AbeVigodaLive wrote:The Al Jefferson + Kevin Love can't play together spin... despite them not really getting a chance on the court together... is just one of dozens of baffling calls made in Timberwolves history.
It might not have worked. But at least try?!?!
Remember, this is the same organization/regime that tried to limit Love from shooting three pointers... and sat him on the bench behind the likes of Darko Milicic and Ryan Hollins.
DARKO MILICIC & RYAN HOLLINS!!!!
Then, even into Love's 3rd season... he wasn't getting the minutes even as a starter. He played more than 30 minutes only once in the first 9 games... and he had 24 rebounds in that game.
Then, in his first game with more than 38 minutes... a 30/30 game. Even the Wolves couldn't prevent him from seeing the court at that point. But they really butchered his early career. They didn't know what they really had.
The hilariously weird part about all this is you could make an agrrnt that Kahn was right about Al Jefferson in that the league was moving away from that type of player. He got 2 meh 1st round picks for him plus cap space to work with. Meanwhile like you said they tried out other guys over Love and...the cap space he ended up with nothing actually useful. The draft picks? Nothing. To me the idea of moving Al made some actual sense it was all the moves following it that made it a really stupid move. I thought they should have tried Love and Al together longer like you said.
As far as Glen getting involved I believe (this is what I remember Jon K saying on a podcast last year) it was because it was a pretty poorly kept secret that Kahn wanted to move him and Al basically went to Glen and said he was tired of all the reports and wanted out somewhat similar to what happened with Rubio. Neither guy was demanding a trade but basically saying if you are looking to trade me go ahead.
Jimmy Butler has returned to Minnesota, and in a meeting with Tom Thibodeau on Monday, reiterated his desire to be traded, league sources tell me and
@ShamsCharania
AbeVigodaLive wrote:The Al Jefferson + Kevin Love can't play together spin... despite them not really getting a chance on the court together... is just one of dozens of baffling calls made in Timberwolves history.
It might not have worked. But at least try?!?!
Remember, this is the same organization/regime that tried to limit Love from shooting three pointers... and sat him on the bench behind the likes of Darko Milicic and Ryan Hollins.
DARKO MILICIC & RYAN HOLLINS!!!!
Then, even into Love's 3rd season... he wasn't getting the minutes even as a starter. He played more than 30 minutes only once in the first 9 games... and he had 24 rebounds in that game.
Then, in his first game with more than 38 minutes... a 30/30 game. Even the Wolves couldn't prevent him from seeing the court at that point. But they really butchered his early career. They didn't know what they really had.
The hilariously weird part about all this is you could make an agrrnt that Kahn was right about Al Jefferson in that the league was moving away from that type of player. He got 2 meh 1st round picks for him plus cap space to work with. Meanwhile like you said they tried out other guys over Love and...the cap space he ended up with nothing actually useful. The draft picks? Nothing. To me the idea of moving Al made some actual sense it was all the moves following it that made it a really stupid move. I thought they should have tried Love and Al together longer like you said.
As far as Glen getting involved I believe (this is what I remember Jon K saying on a podcast last year) it was because it was a pretty poorly kept secret that Kahn wanted to move him and Al basically went to Glen and said he was tired of all the reports and wanted out somewhat similar to what happened with Rubio. Neither guy was demanding a trade but basically saying if you are looking to trade me go ahead.
Sorta related... it's interesting how things get skewed over time.
For example, I heard multiple times recently by prominent national NBA pundits about the time Kevin Garnett demanded to be traded from the Timberwolves.
That's not how it was regarded at the time... has the narrative changed amid so many other players demanding trades, or did information come to light to suggest that?
AbeVigodaLive wrote:The Al Jefferson + Kevin Love can't play together spin... despite them not really getting a chance on the court together... is just one of dozens of baffling calls made in Timberwolves history.
It might not have worked. But at least try?!?!
Remember, this is the same organization/regime that tried to limit Love from shooting three pointers... and sat him on the bench behind the likes of Darko Milicic and Ryan Hollins.
DARKO MILICIC & RYAN HOLLINS!!!!
Then, even into Love's 3rd season... he wasn't getting the minutes even as a starter. He played more than 30 minutes only once in the first 9 games... and he had 24 rebounds in that game.
Then, in his first game with more than 38 minutes... a 30/30 game. Even the Wolves couldn't prevent him from seeing the court at that point. But they really butchered his early career. They didn't know what they really had.
The hilariously weird part about all this is you could make an agrrnt that Kahn was right about Al Jefferson in that the league was moving away from that type of player. He got 2 meh 1st round picks for him plus cap space to work with. Meanwhile like you said they tried out other guys over Love and...the cap space he ended up with nothing actually useful. The draft picks? Nothing. To me the idea of moving Al made some actual sense it was all the moves following it that made it a really stupid move. I thought they should have tried Love and Al together longer like you said.
