Cutting GR3 is Another Bonehead Move by Flip Saunders

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Next year's lineup:

PG: Kevin Garnett
SG: Anthony Bennett
SF: Adrien Payne
PF: Karl Anthony Towns
C: Gorgi Dieng

Pek can sub wherever when he can walk

[kekgeek]

What is so bad having 6 bigs. Pek can't keep healthy, KG will and is on a minutes limit (also could retire), who can play both positions, I am assuming Towns can play both positions. AB has had an injury past, also AB is playing for his wolves life next year and if he dosen't pan out the wolves can get a ton of cap space for 2016.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Jesus, you know things are bad when we're fighting over cutting a 2nd round pick who barely earned 100 minutes of playing time on a terrible team ravaged by injuries to make room for a guy who--let's all be honest--we didn't even know existed until today.

Trying to conclude anything from today is making something out of nothing. We cut a wing from the practice squad who was never going to see significant playing time to make room for a guy who is essentially a spare tire. This means nothing.

I'm not all that upset that GRIII was cut, though I would have liked to see him make it the whole year. I'm more upset that Flip doesn't have a plan in place that he intends to stick with. He started the year talking about being competitive, then kicked that plan by booting Brewer and Williams outta town, then talked about a youth movement and looking for the future, then trades for Payne for right now, and follows that up by getting rid of a 21 year old pick of his for a guy that will only be used for practice purposes.

It's sloppy management and I'm sick of it for this franchise. That's where my frustration comes from.

Ya, that Payne guy is really over the hill. He's clearly on the downside of his career. That move clearly goes against Flip's youth movement. Do you even hear yourself sometimes? When did being 24 become a grandpa in the NBA? He's a young, unproven assett. It doesn't get much more youth movement then that.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

He traded for Payne because we needed help in the frontcourt right now and he could get him for a future pick. Would he make that same trade in the off-season if it was available? I'm not so sure he would, especially if we draft another big.

I didn't say he's on the downhill of his career or that he was old (though 24 is pretty old for a rookie; Brandon Weeden anybody?). But rather the move itself wasn't in the best interest of the franchise's future. We overpaid for a prospect and tied one arm behind our back in trade talks all in the same move. Not to mention the legitimate possibility that Payne's not even a rotation player next year due to better players in front of him (Pek, KG, Towns*, Dieng).

Rookie player or not, that was a right now move, not a looking towards the future move.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

What is so bad having 6 bigs. Pek can't keep healthy, KG will and is on a minutes limit (also could retire), who can play both positions, I am assuming Towns can play both positions. AB has had an injury past, also AB is playing for his wolves life next year and if he dosen't pan out the wolves can get a ton of cap space for 2016.

Nothing...in fact, six is the minimum number of big men you should have. As I posted earlier in this thread, if I were GM I would make sure 7 of my 15 could play C or PF. The game is harder on big men's bodies and they miss more time with injuries, so it's only natural that C and PF should occupy at least 40% of the roster.

[60WinTim]

He traded for Payne because we needed help in the frontcourt right now and he could get him for a future pick. Would he make that same trade in the off-season if it was available? I'm not so sure he would, especially if we draft another big.

I didn't say he's on the downhill of his career or that he was old (though 24 is pretty old for a rookie; Brandon Weeden anybody?). But rather the move itself wasn't in the best interest of the franchise's future. We overpaid for a prospect and tied one arm behind our back in trade talks all in the same move. Not to mention the legitimate possibility that Payne's not even a rotation player next year due to better players in front of him (Pek, KG, Towns*, Dieng).

Rookie player or not, that was a right now move, not a looking towards the future move.

What are you smoking, Cam. If Flip was looking for someone right now he would simply call someone up from the NBDL, ala Jeff Adrien. This move was clearly made for the future. And it was made so Payne could learn in the fast lane, now. He will have a tailored offseason workout plan put in place based on the weakness observed to close out the season. And he will not be starting from ground zero in next year's training camp.

And I think the same can be said for Hamilton.

[Porckchop]

It's hard to blame Flip for changing his plans this season.. What coach doesnt go into the season planning on being competitive? But when 3/5 of the starting lineup goes down u have to reassess what's important moving forward. Not for an already lost season but for next year . None of the players moved helped this team win games and would've played minimal roles on an improving roster moving forward.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

He traded for Payne because we needed help in the frontcourt right now and he could get him for a future pick. Would he make that same trade in the off-season if it was available? I'm not so sure he would, especially if we draft another big.

I didn't say he's on the downhill of his career or that he was old (though 24 is pretty old for a rookie; Brandon Weeden anybody?). But rather the move itself wasn't in the best interest of the franchise's future. We overpaid for a prospect and tied one arm behind our back in trade talks all in the same move. Not to mention the legitimate possibility that Payne's not even a rotation player next year due to better players in front of him (Pek, KG, Towns*, Dieng).

Rookie player or not, that was a right now move, not a looking towards the future move.

The AP move was made for this year and the future. It was a best of both worlds move. He liked Payne at the draft and found a way to acquire him during the season. Flip didn't make the trade just to plug a hole for this year. He made the trade because he saw potential in AP to be a long-term contributor on this team. Payne is a long-term piece and we can't makes moves based on who we could draft in the future. He got a guy he wanted and who will be here long-term if he is a player. Just assuming he's taking a big in this year's draft being the reason he shouldn't have made the trade is just dumb. What if we draft Mudiay or Russell? Now he still needs to get another big. Now Payne gets actual playing time this year and he goes through our off season program for him. Not someone else's. Getting him this year is much better for his chances to succeed with us long-term than waiting until the off season to have him learn the system. The move not being in the best interest of the franchise's future is completely subjective. If Payne becomes a rotation player then it was a good move for the franchise's future. Once again you're writing a guy off ridiculously early in their career and using that as a reason to make grand statements like Flip hurting our future when AP could be a rotation player or maybe even starter and we can control him for cheap for the next 4 years and possibly 9 total years if he makes it. It's way too early to already be questioning the future of the franchise before giving a rookie even 1 off season with our team to see what he can become.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

If Payne stays, then AB has to go. And KG can't get more than 5 mil per. That's the only way I can justify this mess.

[WolvesRube22 [enjin:12980190]]

OMG! how many times were you at practice??? You have no idea what he is like other than being a freak athlete. It is so pathetic that you think you know more than an actual GM! You sitt on your ass and read what people write and think that you can do a better job. Just sit back and watch what happens. It will all turn out ok. Flip is doing just fine.