Reflections on the Wolves After 3 Games

[Lipoli390]

So what are some thoughts on what we've seen so far from the Wolves? It's certainly great to start 3-0. Obviously, we haven't played any elite teams yet. But the only bad team we've played was Charlotte. Miami and the Nets are both good teams. Miami beat the Bucks in Milwaukee and the Nets were a playoff team last season without Kyrie. As we start to play the better teams, the losses will start to mount. But I'm encouraged so far by these three wins.

Specifically, I'm encouraged by the style of play we've seen so far and by the play of some of the new guys we added this summer - especially Napier, Vonleh and Layman, although I'm troubled by Layman's lack of shooting consistency. I'm further encouraged by Okogie's play. After a lackluster summer league and preseason for him, Okogie has looked solid in these first three regular season games - picking up where he left off defensively last season and looking far more under control and efficient offensively. Although he had a rough game last night, Towns looks like he's taken another step forward with improved passing and better defense. Wiggins remains a mystery. He's fooled us before with some impressive games, so we shouldn't get too excited about his terrific 5 minutes last night. But hope springs eternal, so maybe this really is the year Wiggins becomes something approaching the player many assumed he'd become coming off his rookie season.

Some glaring needs remain: (1) more/better three-point shooters, (2) another elite ball-handler/shot-creator, (3) better defense overall, and (4) a bona fide shot blocker as part of the rotation. But it's definitely more fun to watch this team than it was last season and you can't help but be happy with our 3-0 start.

[thedoper]

I think Rosas coming from Houston is great for where this team is at right now with our talent distribution. KAT needed more shots. Now he's going to get them and Ryan seems to be on board. There was no reason that KAT shouldn't have been averaging 3 or 4 more points a game last year. Ultimately, the best option for our team is to have our most efficient scorer shooting the most.

http://danenbapodcast.libsyn.com/gersson-rosas

This interview after the first game with Rosas seemed to imply to me that Rosas sees KAT taking on even more. The ridiculous usage that Harden saw last year is partly what we should be looking at with KAT only from a different space on the floor. I think we're just scratching the surface of what our offense can look like. Yes we need other shooters, but I'm really happy with these first 3 games. Covington will start hitting shots, I feel the role for Layman will progress. The team has reminded me that the type of talent that exists on this team is not throwaway. My only real disappointment at this point is that Culver seems to be living up to my fears that he is not NBA level talent. Hope that changes because I feel that White, or Saric and Herro or whoever we could have taken at our original spot would have helped us even more.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I give them an A+ for finding a way to win their first three games. The attitude, play style, and shot selection is a gazillion times better than it was a year ago with Thibs.

However, no amount of culture, scheme, and shot selection can make up for poor shooters and poor defenders. It can paper it over to some degree and may be this roster outperforms by a game or three, but ultimately the talent difference between this roster and most other teams will win the day.

The good news is that it feels like Rosas is laying the right foundations for success in the future. The bad news is he may have to turn over 75% of this existing roster within the next 12 months if he wants any shot at making the playoffs in 2020-21.

[Lipoli390]

I think Rosas coming from Houston is great for where this team is at right now with our talent distribution. KAT needed more shots. Now he's going to get them and Ryan seems to be on board. There was no reason that KAT shouldn't have been averaging 3 or 4 more points a game last year. Ultimately, the best option for our team is to have our most efficient scorer shooting the most.

http://danenbapodcast.libsyn.com/gersson-rosas

This interview after the first game with Rosas seemed to imply to me that Rosas sees KAT taking on even more. The ridiculous usage that Harden saw last year is partly what we should be looking at with KAT only from a different space on the floor. I think we're just scratching the surface of what our offense can look like. Yes we need other shooters, but I'm really happy with these first 3 games. Covington will start hitting shots, I feel the role for Layman will progress. The team has reminded me that the type of talent that exists on this team is not throwaway. My only real disappointment at this point is that Culver seems to be living up to my fears that he is not NBA level talent. Hope that changes because I feel that White, or Saric and Herro or whoever we could have taken at our original spot would have helped us even more.

