Minnesota Sports Forum

KG4Ever wrote:Beasley is going to be paid nicely. Whatever the Wolves end up paying him, they probably could have just got him in free agency without giving up assets as Denver wasn't likely to match for a guy who wasn't even in their rotation and he probably would have cost considerably less.. It will be funny if a team like Charlotte or Detroit offers him a lot of money. I have zero confidence in Rosas.

We had no cap space to sign anyone.

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Thies with a career high in Pts and Rebs

He was working Naz there as the game wore on. What Boston shows though is that you can be an elite defense with a 6"8 Center that simply walls up and holds his ground. Naz hopefully learned a lot, in that he is built similarly.

Remember Naz is really weak, he got a 0 on the bench press I believe. I feel like he walls up well but until he gets stronger he will struggle.

There is a player in there though. It's sort of sad the JMac and Naz are both Undrafted and I have higher hopes in them instead of the guy we traded up to 6th to get in Culver

I did not know that. Wait, are you serious? He looks like he could be strong as an ox. If anything, there is more upside to be had if what you say is true. He has the frame to become really strong. I also noticed he was on the ground a lot last night.

The thing we have to remember is that he is a 20-year old undrafted free agent. Theis is a 27-year old man with a ton of high level experience, even before coming to the NBA a few years ago. If Naz really commits himself to the weight room and improving his overall fitness, he could be really good.

I just looked it up. He did 3 reps on the bench press at the combine. Ranking 46th out of 52 prospects at the combine. Dead last in big men.

Ya you are right he looks like an Ox but he isn't a strong guy. He went undrafted because of the negatives of him being fat (dead last in body fat % 14% next closes 9.8%), prescieved lazy and weak.

In my opinion he has so much potential, it feels like he plays hard, he looks really good on offense already. Also he is weak on defense but I feel like walls up well, so if he were to ever get into better shape and get stronger, I feel like he can be an average defender on that end.

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Thies with a career high in Pts and Rebs

He was working Naz there as the game wore on. What Boston shows though is that you can be an elite defense with a 6"8 Center that simply walls up and holds his ground. Naz hopefully learned a lot, in that he is built similarly.

Remember Naz is really weak, he got a 0 on the bench press I believe. I feel like he walls up well but until he gets stronger he will struggle.

There is a player in there though. It's sort of sad the JMac and Naz are both Undrafted and I have higher hopes in them instead of the guy we traded up to 6th to get in Culver

I did not know that. Wait, are you serious? He looks like he could be strong as an ox. If anything, there is more upside to be had if what you say is true. He has the frame to become really strong. I also noticed he was on the ground a lot last night.

The thing we have to remember is that he is a 20-year old undrafted free agent. Theis is a 27-year old man with a ton of high level experience, even before coming to the NBA a few years ago. If Naz really commits himself to the weight room and improving his overall fitness, he could be really good.

I just looked it up. He did 3 reps on the bench press at the combine. Ranking 46th out of 52 prospects at the combine. Dead last in big men.

Ya you are right he looks like an Ox but he isn't a strong guy. He went undrafted because of the negatives of him being fat (dead last in body fat % 14% next closes 9.8%), prescieved lazy and weak.

In my opinion he has so much potential, it feels like he plays hard, he looks really good on offense already. Also he is weak on defense but I feel like walls up well, so if he were to ever get into better shape and get stronger, I feel like he can be an average defender on that end.

...and despite his rawness, he has one of the best D-ratings on both the G-league and big league squads. He's doing something right on that end, although I realize the sample sizes aren't that great.

kekgeek1 wrote:

KG4Ever wrote:Beasley is going to be paid nicely. Whatever the Wolves end up paying him, they probably could have just got him in free agency without giving up assets as Denver wasn't likely to match for a guy who wasn't even in their rotation and he probably would have cost considerably less.. It will be funny if a team like Charlotte or Detroit offers him a lot of money. I have zero confidence in Rosas.

We had no cap space to sign anyone.

KG just turns off that setting when he talks about the Wolves like he's playing 2K.

Just finished watching this one and here are my thoughts before I read the thread.

Can we have McLaughlin as the starter and run DLO as teh 6th man? OK I'm joking but damn I love McLaughlin. True PG actually fits this system. DLO often slows things down although he is talented and crafty. Its still early but if there is any hope for this franchis eits that they have found a couple undrafted gusy that look to be worthwhile rotation players in MCLaughlina nd Reid.

Naz...time to trade Towns for a massive deal and build around Naz!!! Just kidding again but there seems to be real flashes there and he is flawed. Dude can play though and even like walls up sometimes and moves his feet pretty well. Weird another guy that can actually play basketball.

Beasley is a guy I like watching. He seems to actually have a demeanor on the floor and he has some real positives to his game.

James Johnson...Man he can be a mixed bag but I'll take what he is giving overall right now.

This team put up a legit fight against a team missing a good player but also missing some guys themselves. It was entertaining.

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Thies with a career high in Pts and Rebs

He was working Naz there as the game wore on. What Boston shows though is that you can be an elite defense with a 6"8 Center that simply walls up and holds his ground. Naz hopefully learned a lot, in that he is built similarly.

Remember Naz is really weak, he got a 0 on the bench press I believe. I feel like he walls up well but until he gets stronger he will struggle.

