Around the league thread

Any And All Things T-Wolves Related
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FNG
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by FNG »

thedoper wrote:The problem isnt Ricky as a basketball player taking the 3rd or 4th guard in the rotation. The problem is that Ricky and Jancho are accounting for 24million dollars that could have gone to filling a much bigger gap in our roster at PF. Ricky is a back up PG, should have been for a long time and is worth back up PG money. We are the only fanbase out there that would have celebrated the idea of giving up a first round pick for him at 17 million.


It's a fair point, Doper. But didn't his contract basically just get swapped for JJ's in the trade, so it isn't really using up cap space? But still, it's more than fair to analyze the merits of the trade. A lot of us wanted Precious at 17, so which is preferable if we want to win now?

Ricky and Jaden Mcdaniel, or

JJ and Precious.

I think D-Lo running the point with KAT and a bunch of guys in their teens and early 20's would have been a disaster. I reserve the right to change my mind if Ricky proves to be a disaster, but right now having a true PG on this team has a lot to do with our fast start.
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thedoper
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by thedoper »

FNG wrote:
thedoper wrote:The problem isnt Ricky as a basketball player taking the 3rd or 4th guard in the rotation. The problem is that Ricky and Jancho are accounting for 24million dollars that could have gone to filling a much bigger gap in our roster at PF. Ricky is a back up PG, should have been for a long time and is worth back up PG money. We are the only fanbase out there that would have celebrated the idea of giving up a first round pick for him at 17 million.


It's a fair point, Doper. But didn't his contract basically just get swapped for JJ's in the trade, so it isn't really using up cap space? But still, it's more than fair to analyze the merits of the trade. A lot of us wanted Precious at 17, so which is preferable if we want to win now?

Ricky and Jaden Mcdaniel, or

JJ and Precious.

I think D-Lo running the point with KAT and a bunch of guys in their teens and early 20's would have been a disaster. I reserve the right to change my mind if Ricky proves to be a disaster, but right now having a true PG on this team has a lot to do with our fast start.


DLo could be a disaster, but its been far from that in two games. Both games he hit big 4th quarter buckets when we needed them. Ricky has basically been out there in good moments, more than running any sort of traditional point. He made some timely steals in game one while and some nice plays in the first half of game two. He's been far from taking command of the offense in both games, but it is nice to have someone who is confident with ball out there. I have always thought Ricky's D is greatly overrated but those two steals in the first game are precisely why he gets overrated. He makes smart, timely plays on both sides of the ball. He also bricks shots in the 4th quarter that we need to go in like that wide open 3 last night. Like I said, great back up point. Not worth 17 mil in my mind.

As for the trade, I would much rather have Precious and a 17 million dollar expiring contract right now with none of the rosters being set in the league. Unless they believe Ricky has more value as a trade piece than an expiring? If Rosas has the balls to flip Ricky now then all the power to him. That would really be antithetical to wolves POBO behavior under Glen.
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Lipoli390
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by Lipoli390 »

FNG wrote:
thedoper wrote:The problem isnt Ricky as a basketball player taking the 3rd or 4th guard in the rotation. The problem is that Ricky and Jancho are accounting for 24million dollars that could have gone to filling a much bigger gap in our roster at PF. Ricky is a back up PG, should have been for a long time and is worth back up PG money. We are the only fanbase out there that would have celebrated the idea of giving up a first round pick for him at 17 million.


It's a fair point, Doper. But didn't his contract basically just get swapped for JJ's in the trade, so it isn't really using up cap space? But still, it's more than fair to analyze the merits of the trade. A lot of us wanted Precious at 17, so which is preferable if we want to win now?

Ricky and Jaden Mcdaniel, or

JJ and Precious.

I think D-Lo running the point with KAT and a bunch of guys in their teens and early 20's would have been a disaster. I reserve the right to change my mind if Ricky proves to be a disaster, but right now having a true PG on this team has a lot to do with our fast start.


