Constructing the Timberwolves rotation

[Klomp]

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[Norseman79]

I just think it is one of the most stupid sayings ever invented. I can't respect your opinion that LeBron is soft. Some opinions I disagree with I can still respect. However, I will never be able to accept that stand. He's the greatest player of all time. I respect your take that it's Jordan. I would respect it if you said it was Magic or Wilt. So things like that we can do the ridiculous agree to disagree. Calling James sawfft.............. No.

Ummmm..ok

Norseman consider this. If my take was Jordan was sawft would you respect that opinion? It isn't my opinion because it's so ridiculous. To me thinking LeBron is sawft is every bit as ridiculous. You want to say Jordan is the GOAT I don't agree, but I have no problem with it.

You can have any take you want man, as long as you can explain it. No reason to discuss it further as we simply disagree. I am not trying to change your mind, nor do I care if you see things my way or not, I will just offer to agree that we cannot agree on the initial post. Discussion over or start a new thread we have taken up enough of this one and I will take ownership of that.

[wolfen]

What up guys. Loooong time no lurk or post. Excited for the season now that the draft is over, free agents are signed, and the season is near. Here's my take for the lineup and rotation, dumb as it may be.

Starters

D-Lo / AE / Culver / Vanderbilt / KAT

Is it the best right out of the gate for winning? Maybe not. For me though, it's about a lineup of "what could be" and getting experience to those that need it most sooner rather than later. We know about D-Lo and KAT, but let's play "what if" for a second. What if AE, Culver, and Vandy all just hit the ground running and "get it"? AE is the dynamic and powerful 2 guard who is unstoppable, plays defense, and plays smart. Culver becomes the Culver that we all thought he could be, the Red Raider Culver - confident, excellent with the ball in his hands, great scorer / shooter, and good wing defender. Vandy becomes the tough and athletic KAT compliment who defends, rebounds, hits the open 3, and gives energy, while playing smart.

Will all of this come to fruition? Maybe, maybe not, but that lineup has the most potential and fits best together long-term. If AE / Culver / Vandy realize their defensive potential, and there's an arguement that it could happen, that's a playoff team right there. I'm imagining a best case scenario where all 3 develop and become players similar to D Mitchell, P George, P Siakam. Imagine this lineup:

D-Lo / Donavan Mitchell / Paul George / Siakam / KAT

I'm NOT AT ALL saying that our 3 young pups will end up as good as those studs, but I think it should be the model of what could be. Create the model and mindset in the players so that they can aspire to that model and roll with it and roll with it the whole year so that they can get that experience under their belts.

As far as the bench goes, you've got a great floor leader and defender in Rubio, a great shooter in Beas (who is really a 6th man on a good playoff team), stout defender in Okogie, and a nice mix of bigs to plug in base on what the opposition is putting out on the floor.


Rubio / Beas / Okogie / Nowell

Juancho / Layman / Davis / Reid

We're not expected to be a playoff team this year, so why not prepare for next year and the years beyond by starting the lineup with the MOST POTENTIAL for the future. And who knows, maybe we'd surprise and things click and we DO make the playoffs. Either way, this lineup would be best for the organization IMO. Thoughts?

[KGdaBom]

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I love to hear the signings even if they are considered a formality. Is it a done deal that Bolmaro will not be coming over this year? If the Wolves want him I bet Ricky and Juancho could do a hell of a recruiting job.

[old school 34]

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I love to hear the signings even if they are considered a formality. Is it a done deal that Bolmaro will not be coming over this year? If the Wolves want him I bet Ricky and Juancho could do a hell of a recruiting job.

Everything I've heard it's a formality...his season has already begun in Spain...so it would be very complicated & expensive (buyout currently 1.5 mil, I heard). He's getting significantly more run this year already on Spain team...don't know why you wouldn't leave him there vs. him coming to play in G-league here?

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[old school 34]

The recent signing list says we signed Tyler Cook on November 29th. Is that legit or an error by RealGM? Anyone know about his game?

