Constructing the Timberwolves rotation

[TheZachAttack]

So what you are saying is that Rosas is going to trade Towns to optimize Dlo and Edwards as a pair? Ok. If that's what you are saying then just say it. But this is a tall suggestion.

That’s not what I said at all. If anything, I said the opposite. However, that wasn’t by any means my point.

okay I stand corrected. I didnt' get the point then.

The point is that Rosas comes from a school of thought of accumulating talent and not being afraid to change team principles that had previously been laid out in order to optimize that talent. Right now, the path that the Wolves are going on is the 1-3-1 and there is some level of assumption that Rosas is going to be really strict to stick with that by many (myself included). However, it's possible that if the Wolves view Wiseman as a certain type of talent that they may make changes to that framework (ala Houston pivoting off of Capela to optimize Westbrook).

[Jedzz]

That’s not what I said at all. If anything, I said the opposite. However, that wasn’t by any means my point.

okay I stand corrected. I didnt' get the point then.

The point is that Rosas comes from a school of thought of accumulating talent and not being afraid to change team principles that had previously been laid out in order to optimize that talent. Right now, the path that the Wolves are going on is the 1-3-1 and there is some level of assumption that Rosas is going to be really strict to stick with that by many (myself included). However, it's possible that if the Wolves view Wiseman as a certain type of talent that they may make changes to that framework (ala Houston pivoting off of Capela to optimize Westbrook).

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

[TheZachAttack]

okay I stand corrected. I didnt' get the point then.

The point is that Rosas comes from a school of thought of accumulating talent and not being afraid to change team principles that had previously been laid out in order to optimize that talent. Right now, the path that the Wolves are going on is the 1-3-1 and there is some level of assumption that Rosas is going to be really strict to stick with that by many (myself included). However, it's possible that if the Wolves view Wiseman as a certain type of talent that they may make changes to that framework (ala Houston pivoting off of Capela to optimize Westbrook).

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

[Neeva]

The point is that Rosas comes from a school of thought of accumulating talent and not being afraid to change team principles that had previously been laid out in order to optimize that talent. Right now, the path that the Wolves are going on is the 1-3-1 and there is some level of assumption that Rosas is going to be really strict to stick with that by many (myself included). However, it's possible that if the Wolves view Wiseman as a certain type of talent that they may make changes to that framework (ala Houston pivoting off of Capela to optimize Westbrook).

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

Dont know why wolves would have to include the nets pick. beal plays really bad defense also and will need a new contract soon.

[TheZachAttack]

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

Dont know why wolves would have to include the nets pick. beal plays really bad defense also and will need a new contract soon.

Even better. I’m not saying specifically trade for Beal it either just doing a thought experiment.

How about this? Beal/#6 for Towns. #17/Culver for #8-12 (whatever it gets you).

Draft Vassell and Nesmith

D Lo/McLaughlin
Beal/Nesmith
Vassell/Beasley/Okogie
Layman/Jauncho
Wiseman/Reid

We’d certainly have a lot of shooting.

[KGdaBom]

The point is that Rosas comes from a school of thought of accumulating talent and not being afraid to change team principles that had previously been laid out in order to optimize that talent. Right now, the path that the Wolves are going on is the 1-3-1 and there is some level of assumption that Rosas is going to be really strict to stick with that by many (myself included). However, it's possible that if the Wolves view Wiseman as a certain type of talent that they may make changes to that framework (ala Houston pivoting off of Capela to optimize Westbrook).

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

I really can't see any way we trade KAT or D'Lo at this time. It would cause a mutiny.

[TheZachAttack]

Thank you, makes total sense now. He could pivot off of Towns as well to optimize our top draft options now too I suppose is what I was saying. Somehow I made the leap to yours saying the same. My bad.

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

I really can't see any way we trade KAT or D'Lo at this time. It would cause a mutiny.

I can’t either. It was just a thought exercise about how to use the assets on the Wolves roster to create the best possible future team. Maybe, given some of KAT’s limitations, it would be trading him. I would not have thought the Rockets were going to trade Paul or Capela.

[Jedzz]

I see how that could come across, no worries. He could pivot off of Towns to optimize our top draft options... but I think that Towns is considered the centerpiece. However, maybe that is something that hasn't been considered that should be given the Houston background. Now, also maybe after trading for D Lo that's not something that will ever happen.

What if you draft Wiseman and then were to trade Towns for... well who could you get? What would that roster potential look like if Wiseman reaches his 75-85th percentile outcome?

For example, Towns/#17 for Beal/#6? Draft Vassell or your choice of wing.

