Should the Wolves inquire about Baron Davis this summer?

JMillott · Post #1 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:32 am

#1. They have a desperate need at PG which Davis could easily fill if he is motivated.

#2. The Clippers might be so desperate to deal him that the Wolves could get him both cheaply but more importantly could get back the owed pick from the Cassell/Jaric trade.

#3. His contract is actually not all that bad and he is fully capable of making it a bargain and it ends when he is 33 when he might be inclined to re-sign for less if they're a contender by then.

#4. His biggest flaw when he plays hard ie shooting is still a vast improvement over the current option at the position.

#5. It allows Foye to stop swinging between positions immediately as he'd know long before training camp that he was the starting SG.

#6. Baron gives the team credibility and swagger, its a wake up call to the entire roster that its time to win.

cpfsf · Post #2 » by **cpfsf** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:04 am

if it's 2001, I'm all for it

Post #3 » by **Calinks** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:15 am

Baron Davis seems like a really cool guy. I love rooting for him. But...

He's an old guard. Investing in those players is always a no no IMO. Especially if they aren't the final piece.

He's injury prone.

He costs lots of money.

Vega06 · Post #4 » by **Vega06** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:27 am

He's not motivated in LA and isn't he from there? Why would he be motivated in Minnesota

Post #5 » by **Calinks** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:30 am

I heard that one major problem he has is the coach. Supposedly the Clippers are micro-managed and Baron doesn't like to and can't play that way. He would probably feel a hell of a lot better here in our open system but he would be losing again. Still, we would probably be better than the clips are this year though.

JMillott · Post #6 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:44 am

He isn't actually that old as he'll be 30, 31, 32 and 33 over the rest of that contract. He is fully capable of giving the Wolves 20/8/4/2 and his flaws when motivated are still vast improvements over what they have now.

The biggest thing he'll bring is it allow them to move Foye from a role he can't handle as the #2 guy into a role he can absolutely handle as the #3 guy.

It also gives them a much better chance at developing Brewer offensively if they go uptempo with Baron Davis as the PG to really push the attack.

G Baron
G Foye
F Brewer
F Love
C Jefferson

JMillott · Post #7 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:54 am

I would also state in a division with Billups, Deron and Westbrook at PG it would be wise to get a big physical athletic PG who can matchup with and actually outplay them on any given night.

Do you really want Telfair, Rubio or Jennings defending the PG's in the NW division?

Rakocevicftw · Post #8 » by **Rakocevicftw** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:56 am

JM, you realize Rubio is an amazing defender right? And a tall PG?

Rakocevicftw · Post #9 » by **Rakocevicftw** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:58 am

I think adding baron for expiring contracts, if we don't end up with Rubio, is not out of the question. I wouldn't give up a lotto pick to do it though.

It's funny to remember, didn't GSW basically get Baron from the Hornets for cap room/expiring deals?

JMillott · Post #10 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:08 am

Rakocevicftw wrote:JM, you realize Rubio is an amazing defender right? And a tall PG?

He isn't going to be an amazing NBA defender for quite sometime. A teenage PG can't handle the PG's in the NBA.

Al Jefferson is 25 its time to start winning. The last thing the Wolves should be looking to do is get younger at the PG position.

They need a veteran who can lead them because all the other key components on the team are so young.

Bottom line is Baron Davis fits the need, personnel and is available on the cheap right now.

Rakocevicftw · Post #11 » by **Rakocevicftw** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:25 am

"Al Jefferson is 25 its time to start winning."

Wow. So should we trade Love? He's only 20 and apparently we don't have time to wait.

B Calrissian · Post #12 » by **B Calrissian** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:42 am

Rakocevicftw wrote:I think adding baron for expiring contracts, if we don't end up with Rubio, is not out of the question. I wouldn't give up a lotto pick to do it though.

It's funny to remember, didn't GSW basically get Baron from the Hornets for cap room/expiring deals?

Yeah but then they sucked and ended up with Paul. I would love Davis on the Wolves. Most of the team seems afraid to shoot the ball so Davis would be perfect here.

SSUBluesman · Post #13 » by **SSUBluesman** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:45 am

No. No. And no.

Keep Baron away.

JMillott · Post #14 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:15 am

SSUBluesman wrote:No. No. And no.

Keep Baron away.

Why?

At worst he gives them a jump from having the worst PG in the NBA to having a top 12 PG at his best he is borderline top 5.

It frees them to worry only about getting a third guard, a defensive center or power forward instead of needing those things and a starting PG.

He also lets the entire team know that the franchise expects to win now.

JMillott · Post #15 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:33 am

Rakocevicftw wrote:"Al Jefferson is 25 its time to start winning."

Wow. So should we trade Love? He's only 20 and apparently we don't have time to wait.

Not at all, i'm saying that in Jefferson, Love, Foye, Gomes, Brewer and the lottery pick and Miami pick they have enough youth on the roster.

If they can deal say Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, the Utah pick and the Boston pick for Baron they should do so. Why draft a 19 year old PG who the rest of team has to wait on to develop in three or four years when they can fix the problem now with minimal cost?

The time to assemble assets is over with this draft, its time to cash in on some of them. Having two sizable expiring contracts and a few expandable 1st rounders opens a door for them to be major players this summer.

Having Baron Davis and Al Jefferson might make Shawn Marion or some other quality free agent interested in signing this summer? Maybe Ben Gordon signs to be the 3rd guard and sixth man we wanted McCants to be?

AQuintus · Post #16 » by **AQuintus** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:34 am

JMillott wrote:
Rakocevicftw wrote:JM, you realize Rubio is an amazing defender right? And a tall PG?

He isn't going to be an amazing NBA defender for quite sometime. A teenage PG can't handle the PG's in the NBA.

And Baron Davis will never be an amazing defender (or even an above average one).

Al Jefferson is 25 its time to start winning. The last thing the Wolves should be looking to do is get younger at the PG position.

Well, in that case, we should probably trade for Jamal Crawford, Corey Maggette, and Zach Randolph, too. Because, after all, even if they don't play defense, don't shoot efficiently, and are grossly overpaid, they do put up big numbers and that's all that you need to win.

They need a veteran who can lead them because all the other key components on the team are so young.

You're right! When I think of Baron "Cry my way out of New Orleans" Davis, I think of winning and leadership.

Bottom line is Baron Davis fits the need, personnel and is available on the cheap right now.

Since when is an old, constantly injured, chucker a need? And since when is 54 million dollars over 4 years cheap?

JMillott · Post #17 » by **JMillott** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:52 am

He is cheap as in two expiring contracts and two late 1st rounders is likely enough to get him. He isn't grossly overpaid for what he is capable of doing.

If he wasn't coming off a lost season he wouldn't be available, its not like he is incapable of earning every dollar of that contract either.

If he doesn't work out then you can always trade him again but as the length of that contract goes down his value goes up.

shrink · Post #18 » by **shrink** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:50 am

You're aware of his behavior to get out of NOH?

Rakocevicftw · Post #19 » by **Rakocevicftw** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:21 am

And Baron Davis will never be an amazing defender (or even an above average one).

He actually was a very good defender in that first round upset against Dallas. It's even more of a red flag that he hasn't played that kind of D since than if he never had at all, however.

Post #20 » by **revprodeji** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:23 am

attitude and injury concerns would make me say no.