Have seen nothing on Twitter about a signing, but it wouldn't shock me. Game has some similarities to Jarred Vanderbilt in a bigger frame. Non-shooter, but athletic and active. Played college ball at Iowa. Was a 2-way contract player for Cleveland/Canton last year before he was signed to a pair of 10-day contracts by the Cavs. Two weeks later, the Charge traded him to the Blue.

It's probably only a training camp deal, like Jordan Murphy and Lindell Wigginton were last year. So he'll spend the year in Iowa if this is true.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/c/cookty01d.html

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As a camp deal...could see something very similar to get to camp...get the JMac deal done for 15...& if we like what we see...convert him to the 2nd 2-way deal? Could technically maybe be a handshake agreement already, but won't happen until JMac outcome happens first (essentially his QO keeps us from signing that 2nd deal, correct)?

Other 2-way question, could RHJ sign that 2-way with us? Or is there service time rules that would prevent that? Besides the fact, he just might see it as too much of a step backwards?

I assume there's some sort of rule that prevents teams from loading up added vets in those 2-way slots (ie--LAL, say signing JR Smith to a 2-way?).

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[old school 34]

What up guys. Loooong time no lurk or post. Excited for the season now that the draft is over, free agents are signed, and the season is near. Here's my take for the lineup and rotation, dumb as it may be.

Starters

D-Lo / AE / Culver / Vanderbilt / KAT

Is it the best right out of the gate for winning? Maybe not. For me though, it's about a lineup of "what could be" and getting experience to those that need it most sooner rather than later. We know about D-Lo and KAT, but let's play "what if" for a second. What if AE, Culver, and Vandy all just hit the ground running and "get it"? AE is the dynamic and powerful 2 guard who is unstoppable, plays defense, and plays smart. Culver becomes the Culver that we all thought he could be, the Red Raider Culver - confident, excellent with the ball in his hands, great scorer / shooter, and good wing defender. Vandy becomes the tough and athletic KAT compliment who defends, rebounds, hits the open 3, and gives energy, while playing smart.

Will all of this come to fruition? Maybe, maybe not, but that lineup has the most potential and fits best together long-term. If AE / Culver / Vandy realize their defensive potential, and there's an arguement that it could happen, that's a playoff team right there. I'm imagining a best case scenario where all 3 develop and become players similar to D Mitchell, P George, P Siakam. Imagine this lineup:

D-Lo / Donavan Mitchell / Paul George / Siakam / KAT

I'm NOT AT ALL saying that our 3 young pups will end up as good as those studs, but I think it should be the model of what could be. Create the model and mindset in the players so that they can aspire to that model and roll with it and roll with it the whole year so that they can get that experience under their belts.

As far as the bench goes, you've got a great floor leader and defender in Rubio, a great shooter in Beas (who is really a 6th man on a good playoff team), stout defender in Okogie, and a nice mix of bigs to plug in base on what the opposition is putting out on the floor.


Rubio / Beas / Okogie / Nowell

Juancho / Layman / Davis / Reid

We're not expected to be a playoff team this year, so why not prepare for next year and the years beyond by starting the lineup with the MOST POTENTIAL for the future. And who knows, maybe we'd surprise and things click and we DO make the playoffs. Either way, this lineup would be best for the organization IMO. Thoughts?

I do lean to something close to this sooner than later...few points that lead potentially towards something close to this:

1. We brought back the bearded, man-bun Rubio...not the floppy-haired kid....& I like that version better...less flash, more about winning, & less ego...best role is high minutes bench guy.

2. Antman...maybe not to start, but sooner than later...as much as it disgusts Jedzz #1 picks eventually get an opportunity...mostly because they do have real talent & that's why they were #1 picks to begin with. But Beasley gives us great leverage to push to really improve & not just be handed it all quite as quickly as times past. I love Beasley's shooting and it needs significant minutes on the floor...my concern about him holding a spot longterm in the SL is about his defense...he needs to be held accountable about that as well? The other factor here around wing minutes that creates opportunities potentially is if Beasley's 30 minutes per gets suspended at some point? If, that happens, that could be critical for one of these younger wings to get enough run to separate themselves?