Starters:

D Lo
Beal
Vassell
_____ (Layman/Jauncho/Johnson)
Wiseman

Bench Rotation -

Beasley - 6th man
Okogie - 7th man/defensive stopper
Culver - 3rd backup wing
McLaughlin - Backup PG
Reid - Backup C
Layman/Jauncho/Johnson - PFs




Does that get you closer to where you want to be?

I really can't see any way we trade KAT or D'Lo at this time. It would cause a mutiny.

I can’t either. It was just a thought exercise about how to use the assets on the Wolves roster to create the best possible future team. Maybe, given some of KAT’s limitations, it would be trading him. I would not have thought the Rockets were going to trade Paul or Capela.

Right. If this really is Houston North expect anything. But if you Trade Kat, might as well send Dlo with him to AZ. Then who's left to "mutiny"? Anyone left would be large and now moreso in charge as the team brings in oodles of new draft picks and everyone gets ready to put up 50 3pt shots a game. Ive got a list around here somewhere pointing out who can hit 3s. 3 guards all hitting around 40%, a SF or PF hitting 40%, and Wiserman making our necks hurt as he screams from one end to the other and back all game.

[minimus]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

[shrink]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

Good post, and I like the unripe fruit analogy.

I wonder though if we keep players like Nowell and Vanderbilt, do we run out of roster spots? Selling #33 makes me ill. We can try for consolidation trades, but everyone wants consolidation trades now.

[minimus]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

Good post, and I like the unripe fruit analogy.

I wonder though if we keep players like Nowell and Vanderbilt, do we run out of roster spots? Selling #33 makes me ill. We can try for consolidation trades, but everyone wants consolidation trades now.

I have faith in Gupta. We should use possibilities, even non-standard, to keep the highest level of talent and potential possible. I mean PHI have problems because Brand front office lacks long term vision, execution, and creativity. I hope we can avoid such problems.

[KGdaBom]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

I agree with not giving up on Culver. He has skills. Nowell and Vanderbilt Meh. Absolutely Keep JMac and sign him for 3 or 4 years cheap while we still can. I don't consider Beasley a role player. He might be our second leading scorer. Hernangomez is our best option to start at PF unless we draft one.If we're drafting BPA no question it's Wiseman.

[Dewey]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

I agree with not giving up on Culver. He has skills. Nowell and Vanderbilt Meh. Absolutely Keep JMac and sign him for 3 or 4 years cheap while we still can. I don't consider Beasley a role player. He might be our second leading scorer. Hernangomez is our best option to start at PF unless we draft one.If we're drafting BPA no question it's Wiseman.

Right now the front office perception of Beasley is largely unknown ... they saw him perform pretty well, but I dont know if that has influenced their desire to retain him or added incentive to move him to avoid paying. Hernangomez much the same, but I feel he's far more likely to take a reasonable deal to stay than Beasley.

In terms of need, we have to upgrade our F/C position and there are several options. First, It will all need to start with our own value of the #1, trade down options to acquire assets, the Beasley factor, and team depth.

I'm game to keep Culver around at SG/SF... don't see good value in moving him now.
JMac has earned a check.

We know so little on the prospects with out the full NCAA season and tounrament, and as a result, there's less hype which I think is actually good. I'm all over the place on favorites, but I do like (no specific order) Edwards, Wiseman, Ukongwu, Avdija all for different reasons. Edwards (potential), Wiseman (intrigue), Ukongwu (fit), and Avdijva (all-sround talent/IQ).

The #17 could be a legit sleeper.

[KGdaBom]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

I agree with not giving up on Culver. He has skills. Nowell and Vanderbilt Meh. Absolutely Keep JMac and sign him for 3 or 4 years cheap while we still can. I don't consider Beasley a role player. He might be our second leading scorer. Hernangomez is our best option to start at PF unless we draft one.If we're drafting BPA no question it's Wiseman.

Right now the front office perception of Beasley is largely unknown ... they saw him perform pretty well, but I dont know if that has influenced their desire to retain him or added incentive to move him to avoid paying. Hernangomez much the same, but I feel he's far more likely to take a reasonable deal to stay than Beasley.

In terms of need, we have to upgrade our F/C position and there are several options. First, It will all need to start with our own value of the #1, trade down options to acquire assets, the Beasley factor, and team depth.

I'm game to keep Culver around at SG/SF... don't see good value in moving him now.
JMac has earned a check.

We know so little on the prospects with out the full NCAA season and tounrament, and as a result, there's less hype which I think is actually good. I'm all over the place on favorites, but I do like (no specific order) Edwards, Wiseman, Ukongwu, Avdija all for different reasons. Edwards (potential), Wiseman (intrigue), Ukongwu (fit), and Avdijva (talent/IQ). Will see I guess.

