Discussing Other Teams' Moves

[Nivek]

Cousins is better, but still has a ways to go, in my opinion. His rebounding is outstanding, obviously. I'd like to see him increase his blocks and his overall defensive presence, but I think that'll come in time. It's also good to see that his free throw shooting is better.

But, his offensive rating is still just 100, which is low. That despite reducing his turnovers, and improving his percentage from the floor and the line. His shooting percentage from the floor is still too low. He's a shade below 50% shooting at the rim this season, which is atrocious for someone his size. Gotta that back up to last year's level (62.5%), which would make him a serious offensive weapon given that he's improved his jumper (46% on shots from 16-23 feet).

One thing I wonder about is the HUGE drop in assists. One of the big values of an inside scorer is their ability to distort the defense and open things up for teammates. If he's not passing, his value to the team is limited to what he can get on his own.

Still, good to see him getting better. He needs to keep working to improve.

As for whether the coach is responsible for Cousins' development -- maybe. Or, maybe it has something to do with Cousins losing weight and working on his game in the offseason.

As for the numbers he's posting, he is in rare company in the per minute pts & rebounds department. He's the only 21 year old to do it. At 22, add Walt Bellamy, Kevin Love, Moses Malone and Happy Hairston to the list.

Make it 2nd season (to include old-time players who didn't come out early) and you get: Kareem, Wilt, Pettit, Baylor, Bellamy, Ray Felix and Mel Counts. Make it 1st or 2nd season, and Robert Parish and Fred Hetzel get added.

A good bunch of players on those lists.

[LyricalRico]

Rubio has 10 double-doubles. Krazy Khan isn't looking so-crazy anymore.

I'm not ready to remove the "crazy" label just yet. Adelman deserves most of the credit for this season IMO. The fact that Adleman has to finish games with a 3 PG lineup and can only get the #2 overall pick in the floor for 10 mpg proves IMO that the roster was poorly constructed and he's just making lemonade out of lemons.

Khan needs to give Adelman a more complete roster before I'll be willing to change my mind about Khan. Maybe find a way to turn DWill+Johnson+Ridnour+filler into a starting center, a scoring SG, and '3 & D' small forward?

[Silvie Lysandra]

McGee + Young + Singleton + Ves for D-Will, Wes, and Ridnour.

[closg00]

Rubio has 10 double-doubles. Krazy Khan isn't looking so-crazy anymore.

I'm not ready to remove the "crazy" label just yet. Adelman deserves most of the credit for this season IMO. The fact that Adleman has to finish games with a 3 PG lineup and can only get the #2 overall pick in the floor for 10 mpg proves IMO that the roster was poorly constructed and he's just making lemonade out of lemons.

Khan needs to give Adelman a more complete roster before I'll be willing to change my mind about Khan. Maybe find a way to turn DWill+Johnson+Ridnour+filler into a starting center, a scoring SG, and '3 & D' small forward?

Rubio has 10 double-doubles. Krazy Khan isn't looking so-crazy anymore.

Well, do you think DWill playing behind K Love might have an effect on his minutes?

I tell you what though, Wes Johnson is looking like a bust-pick, I have been following him closely. Adleman has been trying different things to let-loose some fire from Wes and it ain't happening.

[LyricalRico]

Well, do you think DWill playing behind K Love might have an effect on his minutes?

Of course, which is exactly my point.

Khan shouldn't have used the #2 pick on a guy that plays the same position as their best player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Cousins is better, but still has a ways to go, in my opinion. His rebounding is outstanding, obviously. I'd like to see him increase his blocks and his overall defensive presence, but I think that'll come in time. It's also good to see that his free throw shooting is better.

But, his offensive rating is still just 100, which is low. That despite reducing his turnovers, and improving his percentage from the floor and the line. His shooting percentage from the floor is still too low. He's a shade below 50% shooting at the rim this season, which is atrocious for someone his size. Gotta that back up to last year's level (62.5%), which would make him a serious offensive weapon given that he's improved his jumper (46% on shots from 16-23 feet).

One thing I wonder about is the HUGE drop in assists. One of the big values of an inside scorer is their ability to distort the defense and open things up for teammates. If he's not passing, his value to the team is limited to what he can get on his own.

Still, good to see him getting better. He needs to keep working to improve.

As for whether the coach is responsible for Cousins' development -- maybe. Or, maybe it has something to do with Cousins losing weight and working on his game in the offseason.

As for the numbers he's posting, he is in rare company in the per minute pts & rebounds department. He's the only 21 year old to do it. At 22, add Walt Bellamy, Kevin Love, Moses Malone and Happy Hairston to the list.

Make it 2nd season (to include old-time players who didn't come out early) and you get: Kareem, Wilt, Pettit, Baylor, Bellamy, Ray Felix and Mel Counts. Make it 1st or 2nd season, and Robert Parish and Fred Hetzel get added.

A good bunch of players on those lists.

This is the best article I have read on Cousins, complete with advanced stats. It says the same thing as Nivek -- Cousins is better but has a ways to go.

