Training camp thread 22/23

[Klomp]

Alan Horton (Wolves radio broadcaster) is beginning to upload media day audio to his Soundcloud account.

https://soundcloud.com/wolves-radio

[KGdaBom]

Read on Twitter

I'm of the firm belief that Minott will play a meaningful minute or more this season.

[Nick K]

I think Luka Garza is a great fit for the Iowa Wolves.

Garza is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and actually became a legitimate college player, and far more, through effort. He’s the first repeat College National Player of the Year since Michael Jordan. However, while his mix of size and skill mastered the college game, it is a question whether he has the speed to have a position in the faster NBA. He is already working to lose weight to remake his body, and the G-League will keep that door to the NBA open for him. He’s a long shot, but I wouldn’t bet against a guy with this kind of drive.

And Iowa is the perfect place for him, if he can remold himself as a long, three-point shooting stretch four, and he would be motivated by all the fans in Iowa that would come to see him play. Iowa has no pro sports, so the Hawkeyes, and to a lesser degree the Cyclones, are analogous to the Vikings (not the U of M) in Minnesota.

I couldn't agree more. I'd love it if he made it. I like Knight but Garza would be a better fit IF he improved his agility and speed a little.

I watched extended video on PJ Dozier and was very impressed. He's 6'6' or 6'7" and is a very good ball handler, great passer, decent rebounder but only a fair shooter. He looks like the perfect Finch bench guy. I'm sold on him but I need to see him up close of course.

First he’ll have a to prove he can excel at “something” at the NBA level. Then he will need to show he can play winning basketball for 5-10 minutes. Since skills really aren’t the issue, he’ll need to prove he can be sustainable mentally to compensate for some athletic limitations. Big men who can shoot are always nice, but as we all know, there’s a lot more to it…

No argument here. Talking about Garza? Right?

WinForLose likes Knight and I do too but I still think he might be out as a casualty of the numbers. I think we have enough bigs with Rudy, Kat, Reid, at Center, Kat, Prince, McD, and KA, at PF. Prince, McD, KA, even Ant can play SF etc.

We have many guys who can play multiple positions which is key if injuries pop up. I don't know if Knight is a luxury we can afford to keep.

[Neeva]

Minott is the steal of the 2022 draft.

[KGdaBom]

Minott is the steal of the 2022 draft.

I'd like to think so, but it depends on how you define it. If Paolo Banchero becomes an all star and Josh Minott becomes a reserve who was the bigger steal?

[SO_MONEY]

I couldn't agree more. I'd love it if he made it. I like Knight but Garza would be a better fit IF he improved his agility and speed a little.

I watched extended video on PJ Dozier and was very impressed. He's 6'6' or 6'7" and is a very good ball handler, great passer, decent rebounder but only a fair shooter. He looks like the perfect Finch bench guy. I'm sold on him but I need to see him up close of course.

First he’ll have a to prove he can excel at “something” at the NBA level. Then he will need to show he can play winning basketball for 5-10 minutes. Since skills really aren’t the issue, he’ll need to prove he can be sustainable mentally to compensate for some athletic limitations. Big men who can shoot are always nice, but as we all know, there’s a lot more to it…

No argument here. Talking about Garza? Right?

WinForLose likes Knight and I do too but I still think he might be out as a casualty of the numbers. I think we have enough bigs with Rudy, Kat, Reid, at Center, Kat, Prince, McD, and KA, at PF. Prince, McD, KA, even Ant can play SF etc.

We have many guys who can play multiple positions which is key if injuries pop up. I don't know if Knight is a luxury we can afford to keep.

Because we have 2 bigs starting I don't see us dropping below 4 bigs, you need to cover both injury and load management. I would say it is next to a zero percent chance we roll only 3 deep. Knight gives a PF/C we need to pull this off.

[Klomp]

Because we have 2 bigs starting I don't see us dropping below 4 bigs, you need to cover both injury and load management. I would say it is next to a zero percent chance we roll only 3 deep. Knight gives a PF/C we need to pull this off.

Two bigs are starting but we won't run "two big" lineups every minute of the game. That's the only time where your reasoning makes sense is if we were running out two bigs at all times. Especially looking ahead to the playoffs.

Just look at the 2019-20 Lakers. They started games with a two-big lineup, but most of the time only had one out there. Obviously we will run two out there more often, but we also will have more of the 96 minutes a game between PF and C going to the two starters than the Lakers did. The Lakers' three bigs in the rotation accounted for only 62 minutes a game in the playoffs. We might be closer to 75-80 between the three with a greater chunk devoted to the starters, even decreasing more the possible need for a fourth.

