Minnesota Sports Forum

Too many young prospects playing significant minutes equals too many losses a lot of the times. The last thing I want is for us to turn into Philly, Utah or Milwaukee where we just keep this losing culture around because we're "all in" on losing -- err -- "rolling with the young guys". We need to establish a winning/competitive culture WHILE developing the young players. That's how the best teams do it. Look at the Spurs, Bulls, Thunder, Pacers, Blazers and likely other teams that haven't come to mind. A good balance of youth and productive veterans is what we need. I saw your post on a different thread saying we have enough vets, but we have a huge hole to fill at PF. I 100% believe we're better off establishing a competitive culture with Young starting instead of Bennett. Not to mention Bennett should NOT be handed a starting spot because of his draft position. He hasn't done anything to earn it.

Give me the future asset (first round pick) instead of an overpaid tweener like Bennett.

PS: We might need to bring back Cunningham to be our backup even if we do acquire Young while keeping Bennett. Bennett's not a for sure rotation player yet.

I agree with you Lipoli. Time to invite Tiny Gallon to camp.

http://dleaguedigest.com/2014/02/12/interview-tiny-gallon-seeing-the-results-from-his-hard-work/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFs5ZQbJns0

Camden0916 wrote:Too many young prospects playing significant minutes equals too many losses a lot of the times. The last thing I want is for us to turn into Philly, Utah or Milwaukee where we just keep this losing culture around because we're "all in" on losing -- err -- "rolling with the young guys". We need to establish a winning/competitive culture WHILE developing the young players. That's how the best teams do it. Look at the Spurs, Bulls, Thunder, Pacers, Blazers and likely other teams that haven't come to mind. A good balance of youth and productive veterans is what we need. I saw your post on a different thread saying we have enough vets, but we have a huge hole to fill at PF. I 100% believe we're better off establishing a competitive culture with Young starting instead of Bennett. Not to mention Bennett should NOT be handed a starting spot because of his draft position. He hasn't done anything to earn it.

Give me the future asset (first round pick) instead of an overpaid tweener like Bennett.

PS: We might need to bring back Cunningham to be our backup even if we do acquire Young while keeping Bennett. Bennett's not a for sure rotation player yet.

Good post Cam but I'll mention. That the Bucks are actually the team we want to avoid being like not because they are all in but because they have continually bought into the idea of let's add some vets that are good deals and make us competitive but get us nowhere. That's the worry of giving up something to get Thad. Last year the Bucks both went all in on some moves and tried to be competitive and fortunately for them they were bad and got Parker and Giannis looks promising. Kidd landing there is bizarre so yeah anyway I sort of pull for the Bucks to be successful a little bit.

monsterpile wrote:

Camden0916 wrote:Too many young prospects playing significant minutes equals too many losses a lot of the times. The last thing I want is for us to turn into Philly, Utah or Milwaukee where we just keep this losing culture around because we're "all in" on losing -- err -- "rolling with the young guys". We need to establish a winning/competitive culture WHILE developing the young players. That's how the best teams do it. Look at the Spurs, Bulls, Thunder, Pacers, Blazers and likely other teams that haven't come to mind. A good balance of youth and productive veterans is what we need. I saw your post on a different thread saying we have enough vets, but we have a huge hole to fill at PF. I 100% believe we're better off establishing a competitive culture with Young starting instead of Bennett. Not to mention Bennett should NOT be handed a starting spot because of his draft position. He hasn't done anything to earn it.

Give me the future asset (first round pick) instead of an overpaid tweener like Bennett.

PS: We might need to bring back Cunningham to be our backup even if we do acquire Young while keeping Bennett. Bennett's not a for sure rotation player yet.

Good post Cam but I'll mention. That the Bucks are actually the team we want to avoid being like not because they are all in but because they have continually bought into the idea of let's add some vets that are good deals and make us competitive but get us nowhere. That's the worry of giving up something to get Thad. Last year the Bucks both went all in on some moves and tried to be competitive and fortunately for them they were bad and got Parker and Giannis looks promising. Kidd landing there is bizarre so yeah anyway I sort of pull for the Bucks to be successful a little bit.

