Wolves Biggest Needs

[Lipoli390]

We have a thread to discuss the Wolves biggest problems. I thought I’d start a thread devoted to the Wolves biggest needs. I’d list the team’s biggest needs as follows:

1. Improving the overall player fit. This is the flip side of the Wolves biggest problem discussed in the other thread. Rudy simply isn’t a good fit with Edwards and KAT. Therefore, we need to move on from Rudy and re-align the pieces for a better overall team fit. The players fit well together last season when it finished 10 games over .500 with the 8th rated offense and 13th rated defense. We no longer have Vanderbilt, Beverley or Beasley, but Ant and Jaden are much better overall than they were that season. Moreover, we have Slo Mo now and he helps considerably on both sides of the ball. So I see last season’s success as the model and a good starting point going forward. Now we need to build around Ant, Jaden and KAT by surrounding them with rotation players who align well with them and Slo Mo.

2. Adding an heir apparent PG to back up and eventually replace Conley. I really like what Conley brought to the team, especially on the defensive end. He still looks light on his feet, so I think he has a couple seasons left playing at a high level. However, he’s still 36 years old and he’s had a history of injury over his career. So I think it’s imperative that our front office find a young PG to back him up and ultimately replace him. It needs to be a player who can facilitate the offensive and defend as well as Conley.

3. Adding a really good three-point shooter. This team clearly lacks adequate three-point shooting. KAT is our only elite three-point shooter, but he’s not a high-volume three-point shooter and one isn’t enough in today’s NBA. I’m hoping that Ant improves his otherwise inconsistent three-point shooting and I think Jaden shows a lot of promise. NAW looks like he could potentially develop into a really good three-point shooter. So maybe it’s not essential to add a three-point shooter to the roster. But I think it should be a focus this off-season.

4. Adding another slasher to the roster. Right now, Ant is the only ball-handler who can consistently and effectively break down the defense off dribble penetration. Jaden looks like he might develop into someone who can do that consistently, but he has a ways to go. Nowell can do it, but I just don’t see us moving forward with him.

I don’t know that we can fill all these needs this summer. Trading Gobert will be a big step forward on the need to improve overall player fit. A Gobert trade might bring in a player to fill one of the other needs or provide the financial flexibility to address one of those needs. Perhaps Moore and/or Minott can help address one or more of the team’s needs.

[FNG]

I'll echo what I said in the other thread. The Wolves biggest need by far is better health. You can't lose a max player for over half the season and expect to have a good season. And you can't lose 2 (or 3) of your top 8 rotation players and expect to win a series against the #1 seed.

I love our starting lineup and what SloMo, Prince and NAW bring off the bench. I also like Naz as a backup center, but I don't think we will be able to retain him. I don't see that as a big problem though, because I think Garza can be serviceable as a backup center.

That leaves backup PG as our second biggest need. Conley was very good for us after we traded for him, and showed no signs of age...I didn't roll my eyes when he said he might play until he's 40. But I don't know that we can expect much more than 30 MPG from him, and we also have to expect he will miss a few games. So backup PG is an important role for us. I'm fairly certain it's not going to be Moore Jr...I wasn't that impressed with him in college, and he showed me little last season. I like NAW, but he looked out of place when Finchie had him at the point. SloMo had some good moments and also considers himself a PG, but I don't know that the coaching staff does.

We might look for a good candidate in free agency, but I think I would prefer seeing who the real JMac is...the guy we saw two seasons ago and prior to his calf injury, or the guy we saw at the end of the season. He was a disaster toward the end of the season, and Finchie didn't even want to play him in the playoffs. As bad as he was the past month, I don't think we can ignore his stats for the entire season. His positive net rating of +3 was only exceeded by Gobert, SloMo and Conley among players who were part of the rotation. His on/off of +7.8 was only bested by Mike Conley's 8.2. And his 7.9 assists per 36 against only 1.8 turnovers ranked among the league's best...as it has each of his 4 years. His 31% 3-point shooting was unacceptable, and he developed an odd tendency late in the season to try to score at the rim...and his shot was blocked more often than not.

Who knows why JMac became unplayable after he returned from his injury, but his level of play was so poor it's easy to surmise he wasn't healthy. I think I would look to see if JMac can return to his pre-injury form before looking for a replacement.

[Sundog]

I think it’s a good thought exercise, Lip, and I don’t think I disagree with any of your analysis… except that I really don’t think the Wolves are going to trade Rudy (or KAT for that matter). I think they’ll run it back.

So, three point shooting, someone to attack the rim, and a point guard would be on my list of priorities. I know both you and FNG love JMac but I’m pretty down on him … maybe it’s injuries like you said, FNG, but if we could find a way to get someone like coby white (RFA) — someone like that could fit a number of needs.

[thedoper]

Adding a legit young PG should be the primary need as I see it. Our long term aspirations should be to achieve that balance. The only way we get value and get that balance via trade is by moving KAT and his value is relatively low right now. Im not sure the team is super eager to deal KAT right away though that is the most logical piece to move in terms of potential around the league.

