The Minnesota Timberwolves Thread: Timberwolves, Anthony Bennett part ways

[jpzx]

While they make those mistakes against most teams, what you saw was an amplification of that. The Warriors' size at the guard position (Livingston, Klay, etc.) was bound to unravel the Timberwolves backcourt at some point.

Neither LaVine nor Muhammad are ready for that.

I think they'll keep it competitive tomorrow against Portland at the Target Center. Competitive is all you can hope for with the injuries that have piled.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

It's expected Ry...What this season is about is more those rare games when a few of the young guys put it together and they stay competitive and/or pull out the win. Against Houston was a great example of that.

 

[hood17]

Yeah it sucks to watch but man I like going forward having Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, Bazz, MAYBE GR3? Bennett, and Gorgui as the core and maybe not using a lot of draft picks just certain good role players around them.

But the KEY will be who Flip wants to coach next season.

I am liking seeing Wiggins being in the post a lot more than i thought. He really has to stay on his feet on defense.

Flip saying it's time to let them develop so once Dec. 15 hit I'm sure we can expect some trades. Wouldn't surprise me if he steps down and lets Sam Mitchell coach

 

[jpzx]

Sam Mitchell? I'm watching Kobe's 81-point game right now, please... if the end game here is that then the Wolf Pack will be the only ones in the arena. What is it with this franchise and running back into the arms of anybody who spent time in Minnesota in the early 2000s? 0_o

When will Terrell Brandon scoop a front office job?

 

[RyGuy45]

More updates from Saunders from yesterday:

Rubio will be out upwards of another 5 weeks
Pek could be out another 4 weeks
KMart will be out upwards of another 6 weeks

 

[pacificnorsewst]

 

[finallyfamous]

Has Bennett done anything?

See Wiggins is doing solid

 

[jpzx]

His shooting metrics are much-improved from last year, but that free throw percentage is starting to look like a problem.

2012-13 (UNLV): .701
2013-14 (CLE): .638
2014-15 (MIN: .630

Happy with him so far. Surprised by some of the development I've seen in the short time he's been here. If I had to tell you whether he can be a consistent starter in the future, I plainly haven't seen enough yet.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

I love the potential of this team. That 'p' word is a dirty one, but there's definite reason for optimism.

Brewer and Shabazz are fan favorite-type players. Love the energy. I said this in the NBA thread, but Wiggins with 23/10/4/2, which is easily his most complete game. His inconsistency will continue, but I honestly sense that he is gonna go off in the second part of the season.

 

[jpzx]

Should have found somebody to bet with on tonight's game. Wrote here I thought it would be competitive, and the game fit to script.

Portland hadn't lost since Black Friday against Memphis.

 

[jpzx]

I don't trust the sample size of Shabazz yet, but he does some unique things you don't typically get in a guard.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

I don't trust the sample size of Shabazz yet, but he does some unique things you don't typically get in a guard.

When it comes to hustle plays and energy, I don't think a big sample size is needed.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

I think now you can all now finally agree with me that Thad Young for a first round pick was a bad idea.

and it's going to look worse when you trade him for nothing.

 

[pmatic]

 

[osh kosh bosh]

a 12.8 PER, terrible defense. Didn't someone tell he would be better than anyone you could get with a first round pick. He's a replacement level player right now.

Willy Cauley Stein for 1 year of Thad Young.


Sound like a good deal to you?

 

[hood17]

Well now it does because half of our squad is in street clothes. I understand the move but would have rather let Bennett just play and find some guy to back him up.

 

[RyGuy45]

The least of this franchise's worries is worrying about what they'd be missing with the 20th pick in a future draft, that hasn't changed. That's still about the 19th-most concerning thing to me.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

The least of this franchise's worries is worrying about what they'd be missing with the 20th pick in a future draft, that hasn't changed. That's still about the 19th-most concerning thing to me.

That's an insane attitude, you need assets, you need good player who can develop you have none.