You have the same players at the top as me. However, one slight disagreement. Beasley has proven himself at this point to be our 3rd best player and top shooting guard. We better intend to keep him. Of course not at any price, but under current market conditions I believe his price will be reasonable. If we don't feel like keeping him around something is seriously wrong with our management. Why did we make the trade in the first place if we only wanted him for half a season?

[Dewey]

I agree with not giving up on Culver. He has skills. Nowell and Vanderbilt Meh. Absolutely Keep JMac and sign him for 3 or 4 years cheap while we still can. I don't consider Beasley a role player. He might be our second leading scorer. Hernangomez is our best option to start at PF unless we draft one.If we're drafting BPA no question it's Wiseman.

Right now the front office perception of Beasley is largely unknown ... they saw him perform pretty well, but I dont know if that has influenced their desire to retain him or added incentive to move him to avoid paying. Hernangomez much the same, but I feel he's far more likely to take a reasonable deal to stay than Beasley.

In terms of need, we have to upgrade our F/C position and there are several options. First, It will all need to start with our own value of the #1, trade down options to acquire assets, the Beasley factor, and team depth.

I'm game to keep Culver around at SG/SF... don't see good value in moving him now.
JMac has earned a check.

We know so little on the prospects with out the full NCAA season and tounrament, and as a result, there's less hype which I think is actually good. I'm all over the place on favorites, but I do like (no specific order) Edwards, Wiseman, Ukongwu, Avdija all for different reasons. Edwards (potential), Wiseman (intrigue), Ukongwu (fit), and Avdijva (talent/IQ). Will see I guess.

You have the same players at the top as me. However, one slight disagreement. Beasley has proven himself at this point to be our 3rd best player and top shooting guard. We better intend to keep him. Of course not at any price, but under current market conditions I believe his price will be reasonable. If we don't feel like keeping him around something is seriously wrong with our management. Why did we make the trade in the first place if we only wanted him for half a season?

I agree with most everything, but I'm just saying if his value can be used to execute a trade for a bigger target, they'd look hard at that. Otherwise, sure ... we would all assume they'll try to resign him to a fair deal and keep him as planned.

[minimus]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

Good post, and I like the unripe fruit analogy.

I wonder though if we keep players like Nowell and Vanderbilt, do we run out of roster spots? Selling #33 makes me ill. We can try for consolidation trades, but everyone wants consolidation trades now.

If we don't trade multiple players for a star I can see going another direction, keeping young players, and using deep rotation. I mean poor bench play has been our issue for years. Using one player such as DRose, JC, Shabazz Muhammad to provide scoring punch is not a solution. Making young players play one unit is a complex problem. Thibs was never trying this, but I think Ryan can make it work with right players. Finding decent backup PG, secondary ballhandler is crucial for us. Either JMac, Campazzo, Cassius Winston or LaMelo/Hayes, we should find someone who can run our offense with the bench unit.

So main improvements should come from:

* - KAT-Dlo-Beasley(???) elevate play
* - deep rotation as an advantage
* - steady decision making from PG position

[Klomp]

If we don't trade multiple players for a star I can see going another direction, keeping young players, and using deep rotation.

Yeah, this is where my focus has been for awhile. Even last summer you could see this mindset from Rosas. Accumulate young players on tradeable contracts, to where they can be combined for a big trade package or let them develop. Looking back on the Harden trade, they dealt a pretty good but older starter (Martin), a young just-drafted prospect (Lamb, #12), two future firsts and a second for Harden. Moves like the deadline trade with Covington are right out of the old Houston playbook....older starter moved for young prospects and a pick.

I think sometimes trades like these have to be looked at linearly and not as a single move. While announced as a 4-team deal, you could say that getting two 1sts for Covington (one was transferred to Denver in the deal) allowed Minnesota to send one out in the deal for Russell the next day. Houston trading Kyle Lowry for a 1st is seen as a poor deal when just analyzing a single move, but that pick was part of the Harden trade three months later.

These are also reasons why I believe the most likely draft picks if we make the No. 1 pick would be Ball or Edwards, not Wiseman. They are most likely to hold their immediate trade value. Unless Wiseman shows he's more PF than C, I don't think most teams will view a C like Wiseman as holding high enough trade value as a Minnesota asset.

[shrink]

The more I think about PHI situation, the more I'm sure that we might need to wait another season, continue to collect, develop, and evaluate young talents. Wait until our young players start to blossom. Trading them now is like eating unripe fruits. Unless we get a star, it is worth to wait.

* - Culver should not be traded for little value like Fultz was
* - Nowell, Vanderbilt should not be waived like Trey Burke was
* - JMac should be kept
* - don't overpay role players, i.e. Beasley, Juancho
* - draft BPA, not the best fit

Good post, and I like the unripe fruit analogy.

