"Overload" at PF

[AQuintus]

None of them are really true centers if you ask me.

Alll undersized skilled PF's.

That's kind of the point. I don't think that Big Al has the athleticism or lateral quickness to go out on the perimeter and guard guys like Garnett, Bosh, or Nowitzki. So we need to bring in a guy who can guard those types of players and who can play good help defense, while Jefferson plays closer to the basket getting rebounds against Centers.

[Steve_Holiday]

I do believe at some point it will be necessary to trade one of Love or Jefferson. That move will have to be handled carefully and executed only when the timing is right in order to maximize value. The Rubio/Flynn "experiment" and the hole at SG are far bigger concerns at the moment...

I like the suggestions I've been seeing here:

Flynn
Reddick (underrated defense and athleticism...he's the complete package!)
Morrison (Larry Bird potential!)
Love
Jefferson

with whitewash potential:
rubio (someday?)
reddick
morrison
love
madsen, etc.

[Esohny]

I do believe at some point it will be necessary to trade one of Love or Jefferson. That move will have to be handled carefully and executed only when the timing is right in order to maximize value. The Rubio/Flynn "experiment" and the hole at SG are far bigger concerns at the moment...

I like the suggestions I've been seeing here:

Flynn
Reddick (underrated defense and athleticism...he's the complete package!)
Morrison (Larry Bird potential!)
Love
Jefferson

with whitewash potential:
rubio (someday?)
reddick
morrison
love
madsen, etc.

I searched for a "raised eyebrow" smiley, but couldn't find one. So...

[sabonis11]

I know that both redick and morrison have already been labeled as busts, but they both are expiring contracts that could potentially be great sparks off the bench if put in the right postion.

Like stated earlier we have 7 power forwards, which makes smith, songaila, pecherov, and the expiring contracts of madsen and cardinal expendable.

My first choice would be to swing a deal with GS for belinelli for Craig Smith+change but finances are a little tough to work out with these smaller contracts.

Would you all be opposed to taking a flyer on morrison with a deal like smith+madsen for morrison+maybe a small incentive?

[darkjedi4z]

as far as the talent level of our bigs goes:
1. jefferson
2. love
3. songaila
4. thomas
5. smith
6. pecherov
7. cardinal
8. madsen

this year it's going to be pretty ugly on the defensive end of things. hopefully thomas can stay healthy and throw his weight around for 15 mins or so.
Until we can add a guy like deandre jordan to be that 3rd rotational big to play 25 mins or so, we are going to be awful as far as interior defense. Ideally love and jefferson would only be on the floor together for no more than 20 mins or so.

Of those 8 guys only jefferson, love, and songaila should be around next year, with smith a small possibility. Songaila could contribute 15 mins on a contender, but his strength is not defense.

If roster space is a concern pecherov or madsen can be cut, but I have a feeling Kahn will look to keep all his expirings around until the trade deadline.

Holy cow, that is an overload!

[shrink]

If Odom goes elsewhere, I could see some Laker interest in a Morrison-for-PF/C expiring. Powell and Mbenga make me shrug. Laker fans are high on Sun Yue, but I don't know if he'd realistically be in front of Morrison.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Songaila for Morrison would work; does he have a team option for next season? (Morrison)

[MN Die Hard]

Joel Pryz seems like a good option if we want the true 7 footer, although if I recall, Portland fans don't seem to want to part with him. I'd take him for sure, even though he's a bit older than the core. Good fit with Al and Love for a 3-man rotation.

Josh Smith fits the bill if we keep Al-Love at 4/5 and want to add the athletic, shot-blocking compliment to them. Would likely have to involve Rubio and a 3rd team I imagine (Amare to Atlanta, Smith to MN, Rubio to Phoenix?).

[the_bruce]

My first option is to not give up pek or any pick to stop gap fill the holes.
Cards + madsen + smith or Cards + Gomes
for
Bobby Simmons + williams

Williams provides a legit shot blocking presence and defensive capabilities
Simmons can shoot?

