Make a Bold Move

[AQuintus]

5% of people who post here thought we should trade down and take Jennings. No one had him rated that high.

To be fair, I wanted to draft Jennings with the 6th pick. I'm pretty sure that I was the only one, though.

[LOBO 7]

Making a "bold move" now would be silly, IMO. We're 10 games in, and we won't really know what we've got until Al and Love are back full strength. Yes, Jennings has been very impressive, but as has already been stated, some of that is the result of the system he's playing in. Flynn has been very good as well, and has been playing with a much shorter leash. Trading Al right now would be very silly, his stock will only rise as he gets back to 100%. We knew this season would be ugly at times, and that was before Love went down. Making bold, reactionary trades this early in the project would only limit our long-term flexibility. Patience..........

[Esohny]

So, I have a question about a bold move we can make on draft night. If we somehow landed the #1 or #2 and were in a position to draft John Wall, who would trade down to get Evan Turner + sweetener?

[AQuintus]

So, I have a question about a bold move we can make on draft night. If we somehow landed the #1 or #2 and were in a position to draft John Wall, who would trade down to get Evan Turner + sweetener?

I would trade Flynn, Sessions, or Rubio's rights (I would have to think about this one). Trading Wall would be a huge mistake, though.

[Esohny]

So, I have a question about a bold move we can make on draft night. If we somehow landed the #1 or #2 and were in a position to draft John Wall, who would trade down to get Evan Turner + sweetener?

I would trade Flynn, Sessions, or Rubio's rights (I would have to think about this one). Trading Wall would be a huge mistake, though.

I was going to mention something like that, but I'm not sure that teams will be willing to wait the extra year for Rubio if they're giving up a guy like Turner. Obviously Flynn and Session are still there, although I'm not sure how many teams need a PG...there have actually been a lot of talented PGs to come into the league lately. I mean, I'd put the list at

Glaring Need:
knicks
Pacers

Less than glaring need(could use an upgrade, or a young PG to groom to take over for a veteran):
Cavs
Heat
Hawks
Kings?
Lakers
Mavericks
Suns

The knicks are the most in need(Duhon 6.7 is embarrassing and Douglas looks more like a good backup), but their #1 is going to Utah, and the only thing on their roster I want is Gallo. Not sure if he's available. The Pacers need someone, but they're not trading Granger, and I don't know that Hibbert is available.

[Vindicater]

5% of people who post here thought we should trade down and take Jennings. No one had him rated that high.

To be fair, I wanted to draft Jennings with the 6th pick. I'm pretty sure that I was the only one, though.

Nope, I wanted him too. Other then Rubio (who i thought would be gone) I continually said Jennings was the second best point guard prospect.

Saying that however im not disapointed in Flynn. I am disapinted in Rambis though who seems to not be able to adjust in games.

[JR Rider]

I'm an avid Blazer fan but I live in Minnesota so I watch a lot of Wolves games by default.

IMO, the team needs a true center. I'd look to build around Johnny Flynn and Kevin Love, for starters.

As Jefferson gets healthy showcase him and see if NJ would bite on a Jefferson-for-Lopez. I am not a Jefferson fan. Watching him I see so much Zach Randolph. And I've watched quite a bit of both. Kevin Love has strong intangibles and is just an all-around fundamentally sound player. He should be the PF of the future, IMO.

If Lopez doesn't work I'd look at San Antonio's 7'0" Center Tiago Splitter. The best big in Europe. I know Portland wont give him up cheaply but the 6'11" F/C Joel Freeland is rapidly developing and is one of the most efficient players in Europe.

Before he injured his foot I thought Outlaw would have been a good fit for Minnesota. He can score and with a more prominent role he'd be an 18 PPG (or so) scorer in this League.

So, in short, keep Flynn/Love and start from scratch with the rest. Jefferson/Rubio are very good trading chips to bring in a building block for the present/future.

I am a wolves fan.

I couldn't agree with you more. about everything you said here.

However, people on here were/are far too high on Jefferson. And I believed this before his injury as well. Love should be our PF of the future, and Jefferson is not a center. Id like to ultimately see him go, and get a solid return value on him.





ALSO.
Love is for sure A (not the) player we build around. I am a big fan of Gomes, and Sessions as ROLE PLAYERS. The jury is still out on Flynn, and Ellington, really they are too young to really make a decision. I am still considering pavolovic as a possible future role player as well.
Otherwise the rest of the roster can be left unsigned, or traded for value (in jefferson's case, as well as friendly contracts)

[deeney0]

The last bold move the Wolves made, depending on your definition of bold move, didn't work out so well.

Actually, no matter your definition of bold move, no matter which move in the last, oh, 50 months or so, you choose, it didn't work out so well.

I've begun working on an essay entitled "The Wolves Lost the KG Trade" and subtitled "An Essay for those Not Paying Attention." I'll post it here when I've successfully edited it for vulgar language.

