Minnesota Sports Forum

Athleticism, quickness, size and skill are all key ingredients to succeeding as an NBA player. But what sometimes gets overlooked is intensity. Intensity is the characteristic that tends to be present in all successful NBA players and glaringly absent from those with lots of talent who never really fulfill their potential. And intensity in a player tends to rub off on other players and elevate the overall play of a team. This organization has been notoriously lacking in players with A-level intensity. Wes Johnson and Andrew Wiggins stand out as two prime examples, but there have been many others.

So who stands out on the current roster as guys with A-level intensity? I have a list of four:

1. Malik Beasley
2. Josh Okogie
3. J-Mac
4. Kelan Martin

I would include those four as part of this organization's foundation going forward, along with our two core allstars: KAT and DLO. I like the intensity we've seen so far from Naz, a characteristic he apparently lacked in college, resulting in him not getting drafted. There are seven players I definitely want to see on the roster to start next season:

1. KAT
2. DLO
3. Beasley
4. Okogie
5. Naz
6. J-Mac
7. Martin

I would also expect to see Johnson on the roster since he'll definitely pick up his $16 million option. And I expect to see Vanderbilt and that's a good thing. Nowell should also be back.

I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

Q12543 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

I saw a tweet that Wolfson said it was communicated to Spellman that there was other players ahead of Spellman. I don't think its that he doesn't want to be here but if he isn't going to get a chance to play I can't blame him for wanting another opportunity if it would be granted. I

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

I saw a tweet that Wolfson said it was communicated to Spellman that there was other players ahead of Spellman. I don't think its that he doesn't want to be here but if he isn't going to get a chance to play I can't blame him for wanting another opportunity if it would be granted. I

Who is ahead of him with KAT out though? I get Naz Reid, but then couldn't he back him up. He and Naz could essentially split the Center minutes. Then the front office can decide who they want to move forward with as KAT's backup next year. The more competition, the better.

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

I saw a tweet that Wolfson said it was communicated to Spellman that there was other players ahead of Spellman. I don't think its that he doesn't want to be here but if he isn't going to get a chance to play I can't blame him for wanting another opportunity if it would be granted. I

Who is ahead of him with KAT out though? I get Naz Reid, but then couldn't he back him up. He and Naz could essentially split the Center minutes. Then the front office can decide who they want to move forward with as KAT's backup next year. The more competition, the better.

There must be something going on with Spellman. He didn't dress the 1st game because of some paper work issue (Dane Moore reported), then the reports that he wanted to be waive by Wolfson and Moore. Now he is dominating down in Iowa but at this moment the Wolves called up Vanderbilt and Evans for tonights game but Spellman has yet to be called up. Got to assume something is going on there.

Spellman won too much in college. That kind of winning pedigree has no place on our team.

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

I saw a tweet that Wolfson said it was communicated to Spellman that there was other players ahead of Spellman. I don't think its that he doesn't want to be here but if he isn't going to get a chance to play I can't blame him for wanting another opportunity if it would be granted. I

Who is ahead of him with KAT out though? I get Naz Reid, but then couldn't he back him up. He and Naz could essentially split the Center minutes. Then the front office can decide who they want to move forward with as KAT's backup next year. The more competition, the better.

There must be something going on with Spellman. He didn't dress the 1st game because of some paper work issue (Dane Moore reported), then the reports that he wanted to be waive by Wolfson and Moore. Now he is dominating down in Iowa but at this moment the Wolves called up Vanderbilt and Evans for tonights game but Spellman has yet to be called up. Got to assume something is going on there.

Who is in front of Spellman? Towns Naz and then Vanderbilt (since he is coming up etc) and they are Also willing to play Johnson at center and play other guys like Juancho or even a wing at PF.

monsterpile wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Camden wrote:I'm going to continue the recent trend of me being essentially an Omari Spellman hype man, but this guy is an absolute bruiser and in another lifetime I'd imagine him being a defensive lineman or a rugby player. Every time I've watched him play I've seen a willingness to get physical and a relatively high energy level to go with it. I'd add him to your intensity list even though we have yet to enjoy his debut as a part of this team.

In theory he'd be good here but apparently he doesn't wanna be here at all.

Odd then that he is willing to play in Iowa (???).

I saw a tweet that Wolfson said it was communicated to Spellman that there was other players ahead of Spellman. I don't think its that he doesn't want to be here but if he isn't going to get a chance to play I can't blame him for wanting another opportunity if it would be granted. I

Who is ahead of him with KAT out though? I get Naz Reid, but then couldn't he back him up. He and Naz could essentially split the Center minutes. Then the front office can decide who they want to move forward with as KAT's backup next year. The more competition, the better.

There must be something going on with Spellman. He didn't dress the 1st game because of some paper work issue (Dane Moore reported), then the reports that he wanted to be waive by Wolfson and Moore. Now he is dominating down in Iowa but at this moment the Wolves called up Vanderbilt and Evans for tonights game but Spellman has yet to be called up. Got to assume something is going on there.

Who is in front of Spellman? Towns Naz and then Vanderbilt (since he is coming up etc) and they are Also willing to play Johnson at center and play other guys like Juancho or even a wing at PF.

Understood, just curious decision making after getting killed by the likes of Theis, Milsap, and Jokic.

I'm a big Vanderbilt fan, but feel like he is very raw and could use big minutes in the G League. Spellman is much more polished.