hammering on this point for the next couple months, I'm just going to resort to being a cheerleader on the topic and hope it works out the way the majority thinks it will. It would certainly make us a much more dangerous team and provide greater flexibility.

Can you actually go into specifics as to why you believe this instead of just saying you can't see how it would work? Is it Dunn's size, length, shooting? What makes it so far fetched in your mind that it's a possibility Dunn can play a decent amount at the 2? His two summer league games were against guys in NBA backcourt rotations and he held up fine so what is it that is keeping him from being a playable guy at the 2? I get that it's just gonna be an agree to disagree situation, but so far you've mostly been in the just can't see it camp instead of saying here's why I don't think it will work camp. Maybe I missed it, but refresh me why you don't think it can work. You seem to be pretty well set it's not gonna work so convince us or at least try as to why it won't.

[Coolbreeze44]

As is often the case, I find myself on a bit of an island in a board debate. This idea that Dunn can play significant time at the 2 is just not one I can endorse at this point. Two summer league games just isn't enough for me. I sincerely hope everybody else is right and I am wrong. So instead of hammering on this point for the next couple months, I'm just going to resort to being a cheerleader on the topic and hope it works out the way the majority thinks it will. It would certainly make us a much more dangerous team and provide greater flexibility.

Can you actually go into specifics as to why you believe this instead of just saying you can't see how it would work? Is it Dunn's size, length, shooting? What makes it so far fetched in your mind that it's a possibility Dunn can play a decent amount at the 2? His two summer league games were against guys in NBA backcourt rotations and he held up fine so what is it that is keeping him from being a playable guy at the 2? I get that it's just gonna be an agree to disagree situation, but so far you've mostly been in the just can't see it camp instead of saying here's why I don't think it will work camp. Maybe I missed it, but refresh me why you don't think it can work. You seem to be pretty well set it's not gonna work so convince us or at least try as to why it won't.

Seriously, I don't want to hammer away at this topic anymore. I've made my points numerous times. Now I just want to enjoy having Dunn on the team and whatever happens, happens.