Rate the Wolves. . .

[JimBreuer45]

1.) Wiggins - It's really encouraging that he seems to have his best nights vs. the best teams/players. How good can he get? I don't know. I was ready to say he'd never lead the league in PPG or be an MVP candidate, but I'm not sure that's out of the realm of possibility. I'd love to see him add 15-20 good pounds and work his tail off this offseason.

2.) Rubio - Tough to give him the nod over Martin, but you can't deny how he instantly makes a team better by just being on the floor. We've been very competitive against some good teams since his return and it's not a coincidence. Last night was another close game against a top-7 team. I don't think he'll ever fix his shot to the point that he's feared from outside but I think he's good enough to average 10-12 PPG, and that's good enough if you're surrounded by the right guys.

3.) Martin - He is instant offense on a team that desperately needs what he brings. I think his dee gets too much flack. Every team needs a guy like him on the offensive end.

This is where it gets tricky...

4.) Garnett - If he provides the 7/7/1 he's done this year in 20mins per game, I'd be happy. I'd be thrilled if he did that, while being a team leader and solid defender, for 2 more years. I think he can. Keep his minutes around 20 and give him nights off on back-to-backs.

5.) Bazz - I suppose he's here by default. He needs to continue to develop his 3pt shot and share the ball more. Bummed that he has to miss the rest of the season b/c he was having a breakout year. The good news is he should start next year with supreme confidence and ready to be the 6th man.

6.) Dieng - Wish he was a tad more athletic, but he's showed some new stuff playing the 4 recently. Teams are respecting his 10-12ft jumper, so I'd love to see him be able to put the ball on the floor to get space. I'd love to see him add 20 good pounds before next season.

7.) Pekovic - It's been tough to watch him lately. Does he even jump anymore? It's not pretty watching him try to get his own shot, especially against someone longer and athletic. Hopefully, as Wiggins and Bazz develop, it means less calls for him and he can concentrate on screens and hitting the boards.

8.) Payne - I don't even know what we have in him. It was encouraging to see him get 11/10 in his first start/2nd meaningful NBA game. There are things you like (athleticism, 3pt shot, shot blocking, vertical, nice touch at FT line) and things you dislike (brings the ball too low on jumper, poor decision making, wild shots, doesn't keep his feet on dee) and so we'll just hope he can stay healthy and log 25mins per game so we can know what we have by the end of the year.

9.) Neal - We're getting to the bottom of the barrel here. I like the fact that he's a vet, combo guard, who can hit the three.

10.) Lavine - He's about like Payne, there are about equal amounts of good and bad traits. I like that he's being groomed at PG, even if his future is at the two. Unfortunately, on this team, we could really use a backup two that is a spot-up shooter. Unlike Ricky, there is hope for his jumper as it's not completely broken (ugly) like Ricky's. There are several reasons for optimism with Zach: he's very young and has played less than 75 games out of high school, great athleticism, length, fast, slasher, finisher, etc. Like Bazz, I'd love to see him develop a more reliable 3pt shot.

11.) Hummel - Love having this guy around. I think he'll work hard and could develop into a decent role player, like an Anthony Tolliver type.
12.) Bennett - Too many flaws. Doesn't seem interested in doing anything other that launching long jumpers.
13.) Budinger - I think his confidence is shot and injuries have affected him, which is too bad b/c he's had a few nice surges this year.
14.) Brown - I like what Ive seen, aside from his shooting, of course.
15.) Robinson - Really struggled last night playing meaningful minutes. Would love to see him get some run in the NBDL.

[packforfreedom]

15.) Robinson - Really struggled last night playing meaningful minutes. Would love to see him get some run in the NBDL.

good post (Ricky is way way more valuable than Martin, though) but I've to disagree here. Robinson played only four minutes in which he had to guard Josh Smith in the post and Brewer in transition, and nobody passed him the ball. I'd really like him to get double digit minutes in consective games.

[theGreatRC]

Ricky is better than Martin without hesitation. All Martin does is score (he has been more energetic on D), if he's off, he's pretty much useless.

Ricky impacts the game in so many ways. It would be a better argument of Wiggins or Rubio for #1

[AQuintus]

In terms of overall impact TODAY?

1. Ricky (elite defender + elite passer/floor general; the team got substantially better with his return)
2. Wiggins (will be number 1 as early as next year)
3. Garnett (offense is bad, but he's still one of the best defenders in the league + elite leadership)
4. Martin
5. Shabazz (ignoring his current injury)
6. Pekovic (would be higher, but he's clearly not healthy)
7. Dieng
8. LaVine (some of the worst advanced stats in the league; really shows how bad the guys below him are)
9. Neal
10. Hummel (ignoring his current injury)
11. Payne
12. Bennett
13. Brown (DNP-CD)
14. GRIII (DNP-CD)
15. Budinger (actively hurts the team whenever he plays)

[Devilzsidewalk]

In terms of overall impact TODAY?

1. Ricky (elite defender + elite passer/floor general; the team got substantially better with his return)
2. Wiggins (will be number 1 as early as next year)
3. Garnett (offense is bad, but he's still one of the best defenders in the league + elite leadership)
4. Martin
5. Shabazz (ignoring his current injury)
6. Pekovic (would be higher, but he's clearly not healthy)
7. Dieng
8. LaVine (some of the worst advanced stats in the league; really shows how bad the guys below him are)
9. Neal
10. Hummel (ignoring his current injury)
11. Payne
12. Bennett
13. Brown (DNP-CD)
14. GRIII (DNP-CD)
15. Budinger (actively hurts the team whenever he plays)

I'd probably switch Dieng and KG as far as on-court impact. AB and Lavine at the very bottom, just above Budinger and GR3. GR3 almost assuredly would be higher if he actually played.

