Starting Russell, Beasley, Edwards and Towns

[Baseline81]

In Dane Moore's latest podcast with Britt Robson, he brought up whether starting Russell, Beasley, Edwards and Towns will lead to a winning formula. He doesn't believe having so many one dimensional players, in this case offensive-oriented ones, can ever overcome their defensive weakness. As such, he would be willing trade Beasley (selling high) in order for better balance.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rQDNgV6hBSFp8Wl5Yfajl

[Merc_Porto]

Let's be serious...
KAT is the star
With Edwards, there's hope that he can turn around.
Beasley is a elite shooter but he can't do anything else. On a great contract. So, he's a keeper.

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

[K4P]

Yeah that perimeter trio is doomed with their collective lack of defensive awareness lol. It would be one thing if one of them was a bonafide offensive star, but they are all pretty flawed offensively as well (Russell’s lack of FTs, Ants finishing, Beasley’s decision making). I hope Rosas knows that by and makes another big move.

[Klomp]

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

[winforlose]

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

This, plus Naz isn’t exactly known for his rebounding or defense. When you have no one to clean the glass or protect the paint of course your defense is going to suffer, Dlo, Rubio, it didn’t matter, the whole starting unit was fu****. As for offense, when KAT is on the floor it is much harder to shut down Beasley. With all three on the floor Dlo or Beasley will always have the realistic chance at an open 3.

Finally, it’s worth noting that when you have the ball you set the pace and you control your movement level. On defense it’s the opposite, your running more, fighting through screens, trying to deal with the opponents pace. In other words defense takes a lot more energy and effort. When you are in contention for the playoffs and are competitive in the game your playing you play harder. When your best player is out and down 20 because your totally outsized and your PFs are trash (Juancho and Layman while Towns is out,) it is much easier to quit mid game. Especially with Ryan the great steering the ship.

[theGreatRC]

I would bet money on Jaden being the starting SF/PF in 2-3 years and being one hell of an impact player.

Jury is still out on Edwards..he definitely needs guidance but he shows superstar flashes.

[Calinks]

They are all still young enough that they can get better. People write Beasley off but this is the first season he is consistently getting big minutes, he has room to grow. Russell has been tragic, he's the biggest concern but it's not impossible for even him to improve on that end. I agree the odds don't look great but I wouldn't say there is no chance they improve. You don't have to play elite defense, you just have to be solid and anyone is capable of being solid, particularly when it's a unit doing it together.

[Merc_Porto]

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Isn't he supposed to be a star?
I mean stars or guys earning 30M per seaso should be someone that carry a team in a positive way.

[winforlose]

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Isn't he supposed to be a star?
I mean stars or guys earning 30M per seaso should be someone that carry a team in a positive way.

Even a star needs some help. Having a real coach will help. Your also forgetting that Dlo is 25 years old having just turned 25 this week. The fact that he was a negative on a team where everyone was hurt and your always losing isn’t dispositive of anything. Give the kid a chance to play with a healthy Towns and Beasley.

[Merc_Porto]

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Isn't he supposed to be a star?
I mean stars or guys earning 30M per seaso should be someone that carry a team in a positive way.

Even a star needs some help. Having a real coach will help. Your also forgetting that Dlo is 25 years old having just turned 25 this week. The fact that he was a negative on a team where everyone was hurt and your always losing isn’t dispositive of anything. Give the kid a chance to play with a healthy Towns and Beasley.

Stars elevate the teamates. Not the other way around.
He's no star and never was one.
That's something Dlo never did in his career.
Yes, he's 25yo while being in his 4th team in five years.

No team in their right mind have Dlo as one of the 'stars' while earning 30M. Unfortunely or fortunately (depening of the POV) this banana crew experience is going to end soon.

You guys can keep dreaming (i understand, you need to have faith in something) that in a magical way we are going to start winning by just playing and paying 60M per season this guys.

A matter of time. You'll see. Unfortunely i keep saying this too many times about this franchise and the direction we take. But some you never learn.

[Klomp]

You guys can keep dreaming (i understand, you need to have faith in something) that in a magical way we are going to start winning by just playing and paying 60M per season this guys.

A matter of time. You'll see. Unfortunely i keep saying this too many times about this franchise and the direction we take. But some you never learn.

No, I don't think that we're going to start win just by paying these guys. But I also understand that taking Russell out doesn't automatically lead to wins either as you seem to think.

[Merc_Porto]

You guys can keep dreaming (i understand, you need to have faith in something) that in a magical way we are going to start winning by just playing and paying 60M per season this guys.

