Wolves- LA Lakers 1012-2022

[Nick K]

Seeing all the he can comments made me think of this. Skip to 6:38 and watch till 6:50.

https://youtu.be/FxChP7oux1E

The questions around Garza are:

1. Can he defend at a high level? So far he is has only faced 3rd string (maybe second tonight,) competition. Can he guard AD or Bryant in a way that enables help to be effective (not gonna ask him to guard them straight up.)

2. How is his back to the basket game? We haven’t seen a lot of him in the post. Mostly we see him shooting from range or facing the basket. Having a back to the basket game is important at this level.

3. How is his handle? We haven’t seen Garza put the ball on the deck much. Obviously this is not the most important skill for a center, but it does help.

Every player has weaker points to their game but that doesn't mean they can't be a big help to the club. Garza looks like he has all the tools needed to be effective in our system. The knock on him was that he was super slow. I'm not seeing that. Can he defend? I'm thinking well enough without putting him out to defend on an island.

Apparently Finch loves him. Good enough for Finch, good enough for me.

I agree about trusting Finch. The thing is my questions were not rhetorical. I was/am honestly asking about those things. I don’t watch college basketball and I haven’t seen those situations happen in a way that answers my questions.

Oh sure. I understand. From a short look it looks like his positives outweigh any potential negatives. I.E. I'm guessing his negatives aren't deal-breakers.

[Nick K]

I think the words “grow into our system,” imply he’s not ready to be in our system yet. To me, that seems like he’s probably destined for the G-League.

One thing I want to see more: mental and physical toughness. I do believe that MIN in last playoff were more athletic and more talented than MEM. BUT, MEM were way more tougher, physical. Beverly, Vando played aggressive, but they lacked size. MCD at PF lacks 30-40lbs, TP at PF is undersized. I like what I saw from Gobert in his only game: 12 rebounds in 17 minutes, multiple screens. KA is tough, physical, MCD and Ant can be terror on perimeter. I might be mistaken, but Garza fits here, yes, he is slow and does not jump out of the gym, but he fights for position, he uses elbows wisely, he sets solid screens, he fights for rebounds. I also like his confidence when he made those 3s in clutch, this is mental toughness I want to see from 1st to 15th player in roster.

I'm happy to say we are night and day stronger in every way from the team that played Memphis last year. I'd bet money we'd beat Memphis in 5 games today.

[Nick K]

Maybe Luka Garza will become MIN version of Bill Laimbeer? Better shooter, no dirty plays, same hard fouls and tough screens.

When you think of Centers of the past Felton Spencer, Big Brown Bear, Cherokee Parks, Randy Breuer, Earvin "not so magic" Johnson we've come a long way. Compare Garza to them and he even looks better.

I think Finch see's some Jokic in him??

[Nick K]

Also, forgot to mention. Naz has been showcasing these past 2 games that he's the next big up in case either Gobert or KAT or both are out. He's seriously ballin' right now. Please don't trade him!

Issue 1: Naz is going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He has no incentive to resign with us when we have a backlog at big (especially if Garza is an up and comer.) If he leaves we get no value back (Josh Okogie all over again.)

Issue 2: If Naz doesn’t get enough minutes, the shine from his beast mode preseason will fade. When it fades his value will lower. Holding him is good insurance for the season, but at the cost of his top end trade value.

Issue 3: It is hard for a guy playing this well to get buried. Not saying he will become an issue in the locker room, but it is the kind of situation that makes you nervous.

With Garza and Knight behind Towns and Gobert we don’t need Naz. Meanwhile we could always sign a Whiteside or Boogie emergency big in case of a lot of injuries. This is the time to move Naz.

I agree WFL. I kind of think we've been "shopping" Naz this pre-season.

[BlacJacMac]

Maybe Luka Garza will become MIN version of Bill Laimbeer? Better shooter, no dirty plays, same hard fouls and tough screens.

When you think of Centers of the past Felton Spencer, Big Brown Bear, Cherokee Parks, Randy Breuer, Earvin "not so magic" Johnson we've come a long way. Compare Garza to them and he even looks better.

I think Finch see's some Jokic in him??

Either put down the pipe or pass it around the room...

[thinktank]

We have Knight as our third C even if you don’t count Garza. Not to mention a wealth of capable free agent bigs you can bring in (Whiteside would be good, Boogie decent, ect…) As for enjoying his play, the whole point is he won’t play enough. Best case with everyone healthy is what 15 minutes per game (probably less.) Even with an injury, what is he looking at 20 minutes, 22? Moreover, if we do keep him, then what. He leaves next year and we end in the same place, minus the value he brings back. This isn’t the kind of conversation you can just say sorry not worth talking about. I guarantee you TC will try to move him, either now or at the deadline.

Why are you typing out all these NBA players names? Just use initials. It saves so many keystrokes. NK and MG are not capable 3rd Cs. Cmon man.

TC won’t move NR now and he won’t move NR at the deadline.

Enjoy his play!

You’ll see. TA!

You mean LG? How do you know they aren’t? Plus, if they fail there are plenty of free agent bigs who we can sign. Plus, the buyout market will probably have some. What are we really talking about here. NR is too good to be 3rd string. Tying him to the bench is a waste for everyone. I do enjoy his play, but I value him and his career as well. He needs a chance to start or at least to play somewhere that he can compete for it.

