Wolves starting SG

p0peye · Post #1 » by **p0peye** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:03 am

I've drafted Wayne Ellington for my fantasy team and I'm interested who do you think will be starting SG this year?

wolves_fan_82au · Post #2 » by **wolves_fan_82au** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:43 pm

Brewer will with wilkins back up

wolves usually start there rookies of slow dunno if kahn will do the same thing

big3_8_19_21 · Post #3 » by **big3_8_19_21** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:28 pm

I'd guess Rambis' philosophy matters more than Kahn's...Kahn is more of a business man, or so I am led to believe.

the_bruce · Post #4 » by **the_bruce** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:50 pm

pretty sure it will be wilkins unless he is traded. He's actually a decent ball player. After Allen was traded and Lewis signed with ORL I remember Wilkins having some pretty big games. Seems like a player who would be better suited to an uotempo game from what I remember.

Post #5 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:52 pm

I thought it would be Wilkins, but we'll what happens with the Atkins rumors.

Post #6 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:02 pm

I would guess Brewer starting if Sessions is the starting point. If Flynn is ready Sessions will be starting sg. Ellington will get 15-20 right away.

The old staff waited on rookies, this new staff focuses on development and rookies will play.

It would surprise me if Wilkins plays at all.

Post #7 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:11 pm

Looking at Wilkins stats he is especially bad, but I'm still not sure Ellington will get minutes unless he earns them during camp. Sessions and Brewer could split the minutes, I guess. Maybe it will end up being Tony Allen.

Narf · Post #8 » by **Narf** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:34 pm

My guess is Brewer will start, and Ellington will get 30+ minutes off the bench. Brewer will split time between SG and SF. This assumption is based on Brewer's ability to shoot 40% from 3 over the last year. If he continues to hit the 3 at that clip, he's a very solid defensive stopper. Considering the sample size though (last year he was injured, but he also shot 40+% in summer league) it's far from a sure thing that Brewer didn't just have a fluke couple of months.

john2jer · Post #9 » by **john2jer** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:44 pm

I think Ellington will get solid minutes, but no way it's 30+. The front office and coaching staff has commented on how Ellington has impressed them so far in being more than JUST a shooter, that he has an under-appreciated all around game, being able to put in on the floor, attack the hoop, set-up others, and play defense. I could see 20+.

SG ~ Ellington(20)/Sessions(12)/Brewer(12)/Wilkins(4)

Sessions will obviously get minutes at the point, Brewer and Wilkins will get minutes a SF.

Something like that. No clue who the starter will be though, I think it will be the big competition in camp and dependent on Rambis's thoughts. Could be Brewer, Sessions, or slightly possibility of Ellington. But I think that's the likely order of chances, Brewer, Sessions, then Ellington. I put Brewer in front of Sessions due to size, defense, and the possibility that Sessions is our starting PG, with Flynn of the bench.

I could see Ellington shocking a few people if he keeps working hard, though.

Narf · Post #10 » by **Narf** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:47 pm

john2jer wrote:I think Ellington will get solid minutes, but no way it's 30+. The front office and coaching staff has commented on how Ellington has impressed them so far in being more than JUST a shooter, that he has an under-appreciated all around game, being able to put in on the floor, attack the hoop, set-up others, and play defense. I could see 20+.

SG ~ Ellington(20)/Sessions(12)/Brewer(12)/Wilkins(4)

Sessions will obviously get minutes at the point, Brewer and Wilkins will get minutes a SF.

Something like that. No clue who the starter will be though, I think it will be the big competition in camp and dependent on Rambis's thoughts. Could be Brewer, Sessions, or slightly possibility of Ellington. But I think that's the likely order of chances, Brewer, Sessions, then Ellington. I put Brewer in front of Sessions due to size, defense, and the possibility that Sessions is our starting PG, with Flynn of the bench.

I could see Ellington shocking a few people if he keeps working hard, though.

This isn't McHale and Wittman anymore. They said they would play the young guys, even if it costed them a few wins. I don't think it's sunk in quite yet with you guys, this is not McHale's team anymore. I expect Rambis to play the young guys for the purpose of developing them, not for the purpose of winning 3 more games.

the_bruce · Post #11 » by **the_bruce** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:53 pm

Wilkins is by no means a bad ball player imo.

He spent 3 seasons behind 2 allstars Allen & Lewis. At the begining of his first full season w\o Allen he was beasting, but his minutes dwindled that season and then drasticly reduced again on the move to OKC. A ton of this probably had to do with the team focusing on Durants development as he was playing the 2 for awhile if memory serves me right. We don't really have a better 2/3 on Durants level that will push down a more proven player like Wilkins.

I think that first month 2 seasons ago was the only time he saw fulltime minutes in the past 2 seasons. I think a few other months in his career he saw some 30mpg months when Allen went down with injury. Bone Spurs?

