Physical, Smashmouth Basketball

[PeeDee]

With Big Al emerging as a low post dynamo, I think it signifies the direction the Timberwolves should go as they build toward the future. That is, I think they should build a physical, grind-it-out ball club that takes full advantage of their low post star.

How do you do this? Surround your post player with effcient and consistent jump shooters and quick penetrating guards. Also, you're going to need a defensive minded center who can clean up any mess around the basket and keep the other team's center honest. Speaking of defense, this is one trait that should be emphasized in the selection of draft picks and free agents. If you don't want to or can't defend, go play for someone else.

If I were in charge of constructing a team like this, I would do the following (all things being equal of course):

*Draft Donte Greene. He has a sweet jumper, can play multiple positions, and he wants to (and is able to) play defense. Him, Brewer and McCants would be a nice rotation at the 2 and 3.

*Trade for a second first round pick and select Roy Hibbert. He's big, he plays good post defense and he passes very well for a big man. Him, Jefferson and Greene would make an intimidating front court imo. We'll likely have two high second rounders, Craig Smith, Ryan Gomes, a future first rounder, or even McCants as bait.

*Sign Patrick O'Bryant. Bolsters our front court even more. Even if he is still raw, I'm sure he would be serviceable in a back-up role. He has shown glimpses in a limited role so I think he has certain traits that would be useful to the team (SIZE!). Plus, hes from Sota so he may even WANT to come here.

*Re-sign Rattliff. If we can afford him, re-sign Theo short term to tutor our young front court.

We would go into next season looking like this:

C: Hibbert/O'Bryant/Rattliff
F: Jefferson/Richard/Walker
F: Greene/Brewer/Jaric
G: McCants/Brewer/Buckner
G: Foye/(Telfair?)/Jaric

I left Smith and Gomes out because I'm not sure if they would be traded or if we'd even have the $$ to re-sign them.

What would you do?

[4ho5ive]

First of all Welcome to the Wolves board!! We can always use more posters.

Secondly, I think most of us here feel the same way as to what direction we want to move this team. I think Jefferson and Foye will complement each others games oh so well once Foye comes back. McCants is showing he can be that scorer/jumpshooter to help spread the floor and take pressure off out guys. I dont know to much about Greene so i cant really comment. But if he does play solid defense and can hit a mid range jumper, i think he might be a great fit here. Is he worth a top-4 pick however? I dunno

Also I love Hibbert, I think he will be a great player, but he seems to be more offensive oriented than I would like out of our future 5. I want a defense enforcer that can clean the glass, block shots and get garbage points. DeVon Hardin fits that description perfectly IMO.

I know Rev will hate it but if we bait a team with Gomes and maybe one of our 2nd round picks for a late 1st and grab Beasely and Hardin I would be ecstatic.

[revprodeji]

Anyone who wants hibbert/greene works for me.

Beasley would not fit with what the OP is suggesting.

Also, Hibbert is a very good defensive player and is a very big body. He blocks shots and is a good positional defender. his size alone (7'2 280) would change the defensive dynamic. His passing would be the ice on the cake.

[theGreatRC]

He's just getting on your good side Rev, don't fall into the trap of the newcomers.

[PeeDee]

Oh come on!!! Just like Brewer I need playing time to develop!

[Xand1]

If we're just throwing ideal situations out there, then I would like to see us target Rose and somehow find a way to land Hibbert. Best case: he falls to the late lotto/high teen range so we could do as PeeDee suggested and trade for an extra pick to nab him.

I'm not high on using a high pick on Hibbert, but if we could pick him up at a more reasonable spot I think he'd be an excellent fit next to Al. If you plug him and Rose into the lineup, with McCants (and maybe Foye depending on matchups and how things play out), Brewer and Al I think you have the makings of a very effective team on both ends of the floor.

I'd run a very motion centric pick and roll offense with both Al and Hibbert setting picks and alternatively rolling to the hoop or popping out for jumpers. Imagine the plays you could run with a lightning-quick 6'4 PG and a 7'2 high post C who's got a nice jumper and very good passing ability who can see over just about everyone.

If Hibbert sets the pick, he can fade to the elbow to either hit the jumper or immediately toss it down low to Al, who presumably has a 1 on 1 situation. If Al comes out he can roll hard to the hoop for an easy bucket, as Hibbert would clear out and set up for jumper, dragging his defender with him. If the defender stays and doubles, Al can clear it out to the big man and let him reset or take the J. If the other team doesn't defend the pick well enough, rose can blow by them for the layup or the drop pass. On top of this, you have McCants/Foye setting up outside to wait for the 3 or take it to the hoop and you have Brewer on the weak side waiting to crash the boards or cut to the hoop for a bucket.

This way, dumping it to Al so he can go 1 on 1 becomes another weapon that you can go to if the picks aren't working instead of how it is now where it's our only consistent way of manufacturing a bucket.

Yeah, this is a bit of a fantasy, but I think that team would be very good defensively, awesome in the half court and capable of getting out and running a bit with athletes like Rose, McCants, Foye and Brewer. Of course, it's entirely dependent on having a coach who could actually implement said offense..

[theGreatRC]

Oh come on!!! Just like Brewer I need playing time to develop!

[theGreatRC]

I don't see too many teams that need a BIG right now. Kings have Hawes, Nets have Williams, Sonics have 3 Bigs, 76ers have Daly.

