Vet PG who do you want?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Monster, don't regale us with video of Andre Miller when he was a young 38...he's 39 now, and everyone knows a player's performance falls off a cliff once he gets past 38!

I'm disagree with the posters who don't like picking up Miller for the vet minimum to back up Ricky Rubio. For years we have watched the Wolves fall apart whenever Ricky came off the court, whether for injury or rest. The plus/minus comparisons between Rubio and whoever replaced him were absurdly poor. But now we actually have a guy who can manage a game and protect leads. He has been unathletic, a bad 3-point shooter and a below average defender his entire career, and yet his plus/minus and efficiency numbers have been consistently good. Two seasons ago, he ranked 19th out of 70 point guards in real plus/minus (Rubio was 9th), virtually tied with the guy he backed up after being traded to Washington (Wall) in about 17 minutes per game. And last year, despite playing half the season with the hapless Kings, he still ranked 44th out of 82 PGs...and played 16 MPG in 81 games! Isn't that what we have been hoping for out of the back up PG position...a durable guy who gets other players involved and doesn't give up leads when he comes in?

I read a lot of comments about how Miller slows down the game and makes us less athletic, and can't shoot the 3-pointer. Guilty as charged, just as he has been guilty his entire career. But it's like saying the Twins get worse when Tommy Milone comes in with his 88 MPH fast ball instead of Alex Meyer's 98 MPH one. There are different ways to be effective, and Miller has put together a borderline HOF career despite playing a slow, old man's game. And because he has never relied on athleticism, his performance hasn't fallen off much in his late 30s...he looks the same to me as he did when he was 25, and just as durable!

I also read the comments that Miller isn't ready to play bigger minutes if Ricky goes down...again true. But that doesn't concern me. Just like other years, we are doomed if Ricky gets hurt. Williams, LaVine, Ridnour, Brown et al were all ready to come in and play big minutes after Rubio's injuries, but with horrible plus/minus results and lots of losses. And the free agent PGs that were available would have given us similar results. A 35/13 minute split with Rubio/Miller makes us a playoff team. But if Rubio gets hurt again, we are looking at another lost season...with Miller, or anyone else that would have been available to Flip. Rubio is that important to this team. Come on...does anyone here look at this year as anything other than another lost development year if Rubio misses a lot of gams again? I prefer to analyze this pickup by putting Miller in his intended role...managing games when he gives Rubio a blow for the 12-15 minutes he plays. And I can't come up with a better veteran PG for that purpose.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Here is my take.

The only way this goes bad is if Rubio gets hurt. And if he does it won't matter. I will take LaVine starting and Andre backing him up over anything that is still available in free agency. I think he will only help the team.

Check out what George Karl said at the 3:45 mark about Andre Miller being the smartest player he has coached.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUGMFuX5oNc

While you are at it Kevin McHale says the same about KG at the 6:40 mark.

Yeah, you made my point much more concisely, bleed. This is a good deal if Rubio is healthy, and if he isn't, it doesn't really matter.

And how about adding two veterans described as the smartest players certain coaches have ever coached to a roster of high-ceiling athletic players? Flip is looking like a genius to me this morning.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I've been a longtime fan of Andre Miller. I don't get into the Rookie game stuff... but I do remember watching the one Miller played in. It was a crazy game of the usual antics when Miller went in for a layup. The crowd booed him for not dunking. Undeterred, Miller did it again... it seemed to spite the crowd not interested in actual hoops. I loved that.

Miller is who he is at this point. He'll play smart. Post up a bit and pass. Shoot poorly and defend worse. That's who he is. But we'll see some absolutely fantastic passes along the way from a guy who knows all the angles and how to play.

With a slew of young athletic weapons around him... expect to see more alley oops when Miller is on the floor with them. He's great at lobs.

[bleedspeed]

I like the move and I am very critical of Flip. I am also critical of Ryan, but it seemed like he greased the wheels for this visit. I can't think of a better mentor for Tyus Jones at this point in his career. He even could help Rubio get to the next level. He also will help the kids when he is on the court with them. He will get them easy buckets and this will build their confidence. It certainly has increased the teams BBALL IQ. Good move!

Line-up looks like
PG: Rubio/Miller/Jones
SG: LaVine/Martin/Shabazz
SF: Wiggins/Bjelica/AB
PF: KG/Payne/Rudez
C: Towns/Pek/Dieng

It will be interesting if Rudez or AB make the final roster. I think Hummel could be back with Rudez cut.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I like the move and I am very critical of Flip. I am also critical of Ryan, but it seemed like he greased the wheels for this visit. I can't think of a better mentor for Tyus Jones at this point in his career. He even could help Rubio get to the next level. He also will help the kids when he is on the court with them. He will get them easy buckets and this will build their confidence. It certainly has increased the teams BBALL IQ. Good move!

Line-up looks like
PG: Rubio/Miller/Jones
SG: LaVine/Martin/Shabazz
SF: Wiggins/Bjelica/AB
PF: KG/Payne/Rudez
C: Towns/Pek/Dieng

It will be interesting if Rudez or AB make the final roster. I think Hummel could be back with Rudez cut.

One negative that I see... he's not exactly a change of pace guy. So, the Wolves have 3 PGs who are poor creating offense for themselves and lack the speed and explosiveness and finishing to get to the rim.

[Monster]

I like the move and I am very critical of Flip. I am also critical of Ryan, but it seemed like he greased the wheels for this visit. I can't think of a better mentor for Tyus Jones at this point in his career. He even could help Rubio get to the next level. He also will help the kids when he is on the court with them. He will get them easy buckets and this will build their confidence. It certainly has increased the teams BBALL IQ. Good move!

Line-up looks like
PG: Rubio/Miller/Jones
SG: LaVine/Martin/Shabazz
SF: Wiggins/Bjelica/AB
PF: KG/Payne/Rudez
C: Towns/Pek/Dieng

It will be interesting if Rudez or AB make the final roster. I think Hummel could be back with Rudez cut.

Sounds like Hummel may have an overseas offer he may accept. If he plays overseas for a year that might give the team some time to figure out where they are with their roster and sign him to a cheap multi year deal next summer. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

http://www.sportando.com/m/en/italy/serie-a/171015/olimpia-milano-to-complete-the-roster-with-robbie-hummel.html

[bleedspeed]

One negative that I see... he's not exactly a change of pace guy. So, the Wolves have 3 PGs who are poor creating offense for themselves and lack the speed and explosiveness and finishing to get to the rim.

I know what you are saying. LaVine has that, but is better suited playing SG. I still am not sold on the drafting Tyus Jones. He should be the best shooter of the group day one.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

might as well get it all out there in one post so we don't have to hear it every other post...

mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I don't understand why we have to be built on a house of cards. Losing 1 player should not be enough to end a playoff run immediately. If your team falls apart because one guy goes down then you did a shitty job of building your team in the first place. The Thunder almost made the playoffs missing Westbrook and Durant for a decent chunk last year and Ricky isn't nearly on either of their levels. The team should still be able to function without Ricky, but once again that remains highly unlikely given the way we are built.

[Tactical unit]

might as well get it all out there in one post so we don't have to hear it every other post...

mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership tor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership mentor mentor mentor leadership leadership

Yep that is Millers true value and while many think those aspects are overrated greats like KG will point to Sam I Am as being influential. Knowing how good of a teacher and mentor Miller is............just got to trust Flip that he was the best choice in that regard. To me its a one year deal so even if it goes sour its no big deal.