Iowa Wolves/G League talk

minimus · Post #181 » by **minimus** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:59 am

Monsterpile wrote:I’ve watched over half the Iowa Wolves games this year so I will give a bit of a report here.

...
...
...

Maybe as encouraging as anything this team is actually winning basketball games. It’s also worth mentioning that rookie guys like Amile and Trimble have been pretty impressive. Maybe this new Thibs Layden combo and their staff has some clue about talent. At least 4 of their players from SL last summer have 2 way contracts this year with other NBA teams. CJ Williams hit a game winner for the Clippers last night. The deadline to sign 2 way contracts is January 11th. It would be kinda weird if they didn’t sign someone. Props to Roth and his staff for turning this team around.

Thank you! Haven't heard about Bryson at all.

Watch on YouTube

So if we need 3&D it is up to Thibs to decide between Bryson, Millsap and Brown

Post #182 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:35 pm

Read on Twitter

life_saver · Post #183 » by **life_saver** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:39 pm

Klomp wrote:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I don't follow G League, so I have no clue..does anyone know anything about this guy(playstyle, position etc)?

Post #184 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:40 pm

upriser7 wrote:I don't follow G League, so I have no clue..does anyone know anything about this guy?

He was in training camp with the Wolves. He's in kinda the Taj Gibson mold, I'd say.

NebWolvesFan · Post #185 » by **NebWolvesFan** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:45 pm

If the Timberwolves didn't sign him to a two-way, another organization would have. I think he's a great G-League player, and I'm sure Iowa wants to keep winning - They have turned around their season. This was a move for the Iowa Wolves, not the Timberwolves. He may get called up late if the Wolves are in a weird spot where they are a few games out of third and a few games up on fifth and Thibs wants to rest some guys. Good for Amile, but he's too much of a tweener for the NBA.

Post #186 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:46 pm

NebWolvesFan wrote:If the Timberwolves didn't sign him to a two-way, another organization would have. I think he's a great G-League player, and I'm sure Iowa wants to keep winning - They have turned around their season. This was a move for the Iowa Wolves, not the Timberwolves.

This is a great point.

Takingbaconback · Post #187 » by **Takingbaconback** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:44 pm

Kinda looks like Trevor Booker a little. I was going to say Booker with a better offensive game, but Trevor Booker could average 25-30 points in G league probably

wolves_89 · Post #188 » by **wolves_89** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:26 pm

From what I've seen Jefferson has a chance to make an NBA roster down the road. His positive attributes seem to include a good basketball IQ, great rebounding (good wingspan), and being a hard worker. On the downside, his offensive skill set is very limited and he doesn't have great size. I'm glad the Wolves finally made use of their second two way contract to keep one of Iowa's best players in the organization.

Crazy-Canuck · Post #189 » by **Crazy-Canuck** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:41 am

I think Amile would learn a great deal as TAj's understudy.

Monsterpile · Post #190 » by **Monsterpile** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 7:29 pm

I agree with the comps to Taj. Both guys have a nice versatile games and also just do whatever is needed. Amile is a bit more perimeter oriented athletically because he is a bit more rangy and skinny. He also has a pretty good handle for the type of guy he might be if he makes it. If he gets the rebound and pushes it up the floor...you don't start screaming at him to get the ball to a guard. He can score facing up taking guys of the dribble and he have even utilized some crossovers on guys. He has pretty refined simple post moves like Taj. When finishing around the basket he can finish more like a guard which is kinda hard to explain but he can kinda contort his body and finish with the ball away from his body. He doesn't just have to get around or through a guy.

Obviously he is doing what he is doing at the G_league level and comparing him to Taj who is a pretty good NBA player is almost not fair, but he is actually somewhat intriguing there are plenty of worthwhile bench NBA bigs that don't wow people. Jon Leuer when healthy, Kyle O'Quinn are a couple guys that come to mind and there are plenty more relatively unheralded guys that I think a number of teams would like to have on their rosters if they are on good contracts. The good franchises find guys that can play that aren't top picks or whatever. Maybe they don't fit a need at the time but you never know when a trade presents itself or an injury or 2 happens. There have also been some pretty good undrafted or 2nd round players that weren't supposed to make it. You never know. Amile is an easy guy to cheer for to hope he makes it. He has done some good things at the G-league level and at college to think there is a chance he could be a player.