We just need to make a deal with a team who isn't in the playoff picture and give them a good offer, but the only good players we have are the ones we are trying to build with. Foye, Brewer, Al and McCants if he keeps up his good work this season; the FO didn't extend McCants just to trade him, they said(not exact quote) "McCants is a player we want to be a part of our future core."

[4ho5ive]

Someone school me on Greene. Is he really worth a top 4 pick? Is he someone we should be targeting outside the Beasley/Rose/Mayo/Gordon that everyone has been talking about?

[PeeDee]

True, but if you have a chace to improve your team in an area that is sorely lacking and not nessessarily diminish another, you take it.

Don't get me wrong, I like McCants. But he is expendable because, imo, players of his calibur are not a rare commodity. Quality big men, as proven by the history of quality bigs the Wolves have had, are a rare commodity.

[theGreatRC]

Someone school me on Greene. Is he really worth a top 4 pick? Is he someone we should be targeting outside the Beasley/Rose/Mayo/Gordon that everyone has been talking about?

They are saying he is a Lamar Odom with a better offensive game and higher IQ.

[PeeDee]

Someone school me on Greene. Is he really worth a top 4 pick? Is he someone we should be targeting outside the Beasley/Rose/Mayo/Gordon that everyone has been talking about?

Greene has all the tools to be a star in the NBA. Near 7', very mobile, great looking jumper, exerts quality effort on de, really goes after the rebounds, and runs the floor well.

He's a bit skinny, but his frame can fill out more. I have a feeling, that as the season goes by, he's going to rise on a lot of people's draft boards. Right now, I wouldn't hesitate to take him at 4. And if I were in charge, and I had a higher pick, I'd trade down and take him there.

But then again, I'm no NBA scout... I just watch basketball.

[Xand1]

-= original quote snipped =-




They are saying he is a Lamar Odom with a better offensive game and higher IQ.

I'm not an expert on the kid, but everything I've heard says much more like a Rashard Lewis who's a bit better defensively and on the boards. I don't think he has the handle or passing ability that Odom does, but is a better shooter.

He's intriguing, but I'm not sure I'd use a top pick 3 pick on him. Scoring 3's are relatively easy to find.. at that point I kind of lean toward going for a more important position like PG/C. I know he's looking like he's not just a 1 dimensional scorer, but look around the league at how many similar players there are and compare that to the number of truly good PG's and C's. That said, If Rose and Jordan are gone then he seems like a guy to take a hard look at..

[revprodeji]

Someone school me on Greene. Is he really worth a top 4 pick? Is he someone we should be targeting outside the Beasley/Rose/Mayo/Gordon that everyone has been talking about?

Devil and I have been the high guys on Greene. For me his offensive game reminds me alot of Sean Elliot, except Elliot was 6'6 or so and Greene is a very legit 6'10 with a great jumping ability. People want to say Durant because we have seen durant lately, but I would say Greene has a very good jumper, but not durant good. But he is a better athlete and has better ball handling at this stage then durant did. Also. I think Greene is far ahead of Durant presently as a defensive presence at the 3.

[mandurugo]

I am still leery of Hibbert. It seems like shades of NY with Curry and Randolph - two bigs who operate best in the low post don't always complement eachother. I'd prefer a center with quickness and defensive ability (Tyson Chandler/Marcus Camby) who can get back on D a bit quicker then Al. Hibbert is just a bigger version of Al in some ways, I want his opposite to pair with him... I don't think there is a center like this in the top 5, so I'd prefer to draft BPA. Aren't you Hibbert fans at all concerned about pairing two big, slow, lumbering guys?

[the_bruce]

For what MN needs in a 5 I dont think they have to look that hard. I'd appreciate if they looked into something this year to make the games more interesting

[tsherkin]

Donte Green reminds me a lot of Kevin Durant with weight, or maybe Rashard Lewis... he doesn't project very high in my overall analysis but he is almost certainly worth a top-10 pick. Top 4, I'd call a stretch based on potential, though.

Roy Hibbert seems like a great option because you don't need him to be a dominant scorer (which he will never be) on account of Al but he WILL be a solid (if unspectacular) rebounder and a very good defensive center.

As far as "smashmouth" power basketball, I think Al would need to learn how to be a power player for that to really work out to the fullest extent and that's not going to happen but adding Hibbert would be a wise move.

I suppose if you were able to get two top 10 picks and assuming one was Hibbert, it wouldn't be awful to select Greene even if it were top 4 because his shot will be quite helpful with the kind of low post draw that Al does incur.

I think they should at least consider Kosta Koufos as well.

[shane5153]

If we want physical smashmouth bball then i would definetly pick beasley. He brings that attitude that i love. Everybody hates on his attitude but i like it. He has the swagger and confidence that would be a huge addition to this team. The only thing that i think is a negative is his effort on defense. If he would play 100% on defense then he'd be my number one player but since he doesnt then he's 1b and rose is 1 a. Either one is fine by me

[theGreatRC]

^
I agree. If you hate on Beasley's attitude, then you have to hate on McCants because they basically have the same mentality. The thing is though, I think Shaddy wants it more.

[shane5153]

^
I agree. If you hate on Beasley's attitude, then you have to hate on McCants because they basically have the same mentality. The thing is though, I think Shaddy wants it more.

Im not so sure. Every highlight or game that i watch of beasley i see him pumping his team up and gettin his team ready. But you could be right i just hope not