A matter of time. You'll see. Unfortunely i keep saying this too many times about this franchise and the direction we take. But some you never learn.

No, I don't think that we're going to start win just by paying these guys. But I also understand that taking Russell out doesn't automatically lead to wins either as you seem to think.

Taking Russell out and his massive negative contract gives the Timberwolves in this case an opportunity to retool and built the right way a team for then start to win.

Keeping Russell is going to be dragging the mediocrity for a couple more years.

[shrink]

What do I think will happen? Rosas will feel the heat, and listen to Malik Beasley offers at the deadline. However, with so many changes going on, (changes from Finch, and these four players hardly playing together), trades won’t be considered until this summer.

What do I think should happen? I agree that the team needs time to be assessed together. There is plenty of room for individual growth with all these players, and we could see some over the next few months. Unfortunately, Russell has the least chance to grow defensively, with low athleticism and honestly, little interest in defending. The mistakes Edwards makes could be attributed to youth. The mistakes Towns and Beasley make are from being overly aggressive, Vanterpool is a good coach, but the players can learn to listen.

People like to say, “MIN can’t trade DLo because since he’s KAT’s friend, KAT would demand out.” Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not — honestly, no one really knows. We know KAT wanted Ryan Saunders to stay as coach. DLo would certainly be the hardest to get rid of, costing more assets. But he is also the easiest to replace, since the NBA’s PG market is overflowing right now.

MIN needs Edwards to improve and become a star. MIN needs KAT to improve defensively. And I think MIN needs Beasley, or Russell, to be a two-way player. I think the first two are possible, but the third might need a trade.

[PharmD]

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Isn't he supposed to be a star?
I mean stars or guys earning 30M per seaso should be someone that carry a team in a positive way.

Every team DLo has ever played on has been better when he's off the floor with the exception of the 18-19 Nets where he was neutral (on/off +0.1). Dude has played for 4 franchises and has a career winning percentage under 32%.

[m2002brian]

EVERYBODY on this team looked worse without Towns in the lineup.

When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Isn't he supposed to be a star?
I mean stars or guys earning 30M per seaso should be someone that carry a team in a positive way.

Every team DLo has ever played on has been better when he's off the floor with the exception of the 18-19 Nets where he was neutral (on/off +0.1). Dude has played for 4 franchises and has a career winning percentage under 32%.

His contract is a joke and completely disrespects players who have actually earned it.
Trying to placate another player who hasn’t proven sh*t with another player who has only proven he is sh*t just goes to show just how poorly this teams ownership and manage actually understand basketball.

[Foye]

What do I think will happen? Rosas will feel the heat, and listen to Malik Beasley offers at the deadline. However, with so many changes going on, (changes from Finch, and these four players hardly playing together), trades won’t be considered until this summer.

What do I think should happen? I agree that the team needs time to be assessed together. There is plenty of room for individual growth with all these players, and we could see some over the next few months. Unfortunately, Russell has the least chance to grow defensively, with low athleticism and honestly, little interest in defending. The mistakes Edwards makes could be attributed to youth. The mistakes Towns and Beasley make are from being overly aggressive, Vanterpool is a good coach, but the players can learn to listen.

People like to say, “MIN can’t trade DLo because since he’s KAT’s friend, KAT would demand out.” Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not — honestly, no one really knows. We know KAT wanted Ryan Saunders to stay as coach. DLo would certainly be the hardest to get rid of, costing more assets. But he is also the easiest to replace, since the NBA’s PG market is overflowing right now.

MIN needs Edwards to improve and become a star. MIN needs KAT to improve defensively. And I think MIN needs Beasley, or Russell, to be a two-way player. I think the first two are possible, but the third might need a trade.

Min cant trade Russell because he is the worst contract in the league.

[shrink]

What do I think will happen? Rosas will feel the heat, and listen to Malik Beasley offers at the deadline. However, with so many changes going on, (changes from Finch, and these four players hardly playing together), trades won’t be considered until this summer.

What do I think should happen? I agree that the team needs time to be assessed together. There is plenty of room for individual growth with all these players, and we could see some over the next few months. Unfortunately, Russell has the least chance to grow defensively, with low athleticism and honestly, little interest in defending. The mistakes Edwards makes could be attributed to youth. The mistakes Towns and Beasley make are from being overly aggressive, Vanterpool is a good coach, but the players can learn to listen.