I get where you're coming from FNG, but disagree on the value of Ricky to this team relative to his contract, what we gave up to get him, and the opportunity cost associated with acquiring and paying him - especially in conjunction with what I see as a ridiculous overpay for Juancho. Behyond that, I have three thoughts in response to your post:

1. JJ's contract was set to expire at the end of this season while Ricky has two years left on his deal. That alone, makes JJ a better deal from a salary cap standpoint.

2. JJ plays a position of need on this team and could provide interior defense and rebounding - two things in short supply on this team. Interestingly, he can also hit threes, which fits the Rosas system, and he's actually a better shot maker than Ricky. Moreover, by all accounts, he was a great veteran presence on the floor, the bench and the locker room.

3. If we're not comfortable with DLO running the point, then we never should have traded for him as a max-contract cornerstone who cost us both of our 2021 draft picks. DLO and KAT have each played 5 seasons in the NBA. Beasley has been in the League for 4 seasons. The Warriors won 47 games and made their first playoff appearance in the Steph Curry era in the 2012-13 season when Steph (their star and starting PG) was 24 years old. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were 22 years old that season. Harrison Barnes was 20. They had some vets like Jefferson and Carl Landry, but they were a young team build around a very young core. Having said all that, I do see Ricky's value to the Wolves right now. I just don't think his value matches the combination of what we gave up, his contract and the opportunity costs associated with getting him.
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TheFuture
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by TheFuture »

Rubio's play combined with his personality is why he continues to get paid.

He will have an effect. A positive one.

He is also the only true ballhandling guard on the roster after Russell. We need him.
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BloopOracle
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by BloopOracle »

The Clippers are the first team in NBA history to go into halftime of a game down 50 POINTS

wow
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60WinTim
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by 60WinTim »

BloopOracle wrote:The Clippers are the first team in NBA history to go into halftime of a game down 50 POINTS

wow


Leonard is not playing. Unfortunately, I think he'll back for the game against the Wolves...
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TheFuture
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by TheFuture »

BloopOracle wrote:The Clippers are the first team in NBA history to go into halftime of a game down 50 POINTS

wow


What,?
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BloopOracle
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by BloopOracle »

TheFuture wrote:
BloopOracle wrote:The Clippers are the first team in NBA history to go into halftime of a game down 50 POINTS

wow


What,?


77-27
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Camden [enjin:6601484]
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by Camden [enjin:6601484] »

TheFuture wrote:Rubio's play combined with his personality is why he continues to get paid.

He will have an effect. A positive one.

He is also the only true ballhandling guard on the roster after Russell. We need him.


I disagree with the bolded. Like Minnesota's front office, I think you're forgetting Jordan McLaughlin and just how good that kid was last year albeit in odd circumstances as a two-way player. And unlike Ricky Rubio, he's more than capable of scoring off the dribble and shooting from outside. I don't think he's necessarily a better overall player than Rubio, but I would have rather let him hold down that role for the Wolves while upgrading the frontcourt.
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thedoper
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Re: Around the league thread

Post by thedoper »

Camden0916 wrote:
TheFuture wrote:Rubio's play combined with his personality is why he continues to get paid.

He will have an effect. A positive one.

He is also the only true ballhandling guard on the roster after Russell. We need him.


I disagree with the bolded. Like Minnesota's front office, I think you're forgetting Jordan McLaughlin and just how good that kid was last year albeit in odd circumstances as a two-way player. And unlike Ricky Rubio, he's more than capable of scoring off the dribble and shooting from outside. I don't think he's necessarily a better overall player than Rubio, but I would have rather let him hold down that role for the Wolves while upgrading the frontcourt.


I think between McLaughlin, Edwards, and Culver there is enough ball handling to have a capable 2nd unit. Ricky does posses that extra poise and quality of passes that would improve the flow of the offense. But I don't know if that is worth 17 million. I don't personally think the sucess of Culver and Edwards in the first two games has had much of anything to do with them being out there with Ricky, some may disagree but I really can't think of specific moments where I thought Ricky was elevating their play.
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