There is a player in there though. It's sort of sad the JMac and Naz are both Undrafted and I have higher hopes in them instead of the guy we traded up to 6th to get in Culver

I did not know that. Wait, are you serious? He looks like he could be strong as an ox. If anything, there is more upside to be had if what you say is true. He has the frame to become really strong. I also noticed he was on the ground a lot last night.

The thing we have to remember is that he is a 20-year old undrafted free agent. Theis is a 27-year old man with a ton of high level experience, even before coming to the NBA a few years ago. If Naz really commits himself to the weight room and improving his overall fitness, he could be really good.

I just looked it up. He did 3 reps on the bench press at the combine. Ranking 46th out of 52 prospects at the combine. Dead last in big men.

Ya you are right he looks like an Ox but he isn't a strong guy. He went undrafted because of the negatives of him being fat (dead last in body fat % 14% next closes 9.8%), prescieved lazy and weak.

In my opinion he has so much potential, it feels like he plays hard, he looks really good on offense already. Also he is weak on defense but I feel like walls up well, so if he were to ever get into better shape and get stronger, I feel like he can be an average defender on that end.

...and despite his rawness, he has one of the best D-ratings on both the G-league and big league squads. He's doing something right on that end, although I realize the sample sizes aren't that great.

Bench press for basketball is a poor indicator of much of anything. IF a guy has a massive wingspan that works against them in the bench press. Its also not much of a movement you use in basketball. Naz isn't the best rebounder but a big reason Theis was killed the Wolves later on the boards was Naz was getting switched or helping and nobody was there to help. I know alot of people talked about playing another big but...that would have been pretty problematic. Look at the other guys on the floor int he 2nd half. It was Brown Tatum and a bunch of guards. No way a guy like Spellman was going to help you a ton there. DId Kanter even play in the 2nd half?

Ther other reason Naz went undrafted was questions about his motor. Does anyone question his motor as a Wolf? I see him running the flor and playing at worst acceptably hard. He seems liek a good dude. I think it was also a deep draft. The Wolves MAY have lucked into him but McLaughlin feels like a guy we should for sure give them credit for bringing on.

Q12543 wrote:Hangin' tough with one of the big boy teams. Not a bad effort.

Kelan bugs the crap out of me because of his hot-one-game, cold-three-games type shooting ratio, but he does try hard on defense at least.

Martin isn't a great defender but I feel like he has made some pretty significant strides. I feel like he actually is solid and has some positive moments on that end. It feels like he kinda gets it. Ultimately he has to be able to hit shots consistently but it feels like he may actually have more to offer than just getting buckets if he can actually end up doing that. I'm not saying he is going to get it but I'm saying if he does...he could be a pretty solid bench guy. Lots of guys don't figure it out.

I didn't mention Okogie. He isn't an untoucahble asset but I don't think I would have any interest in trading him. The guy is a tough hustle guy with a little but of skill. He is small but he doesn't look like he is overwhelmed by guys like Tatem or Brown. Tatem made some insane shots in this game against various defenders. Okogie made his mark on this game.

Here is lineup I would most like to see just in terms of guys I like to watch play on this team right now.

McLaughlin
Okogie
Beasley
Half the time for each of Johnson and Juancho (pick your adventure) lol
Naz Reid

monsterpile wrote:I didn't mention Okogie. He isn't an untoucahble asset but I don't think I would have any interest in trading him. The guy is a tough hustle guy with a little but of skill. He is small but he doesn't look like he is overwhelmed by guys like Tatem or Brown. Tatem made some insane shots in this game against various defenders. Okogie made his mark on this game.

Here is lineup I would most like to see just in terms of guys I like to watch play on this team right now.

McLaughlin
Okogie
Beasley
Half the time for each of Johnson and Juancho (pick your adventure) lol
Naz Reid

Monster -- I'm totally with you on your assessment of Okogie and your favorite lineup. I'll add that the reason Okogie doesn't look overwhelmed by the really tall wings like Tatum is because Okogie is one of the longest wings in the League with a 7' wingspan. He is also one of the quickest and most athletic wings in the League. What he gives up in height he more than makes up for with his freakishly long wingspan, quickness, elite vertical and tremendous hustle. You can see that he's really starting to settle down offensively, playing within himself and scoring pretty efficiently. I still see his 3-point shot improving over time. Unlike Culver, Okogie's perimeter shot has never been fundamentally broken and he's always been a good free throw shooter. And it's only 21 years old. He's definitely a keeper. I can see trading Culver this off-season. Better to do it now while he still has some of his lottery pick appeal.

Unlike Culver, Okogie has figured out a way to score reasonably efficiently despite a poor outside shot. He's able to slash and draw fouls at a much higher rate, which really helps. I think a guy like Okogie can thrive if he's out there with a bunch of shooters that opens up the floor for his marauding drives to the hoop.

It is unbelievably frustrating though to see him struggle from 3, where his form looks perfectly fine. What is it about this franchise that takes competent college shooters and turns them into progressively worse shooters!? These are guys that now dedicate 100% of their time to train and play basketball, yet none of these perimeter prospects we draft can ever develop a reliable 3-point shot. So frustrating. Okogie would be a $12M per year player if he shot 3's at 35%+.