Minnesota Sports Forum

There have been specific rumors and reports that Luke and JJ have been pieces that may be moved for another player or cap space. I value both guys but I don't think anyone thinks it makes sense to keep both of them and some people are willing to move both. I've valued JJ higher than Luke because he is younger signed for longer and seems to be able to have a more profound impact on a game even if its inconsistant. Luke should be easy to move with one year left on his contract. The reality is there are only so many minutes to go around and some guys may need to go although its nice to have a ton of depth. Our front court could use some more of that.

Reasons to move JJ specifically. With Martin on board he will be playing 30+ minutes on the nights when he is healthy and Rubio will be playing probably 35 minutes. That doesn't leave alot of minutes left over for combo guard and we have 3 of them in Luke JJ and Shved. If you have belief Shved is a guy that could become an important player either off the bench or maybe (its an outside chance but not crazy) a starter as SG you gotta think he needs to get some minutes. I see him as being a JJ type impact player probably going to be streaky, but that playmaking could be huge. Moving JJ opens up minutes for Shved to fill that role. I think Luke is a different sort of player and his minutes have a different purpose and if we moved both JJ and Luke IMO we would need to sign another vet pg maybe because its a little scary thinking of who we would have after Rubio.

As the team is right now there is room open at SF, but not many minutes at SG where I think it would be nice for Shabazz to get a few minutes to see what he can do at that position. Of course depending on how things shake out Shabazz may really be fighting for minutes no matter what. Moving JJ and or Luke would open up a few minutes at SG for Shabazz maybe not many, but a few but he might get some opportunities there depending on matchups if there is a big SG he can guard.

Look at our frontcourt. The bigs we have are Pek assuming he comes back Love Cunningham and Williams. After that its a rookie in Dieng and roster fodder Johnson or whoever we end up with. I'd like to see another more established big capable of playing some minutes in a rotation and a guy that can play some minutes at C would be handy. I would think we could get a guy like that with Luke or JJ trade. I don't really have any ideas, but its an obvious need probably the biggest one of the team after the SF position.

The bottom line of this post is while I value JJ as a nice little player (ok probably a little overpaid now, but whatever) I think if we can use him as a trade piece to either open up space to get another player or in a straight up trade to get a guy I am willing to pull the trigger and maybe we stick with Luke instead. I could see a scenario of keeping all of them for a while until a team has an injury and making a deal then. I will be surprised if both Luke and JJ are on the roster a month from now. It will also be interesting to see how Lorenzo brown does in SL. To me he seems like a guy that if he can shoot he has a real place in this league. I hope he can be the steal that Ramon Sessions turned out to be. If only we could be so lucky.

I think Love will be playing some C for us, so I don't think we need any help at the 4 or 5 right now. Another wing that is more defensive oriented would be nice to have. I am really down on the Bud signing now that we got Martin. A guy like Dorrell Wright would have fit so much better with his defensive ability. Bud is a one trick pony, and I can't see him starting next to Martin. I want Luke gone so Adelman can't over use him. I also like JJ's ability to create offense and is a better defender as well.

Really like this new board, so far!

I figure our pre season is going to see a LOT of different lineups lol, hopefully it doesn't take too far into the season to get the kinks in it worked out and have to play to much catch up.

It will just be nice to actually have a SG on the floor over 6'1! :)

I'm with sjm on this one. I think we're good at the 4 & 5 right now, but it really depends on Dieng. As for trading a PG. I'd be trading Ridnour. He's the better PG & shooter, but JJ has that knack for getting to the basket, can create his own shot and is a better defender especially for his size.

I think people overrate Wrights D and Bud has some decent handles a little better than the guys that are basically just athletic 3 point shooters. Also don't forget that Bud is REALLY athletic. Just sayin. I still think we can use a functional big added to the roster. they are pretty easy to pick up though.

Bud is athletic in a straight line. He doesn't move well laterally, and his handles are average at best IMO. Bud is a much worse defender than I thought he was when we traded for him. I consider him a seventh or eighth guy in the rotation.