Bench depth if healthy

[Bayou Wolf [enjin:6635650]]

With a second unit including: Martin, Shabazz, KG and Dieng, if we stay healthy (and a big "if"), that is a unit that can not only hold its own, but beat most other second units...I mean, really, those guys were all starters last year.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

[TAFKASP]

"if we stay healthy..."

For the past three years now that has pretty much been the story. It would certainly be fun to see what they could do in the unusual event of being healthy, that's for sure!

I know a lot of people shrug off the Wolves making a big jump even if healthy, but your point regarding the bench is what makes me hopeful. Even with the youth, if they have a bench like that, that can regularly beat their opponents bench then IMO a .500 season is well within reach at a minimum.

*Please save this post and throw it in my face as soon as Pek and Martin go down.

[Coolbreeze44]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

Really, Cool?

20 PPG, 16.7 PER, 39% from 3, 4.9 FTAs

10 PPG, 11.3 PER, 34% from 3, 2.3 FTAs

[Coolbreeze44]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

Really, Cool?

20 PPG, 16.7 PER, 39% from 3, 4.9 FTAs

10 PPG, 11.3 PER, 34% from 3, 2.3 FTAs

Yeah, I really believe Zach has to win that job for us to move forward. He will certainly have to be improved in all facets, but wouldn't you expect him to be?

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

Really, Cool?

20 PPG, 16.7 PER, 39% from 3, 4.9 FTAs

10 PPG, 11.3 PER, 34% from 3, 2.3 FTAs

Yeah, I really believe Zach has to win that job for us to move forward. He will certainly have to be improved in all facets, but wouldn't you expect him to be?

Has to, or will?

It would be great if he did turn out to be as good as Martin, which would give us another young guy to build with and make Martin a very tradeable player who could probably get us something pretty good from a playoff team around the trade deadline.

But . . .

1) it's not a foregone conclusion that LaVine will get there, although I'm hopeful. It's not like he put up 20 PPG in college. The potential is there, but he hasn't realized it yet. Twenty PPG at nearly 40% from 3 plus 5 FTs per game is nothing to sneeze at. I think sometimes guys dismiss Martin because of his age, but the dude is a really good player.

2) if LaVine does become that good, it might not happen for a year or two. He's still really young. He may need a little time.

and . . . 3) even if he doesn't become a 20 PPG guy who can shoot nearly 40% from 3 and get you 5 FTAs, I still think we can move forward. We still have Martin, who is on a team-friendly salary. Yes, he's a little older, but he's not THAT old, and he could easily still be in his prime if we become a playoff team in the next few years (which is reasonable to believe). We have Wiggins who is good, and could become very good. We have Bazz, who looks like he could become a very good offensive wing player (If only one of Bazz or LaVine pans out, we can keep Martin and have a nice rotation at the 2 and 3). Plus we have Dieng and probably Towns, plus a few other bigs and Rubio. We have some injury problems, and we need to improve our team defense. You can still get better as a team even if not all draft picks pan out, and I think we have enough balls in the air that we'd be fine without LaVine (see what I did there?). That said, absolutely, I'd love it if he became our Monta Ellis or Kevin Martin (making the old Kevin Martin a tradeable asset).

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

Really, Cool?

20 PPG, 16.7 PER, 39% from 3, 4.9 FTAs

10 PPG, 11.3 PER, 34% from 3, 2.3 FTAs

It's almost like one was a 19 year old rookie and the other a 30+ year old vet.

Lavine as a starter as a 19 year old rookie:

13.8/5.1/4/1 on 42.5/35.2/84.1 splits (3.2 FTA's).

Given the ball handling and athletic upgrade he is over Martin how much does he really have to improve to surpass Martin? I think he just has to have a decent off season of tightening up his game to make the jump over Martin.

[Carlos Danger]

Whoah. I like LaVine as much as you guys. But I certainly don't see him starting over Martin - at least to begin the season. I'd hope he can over take Martin at some point during the season. But I would make him earn it. There should still be plenty of minutes for him as back up SG and PG. Also, remember Coaches normally don't want a ton of young guys all on the same unit. Wiggins + Towns would fine. But if you have three young guys I think that might be too much.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Martin will probably start. LaVine should get plenty of minutes, but Martin is very likely going to be the starter.

I hope not. That would mean that Zach hasn't progressed enough. He should be able to beat out Martin.

Really, Cool?

20 PPG, 16.7 PER, 39% from 3, 4.9 FTAs

10 PPG, 11.3 PER, 34% from 3, 2.3 FTAs

It's almost like one was a 19 year old rookie and the other a 30+ year old vet.

Lavine as a starter as a 19 year old rookie:

13.8/5.1/4/1 on 42.5/35.2/84.1 splits (3.2 FTA's).

Given the ball handling and athletic upgrade he is over Martin how much does he really have to improve to surpass Martin? I think he just has to have a decent off season of tightening up his game to make the jump over Martin.

Why the sarcasm? (see your first line) I fully acknowledged that LaVine is a lot younger, which is why I think we should give him more time before expecting him to surpass Martin.

How many points does LaVine's athleticism get us (that aren't measured in the stats we're talking about)? ;) Is a cool LaVine dunk worth more points than a predictable Martin jump shot? I love the dunking, don't get me wrong. But let's base a decision on the stats that help us win, not who looks cooler. In my mind, there is a big difference between an 11.3 PER and a 16.7, and 10 PPG and 20. But of course, I sincerely hope LaVine's stats improve a great deal this year and he makes the leap. I'm not ready to assume that's going to happen, but I'm definitely crossing my fingers.

Side note: There's a strange sort of "ageism" among rebuilding teams these days, and I think suggesting LaVine only needing to tighten up his game a little to become better than Martin is symptomatic of this.

What do you think about my three points above?