Q12543 wrote:The other thing the coaches have done scheme-wise is have KAT and Vonleh play drop coverage. I think that has helped defensively. It basically means we're willing to give up mid-range floaters and jumpers to ensure we don't get beat with easy 'oops and layups at the rim. The result has been a lot of deflections and steals as penetrating guards try to force the ball into the roll man.
One thing I noticed while browsing stats, KAT lead the league in fouls last season. I hope to see this new defensive style help to limit some of those fouls as well. He needs to be on the floor.
Defend vertical or back like you stated without fouling. Don't try and block everything, just make scoring difficult then rebound. When you go for the block you also take out your rebounding mostly. So it's a more gambling defense, like going for steals. I wouldn't eliminate blocks, but take less chances, which would also reduce fouls.
Defensive fouls wasn't nearly as problematic as his offensive ones.
WolvesFan21 wrote:Devan Bookers defense is bad, career 115 DRTG per 100 possessions, worse then Wiggins at 114 and LaVine at 114 (yeah LaVine is gone just thought I'd throw it out there for comparison). Versus say others too like Batum and Gay both at 108. Both much better.
Like those other guys...who was Booker playing with? Booker has flaws but I think the positives outweigh the negatives...depending on the cost of having him on your roster.
That is a good point. Though a guy like Ricky Rubio averaged 105 DRTG in Minnesota and IDENTICAL in Utah. I don't know how exactly everything goes into that stat, but the great ones are great wherever they go and bad ones are bad wherever they go. I think Teague is a downgrade at this point, but we did get Okogie out of it (wasn't he the pick from that I forget exactly). SO maybe it works out in our favor in the long run.
I looked up Kawhi and he did have his worst DRTG last year at 105, while being mostly under 100 at SAS. So I do think usage and others does effect that stat.
You get Booker because he's been one of KAT's best friends since college and he can shoot the lights out. That's it. He keeps KAT happy and fills a weakness on this roster. Put 3 defenders around them and you're all set.
khans2k5 wrote:You get Booker because he's been one of KAT's best friends since college and he can shoot the lights out. That's it. He keeps KAT happy and fills a weakness on this roster. Put 3 defenders around them and you're all set.
Ideally -- but not limited to -- you keep Covington as one of those three defenders needed around Towns and Booker. And if that's the case, Rosas' job in roster construction is much easier in filling in the gaps.
We'd also be moving Dieng in my proposed offer, which is putting his deadweight money to better use. Teague would be expiring. So, then we'd just have Wiggins as our single bad contract to deal with.
Accumulate the star players and then build around them accordingly. There are many blueprints to creating a championship team, but that first statement is true in almost all scenarios.
I would say if you can get Booker for anything close to what Cam is proposing, it's a no-brainer. Only happens if Phoenix doesn't think they can sign him. And when that determination is made, lots of suitors will line up.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I would say if you can get Booker for anything close to what Cam is proposing, it's a no-brainer. Only happens if Phoenix doesn't think they can sign him. And when that determination is made, lots of suitors will line up.
I don't think getting Booker is realistic. He is on the same contract as KAT. Just don't think they give up a top 30ish guy. When they have 5 years of team control
Q12543 wrote:The other thing the coaches have done scheme-wise is have KAT and Vonleh play drop coverage. I think that has helped defensively. It basically means we're willing to give up mid-range floaters and jumpers to ensure we don't get beat with easy 'oops and layups at the rim. The result has been a lot of deflections and steals as penetrating guards try to force the ball into the roll man.
One thing I noticed while browsing stats, KAT lead the league in fouls last season. I hope to see this new defensive style help to limit some of those fouls as well. He needs to be on the floor.
Defend vertical or back like you stated without fouling. Don't try and block everything, just make scoring difficult then rebound. When you go for the block you also take out your rebounding mostly. So it's a more gambling defense, like going for steals. I wouldn't eliminate blocks, but take less chances, which would also reduce fouls.
Defensive fouls wasn't nearly as problematic as his offensive ones.
Does someone have the NBA version/breakdown of what an offensive player can and can't do with the off arm?
I agree with Cam's idea that Okogie is playing his role well and we shouldn't look to have him out of that role. THE thing that saves him offensively is his passing. If he can still do that after teams/players figure him out to some extent There si a Marcus Smart type fo player there although Smart has actual ability to play PG. Just looked up Smart's stats...How the hell is that guy still only 25?!?!?!? I feel liek there is a chance Okogie will be a better catch and shoot guy but anyway. You don't have to be a star offensive player to be a core piece. Covington is a fantastic example of that as is Smart. Okogie has aways ot go but he has put in a couple good games.
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.
Q - I am looking at Booker's career body of work. His career 3-point percentage is 35.3% and his career FG percentage is at 43.7%. His eFG is under 50%. Zach LaVine has better offense shooting stats than Booker. I just don't see an elite offensive player in Booker's career numbers. At the same time, his career defensive stats are terrible. That's not a guy I'd give up a Culver, Okogie and next year's lottery pick to get - even though Cam's idea would rid us of Gorgui's two remaining years on his contract. Now if the Suns are willing to swap Booker for Wiggins straight up, I'm all in. Heck, I'd even include a future lottery-protected 1st in that deal. :)
As for Okogie, I'll give a lot more weight to how he's played these first two regular season games than to his preseason or summer league play. But what really matters is how he plays over the course of this season and the extent to which he improves. He was solid already last season - very good defensively, while inconsistent offensively. The Oladipo comparison is a reminder of how long it can take some players to finally get over the hump. Honestly, I think Okogie is more talented than Oladipo. Whether he ends up as good as Oladipo remains to be seen and while it's certainly optimistic to believe he will, it's not wildly so.
