Minnesota Sports Forum

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Well, New Orleans lost at home to Sacramento, so that helps. The #7 and 8 seed in the West are now occupied by .500 teams. That is good news for us. Once San Antonio has Kawhi back, they along with Golden State and Houston will run roughshod over the rest of the West. There is a huge gap between those three teams and everyone else. That should also help make the playoffs more attainable for .500-ish teams because everyone competing for those last 5 spots will beat each other up, while all (mostly) losing to those top three teams.

I like Dunn too. He has a really great story. But I'm not looking back on getting Butler for nice pieces, Zach, Dunn, Markennen. Bulls got quantity, wolves got quality.

Q12543 wrote:

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Yep, watching ex-Wolves is something we do here. By following their performance after we trade them, it helps us evaluate the job our POBO is doing. Yes, I agree that stats might not mean as much on a losing team, but the fact that Dunn is shooting so well is significant I think. Also, Markannen shooting so poorly makes a lot of us feel we got lucky in the Butler deal, since many thought he would be our pick at 7.

longstrangetrip wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Yep, watching ex-Wolves is something we do here. By following their performance after we trade them, it helps us evaluate the job our POBO is doing. Yes, I agree that stats might not mean as much on a losing team, but the fact that Dunn is shooting so well is significant I think. Also, Markannen shooting so poorly makes a lot of us feel we got lucky in the Butler deal, since many thought he would be our pick at 7.

Yes. And I suspect we're all happy with the Butler deal right now. I'm not salivating over Dunn quite yet. But benthewolf should see how I drool over Butler. :). Seriously, one of the things I like about Dunn is how similar he is to Butler. Both came up the hard way. Both initially made defense their calling card. Butler developed his offensive game later. It's good to see Dunn developing on the offensive end now.

As I've said before, I don't regret the Butler deal at all even thought it could turn out to be not so good for us over the long term. But I'm one of a few here who would have preferred to deal Wiggins straight up for Butler and I believe it was reported that the Bulls would have done that deal. Nevertheless, I'm still happy we have Butler.

lipoli390 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Yep, watching ex-Wolves is something we do here. By following their performance after we trade them, it helps us evaluate the job our POBO is doing. Yes, I agree that stats might not mean as much on a losing team, but the fact that Dunn is shooting so well is significant I think. Also, Markannen shooting so poorly makes a lot of us feel we got lucky in the Butler deal, since many thought he would be our pick at 7.

Yes. And I suspect we're all happy with the Butler deal right now. I'm not salivating over Dunn quite yet. But benthewolf should see how I drool over Butler. :). Seriously, one of the things I like about Dunn is how similar he is to Butler. Both came up the hard way. Both initially made defense their calling card. Butler developed his offensive game later. It's good to see Dunn developing on the offensive end now.

As I've said before, I don't regret the Butler deal at all even thought it could turn out to be not so good for us over the long term. But I'm one of a few here who would have preferred to deal Wiggins straight up for Butler and I believe it was reported that the Bulls would have done that deal. Nevertheless, I'm still happy we have Butler.

Ive always felt that lavine and dunn would've excelled much more under Butler and Thibs tutelage than Wiggins. Still feel Wiggins and 7 for Butler and 16 (or not even) was the better play. Retain more depth, spacing with LaVine, and a tough nosed do-shit defensive lineup with Dunn, Butler, and Gibson when needed. I also highly doubt LaVine sees the max like Andrew.

Teague/LaVine/Butler/Gibson/KAT would've been killer offensively and I don't think we lose much on defense. And if needed, sub out Dunn (who is shooting 44% from 3 on over 2 attempts per) for either guard spot.

Still a bit salty on that facet of the trade.

Victor Oladipo dropping 33 on the Cavs last night.

TheFuture wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Yep, watching ex-Wolves is something we do here. By following their performance after we trade them, it helps us evaluate the job our POBO is doing. Yes, I agree that stats might not mean as much on a losing team, but the fact that Dunn is shooting so well is significant I think. Also, Markannen shooting so poorly makes a lot of us feel we got lucky in the Butler deal, since many thought he would be our pick at 7.

Yes. And I suspect we're all happy with the Butler deal right now. I'm not salivating over Dunn quite yet. But benthewolf should see how I drool over Butler. :). Seriously, one of the things I like about Dunn is how similar he is to Butler. Both came up the hard way. Both initially made defense their calling card. Butler developed his offensive game later. It's good to see Dunn developing on the offensive end now.

As I've said before, I don't regret the Butler deal at all even thought it could turn out to be not so good for us over the long term. But I'm one of a few here who would have preferred to deal Wiggins straight up for Butler and I believe it was reported that the Bulls would have done that deal. Nevertheless, I'm still happy we have Butler.

