Training Camp!

[60WinTim]

So! Technically, training camp opens tomorrow and we haven't seen boo about it from anyone!

From some of the national reports, only individual workouts are allowed, and can only begin after players have passed a series of COVID protocols. A player would have to be in town last Saturday to begin the protocol in order to workout tomorrow. Full practices are not allowed to begin until Friday.

I have no idea if we will have a "media day" this year. But I see there will be a presser tomorrow to introduce Ricky Rubio and Ed Davis. (And Rubio will be on the Barreiro show tomorrow as well)

Tyler Cook is the only addition I have seen for camp thus far. No word on McLaughlin, yet. Hopefully we will get some sort of daily updates from someone.

[Monster]

Tyler Cook is an interesting addition...because I don't really know anything about him. Lol

Ade Murkey will be in camp also.

I'm getting nervous about the McLaughlin situation and I said I wasn't going to. If they get him signed the next step will be adding another 2-way player. Those spots are gonna be important because it sounds like there will be few restrictions on guys being able to play be available to their NBA teams and with COVID etc teams may need everyone they can get. Those spots might be more valued by players I think than before.

[60WinTim]

For anyone interested, here is the presser today introducing Ricky and Ed:

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1YpKkzrzrlPxj

Maybe the starting lineup will be Rubio, DLO, Beasley, Davis and KAT!

[Edit: Be prepared to turn up the volume on Ed's responses... ]

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

For anyone interested, here is the presser today introducing Ricky and Ed:

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1YpKkzrzrlPxj

Maybe the starting lineup will be Rubio, DLO, Beasley, Davis and KAT!

[Edit: Be prepared to turn up the volume on Ed's responses... ]

Thanks for sharing the link, Doug. I don't have any earth-shattering takeaways from that presser, but I am reassured of a few things.

1. Ricky Rubio will always be a fan favorite and an overall easy person/player to root for. Nothing has changed there. I'm also confident now that he will be a starter for this team going forward. He was asked if he'd be comfortable coming off the bench and he said all the right things, but it just seemed like that wasn't even a possibility in his mind. It was like the staff had already talked to him about his role starting next to D'Angelo Russell. Also, Gersson Rosas confirmed that the front office had pursued Rubio a year ago when he was a free agent. They value everything he does to include the things that don't show up in the box score. That duo of Rubio and Russell will be Minnesota's starting backcourt.

2. Ryan Saunders is in over his head. I've said this time and time again, but every time I watch him answer questions I'm reminded of this. It feels like he's definitely trying to assert himself and make his presence as the head coach, but it's just not there. That's understandable because he has virtually zero experience that would make him worthy of having that position, but in a way it's setting him up for failure. Saunders talked about how he views the shooting guard and small forward positions as the same offensively, which makes me think we should be prepared to see all kinds of small lineups that include three guards. I wouldn't even be surprised to see Malik Beasley start at the three at this point. This team does not value defense or rebounding regardless of what they say. Saunders also hinted at possible four guard lineups, which in my mind would be awful.

3. Ed Davis seems very laid-back and relaxed. He didn't seem enthusiastic about being part of the Wolves, but he didn't seem upset about it either. He's basically been a career journeyman so it's to be expected at this point. It's just business for him. He also talked about how he played next to Meyers Leonard in Portland, which made me think we could see situations where he's playing next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Obviously, this staff doesn't want to play that way, but it'll be an option.

[FNG]

Camden, like you I'm convinced Rubio will be starting at PG next to D-Lo. He's always polite so he handled Doogie's question with his customary grace, but the look on his face was "Off the bench, Doogie? Really?" It seems the majority take here is that D-Lo and Beasley will be our starting backcourt, but I would be surprised. Here's why.

1) Rubio has only come off the bench only one game in his past 7 seasons, and is coming off a very solid season.

2) Rubio was always a Flip guy, and seems to have a very good relationship now with Ryan. Flip and Ryan have always admired true PGs, and Ricky certainly meets that description.

3) This team is being built around KAT and Russell, and maximizing D-Lo's contributions will be key to our success. He has stated publicly that he prefers playing SG to PG (although he is not opposed to playing the point), so I don't know why Ryan wouldn't accommodate one of his two cornerstone players.

4) With KAT, D-Lo and potentially a rookie SF in our starting lineup, defense will be an issue. While PG is not the most important position defensively, I think Ricky's on-the-court direction and disruptive D will be a great help to our offensive stars. The second team will have more defenders in Culver, Okogie and possibly Davis, and has less of a need for a strong defensive PG.

5) That said, the second unit may struggle to score. That's why I like seeing perhaps our best 3-point shooter Beasley coming off the bench.

I would like to see D-Lo playing at least 36 minutes a game (if he performs) and I have no problem if some of those minutes come at PG with Ricky on the bench. I just think this team is best starting and finishing games with a Rubio/Russell backcourt.

[Crazysauce]

Just seeing the way Malik reacts to strangers walking by his home, I hate to think how he would react coming off the bench after signing his big deal. I would be shocked if he isnt starting somewhere.

[TheFuture]

Just seeing the way Malik reacts to strangers walking by his home, I hate to think how he would react coming off the bench after signing his big deal. I would be shocked if he isnt starting somewhere.

Agreed.

You're telling me you are worth 15 million a year after threatening someone who drove onto your driveway and held a gun at your child?

I like the player, but I have zero respect for that man.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Dane Moore: Asked D'Angelo Russell about what types of guards he's had the most success with in his career. Thought this was an interesting response:

"This Rubio piece is actually different. I've never played with nobody at his caliber, somebody that brings what he brings to the game at 1"

Add this to my previous post about how I now believe Ricky Rubio and D'Angelo Russell will both be in the starting lineup.

[Monster]

Dane Moore: Asked D'Angelo Russell about what types of guards he's had the most success with in his career. Thought this was an interesting response:

"This Rubio piece is actually different. I've never played with nobody at his caliber, somebody that brings what he brings to the game at 1"

Add this to my previous post about how I now believe Ricky Rubio and D'Angelo Russell will both be in the starting lineup.

Has Russell ever played with any actual true PG? Is Dinwiddie the closest guy?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Dane Moore: Asked D'Angelo Russell about what types of guards he's had the most success with in his career. Thought this was an interesting response:

"This Rubio piece is actually different. I've never played with nobody at his caliber, somebody that brings what he brings to the game at 1"

Add this to my previous post about how I now believe Ricky Rubio and D'Angelo Russell will both be in the starting lineup.

Has Russell ever played with any actual true PG? Is Dinwiddie the closest guy?

This is a rough list of point guards he's shared a roster with to date:

- Marcelo Huertas
- Tyler Ennis
- Jose Calderon
- Isaiah Whitehead
- Jeremy Lin
- Spencer Dinwiddie
- Chasson Randle
- Jeremy Pargo
- Stephen Curry
- Ky Bowman
- Jordan McLaughlin

That's not a great list of guards to play alongside. I would bet that the primary reason for this is that teams just used him as their main point guard, logically. So, playing with Ricky Rubio is definitely going to be different for D-Lo.