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RealGM Staff Report -
The Boston Globe has reported that the agent for Minnesota swingman Gerald Green has asked Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale and general manager Jim Stack to trade his client.

Green will make $1.4 million this year, and Minnesota opted to decline his option for next season.

He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/01/26/green_wants_a_trade/

Is there any team that would be willing to take Green and develop him?

That is pretty funny. A guy who hasn't accomplished anything in the league "demands" a trade? Please. Who would give up anything to get Green when he'll be a FA in the summer? He is not going to help a team win a championship, so what would be the point?

I would take him. I could really use him on my summer league team. We would be nasty with him. The celt's should take him back next year. I think he isn't getting better because he isn't playing.

Maybe Green could catch on with some team with nothing to lose now, a true plan to build, and a coaching staff that is willing to teach.

But........

Green is looking like the poster child for someone who should have stayed in school. Ironically, I see a Rick Pitino kind of presence as a college coach that might have gotten through to him.

IMO Green's biggest problem seems to be that basketball instincts do not develop in a player that does not have them at a pretty young age.

Players obviously get more experienced and learn from coaches, but if they early on lack the mental processes to comprehend game dynamics as they typically evolve on the court they do not develop them later.

Green can dunk and has shown that he can shoot (in streaks anyway) but I cannot see that he has shown anything else.

It looked to me like Green was the player last night that did not stay between Leon Powe and basket in that late-game play. Obviously Leon was not going to shoot from there and maybe Green thought someone was defending in the paint. But the player has to know that and not just assume it.

He is only 22 but it seems to me that potentially good players have almost always shown a good bit more than he has before now.

A scrub demanding a trade? That is pretty funny!


This guy is a bust. Talanted yes. But if you have BBIQ of a raisin you just can`t play basketball at this level. He doesn˙t understand the game it is as simple as that...

thebirdman wrote:A scrub demanding a trade? That is pretty funny!


This guy is a bust. Talanted yes. But if you have BBIQ of a raisin you just can`t play basketball at this level. He doesn˙t understand the game it is as simple as that...

Well you cannot really call someone who was drafted 18th a bust can you? However I do agree with your other points though. I think it is just an embarrassment for someone like him to demand a trade. If you cannot get playing time on a 7-35 team you cannot get it anywhere.

Im guessing he's doing it because he feels that if he doesnt get some PT anywhere else no-ones going to pick him up come the off-season and he will be outta the league by next year.

I think Gerald's problems are less mental than physical. Everyone dogs his IQ but the fact is he has virtually zero lateral quickness, and very weak upper body/handstrength. That's why he's a poor defender, and has such difficulty going into traffic. Now these can be somewhat improved with proper conditioning, but they are probably going to be his MO for his time in the league. As a result he has to understand what he can and can't do on the court.

I wouldn't mind bringing him back to the C's next season. I think working within a very structured program that the C's put out for all their young role players, he could end up being a useful player. The C's teamwide commitment to defense will help Gerald focus on D, and the team will insist he not try to do tihngs he can't do well. Late last year they basically turned him into Rip Hamilton the Lesser, coming off screens to hit jumpers. That's a solid direction for Gerald. He won't be a starter but if we given him a 2 yr, $4mil contract I think he could give us 6-8 ppg off the bench.

This looks like a job for...... ZEKEMAN!!!!

Dogen wrote:This looks like a job for...... ZEKEMAN!!!!

Why? Green is only making $1.4 million.

LOL. It's a joke he would demand a trade. My guess is this is all just contrived up through the Minnesota camp. Probabley McHale told GG's agent to say this in hopes of getting a 2nd round pick for him. Probabley figure they will at least have a shot at a pick before they just let him walk this summer.

i would take him back
but i don't see how we would give him the playing time he feels he deserves

SuperDeluxe wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Why? Green is only making $1.4 million.

True.

But never estimate the power of ZEKEMAN!!!!

The super computer in the Zeke Cave came up with this brilliant trade:

D. Lee/ R. Balkman for G. Green and C. Richards

Works in the checker!

Thank you ZEKEMAN!!

am i the only one that doesn't see a problem in this?

gerald isn't a great player by any means, but i don't see how this is demanding a trade. it just says he requested one.

totally blown out of proportion. how is it bad for a young player to request a trade in a contract year so he can actually play?

dude just wants to play. i have trouble believing that a young player with potential can't crack the rotation on the wolves. he's played decent in the games that he received 25+ minutes.

with foye out, that leaves what, two other guards? bassy and mccants? unless you count jaric or they are stuffing brewer or gomes in there.

corey brewer doesn't seem to be playing much better(looking at stats)

BobbySura wrote:gerald isn't a great player by any means, but i don't see how this is demanding a trade. it just says he requested one.

I think you are onto something there. Yes, there is a huge difference between a request and a demand. Also, if you read what his agent is saying, his tone is anything but demanding.

This has been blown somewhat out of proportion for the simple reason Gerald Green is anything but a star, and also because it was made public. No one benefits from a trade request being made public. Making a trade demand, however, does benefit from publicity, as it puts additional pressure on the owner of the team.

Gerald is a great scorer and I would like him back in Beantown. There, I said it. Now please eat me alive.

P2 wrote:Gerald is a great scorer and I would like him back in Beantown. There, I said it. Now please eat me alive.

Same here. We can hide under the same rock.

Well, he didn't demand a trade, per se. It says his agent asked McHale for a trade. For all we know, it was something like this:

"Hey Kevin, Gerald isn't getting much burn this season, and he's an unrestricted FA this summer. We really feel like the kid needs to see some court time in order to have a chance at a contract next year. Can you help us out with a trade?"


That said, whether he gets traded or not, I still say he should target Orlando as his destination. They seem like a club that would be willing to invest in a wing project since they've got the best young big in the league locked up for years.

They ought to take a chance on him in case he can develop into a goood supporting 3pt shooter for Howard.

Honestly, I think he would be scary in a Phoenix type offense. I mean, DJ Strawberry and Marcus Banks are getting minutes there. Have they traded their first rounder yet?

Falstaff wrote:Well, he didn't demand a trade, per se. It says his agent asked McHale for a trade. For all we know, it was something like this:

"Hey Kevin, Gerald isn't getting much burn this season, and he's an unrestricted FA this summer. We really feel like the kid needs to see some court time in order to have a chance at a contract next year. Can you help us out with a trade?"

bingo.