People like to say, “MIN can’t trade DLo because since he’s KAT’s friend, KAT would demand out.” Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not — honestly, no one really knows. We know KAT wanted Ryan Saunders to stay as coach. DLo would certainly be the hardest to get rid of, costing more assets. But he is also the easiest to replace, since the NBA’s PG market is overflowing right now.

MIN needs Edwards to improve and become a star. MIN needs KAT to improve defensively. And I think MIN needs Beasley, or Russell, to be a two-way player. I think the first two are possible, but the third might need a trade.

Min cant trade Russell because he is the worst contract in the league.

I agree it’s awful, which is why I said it would cost more assets. If it makes you feel any better, the Trade Board did a poll, and DLo came in as the sixth worst.

1. Russell Westbrook (3 years, 132.7 million, includes 3rd year 47.1 million player option)
2. Klay Thompson (4 years, 157.2 million)
3. John Wall (3 years, 133 million, includes 3rd year 47.4 million player option)
4. Kevin Love (3 years, 91.5 million)
5. Blake Griffin (2 years, 75.8 million, includes 2nd year 39.0 million player option)
6. D'Angelo Russell (3 years, 90.3 million)

And if you actually are feeling better, here’s a shot to the gut.

7. Andrew Wiggins (3 years, 94.7 million)

[Foye]

What do I think will happen? Rosas will feel the heat, and listen to Malik Beasley offers at the deadline. However, with so many changes going on, (changes from Finch, and these four players hardly playing together), trades won’t be considered until this summer.

What do I think should happen? I agree that the team needs time to be assessed together. There is plenty of room for individual growth with all these players, and we could see some over the next few months. Unfortunately, Russell has the least chance to grow defensively, with low athleticism and honestly, little interest in defending. The mistakes Edwards makes could be attributed to youth. The mistakes Towns and Beasley make are from being overly aggressive, Vanterpool is a good coach, but the players can learn to listen.

People like to say, “MIN can’t trade DLo because since he’s KAT’s friend, KAT would demand out.” Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not — honestly, no one really knows. We know KAT wanted Ryan Saunders to stay as coach. DLo would certainly be the hardest to get rid of, costing more assets. But he is also the easiest to replace, since the NBA’s PG market is overflowing right now.

MIN needs Edwards to improve and become a star. MIN needs KAT to improve defensively. And I think MIN needs Beasley, or Russell, to be a two-way player. I think the first two are possible, but the third might need a trade.

Min cant trade Russell because he is the worst contract in the league.

I agree it’s awful, which is why I said it would cost more assets. If it makes you feel any better, the Trade Board did a poll, and DLo came in as the sixth worst.

1. Russell Westbrook (3 years, 132.7 million, includes 3rd year 47.1 million player option)
2. Klay Thompson (4 years, 157.2 million)
3. John Wall (3 years, 133 million, includes 3rd year 47.4 million player option)
4. Kevin Love (3 years, 91.5 million)
5. Blake Griffin (2 years, 75.8 million, includes 2nd year 39.0 million player option)
6. D'Angelo Russell (3 years, 90.3 million)

And if you actually are feeling better, here’s a shot to the gut.

7. Andrew Wiggins (3 years, 94.7 million)

Ok, so he is maybe the 5th worst contract in the league. Griffins contract is better, he is gone sooner.
Does not make it any better.

[Jedzz]

Let's be serious...
KAT is the star
With Edwards, there's hope that he can turn around.
Beasley is a elite shooter but he can't do anything else. On a great contract. So, he's a keeper.

And Dlo is KAT bff on a 30M per year with every stat showing that he's one of the worst players in the league to win basketball games.

EVERYBODY knows who is the weakest link.

via John Hollinger @ The Athletic

Minnesota has been outscored by a whopping 14.1 points per 100 possessions when Russell plays — by far the worst figure on the team. When he sits, the Wolves are nearly a break-even proposition, and that includes several hundred minutes without Towns. You could dismiss this as a statistical fluke more easily if last season’s Warriors weren’t also better without him.

Read on Twitter

How much BS is that line? Dlo has missed a ton of games this season already. Where is the .500 breakeven play when he's not there? Point it out someone, anyone? Hollinger? Point it the hell out or quick making this stuff up and for petes sake stop quoting this junk.

Can anyone just talk honestly about this? The logjamming moves of the offseason brought Edwards and Rubio into the fold and it broke the Dlo gameplan. That's all this is. There was a way to make this Dlo thing work and they broke it before it started. That's all the numbers shed light on.

[Dewey]

This is dumb ... we are 7-26 ... those playing are playing losing basketball. There’s your stat.