Iowa Wolves

[Carlos Danger]

Iowa wins again last night:

https://gleague.nba.com/game/clc-vs-iwa ... game-story

Luka Garza continues to be a man among boys in the G-League and dropped 35 points plus 15 rebounds. Can we give this guy some run off our Wolves' bench as another scorer?

Another guy I keep my eye on is Daishen Nix who put in 22 points to go along with 10 assists.

Leonard Miller didn't play (not sure why). But Garza, Nix and Miller are the three guys I (and probably others) have targeted as guys who might be able to give the Wolves some help this year (and in the future).

[Q-is-here]

Iowa wins again last night:

https://gleague.nba.com/game/clc-vs-iwa ... game-story

Luka Garza continues to be a man among boys in the G-League and dropped 35 points plus 15 rebounds. Can we give this guy some run off our Wolves' bench as another scorer?

Another guy I keep my eye on is Daishen Nix who put in 22 points to go along with 10 assists.

Leonard Miller didn't play (not sure why). But Garza, Nix and Miller are the three guys I (and probably others) have targeted as guys who might be able to give the Wolves some help this year (and in the future).

There simply is no room for Luka in the rotation. We already find ourselves playing Naz as a SF at times and Luka definitely doesn't have Naz's foot speed in terms of guarding wings. If KAT or Rudy get hurt, I could then see getting Garza in there to play some Center.

If Reid were to get hurt, then it might be Minott that sees a few minutes at PF. His issue is that he can't shoot and we already have spacing issues with Rudy, SloMo, and Milton. Tough to put another guy out there whose outside shot no one respects.

Miller is probably a year or two away from contributing and Nix....not impressed.

Hate to be a downer on our developmental guys, but Garza is the only one that I think could be a plus player, assuming it's solely in the Naz Reid bench scorer mold and not as a starter. The rest of the guys - Moore Jr., Minott, Nix, and Miller - would be big downgrades.

[FNG]

Yeah, I agree with Q's take on Garza. I suspect Luka is biding his time expecting the Wolves will have to move either Rudy or KAT before next season leaving room for him at center. I don't know if that will happen of course and hope it doesn't, but it's not faulty thinking on his part.

Speaking of Luka, I love the arms-expended, holding back his teammates on the bench move he regularly does after a highlight dunk or other spectacular play...fun to watch!

[Carlos Danger]

There simply is no room for Luka in the rotation. We already find ourselves playing Naz as a SF at times and Luka definitely doesn't have Naz's foot speed in terms of guarding wings. If KAT or Rudy get hurt, I could then see getting Garza in there to play some Center.

If Reid were to get hurt, then it might be Minott that sees a few minutes at PF. His issue is that he can't shoot and we already have spacing issues with Rudy, SloMo, and Milton. Tough to put another guy out there whose outside shot no one respects.

Miller is probably a year or two away from contributing and Nix....not impressed.

Hate to be a downer on our developmental guys, but Garza is the only one that I think could be a plus player, assuming it's solely in the Naz Reid bench scorer mold and not as a starter. The rest of the guys - Moore Jr., Minott, Nix, and Miller - would be big downgrades.

I get where you are coming from on your takes. I just am not so absolute as you on this matter. I haven't seen enough of Garza at the NBA level to be so confident in what he can/cannot do. I think if a guy is dominating the G, then that's a pretty good sign he can play in the NBA. Where he fits with us/how to use - I don't have an answer. But it's a great problem to have. I love the depth on this team!

Regarding Nix - I love the fact that the Wolves took a flier on a young guy like him. It's a lotto ticket - to me, about as good as any late first round draft pick (see Wendell Moore Jr.). He's currently averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the G. Just looking at G League stats for Iowa Wolves, Garza and Nix are the two guys that stand out.

I want the Wolves to stay healthy. But I do hope both of these guys can get some minutes this year so I have more NBA data on them.