I would also add that Paschall on a 2-way decreases the need for a fourth big on the 15-man roster.

[KGdaBom]

Because we have 2 bigs starting I don't see us dropping below 4 bigs, you need to cover both injury and load management. I would say it is next to a zero percent chance we roll only 3 deep. Knight gives a PF/C we need to pull this off.

Two bigs are starting but we won't run "two big" lineups every minute of the game. That's the only time where your reasoning makes sense is if we were running out two bigs at all times. Especially looking ahead to the playoffs.

Just look at the 2019-20 Lakers. They started games with a two-big lineup, but most of the time only had one out there. Obviously we will run two out there more often, but we also will have more of the 96 minutes a game between PF and C going to the two starters than the Lakers did. The Lakers' three bigs in the rotation accounted for only 62 minutes a game in the playoffs. We might be closer to 75-80 between the three with a greater chunk devoted to the starters, even decreasing more the possible need for a fourth.

I would also add that Paschall on a 2-way decreases the need for a fourth big on the 15-man roster.

I was thinking the same thing as you Klomp, but giving the example of the Lakers LeBron IMO is pretty damn big also.

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

I'm of the firm belief that Minott will play a meaningful minute or more this season.

Summer league good and NBA backup are very different things. Minott is so raw and has a lot to learn about the fundamentals. He played an average of 14.6 minutes per game in college and only started 5 of 33. This is not a knock on him, I am very high on Minott, and see a bright future with us. But in summer league you could tell he didn’t know how to position himself for a box out, how to read defenses, and a lot of other skills necessary for the next level. He just turned 20 in July. It would be a disservice to him to rush him into the NBA before he builds the skills and confidence to thrive there. Maybe if injury plays a big role he gets some play. But absent injury or extreme superstardom in the G, I really don’t think we see him in competitive minutes. Garbage time, sure, but not when the game is still being contested.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[winforlose]

I couldn't agree more. I'd love it if he made it. I like Knight but Garza would be a better fit IF he improved his agility and speed a little.

I watched extended video on PJ Dozier and was very impressed. He's 6'6' or 6'7" and is a very good ball handler, great passer, decent rebounder but only a fair shooter. He looks like the perfect Finch bench guy. I'm sold on him but I need to see him up close of course.

First he’ll have a to prove he can excel at “something” at the NBA level. Then he will need to show he can play winning basketball for 5-10 minutes. Since skills really aren’t the issue, he’ll need to prove he can be sustainable mentally to compensate for some athletic limitations. Big men who can shoot are always nice, but as we all know, there’s a lot more to it…

No argument here. Talking about Garza? Right?

WinForLose likes Knight and I do too but I still think he might be out as a casualty of the numbers. I think we have enough bigs with Rudy, Kat, Reid, at Center, Kat, Prince, McD, and KA, at PF. Prince, McD, KA, even Ant can play SF etc.

We have many guys who can play multiple positions which is key if injuries pop up. I don't know if Knight is a luxury we can afford to keep.

On the contrary I hate Knight. I wanted him as a two way at best and I was fine with moving on from him. I do believe in roster construction, and that if we cut or trade him we need to replace him with either a 5 or at least a 4/5 combo big. I don’t believe Prince can properly play the 4 (he was getting out muscled and out sized all year on defense,) nor do I want to leave Paschall as the only backup to Anderson come playoff time. If Garza can outplay Knight than great. If not we need someone who can at least outplay Knight.

Edit to add: I would use Naz with Rudy as a 4/5 pair in the rotation. I think Naz shooting and spacing will help Rudy, and Rudy will help Naz deal with the guys who get by him.

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

Either KAT shrank a lot, or they need a longer stand for that tablet

[winforlose]

Minott is the steal of the 2022 draft.

I'd like to think so, but it depends on how you define it. If Paolo Banchero becomes an all star and Josh Minott becomes a reserve who was the bigger steal?

Any player drafted in the top 3 or maybe even the top 5 cannot be a steal. Steals are usually non lottery players that should have gone in the lottery. It is especially impressive when you find that guy in the 2nd round.

[SO_MONEY]

Because we have 2 bigs starting I don't see us dropping below 4 bigs, you need to cover both injury and load management. I would say it is next to a zero percent chance we roll only 3 deep. Knight gives a PF/C we need to pull this off.

