Al's Trade Value

[TrentTuckerForever]

...Jefferson + mia pick for Bynum/Farmar.

We get less front court scoring (other than put backs), but better D and legit size. Bynum/Love front court would be pretty sweet. Farmar is an upgrade as a backup PG and can also play with Foye in the back court.

Exactly, point guard and center. Not sure why LA would do this, though... Bynum (on paper, at least) can provide the size and toughness that the Lakers missed against the Celtics last June. Value-wise, I'd say it's about right.

[the_bruce]

You need more than that, you need a big guy who can defend and you need a perimeter guy who can create his own offense.
We already had two athletic wings that could run and defend in Brewer and Carney. That hasn't exactly led to great things.

Carney and brewer didn't get much playtime this year, and I'd venture to say that the team looked better prebrewer injury. If you look at the point differential it was much closer before brewer went down. Small sample, but simply from watching the games I remember them being better when he wasn't injured

A Perimeter guy who can create his own offense(Maggette anyone)? Sounds like McCants to me. Even though he's a complete bonehead that's exactly what he can do. We can simply draft this sort of player imo.

A big guy who can defend? Depends what you mean here. I have no doubt that Al can guard the post but if yer looking more for of a shot blocker again this can be drafted. More athletic help defenders at the 3 would help here too.

At least one of the major problems MN has will be dealt with in the draft. I'm personally most concerned with the big\athletic 3's since those are the players who utterly destroy the wolves. we don't have the players to stop or even slightly hinder these types of players.

Currently, We have a bunch of guys more suited to play other positions. Miller isn't athletic enough to guard 3's, Brewer is to small for 3's, McCants to selfish\boneheaded\small for any position, gomes not athletic enough to play the 3. Carney has no handle. Trading Al for other parts just doesn't make sense to me. Even if you trade him for a true pg + true c as at least one of those problems can be dealt with this draft.

I don't even mind the love + jefferson front court. If only Love could get his head on straight on the offensive end it wouldn't be to bad. The way I look at this team is...Love\Al\Brewer seem to fit together. Love + Al = great rebounding and good traditional post offense & hi\low game. Brewer can provide good coverage on the wing and hinder penetration to 2's and smaller 3's. So I'd look to draft a 3 or trade for one then run brewer at the 2. You then have Love\Al\xxx\Brewer\xxx. MN has more than enough to cover these gaps without trading big al.

[Worm Guts]

McCants doesn't count as someone who can create his offense, I meant someone good. Not Maggette good either. The Wolves need a legitimate #1A from the perimeter.

[mandurugo]

A big guy who can defend? Depends what you mean here. I have no doubt that Al can guard the post but if yer looking more for of a shot blocker again this can be drafted. More athletic help defenders at the 3 would help here too.

I don't think Al can defend the post against centers, he's just not strong enough. Guys like Kendrick Perkins become low-post scorers against him because they can bully their way into position. He's also not quick enough to use speed against bigger guys. He might become ok against PF's. I don't think it's necessary to become a shot-blocker either. He's blocking a few more shots right now, but that's not really improving the interior defense much. What he could start doing is calling out picks, communicating, rotating over to limit penetration, etc. Just skills within his potential could dramatically improve his value on the defensive end. If he can't develop those skills the wolves are going to need someone on the team that can do it.

[Coxy]

McCants doesn't count as someone who can create his offense, I meant someone good. Not Maggette good either. The Wolves need a legitimate #1A from the perimeter.

Awww, cmon. Please take Maggette. We'll add Crawford, Marcus Williams and Brandon Wight.

GSW trade: Maggette, Crawford, M Williams, Brandon Wright

Minn trade: Jefferson, Miller

[the_bruce]

McCants doesn't count as someone who can create his offense, I meant someone good. Not Maggette good either. The Wolves need a legitimate #1A from the perimeter.

There's literally a handful of these types of guys in the league.

When you start factoring in age, contract, and proven NBA ability there's very few players on Al's level imo. Swapping al for smaller better fitting parts just doesn't make sense unless you get a return of an equal part. I'm not saying that the value couldn't be found, but I am saying that unless you get a sick can't miss deal you can't pull the trigger since Al is our only reliable option.

I don't think Al can defend the post against centers, he's just not strong enough. Guys like Kendrick Perkins become low-post scorers against him because they can bully their way into position. He's also not quick enough to use speed against bigger guys.

disagree. I've yet to see a game this season where I've thought. If Al wasn't so inept at post defense we'd have a chance, but I have thought. Wow if we could avoid some of that guard penetration we would be in good shape. Nobody is blowing us out in the front court because they get to abuse Big Al(although Howard looked like he was going to that 1st quarter last game). We however get to let big al abuse them in any number of ways all game long through double teams. Ask Yao if Al's quick enough to use his speed on bigger guys.