I wonder though if we keep players like Nowell and Vanderbilt, do we run out of roster spots? Selling #33 makes me ill. We can try for consolidation trades, but everyone wants consolidation trades now.

If we don't trade multiple players for a star I can see going another direction, keeping young players, and using deep rotation. I mean poor bench play has been our issue for years. Using one player such as DRose, JC, Shabazz Muhammad to provide scoring punch is not a solution. Making young players play one unit is a complex problem. Thibs was never trying this, but I think Ryan can make it work with right players. Finding decent backup PG, secondary ballhandler is crucial for us. Either JMac, Campazzo, Cassius Winston or LaMelo/Hayes, we should find someone who can run our offense with the bench unit.

So main improvements should come from:

* - KAT-Dlo-Beasley(???) elevate play
* - deep rotation as an advantage
* - steady decision making from PG position

Before we talk about who gets the minutes, we have to figure out who makes the team, with only 15 roster slots.

8 under contract for next year (KAT, DLo, Johnson, Layman, Culver, Okogie, Spellman, Evans)
3 on cheap team options (Naz, Nowell, Vanderbilt)
2 with Bird rights (Beasley, Juancho)
1 Free Agent we want to keep cheap (McLaughlin)
3 Picks (#1, #17, #33)
1 MLE (not using it is a waste)

That’s 18 guys for 15 roster slots. Cutting Evans is likely, but it costs us cap space since this year is guaranteed. Spellman has value. If we don’t waive some unripe fruit like Nowell and Vanderbilt, we are really in desperate need of a consolidation trade - which is tough when many teams also want consolidation trades themselves.

[minimus]

If we don't trade multiple players for a star I can see going another direction, keeping young players, and using deep rotation.

Yeah, this is where my focus has been for awhile. Even last summer you could see this mindset from Rosas. Accumulate young players on tradeable contracts, to where they can be combined for a big trade package or let them develop. Looking back on the Harden trade, they dealt a pretty good but older starter (Martin), a young just-drafted prospect (Lamb, #12), two future firsts and a second for Harden. Moves like the deadline trade with Covington are right out of the old Houston playbook....older starter moved for young prospects and a pick.

I think sometimes trades like these have to be looked at linearly and not as a single move. While announced as a 4-team deal, you could say that getting two 1sts for Covington (one was transferred to Denver in the deal) allowed Minnesota to send one out in the deal for Russell the next day. Houston trading Kyle Lowry for a 1st is seen as a poor deal when just analyzing a single move, but that pick was part of the Harden trade three months later.

Yeah, I can see us we having another crazy offseason when more than half of roster will be traded before deadline. There so many moving parts right now because of COVID: draft, playoffs, FA market, extended time for recovery and offseason work etc.

[minimus]

Good post, and I like the unripe fruit analogy.

I wonder though if we keep players like Nowell and Vanderbilt, do we run out of roster spots? Selling #33 makes me ill. We can try for consolidation trades, but everyone wants consolidation trades now.

If we don't trade multiple players for a star I can see going another direction, keeping young players, and using deep rotation. I mean poor bench play has been our issue for years. Using one player such as DRose, JC, Shabazz Muhammad to provide scoring punch is not a solution. Making young players play one unit is a complex problem. Thibs was never trying this, but I think Ryan can make it work with right players. Finding decent backup PG, secondary ballhandler is crucial for us. Either JMac, Campazzo, Cassius Winston or LaMelo/Hayes, we should find someone who can run our offense with the bench unit.

So main improvements should come from:

* - KAT-Dlo-Beasley(???) elevate play
* - deep rotation as an advantage
* - steady decision making from PG position

Before we talk about who gets the minutes, we have to figure out who makes the team, with only 15 roster slots.

8 under contract for next year (KAT, DLo, Johnson, Layman, Culver, Okogie, Spellman, Evans)
3 on cheap team options (Naz, Nowell, Vanderbilt)
2 with Bird rights (Beasley, Juancho)
1 Free Agent we want to keep cheap (McLaughlin)
3 Picks (#1, #17, #33)
1 MLE (not using it is a waste)

That’s 18 guys for 15 roster slots. Cutting Evans is likely, but it costs us cap space since this year is guaranteed. Spellman has value. If we don’t waive some unripe fruit like Nowell and Vanderbilt, we are really in desperate need of a consolidation trade - which is tough when many teams also want consolidation trades themselves.

Evans, Spellman are waivers candidates. Juancho might be traded via sign and trade if there is no place for him. I believe that #1, #17, #33 picks will be used as a winning card combination. If not, #33 eurostash project?