He also has the most complete offensive game to compliment Al/love of our available 2g's. Depending on how well ellington plays his minutes I'd imagine he'd end up starting after a month or so, but again it will take some adjustment for the kid.

john2jer · Post #12 » by **john2jer** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:55 pm

Not exactly sure which veteran I had starting or getting major minutes in my scenario...

Kind of seems like you had that argument pre-thought out and we're just waiting to toss it out there, even if it didn't fit. I think at the SG position Ellington will get the most minutes, but won't start due to the ability of the other contenders to play other positions.

Having said that, you're expecting Rambis to do something without the historical proof that he'll actually do that. Now obviously Kahn is calling for that, and Rambis has the job security to do so, but I wouldn't etch anything in stone until the season is rolling along.

No one's advocating winning 3 more games at the expense of the pups, otherwise you'd be seeing a call for Mike Miller. but with Brewer in a contract year, we definitely need to know what we have there. Plus he's our best perimeter defender. Tough to get out and run without solid perimeter defense.

Having said that, what are everyone's thoughts on Wayne Ellington's ability to become a Michael Redd type player? Very similar physical tools, with a slightly shorter wingspan, but more athletic, and likely a better defender. As long as we don't sign him to an obscene, undeserved contract when his rookie deal is up, I'd love Ellington to turn into Michael Redd with better defense.

Post #13 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:56 pm

This isn't McHale and Wittman anymore. They said they would play the young guys, even if it costed them a few wins. I don't think it's sunk in quite yet with you guys, this is not McHale's team anymore. I expect Rambis to play the young guys for the purpose of developing them, not for the purpose of winning 3 more games.

It's one thing to give your lottery picks 30+ minutes (which Wittman wouldn't do), it's another to give a late first round pick 30+ minutes. That would be unusual for any team. That's going from one extreme to the other.

Esohny · Post #14 » by **Esohny** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:58 pm

I think everyone understands the development tack that the new regime is attempting to take. But we've got a lot of youth to develop at the 1-3 positions, not just Wayne. They have to find minutes to develop Sessions, Brewer, Ellington, Flynn, and to a lesser extent Gomes. I have to imagine that Gomes and Brewer split time at SF, with Brewer grabbing a few SG minutes, and Sessions needs to be on the floor(whether PG or SG) 30-35+ minutes a game; if they play Flynn a lot(I would hope at least 25-30 minutes a game), Sessions will get a decent number of SG minutes. Ellington should get the remainder, but I don't know if there is enough for him to get 30+.

I do agree that Wilkins, Daniels, and Atkins(if he's here) don't see the floor too much.

Post #15 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:58 pm

Plus Brewer and Sessions need some developmental playing time as well.

Post #16 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:59 pm

bruceallen61 wrote:Wilkins is by no means a bad ball player imo.

.

He shot 36% from the field last year and had a PER of 8.3. He's bad.

the_bruce · Post #17 » by **the_bruce** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:00 pm

john2jer wrote:Having said that, what are everyone's thoughts on Wayne Ellington's ability to become a Michael Redd type player? Very similar physical tools, with a slightly shorter wingspan, but more athletic, and likely a better defender. As long as we don't sign him to an obscene, undeserved contract when his rookie deal is up, I'd love Ellington to turn into Michael Redd with better defense.

Yes I see him as a redd type.

Narf · Post #18 » by **Narf** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:08 pm

john2jer wrote:Kind of seems like you had that argument pre-thought out and we're just waiting to toss it out there, even if it didn't fit.

I could have sworn it was you that said it, but it was on a different board. This is what i get for reading 2 sports boards at the same time o_O

Someone said we wouldn't give a rookie that much time, "this is the Timberwolves after all". Me thinks it's time for more caffeine.

Narf · Post #19 » by **Narf** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:24 pm

Worm Guts wrote:It's one thing to give your lottery picks 30+ minutes (which Wittman wouldn't do), it's another to give a late first round pick 30+ minutes. That would be unusual for any team. That's going from one extreme to the other.

What number the pick is is not really relevant. Wilkens is not a long term option, and I think it's better than 50/50 that he will be traded to a playoff team. IMO anyone with an expiring + basketball value that we aren't bringing back should be traded. I don't care if it's just for Boston's 2012 2nd round pick and another expiring, clearly he's worth more to someone else than he is to us.

That said, Ellington should not have been #28 and I'm willing to bet he was in the teens on our draft board. He was one of the best outside shooters in basketball last year, has a reasonable all around game, and plays the one position that our team has no answer for. If I'm Rambis and my job is player development in 2009, win games in 2010....I play Ellington. Maybe I'm wrong, but the logic seems clear to me. Brewer + Ellington are the future so they get the playing time today.

If we make a trade for another SG, though, all bets are off.

shrink · Post #20 » by **shrink** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:27 pm

I seem to remember a game where Wilkins went for over 40 points a few years back. I think he's never gotten many big chances, though I don't know if MIN will give him one either at age 29. At a minimum, he's an expiring.