WP: Nene out 6 weeks

[LyricalRico]

Definitely good to see the team learning how to win without Nene. Getting him back, even as a part time player, will only help IMO.

[mohammed10]

Definitely good to see the team learning how to win without Nene. Getting him back, even as a part time player, will only help IMO.

Absolutely agree.

[fishercob]

Definitely good to see the team learning how to win without Nene. Getting him back, even as a part time player, will only help IMO.

Perhaps. Maybe it's also illustrative of the fact that Nene -- particularly at 2 more years for $13M/yr -- isn't critical to this team's growth. I think the offense is better with Booker or Gooden than Nene. Even if the defense is worse, is the offset such that it makes sense to have a guy like Nene around?

Depending on how the rest of the season goes, this summer might be an excellent (final?) window to trade Nene. I think he'd have appeal to teams who are trying to tread water/be respectable for two years (Lakers, maybe Sacto, etc) or as a final piece to teams trying to win a title (Houston, OKC).

[nate33]

Definitely good to see the team learning how to win without Nene. Getting him back, even as a part time player, will only help IMO.

Perhaps. Maybe it's also illustrative of the fact that Nene -- particularly at 2 more years for $13M/yr -- isn't critical to this team's growth. I think the offense is better with Booker or Gooden than Nene. Even if the defense is worse, is the offset such that it makes sense to have a guy like Nene around?

Depending on how the rest of the season goes, this summer might be an excellent (final?) window to trade Nene. I think he'd have appeal to teams who are trying to tread water/be respectable for two years (Lakers, maybe Sacto, etc) or as a final piece to teams trying to win a title (Houston, OKC).

What we need is for Nene to get back healthy and play well in the playoffs for everyone to see. Then we need to have EG grow the cojones to sell high for a change and trade him just as everyone starts to think we should keep him.

[LyricalRico]

Definitely good to see the team learning how to win without Nene. Getting him back, even as a part time player, will only help IMO.

Perhaps. Maybe it's also illustrative of the fact that Nene -- particularly at 2 more years for $13M/yr -- isn't critical to this team's growth. I think the offense is better with Booker or Gooden than Nene. Even if the defense is worse, is the offset such that it makes sense to have a guy like Nene around?

Depending on how the rest of the season goes, this summer might be an excellent (final?) window to trade Nene. I think he'd have appeal to teams who are trying to tread water/be respectable for two years (Lakers, maybe Sacto, etc) or as a final piece to teams trying to win a title (Houston, OKC).

What we need is for Nene to get back healthy and play well in the playoffs for everyone to see. Then we need to have EG grow the cojones to sell high for a change and trade him just as everyone starts to think we should keep him.

Selling high on Nene would be ideal (although I wouldn't quite word it how Nate did LOL).

Even if they kept him for next season in a reduced role where he could stay healthy, he'd still have value in 2015 IMO. With all the activity that could happen that summer, Nene could be an interesting piece on the market.

[Ruzious]

But ya gotta think ahead to what's the plan if you dump Nene. You know ownership is still going to want to re-sign Ariza and Gortat - leaving no cap space. And dumping Nene probably empowers EG to use the MLE for a 4 contract on an okay player - which eats into what would have been cap space after Nene's contract ends. And then you're depending on a starting 2some up front of the G&G Boys - Gortat and Gooden.

[fishercob]

The more I think on it, the more I think trading Beal for Kevin Love is both wise and potentially viable. If the Wizards pull that off, then I'd love to move Nene for the ability to add a SG and a defensive big (if not those actual players themselves).

[nate33]

The more I think on it, the more I think trading Beal for Kevin Love is both wise and potentially viable. If the Wizards pull that off, then I'd love to move Nene for the ability to add a SG and a defensive big (if not those actual players themselves).

There's no thinking necessary. Of course Beal for Love would be wise (assuming Love was extended or otherwise guaranteed to sign here on his next contract). Don't think it's likely though.

[fishercob]

The more I think on it, the more I think trading Beal for Kevin Love is both wise and potentially viable. If the Wizards pull that off, then I'd love to move Nene for the ability to add a SG and a defensive big (if not those actual players themselves).

There's no thinking necessary. Of course Beal for Love would be wise (assuming Love was extended or otherwise guaranteed to sign here on his next contract). Don't think it's likely though.

The wisdom part did not require thinking. But the viability did, and I think there's a reasonable chance. I don't think we are the only conceivable destination; much depends on the results of the draft lottery, but:

1) I think Love is likely to want out of Minnesota and express and much to Flip
2) I think he's going to want to go somewhere he can win, and winning in the East is easier than the West
3) I think Minnesota would prefer to trade Love for a decent return than watch him walk for nothing in a year
4) Any trade package for Love is going to center on a promising youngster on a rookie contract; we can offer Beal and that's likely to appeal more to Minnesota than what any other team can offer
5) Flip is obviously strongly tied to the Wiz, and while he may personally may not like trading Love I think he will not be able to help preferring to aid his son (need to be careful of collusion charges)

I don't think trading for Love is far-fetched even it isn;t particularly likely.

