Wiggins by Month

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I don't think you trade Martin unless you get a long-term piece back like a first round pick. Otherwise trading him for any backup that isn't a young guy who could become a starter with more development time or a second round pick is a bad trade in my opinion. We can cut Bud's minutes and roll with Martin/Bazz/Wiggins at the wings. First round pick or young guy who could develop into a starter would be my limit. Anything less and it isn't worth it in my opinion.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't think you trade Martin unless you get a long-term piece back like a first round pick. Otherwise trading him for any backup that isn't a young guy who could become a starter with more development time or a second round pick is a bad trade in my opinion. We can cut Bud's minutes and roll with Martin/Bazz/Wiggins at the wings. First round pick or young guy who could develop into a starter would be my limit. Anything less and it isn't worth it in my opinion.

Wow. Khans and I actually agree here. Maybe we'll see more of this in 2015.

[60WinTim]

While I agree that Martin shouldn't be given up easily, Flip has said he is anxious to see Rubio and Zach on the floor together. GR3 may never see the light of day!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Drew, We've sort of stumbled into option #1 of rebuilding based on the Love trade and the rash of injuries. Even if Rubio, Martin, and Pek eventually make it back, we're still not up to snuff with most of the Western conference. And we have dug such a big hole, that a few extra wins in the 2nd half of the year shouldn't take us out of the running for a top 4 or 5 pick.

So going into this summer and next season, I don't want to rule out a run for a low playoff spot with a combination of young players and veteran guys. But the key is getting the right veteran help. Despite Flip's talk of getting two-way players, the reality is that the vets he's signed over the past two offseasons are mostly one-way players - and they aren't even very good at that!

[AbeVigodaLive]

Coaches tend to give minutes to #1 picks they are trying to develop, especially in a year lost to injuries.

You still have to earn it. And if you don't believe me, then ask Anthony Bennett this year or last.

Yes. And no. In this case, the only reason fans were ok with yet another rebuild is because of the promise of the #1 pick in the draft (Wiggins). So if we weren't seeing him play, you better believe there would be some serious rumblings.

Sometimes, there's a lot of PR stuff that goes on with this stuff. Not saying that Wiggins doesn't deserve the time... but if he was only getting 10 mpg (deserved or not)... there would be some serious second guessing about the trade going on among fans.

I don't recall Flip and Glen doing a pulse survey before pulling the trigger on the Love deal. Yes, fans want to see top draft picks. But fans don't get a vote in who plays or how many minutes. Anthony Bennett was the #1 overall in 2013 and he averaged 13 minutes for a bad Cleveland team. Derrick Williams was a #2 overall and averaged 21.5 for a bad Wolves team. Wiggins is getting 30+. If we wasn't doing enough out there, he wouldn't be getting that many minutes. I consider it a good sign that he's out there in all situations - especially at the end of games.

Of course fans don't get a say in how many minutes a guy gets. But they do get a say in whether they go to the games or not. Despite the best season in a decade (and a pretty interesting albeit disappointing team), fans stayed away from Target Center last season. Attendance dropped for the second straight season.

So, we arrived at Rebuild v11.0. No other franbase has been through as many failed rebuilds in recent NBA history than the Wolves. Whether you agree or not, the fans were becoming apathetic toward the team. But, the beauty of something new and exciting and different (Wiggins IS different than Bennett and Williams because he was a much ballyhooed #1 pick... not a #2 pick by default or a surprise and failed #1 pick)... is that a franchise can sell The Promise of Hope.

It's a legit NBA marketing campaign strategy. Heck, even Philly is doing it while trying to be as lousy as possible for multiple seasons. As long as a fanbase sees a glimmer of hope or can see the Promise... they'll put up with rebuilds and losing. Wiggins is different. He is a possible superstar... unlike Anthony Bennett. And unlike Derrick Williams who just so happened to play the same position as the 2nd best player in Wolves history. Wiggins offers hope and promise.

And, for a franchise that's never had a #1 pick despite all its suckiness... Wiggins was something different. Something exciting. Something to distract us from having to start all over again. At least this time we were promised something different... a true #1 draft pick as the building block.

That being said, it was imperative that the Wolves fanbase got to see that guy play. If not... that Kevin Love trade would have looked a lot different. Because of injuries and bad play from other and good play from himself... Wiggins got those minutes. And he's starting to show more and more flashes and moments and runs that is offering us Hope and Promise for a better future.

Just imagine the furor if he was getting only 14 minutes per night from the get-go. Taylor is a businessman... would there even be 5,000 fans in the arena? Yes, Wiggins is one of the better players so he gets 30+ minutes. My contention was that the Wolves wouldn't have much choice either way. They had to play Wiggins big minutes if they wanted to keep The Promise of Hope alive in the Twin Cities.

Right now, that's all we have. Go Andrew Wiggins.

[Carlos Danger]

Just imagine the furor if he was getting only 14 minutes per night from the get-go. Taylor is a businessman... would there even be 5,000 fans in the arena? Yes, Wiggins is one of the better players so he gets 30+ minutes. My contention was that the Wolves wouldn't have much choice either way. They had to play Wiggins big minutes if they wanted to keep The Promise of Hope alive in the Twin Cities.

Right now, that's all we have. Go Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins playing 25 minutes vs. 30+ is not a marketing strategy or improving the fan base. It's merit based playing time. Is Wiggins awesome right now and the best player in the world? Nope. But this is a crappy, injury filled team right now and Wiggins is one of their best options - that's why he plays. LaVine is also a #1 pick and an exciting guy fans want to see. But he doesn't get as many minutes as Wiggins because he hasn't been as effective. And that's even with him being one of only two PGs right now.

[bleedspeed]

I really do worry how a healthy Martin effects the development of LaVine. I hope we can figure out a way to move him for a promising young big. I would love to see us Josh Smith have a hot couple months and us trade Martin for Terrence Jones and fillers (Jason Terry).

[Carlos Danger]

I really do worry how a healthy Martin effects the development of LaVine. I hope we can figure out a way to move him for a promising young big. I would love to see us Josh Smith have a hot couple months and us trade Martin for Terrence Jones and fillers (Jason Terry).

I'm with you on this Bleed. I would love to see LaVine at SG with Rubio running the point.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ugh, the D-League is a perfectly viable alternative for LaVine to get playing time and develop. Plenty of other teams utilize this venue for developing young talent that are "stuck" behind veterans. Look at how effective Corey Joseph has been this season after getting very few minutes with the Spurs in his first couple of years, but plenty of reps in the D-League. Jeremy Lamb with OKC is another example.

LaVine has fallen in love with that pull-up contested long 2-point shot. It's probably the worst shot in basketball. Defenses love, love, love it when opposing players take that shot. It's great that LaVine has that in his arsenal, as certainly there are times when the shot clock is winding down that it will come in handy. But he's made it his bread and butter. Driving to the hoop needs to be his focus. Perhaps he can develop that part of his game in the D-League.

[mjs34]

Q, it seems like other than Wiggins and Bazz, our whole team has fallen in love with that shot. How about Flip put in the 5% of his offense that doesn't have our guys running away from the basket for long two's.