What vets did they add to be competitive? Trading the oft-injured Bogut for Ellis, sign-and-trading Jennings for Knight . Both were good moves when they made them, but it made them younger. Signing Mayo on the FA market looks bad, but hey, gotta spend money somewhere. They rolled the dice on him. I wasn't against doing that last year myself, to be honest. The problem with them is they didn't have enough veterans over the years, in my opinion. Year after year it seemed like they were just letting the young guys try to come together instead of changing it up. Interesting contrast we have on the Bucks over the last several years. Only move they made that was a "win now" move was Harris for Redick.

Sorry I can't remember the examples but its something the Bucks have been doing for at least 5 years adding guys like Drew Gooden, bringing Caron Butler home I can't remember all the deals because the guys only end up being there for a year or so and the Bucks stay mediocre. They never really bottomed out the moves were kinda solid but never moved the meter. Of course we bottomed out a few years and our record wasn't much better so. I can't throw too many stones at the Bucks. Lol One of my good friends is from Racine and so we give each other a hard time about our basketball teams because they both suck. For some reason we both are fans of Rob Deere. Lol

We already have our starting PF for next year. His name is Gorgui Dieng, and he did enough last season to prove he is more than capable of starting. Pek and Dieng compliment each other well defensively, ones a box out lane clogger with uber strength and the others a terrific weak side shot blocker who can also rebound. Offensively it would depend on Dieng's ability to stretch the floor, and his ability to hit the mid range jumper. We already know what Pek brings.

I'd keep Bennett instead of trading him for Young. Give it another season and I believe Bennett will be replicating Young's numbers. Actually the more I think about it the more similar I think they are. Except I believe Bennett will be a significantly better rebounder than Young.

- Dieng did enough last year to make us think about starting him at center, not power forward. He'll get minutes at the 4 next season, but in no way should he start there. And Pek is still Pek, he's our starting center. We often underrate his 20/10 ability on here, but we're going to need his offense.

- Personally, I'd still like to work Dieng in to a full season of consistent rotation minutes before getting ahead of myself and starting him. He had a good 12 games or whatever it was, but the grind of a full season is a different animal. 20 minutes a night is where I'd start.

- Bennett will be replicating Young's numbers? Hmmm... He may never be the player Young is, but alrighty then.

- Young and Bennett are only similar in that they're tweeners. Young's capable of playing/defending both forward spots while Bennett can't play/defend either. Bennett prefers to rely on his jumper, Young attacks the rim constantly. Young moves the basketball quite well for a forward, Bennett's a ball stopper. Not sure how you can think they're similar, but if that's how you feel...

Someone at rubechat saw a snafu on the last Wolves Weekly. There was a board behind Milt Newton that listed PFs. #1 on the list was Elton Brand...

It probably doesn't matter since it sounds like our PF openings will be filled via trade(s), so Cam doesn't have to blow another gasket. But needless to say, I've set my DVR to record the next broadcast of that Wolves Weekly show!!! :)

Cam why can't Dieng start at PF? There is no reason he can't play PF, and he is more closer to starting there than Bennett (If the Young trade falls through). His game elevated to the next level when he started. He got pushed around a lot defensively playing center and played a lot better marking smaller players. Playing PF allows him to do this in most situations. He's also got a solid mid range game as shown at Louisville and is an adequate passer.

Time will tell with Bennett, but I'm not writing him off based on his terrible rookie season. I think he'll have a solid season whether he's a Wolf or 76er. I may be a bit premature in comparing the two, that comment was a bit ill advised. My concern with Young is rebounding. That's a massive drop off in production from what Love's been giving us. Who picks up the slack there if Young starts? Don't get me wrong I like Young, but am not sold on a Pek / Young starting front court. We'll see I guess if it all eventuates.

60WinTim wrote:Someone at rubechat saw a snafu on the last Wolves Weekly. There was a board behind Milt Newton that listed PFs. #1 on the list was Elton Brand...

It probably doesn't matter since it sounds like our PF openings will be filled via trade(s), so Cam doesn't have to blow another gasket. But needless to say, I've set my DVR to record the next broadcast of that Wolves Weekly show!!! :)

I'd be all for Elton Brand. Sure he's not the player he was five years ago but he'd be a great mentor to the younger guys and could probably be picked up for the vet min. Better option that Dante 'brick' Cunningham imo.