Camden0916 wrote:Just wait until the Wolves trade the house for Devin Booker. That'll be exciting.
Probably not a bad move. Hopefully Culver will still be an asset at that point.
I honestly thought we'd pull off the move to get D'Angelo Russell this summer, but with that falling through, trading for Booker is the home run swing I hope the Wolves brass have in mind. This should be the last season he's in Phoenix as far as I'm concerned.
Rosas preaches building through the draft, but he's also mentioned being aggressive in pursuing star players. So, tough to know which way he really leans toward, but I'd go get Towns an All-Star on the perimeter that fits his game and his developmental window. It's just icing on the cake that Booker is one of his best friends.
Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, and Gorgui Dieng for Booker works financially. Throw in a lottery pick next summer around draft time -- or a protected first-round pick in a couple months before the deadline -- and it's a solid offer that Phoenix probably has to mull over.
Ideally, the Wolves hold on to Covington in that scenario, but he wouldn't stop me from getting Booker either.
Secure the duo and then build around them.
Cam - Yes, the Wolves need a second star to combine with KAT. Dallas has Doncic and Porzingis, Denver has Jokic and Murray. Portland has Lillard and McCollum. The list goes on in the West. You need at least two allstars. But I'm not totally sold on Booker as a second star. He's a poor defender and I'm not convinced his offense is good enough to make him the second star we need. His 3-point percentage dipped to 32.6% last season. I noticed he really struggled tonight with only 18 points in 41 minutes, hitting only 28.6% of his FG attempts and missing 7 of his 8 three-point attempts.
I wouldn't give up Okogie, Culver and our 2020 lottery pick for him. I'd consider swappping Culver, Dieng and our 2020 lottery pick, depending on where the pick is and who's available to take with that pick. Perhaps we can deal for D. Russell next summer. Maybe the Cavs will eventually swap Darius Garland for Culver - the deal they refused last June. Or perhaps we'll have a top 4 pick next June and the chance to get our second allstar with that pick. And I still see Okogie as a potential second allstar. He reminds me of Oladipo, who took several years to develop.
Q12543 wrote:I agree with J-Pete. Vonleh isn't sexy, but he seems just more solid out there than Gorgui. We aren't seeing the pump fake travels and flailing attempts at getting charge calls.
Vonleh has much more athleticism and body control which helps defensively. He might be weak on offense but as a big I'd take good defense over good offense if it's a choice.
Camden0916 wrote:Just wait until the Wolves trade the house for Devin Booker. That'll be exciting.
Probably not a bad move. Hopefully Culver will still be an asset at that point.
I honestly thought we'd pull off the move to get D'Angelo Russell this summer, but with that falling through, trading for Booker is the home run swing I hope the Wolves brass have in mind. This should be the last season he's in Phoenix as far as I'm concerned.
Rosas preaches building through the draft, but he's also mentioned being aggressive in pursuing star players. So, tough to know which way he really leans toward, but I'd go get Towns an All-Star on the perimeter that fits his game and his developmental window. It's just icing on the cake that Booker is one of his best friends.
Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, and Gorgui Dieng for Booker works financially. Throw in a lottery pick next summer around draft time -- or a protected first-round pick in a couple months before the deadline -- and it's a solid offer that Phoenix probably has to mull over.
Ideally, the Wolves hold on to Covington in that scenario, but he wouldn't stop me from getting Booker either.
Secure the duo and then build around them.
Cam - Yes, the Wolves need a second star to combine with KAT. Dallas has Doncic and Porzingis, Denver has Jokic and Murray. Portland has Lillard and McCollum. The list goes on in the West. You need at least two allstars. I'm not totally sold on Booker as a second star. He's a poor defender and I'm not convinced his offense is good enough to make him the second star we need. His 3-point percentage dipped to 32.6% last season. I noticed he really struggled tonight with only 18 points in 41 minutes, hitting only 28.6% of his FG attempts and missing 7 of his 8 three-point attempts.
I wouldn't give up Okogie, Culver and our 2020 lottery pick for him. I'd consider swappping Culver, Dieng and our 2020 lottery pick, depending on where the pick is and who's available to take with that pick. Perhaps we can deal for D. Russell next summer. Maybe the Cavs will eventually swap Darius Garland for Culver - the deal they refused last June. Or perhaps we'll have a top 4 pick next June and the chance to get our second allstar with that pick. And I still see Okogie as a potential second allstar. He reminds me of Oladipo, who took several years to develop.
Lip, On Booker keep in mind that his 3-point makes have increasingly been unassisted meaning that he has been taking more 3s off the dribble versus catch and shoot 3's. I'd look at his career body of work versus just last season. He would not have to shoulder nearly the load offensively in Minnesota with KAT in the mix. Plus his overall efficiency last season was very good.
While I like what I've seen from Okogie so far versus his underwhelming summer league and pre-season, he's not going to turn into the next Victor Oladipo. That is a wildly optimistic scenario.
BizarroJerry wrote:Wow. So the secret to winning is not playing Gorgui?
Sorry for you tanking fans.
Some of us -- ahem -- have only been pounding the table for this for several years now. Dieng just isn't a good NBA big and is easily replaceable/upgraded on the court. His contract, however, is more of a hassle.
He had a couple solid years here, but the game has sort of passed him by. Without the consistent 3-point stroke, his long 2s and flimsy interior paint protection have made him more of a liability in today's game.
But are you suggesting here that Vonleh is your guy!? I knew you'd come around!
I knew they started out slow but the Wolves ended up crushing the Hornets. Towns went bonkers Wiggins is Meh. Other guys look like legit rotation players on a team that doesn't suck...which mean we won't suck.
Dieng has this year and (next year?) left on his deal I believe. His contract could be a tradeable asset versus negative, as an expiring deal next season. Wiggins however........
Q12543 wrote:I agree with J-Pete. Vonleh isn't sexy, but he seems just more solid out there than Gorgui. We aren't seeing the pump fake travels and flailing attempts at getting charge calls.
You forgot taking yourself out of the play going for the offensive rebound while the opposing goes the other way for a transition bucket.
I think you guys are given gorgui a little too much heat, let's not forget his elite ability to escort guards to the basket in a failed attempt to get a block at the rim
FWIW Dieng is still the best screen setter on the roster.
Q12543 wrote:I agree with J-Pete. Vonleh isn't sexy, but he seems just more solid out there than Gorgui. We aren't seeing the pump fake travels and flailing attempts at getting charge calls.
You forgot taking yourself out of the play going for the offensive rebound while the opposing goes the other way for a transition bucket.
I think you guys are given gorgui a little too much heat, let's not forget his elite ability to escort guards to the basket in a failed attempt to get a block at the rim
FWIW Dieng is still the best screen setter on the roster.
It's actually still Towns based on last year's statistics. Dieng was third behind Towns and Gibson.