[Lipoli390]

Adding a legit young PG should be the primary need as I see it. Our long term aspirations should be to achieve that balance. The only way we get value and get that balance via trade is by moving KAT and his value is relatively low right now. Im not sure the team is super eager to deal KAT right away though that is the most logical piece to move in terms of potential around the league.

I don’t think KAT creates balance or fit issues. He fits well with Edwards and McDaniels and I think we saw that in action last season when the Wolves finished 10 games over .500 even though Edwards and McDaniels weren’t nearly as good as they were this past season. However, I would agree that KAT’s the only Wolves player other than Edwards or McDaniels who would bring a huge trade return. I also agree with your that KAT’s value is at a low ebb coming off an injury plagued season. So even if the Wolves are inclined to move him, they should wait until next year because, if he’s healthy, he’ll likely play as well or better than the previous season and further increase his trade value.

I like the way you characterized the balance or fit issue - as a “long-term” aspiration. That’s why, even though I see Rudy as the big fit problem, I don’t think the Wolves should be desperate to trade him this summer. I think you’re right that the immediate top priority for this summer is a PG who can back up and ultimately step in for Mike Conley. I’d put a 3-point shooter as the next priority for this summer.

[Monster]

I know there is and has been a lot of discussion about the Towns Gobert pairing etc but the reality is there was a failing of the roster that had little to do with those guys. Guard play aside from the starters. The Wolves put their faith in Nowell and McLaughlin and because of injury or disappointing play or both those guys didn’t play well. I’m addition they signed Bryn Forbes to fill the role of 3 point specialist and that also failed. Rivers was up and down (or maybe more accurately down and up and down) but for a vet min he gave the Wolves something but I’m hoping the Wolves can upgrade from him.

To me the Wolves need at least one guard to upgrade from the 3 guys they didn’t get enough from last year. I’m not penciling him into a role but let’s also not completely dismiss Wendell Moore as a possible contributor next season either. The bar isn’t too high for him compared to some other players. Meanwhile the Wolves simply bringing back Naw could help this group but adding at least someone fairly legit via FA could really help the team.

I’ll also add that I did underestimate how much it would take for Gobert to be integrated into the roster. Having seen him play I can see why it takes some time. He is a flawed player but also very good at what he is good at. I’m moving past what we gave up for him and looking at what he provides for this team especially compared to what they may or may not be able to get for him. It might be nice to actually have some continuity instead of once again shaking up the roster. It will be interesting to see how Denver runs through the rest of the playoffs.

[Q-is-here]

I know there is and has been a lot of discussion about the Towns Gobert pairing etc but the reality is there was a failing of the roster that had little to do with those guys. Guard play aside from the starters. The Wolves put their faith in Nowell and McLaughlin and because of injury or disappointing play or both those guys didn’t play well. I’m addition they signed Bryn Forbes to fill the role of 3 point specialist and that also failed. Rivers was up and down (or maybe more accurately down and up and down) but for a vet min he gave the Wolves something but I’m hoping the Wolves can upgrade from him.

To me the Wolves need at least one guard to upgrade from the 3 guys they didn’t get enough from last year. I’m not penciling him into a role but let’s also not completely dismiss Wendell Moore as a possible contributor next season either. The bar isn’t too high for him compared to some other players. Meanwhile the Wolves simply bringing back Naw could help this group but adding at least someone fairly legit via FA could really help the team.

I’ll also add that I did underestimate how much it would take for Gobert to be integrated into the roster. Having seen him play I can see why it takes some time. He is a flawed player but also very good at what he is good at. I’m moving past what we gave up for him and looking at what he provides for this team especially compared to what they may or may not be able to get for him. It might be nice to actually have some continuity instead of once again shaking up the roster. It will be interesting to see how Denver runs through the rest of the playoffs.

I agree Monster on the guard play and I will go a step further and say that I think long term the goal should be to solve for #2 and #4 above with a point guard that has the potential (or already is) all-star caliber. To maximize Ant, we need a 2nd ball handler that can break down a defense. Since most teams only have one perimeter stopper on the floor at a time, having two high level offensive weapons on the perimeter can really pose a problem. If Cam were here he'd say, "but we had DLO!". I think most of us agree that he wasn't quite the answer and neither is Conley long-term.

Since Jaden already has the SF role locked down, we aren't going to get it from that position (don't get me wrong though - Jaden can keep improving as an offensive player, but he's never going to be a "point forward" type of guy).

This could be someone we draft and develop as part of the Ant/Jaden timeline or someone we make a big trade for, but I think ultimately having your two best offensive players be perimeter-oriented ball handlers is the route to go. We have one of them in Ant.

BTW...this doesn't mean we accomplish this goal THIS offseason, so I certainly am not opposed to smaller moves to bring in a competent backup.