[nate33]

A Wall/Love core would be nasty. The pick-and-roll would be deadly with Love as a pop threat from 3-point range. The lane would be wide open. Hopefully we could find a way to retain Ariza. I'm not so sure if Gortat would be an ideal fit though. It strikes me that he is much like Pekovic, and the Pekovic/Love pairing in Minnesota was never successful. Would love to trade Gortat for Sanders down the road.

PG Wall
SG Webster
SF Ariza
PF Love
C Sanders

Absolutely sick team. Some ballhandling issues when the ball gets out of Wall's hands, but everything else is rock solid. Great offense with the Wall/Love P&R and Ariza and Webster stretching the floor. Great defense with Wall, Ariza and Sanders, plus Love getting defensive boards.

Things would be even better if we could find a pretty good starting SG and move Webster to a super-sub SG/SF off the bench.

[fishercob]

A Wall/Love core would be nasty. The pick-and-roll would be deadly with Love as a pop threat from 3-point range. The lane would be wide open. Hopefully we could find a way to retain Ariza. I'm not so sure if Gortat would be an ideal fit though. It strikes me that he is much like Pekovic, and the Pekovic/Love pairing in Minnesota was never successful. Would love to trade Gortat for Sanders down the road.

PG Wall
SG Webster
SF Ariza
PF Love
C Sanders

Absolutely sick team. Some ballhandling issues when the ball gets out of Wall's hands, but everything else is rock solid. Great offense with the Wall/Love P&R and Ariza and Webster stretching the floor. Great defense with Wall, Ariza and Sanders, plus Love getting defensive boards.

Things would be even better if we could find a pretty good starting SG and move Webster to a super-sub SG/SF off the bench.

While i reflexively share your defensive concerns about Gortat/Love on D, I note that MInnesota is 11th in the league in DRtg. It's not as if the Pekovic/Love duo has doomed them to defensive ineptitude.

If I was able to move Nene while executing a Love/Beal swap (and re-signing Gortat and Ariza), I'd go hard after Patty Mills -- like "full MLE" hard.

Wall, Webster, Ariza, Love, Gortat, Mills, Gooden...

Not a finished product, but the makings of a legitimately excellent team IMO.

And yeah, I love the Sanders idea.

[Dat2U]

The more I think on it, the more I think trading Beal for Kevin Love is both wise and potentially viable. If the Wizards pull that off, then I'd love to move Nene for the ability to add a SG and a defensive big (if not those actual players themselves).

There's no thinking necessary. Of course Beal for Love would be wise (assuming Love was extended or otherwise guaranteed to sign here on his next contract). Don't think it's likely though.

The wisdom part did not require thinking. But the viability did, and I think there's a reasonable chance. I don't think we are the only conceivable destination; much depends on the results of the draft lottery, but:

1) I think Love is likely to want out of Minnesota and express and much to Flip
2) I think he's going to want to go somewhere he can win, and winning in the East is easier than the West
3) I think Minnesota would prefer to trade Love for a decent return than watch him walk for nothing in a year
4) Any trade package for Love is going to center on a promising youngster on a rookie contract; we can offer Beal and that's likely to appeal more to Minnesota than what any other team can offer
5) Flip is obviously strongly tied to the Wiz, and while he may personally may not like trading Love I think he will not be able to help preferring to aid his son (need to be careful of collusion charges)

I don't think trading for Love is far-fetched even it isn;t particularly likely.

If Flip Saunders is smart (which he isn't so this won't happen), he'd trade Love this off-season while he can still get a good haul for him. It's already gonna be tough to move Love unless he agrees to an extension, no one is going to give up the farm for Love if he's just a one year rental.

If Minnesota does make Love available, Bradley Beal is probably one of the better assets the Wolves could get. Certainly he's better than a hodgepodge of middle 1st rounders and/or expirings that would normally be offered for a player of that stature.

So I don't think it's incredibly far fetched, but I do have a hard time seeing Flip accepting the obvious that Love already has one foot out the door so I could easily see Minnesota dragging the Love drama all the way to the trade deadline next year or beyond in the hopes that they can keep him.

[stevemcqueen1]

But ya gotta think ahead to what's the plan if you dump Nene. You know ownership is still going to want to re-sign Ariza and Gortat - leaving no cap space. And dumping Nene probably empowers EG to use the MLE for a 4 contract on an okay player - which eats into what would have been cap space after Nene's contract ends. And then you're depending on a starting 2some up front of the G&G Boys - Gortat and Gooden.

