Minnesota Sports Forum

The reality is, there isn't a deal or move out there that is going to make this team a contender next year. Doing big time trades, or trying to change the makeup of the teams almost always end in the disaster. See the wolves after the 04 season.

Our expections should be to be like a team like the Mavs. Trying to always be in the playoffs. Realistically, they are only really 2-3 teams that are truly contenders. Continue to build around your core of Pek-Love-Rubio to try and be in the playoffs each year. Maybe one year you can get on a magical run like the mavs did when they won the title. But that's the reality of the NBA unless your a big market, or have a top 2 player on your team

Agree Alex.

We've improved and have already surpassed last years win total with 14 games in tacted. Sure we have a healthier roster this season, but it is an improvement and as I've said a .500 record in an extremely, insanely, ridiculously strong Western Conference is nothing to be ashamed of.

I expected us to be 7th or 8th said this season, but I didn't expect the Western conference to be as extremely, insanely, ridiculously strong as it has been. A .500 record in the West gets you 10th seed, while in the East you'd be a 6th seed.

We need to keep the core of Love - Rubio - Pek for one more season.
We need to continue the development of Dieng and the Bazzman.
We need to learn to win home games.
We need a new defensive orientated coach
We need a better back up PG and PF
We need a two way, athletic wing.

That should be Flips list of things to do, not blow up the roster (AGAIN)!

KiwiMatt wrote:Agree Alex.

We've improved and have already surpassed last years win total with 14 games in tacted. Sure we have a healthier roster this season, but it is an improvement and as I've said a .500 record in an extremely, insanely, ridiculously strong Western Conference is nothing to be ashamed of.

I expected us to be 7th or 8th said this season, but I didn't expect the Western conference to be as extremely, insanely, ridiculously strong as it has been. A .500 record in the West gets you 10th seed, while in the East you'd be a 6th seed.

We need to keep the core of Love - Rubio - Pek for one more season.
We need to continue the development of Dieng and the Bazzman.
We need to learn to win home games.
We need a new defensive orientated coach
We need a better back up PG and PF
We need a two way, athletic wing.

That should be Flips list of things to do, not blow up the roster (AGAIN)!

I agree 100%

You guys be sure to let me know how that core of Rubio - Pek is doing in 2015!

sjm34 wrote:You guys be sure to let me know how that core of Rubio - Pek is doing in 2015!

Ditto. Staying the course is not an option. Even if we only aspire to be a 7th or 8th seed, it's not like we're on a trajectory to get there. We haven't gotten better as the season has progressed. We were unusually healthy by NBA standards this season. Martin's health was unusually good compared to almost his entire career. Our two best players -- Love and Ricky -- have been healthy all season. Compare that to the time Memphis went with out their best player, Gasol. As SJM indicated, Love won't hang around after next season if we continue to be a team chasing the 8th seed.

Meantime, we are capped out with no valuable trade assets other than our core three and our 2014 1st round pick. Martin may have some value to a veteran contender and Barea my have some value as a spark off the bench for some teams AND as an expiring contract. What does this mean? It means if we want to have a good shot at keeping Love beyond next season and want more than just chasing the 8th seed, we will need to trade one of the other two in our core three. In my view, the guy to trade is Pek - for the best two-way wing we can get.

lipoli390 wrote:

sjm34 wrote:You guys be sure to let me know how that core of Rubio - Pek is doing in 2015!

Ditto. Staying the course is not an option. Even if we only aspire to be a 7th or 8th seed, it's not like we're on a trajectory to get there. We haven't gotten better as the season has progressed. We were unusually healthy by NBA standards this season. Martin's health was unusually good compared to almost his entire career. Our two best players -- Love and Ricky -- have been healthy all season. Compare that to the time Memphis went with out their best player, Gasol. As SJM indicated, Love won't hang around after next season if we continue to be a team chasing the 8th seed.

Meantime, we are capped out with no valuable trade assets other than our core three and our 2014 1st round pick. Martin may have some value to a veteran contender and Barea my have some value as a spark off the bench for some teams AND as an expiring contract. What does this mean? It means if we want to have a good shot at keeping Love beyond next season and want more than just chasing the 8th seed, we will need to trade one of the other two in our core three. In my view, the guy to trade is Pek - for the best two-way wing we can get.