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2012/1/19 ... n-thompson

DeMarcus is slowly but surely making strides towards becoming one of the best big men in the NBA, but he still has his faults. Namely, he's very inefficient offensively. He uses a ton of possessions, turns it over a lot, and lacks a distinct post-game. There are a few reasons for why his post-game suffers. One, the Kings do a terrible job of getting the ball into the post. Two, DeMarcus does a terrible job of fighting for position, and often receives the ball with his back to the basket from 16 feet out or farther. Three, DeMarcus relies a lot on his strength and quickness to overpower or get by opponents, and while that worked in college, it doesn't work in the bigger, stronger, quicker NBA.

Away from the rim, DeMarcus is currently shooting a blistering 47% from the 16-23 foot range, a David West or Kevin Garnett like performance. It remains to be seen if that can be sustained

One place where DeMarcus has really dropped off from last year is in his passing. Last year he had almost a 15% Assist rate, among the best for big men, and this year he's in black hole territory. He's being used a bit differently, but we're not seeing nearly as many of those pretty passes, and it worries me a bit that the team isn't taking advantage of those skills from the high post.

Defensively is where DeMarcus has really shined so far this year. Of starting centers, only Bynum, DeAndre Jordan, Bargnani(!) and Chandler have allowed fewer Points Per Possession. DeMarcus' block rate has more than doubled, and he steals the ball as often as a guard. He does a great job of closing out on spot-up shooters, where that 7'6 wingspan really helps. There isn't a reliable source for statistics on Charges Drawn, but he has to be among the league leaders in that category as well. The biggest problem with DeMarcus on defense is foul trouble, as he's averaging 6.2 fouls per 36 minutes, a higher rate than even last year. As such he can't get consistent minutes.

[Ruzious]

Rubio has 10 double-doubles. Krazy Khan isn't looking so-crazy anymore.

I'm not ready to remove the "crazy" label just yet. Adelman deserves most of the credit for this season IMO. The fact that Adleman has to finish games with a 3 PG lineup and can only get the #2 overall pick in the floor for 10 mpg proves IMO that the roster was poorly constructed and he's just making lemonade out of lemons.

Khan needs to give Adelman a more complete roster before I'll be willing to change my mind about Khan. Maybe find a way to turn DWill+Johnson+Ridnour+filler into a starting center, a scoring SG, and '3 & D' small forward?

I'm gonna predict that in the offseason, Minny pulls off a trade that sends DWill to the team that has the pick for Harrison Barnes. Personally, I think DWill can play the 3, but they seem to think otherwise, so Barnes makes a lot more sense for them.

[willbcocks]

Minny would have to add some serious value for that trade to go down, and they don't have their own pick or any trade assets they'd be willing to trade. Not sure how they'd do it.

[Severn Hoos]

Rubio has 10 double-doubles. Krazy Khan isn't looking so-crazy anymore.

I'm not ready to remove the "crazy" label just yet. Adelman deserves most of the credit for this season IMO. The fact that Adleman has to finish games with a 3 PG lineup and can only get the #2 overall pick in the floor for 10 mpg proves IMO that the roster was poorly constructed and he's just making lemonade out of lemons.

Khan needs to give Adelman a more complete roster before I'll be willing to change my mind about Khan. Maybe find a way to turn DWill+Johnson+Ridnour+filler into a starting center, a scoring SG, and '3 & D' small forward?

I agree - Khan's "success" should also be put in perspective. He completely whiffed on the #6 pick (Flynn), got what looks like a marginal contributor from a #4 pick (Wesley Johnson), and there seem to be questions around a #2 pick who may become available (DWIll). Traded Lawson away (couldn't he have sent him to us?) Corey Brewer (#7) is already gone from the team. We could even throw in the deal that sent out Booker (#23) for Lazar Hayward (already gone) and Nemanja Bjelinca. Traded Al Jefferson for Kosta Koufos (already gone from the team).

Yes, I realize not all of that happened on his watch, but the franchise has turned a LOT of assets into a few really good players. From the past 5 drafts, he has received virtually nothing from a #7, #6, #4, and #2 (who is a rookie and may very well show value in time - except that he plays the same position as the team's best player!)

The Love acquisition was great, and he stole Rubio from Ernie, so he has more plusses on his resume than EG, but that's a pretty low bar to jump over. If I was a Wolves fan, I'd still be kinda ticked at how little we have to show for all those picks.

[no D in Hibachi]

As if we didn't already know this, but Aaron Afflalo was ridiculously overpaid. His on/off is -16.5, he's shooting 41%, his counterpart PER is 14.8, so he's not playing exceptional defense, and his PER is 10.1. At this point he's not even playing at a starter level, but he's being paid like a fringe all-star. His extension is looking regrettable.

[Ruzious]

Minny would have to add some serious value for that trade to go down, and they don't have their own pick or any trade assets they'd be willing to trade. Not sure how they'd do it.

DWill for Barnes is a pretty even trade. Minny might have to add a little bit depending on who's picking - but nothing more than Wes Johnson.

[closg00]

Cuban paid $3 Million for Dominique Jones and the Mavs don't play him.

[nate33]

I'm gonna predict that in the offseason, Minny pulls off a trade that sends DWill to the team that has the pick for Harrison Barnes. Personally, I think DWill can play the 3, but they seem to think otherwise, so Barnes makes a lot more sense for them.