[Vindicater]

IM not gonna blow anything up untill at least 30 games into the season

if we are 1-29 then i will be scared

[Wolves2011]

I'm an avid Blazer fan but I live in Minnesota so I watch a lot of Wolves games by default.

IMO, the team needs a true center. I'd look to build around Johnny Flynn and Kevin Love, for starters.

As Jefferson gets healthy showcase him and see if NJ would bite on a Jefferson-for-Lopez. I am not a Jefferson fan. Watching him I see so much Zach Randolph. And I've watched quite a bit of both. Kevin Love has strong intangibles and is just an all-around fundamentally sound player. He should be the PF of the future, IMO.

If Lopez doesn't work I'd look at San Antonio's 7'0" Center Tiago Splitter. The best big in Europe. I know Portland wont give him up cheaply but the 6'11" F/C Joel Freeland is rapidly developing and is one of the most efficient players in Europe.

Before he injured his foot I thought Outlaw would have been a good fit for Minnesota. He can score and with a more prominent role he'd be an 18 PPG (or so) scorer in this League.

So, in short, keep Flynn/Love and start from scratch with the rest. Jefferson/Rubio are very good trading chips to bring in a building block for the present/future.

I am a wolves fan.

I couldn't agree with you more. about everything you said here.

However, people on here were/are far too high on Jefferson. And I believed this before his injury as well. Love should be our PF of the future, and Jefferson is not a center. Id like to ultimately see him go, and get a solid return value on him.





ALSO.
Love is for sure A (not the) player we build around. I am a big fan of Gomes, and Sessions as ROLE PLAYERS. The jury is still out on Flynn, and Ellington, really they are too young to really make a decision. I am still considering pavolovic as a possible future role player as well.
Otherwise the rest of the roster can be left unsigned, or traded for value (in jefferson's case, as well as friendly contracts)

Jefferson was better than Love at PF and Center...

comparing Jefferson and Love:

He was also better at Center than PF

In 2008-9 Jefferson:

'Offensive PER at Center: 26.3
Defensive PER at Center: 19.2

His PER value at center: plus 7.1

It was lower at PF

Offensive PER at PF: 17.9
Defensive PER at PF: 13.5

His PER value at PF: plus 4.5

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Love in 2008-9:

Offensive PER at Center: 22.6
Defensive PER at Center: 19.5

His PER value at center: plus 3.0

It was lower at PF

Offensive PER at PF: 17.6
Defensive PER at PF: 19.1

His PER value at PF: minus 1.6

0000000000000000000000000000000000000

Jefferson adjusted plus minus in 2008-9: 5.04

Love adjusted plus minus in 2008-9: minus 7.63

By the way, to be clear, I really like Love. But lets make informed decisions. I think Love makes big improvements this year and I believe jefferson would have improved even more on defense, if not injured.

[Tekkenlaw]

I'm an avid Blazer fan but I live in Minnesota so I watch a lot of Wolves games by default.

IMO, the team needs a true center. I'd look to build around Johnny Flynn and Kevin Love, for starters.

As Jefferson gets healthy showcase him and see if NJ would bite on a Jefferson-for-Lopez. I am not a Jefferson fan. Watching him I see so much Zach Randolph. And I've watched quite a bit of both. Kevin Love has strong intangibles and is just an all-around fundamentally sound player. He should be the PF of the future, IMO.

If Lopez doesn't work I'd look at San Antonio's 7'0" Center Tiago Splitter. The best big in Europe. I know Portland wont give him up cheaply but the 6'11" F/C Joel Freeland is rapidly developing and is one of the most efficient players in Europe.

Before he injured his foot I thought Outlaw would have been a good fit for Minnesota. He can score and with a more prominent role he'd be an 18 PPG (or so) scorer in this League.

So, in short, keep Flynn/Love and start from scratch with the rest. Jefferson/Rubio are very good trading chips to bring in a building block for the present/future.

I completely agree. I build around Flynn/Love, this is the way I breakdown the team going forward.

PG. Jonny Flynn/Ramon Sessions
SG. ???/Wayne Ellington
SF. ???/Corey Brewer
PF. Kevin Love/???
C. ???/Ryan Hollins

Hopefully pencil in Turner in that SG spot. Maybe Iguodala is more realistic than Granger in an Al Jefferson trade? Sign Tyrus Thomas to fill up the backup power forward spot. I don't know what's out there for centers besides Pekovic, for the sake of discussion and making an awesome hypothetical wolves team lets say that the Lakers would do Bynum for Rubio and cap space. Realistically though the wolves could probably grab a center with the Bobcats pick and go with the prospect and pekovic, but I don't really know much about any of the center prospects in this draft. You could go with a lesser center like Kaman or Biedrins too and likely hang onto Rubio.

