Lineups and off-season decisions

[thedoper]

I just listened to the last Lowe Post podcast with Bill Simmons and both were talking about the Wolves for a short time.

Simmons referred to Lowe's article http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18927392/zach-lowe-10-things-like-featuring-kyrie-irving-artistry-nbahere and mentioned how we have such a tough decision with Lavine. Lowe makes a great point in saying we need someone with Lavine's skill set on offense, but both recognize that we have settled into being a better team without him for the short term. I never thought there is any way we should give Lavine max contract, even when he was healthy. From this year if you look at our lineups with significant minutes(>100minutes) with a positive net rating, top is our starters sans Lavine and Bazz playing the 3, next is the same with Rush at the 3 (stats http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612750/lineups-advanced/?sort=MIN&dir=1here).

Lavine has a lot of potential still, is an offensive savant. But I side with Simmons a bit in seeing his play as less team oriented and too noisey with the complimentary play of Towns and Wiggins. So what do we do? I sincerely hope we get Bazz for a cheap number because so far the numbers have shown him to be a plus player all year on both sides of the ball. Ideally this doesn't interfere with us signing a legit vet (Ibaka, Taj Gibson). We then have another year to see if Lavine can somehow learn to defend and provide with a little more complimentary play. One way or another, Lavine's really is the key provided everyone else stays healthy and progresses. One way or another I am praying he comes back healthy and makes the decisions even more difficult with excellent play.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Couldn't agree more that this is probably one of the thorniest issues facing the Wolves.

I for one believe that if Wiggins and KAT are going to be the two key pillars moving forward, they absolutely need other guys in the starting lineup that can defend the hell out of people, and that includes a starting SF that is bigger and stronger than Wig, thus moving Wig permanently as our staring SG. So far Zach's greatest strength is the same one as Wig and KAT - he can score. But he can't defend well and that's a major problem since the other two aren't great at it either.

On the other hand.....we desperately miss his 3-point shooting. It goes back to him being almost the ideal 6th man for this team that could also finish a lot of games when teams tend to go smaller.

His situation is a real dilemma,

[Monster]

Couldn't agree more that this is probably one of the thorniest issues facing the Wolves.

I for one believe that if Wiggins and KAT are going to be the two key pillars moving forward, they absolutely need other guys in the starting lineup that can defend the hell out of people, and that includes a starting SF that is bigger and stronger than Wig, thus moving Wig permanently as our staring SG. So far Zach's greatest strength is the same one as Wig and KAT - he can score. But he can't defend well and that's a major problem since the other two aren't great at it either.

On the other hand.....we desperately miss his 3-point shooting. It goes back to him being almost the ideal 6th man for this team that could also finish a lot of games when teams tend to go smaller.

His situation is a real dilemma,

What's worse is we won't the able to really assess what he is capable of till when? Maybe the later part of the season? Maybe. It sucks

[Coolbreeze44]

That injury is going to end up costing Zach some money. How much is hard to say, but it may end up not being such a bad thing for the team.

[kekgeek]

That injury is going to end up costing Zach some money. How much is hard to say, but it may end up not being such a bad thing for the team.

Still think the Nets screw us over these next 2 offseason with Bazz and Lavine.

They have cap space and can afford to take chances

[Shumway]

Couldn't agree more that this is probably one of the thorniest issues facing the Wolves.

I for one believe that if Wiggins and KAT are going to be the two key pillars moving forward, they absolutely need other guys in the starting lineup that can defend the hell out of people, and that includes a starting SF that is bigger and stronger than Wig, thus moving Wig permanently as our staring SG. So far Zach's greatest strength is the same one as Wig and KAT - he can score. But he can't defend well and that's a major problem since the other two aren't great at it either.

On the other hand.....we desperately miss his 3-point shooting. It goes back to him being almost the ideal 6th man for this team that could also finish a lot of games when teams tend to go smaller.

His situation is a real dilemma,

Agree. This is the most fascinating question about the Wolves at this time. Dare I say it, even more fascinating than discussing Rubio's net value to the team???

Does the sum of the parts of Wigg, Kat and Lavine equal greater than the whole? Do we miss synergies by having the three of them given the overlap in their strengths (scoring) and weaknesses (defence, distributing the ball)?

[KiwiMatt]

Moving LaVine to 6th man makes most sense in my opinion. Not only does it give us a scoring punch off the bench, but it also gives him time to get his body right again.

I'd like to see us offer James Johnson a contract. He's has a great year with Miami, can play the 3 and small ball 4, and has really improved his shooting numbers (12pg). He's also average 5 boards, 3.5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal per game in 27 minutes.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Moving LaVine to 6th man makes most sense in my opinion. Not only does it give us a scoring punch off the bench, but it also gives him time to get his body right again.

I'd like to see us offer James Johnson a contract. He's has a great year with Miami, can play the 3 and small ball 4, and has really improved his shooting numbers (12pg). He's also average 5 boards, 3.5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal per game in 27 minutes.

How much though?

He's coming off a career year in a contract season at age 30... knowing this is his last chance to make big NBA money.

[KiwiMatt]

Moving LaVine to 6th man makes most sense in my opinion. Not only does it give us a scoring punch off the bench, but it also gives him time to get his body right again.

I'd like to see us offer James Johnson a contract. He's has a great year with Miami, can play the 3 and small ball 4, and has really improved his shooting numbers (12pg). He's also average 5 boards, 3.5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal per game in 27 minutes.

How much though?

He's coming off a career year in a contract season at age 30... knowing this is his last chance to make big NBA money.

Wouldn't offer a contract longer than two years to keep our flexibility to resign the big three. 12 - 14 mil a season might get it done.

[slimcalhoun27 [enjin:6640095]]

The Nets got in trouble with spending big money and going all in to win. That lesson was severely learned and now they are behind the blackball. I don't see them chasing extended contracts and being in Portland now, I see directly what spending huge money on roll players can do to hamper a solid team. LaVine with the injury, personally kills his value imo.... but Bazz has played into the money. I hope Thibs has shown that his dog bark coaching style creates loyalty and dedication like Pop has done in S.A. We need players to believe and stay, cause I feel with a couple moves....this team could be deadly.

P.s. Portland made a move for Nurkic a month back for Plumlee and even got a 1st rounder back. That move was masterful for the Blazers, Nurkic is a stud and Blazers are surging late in the season. Would like to see the Wolves be more creative and not try to get homerun players.