Wolves will have their best record in a decade, and are 9-6 since the ASB. Not sure why we aren't on a trajectory going up

This team does need some fixing, however, they should be very careful if the decision is to trade Pek. Pek and Love may not be the best pair but they are both really good players. Dieng and Turiaf are good complimentary pieces to the frontcourt and, even better, they are complimentary, cost-wise. The Wolves should take advantage of having Dieng, Pek, and Love together in the front court while they can. If and when Dieng needs a big raise, then will be the time to choose.

I saw Memphis mentioned earlier as a team that could withstand the loss of Gasol for an extended period. I believe the most important reason that they are able to do this is that they have built a core and a system that has generally stayed the same. I know many of you expect instant turnarounds but the reality is that does not happen often. Staying the course may actually be the answer because the longer that this team is together, the better that they can find an identity. Hopefully a new and inspired coach comes in next year and can establish a defensive identity, like Memphis. Memphis had three 20 win seasons and a 40 win season before their string of playoff appearances. That is not too dissimilar to the trajectory of this Wolves team. I say keep the starters, remake the bench, bring in an inspired coach and stay the course. Lets actually try to build something.

I'm at a loss as to why people keep suggesting we "build something". With what bricks? We don't have assets to significantly improve the team. That's the whole problem!

We have loads of flawed players signed to long bloated deals. No one else wants those contracts.

We can "stay the course" all we want, but adelman is retiring and kevin love is probably leaving. There are big changes coming whether we want them or not. It's not always wise to continually shake things up, but if it's gonna happen regardless? Might as well try to take control of your future.

alexftbl8181 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

sjm34 wrote:You guys be sure to let me know how that core of Rubio - Pek is doing in 2015!

Ditto. Staying the course is not an option. Even if we only aspire to be a 7th or 8th seed, it's not like we're on a trajectory to get there. We haven't gotten better as the season has progressed. We were unusually healthy by NBA standards this season. Martin's health was unusually good compared to almost his entire career. Our two best players -- Love and Ricky -- have been healthy all season. Compare that to the time Memphis went with out their best player, Gasol. As SJM indicated, Love won't hang around after next season if we continue to be a team chasing the 8th seed.

Meantime, we are capped out with no valuable trade assets other than our core three and our 2014 1st round pick. Martin may have some value to a veteran contender and Barea my have some value as a spark off the bench for some teams AND as an expiring contract. What does this mean? It means if we want to have a good shot at keeping Love beyond next season and want more than just chasing the 8th seed, we will need to trade one of the other two in our core three. In my view, the guy to trade is Pek - for the best two-way wing we can get.

Wolves will have their best record in a decade, and are 9-6 since the ASB. Not sure why we aren't on a trajectory going up

Sure. If Kevin Love stays.

Are you confident he's staying?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

alexftbl8181 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

sjm34 wrote:You guys be sure to let me know how that core of Rubio - Pek is doing in 2015!

Ditto. Staying the course is not an option. Even if we only aspire to be a 7th or 8th seed, it's not like we're on a trajectory to get there. We haven't gotten better as the season has progressed. We were unusually healthy by NBA standards this season. Martin's health was unusually good compared to almost his entire career. Our two best players -- Love and Ricky -- have been healthy all season. Compare that to the time Memphis went with out their best player, Gasol. As SJM indicated, Love won't hang around after next season if we continue to be a team chasing the 8th seed.

Meantime, we are capped out with no valuable trade assets other than our core three and our 2014 1st round pick. Martin may have some value to a veteran contender and Barea my have some value as a spark off the bench for some teams AND as an expiring contract. What does this mean? It means if we want to have a good shot at keeping Love beyond next season and want more than just chasing the 8th seed, we will need to trade one of the other two in our core three. In my view, the guy to trade is Pek - for the best two-way wing we can get.

Wolves will have their best record in a decade, and are 9-6 since the ASB. Not sure why we aren't on a trajectory going up

Sure. If Kevin Love stays.

Are you confident he's staying?

If he leaves then everything is out the window regardless. If he does leave I'd rather have Pek and Rubio still here to build around instead of changing everything