PG. Jonny Flynn/Ramon Sessions
SG. Evan Turner/Wayne Ellington/Sasha Pavlovic
SF. Andre Iguodala/Corey Brewer
PF. Kevin Love/Tyrus Thomas
C. Andrew Bynum/Nikola Pekovic/Ryan Hollins

Just an epic triangle team with the way Turner, Iguodala, and Love can move the ball, and look at the length and defense of the 2nd unit. Hopefully Kahn isn't reading this, I want the Lakers to win a few more titles in the next decade. Things can change drastically though, I just made this post for the fun of it. For all we know Nathan Jawai could turn into a 20-10 guy.

brb, gonna go play nba 2k10.

[Wolves2011]

I'm an avid Blazer fan but I live in Minnesota so I watch a lot of Wolves games by default.

IMO, the team needs a true center. I'd look to build around Johnny Flynn and Kevin Love, for starters.

As Jefferson gets healthy showcase him and see if NJ would bite on a Jefferson-for-Lopez. I am not a Jefferson fan. Watching him I see so much Zach Randolph. And I've watched quite a bit of both. Kevin Love has strong intangibles and is just an all-around fundamentally sound player. He should be the PF of the future, IMO.

If Lopez doesn't work I'd look at San Antonio's 7'0" Center Tiago Splitter. The best big in Europe. I know Portland wont give him up cheaply but the 6'11" F/C Joel Freeland is rapidly developing and is one of the most efficient players in Europe.

Before he injured his foot I thought Outlaw would have been a good fit for Minnesota. He can score and with a more prominent role he'd be an 18 PPG (or so) scorer in this League.

So, in short, keep Flynn/Love and start from scratch with the rest. Jefferson/Rubio are very good trading chips to bring in a building block for the present/future.

I completely agree. I build around Flynn/Love, this is the way I breakdown the team going forward.

PG. Jonny Flynn/Ramon Sessions
SG. ???/Wayne Ellington
SF. ???/Corey Brewer
PF. Kevin Love/???
C. ???/Ryan Hollins

Hopefully pencil in Turner in that SG spot. Maybe Iguodala is more realistic than Granger in an Al Jefferson trade? Sign Tyrus Thomas to fill up the backup power forward spot. I don't know what's out there for centers besides Pekovic, for the sake of discussion and making an awesome hypothetical wolves team lets say that the Lakers would do Bynum for Rubio and cap space. Realistically though we could probably grab a center with the Bobcats pick, but I don't really know much about any of the center prospects in this draft. You could substitute Kaman in there too and hold onto Rubio for a few more years.

PG. Jonny Flynn/Ramon Sessions
SG. Evan Turner/Wayne Ellington/Sasha Pavlovic
SF. Andre Iguodala/Corey Brewer
PF. Kevin Love/Tyrus Thomas
C. Andrew Bynum/Nikola Pekovic/Ryan Hollins

Just an epic triangle team with the way Turner, Iguodala, and Love can move the ball, and look at the length and defense of the 2nd unit. Hopefully Kahn isn't reading this, I want the Lakers to win a few more titles in the next decade. Things can change drastically though, I just made this post for the fun of it. For all we know Nathan Jawai could turn into a 20-10 guy.

brb, gonna go play nba 2k10.

Why do you take Love over Jefferson, when Jefferson was better last year at both Center and PF on both offense and defense?

Why keep Flynn if to quote Rambis: "Rambis says point guards in the triangle are supposed to score "on the backside of the offense," after a rotation, when they get the ball back after putting the ball into motion. Creating off the dribble is generally frowned upon."

So Flynn's greatest strength is a tertiary option thats frowned up. [Its a similar situation for Sessions]
You also need to be a good jump shooter as a PG in the Triangle which hurts both Sessions and Rubio.]

To accomodate this offense, the triangle we need to trade Jefferson, Rubio, Flynn and Sessions and keep Love [but keep in mine that Jefferson was better than Love at both PF and Center on both offense and defense. See the posting a couple of slots above for details.]

[Tekkenlaw]

Why do you take Love over Jefferson, when Jefferson was better last year at both Center and PF on both offense and defense?

Because stats aren't everything. I would take Shane Battier as my starting small forward over Rudy Gay if I'm trying to build a championship caliber team.

Why keep Flynn if to quote Rambis: "Rambis says point guards in the triangle are supposed to score "on the backside of the offense," after a rotation, when they get the ball back after putting the ball into motion. Creating off the dribble is generally frowned upon."

So Flynn's greatest strength is a tertiary option thats frowned up.

Flynn might not fit sure, luckily we have Rubio and Sessions in our back pocket. I wouldn't trade Flynn 10 games into his rookie season. This isn't about fit anyways, it's about putting together a team that can win ball games.

To accomodate this offense, the triangle we need to trade Jefferson, Rubio, Flynn and Sessions and keep Love [but keep in mine that Jefferson was better than Love at both PF and Center on both offense and defense. See the posting a couple of slots above for details.]

Meh, the triangle wasn't my primary concern when I made my post, putting together a team that I think can win in this league was. I think the team I put together in my hypothetical could win under a variety of different systems provided that guys like Flynn and Turner pan out. You might as well just fire rambis if a team with that much talent isn't able to win games and show a ton of potential.