Trade Talk (Part 18): Early Season Panic Edition

[Norseman79]

The other thing I would point out is that Ant might need to be the offensive hub out of necessity.

Many posters correctly identify that we don’t have trade assets to acquire a starting PG. We don’t have draft assets, and salary matching would need to send out a player we rely on to meet a certain need on the team. Send out Gobert for the PG we need, and then we have a huge hole at center that needs to be filled.

There has been more talk about Ant being the de facto point guard in the last two weeks, and I’ve seen two national articles where the Wolves have mentioned it. I think that Tim Connelly will continues to to monitor the point guard market, but I think that inevitably Ant will be the “PG” with DiVincenzo paired with him in the back court.

This I agree with

[Norseman79]

The easiest solution, like I’ve said for two years, is for Ant to focus on developing his playmaking.

He’s not there now, and he’s gotten better since the middle of last season, but he has a long way to go. But his athleticism and first step, and his 5ree point shooting, should make it easier for him to make passes, as he continues to improve his ability to read defenses.

I hear this argument and it makes me cringe. I don't want him to be a point guard. I want him to be a stone cold killing scorer. The wolves are responsible to find a point guard to play next to him, not to try to turn him into a point guard. If he gets four to five assists per game that's all he should have to worry about. Some games more some games last. But his primary instinct should be scoring not creating for others.

I think this prototype has been passed by.

Ant is #12 in PPG. Of the 11 above him, only one player has less assists. Most of them have far far more. Is Luka less, or more, of a threat to score because he can pass (35.1 PPG, 9.4 APG)? Shai at 6.7 APG. Maxey at 7.5. Giannis, even Austin Reaves averages more than 6 APG. Ant averages 3.6.

In today’s NBA, the best players are the offensive engine, and they no longer need to be labeled a “PG.”

Like I said, him averaging five or six assist per game no problem. Here's the thing, most of the guys that you're talking about came in the league as point guards who could score and became better scorers. Edwards came in the league as a scorer and he's trying to develop a different mindset to become a facilitator. If he upped it to six assists per game, he would be top 20 in assists. Also, isn't it slightly telling that some of this could be Finch's offense? Edwards is only averaging 3.6 assist per game but he is second on the team to Randle at 5 something. Again, him hitting an open person because he drives the basket and someone helps so he kicks it, that's great. Assuming the person catches it and makes the shot. However, it seems like we get stuck playing ISO ball and he's just expected to create for everyone else. I would love to know how many other players that you're referring to also play for a coach that runs a system that enables them to get that many assists.