Post #191 » by **Klomp** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 7:24 am

I think one way to ease at least some of the cap concerns next year would be to sign a few of these top Iowa guys to the Minnesota club this summer. I think we'll see Patton up here for sure, but we could probably use Brown and Jefferson up here too as depth pieces. They don't necessarily have to be rotational pieces right away, but they can still help us by providing cheap depth to the roster as we get closer to luxury tax status. I'm sure both guys would be more than happy to play on the minimum as it's still a hefty raise from G League pay, so that's two spots you wouldn't have to worry about.

Post #192 » by **Klomp** » Sun Jan 28, 2018 3:01 pm

Watch on YouTube

minimus · Post #193 » by **minimus** » Sun Jan 28, 2018 5:58 pm

Read on Twitter

gandlogo · Post #194 » by **gandlogo** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 3:16 am

Klomp wrote:

Watch on YouTube

Patton has legit size, great feel, and really good handles - far better handles than Jefferson (and I liked Jefferson at Duke) in that video. Wow. Maybe Jefferson can get to a poor-man's Gibson, but Patton screams star to me.

minimus · Post #195 » by **minimus** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:03 am

Btw Jefferson and Patton both can make our roster if Dieng is traded. Could be an alternative scenario for Thibs, and can give some financial flexibility

big3_8_19_21 · Post #196 » by **big3_8_19_21** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:53 am

I like the optimism, but I think *some* (not all) people here need to remember how low the level of competition in the G League is. The last 3 league MVPs have been Vander Blue, Jarnell Stokes and Tim Frazier. Tim Frazier is the only one with an NBA contract.

I like Justin Patton, but I still don't think he's a contributor before year 3. Tyus crushed the G League for 25 points a game as a 19 year old rookie, when he was still clearly not an NBA player yet. Let's hope we feel the same way about Justin in 2 years as we feel about Tyus now.

Post #197 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:43 am

The stats and production at that level don't really matter to me. I care more about skill sets. Vander Blue and Jarnell Stokes didn't really have NBA skill sets. Jonathan Simmons did. Justin Patton does. Look at the eye test, not just the numbers.

NebWolvesFan · Post #198 » by **NebWolvesFan** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 3:02 pm

big3_8_19_21 wrote:I like the optimism, but I think *some* (not all) people here need to remember how low the level of competition in the G League is. The last 3 league MVPs have been Vander Blue, Jarnell Stokes and Tim Frazier. Tim Frazier is the only one with an NBA contract.

I like Justin Patton, but I still don't think he's a contributor before year 3. Tyus crushed the G League for 25 points a game as a 19 year old rookie, when he was still clearly not an NBA player yet. Let's hope we feel the same way about Justin in 2 years as we feel about Tyus now.

Patton seems to pass the eye test. He's just so much bigger than everyone else on those videos. Yes, if MGH was in Des Moines, he would be by far their best player, so I get the debate. But Patton is 7-feet-1. He's running the floor like a deer, hitting 3s and making pinpoint passes. If he was doing what Amile is doing- rebounding and making layups and paint shots, the point would make more sense because there's no way Amile can do those kinds of things in a league with bigger, stronger, more athletic players. But Justin is big enough and athletic enough to match up with NBA players. There's no reason he can't bring his game to the NBA.

I've said this to Bulls fans, and I stand by it. I think, even with Thibs hatred of young players, that Patton has a better all-around year next year than Markkanen. As teams see LM more, they are going to take the 3 away and his game will suffer.

minimus · Post #199 » by **minimus** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 3:28 pm

Nobody is talking about gleague players as full nba starters. But I am more than sure that Amile, Anthony Brown and Patton can do better than Shabazz and Aldrich. Simply because Thibs dont play them.

big3_8_19_21 · Post #200 » by **big3_8_19_21** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:34 pm

minimus wrote:Nobody is talking about gleague players as full nba starters. But I am more than sure that Amile, Anthony Brown and Patton can do better than Shabazz and Aldrich. Simply because Thibs dont play them.

Nor did I say anything about starters. I’m saying I don’t believe either of them are contributors right now and I don’t think either of them will be net positive contributors next year either.

Again, I’m not saying I don’t like Patton or anything like that but (even by eye test), I think if he’s playing NBA minutes next year it’s because Thibs is taking the hit to develop him. I don’t think he’ll be a net positive contributor before year 3. Obviously I’d love to be wrong, but I think he’s got a loooong way to go to be getting rotational minutes on merit.