Minnesota Sports Forum

I realize we need to pickup a 3rd PG somewhere along the way, but I am really hoping this is a low priority, small dollar pickup. I looked at backup PGs that averaged less than 20 MPG last season and Tyus was right up there in things like PER, WS/48, and VORP.

Here are some PGs he did better than across all three of those metrics:

Shabazz Napier
Ramon Sessions
Aaron Brooks
Trey Burke
DJ Augustin
Tyler Ulis
C.J. Watson
Dante Exum

Granted, some backups are so good, they really don't even qualify as a backup (Patty Mills was probably the superior PG to Parker last year. Corey Joseph is another guy that plays together with Lowry and could possibly start for some teams).

I am leery of giving Tyus heavy minutes (i.e. playing him alongside Teague for example), because I think the more minutes he played last year, the more he got exposed. But as a backup to a full time PG like Teague, I think he can very much hold his own and perhaps even be a plus level player off our bench.

(Edit: Yes LST, we know you have been saying this all along!)

I can definitely see Tyus earning the backup PG spot, probably seeing 12 to 15 minutes a night. But I suspect we will see a decent backup PG signed at the vet minimum who will push Tyus for those backup minutes.

Monster, Lip, and I had a bit of a discussion about this in another thread. I want none of our leftover 4.3 mil or room exception to go to a 3rd pg. the backup should be for Tyus this year. Search out someone to take the minimum, preferably a defensive type, and roll with it.

TheFuture wrote:Monster, Lip, and I had a bit of a discussion about this in another thread. I want none of our leftover 4.3 mil or room exception to go to a 3rd pg. the backup should be for Tyus this year. Search out someone to take the minimum, preferably a defensive type, and roll with it.

Agreed. And yeah, I know I didn't stumble across some new revelation, but I just thought I'd share the little research I did. Tyus really held up well next to other backups that played as true backups. And he's still really young.

You did a deeper dive into more guys than I did but it wasn't too long ago looking at a few of the available guys I basically came to the same conclusion. Heck look at guys like Shelvin Mack and Ish Smith. Those guys were fringe dudes and they are guys I would prefer over some of the first round pick former starter types.

So if Tyus is the direction we want to take as the backup do you have a preference of what type of guy to sign to be the 3rd guy?

Q12543 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:Monster, Lip, and I had a bit of a discussion about this in another thread. I want none of our leftover 4.3 mil or room exception to go to a 3rd pg. the backup should be for Tyus this year. Search out someone to take the minimum, preferably a defensive type, and roll with it.

Agreed. And yeah, I know I didn't stumble across some new revelation, but I just thought I'd share the little research I did. Tyus really held up well next to other backups that played as true backups. And he's still really young.

I mentioned when he was drafted that my cousin played against him in high school. My cousin was a senior, Tyus a freshman. Tyus wiped the floor with everyone. He has always played 10 years older than he is. Of course he doesn't have the god gifted measurements, but he was god gifted mentally (plus luckily has just enough size) to be a solid contributor. We won't win huge this next season, so we absolutely should allow him to prove himself as the backup to the break at least. I loved Dunn's potential in 2-4 years. Perhaps more than anyone here. But I won't deny that I trust Tyus much more to not Fock up in 8-15 minutes a night. That is what we need now.

TheFuture wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:Monster, Lip, and I had a bit of a discussion about this in another thread. I want none of our leftover 4.3 mil or room exception to go to a 3rd pg. the backup should be for Tyus this year. Search out someone to take the minimum, preferably a defensive type, and roll with it.

Agreed. And yeah, I know I didn't stumble across some new revelation, but I just thought I'd share the little research I did. Tyus really held up well next to other backups that played as true backups. And he's still really young.

I mentioned when he was drafted that my cousin played against him in high school. My cousin was a senior, Tyus a freshman. Tyus wiped the floor with everyone. He has always played 10 years older than he is. Of course he doesn't have the god gifted measurements, but he was god gifted mentally (plus luckily has just enough size) to be a solid contributor. We won't win huge this next season, so we absolutely should allow him to prove himself as the backup to the break at least. I loved Dunn's potential in 2-4 years. Perhaps more than anyone here. But I won't deny that I trust Tyus much more to not Fock up in 8-15 minutes a night. That is what we need now.

Yeah, his one-on-one defense will always be an issue against the elite PGs, and I think he struggled last year trying to generate offense himself with a bench unit that didn't have any good shot makers. But no doubt, he should be given the keys to the 2nd unit this year.

Q12543 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:Monster, Lip, and I had a bit of a discussion about this in another thread. I want none of our leftover 4.3 mil or room exception to go to a 3rd pg. the backup should be for Tyus this year. Search out someone to take the minimum, preferably a defensive type, and roll with it.

Agreed. And yeah, I know I didn't stumble across some new revelation, but I just thought I'd share the little research I did. Tyus really held up well next to other backups that played as true backups. And he's still really young.

I mentioned when he was drafted that my cousin played against him in high school. My cousin was a senior, Tyus a freshman. Tyus wiped the floor with everyone. He has always played 10 years older than he is. Of course he doesn't have the god gifted measurements, but he was god gifted mentally (plus luckily has just enough size) to be a solid contributor. We won't win huge this next season, so we absolutely should allow him to prove himself as the backup to the break at least. I loved Dunn's potential in 2-4 years. Perhaps more than anyone here. But I won't deny that I trust Tyus much more to not Fock up in 8-15 minutes a night. That is what we need now.

Yeah, his one-on-one defense will always be an issue against the elite PGs, and I think he struggled last year trying to generate offense himself with a bench unit that didn't have any good shot makers. But no doubt, he should be given the keys to the 2nd unit this year.

I doubt his defense is much worse than a bunch of the usual suspects you can look to add as a backup/3rd PG. that says more about those other guys than Tyus.

I wouldn't mind the Tyus play if we had another guard who could handle the ball and defend. That's why I salivated a bit at the notion of the Celtics wanting to move Bradley or Smart.

thedoper wrote:I wouldn't mind the Tyus play if we had another guard who could handle the ball and defend. That's why I salivated a bit at the notion of the Celtics wanting to move Bradley or Smart.

Well Butlers best at the 2 and handles the ball very well. Wiggins Is also best at the 2 and has greatly improved with the ball. Remember we have enough good to very good player so there will be at least 2 on the court at all times. We will not see Teague, Wiggins, Butler, and Towns all on the bench at the same time unless it is garbage play in a blowout.

I doubt Tyus ever plays without Wiggins or Butler also on the wing.