Two bigs are starting but we won't run "two big" lineups every minute of the game. That's the only time where your reasoning makes sense is if we were running out two bigs at all times. Especially looking ahead to the playoffs.

Just look at the 2019-20 Lakers. They started games with a two-big lineup, but most of the time only had one out there. Obviously we will run two out there more often, but we also will have more of the 96 minutes a game between PF and C going to the two starters than the Lakers did. The Lakers' three bigs in the rotation accounted for only 62 minutes a game in the playoffs. We might be closer to 75-80 between the three with a greater chunk devoted to the starters, even decreasing more the possible need for a fourth.

I would also add that Paschall on a 2-way decreases the need for a fourth big on the 15-man roster.

I said what I said knowing they are not going to play two bigs every minute of every game AND yet I still said it for a reason. Thanks.

[Dewey]

Minott is the steal of the 2022 draft.

I'd like to think so, but it depends on how you define it. If Paolo Banchero becomes an all star and Josh Minott becomes a reserve who was the bigger steal?

Any player drafted in the top 3 or maybe even the top 5 cannot be a steal. Steals are usually non lottery players that should have gone in the lottery. It is especially impressive when you find that guy in the 2nd round.

Ya I agree with this… steals are under the radar late 1st round, 2nd round, or undrafted. That’s my perception anyway…

[Nick K]

Read on Twitter

I'm of the firm belief that Minott will play a meaningful minute or more this season.

Summer league good and NBA backup are very different things. Minott is so raw and has a lot to learn about the fundamentals. He played an average of 14.6 minutes per game in college and only started 5 of 33. This is not a knock on him, I am very high on Minott, and see a bright future with us. But in summer league you could tell he didn’t know how to position himself for a box out, how to read defenses, and a lot of other skills necessary for the next level. He just turned 20 in July. It would be a disservice to him to rush him into the NBA before he builds the skills and confidence to thrive there. Maybe if injury plays a big role he gets some play. But absent injury or extreme superstardom in the G, I really don’t think we see him in competitive minutes. Garbage time, sure, but not when the game is still being contested.

I agree. I love Minott but he needs minutes and he won't get them up here. It would do him a world of good to G league it and play. It may be different for Moore but I think he gets at least some minutes up here because he was a 1st rd pick. He needs the minutes down there too.

It's so great being this deep. What a problem to have.

[Nick K]

First he’ll have a to prove he can excel at “something” at the NBA level. Then he will need to show he can play winning basketball for 5-10 minutes. Since skills really aren’t the issue, he’ll need to prove he can be sustainable mentally to compensate for some athletic limitations. Big men who can shoot are always nice, but as we all know, there’s a lot more to it…

No argument here. Talking about Garza? Right?

WinForLose likes Knight and I do too but I still think he might be out as a casualty of the numbers. I think we have enough bigs with Rudy, Kat, Reid, at Center, Kat, Prince, McD, and KA, at PF. Prince, McD, KA, even Ant can play SF etc.

We have many guys who can play multiple positions which is key if injuries pop up. I don't know if Knight is a luxury we can afford to keep.

On the contrary I hate Knight. I wanted him as a two way at best and I was fine with moving on from him. I do believe in roster construction, and that if we cut or trade him we need to replace him with either a 5 or at least a 4/5 combo big. I don’t believe Prince can properly play the 4 (he was getting out muscled and out sized all year on defense,) nor do I want to leave Paschall as the only backup to Anderson come playoff time. If Garza can outplay Knight than great. If not we need someone who can at least outplay Knight.

Edit to add: I would use Naz with Rudy as a 4/5 pair in the rotation. I think Naz shooting and spacing will help Rudy, and Rudy will help Naz deal with the guys who get by him.

I see. Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

[winforlose]

I'm of the firm belief that Minott will play a meaningful minute or more this season.

Summer league good and NBA backup are very different things. Minott is so raw and has a lot to learn about the fundamentals. He played an average of 14.6 minutes per game in college and only started 5 of 33. This is not a knock on him, I am very high on Minott, and see a bright future with us. But in summer league you could tell he didn’t know how to position himself for a box out, how to read defenses, and a lot of other skills necessary for the next level. He just turned 20 in July. It would be a disservice to him to rush him into the NBA before he builds the skills and confidence to thrive there. Maybe if injury plays a big role he gets some play. But absent injury or extreme superstardom in the G, I really don’t think we see him in competitive minutes. Garbage time, sure, but not when the game is still being contested.

