Young and Cheap

[Lipoli390]

Rosas made a spirited effort to sign a young all-star named D'Angelo Russell as a second elite talent to pair with Towns. It was the right move - a good effort, the details of which we may never know.

Now we're seeing Gersson's contingency plan take shape. That plan is readily apparent -- i.e., to amass young talent on team-friendly deals while avoiding any new contracts that would further jeopardize any chance of future cap flexibility to use down the road for free agents or trades. It's the right approach in my view - a refreshing departure from prior Wolves front office regimes that never seemed to have anything approaching a cohesive, rational plan to put the Wolves on a path to becoming a contender on a sustainable basis.

The young talent on our current roster includes our two draft picks from last season, Okogie and KBD. Rosas kept these two guys this offseason and then added Culver, Nowell, Reid, Vonleh, Layman, Bell, and Wallace. Okogie and KBD are age 20 and 23 respectively. Culver and Nowell are 20. Bell and Vonleh are 24. Wallace and Layman are 25. Naz Reid is still only 19. That's a total of 9 players who are 25 or under, joining the 23 year old Towns and 24 year old Wiggins.

That's a lot of young talent. I just don't see the Wolves striking out on all of them. For the first time in the history of this franchise, the Wolves appear to have coaches on staff renown for player development. With the addition of those coaches and an new organizational focus on player development, I think we're going to see an all-star and a couple more rotation players emerge from this group of 9.

[worldK]

Good points lip.

I agree that we wont strike out on all 9 you listed and 3-4 or more of those will end up legit nba rotation guys. Who do you think will stand out out of the 9?

For me, culver has the best chance to be a starter in the league. Nowell is my sleeper, he could turn out to be really good and the steal of the draft. Just have a good feeling about him.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

[bleedspeed]

I think we will suck this year, but that flexibility has been something we lacked for years. If we wanted to compete in the short term we should have looked at a vet on a 1-year deal, but basically, we already have that in Teague.

[Lipoli390]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

Definitely not ingenious or super shrewd. But it's the first time I've seen a Wolves front office do it. Personnel decisions by prior Wolves regimes have been inconsistent and often incoherent - e.g., giving Gorgui a big contract then 9 months later giving a huge free agent contract to Taj Gibson; talking about the team's poor defense but then signing free agents like Crawford, Teague and Rose,etc. So while not ingenious, it's refreshing to see a Wolves' front office simply act sensibly with a consistent, coherent long-term strategy to build a sustainable contender around KAT. It may not work out in the end, but this is a good start.

Covington and Teague are interesting anomalies on the roster right now. I'm among those who think the Wolves will be pretty bad this season -- winning 30-35 games. But with the talent on this team, it could surprise us and compete for a playoff position. Keeping Covington and Teague for now makes sense just in case the team gives us that sort of surprise. If not, then both can bring back good longer-term value at the trade deadline.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

Definitely not ingenious or super shrewd. But it's the first time I've seen a Wolves front office do it. Personnel decisions by prior Wolves regimes have been inconsistent and often incoherent - e.g., giving Gorgui a big contract then 9 months later giving a huge free agent contract to Taj Gibson; talking about the team's poor defense but then signing free agents like Crawford, Teague and Rose,etc. So while not ingenious, it's refreshing to see a Wolves' front office simply act sensibly with a consistent, coherent long-term strategy to build a sustainable contender around KAT. It may not work out in the end, but this is a good start.

Covington and Teague are interesting anomalies on the roster right now. I'm among those who think the Wolves will be pretty bad this season -- winning 30-35 games. But with the talent on this team, it could surprise us and compete for a playoff position. Keeping Covington and Teague for now makes sense just in case the team gives us that sort of surprise. If not, then both can bring back good longer-term value at the trade deadline.

I think this is hyperbole. What is the long-term strategy to build around KAT exactly? Having young-ish, mostly unproven cheap assets to supplement the mostly bloated contracts around KAT isn't a strategy unto itself - it's just common sense business. Where are the shooters and defenders? All these signings are mostly unproven (or proven to be poor) in the two areas we need the most.

I'm not suggesting Rosas is a poor GM or inadequate. I just think it's way too early to say much of anything about his moves. Yes, he's made some cheap signings that doesn't hamstring us even more than we already are. Yay I guess?

