Minnesota Sports Forum

Golden State has traded F Eric Paschall to the Utah Jazz for a protected future second round pick, sources tell ESPN.

lipoli390 wrote:This post goes out to all the advanced stat experts on this board.

How should we interpret Markkanen's 109.9, and 107.3 def ratings the past two seasons? He had a 112.3 def rating the prior season (2018-19). Is he better defensively than he looks or than his reputation would suggest?

How about Frank Kaminsky? His def rating last season was 107.7. Before then, in the 2015-16 season, he had a 102.5 def rating. Is he perhaps a decent defender the Wolves should consider signing?

Hartenstein had a good 107.7 defensive rating last season, but a 111.9 the season before. How should we interpret those numbers? Is he a good, or potentially good, defender?

For all these guys, are there better, more accurate or predictive advanced defensive stats?

By the way, Millsap's defensive rating last season was 123.2. The season before it was 114.4. As Charles Barkley often says, "Father Time is undefeated.

Defensive Rating is noisy since the player in question is on the floor with nine other players, which could have a profound influence on those numbers. That's not to say it isn't worthwhile, but it requires further investigation.

On literally every other advanced stat for defense (DBPM, DRPM, DRAPTOR, etc.) Markkanen is a negative. Same is the case with Kaminsky for the most part.

Hartenstein tends to score more favorably across most, but all, of the defensive metrics. And the same goes with Millsap, although he has fallen off a bit in recent years.

Thanks, Q. That's what I thought, but I don't pay much attention to advanced stats. They're just too hard for me to get my head around. How does WCS shake out across the spectrum of defensive stats. If I were Rosas, I'd focus my pursuit on Hartenstein and WCS.

Free agent Spencer Dinwiddie is headed to the Washington Wizards on a three-year, $62 million contract via sign-and-trade, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

kekgeek1 wrote:Free agent Spencer Dinwiddie is headed to the Washington Wizards on a three-year, $62 million contract via sign-and-trade, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

That's been expected for a while based on reports. Now that it's finally happened, we know that Beal won't be on the trade market. Looks like only Simmons and Lillard remain among the stars who might still be dealt before next season. So far, Morey has predictably been asking for way too much in return, causing other NBA from office execs to laugh or just hang up. So far Lillard doesn't seem to have demanded a trade. I've always thought a Simmons-Lillard deal would make the most sense. Portland would obviously have to get extra to make the deal. But that swap would seem good for both teams.

Just saw this article from 3 days ago. Helps explain why the Wolves haven't been discussed lately in relation to Myles Turner. It would appear that the Knicks are trying to get him. It would also appear the Pacers aren't giving him up for peanuts. It's looking more and more like Markkanen or a lesser name like WCS or I. Hartenstein.

J. Michael: The #Knicks have been trying hard to get #Pacers to part with Myles Turner. So far, not happening. This and other intel entering free agency. They don't seem in a hurry to bust up their core. 3 days ago - via Twitter ThisIsJMichael

Currently, the Wolves are about $4.2M under the luxury tax threshold with all 15 roster spots taken if you count the qualifying offers to Vanderbilt and JMac along with Bolmaro. The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to think the Wolves should just sign Bolmaro, Vanderbilt and JMac and then call it a summer.

Let's see how far this current core, built by Rosas on top of KAT, can take us. Then next season, we'll have Prince, Juancho, Culver and Layman off the books. That's almost $30M. We'll have some salary added as contracts escalate, but we can also let Okogie go. In other words, we'll finally have some financial flexibility. If the team gets into the playoffs or at least makes the play-in tournament and improves during the season, then the Wolves can use their financial flexibility and draft picks (one first rounder and three second-rounders) to take the next step. If not, then the Wolves can deal KAT and DLO for picks and a good young player or two to begin another another rebuild around Ant and McDaniels. In either case, I'd be inclined to replace Rosas.

So I can see doing a sign-and-trade for Markkanen. I can also see pursuing a minor deal for Hartenstein or WCS. But I think I'm more inclined to just roll with what we've got and keep the $4.2M in luxury tax room as a cushion for any necessary moves during the season.

lipoli390 wrote:Currently, the Wolves are about $4.2M under the luxury tax threshold with all 15 roster spots taken if you count the qualifying offers to Vanderbilt and JMac along with Bolmaro. The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to think the Wolves should just sign Bolmaro, Vanderbilt and JMac and then call it a summer.

I tend to think this is the likeliest outcome despite what I want to happen. I think Gersson Rosas created a lot of excitement and expectation that a significant move would be made this off-season by talking about being aggressive and the trade market being their main avenue of improvement, but it's just as likely that nothing happens. Rosas could very well wish to see what this roster does when healthy since last season was a wasted campaign.

https://www.nba.com/news/every-reported-free-agency-deal-for-all-30-teams

Interesting to see all the moves of the other teams in the League this week in juxtaposition to the what the Wolves have done. It's like you have this one checkers player, Rosas, surrounded by a cadre of chess players. Using that metaphor, we should be thankful that, so far, Rosas has declined to engage in a game of chess with any of them. :) Truth is, we don't have much financial flexibility and the only assets we have that other teams might want are assets Rosas has rightly been unwilling to give up so far.

Camden0916 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Currently, the Wolves are about $4.2M under the luxury tax threshold with all 15 roster spots taken if you count the qualifying offers to Vanderbilt and JMac along with Bolmaro. The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to think the Wolves should just sign Bolmaro, Vanderbilt and JMac and then call it a summer.

I tend to think this is the likeliest outcome despite what I want to happen. I think Gersson Rosas created a lot of excitement and expectation that a significant move would be made this off-season by talking about being aggressive and the trade market being their main avenue of improvement, but it's just as likely that nothing happens. Rosas could very well wish to see what this roster does when healthy since last season was a wasted campaign.

The one interview I saw with Rosas he said flat out that when it came to free agents they would prioritize their own guys so I'm not too surprised they haven't made a splash there...plus even after the fuse to the powder keg Rubio for Prince trade *sarcasm* it's not like they had a lot of money to work with especially since it seems obviously they want Vanderbilt back.

It's also worth mentioning that the Wolves could very well make a trade even early in the season those types of trades aren't common but they do happen. Sometimes there are trades of some sort of reasonable consequence even right before the season starts when team have an idea of what their rosters are looking like or a team has an injury that makes them want look for options.