Minnesota Sports Forum

I have been wanting do do this for awhile because I have been really bored during quarantine. I work remotely but I have just been to lazy to breakdown my thoughts. This will be a breakdown of every player who is currently on the roster and how they look compared to becoming an NBA Championship contender. Feel free to disagree with my opinion.

Best Player on a Title Team

None- This might be a controversial opinion but I don't think the Wolves have a player that can be the best player on a title team currently. I think there is a chance that one of our stars can reach this but at this moment I think he will need to improve defensively and I think it is hard to have your best player being a big man where there is so much teams can do to stop our best player getting the ball.

Can be a part of "big 3"

Kat- I think Kat is a overqualified number 2 option on a title team but not good enough to be the best option on that big 3. Kat is one of if not the best offensive big in NBA history. He is a true unicorn, He can score from all 3 levels and is a very solid passer for his position. I honestly think he can get there as a defender we have seen way to many flashes of him defensively to think he can't do it but until he does this and rebounds from one of the worst star performances in recent playoff history it is hard for me to put him as a #1 option on a title team.

DLo- I think DLo can easily be the #3 option on a title team, he is an elite scorer and he is a very good passer. I think DLo game really translates to playoff basketball when the pace of the game really slows down. He is a guy who can create is own shot while he doesn't rely on getting to the line when in the playoffs whistles tighten up. I think he has the potential to be a #2 guy but until he gets better on defense it is hard to know where he would end up in the grand scheme of things.

For sure starters

None- I think the Wolves have guys who could fill this role in a couple of years but I don't think we have a legit for sure NBA title team starter. A lot of our good role players have giganitc weaknesses where they could end up being exploited if games were to ever matter. I think the Wolves have guys with the potential to get to this part of the list but how they are now, in my opinion the wolves currently have 0 guys that fill this role.

Key bench role players

Beasley - Think Beasley if the wolves ever get great is the 6th man. He is an elite competitor, damn good volume 3pt shooter and can change games with his jump shot. I didn't put him in the starter category because he still is a negative on defense, weak driving to the hole and finishing and it is a small sample size of him playing extended big minutes even though those minutes have been great. I think Beasley floor is a 6th man with an outside chance of being a big 3 guy. Think he has the highest floor of any player not named Kat or DLo on the roster.

Okogie - I've had my reservations on Okogie, and I do think he is overrated by fans. I just think its hard to see him not become at least an energy defensive wing to help in situations. I was legit impressed with how he played when the Wolves added shooting. He could just play his role as a pest on defense and a cutter on offense. I do think he needs to get better as a shooter or teams will put there center on him during the playoffs but I will be shocked if he can't be role player on a really good team.

James Johnson - I think Cam has said it the best. James Johnson will either help us win games, be salary filler in a big time trade or we get a legit asset back for him being an expiring. He just brings toughness to the squad. A legit point forward who will and can help the wolves win games.

X Factors (I consider X Factors guys who have a wide range of outcomes from starters to just guys)

Culver - Up and Down rookie season with more downs then ups. I do think he had multiple 10 games stretches where he showed signs of a good solid NBA basketball player. Small sample size but in the 11 games post All Star Break he shot 42% from 3. That is huge for him in his development. He also showed signs as a plus NBA defender. Big weakness is he struggled finishing at the rim last year and his overall 3pt % was 29% also I believe he was the worst FT% as a wing/guard player in NBA history.

Naz Reid - Showed all the potential to be modern day small ball five. He was the most out of shape player in the NBA draft last year also was one of the weakest players at the combine last year. He for sure has a big potential. Worries me is that once he was given consistent NBA minutes his shooting % really took a big dip.

Jordan McLaughlin Don't think he has a great high end potential but he runs an offense, sneaky athletic, can hit threes and competes. Think he can end up as FVF type or a high end backup PG. Very nice find by the Wolves.

Jared Vanderbilt - More then likely going to be a nothing but he has the body as a modern day 4. Good rebounder for his size, possible 1-4 defender and has 3 pt potential. Downside is he has been injured and has not shown solid play on the NBA level.

Nowell - More then likely a nothing, but he lit up the G-League with his shooting. Was a good defender and shooter in college. In his limited NBA action was really bad at shooting and pretty much everything. G-League stats keeps for a rookie keeps him in this list.

Roster filler

Hernangomez - Doesn't kill you but shot way to good when he was a wolf and brought little to nothing else. I think he is playable in pinch but is easily replaceable.

Omari Spellman- Think he can be a modern 4 but played 0 games as a wolf for whatever reason. I will be shocked if he isn't traded this season but I do think he is playable if we are in a pinch.

Not roster-able

Jacob Evans - Had chances on a really good team with the Warriors brought nothing. Was on a bad Warriors team and brought nothing. Was on a bad Wolves team and brought nothing.

Evan Turner - Will play 0 career NBA games as a wolf.

Kelan Martin Tries hard, friends with DLo, but at the end of the day I think he is just a guy and his numbers don't look good. Older rookie also. Solid option for a 2-way last year but he is just kind of there.

Conclusion

I think the wolves have pieces. Maybe top of the line pieces but I think they have pieces that can make us a consistent playoff team. I just think our role players suck. Need some of those X Factor players to hit.

Thanks for this analysis. I agree with all the major points. The minor nuances of the xfactors I might be able to get into it a bit, but at this point Im not sure Im passionate enough about this team to continue having strong opinions about our 8th and 9th guys. Hopefully whenever this team gets back on the court they will be entertaining.

thedoper wrote:Thanks for this analysis. I agree with all the major points. The minor nuances of the xfactors I might be able to get into it a bit, but at this point Im not sure Im passionate enough about this team to continue having strong opinions about our 8th and 9th guys. Hopefully whenever this team gets back on the court they will be entertaining.

Ya I agree with you on the X factor people. It is so hard to get excited about this team. Im excited to watch them play next year but even all the X factor players I would put big guesses they end up being role players or just guys. I don't see star in any of them. Also you are right it is hard to have the strength to write about the 8th and 9th guys, I was just really bored. haha

I think your analysis here is spot on Kek. I really can't disagree with anything. Beasley especially is one I agree with. As much as we all love his energy and gunning ability, he's not the defender we need playing next to DLO.

Of the wildcards, I continue to be most enamored with Vanderbilt. Anxious to see if he can develop into something, because playing next to KAT, he really only needs to be elite in a couple areas (rebounding and defense) to be a plus for us. The rebounding is there, but not sure he has all the nuances of defense down yet. Offensively, he's got some skills but is a turnover machine. Again, not a huge concern since he'd be low man on the totem pole on that end of the court.

Q12543 wrote:I think your analysis here is spot on Kek. I really can't disagree with anything. Beasley especially is one I agree with. As much as we all love his energy and gunning ability, he's not the defender we need playing next to DLO.

Of the wildcards, I continue to be most enamored with Vanderbilt. Anxious to see if he can develop into something, because playing next to KAT, he really only needs to be elite in a couple areas (rebounding and defense) to be a plus for us. The rebounding is there, but not sure he has all the nuances of defense down yet. Offensively, he's got some skills but is a turnover machine. Again, not a huge concern since he'd be low man on the totem pole on that end of the court.

FWIW in one of my rare forays into twitter I saw some photos of a supposed bulked up Vanderbilt. Wolfson had him on his podcast Somewhat recently I may listen to that at some point.