Minnesota Sports Forum

lipoli390 wrote:Well, it's getting even harder to be optimistic. The Pelicans just signed Julius Randle for 2 years ast $9 million per year. Thibodeau doesn't think steps ahead and shows no imagination as PBO. He's a pedestrian in-the-box thinker. And his box doesn't extend very far beyond his former Bulls players. Who would you rather have - Gibson at $14 million for one more season or Julius Randle for the next two seasons at $9 million per year? The answer should be an easy one - Julius Randle for one more year and less annual money against the luxury tax. But Thibodeau failed to put the Wolves in a position to take advantage of such a contingency either via free agency or via a sign-and-trade with the Lakers. Once the Lakers signed LeBron, even I knew that they weren't going to keep Randle. Thibodeau should have anticipated and planned for that possibility. But as someone who didn't play for Thibodeau with the Bulls, I suppose he wasn't foremost on Thibodeau's mind.

I get your frustrations lip I would have LOVED to sign Randle. I think we should look at a couple other perspectives though.

1. If I was a Lakers fan I would be kinda pissed we just basically traded Randle for Rondo. I get Rondo has reclaimed a lot of his value and we are all in on Lebron but 9 million when Randle just signed for that much for 2 years!?!? WTF. There certainly could be lots of valid reasons for doing what they did but the Lakers should be open for getting ripped there.

2. Signing with NO. Is Cousins coming back? If not Randle basically is in line for starting type minutes either off the bench or starting with Mirotic off the bench. Heck I could even see them employing some big lineups with all 3 AD Mirotic and Randle on the floor. AD supposedly recruited him hard. Gentry once he didn't have to placate Cousins AD really started employing and up and down basketball which is what he was brought to do. Randle fit that. The fit there for him could be terrific. That's a factor and maybe he even turned downtown he possibility of more money one way or another to be there.

If the Wolves REALLY wanted Randle they could have offered the same money as NO and gone into the Lux tax. Cam who is a pretty smart guy and Julius Randle bus driver would absolutely endorse that. Honestly I might not say no. :) he would t help spacing much unless he develops a shot and is he a starter or a fringe starter? Last season was terrific and it's ynlukely he is gonna suck but we aren't still certain he is some awesome guy and that's coming from
A big fan of his. Let's see how the rest of the off season plays out. If we sign the right guy/s withtbhe vet min we could be in good shape.

Edit: I forgot to mention it was reported Randle was all excited about playing with Lebron. Maybe that wasn't accrurate or something changed but I don't get why they didn't want to keep a young player like him.

khans2k5 wrote:There is very rarely an obvious and easily attainable path for a smaller market team to become a contender. You need a lot of luck on your side and ours all resides in Towns and Wiggins. We don't get to sign the Durant's of the world so you build as best you can and hope you luck your way there. Every year luck plays a major role in who wins the title. Even GS has needed a lot of it and they have 4 all-stars. CP3 gets hurt this year of they probably get knocked out in the CF. Sign KD the year after they lose the title because Steph had a bum knee. Their first title was through a conference that was just riddled with injuries and nobody at 100% to try to beat them. It takes a lot of luck and the path is very rarely light up and straight to the title. You should just enjoy good basketball and hope you catch the breaks you need to win a title.

This is a fair point but it doesn't make Tolliver a good basketball player.

lipoli390 wrote:Well, it's getting even harder to be optimistic. The Pelicans just signed Julius Randle for 2 years ast $9 million per year. Thibodeau doesn't think steps ahead and shows no imagination as PBO. He's a pedestrian in-the-box thinker. And his box doesn't extend very far beyond his former Bulls players. Who would you rather have - Gibson at $14 million for one more season or Julius Randle for the next two seasons at $9 million per year? The answer should be an easy one - Julius Randle for one more year and less annual money against the luxury tax. But Thibodeau failed to put the Wolves in a position to take advantage of such a contingency either via free agency or via a sign-and-trade with the Lakers. Once the Lakers signed LeBron, even I knew that they weren't going to keep Randle. Thibodeau should have anticipated and planned for that possibility. But as someone who didn't play for Thibodeau with the Bulls, I suppose he wasn't foremost on Thibodeau's mind.

I don't see how you can call out Thibs' lack of foresight and then assume Randle isn't about to opt out and hit free agency again in a season when more money will be available.

thedoper wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:There is very rarely an obvious and easily attainable path for a smaller market team to become a contender. You need a lot of luck on your side and ours all resides in Towns and Wiggins. We don't get to sign the Durant's of the world so you build as best you can and hope you luck your way there. Every year luck plays a major role in who wins the title. Even GS has needed a lot of it and they have 4 all-stars. CP3 gets hurt this year of they probably get knocked out in the CF. Sign KD the year after they lose the title because Steph had a bum knee. Their first title was through a conference that was just riddled with injuries and nobody at 100% to try to beat them. It takes a lot of luck and the path is very rarely light up and straight to the title. You should just enjoy good basketball and hope you catch the breaks you need to win a title.

