Curry's broken hand... and what it MIGHT mean for the Timberwolves.

[rapsuperstar31]

Russell wasn't great his first few season before being pretty good last year. He cant be traded until December 15th so there is plenty of time for things to change. If Towns tells Rosa get my guy here, you do it. I don't think his value is all that high right now but like I said in six weeks that could change if he plays well. If he is playing near what he did last year I would be willing to trade Roco for him. If DLO doesn't play all that well the next six weeks, and Towns still wants him here I offer them Teague, filler and either a future first or Culver and that is it. Teague gets them off the salary, and either the first or Culver gets them an asset. I would try to get Willy Cauley Stein from GS as well if we do trade for Russell.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd rather exist in a climate where we execute a legitimate strategy to grow into a contender, than a fly by the pants approach focused on hooking up friends off the court.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'd rather exist in a climate where we execute a legitimate strategy to grow into a contender, than a fly by the pants approach focused on hooking up friends off the court.

Why does your comment sound like you think the two paths can't run parallel to the same objective?

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd rather exist in a climate where we execute a legitimate strategy to grow into a contender, than a fly by the pants approach focused on hooking up friends off the court.

Why does your comment sound like you think the two paths can't run parallel to the same objective?

It's possible they can. I'd like to believe that DLO would be the best use of our exposable assets, but I just don't. There are lots of ways to appease your superstar. I think the best is building a unit around him that has the best chance of winning.

[mjs34]

I think DLO is being severely overrated by some. Cam, how can you be so pro DLO, and then bash Wiggins?

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=1&player_id1_hint=Andrew+Wiggins&player_id1_select=Andrew+Wiggins&y1=2019&player_id1=wiggian01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=D%27Angelo+Russell&player_id2_select=D%27Angelo+Russell&y2=2019&player_id2=russeda01&idx=players

at least Wiggins can defend some.

DLO's only decent season was in the EC as well, which means lower level competition. One of my biggest concerns is that the "elite ball handler doesn't get to the line much.

I would offer up Teague or Gorgui and a young guy other than Okogie or Culver. Let's remember that DLO chose them over us.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think DLO is being severely overrated by some. Cam, how can you be so pro DLO, and then bash Wiggins?

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=1&player_id1_hint=Andrew+Wiggins&player_id1_select=Andrew+Wiggins&y1=2019&player_id1=wiggian01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=D%27Angelo+Russell&player_id2_select=D%27Angelo+Russell&y2=2019&player_id2=russeda01&idx=players

at least Wiggins can defend some.

DLO's only decent season was in the EC as well, which means lower level competition. One of my biggest concerns is that the "elite ball handler doesn't get to the line much.

I would offer up Teague or Gorgui and a young guy other than Okogie or Culver. Let's remember that DLO chose them over us.

Well, for starters, D'Angelo Russell has been a positive overall player -- at least in terms of VORP -- in the league since he was drafted and yet Minnesota is still waiting for a season where that rings true for Wiggins. Also, the NBA is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of league and Russell just had his best season to date whereas Wiggins continued his downward spiral. The two players are on two wildly different career paths.

Speaking of VORP, Russell's 3.3 value last year placed him 27th overall. That put him higher than Jimmy Butler, Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley Jr., Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Lowry, and Chris Paul -- to name a handful of lead guards. There is no singular metric that is perfect in determining a player's value, however, VORP tends to be a pretty solid one with a lot less noise than others. I think Russell's VORP was no accident.

Additionally, Russell was just one of FIVE players last year to average at least 20.0 PPG and 7.0 APG. I understand that volume stats don't mean what they used to, however, when the other four players to average those numbers are James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, and Jrue Holiday -- I won't take that lightly. That is some serious shot creation ability whether we like it or not. Frankly, Minnesota has never had anyone with that kind of skill level bringing the ball up the floor and it's no secret that the current roster desperately needs it.

Lastly, Russell was ninth overall last year in three-pointers made with 234. Ninth. How many years has Minnesota been in the bottom third of three-point shooting? Why is their best three-point shooter the starting center? No disrespect to Towns because he's an elite shooter in his own right, but he can't get his shot off as easily as Russell. We're talking about a guy that was equally as good from the perimeter as Damian Lillard last year.

Combine all of these skills and I think you have a player with legitimate All-Star talent who would solve a lot of problems with how this team is currently built. No, he doesn't improve the team's defense, but as I discussed in another thread, no position can impact a team's defense more than the center. So, as long as Towns' improvement on that end is legitimate, and the supporting defenders are adequate, I'm hedging my bets that the defense wouldn't collapse with Russell in the lineup, however the offense would be a lot more versatile and much more of a threat from three. The trade-off makes sense to me. And that's speaking strictly basketball -- not even including any off-court benefits that likely come with Russell.

[mjs34]

The VORP would mean more if he didn't have a usage rate over 28% for his career. DLO's TS% last year was still lower than two of Wiggins seasons, and he has averaged about the same over his career. You can't ignore playing in the Eastern Conference. The bottom line is that he is nothing more than a volume shooter who dribbles around the perimeter. If he got to the line more, he might raise his TS%, but that isnt his game. If it is a "what have you done for me lately" league, he has a TS% of .498, with fg%'s of .386/.314 this season and a VORP of -0.1.

KG averaged over 5 assists for most of his career at PF while scoring over 20 pts/game.

[Wolvesfan21]

The thing is that DLO could actually be getting better at 23 years old while Wiggins is trending down. Sure this season isn't great for him yet, but then the Warriors as a team have been a disaster and it's been a small sample size. Let's see how the next several weeks shake out with him at PG.

[Coolbreeze44]

I guess with the number of teams DLO has already been on during his young career, it will eventually be our turn.

[Wolvesfan21]

And like it or not, making your superstar happy is part of the current NBA, if not then they leave. I guess the debate is wether or not DLO at his salary is worth it or not. I'm on board if Towns would be.