The idea that Flip Saunders has such a little grasp of the NBA marketplace that he would be willing to burn a first round pick for a marginal player like Thad Young should terrify you. Let alone a first round pick that is a Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh injury away from the lottery. It shows he doesn't understand the current NBA landscape.

and combine that with ridiculous 2001 style offense and dumb zone defense it seems pretty clear flip is stuck in the past.

A first round pick got the raptors Kyle Lowry, picks are really valuable and Flip chose to spend it on 1 year of Thad Young.

To me that's a fire able offense.

It's the canary in the coal mine for Flips incompetence.

 

[hood17]

Too much of Flip the Coach VS Flip the GM.

Plus Glenn Taylor is not going to fire him anyways. For the first time since KG we have solid young high draft picks on the floor. I just want the next coach to let these guys play.

 

[RyGuy45]

In order for your theory to work (and I'm not saying you are crazy) you have to have the confidence the Wolves would have used the option of the Miami pick correctly in the future. It's the chicken or the egg thing.

Saunders rolled the dice in a small add-on trade for a vet to come in now on the chance they could win a couple more games. Who knows. Average GM's have been doing it for 50 years.

Listen, I have been on record as saying Flip Saunders and his fellow ownership are a joke. It actually has kept my up at night think about it. Saunders wears ten hats which we all know is absurd. His current team is lost as well and he's (right on cue) got them shooting 15 foot jumpers just like his offense in the old days, and they are close to last in the league in jump shot percentage from that range. It's high comedy. Knowing he's also the decision maker upstairs is even higher comedy, although I did give him major points for the major impact trade of acquiring Wiggins when he knew Love was gone. That isn't easy in the NBA.

At any rate I personally am not going to sweat one small detail when right now there also also 50 other ones, including the only real thing that matters which is development of Wiggins while also tanking the season. THAT ALONE is what is going to get the franchise back on its feet. The development of Wiggins into an All Star, and the chance at another top-3 pick. We can make up all kinds of future scenarios that could have been done with Miami's pick (swapping the pick for Kyle Lowry or someone) but we also know the possible high chance the teams just keeps the pick and picks up another 12th man for 2015. Of course these thoughts are coming from a guy who watches unappealing first round picks like the 2nd on Derrick Williams, 4th on Wes Johnson, 6th on Jonny Flynn, 7th on Corey Brewer, 13th on Levine, 14th on Shabazz, 28th on Wayne Ellington and so on.

But deep down do I wish the Wolves had a boat load of picks and flippable assets next year and beyond? Of course. Put it on my list along with the others.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

Time for Shabazz to shine.

 

[jpzx]

2006-2007: Brewer wins two NCAA Championships with the Florida Gators
2007-2011: Brewer was on Timberwolves lottery teams
Feb. 2011: Traded to NYK, cut before receiving any playing time
Mar. 2011: Signs with Dallas, wins a NBA Finals ring
2011-2013: Plays on two Denver Nuggets playoff team (the latter of which won 57 games)
2013-2014: Brewer played for a Timberwolves team destined for the lottery

He has literally spent his entire adult life on elite/championship teams... aside from Minnesota.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

Thaddeus Young is garbage. Kills any potential flow of the offense.

 

[RyGuy45]

Shabazz is making the most of his minutes, I am really glad to see this:

12/14 vs LAL - 27 MIN, 12-21 FG, 28 PTS
12/16 @ WAS - 28 MIN, 9-17 FG, 21 PTS
12/19 @ BOS - 38 MIN, 11-15 FG, 26 PTS
12/21 vs IND - 37 MIN, 8-18 FG, 21 PTS

Although we all know he has several things he needs to work on. Still he is a natural scorer and he is making himself into a positive during another pathetic Timberwolves season on the court.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

He hustles. Non-stop energy. That's what I like most. You can't teach that. And from everything I heard, that hustle carries over off of the court as well. He works hard. I was very skeptical of him at this level, but right now I feel like I'm his biggest fan.