[Monster]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

Definitely not ingenious or super shrewd. But it's the first time I've seen a Wolves front office do it. Personnel decisions by prior Wolves regimes have been inconsistent and often incoherent - e.g., giving Gorgui a big contract then 9 months later giving a huge free agent contract to Taj Gibson; talking about the team's poor defense but then signing free agents like Crawford, Teague and Rose,etc. So while not ingenious, it's refreshing to see a Wolves' front office simply act sensibly with a consistent, coherent long-term strategy to build a sustainable contender around KAT. It may not work out in the end, but this is a good start.

Covington and Teague are interesting anomalies on the roster right now. I'm among those who think the Wolves will be pretty bad this season -- winning 30-35 games. But with the talent on this team, it could surprise us and compete for a playoff position. Keeping Covington and Teague for now makes sense just in case the team gives us that sort of surprise. If not, then both can bring back good longer-term value at the trade deadline.

I think this is hyperbole. What is the long-term strategy to build around KAT exactly? Having young-ish, mostly unproven cheap assets to supplement the mostly bloated contracts around KAT isn't a strategy unto itself - it's just common sense business. Where are the shooters and defenders? All these signings are mostly unproven (or proven to be poor) in the two areas we need the most.

I'm not suggesting Rosas is a poor GM or inadequate. I just think it's way too early to say much of anything about his moves. Yes, he's made some cheap signings that doesn't hamstring us even more than we already are. Yay I guess?

Hyperbole...I think you are REALLY underselling having a front office that seems to be making actual competent moves. :) Sure nothing is actually that awe inspiring but personally what they have done this summer makes a ton of sense to me. Q you have tended to like getting a bunch of bites at the Apple via the draft and see wha you can get. That's basically what Rosas is doing with the entire offseason. Most of these guys have a few years of NBA experience and also have played for good teams. They aren't sure things or finished products but we aren't looking at young players that basically haven't done anything. Some have at least done a little something often on playoff teams. Other young guys with less experience that the Wolves have drafted are cheap somewhat intriguing players or are Culver who isn't exactly cheap but obviously comes with expectation of being at least a worthwhile player being a #6 overall pick...so yeah hopefully that turns out.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Maybe there'll be a diamond in the rough with the young, less-than-proven guys brought in. Obviously, that's the hope.

It's not a one-summer judgement call for me. It can't be. Let's see what they do to move forward. How they use the cap... especially amid a very tepid FA market next season. If one of the young guys pop... will they be overpaid?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

Definitely not ingenious or super shrewd. But it's the first time I've seen a Wolves front office do it. Personnel decisions by prior Wolves regimes have been inconsistent and often incoherent - e.g., giving Gorgui a big contract then 9 months later giving a huge free agent contract to Taj Gibson; talking about the team's poor defense but then signing free agents like Crawford, Teague and Rose,etc. So while not ingenious, it's refreshing to see a Wolves' front office simply act sensibly with a consistent, coherent long-term strategy to build a sustainable contender around KAT. It may not work out in the end, but this is a good start.

Covington and Teague are interesting anomalies on the roster right now. I'm among those who think the Wolves will be pretty bad this season -- winning 30-35 games. But with the talent on this team, it could surprise us and compete for a playoff position. Keeping Covington and Teague for now makes sense just in case the team gives us that sort of surprise. If not, then both can bring back good longer-term value at the trade deadline.

I think this is hyperbole. What is the long-term strategy to build around KAT exactly? Having young-ish, mostly unproven cheap assets to supplement the mostly bloated contracts around KAT isn't a strategy unto itself - it's just common sense business. Where are the shooters and defenders? All these signings are mostly unproven (or proven to be poor) in the two areas we need the most.

I'm not suggesting Rosas is a poor GM or inadequate. I just think it's way too early to say much of anything about his moves. Yes, he's made some cheap signings that doesn't hamstring us even more than we already are. Yay I guess?

Hyperbole...I think you are REALLY underselling having a front office that seems to be making actual competent moves. :) Sure nothing is actually that awe inspiring but personally what they have done this summer makes a ton of sense to me. Q you have tended to like getting a bunch of bites at the Apple via the draft and see wha you can get. That's basically what Rosas is doing with the entire offseason. Most of these guys have a few years of NBA experience and also have played for good teams. They aren't sure things or finished products but we aren't looking at young players that basically haven't done anything. Some have at least done a little something often on playoff teams. Other young guys with less experience that the Wolves have drafted are cheap somewhat intriguing players or are Culver who isn't exactly cheap but obviously comes with expectation of being at least a worthwhile player being a #6 overall pick...so yeah hopefully that turns out.