3. I'd play Layman here to start...I do think there is a real effort to play a bigger version of their 1-3-1 system. Let Okogie/Culver battle for the leftover backup minutes here...Layman can move his minutes to the 4 (opening more minutes at the wings if the Vanderbilt experiment fails).

4. We stayed status quo...more so, because nothing better materialized...but JV is an expiring (essentially a Vonleh type of gamble)...let's figure it out? Better to pair him with KAT & Juancho with Davis (assuming Davis is above Naz)?

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[KGdaBom]

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I love to hear the signings even if they are considered a formality. Is it a done deal that Bolmaro will not be coming over this year? If the Wolves want him I bet Ricky and Juancho could do a hell of a recruiting job.

Everything I've heard it's a formality...his season has already begun in Spain...so it would be very complicated & expensive (buyout currently 1.5 mil, I heard). He's getting significantly more run this year already on Spain team...don't know why you wouldn't leave him there vs. him coming to play in G-league here?

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He's a first round pick. We just might think he's good enough to play on the varsity. However, he's still young and developing and I agree it's probably best for all if he stays overseas this year and possibly even next. I like him though. I think he's going to be good. Thanks for the report that his Euroleague team is giving him more run. That's great to hear.

[Klomp]

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I love to hear the signings even if they are considered a formality. Is it a done deal that Bolmaro will not be coming over this year? If the Wolves want him I bet Ricky and Juancho could do a hell of a recruiting job.

Yes. His season has already started in Spain.


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[PharmD]

Rubio starting makes the most sense to me. He always plays hard on both ends and needs his minutes limited. If you want to hold him to 30 minutes playing him "the first 6 minutes, then rest, then 24 of the last 42" is better than starting him on the bench and then trying to play him 30 of the last 42 (or 28 or whatever).

[KGdaBom]

Rubio starting makes the most sense to me. He always plays hard on both ends and needs his minutes limited. If you want to hold him to 30 minutes playing him "the first 6 minutes, then rest, then 24 of the last 42" is better than starting him on the bench and then trying to play him 30 of the last 42 (or 28 or whatever).

The way you put it makes a lot of sense. Great post.

[Jedzz]

Rubio starting makes the most sense to me. He always plays hard on both ends and needs his minutes limited. If you want to hold him to 30 minutes playing him "the first 6 minutes, then rest, then 24 of the last 42" is better than starting him on the bench and then trying to play him 30 of the last 42 (or 28 or whatever).

The way you put it makes a lot of sense. Great post.

I actually am not convinced there is any reasoning to explain the choice in the post.

I think of him now more like Rajon Rondo was to the Lakers. Wasn't starting, but he was there to do his thing whenever he was needed and he didn't disappoint. I think the point made about him always working so hard on both ends is a good one, yet it means his minutes should maybe aim for a max of 25. Taking him out of the starting role and first few minutes is a good way to limit that and could help them work him into lineups where he fits best. Locking him into a starting gig limits the creative ways to get him best involved to me.

[PharmD]

Rubio starting makes the most sense to me. He always plays hard on both ends and needs his minutes limited. If you want to hold him to 30 minutes playing him "the first 6 minutes, then rest, then 24 of the last 42" is better than starting him on the bench and then trying to play him 30 of the last 42 (or 28 or whatever).

The way you put it makes a lot of sense. Great post.

I actually am not convinced there is any reasoning to explain the choice in the post.

I think of him now more like Rajon Rondo was to the Lakers. Wasn't starting, but he was there to do his thing whenever he was needed and he didn't disappoint. I think the point made about him always working so hard on both ends is a good one, yet it means his minutes should maybe aim for a max of 25. Taking him out of the starting role and first few minutes is a good way to limit that and could help them work him into lineups where he fits best. Locking him into a starting gig limits the creative ways to get him best involved to me.

25mpg is not enough. You are missing out on way too many minutes of excellent play. He was able to play 31mpg and be EXTREMELY impactful last year (PIPM had him as a top 20 player, RPM-wins as top 30, etc)

[KGdaBom]

The way you put it makes a lot of sense. Great post.

I actually am not convinced there is any reasoning to explain the choice in the post.