[mandurugo]

disagree. I've yet to see a game this season where I've thought. If Al wasn't so inept at post defense we'd have a chance, but I have thought. Wow if we could avoid some of that guard penetration we would be in good shape. Nobody is blowing us out in the front court because they get to abuse Big Al(although Howard looked like he was going to that 1st quarter last game). We however get to let big al abuse them in any number of ways all game long through double teams. Ask Yao if Al's quick enough to use his speed on bigger guys.

I'm not arguing that Al is the main problem on the team, he obviously isn't. But he isn't the answer either - he's a number 2 player given his abilities. The wolves need to find a true best player to lead this team. By pointing out Al's deficiencies I don't mean to imply that he's not the best player currently on the team, but it would be an joyless task to point out everyone's weaknesses in every post.

That said, part of the reason there is so much guard penetration is that there is no support for our guards. This team doesn't play team defense - if you're beat on the perimeter then the guy who beat you is going to the rim every time. That's as much on Al as it is on the perimeter defender. NBA players are too good for one guy to stop another guy, teams have to work together. He has to get better at this part of the game - which would be easier for him if the guards were better first line defenders. But when both sides are bad you get to watch the show the wolves put on game after game. And he really needs to start calling out picks at least.

I will also admit that Al is quicker than Yao. He's also probably quicker than ... well, there is probably someone else he is quicker than.

[shrink]

Tonight's game against Memphis demonstrates the complete mismatch Al Jefferson can create on offense every time down the court against a number of teams. I'm not saying he can't improve, but he is most definitely a #1 option in my book.

Scoring swingmen are a lot easier to find, and several even come up from second round picks. Jus because MIN doesn't have one doesn't mean we should over-value them, or their abundance in the league as a whole.

[HL Slamdunk]

Yeah those swingmen are about a dime a dozen. I wouldn't overpay for one. We need a guy that can create his own shot and make up those pull up jumpers. Foye has been doing well, but we need someone else too. Does anyone think Harden could be that guy?

[Klomp]

We need a guy that can create his own shot and make up those pull up jumpers.

You mean like Mike Miller?

[HL Slamdunk]

We need a guy that can create his own shot and make up those pull up jumpers.

You mean like Mike Miller?

Yeah, but to an extent. Mike Miller isn't the type of guy that's going to slash and create havoc for the defense. He doesn't seem like the type of player that draws fouls on a consistent basis.

[Worm Guts]

There's literally a handful of these types of guys in the league.

When you start factoring in age, contract, and proven NBA ability there's very few players on Al's level imo. Swapping al for smaller better fitting parts just doesn't make sense unless you get a return of an equal part. I'm not saying that the value couldn't be found, but I am saying that unless you get a sick can't miss deal you can't pull the trigger since Al is our only reliable option.
.

I didn't say to trade Al for dominant perimeter player, I said the Wolves needed one to compliment him if they want to win. Al can't carry the offensive load by himself, very few players can.
I'm just saying depending on how you feel about the guys in the draft, you consider the options. Which is better Jefferson and Harden, or Griffin and some guy you get for Jefferson? I don't know.

disagree. I've yet to see a game this season where I've thought. If Al wasn't so inept at post defense we'd have a chance, but I have thought. Wow if we could avoid some of that guard penetration we would be in good shape. Nobody is blowing us out in the front court because they get to abuse Big Al(although Howard looked like he was going to that 1st quarter last game). We however get to let big al abuse them in any number of ways all game long through double teams. Ask Yao if Al's quick enough to use his speed on bigger guys.

Al can be a solid defender, but it will be easier for him if he has less responsibility. He'll also be better offensively if he spends less energy on defense.

[HL Slamdunk]

Based on the recent play of Al, I believe that this team needs to keep him, find another star, and then build around the two of them. In my opinion, Randy Foye is one of those pieces that we can build with. Injuries have kind of plagued his career, and now he is starting to find his stride. Do any of you think that Kevin Love will be a starter for this team in the future? He seems like he would be a guy that would come of the bench and put up 14/10. That would be a decent role for him I think. Also, how well would it work to have Harden and Foye at the 1/2 combo?

[invno1]

I like Biedrins, very active center. Biedrins & their pick?