TheFuture wrote:lipoli390 wrote:CoolBreeze44 wrote:Here are the moves that I could see happening:
Trade KAT- Could be a viable option later in the season but way to soon now
Trade DLO and Naz for Simmons - probably a pipe dream
Bench DLO for JMac. Could happen any time.
My favorite: Bench DLO, start Ant at the 1 forcing him to be more of a facilitator. Start Jaden at the two - he can play that just as well as the 3. Start Slomo at the 3. There would be much more sharing of the basketball and we would be a better rebounding team.
Hey Cool. First of all, I hope you recovering well from your knee surgery. Second, I think it's just about time for the Wolves front office to make a move.
KAT can't be traded until after the season and I still don't see him as part of the problem. Last season with the KAT we won 46 games and took the 2nd-seed Grizzlies to six games with our starting PG missing in action. A few years ago we went to the playoffs when KAT was only 21 years old by adding Butler to the roster. Meanwhile, KAT's productivity and efficiency as both a scorer and rebounder speak for themselves. Truth is, this franchise has had success with KAT the two times they surrounded him with decent talent. And even last season, it's not like he was surrounded by anything close to Scottie Pippen caliber talent. Over the years KAT has been asked to do different things by a series of different coaches. Once again, KAT is begin asked to adapt to different players at key positions and a different role. I think he's struggling to adapt to his new role with Rudy and I'm not surprised. KAT has his issues and he's not going to take us to the promised land. Right now, he's the least of our problems.
I'm with you on your other suggested options. If Finch is inclined to bench DLO, he might as well just trade him so we don't further diminish DLO's already rock-bottom trade value. The Simmons deal makes sense for both teams. DLO has value to the Nets as an expiring contract for a team that will obviously have to rebuild after this season. The Kyrie thing isn't working and Westbrook's not the answer for them.
I also think the Wolves should consider swapping DLO for Westbrook. At least Westbrook would bring some fire to this team. And since he's an expiring contract, we wouldn't be taking on any long-term financial burden.
Otherwise, at a minimum, Finch should bench DLO for JMac.
I want to clarify that I'm not blaming the Wolves pathetic start on DLO. However, he bears a large share of the blame in my view and I can't think of another internal move that would potentially have a much of a positive impact.
How do you not see KAT as part of the problem? He is the only player constant through 3+ different teams. He is talented, no doubt. But he is no #1, yet touted as one and believes to be one.
I'll start by agreeing with you completely that KAT isn't a #1. He's always needed a true #1 to lead this team, in which case he'd be a terrific #2. I say he's not the problem because as the constant through three + teams we know the team can win if the franchise pairs him with at least one other top tier player. First, it was Jimmy Butler. Last season it was Edwards and Beverley. Note that Edwards and Beverley weren't exactly elite last season; yet the Wolves had a terrific season with KAT. The problem is that the Wolves organization has failed to surround KAT with the talent that any #2 like KAT needs to succeed. And meanwhile, the franchise has changed coaches, personnel and playing styles around him repeatedly because they haven't been able to get it right. It looked like they finally got it right last season, but decided to make yet another change with the Gobert deal while falling to solve the DLO problem or replace the attributes that Vando and Beverley brought to the team. We could point to every player on this roster as part of the problem. But I think KAT's pretty far down the list right now in my view.