Minnesota Sports Forum

Q12543 wrote:I agree (and hope) that Rosas was talking about a hybrid forward that can guard multiple positions versus a hybrid guard.

But if he was talking about the guard position, Kris Dunn is an interesting name to bring up. He is one of the few guards that absolutely can change the tone of a team defense. He's becoming a bit like Patrick Beverley in that regards. We saw the hints of this when he played for the Wolves, but now he is a fully formed vet.....he still can't shoot though.

I'm curious what kind of money Dunn will be offered and what kind of role with that money. According to advanced stats he is a bad offensive player and I don't think that's just about his shooting. The biggest problem with Dunn since he seems to be very good on the defensive end is his ability to stay healthy. He seems like a guy that some good team could sign for relatively cheap and be fine with his offensive issues.

Could this use a combo guard that could defense multiple positions? Um...yes. When was the last time we had a guy like that? Kris Dunn. Before that? Idk Hopefully we don't have to go all the way back to Bobby Jackson...

Camden wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I'm trying to be positive about Rosas. But then I see statements by Rosas like the following in response to a question about the Wolves guard positions:

"A combo guy that can guard two spots would really help us moving forward. To be fair and to just follow up, those guys are gonna impact the game are gonna be more in free agency and trades." 2 weeks ago - via Twitter DaneMooreNBA

Rosas traded for two defensively-challenged guards in Russell and Beasley and he seems determined to re-sign Beasley who is looking to be the teams starting SG. So where does this defensive combo guard play and how many minutes does he get? And if he's looking to bring in a defensive guard, why did he draft Culver and what about Okogie? This team needs defense. But if Rosas is determined to re-sign Beasley and expects him to be a starter, then I would think the focus on improving the team's defense would be on one of the the two big positions and the SF position.

Rosas mentioned that the defensive combo guard he's looking for would likely be acquired via trade or free agency. I'm not sure I see that guard among the list of free agents, unless he's interested in Kris Dunn. I'm not sure who he'd be targeting in trade.

I feel comfortable with Josh Okogie or Jarrett Culver defensively against 1's and 2's as both are pretty reliable, stout defenders in the backcourt. I have to imagine that Gersson Rosas is at least on the same page there.

That makes me believe he's referring to the 3/4 forward spot where the Wolves have a hole after losing Robert Covington to trade. If I'm right about that, then I hope Rosas is setting his sights on Jerami Grant in free agency as I will continue to believe he's a great fit in Minnesota regardless of what other moves are made this off-season.

Yes. My thought was that Rosas must have been talking about the SF/PF positions, not the PG/SG positions. I agree that Okogie and Culver can effectively guard the PG and SG positions.

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I'm trying to be positive about Rosas. But then I see statements by Rosas like the following in response to a question about the Wolves guard positions:

"A combo guy that can guard two spots would really help us moving forward. To be fair and to just follow up, those guys are gonna impact the game are gonna be more in free agency and trades." 2 weeks ago - via Twitter DaneMooreNBA

Rosas traded for two defensively-challenged guards in Russell and Beasley and he seems determined to re-sign Beasley who is looking to be the teams starting SG. So where does this defensive combo guard play and how many minutes does he get? And if he's looking to bring in a defensive guard, why did he draft Culver and what about Okogie? This team needs defense. But if Rosas is determined to re-sign Beasley and expects him to be a starter, then I would think the focus on improving the team's defense would be on one of the the two big positions and the SF position.

Rosas mentioned that the defensive combo guard he's looking for would likely be acquired via trade or free agency. I'm not sure I see that guard among the list of free agents, unless he's interested in Kris Dunn. I'm not sure who he'd be targeting in trade.

I have a theory about Rosas that the only player he feels untouchable is KAT. I think he views Russell and Beasley as assets.

I think the main piece he wanted in the Cov trade was the 1st round pick and he is using the massive usage of Beasley to raise his trade value for a legit star. While Beasley can still provide something the Wolves are weak at in shooting until we can legit trade him.