[Q-is-here]

There simply is no room for Luka in the rotation. We already find ourselves playing Naz as a SF at times and Luka definitely doesn't have Naz's foot speed in terms of guarding wings. If KAT or Rudy get hurt, I could then see getting Garza in there to play some Center.

If Reid were to get hurt, then it might be Minott that sees a few minutes at PF. His issue is that he can't shoot and we already have spacing issues with Rudy, SloMo, and Milton. Tough to put another guy out there whose outside shot no one respects.

Miller is probably a year or two away from contributing and Nix....not impressed.

Hate to be a downer on our developmental guys, but Garza is the only one that I think could be a plus player, assuming it's solely in the Naz Reid bench scorer mold and not as a starter. The rest of the guys - Moore Jr., Minott, Nix, and Miller - would be big downgrades.

I get where you are coming from on your takes. I just am not so absolute as you on this matter. I haven't seen enough of Garza at the NBA level to be so confident in what he can/cannot do. I think if a guy is dominating the G, then that's a pretty good sign he can play in the NBA. Where he fits with us/how to use - I don't have an answer. But it's a great problem to have. I love the depth on this team!

Regarding Nix - I love the fact that the Wolves took a flier on a young guy like him. It's a lotto ticket - to me, about as good as any late first round draft pick (see Wendell Moore Jr.). He's currently averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the G. Just looking at G League stats for Iowa Wolves, Garza and Nix are the two guys that stand out.

I want the Wolves to stay healthy. But I do hope both of these guys can get some minutes this year so I have more NBA data on them.

I hear you Carlos, but since you haven't really watched any of these guys play by your own admission.....

I hope I'm wrong about Nix, Miller, etc..

[Carlos Danger]

I hear you Carlos, but since you haven't really watched any of these guys play by your own admission.....

I hope I'm wrong about Nix, Miller, etc..

True. I'll never pretend to be an NBA scout. And guys like Jarrett Culver are tearing up the G - so...there's that. The cream always rises to the top, so if any of these guys are worthy - they will get their minutes.

[Lipoli390]

Garza is the one Iowa Wolves player who has been consistently dominant at the G-League level. Therefore, he’s the only one whose G-League play suggests that he’s a quality NBA level player.

Nix has had a couple good G-League games this season, but even his good game last night with 11 assists wasn’t that impressive when you consider his terrible shooting.

I had high hopes for Miller after we drafted him, but he’s shown no improvement over last season at the G-League level. He continues to look like a pretty good G-League player and nothing more.

Trevor Keels hasn’t been impressive overall, but he had a very good game last night with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals while hitting 8 of 14 FG attempts and 4 of 8 3-point shots. If he could string together games like last night’s I will be intrigued. He was the 42nd pick in the 2022 draft. My expectations are low, but I’m hopeful.

[Carlos Danger]

Another win for Iowa. Here's the game story:

https://gleague.nba.com/game/clc-vs-iwa ... game-story

Garza continues his domination of the G by dropping 38 points. My man Nix had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Here are some highlights I found on X:

https://twitter.com/iawolves/status/1735864257219051988

[Carlos Danger]

Minott and Nix were sent to Iowa yesterday:

https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbr ... -heat-game

Iowa Wolves have won two in a row and play again tonight.

[Carlos Danger]

Forget about Minnesota Wolves. Iowa is the team to watch . A big blow out win last night making it three in a row.

Game story and box:

https://gleague.nba.com/game/gbo-vs-iwa ... game-story

Leonard Miller was back (apparently missed time being sick) and dropped 24 pts/10 rebounds.
Daishen Nix had 12 pts/7 assists and was a +38.
Josh Minott...8 points, 2 rebounds and 5 fouls.

I don't know too much about him, but this Trevor Keels seems to flash well in the box scores as well and had 23 points. Looking him up, I see he's a 2nd round poick from 2022 and only 20 years old. I'll keep an eye out for him too.

This will really be a fun team when Jaylen Clark starts playing in February.