Good points, Doper. I agree with you. Making better use of the players we have, especially KAT, has been key and will continue to be key the rest of the season. I still think, to take the next step, we need to add an elite three-point shooter and an elite ball-handling shot-creator to the roster/rotation. But in the mean time, I like what this new front office/coaching staff have done. Like you, my one disappointment has been Culver living up to my sense of him. I thought he was an NBA talent coming out of college, but I never so him as more than a back-up support player and possible decent rotation guy. As you know, I didn't like trading up for him on draft night and I haven't seen anything yet to change my thinking. But I'm still hoping to be proven wrong on him. Having both Saric and either Herro or White would have been far better so far. But there's still a long way to go for all these players, including Culver. And I still think the best move long term would have been to trade Covington for the #4 pick and take Darius Garland. Time will tell.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think we are mentally stronger.

We haven't played the best teams, but our shooting has been piss poor. Also, these teams punched us in the teeth in the 2h, yet we managed to not just absorb the counter, but fight back and managed to win. I don't think this happens last year.

[60WinTim]

Vonleh has been the most pleasant surprise for me thus far. For some reason I was expecting some selfish play on his part, but that has not been the case. His contributions have been very solid on both ends of the court.

I was expecting a bit more from Graham than we have seen thus far, but maybe that will be a source of more minutes for Okogie, who has also been a pleasant surprise in the growth of his game (well, except for 3-point shooting).

Of course, it's a very small sample size against less-than-elite competition...

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Bogdan Bogdanovic should be on Minnesota's radar. Have to imagine Sacramento is taking calls for him since he wants a starting role and they likely won't have the money to re-sign him after the season. They just paid Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, and they also have De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley needing new deals soon.

Bogs is very good shooter and interchangeable at the wing positions. He'd also fit what Rosas and Saunders are attempting to do on the court.

Wolves would need to be prepared to offer him a pretty hefty contract extension this off-season, though. I'd imagine he wants Gary Harris money, but 4/60 would be awesome for both sides.

[Coolbreeze44]

Bogdan Bogdanovic should be on Minnesota's radar. Have to imagine Sacramento is taking calls for him since he wants a starting role and they likely won't have the money to re-sign him after the season. They just paid Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, and they also have De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley needing new deals soon.

Bogs is very good shooter and interchangeable at the wing positions. He'd also fit what Rosas and Saunders are attempting to do on the court.

Wolves would need to be prepared to offer him a pretty hefty contract extension this off-season, though. I'd imagine he wants Gary Harris money, but 4/60 would be awesome for both sides.

He's a very good player who would be a great fit here.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Bogdan Bogdanovic should be on Minnesota's radar. Have to imagine Sacramento is taking calls for him since he wants a starting role and they likely won't have the money to re-sign him after the season. They just paid Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, and they also have De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley needing new deals soon.

Bogs is very good shooter and interchangeable at the wing positions. He'd also fit what Rosas and Saunders are attempting to do on the court.

Wolves would need to be prepared to offer him a pretty hefty contract extension this off-season, though. I'd imagine he wants Gary Harris money, but 4/60 would be awesome for both sides.

He's a very good player who would be a great fit here.

Id make him our starting pg.

[Lipoli390]

Bogdan Bogdanovic should be on Minnesota's radar. Have to imagine Sacramento is taking calls for him since he wants a starting role and they likely won't have the money to re-sign him after the season. They just paid Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, and they also have De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley needing new deals soon.

Bogs is very good shooter and interchangeable at the wing positions. He'd also fit what Rosas and Saunders are attempting to do on the court.

Wolves would need to be prepared to offer him a pretty hefty contract extension this off-season, though. I'd imagine he wants Gary Harris money, but 4/60 would be awesome for both sides.

I love the idea of adding Bogdanovic! I could be wrong, but I don't think we'll have the cap room to sign him even after clearing Teague's contract from the books. I think the Wolves would have to dump Gorgui's contract to have the necessary cap room.