NR is more valuable to us this year because he helps us compete for a championship right now.

I’m 100% sure TC sees it that way too.

[Dewey]

Maybe Luka Garza will become MIN version of Bill Laimbeer? Better shooter, no dirty plays, same hard fouls and tough screens.

When you think of Centers of the past Felton Spencer, Big Brown Bear, Cherokee Parks, Randy Breuer, Earvin "not so magic" Johnson we've come a long way. Compare Garza to them and he even looks better.

I think Finch see's some Jokic in him??

Either put down the pipe or pass it around the room...

Haha!

[Dalvin]

Why are you typing out all these NBA players names? Just use initials. It saves so many keystrokes. NK and MG are not capable 3rd Cs. Cmon man.

TC won’t move NR now and he won’t move NR at the deadline.

Enjoy his play!

You’ll see. TA!

You mean LG? How do you know they aren’t? Plus, if they fail there are plenty of free agent bigs who we can sign. Plus, the buyout market will probably have some. What are we really talking about here. NR is too good to be 3rd string. Tying him to the bench is a waste for everyone. I do enjoy his play, but I value him and his career as well. He needs a chance to start or at least to play somewhere that he can compete for it.

NR is more valuable to us this year because he helps us compete for a championship right now.

I’m 100% sure TC sees it that way too.

I'm of the same thinking. Why trade him now if he could be useful for this season. The insurance he gives when we get an injury is so good it's almost a luxury for this season. Granted, he may walk next season if he's not traded/signed (to a reasonable contract). We traded most of our picks with the thinking that we contend this season and as soon as possible. Let the future worry itself. Also, Josh Okogie was not traded because maybe there was no market for him. Even if he signed in Phoenix, he's still a bench warmer in the preseason, jury is still out though if he'll be a key piece for the Suns this season.

[Klomp]

NR is more valuable to us this year because he helps us compete for a championship right now.

I’m 100% sure TC sees it that way too.

This is correct. HOWEVER, there is merit to the idea that losing Naz Reid for nothing next summer does not make sense either.

[winforlose]

You mean LG? How do you know they aren’t? Plus, if they fail there are plenty of free agent bigs who we can sign. Plus, the buyout market will probably have some. What are we really talking about here. NR is too good to be 3rd string. Tying him to the bench is a waste for everyone. I do enjoy his play, but I value him and his career as well. He needs a chance to start or at least to play somewhere that he can compete for it.

NR is more valuable to us this year because he helps us compete for a championship right now.

I’m 100% sure TC sees it that way too.

I'm of the same thinking. Why trade him now if he could be useful for this season. The insurance he gives when we get an injury is so good it's almost a luxury for this season. Granted, he may walk next season if he's not traded/signed (to a reasonable contract). We traded most of our picks with the thinking that we contend this season and as soon as possible. Let the future worry itself. Also, Josh Okogie was not traded because maybe there was no market for him. Even if he signed in Phoenix, he's still a bench warmer in the preseason, jury is still out though if he'll be a key piece for the Suns this season.

Your point is valid. I am not disputing that this is a real choice we could make. But, the other side of that same coin is creating a roster spot and draft capital and relying on Garza, Knight, and the free agent/buyout market for that same insurance. Maybe Naz wins one or two more games for us. But is that worth not having a first round draft pick this year? For example, what if trade Naz for Boston’s pick by way of the Pacers. Say they draft 24. We trade back to 28 for a couple of future seconds. Now we have a late first, 2 future seconds, and a roster spot for Garza, all for the low price of a player who was leaving anyway.

Your best counter argument is “But WFL what about the playoffs. Naz in the playoffs is much more reliable than Garza or Knight.” My response is of course you are right, but over the course of the season we will evaluate Garza and Knight. If we don’t like either for the playoffs we sign someone front the buyout market or from free agency. For example, Whiteside would be just fine in the playoffs.

[shrink]

We have Knight as our third C even if you don’t count Garza. Not to mention a wealth of capable free agent bigs you can bring in (Whiteside would be good, Boogie decent, ect…) As for enjoying his play, the whole point is he won’t play enough. Best case with everyone healthy is what 15 minutes per game (probably less.) Even with an injury, what is he looking at 20 minutes, 22? Moreover, if we do keep him, then what. He leaves next year and we end in the same place, minus the value he brings back. This isn’t the kind of conversation you can just say sorry not worth talking about. I guarantee you TC will try to move him, either now or at the deadline.

Why are you typing out all these NBA players names? Just use initials. It saves so many keystrokes. NK and MG are not capable 3rd Cs. Cmon man.

TC won’t move NR now and he won’t move NR at the deadline.

Enjoy his play!

You’ll see. TA!

Who is MG?

Michael Grady

[thinktank]

Why are you typing out all these NBA players names? Just use initials. It saves so many keystrokes. NK and MG are not capable 3rd Cs. Cmon man.

TC won’t move NR now and he won’t move NR at the deadline.

Enjoy his play!

You’ll see. TA!

Who is MG?

Michael Grady

Yes!

I like him so far.