Zach and Andrew

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think it's fair to say at this point that Wiggins should be a starting shooting guard in this league. If all three of your team's PGs are better defensive rebounders (yes, even Tyus Jones!) than you are and we already have a somewhat skinny front line with Dieng and KAT, we need a beefier, better rebounder and defender at the starting 3. Let Wiggins be what he is, which is a volume scorer first and foremost.

That poses a dilemma since Zach's best position is also SG. Yes, we could make him our 6th man and play him for most of the 4th with Wiggins when teams tend to go smaller anyway, but I highly doubt Zach and his agent see this as the next step on his career ladder. Plus, some might argue Zach may ultimately be the better player!

So I don't know if it's this offseason or next offseason, but I believe one of these two guys needs to get traded. I think both have enough perceived upside around the league to still garner a hefty return.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think trading LaVine would be a big mistake and probably one that crushes the ceiling for this team. He could arguably be our second best player when it's all said and done.

I also don't expect Thibs to move him. If he was interested in doing so, he would have included him in an offer for Jimmy Butler this past off-season, which he reportedly was unwilling to do. I also think Thibs recognizes the difference this team shows in three-point shooting when LaVine's on the floor vs. when he's not.

[Wile E Coyote [enjin:17432808]]

It is kind of weird - Thibs has sometimes talked about how "Towns and Wiggins" need to lead this team. If there is one guy who seems to be taking to Thibs coaching, it is Zach. He is our most consistent offensive player IMO.

Wiggins is likely going to put on more weight over time, and at his height he will be more of an obvious SF. So the positional duplication may just take care of itself. That said, I agree Wiggins needs to rebound a lot better to be a SF.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I also don't like the idea of letting Wiggins off the hook and moving him to a position where he'll have even less excuses for playing like shit. He can do a lot more than he currently is even while being slotted in as a small forward. He just has to do it. In no way should it matter what wing is guarding him or who he's matched up with. His physical gifts make him a problem for either position if he's completely engaged. I feel like giving him the reigns at shooting guard would be babying him.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Which one gets the most in return?

I'd say that it's Wiggins, right?

Let's see what the team can get back... that's gonna make the choice a lot easier to make.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I think trading LaVine would be a big mistake and probably one that crushes the ceiling for this team. He could arguably be our second best player when it's all said and done.

I also don't expect Thibs to move him. If he was interested in doing so, he would have included him in an offer for Jimmy Butler this past off-season, which he reportedly was unwilling to do. I also think Thibs recognizes the difference this team shows in three-point shooting when LaVine's on the floor vs. when he's not.

Yeah, I agree...Zach is showing me he has the potential to be something truly special on offense, and I'm not forgetting what Lip told us about Flip's point that Zach's on-ball defense in college ranked with the best in the country. I really dislike his defense right now (but m heartened that some of you are saying he looked pretty good last night), but I think he has the tools to become a top-notch defender...give the kid time, and don't move him.

That said I agree with Q's assessment that, at least right now, Wig's best position is SG...as is Zach's. But I don't want to move either one of them. So, I think that leaves Thibs with two options:

1) Start Wig at SF and let Zach come off the bench as a supersub. Maybe down the line when Wig becomes stronger and shows he can be as effective at SF, perhaps they can both start again.

2) Give in to Thibs' preference for a "weak PG" system, and start Zach and Wig together in the backcourt. I'm more in favor of this than most here because, even though I agree SG is Zach's best position, I saw great progress in him as a 20-year-old trying to learn to play PG, and I think he could have tremendous upside there.

I like both of these options more than either the status quo or trading one of them.

[Monster]

It's too early to say Wiggins can't play SF in this league. Look at Gordon Hayward. That dude is built now who would have guessed that guy was gonna look like that after 2 years at Butler? I'm. Or suggesting Wiggins is gonna get that big but who here reached their physical peak before they turned 22? It's too early. If Wiggins keeps improving his handle and his shot is legit...I don't care who guards him it's gonna be a problem. Rebounding? Eh I'm more interested to see if Wiggins becomes locked in as a terrific defender. If he does that other guys can and will rack up the rebounds. It's interesting to talk about all this but I just think it's too early. The only young player that I would consider trading on this team is Bazz but that's a completely different conversation. Keep all these dudes together.

[AbeVigodaLive]

It's too early to say Wiggins can't play SF in this league. Look at Gordon Hayward. That dude is built now who would have guessed that guy was gonna look like that after 2 years at Butler? I'm. Or suggesting Wiggins is gonna get that big but who here reached their physical peak before they turned 22? It's too early. If Wiggins keeps improving his handle and his shot is legit...I don't care who guards him it's gonna be a problem. Rebounding? Eh I'm more interested to see if Wiggins becomes locked in as a terrific defender. If he does that other guys can and will rack up the rebounds. It's interesting to talk about all this but I just think it's too early. The only young player that I would consider trading on this team is Bazz but that's a completely different conversation. Keep all these dudes together.

Hayward looked huge out there. I kept thinking that all that lifting sapped some of his speed or shooting.

Doesn't seem like it. He's having a very good season... although his three point % is way down...

[Coolbreeze44]

I thought Wig looked terrific in the first half last night, especially the first quarter. He shot well, made plays for others and was fully engaged on defense. Then for some reason he spent most of the 3rd quarter standing in the corner while KAT, Zach, and Gorgui played pick'n roll. By the time he tried to re-engage in the game his shot was off and his motor completely disappeared. When he checks out, he just flat out quits on defense. He's becoming something of an enigma, the fact he can be two completely different players from game to game, or even within the same game.

I still think he has the highest ceiling of all of our players. But I'm starting to wonder what the chances are of him reaching it. But I firmly believe our development as a team depends on the player he becomes. We've seen how good it can be, but the next few months are critical for him.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

It's too early to say Wiggins can't play SF in this league. Look at Gordon Hayward. That dude is built now who would have guessed that guy was gonna look like that after 2 years at Butler? I'm. Or suggesting Wiggins is gonna get that big but who here reached their physical peak before they turned 22? It's too early. If Wiggins keeps improving his handle and his shot is legit...I don't care who guards him it's gonna be a problem. Rebounding? Eh I'm more interested to see if Wiggins becomes locked in as a terrific defender. If he does that other guys can and will rack up the rebounds. It's interesting to talk about all this but I just think it's too early. The only young player that I would consider trading on this team is Bazz but that's a completely different conversation. Keep all these dudes together.

Monster, I don't think anyone is saying Wig can't play SF in this league. Instead, I think some of us just saying that his best position right now is SG. I fully agree that he may get stronger and become a superstar at SF. But presently he just seems more dominant at both ends of the court when he plays the 2.