That wouldn't be an awful scenario if we end up picking 5th or later and Davis, Robinson and MKG are off the board. I think I'd prefer DWill over Sullinger.

[fishercob]

I'm gonna predict that in the offseason, Minny pulls off a trade that sends DWill to the team that has the pick for Harrison Barnes. Personally, I think DWill can play the 3, but they seem to think otherwise, so Barnes makes a lot more sense for them.

That wouldn't be an awful scenario if we end up picking 5th or later and Davis, Robinson and MKG are off the board. I think I'd prefer DWill over Sullinger.

I'd want something else in return. Reason being, Williams' draft slot is going to command a lot more money over the life of the deal than the 5th or 6th pick. If they're comparable talents, we should be compensated for the delta, not to mention we'd have one less year of control.

[Ruzious]

I'm gonna predict that in the offseason, Minny pulls off a trade that sends DWill to the team that has the pick for Harrison Barnes. Personally, I think DWill can play the 3, but they seem to think otherwise, so Barnes makes a lot more sense for them.

That wouldn't be an awful scenario if we end up picking 5th or later and Davis, Robinson and MKG are off the board. I think I'd prefer DWill over Sullinger.

I'd want something else in return. Reason being, Williams' draft slot is going to command a lot more money over the life of the deal than the 5th or 6th pick. If they're comparable talents, we should be compensated for the delta, not to mention we'd have one less year of control.

I'm impressed - I didn't expect to hear the word delta used in a basketball thread. For salaries like mine, the difference is a lot, but in terms of NBA salaries, is it really that much? Did the CBA change the slots? The year is significant, but presumably it means he's a year closer to reaching his potential.

[nate33]

I'm gonna predict that in the offseason, Minny pulls off a trade that sends DWill to the team that has the pick for Harrison Barnes. Personally, I think DWill can play the 3, but they seem to think otherwise, so Barnes makes a lot more sense for them.

That wouldn't be an awful scenario if we end up picking 5th or later and Davis, Robinson and MKG are off the board. I think I'd prefer DWill over Sullinger.

I'd want something else in return. Reason being, Williams' draft slot is going to command a lot more money over the life of the deal than the 5th or 6th pick. If they're comparable talents, we should be compensated for the delta, not to mention we'd have one less year of control.

Fair points. There is some salary differential there. And with Barnes being NBA ready right now, we would be missing out on 4 years of capable play on a rookie deal for just 3 years of DWill on a rookie deal.

Nevertheless, I think the general idea makes sense. We might be better off just grabbing Sullinger at #5 and being done with it, but if Sully is off the board too, this becomes even more enticing. I'd much rather have DWill than Barnes or Perry Jones.

[fishercob]

Williams makes $4.6M this year. Valanciunus would have made about $3.2M if he had signed for the standard 120% of the rookie scale. Vesely makes about $3M.

Williams' next three seasons are $4,809,840, $5,016,960, $6,331,404, totaling about $16.2M.

Vesely's next 3 seasons are $3,202,920 $3,340,920 $4,236,287, totalling less than $11M.

So the 5th pick in next years draft might get you 4 years of service for the same price we'd have to pay Williams for 3. If the talent is truly comparable, we should get further compensation.

Not to mention the fact that Williams' numbers playing often against reserves are far from awe-inspiring.

[fishercob]

That wouldn't be an awful scenario if we end up picking 5th or later and Davis, Robinson and MKG are off the board. I think I'd prefer DWill over Sullinger.

I'd want something else in return. Reason being, Williams' draft slot is going to command a lot more money over the life of the deal than the 5th or 6th pick. If they're comparable talents, we should be compensated for the delta, not to mention we'd have one less year of control.

Fair points. There is some salary differential there. And with Barnes being NBA ready right now, we would be missing out on 4 years of capable play on a rookie deal for just 3 years of DWill on a rookie deal.

Nevertheless, I think the general idea makes sense. We might be better off just grabbing Sullinger at #5 and being done with it, but if Sully is off the board too, this becomes even more enticing. I'd much rather have DWill than Barnes or Perry Jones.

Let's hope we're not choosing between Barnes and JOnes.

[Ruzious]

Williams makes $4.6M this year. Valanciunus would have made about $3.2M if he had signed for the standard 120% of the rookie scale. Vesely makes about $3M.

Williams' next three seasons are $4,809,840, $5,016,960, $6,331,404, totaling about $16.2M.

Vesely's next 3 seasons are $3,202,920 $3,340,920 $4,236,287, totalling less than $11M.

So the 5th pick in next years draft might get you 4 years of service for the same price we'd have to pay Williams for 3. If the talent is truly comparable, we should get further compensation.

Not to mention the fact that Williams' numbers playing often against reserves are far from awe-inspiring.

Well, I agree the year is a significant factor. I'm not sure 5.2 mil over 3 years is. I think by the end of the season, his stats will show a lot of improvement. They better - I picked him up for my fantasy team.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Cuban paid $3 Million for Dominique Jones and the Mavs don't play him.

That guy could help the Wizards and is a good player IMO.