As far as Glen getting involved I believe (this is what I remember Jon K saying on a podcast last year) it was because it was a pretty poorly kept secret that Kahn wanted to move him and Al basically went to Glen and said he was tired of all the reports and wanted out somewhat similar to what happened with Rubio. Neither guy was demanding a trade but basically saying if you are looking to trade me go ahead.
Sorta related... it's interesting how things get skewed over time.
For example, I heard multiple times recently by prominent national NBA pundits about the time Kevin Garnett demanded to be traded from the Timberwolves.
That's not how it was regarded at the time... has the narrative changed amid so many other players demanding trades, or did information come to light to suggest that?
I've never heard anything credible to suggest KG demanded a trade. I think it's just people unintentionally misconstruing facts because they misremember them. If someone has something to the contrary I'd be interested to hear it. I'm guessing KG basically being forced out even though it ended up being VERY good for him and he won a championship is another reason he isn't exactly pals with Glen especially after Glen said what he did about KG afterwards. So agin hopefully Glen doesn't say anything stupid about Jimmy...but he probably will even if he didn't mean it that way or even if he isn't wrong kinda like the stuff he said about Love.
crazy-canuck wrote:Jimmy Butler has returned to Minnesota, and in a meeting with Tom Thibodeau on Monday, reiterated his desire to be traded, league sources tell me and
@ShamsCharania
It's not much but I do think it's a positive that Butler is willing to come in person and communicate directly with Thibs. I mean he has incentive to do so to help move this thing along but he could be just not returning phone calls/telling Thibs to call him when he gets a trade done or just going through his agent etc. Butler and his side can use their leverage both good and bad. Seeing Butler at least communicating with the Wolves could help a deal come together more smoothly than if he was just off in LA basically ignoring the Wolves entirely. I still think this thing gets done before the season or basically right after it starts.
Apparently winslow and the heat have started negotiations on an extension.
I wonder if this has something to do with the trade. If winslow comes cheap, then richardson might be expendable and they could absorb dieng with little luxury tax implications in year 3.
monsterpile wrote:
I've never heard anything credible to suggest KG demanded a trade. I think it's just people unintentionally misconstruing facts because they misremember them. If someone has something to the contrary I'd be interested to hear it. I'm guessing KG basically being forced out even though it ended up being VERY good for him and he won a championship is another reason he isn't exactly pals with Glen especially after Glen said what he did about KG afterwards. So agin hopefully Glen doesn't say anything stupid about Jimmy...but he probably will even if he didn't mean it that way or even if he isn't wrong kinda like the stuff he said about Love.
What I remember is the Wolves coming to KG with a potential trade to Boston, but he declined only for Boston to then acquire Ray Allen and then the Wolves ended up asking again and he agreed to it (obviously because of the chance to play with 2 all stars).
crazy-canuck wrote:Jimmy Butler has returned to Minnesota, and in a meeting with Tom Thibodeau on Monday, reiterated his desire to be traded, league sources tell me and
@ShamsCharania
It's not much but I do think it's a positive that Butler is willing to come in person and communicate directly with Thibs. I mean he has incentive to do so to help move this thing along but he could be just not returning phone calls/telling Thibs to call him when he gets a trade done or just going through his agent etc. Butler and his side can use their leverage both good and bad. Seeing Butler at least communicating with the Wolves could help a deal come together more smoothly than if he was just off in LA basically ignoring the Wolves entirely. I still think this thing gets done before the season or basically right after it starts.
The fact Butler has been in town a couple times recently tells me the report is true that he isn't going to sit out games regardless, so that has to help the Wolves leverage a little. Teams can't use the potential of Butler sitting out against them.
monsterpile wrote:
I've never heard anything credible to suggest KG demanded a trade. I think it's just people unintentionally misconstruing facts because they misremember them. If someone has something to the contrary I'd be interested to hear it. I'm guessing KG basically being forced out even though it ended up being VERY good for him and he won a championship is another reason he isn't exactly pals with Glen especially after Glen said what he did about KG afterwards. So agin hopefully Glen doesn't say anything stupid about Jimmy...but he probably will even if he didn't mean it that way or even if he isn't wrong kinda like the stuff he said about Love.
What I remember is the Wolves coming to KG with a potential trade to Boston, but he declined only for Boston to then acquire Ray Allen and then the Wolves ended up asking again and he agreed to it (obviously because of the chance to play with 2 all stars).
Yeah. That's about how I remember all of it, too. But the narrative has changed.
The other part that bugs me even more is the "Garnett was wrong for showing loyalty to his fans and staying in MN... he should have bolted years before!"
F that. That sort of mentality will end up driving some of us away... even if it brings in legions of more casual fans.