I agree. I love Minott but he needs minutes and he won't get them up here. It would do him a world of good to G league it and play. It may be different for Moore but I think he gets at least some minutes up here because he was a 1st rd pick. He needs the minutes down there too.

It's so great being this deep. What a problem to have.

Honestly, Moore needs the G minutes more than Minott. He looked slow, out of sorts, and bad in the Summer League. I am not saying he is a bad player. Plenty of good players have a bad first summer league. I am saying that he is surprisingly raw for a 21 year old, and would greatly benefit from a year in the G. The G is great for guys who need help to refine their game while also adjusting to the NBA pace. I feel Culver was sabotaged by being tossed into the deep end without learning to swim, and I think he is far from the only player to have that happen. Basketball is a mental and confidence thing before anything else. Moore and Minott will both probably be rotation players next year, but should not this year. I don’t care when they were drafted.

[Nick K]

Summer league good and NBA backup are very different things. Minott is so raw and has a lot to learn about the fundamentals. He played an average of 14.6 minutes per game in college and only started 5 of 33. This is not a knock on him, I am very high on Minott, and see a bright future with us. But in summer league you could tell he didn’t know how to position himself for a box out, how to read defenses, and a lot of other skills necessary for the next level. He just turned 20 in July. It would be a disservice to him to rush him into the NBA before he builds the skills and confidence to thrive there. Maybe if injury plays a big role he gets some play. But absent injury or extreme superstardom in the G, I really don’t think we see him in competitive minutes. Garbage time, sure, but not when the game is still being contested.

I agree. I love Minott but he needs minutes and he won't get them up here. It would do him a world of good to G league it and play. It may be different for Moore but I think he gets at least some minutes up here because he was a 1st rd pick. He needs the minutes down there too.

It's so great being this deep. What a problem to have.

Honestly, Moore needs the G minutes more than Minott. He looked slow, out of sorts, and bad in the Summer League. I am not saying he is a bad player. Plenty of good players have a bad first summer league. I am saying that he is surprisingly raw for a 21 year old, and would greatly benefit from a year in the G. The G is great for guys who need help to refine their game while also adjusting to the NBA pace. I feel Culver was sabotaged by being tossed into the deep end without learning to swim, and I think he is far from the only player to have that happen. Basketball is a mental and confidence thing before anything else. Moore and Minott will both probably be rotation players next year, but should not this year. I don’t care when they were drafted.

It seems to me that Moore's game is a little like Slo-Mo in that it's on the deliberate side. It's just the way he is. He's effective and versatile too. I do get what you're getting at.

Culver still surprises me a bit. He was just bad and still is today. I think he just got a training camp invite with Atlanta and a 2 way deal. I wanted to give him every chance but I don't think he'll ever get it. If the Wolves gave up on him that's good enough for me.

[winforlose]

I agree. I love Minott but he needs minutes and he won't get them up here. It would do him a world of good to G league it and play. It may be different for Moore but I think he gets at least some minutes up here because he was a 1st rd pick. He needs the minutes down there too.

It's so great being this deep. What a problem to have.

Honestly, Moore needs the G minutes more than Minott. He looked slow, out of sorts, and bad in the Summer League. I am not saying he is a bad player. Plenty of good players have a bad first summer league. I am saying that he is surprisingly raw for a 21 year old, and would greatly benefit from a year in the G. The G is great for guys who need help to refine their game while also adjusting to the NBA pace. I feel Culver was sabotaged by being tossed into the deep end without learning to swim, and I think he is far from the only player to have that happen. Basketball is a mental and confidence thing before anything else. Moore and Minott will both probably be rotation players next year, but should not this year. I don’t care when they were drafted.

It seems to me that Moore's game is a little like Slo-Mo in that it's on the deliberate side. It's just the way he is. He's effective and versatile too. I do get what you're getting at.

Culver still surprises me a bit. He was just bad and still is today. I think he just got a training camp invite with Atlanta and a 2 way deal. I wanted to give him every chance but I don't think he'll ever get it. If the Wolves gave up on him that's good enough for me.

Slo-Mo on offense is fine, slow on defense is a liability. I loved KBD, but he was half a step too slow, and because of that he is 3rd string. Moore might be faster than he showed. If that is true, it was the adjustment to summer league that slowed him down. All the more reason for some time in the G to help him adjust.

Culver is/was a bust. But I do believe he would have been better today if he spent time in the G and adjusted to the NBA in a lower pressure environment. I believe Culver’s problems are at least somewhat mental, and we bare some responsibility for that situation.