[Devilzsidewalk]

15.) Robinson - Really struggled last night playing meaningful minutes. Would love to see him get some run in the NBDL.

good post (Ricky is way way more valuable than Martin, though) but I've to disagree here. Robinson played only four minutes in which he had to guard Josh Smith in the post and Brewer in transition, and nobody passed him the ball. I'd really like him to get double digit minutes in consective games.

I thought that was a ruthless move by Flipnosis - "hey you, guy who's played like 3 minutes this season, go play PF for awhile."
I'm starting to think Flip took it personally about how GR3 handled contract negotiations.

[LesGrossman]

this team lives and dies with Rickys energy. We cant have forgotten how they looked without him, can we?

I believe it is meaningless who is how important today. The real question is, envisioning their potential development, who can play a role next year? Whats Bennett's ceiling, whats payne's, and Gorgui's?

[Devilzsidewalk]

this team lives and dies with Rickys energy. We cant have forgotten how they looked without him, can we?

I believe it is meaningless who is how important today. The real question is, envisioning their potential development, who can play a role next year? Whats Bennett's ceiling, whats payne's, and Gorgui's?

True, but how good would we look if Wiggins was out? We'll never know because the guy is a friggin iron man. Stephen Harper bless you Andrew Wiggins.

[JimBreuer45]

Thanks for the replies.

I can totally see how one would put Rubio at #1.

I think we all would agree that, given the night, Ricky, Wiggins or Martin is our MVP. I can't move KG up because he only plays 20mins per game.

I think, next year, for us to compete, whoever we draft needs to slide into that #3 or #4 slot. I'd love to get Okafor and somehow deal Pek.

[packforfreedom]

(0. KG - a hero, greatest timberwolf of all time)

1. Rubio (most important player defensivly and offensivly, nobody knows what to do without him)
2. Wiggins (most talented player on the roster since KG, will own the league someday)
3. Pek (I'm a Pek fanboy, one of the best offensive centers in the league and underrated on defense)
4. Martin (instant offense, but streaky, will get to the ft-line, no matter what, has a game that will age well)
5. Shabazz (instant offense deux, also instant energy, and instant dunks, instant shabazz, he'll be a good player in this league)
6. Dieng (bad defender(some nice block tho), a good passer and plays also with a lot of heart, hope he hasn't reached his potential yet
7. LaVine (so much potential, will be hard to guard in a couple of years, can't play PG now, has to take it to the rim more often)
8. Hummel (rock solid bench guy. makes few mistakes, better defender, rebounder and cutter than people think)
9. Payne (his first big minutes in an nba game showed his potential: post guy, rebounder, versatile on defense, super slow realease)
10. Brown (could become a decent back-up PG. No shot or shot related offense, but good PG skills, good size, solid defender)
11. Neal (no big minutes for this team yet, 3pt specialist, you always need one of those)
12. Robinson (in Flip's doghouse, nobody knows why, doubt he'll come out there any time soon, draftexpress says he has some skills)
13. Budinger (after his contract expires, he'll be out of the league. injuries destroyed a former good player, still cuts sometimes)
14. Bennett (no skills, no motor, no motivation, bad BBIQ, injurys are an issue. worst first pick since LaRue Martin)

[theGreatRC]

(0. KG - a hero, greatest timberwolf of all time)

1. Rubio (most important player defensivly and offensivly, nobody knows what to do without him)
2. Wiggins (most talented player on the roster since KG, will own the league someday)
3. Pek (I'm a Pek fanboy, one of the best offensive centers in the league and underrated on defense)
4. Martin (instant offense, but streaky, will get to the ft-line, no matter what, has a game that will age well)
5. Shabazz (instant offense deux, also instant energy, and instant dunks, instant shabazz, he'll be a good player in this league)
6. Dieng (bad defender(some nice block tho), a good passer and plays also with a lot of heart, hope he hasn't reached his potential yet
7. LaVine (so much potential, will be hard to guard in a couple of years, can't play PG now, has to take it to the rim more often)
8. Hummel (rock solid bench guy. makes few mistakes, better defender, rebounder and cutter than people think)
9. Payne (his first big minutes in an nba game showed his potential: post guy, rebounder, versatile on defense, super slow realease)
10. Brown (could become a decent back-up PG. No shot or shot related offense, but good PG skills, good size, solid defender)
11. Neal (no big minutes for this team yet, 3pt specialist, you always need one of those)
12. Robinson (in Flip's doghouse, nobody knows why, doubt he'll come out there any time soon, draftexpress says he has some skills)
13. Budinger (after his contract expires, he'll be out of the league. injuries destroyed a former good player, still cuts sometimes)
14. Bennett (no skills, no motor, no motivation, bad BBIQ, injurys are an issue. worst first pick since LaRue Martin)

Nice list, but your bias against Bennett is showing. I'm not an AB fan either, but Bud or GR3 have no positive impact on this team. Only game i can remember with Bud playing well was against Boston