Ive always felt that lavine and dunn would've excelled much more under Butler and Thibs tutelage than Wiggins. Still feel Wiggins and 7 for Butler and 16 (or not even) was the better play. Retain more depth, spacing with LaVine, and a tough nosed do-shit defensive lineup with Dunn, Butler, and Gibson when needed. I also highly doubt LaVine sees the max like Andrew.

Teague/LaVine/Butler/Gibson/KAT would've been killer offensively and I don't think we lose much on defense. And if needed, sub out Dunn (who is shooting 44% from 3 on over 2 attempts per) for either guard spot.

Still a bit salty on that facet of the trade.

You're not alone in preferring Zach to Wig, Future...several others here have expressed that view. I'm not one of them, because as much as I liked Zach, I couldn't help but notice how much the team improved when Rush replaced him in the starting lineup after his injury. Zach is a marvelously athletic wing with a sweet shot, but somehow it hasn't translated yet into the ability to help his team. The lightbulb just hasn't turned on for him yet, and I'm guessing Thibs didn't know if it ever was going to. I think Zach/Wig will be a fun talker for years similar to Foye/Roy, although it will be difficult to compare them because of the different
situations they will be in.

longstrangetrip wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

benthewolf wrote:Why are we salivating over guys that are plsying on a 4-20 team. I think most rational observers would agree it is easier to put up meaningless stats on a losing team.

I think it's pretty normal to keep an eye on former Wolves. I happen to be a huge Dunn fan (although I certainly like Butler), so I am very interested in how he progresses. He still has a ways to go to be a reliable starting PG, but the guy can guard multiple positions and could eventually be a legit starting 1, 2, or 6th man Marcus Smart type.

Yep, watching ex-Wolves is something we do here. By following their performance after we trade them, it helps us evaluate the job our POBO is doing. Yes, I agree that stats might not mean as much on a losing team, but the fact that Dunn is shooting so well is significant I think. Also, Markannen shooting so poorly makes a lot of us feel we got lucky in the Butler deal, since many thought he would be our pick at 7.

Yes. And I suspect we're all happy with the Butler deal right now. I'm not salivating over Dunn quite yet. But benthewolf should see how I drool over Butler. :). Seriously, one of the things I like about Dunn is how similar he is to Butler. Both came up the hard way. Both initially made defense their calling card. Butler developed his offensive game later. It's good to see Dunn developing on the offensive end now.

As I've said before, I don't regret the Butler deal at all even thought it could turn out to be not so good for us over the long term. But I'm one of a few here who would have preferred to deal Wiggins straight up for Butler and I believe it was reported that the Bulls would have done that deal. Nevertheless, I'm still happy we have Butler.

Ive always felt that lavine and dunn would've excelled much more under Butler and Thibs tutelage than Wiggins. Still feel Wiggins and 7 for Butler and 16 (or not even) was the better play. Retain more depth, spacing with LaVine, and a tough nosed do-shit defensive lineup with Dunn, Butler, and Gibson when needed. I also highly doubt LaVine sees the max like Andrew.

Teague/LaVine/Butler/Gibson/KAT would've been killer offensively and I don't think we lose much on defense. And if needed, sub out Dunn (who is shooting 44% from 3 on over 2 attempts per) for either guard spot.

Still a bit salty on that facet of the trade.

You're not alone in preferring Zach to Wig, Future...several others here have expressed that view. I'm not one of them, because as much as I liked Zach, I couldn't help but notice how much the team improved when Rush replaced him in the starting lineup after his injury. Zach is a marvelously athletic wing with a sweet shot, but somehow it hasn't translated yet into the ability to help his team. The lightbulb just hasn't turned on for him yet, and I'm guessing Thibs didn't know if it ever was going to. I think Zach/Wig will be a fun talker for years similar to Foye/Roy, although it will be difficult to compare them because of the different
situations they will be in.

We still have to remember we have no clue what lavine is now after the ACL injury. He has already missed more than a 1/4 of the season. Where would we be today with out him and Wiggins. Still think it is super underrated that wiggins and Kat don't miss games

Also it has been reported that Dunn and Thibs did not get along at all because of playing time. Dunn thought he should be the starter last year.

BizarroJerry wrote:Victor Oladipo dropping 33 on the Cavs last night.

Talk about a guy that has suddenly turned a corner. He's always been an OK to solid player, but his 3-point percentage has suddenly shot up into elite territory: 44% on six attempts per game. He's also knocking down a career high 50% of his 2-point shots. Pretty crazy seeing this kind of leap from a 5th year guy, but it seems like the real deal.