For a long term fix...
I'd bundle Pek + cha pick for a player that fills the 3/4 role.

I like these guys...
#1 Gerald Wallace (unlikely to happen)
#2 Earl Clark (not gonna happen phx wont part with him so soon)
....
#3 Daye(...as a long shot...I probably wouldn't give up either pek or the cha pick for him)

[shrink]

My first option is to not give up pek or any pick to stop gap fill the holes.
Cards + madsen + smith or Cards + Gomes
for
Bobby Simmons + williams

Williams provides a legit shot blocking presence and defensive capabilities
Simmons can shoot?

For a long term fix...
I'd bundle Pek + cha pick for a player that fills the 3/4 role.

I like these guys...
#1 Gerald Wallace (unlikely to happen)
#2 Earl Clark (not gonna happen phx wont part with him so soon)
....
#3 Daye(...as a long shot...I probably wouldn't give up either pek or the cha pick for him)

Nice post. I like your NJN trade with Craig Smith. I'd probably prefer a more traditional young center like Josh Boone to Sean Williams, but I think that's a small trade that can't hurt us, and maintains our 2010 cap space. Gomes we may find plays a lot of minutes for us, but I think he's just adequately priced. One thing to consider with Gomes though is that with his partially guaranteed contract, he may be an additional $3.3 mil in 2010 raw cap space if we need it.

Earl Clark is an interesting idea. If they sign Nash to a bigger contract, they may be interested in being more competitive, and perhaps a bundle of Ben Wallace + Earl Clark for more production might be appealing. Wallace is worth zero production, but he may take a cheaper buy-out to retire.

Good ideas.

[fallentimes]

Strangely, Jefferson and Love are more productive as centers.

http://www.82games.com/0809/08MIN15.HTM

http://www.82games.com/0809/08MIN13.HTM

[SportsFan215]

Would you guys trade Cardinal/'10 Second from HOU for Earl Watson as part of a multi-team deal?

[IcemanMN]

You mean ANOTHER point guard?? Um, no. (Runs out the door screaming)

[Krapinsky]

Would you guys trade Cardinal/'10 Second from HOU for Earl Watson as part of a multi-team deal?

Only if you found away to take Telfair and Bobby Brown first.

[niner2716]

The Wolves really started to play well when McHale started using Cardinal as the backup PF. It was a good mix with a healthy Jefferson and Love.

Cardinal is a good back up who helps the team win. Smith can score but he's a black hole on offense and a liability on defense. He's just not a good fit.

The rest of the forwards mentioned aren't any good.

[hijacktheparade]

It's that obsessive Brian Cardinal fan.

[ChazzleDazzle]

Thanks fallentimes, that 82games info was what I was looking for. Very interesting...

Also seems to suggest (as most are opining here) that a dynamic wing will do more to help out Jefferson and/or Love than a true Center. Sign me up.

[john2jer]

That Houston 2nd could end up being a pretty good 2nd round pick, like in the 30-40 range. I like it. Houston's going to have a rough year.

[revprodeji]

Yup.

Here is my understanding for building a team.

C-
PF-
SF-
SG-
PG
---
C-
sf/pf hybrid
sg/sf
pg
--
Shooter/defender to offset sg/sf role player
big guy to offset bench C

So what do the wolves have possibly?

C-Al Jefferson
PF-Kevin Love
SF-_________
SG-_________
PG-Ricky Rubio
---
C-Pekovic
sf/pf hybrid--Gomes
sg/sf--Brewer
pg--Flynn

Shooter/defender to offset sg/sf role player--Ellington
big guy to offset bench C--________

So we actually have a lot of the "spots" filled and filled nicely. Gomes is not a bad player if he is off the bench. Perhaps Flynn/Rubio starting back-court works? Perhaps Brewer will become a starter? Who knows. But we have 2 key spots to still fill and we have numerous assets to do it. I think we are in good shape.