Trading Nene can only be done if it brings back a starting caliber PF IMO. Or if it is at least done in conjunction with another move that brings in a starting caliber PF. Booker and Gooden as our PF situation isn't going to cut it.

I wouldn't mind replacing Nene with a shooting threat though. Nene is the one guy whose game doesn't really overlap with Wall's that much.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

It'll be interesting if Nene is ready for the playoffs what we do with him, do we start him or let him come off the bench? I think it really depends on who we play. Right now It looks like our opponents will be either Chicago or Toronto, with a possibility of the Nets if they close out strong. Against Toronto and NJ I'd probably say off the bench and put him as a starter versus the Bulls.

I also kind of like the idea of having a veteran bench mob who could come in at any moment if the youngins' get shell shocked in their first playoff experience. Nene, Gooden, Harrington, Webster, and Miller with a mix of Seraphin and Porter (to add some fresh legs and get these boys some playoff experience) would be great IMO. Hopefully Nene would help the bench defense a bit.

[nuposse04]

It'll be interesting if Nene is ready for the playoffs what we do with him, do we start him or let him come off the bench? I think it really depends on who we play. Right now It looks like our opponents will be either Chicago or Toronto, with a possibility of the Nets if they close out strong. Against Toronto and NJ I'd probably say off the bench and put him as a starter versus the Bulls.

I also kind of like the idea of having a veteran bench mob who could come in at any moment if the youngins' get shell shocked in their first playoff experience. Nene, Gooden, Harrington, Webster, and Miller with a mix of Seraphin and Porter (to add some fresh legs and get these boys some playoff experience) would be great IMO. Hopefully Nene would help the bench defense a bit.

I'd bring him off the bench. Miller/Beal/Webster/Gooden/Nene is a fairly competent 2nd unit. Gooden would get excellent looks with Nene operating in the post, as I doubt most bench players could guard him 1 on 1.

You also have to consider matchup problems though. Say, like in the event we do advance and go on to face...Indy, while we'd still lose, we probably don't want Booker trying to guard David West. Too strong and too savvy.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

It'll be interesting if Nene is ready for the playoffs what we do with him, do we start him or let him come off the bench? I think it really depends on who we play. Right now It looks like our opponents will be either Chicago or Toronto, with a possibility of the Nets if they close out strong. Against Toronto and NJ I'd probably say off the bench and put him as a starter versus the Bulls.

I also kind of like the idea of having a veteran bench mob who could come in at any moment if the youngins' get shell shocked in their first playoff experience. Nene, Gooden, Harrington, Webster, and Miller with a mix of Seraphin and Porter (to add some fresh legs and get these boys some playoff experience) would be great IMO. Hopefully Nene would help the bench defense a bit.

I'd bring him off the bench. Miller/Beal/Webster/Gooden/Nene is a fairly competent 2nd unit. Gooden would get excellent looks with Nene operating in the post, as I doubt most bench players could guard him 1 on 1.

You also have to consider matchup problems though. Say, like in the event we do advance and go on to face...Indy, while we'd still lose, we probably don't want Booker trying to guard David West. Too strong and too savvy.

Yeah definitely depends on who we play. Playing either MIA or Indy in the second round, if we make it that far, would probably have us starting Nene. Versus Miami because we would want to take advantage of their of size advantage and versus Indy because we would get pounded by Hibbert (who has statistically played much better in the post season the last couple of years) and David West (a Wizard killer) with Booker in their as a starter.

[JWizmentality]

I'd give any pick and any player on the team outside of Wall to land Love.

[stevemcqueen1]

Benches shorten in the playoffs. Doubt we'll run a 10 man rotation. Should be 8 or 9 at the most. Nene will start if he's healthy enough for it. If not, Booker will start and Nene will get all of the minutes off the bench.

Miller and Webster will play too. Then if Nene starts, they'll probably go to Booker off the bench. Porter won't see the floor at all unless there is an injury or blowout. Seraphin probably won't either. Gooden and Harrington probably won't either, unless one of them is playing out of his mind.

[hands11]

Nene's ETA is vs CHA on April 9th

That gives him 5 games to get ready for the playoffs.

[verbal8]

Miller and Webster will play too. Then if Nene starts, they'll probably go to Booker off the bench. Porter won't see the floor at all unless there is an injury or blowout. Seraphin probably won't either. Gooden and Harrington probably won't either, unless one of them is playing out of his mind.

I think we see some minutes from Gooden, probably around 10 per game. I hope Harrington is firmly glued to the bench.