Of the free agent signings, the only one I am somewhat intrigued by is Vonleh. Otherwise, I see very little upside with Laymen, Napier, Graham, etc. They are just cheap roster fillers.

[Monster]

While I generally am on board with the approach here, it's hardly earth shattering. None of this is all that ingenious or shrewd for someone that is paid very well to have a coherent strategy. The real question is how many of these guys outperform their contract and develop into plus-level players. We'll see.

Definitely not ingenious or super shrewd. But it's the first time I've seen a Wolves front office do it. Personnel decisions by prior Wolves regimes have been inconsistent and often incoherent - e.g., giving Gorgui a big contract then 9 months later giving a huge free agent contract to Taj Gibson; talking about the team's poor defense but then signing free agents like Crawford, Teague and Rose,etc. So while not ingenious, it's refreshing to see a Wolves' front office simply act sensibly with a consistent, coherent long-term strategy to build a sustainable contender around KAT. It may not work out in the end, but this is a good start.

Covington and Teague are interesting anomalies on the roster right now. I'm among those who think the Wolves will be pretty bad this season -- winning 30-35 games. But with the talent on this team, it could surprise us and compete for a playoff position. Keeping Covington and Teague for now makes sense just in case the team gives us that sort of surprise. If not, then both can bring back good longer-term value at the trade deadline.

I think this is hyperbole. What is the long-term strategy to build around KAT exactly? Having young-ish, mostly unproven cheap assets to supplement the mostly bloated contracts around KAT isn't a strategy unto itself - it's just common sense business. Where are the shooters and defenders? All these signings are mostly unproven (or proven to be poor) in the two areas we need the most.

I'm not suggesting Rosas is a poor GM or inadequate. I just think it's way too early to say much of anything about his moves. Yes, he's made some cheap signings that doesn't hamstring us even more than we already are. Yay I guess?

Hyperbole...I think you are REALLY underselling having a front office that seems to be making actual competent moves. :) Sure nothing is actually that awe inspiring but personally what they have done this summer makes a ton of sense to me. Q you have tended to like getting a bunch of bites at the Apple via the draft and see wha you can get. That's basically what Rosas is doing with the entire offseason. Most of these guys have a few years of NBA experience and also have played for good teams. They aren't sure things or finished products but we aren't looking at young players that basically haven't done anything. Some have at least done a little something often on playoff teams. Other young guys with less experience that the Wolves have drafted are cheap somewhat intriguing players or are Culver who isn't exactly cheap but obviously comes with expectation of being at least a worthwhile player being a #6 overall pick...so yeah hopefully that turns out.

Of the free agent signings, the only one I am somewhat intrigued by is Vonleh. Otherwise, I see very little upside with Laymen, Napier, Graham, etc. They are just cheap roster fillers.

The "upside" for Layman is a fringe starter. If he hits that he will be a positive asset on the court and to make a possible deal. Upside for Graham? Rotation wing that we literally got paid to take. Napier doesn't have upside but likely is a worthwhile bench rotation guard since he has done that 2 years for playoff teams already. He might be good enough this year to get another 2nd round bite at the Apple/small asset to use in a trade.

Which brings up a case of the multiple bites at the Apple I think both of us tend to lean toward. I liked the trade up for Tyus Jones using multiple 2nd rounders to make it happen. I'd say Tyus was at least a worthwhile player selected but now he is gone with nothing to show for it in terms of building the team. Would we have been better off drafting Cedi Osman and taking a shot at a couple other guys? How much is Cedi going to get paid in around a year? Will Culver be good enough to be worth 2-3 shots at a worthwhile player?

I think Bell who you didn't mention is a guy that does upside as some sort of impact player even if it's off the bench. Will he get there? Sure it's unlikely but he has Shown some flashes. Every once in a while you get an Aminu/crowder/Ingles even a Tolliver type guy that's maybe not an absolute core guy but pretty valueable. There have been times on Wolves teams any one of those first 3 players would be what like 2nd or 3rd best player on the entire roster? It's time to find some solid rotation guys from adding players with low risk additions like we have this offseason. The proof is in the pudding but it seems like the process makes some sense. Some of these guys from other teams actually supposedly defend which doesn't hurt.