Could Wesely Johnson ever become available?

[Kaner]

Simple question, not sure how he fits into your plans with that huge crop of forwards, and he is being severely underutilized as a spot up 3 point shooting 2 guard when he is better suited as 3. As a #3 pick just a couple years ago, he will likely be a 4th option behind Rubio, DWill, and Love. What do u guys think?

[wildvikeswolves]

well he is definitly seen as the 2 here. I think a lot of us are expecting some solid improvement from him this coming year after working out with kobe all summer, mainly on his handles. I think that Wes is also a great fit with Rubio.

im sure he could be had right now for the right price, but i think everyone would like to see how all this young talent can look together, a lineup of Rubio-Wes-Beasley-Williams-Love in partivular or move Williams and Love down a spot and putting Randolph at C.

[shangrila]

So he's mis-used as a spot up shooting 2 as opposed to...a spot up shooting 3? His role would be the same, really.

[Foye]

He is already available for an upgrade at C or SG, IMO. At least he would be if I was the GM.

The only problem is if we trade Johnson we have really no other SG's than Webster (always injuried), Ellington (everything in his game but his 3pt shot sucks) and Malcolm Lee (I see him more as a 1).
If we trade Johnson for a C we would definitely have to make sure we get a SG somewhere else.
I like Varejao but I'm not sure if I would trade Johnson for him considering AV just missed more than half a season.

[john2jer]

Simple question, not sure how he fits into your plans with that huge crop of forwards, and he is being severely underutilized as a spot up 3 point shooting 2 guard when he is better suited as 3. As a #3 pick just a couple years ago, he will likely be a 4th option behind Rubio, DWill, and Love. What do u guys think?

He was drafted 4th.

He would be available for more than I'm sure you'd be willing to give up for him.

He's spent all summer working out with Beasley, Love, Williams, and KOBE in LA. I personally wouldn't trade him just yet. He played most of his minutes at SG last year, and he also played better there than at SF.

[Foye]

Simple question, not sure how he fits into your plans with that huge crop of forwards, and he is being severely underutilized as a spot up 3 point shooting 2 guard when he is better suited as 3. As a #3 pick just a couple years ago, he will likely be a 4th option behind Rubio, DWill, and Love. What do u guys think?

He was drafted 4th.

He would be available for more than I'm sure you'd be willing to give up for him.

He's spent all summer working out with Beasley, Love, Williams, and KOBE in LA. I personally wouldn't trade him just yet. He played most of his minutes at SG last year, and he also played better there than at SF.

The sample size as a SF was very limited. I don't think we can judge whether he's better as a SG or SF, yet.

[Kaner]

http://orangefizz.net/2011/03/is-cant-m ... raft-bust/

This article pretty much sums up what I was trying to say, about how he is underutilized and out position

[AQuintus]

So he's mis-used as a spot up shooting 2 as opposed to...a spot up shooting 3? His role would be the same, really.

Exactly. I never understood the argument that he's a 3 rather than a 2 because of his lack of handles. Poor ball handling ability is a big problem at either position.

Edit:

I'll expand on that and say that Wes's problems last year had absolutely nothing to do with his position and everything to do with how he was used in Rambis' offense.

For example, he had more iso plays on offense (74) than plays coming off of screens (63). This is a guy with very suspect handles and one of whose best attributes is his jump shot. He also had more plays as a Pick and Roll ball handler (93) than plays where he's handed off the ball (84) or cutting to the basket (34). Finally, while transition was his second most used play, he was still only used in transition 13.5% of his plays (109 out of 810 plays). For such a great athlete, he didn't get involved in transition anywhere near as much as he should have.

Compare that with this year, where he'll have a pass first point guard with great vision and a coach that loves to get out in transition and whose half-court offense involves a lot of cuts and hand offs, and I think it's reasonable to believe that Wes will have a greatly improved year next year regardless of what position he plays on the wing.

[john2jer]

http://orangefizz.net/2011/03/is-cant-miss-wes-johnson-a-timberwolves-draft-bust/

This article pretty much sums up what I was trying to say, about how he is underutilized and out position

Um, you realize who wrote that article, right.. Bias blogging is bias.

[cpfsf]

So he's mis-used as a spot up shooting 2 as opposed to...a spot up shooting 3? His role would be the same, really.

Exactly. I never understood the argument that he's a 3 rather than a 2 because of his lack of handles. Poor ball handling ability is a big problem at either position.

I think he has struggled defending some guards (who doesn't), but it never bothered me since we didn't have any real alternatives, he was a rookie, and because we had so many guys who needed minutes.

[Worm Guts]

As a forward, you're theoretically a little closer to the basket and guarded by bigger, slower guys. Both those things could help a guy with a subpar handle. I'm not sure it would be a noticeable difference, but it might help.

[AQuintus]

I think he has struggled defending some guards (who doesn't), but it never bothered me since we didn't have any real alternatives, he was a rookie, and because we had so many guys who needed minutes.

He did, but from what I remember (and I may be remembering wrong), it had more to do with lack of experience than it did with any physical/ quickness problems, which would have forced him into the 3 role. Considering his size (6'7" 205 pounds), as long as he is quick enough to guard 2s, I'd say that he's better off guarding 2s than 3s (like Lebron, Melo, or Pierce).

[Narf]

He's available.
He's just not available on the cheap.
If you look at a deal and think "this is good value for my team for Wes Johnson" the Wolves are not even remotely interested. But that might change in 6 months.
$0.02

[Grits n Gravy]

i think wes is gonna have a big year..his biggest problem last year as mentioned was his handles and imo even moreso was his lack of aggressiveness/mentality...i got so angry at him many times because he just continiously plain refused to use his althleticsm and attack the basket...i think playing alongside a great passing pg, a great coach and having a year under his belt with more confidence i think he's gonna be really, really good for us.

[moss_is_1]

i think wes is gonna have a big year..his biggest problem last year as mentioned was his handles and imo even moreso was his lack of aggressiveness/mentality...i got so angry at him many times because he just continiously plain refused to use his althleticsm and attack the basket...i think playing alongside a great passing pg, a great coach and having a year under his belt with more confidence i think he's gonna be really, really good for us.

I also think that Adelman is going to get him in the best situations possible. Rambis had him creating his own shot, while Wes should be coming off of screens.

[canucklife21]

I really hope wes works on his ball handing skills because i believe wes can be very soild pro throughout his career and someone who could have a long career in minny. I still believe wes has alot to prove and i hope he has a chip on his shoulders due to that. I believe you in wes!

[canucklife21]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxl8--py1Z8

This is the Wesely johnson i want to see. Yes its only college but him being aggressive and a killer instinct means he does have it in him.