This is a fair point but it doesn't make Tolliver a good basketball player.

What is your definition of a good basketball player?

Bjelly is the better player, but tolli is simply a better fit.

Tolliver will plant himself along that 3 pt line and just let it fly. He works well with everyone because he doesnt need the ball.

Outside of teagues inability to make simple post entry passes last year, my biggest issue was bjelly consistently hesitating on open 3's.

Lip, why do you think Belly is an excellent ball handler? He may have been a decent passer but i don't think he could handle the ball at all.

monsterpile wrote:

thedoper wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:There is very rarely an obvious and easily attainable path for a smaller market team to become a contender. You need a lot of luck on your side and ours all resides in Towns and Wiggins. We don't get to sign the Durant's of the world so you build as best you can and hope you luck your way there. Every year luck plays a major role in who wins the title. Even GS has needed a lot of it and they have 4 all-stars. CP3 gets hurt this year of they probably get knocked out in the CF. Sign KD the year after they lose the title because Steph had a bum knee. Their first title was through a conference that was just riddled with injuries and nobody at 100% to try to beat them. It takes a lot of luck and the path is very rarely light up and straight to the title. You should just enjoy good basketball and hope you catch the breaks you need to win a title.

This is a fair point but it doesn't make Tolliver a good basketball player.

What is your definition of a good basketball player?

You know what he's fine, just very average. I was hoping for someone a bit more bonafide than a career role player on bad teams.

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

thedoper wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:There is very rarely an obvious and easily attainable path for a smaller market team to become a contender. You need a lot of luck on your side and ours all resides in Towns and Wiggins. We don't get to sign the Durant's of the world so you build as best you can and hope you luck your way there. Every year luck plays a major role in who wins the title. Even GS has needed a lot of it and they have 4 all-stars. CP3 gets hurt this year of they probably get knocked out in the CF. Sign KD the year after they lose the title because Steph had a bum knee. Their first title was through a conference that was just riddled with injuries and nobody at 100% to try to beat them. It takes a lot of luck and the path is very rarely light up and straight to the title. You should just enjoy good basketball and hope you catch the breaks you need to win a title.

This is a fair point but it doesn't make Tolliver a good basketball player.

What is your definition of a good basketball player?

You know what he's fine, just very average. I was hoping for someone a bit more bonafide than a career role player on bad teams.

WTF?!?

Tolliver was tied for 6th place with Kyle Korver for 3-point % last year at .436 (Belly was at .416). And Tolliver shot TWICE as many 3s than Belly!

Many people have been whining about the Wolves not signing a 3-point shooter. Tolliver upgrades our 3-point shooting. Belly had a tough time staying healthy and/or earning minutes off the bench. Tolliver also adds a terrific influence to the locker room, which many people were concerned about with the departure of Crawford and Aldrich.

Considering the gloom and doom forecast of attracting worthwhile FAs to Thibs and Minnesota, Tolliver is a great addition.

Always liked Tolliver. Great teammate too. But we'll likely be about 45-48 wins again. Hello 8th seed!

60WinTim wrote:

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

thedoper wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:There is very rarely an obvious and easily attainable path for a smaller market team to become a contender. You need a lot of luck on your side and ours all resides in Towns and Wiggins. We don't get to sign the Durant's of the world so you build as best you can and hope you luck your way there. Every year luck plays a major role in who wins the title. Even GS has needed a lot of it and they have 4 all-stars. CP3 gets hurt this year of they probably get knocked out in the CF. Sign KD the year after they lose the title because Steph had a bum knee. Their first title was through a conference that was just riddled with injuries and nobody at 100% to try to beat them. It takes a lot of luck and the path is very rarely light up and straight to the title. You should just enjoy good basketball and hope you catch the breaks you need to win a title.

This is a fair point but it doesn't make Tolliver a good basketball player.

What is your definition of a good basketball player?

You know what he's fine, just very average. I was hoping for someone a bit more bonafide than a career role player on bad teams.

WTF?!?

Tolliver was tied for 6th place with Kyle Korver for 3-point % last year at .436 (Belly was at .416). And Tolliver shot TWICE as many 3s than Belly!

Many people have been whining about the Wolves not signing a 3-point shooter. Tolliver upgrades our 3-point shooting. Belly had a tough time staying healthy and/or earning minutes off the bench. Tolliver also adds a terrific influence to the locker room, which many people were concerned about with the departure of Crawford and Aldrich.

Considering the gloom and doom forecast of attracting worthwhile FAs to Thibs and Minnesota, Tolliver is a great addition.

Yeah, I was just watching some highlights and he is absolutely not afraid to pull the trigger on the 3-ball with a hand in his face. Bjelly would hesitate.....

I think it's a solid signing.