m2002brian wrote:Crazy idea…
But, what if, already having setting a precedent that defense leads to winning…
We trade Rudy and get Lauri back, moving Kat back to center?
Hmm
I’ve given that some thought too.
Many of you guys are better X-and-O guys than me, but Towns defensive liabilities never seemed to me to be physical. If I recall, opponents FG% against KAT was a good defensive metric for him. And when he was drafted, people thought he could be a defensive force. His problems were also never even about defensive laziness. The problem I always saw in drop coverage was that with MIN’s constant young, weak, perimeter defenders, KAT constantly had an opponent coming into the paint with a full head of steam. Towns would come out to challenge him, and leave his man uncovered, breaking the team defense. He never seemed to change, even with guys behind him that could help protect the rim a little (Covington, McDaniels).
So if MIN trades Gobert, we’re obviously getting worse defensively, but by how much? One of my favorite parts about Gobert is that he brought a defensive culture to the Wolves, or at least stoked the fire. If he was gone, how much of that defensive culture remains? And we saw Towns play some surprisingly good perimeter defense at times. I’m sure it helps having Gobert behind you, but does he maintain the defensive intensity if Rudy is gone? He always talked about defensive identity constantly in interviews. Even more, did watching Gobert play drop coverage like a master influence Towns, so that he would also try to master it? I just don’t know.
I am sure there are some third teams that would like Gobert, and can send UTA some picks and young assets. I would want Kessler along with Markannen, and some very strong assurances from Lauri that he wanted to be in MIN longterm on a contender.
