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Twins
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Name: Andrew Howard, Owner emeritus. Jason Gudim, GM

Timberwolves Blog

Post by Twins »

Since the majority of OT sports discussion in this league seems to be centered on New England sports teams, and your preference for or against said teams, I figured I could at least attempt to start a conversation on a team that nobody's talking about: the Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota might be Boston sports' whipping boy, but suddenly, we have a fresh, new, young, exciting team to follow, even if we are a few steps behind in the talent dept. The KG trade may turn out for us better than expected, if a few things break our way. (And since this is MN sports I'm talking about, I'm not really crossing my fingers for anything to break correctly...especially with Kevin McHale prominently involved.)

The Wolves have a nice young nucleus they are building around right now:

PG: Randy Foye - has yet to play this season with knee troubles, and I feel he may be the most expendable of the group. See below. I also hold out for Sebastian Telfair to turn things around and be a change-of-pace style backup PG

SG: Rashad McCants - Looks to be a legitimate scorer, has had attitude problems in the past.

SF: Corey Brewer - Energy guy that needs to learn to score, but seems like a good defender.

PF: Al Jefferson - People keep saying Moses Malone in the Twin Cities. I look at him and see Elton Brand. Either way, I can't complain.

C: Large glaring hole. Big Al has played some 5, with Craig Smith and Ryan Gomes rotating in the forward positions, but I view both of them as bench guys. Chris Richard has also spent some limited time in this rotation.

Need to go: Antoine Walker, Theo Ratliff, Marko Jaric - Varying levels of usefulness amount to stealing minutes from guys who need to be learning the game instead of watching from the bench.

There are a couple ways I can see the Wolves heading in the next few years:

Ideal Situation - the Wolves luck out and land Derrick Rose in this years draft, giving them a true, game-changing PG. If this happens, I would advocate moving Randy Foye and maybe a draft pick for a big man.

Less than Ideal Situation that is still acceptable - The Wolves pick up their big man in the draft. I really think Kevin Love at UCLA would fit on the Wolves, but I've read in more than one place that his game might not transfer well to the NBA - think Tyler Hansbrough. Roy Hibbert would be alright, however not for as high as I anticipate the Wolves drafting. That pretty much exhausts my knowledge of college big men. Have to spend some quality time with the TV to do some research.

It's nice to be excited about the NBA again, even if I'm staring at a 70 loss season when it's all said and done.
2010 KC 83-79
2011 KC 94-68
2012 KC 83-79
2013 KC 90-72; AL Central Champs
2014 KC 84-78
2015 KC 103-59; AL Central Champs
2016 KC 97-65; Lost WC Game to BAL
2017 MIN 80-82
2018 MIN 84-78
2019 MIN 80-82

Overall IBC Record 1040-903
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Royals
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Post by Royals »

Didn't some of those guys used to play for Boston?
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Post by Yankees »

Speaking of "used to play for Boston" - McCants is a psycho - you're starting SG in 3 years will be Gerald Green...
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Post by Twins »

RedSox wrote:Didn't some of those guys used to play for Boston?
Yeah...I think we picked them up in a trade somewhere...
2010 KC 83-79
2011 KC 94-68
2012 KC 83-79
2013 KC 90-72; AL Central Champs
2014 KC 84-78
2015 KC 103-59; AL Central Champs
2016 KC 97-65; Lost WC Game to BAL
2017 MIN 80-82
2018 MIN 84-78
2019 MIN 80-82

Overall IBC Record 1040-903
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Twins
Posts: 1505
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Golden Valley, MN
Name: Andrew Howard, Owner emeritus. Jason Gudim, GM

Post by Twins »

Royals wrote:Speaking of "used to play for Boston" - McCants is a psycho - you're starting SG in 3 years will be Gerald Green...
McHale seems to have soured somewhat on Green, and he seems to love McCants, so I'm trying to anticipate bad personnel decisions in all of this, and we didn't pick up his option before the season started.

Green would have to learn how to shoot outside if he wants to play at the 2 in the NBA. There's no questioning his athleticism, but he may be better suited for a swingman-type role.
2010 KC 83-79
2011 KC 94-68
2012 KC 83-79
2013 KC 90-72; AL Central Champs
2014 KC 84-78
2015 KC 103-59; AL Central Champs
2016 KC 97-65; Lost WC Game to BAL
2017 MIN 80-82
2018 MIN 84-78
2019 MIN 80-82

Overall IBC Record 1040-903
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Yankees
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Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2003 1:00 am
Location: Fulshear, TX
Name: Brett Zalaski
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Post by Yankees »

Actually - his J isn't really in question - it's gorgeous...

The biggest questions surrounding Green are shot selection and ability to get off his own shot using his athleticism - both easily workable...

One of the biggest challenges w/ Boston - when Pierce was out last year - was that Jefferson was the only legitimate threat to score on his own...Rondo was out of control, and couldn't shoot - so he took none of the pressure off Green - and thus Green became good at jacking ridiculous shots as the shot clock wound down...

With Brewer and Telfair/Foye as solid slashers, and Jefferson as a post presence, putting Green on the wing will work - think Ron Harper in the triangle offense. If they slack off too much, he knocks down the J - if they overcharge on the wing, he drives by and makes some sort of ridiculous dunk. Teaching him control if neither of those options is available is next - but he's only 21, and is supposed to be a great kid.

I know people who work for Minny - everyone says that he is legitimately crazy - and not "nice" crazy like Stephen Jackson or Ricky Davis - apparently he's legitimately Latrell Sprewell crazy.

Think the careers of Spree, Harold Miner, JR Rider and you've got McCants - unless he gets the beanbag restuffed...

Think of the Jail Blazers - building your team around talented psychos is not going to win you games - get quality, talented guys in the lineup and let them gel. I know it goes against all statistical concept, but teams that genuinely like each other player much, much better.
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Twins
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Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Golden Valley, MN
Name: Andrew Howard, Owner emeritus. Jason Gudim, GM

Post by Twins »

Royals wrote:
Think the careers of Spree, Harold Miner, JR Rider and you've got McCants - unless he gets the beanbag restuffed...
As a Timberwolves fan, simply hearing the name of Isaiah Rider is enough to make me cringe. Yuck.
2010 KC 83-79
2011 KC 94-68
2012 KC 83-79
2013 KC 90-72; AL Central Champs
2014 KC 84-78
2015 KC 103-59; AL Central Champs
2016 KC 97-65; Lost WC Game to BAL
2017 MIN 80-82
2018 MIN 84-78
2019 MIN 80-82

Overall IBC Record 1040-903
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Orioles
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Post by Orioles »

The East Bay Funk Dunk was awesome.

2023 GM Totals: 1780 W - 1460 L | 0.549 wpct | 89-73 (avg 162 G record)
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