I think of him now more like Rajon Rondo was to the Lakers. Wasn't starting, but he was there to do his thing whenever he was needed and he didn't disappoint. I think the point made about him always working so hard on both ends is a good one, yet it means his minutes should maybe aim for a max of 25. Taking him out of the starting role and first few minutes is a good way to limit that and could help them work him into lineups where he fits best. Locking him into a starting gig limits the creative ways to get him best involved to me.

25mpg is not enough. You are missing out on way too many minutes of excellent play. He was able to play 31mpg and be EXTREMELY impactful last year (PIPM had him as a top 20 player, RPM-wins as top 30, etc)

Once again great point. If Rubio doesn't start his minutes will be limited to the 25 and that isn't enough.

[Klomp]

People are worrying too much about the minutes per game. If we're winning, they won't care.

One thing I heard Rosas mention was how much the team wants to get up and down the court, playing uptempo. I think we could see a team playing even faster than last year's squad that finished fourth in pace. Milwaukee led the league in pace, and Antetokounmpo was the team's only player to average over 30 mpg (30.4). Could easily see something like that happen here, with more balanced minutes across the board to keep guys fresh.

[Merc_Porto]

Rubio starting makes the most sense to me. He always plays hard on both ends and needs his minutes limited. If you want to hold him to 30 minutes playing him "the first 6 minutes, then rest, then 24 of the last 42" is better than starting him on the bench and then trying to play him 30 of the last 42 (or 28 or whatever).

I really dont get it. Is like some people didnt watch him play this past years or something.
A 30yo player in his prime in a team that needs to win right away... Did i forgot to say how impactul this guy is on the court?

Yeah, lets put him in the bench on a 24 minutes per game leash.

And yet, some of the same people were suggesting to trade the whole village + picks to get 30yo Jrue Holiday.
Im not even saying that Rubio is better than Jrue, well... For what Jrue cost, i rather have Rubio for sure.

[Dewey]

Way too early to appoint minutes ... but if we find 5 players with chemistry who can play winning basketball, they are gonna get a **** of minutes

[minimus]

After RHJ signing we still need to find 3rd ballhandler, and I hope McLaughlin will return. At this point, I'd try to trade Nowell for 2nd round pick, because I don't see him getting many minutes behind Edwards, Beasley, Culver and Okogie

KAT/Reid/Davis
Juancho/Vanderbilt/RHJ + McDaniels
Culver/Okogie/Layman
Beasley/Edwards/Okogie
DLo/Rubio/JMac + Hagans

It is not ideal, but it is a deep rotation, good mix of role players, veterans and young stars.

[Merc_Porto]

After RHJ signing we still need to find 3rd ballhandler, and I hope McLaughlin will return. At this point, I'd try to trade Nowell for 2nd round pick, because I don't see him getting many minutes behind Edwards, Beasley, Culver and Okogie

KAT/Reid/Davis
Juancho/Vanderbilt/RHJ + McDaniels
Culver/Okogie/Layman
Beasley/Edwards/Okogie
DLo/Rubio/JMac + Hagans

It is not ideal, but it is a deep rotation, good mix of role players, veterans and young stars.

If you need a 3rd ballhandler, there's Culver.
Would be nice to have JMac back but is not a big deal if he doesn't. Plus we have this kid Hagans now.

[minimus]

After RHJ signing we still need to find 3rd ballhandler, and I hope McLaughlin will return. At this point, I'd try to trade Nowell for 2nd round pick, because I don't see him getting many minutes behind Edwards, Beasley, Culver and Okogie

KAT/Reid/Davis
Juancho/Vanderbilt/RHJ + McDaniels
Culver/Okogie/Layman
Beasley/Edwards/Okogie
DLo/Rubio/JMac + Hagans

It is not ideal, but it is a deep rotation, good mix of role players, veterans and young stars.

If you need a 3rd ballhandler, there's Culver.
Would be nice to have JMac back but is not a big deal if he doesn't. Plus we have this kid Hagans now.

IMO Culver should not initiate the offense. Hagans has potential, but he is not NBA ready. I am expecting our rookies have a very difficult season without preparation. So I am kind of okay with Edwards, McDaniels, and Hagans starting their first season slowly.