I think Russell was traded for to extend the timeline on Kat. I think Rosas legit sees Russell as a person who can in theory help the Wolves win but I legit feel he is using Russell as a time extender on Kat who can be a legit needle mover. Also think Russell will be the key piece in a monster trade for a player like Simmons, Giannis, Harden, George, etc....

If Rosas is anything like Morey he will go big game hunting and Russell, #1 pick, #17 pick and Beasley allow you to do that.

Like would you do Russell, James Johnson, #1 pick and a future 1st for Harden, Gordon and Tucker.

Harden/McLaughlin
Gordon/culver
Okogie/Layman
Tucker/Vanderbilt
Towns/naz

#17 and 32 pick sprinkled in. Just have a feeling rosas could go big game hunting

I have two thoughts on your post, Kekgeek. First, I hope you're right about Rosas. Second, I wish you were the Wolves PBO instead of Rosas because I don't think Rosas is thinking as strategically as you suggest.

So I tried to give Rosas a long leash in the past. After draft night I will say I am disappointed.

If he was all about trading Wiseman was the clear pick to take and extract the most value via trade and that value didn't have to come tonight. He could have never played a game for MN, never step foot in MN and just stayed away from the team as a pure trade asset to hold and been the path to the most value.

A. Edwards 6'5" 225-230 ish with a 42" vertical jump makes me drool. However there are major concerns about his effort and shot selection. I think his physical profile is crazy and we need an absolute monster to turn this thing around so I can't hate on the pick to hard but I feel taking Wiseman was the path to max value.

#17 is where I was all jacked up. Aleksej Pokusevski was my personal what if it all came together BOOM player and he was there. He could bust sure, but man if everything pans out he has major upside. More logical of a fit was Achiuwa, solid potential in S. Bey and T. Maxey if you want talent with a chip on their shoulder for teams passing on them. I think the move was drafting your guy out of the group and I think we could have gotten Rubio for pick 33 if we wanted to bring him in so bad.

Does Rubio mean no J-Mac? If so then I hate this deal even more, mark my words J-Mac will become a valuable asset and role player. I just really hope J-Mac does it in a MN uniform.

Then we trade #25 & #33 for L. Bolmaro who I actually kinda like the player. However he's not shown the shooting ability to date to be a guy that you must move up for. You let another team steal him from you and take another talent, you don't spend draft capital on a player that likely would have fallen to you anyways. Pick #33 had good value in a deep class and to give it away like that was when I wondered WTF is Rosas thinking?

#28 J. McDaniels - Well I do see him as an upside play but he's more of a massive project with lots of question marks. The Lakers turn this pick and a solid veteran D. Green into bleach streak Dennis. MN turns this pick into a G-League stash and develop type of pipe dream that probably has low odds of panning out. If he does hit though you could be looking at a really nice player. The main problem is both Bolmaro and McDaniels could have likely fallen to #33.

It just seems like Rosas wanted to do a lot of things but wasn't able to actually make those trades. Moving back still getting a talent and picking up assets with #1. Moving up from #17 to land two high talent rookies. So he fell back on really wanting to make a moves and settled for what he could do which was add Rubio who he must be high on and I don't hate Rubio. He does so many intangibles that I get wanting him but J-Mac was a really good find and Rubio takes away from that. Then Rosas moves up for Bolmaro and with what was spent to make that move Bolmaro better hit. He better be a damn good rotational player because it seemed like we lit #33 on fire and just gave it away. In the past I gave Rosas slack because I could justify it as him doing what he thought was best for the team and I thought he was pinned into a corner trying to appease KAT by getting D-Lo and having to rid the team of Wiggins deal.

After this draft I felt like we missed, take the risk to draft the best big and hold him as a trade asset if you really want to make a deal or build assets to land a star, that was Wiseman! Draft a talent at #17 when the talent is still high and don't take late 1sts when a big drop off is set to occur to add an overpriced Rubio. Don't spend draft capital to get guys that probably fall to you anyways at #33. One word sums it up ~Disappointed~