Minnesota Sports Forum

I am probably against the idea of pursuing Cousins more than anyone on this board. Yes, he is talented and competitive, but he also has an unpredictable personality that could hurt the seemingly terrific chemistry this team has. Monster says "risky", and I agree. I'm pretty sure there was no chance of us acquiring Cousins when Flip was in charge, because he clearly understood the value of a cohesive clubhouse...you can see it in every personnel move that he made. Thibs though is a wild card. Conflict doesn't seem to concern him as much as it did Flip, and he might overlook the risk involved with Cousins if he could pick him up without giving up a King's ransom. I really hope not, but it's more of a possibility than it was a year ago.

longstrangetrip wrote:I am probably against the idea of pursuing Cousins more than anyone on this board. Yes, he is talented and competitive, but he also has an unpredictable personality that could hurt the seemingly terrific chemistry this team has. Monster says "risky", and I agree. I'm pretty sure there was no chance of us acquiring Cousins when Flip was in charge, because he clearly understood the value of a cohesive clubhouse...you can see it in every personnel move that he made. Thibs though is a wild card. Conflict doesn't seem to concern him as much as it did Flip, and he might overlook the risk involved with Cousins if he could pick him up without giving up a King's ransom. I really hope not, but it's more of a possibility than it was a year ago.

To add to what you said here Thibs has personal experience with Cousins from team USA basketball and I have heard Thibs talk positively about him on at least one occasion. That relationship is why I would have some hope of things working out if we acquired him. If Cousins was a positive on team USA that doesn't surprise me that's a good environment for him to be in and you have to put aside stuff to be in that situation. I agree it's more likely that Cousins ends up here with the current decision makers than Flip/Milt but I still think it's not all that likely overall.

A lot of "chemistry" talk. I hope it's legit and not wishful thinking. It's been 1 or 2 years of no expectations basketball...

If each of the young guys improve as much as we hope. Each is going to be good enough to be THE guy on another team. It'll be interesting how the chemistry between LaVine, Wiggins and Towns plays out. If they put egos aside... titles will come here. If not, the team becomes like dozens upon dozens of other teams before them.

I wanted Cousins really badly in the draft when he was there for the taking and wanted no part of Wes Johnson. That ship has sailed and sank with Kahn at the rudder. Anyway, I don't want to give up the assets it would take to get him. He's a great talent but not a great teammate and it wouldn't be worth it. Oh, Maybe Bazz and Payne but nothing more.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:A lot of "chemistry" talk. I hope it's legit and not wishful thinking. It's been 1 or 2 years of no expectations basketball...

If each of the young guys improve as much as we hope. Each is going to be good enough to be THE guy on another team. It'll be interesting how the chemistry between LaVine, Wiggins and Towns plays out. If they put egos aside... titles will come here. If not, the team becomes like dozens upon dozens of other teams before them.

Hey we're did positive Abe go? ;)

You are right it's early in the process it could still go wrong. I feel better about things because Towns seems like a teachers pet Wiggins is a deferential guy that isn't really a spotlight guy and Levine is sort of the wildcard but idk he just seems like a good kid. On top of that you have a young vet leader in Rubio who seems like a guy that wants to do everything to win but seems like a fun guy also. Nothing is certain though but this does feel good right now. As Wolves fans we know that can all change too quickly.

Camden wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

I was curious about this trade... so I asked a bunch of NBA (with a mix of Chicago fans)... and they overwhelmingly said "No chance" unless the Wolves were in the top 2.

Don't know if that says more about us... or them.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Camden wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

I was curious about this trade... so I asked a bunch of NBA (with a mix of Chicago fans)... and they overwhelmingly said "No chance" unless the Wolves were in the top 2.

Don't know if that says more about us... or them.

I'd assume most people outside of us associate LaVine as a point guard. He played point guard 94% of the time as a rookie and 35% in his second season, and that could be why you got some interesting answers. LaVine at point guard is a disaster. LaVine the shooting guard is a completely different player.

I've said it before, and I'll post it again:

33 games as starter: 17.3 PPG (47.4 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 81.1 FT%), 3.2 APG, 2.8 RPG in 34.3 MPG.

That's enough of a sample for me to want to see more when we're talking about a 21-year old with the pure ability of LaVine.

For funzies, I'll put a poll on Twitter later tonight and see what others say. I have a decent following and the poll will last a week. I'll post the results.

Camden0916 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Camden wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

I was curious about this trade... so I asked a bunch of NBA (with a mix of Chicago fans)... and they overwhelmingly said "No chance" unless the Wolves were in the top 2.

Don't know if that says more about us... or them.

I'd assume most people outside of us associate LaVine as a point guard. He played point guard 94% of the time as a rookie and 35% in his second season, and that could be why you got some interesting answers. LaVine at point guard is a disaster. LaVine the shooting guard is a completely different player.

I've said it before, and I'll post it again:

33 games as starter: 17.3 PPG (47.4 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 81.1 FT%), 3.2 APG, 2.8 RPG in 34.3 MPG.

That's enough of a sample for me to want to see more when we're talking about a 21-year old with the pure ability of LaVine.

For funzies, I'll put a poll on Twitter later tonight and see what others say. I have a decent following and the poll will last a week. I'll post the results.

I'll be interested in your results. I'd bet there are still a bunch of NBA fans that don't have a specific reason to watch the Wolves much (they could this year with Towns for sure but I don't go out of my way too far to watch other teams) and they probably think of him as the inconsistent guy that's just a dunker along with the disaster of him playing PG. I have some friends that are not Wolves fans that have picked up on the idea Lavine was playing well but I know others that assume he is pretty much the same guy they have always thought he was.