Edwards should play significant minutes with the 2nd unit

[TaylorTag]

There's a good chance Ricky Rubio is not on our team next season, whether we keep the pick or do not, which means this charade of Russell being a 6th man will come to an end.

With Russell being inserted in the starting lineup -- assuming we don't keep our pick and draft Suggs, who would theoretically just step into Rubio's role from Day 1 -- then D'Lo will likely be our starting PG. If that's the case, how Finch's lineup rotations will have to change.

Overall, Russell has done an awesome job orchestrating the offense with McLaughlin/Hernanongomez/Vanderbilt/Reid.. There's a good chance that all four of those guys come back next year and have an important role -- Hernangomez and Reid are under contract and will likely be here; Vanderbilt is a RFA and seems to have impressed with his hustle in recent weeks, plus we have a need at PF; and McLaughlin seems to have a special place in Finch's heart, so the question becomes who runs that unit next season.

The reason this is tricky is because, sans Rubio, the Wolves do not have an experienced, starting PG that can either play with the first team or lead the second unit. Again, if the Wolves draft Suggs then this all becomes moot (and Russell may have to live with his 6th man role going forward). But if we don't keep the pick, or we go Mobley, then there is a big hole following Rubio's departure.. McGlaughlin is not exactly a guy you want playing significant minutes.

If the Wolves fail to trade for a PG or find one in free agency, then D'Lo will be the instant starter, leaving the question: How will Finch handle the rotations. In the past couple of weeks, Finch's first sub has been brining on D'Lo for Rubio (which has been happening earlier and earlier in the game too). Assuming that Rubio is gone next year and the Beasely is on the team, the SG out of Florida State will be the odd man out of the core in terms of who is a "starter."

To make sure our lineups are balanced and acceptable to the egos of our "star" players, think we could see a gameplan next year where Beasely is the first to come off the bench, subbing for Edwards. Then we could see our backup PG (whoever that is) come in for Russell at the same time with Juancho coming in for Okogie. Then you remove KAT, McDaniels and Beasely for Reid, Vanderbilt and Edwards..

With that rotation, you always have a ball handler on the floor, plus a 2nd unit of McLaughlin, Edwards, Junacho, Vanderbilt, Reid would give Edwards the license to play his isolation game, while KAT and Russell can spend more time on the floor to do their two-man action.

And with Beasely coming in for Edwards off the bench, that means he can spend some of his time on the floor with the first unit, which as a lot of people point out, is when Beasely is most effective. Unlike D'Lo, Beasely is not a guy you want leading a 2nd unit.

If the Wolves maintain most of their core next season and Rubio does leave, how do you think it will play out? It will be interesting to see how the Wolves address the PG position. I know we looked at that guy from Europe a couple of weeks ago, Pierra Henry, which seemed like a good fit.. Ideally, our backup PG behind Russell is a defensive-oriented player who can be low-usage and hit 3s when needed, something that Rubio is not.

Edwards, though, has proven that he can take over the offense when needed. Why not encourage that by having him lead the second unit?

[Klomp]

I don't see it happening. He may play in lineups with bench players, but won't come off the bench.

[shrink]

While most people predict it, I am not sure it is a done deal that Ricky will be gone next year. Both Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker credit Ricky for their leaps to stardom the last two years, and if Rosas thinks he can help Anthony Edwards, he may stick. If that happens, the Wolves still need to cut some salary to get under the lux, I think MIN would then trade Beasley for cap space and either a PF or draft equity.

If Rubio is indeed traded, I could see him going to CHI. They need what he does, and he may help Zach LaVine make that star leap, plus he already has experience knowing how to feed him. In a deal with CHI, I could see Sato as part of the package, and that would fill our need for a #2 PG.

Nice post, MPLS.

[Dewey]

2nd unit? We should focus on establishing a 1st unit.