Lowe - Timberwolves Still Want D-Russell

[Killboard]

I just realized that Russell only played 30 min per game last season. His per 36 numbers are 25.2 pts, 8.3 asts, and 4.6 rbs.

Huge numbers.

And if he could do it on better than Rubio level efficiency it would be really good

Are you talking about shooting efficency right? Because Rubio was efficient running the offense here and always was a very efficient player on defense.

[Krapinsky]

NOPE

He's had enough chances here. It's time to move on ESPECIALLY if he can somehow be moved for cheap.

Take both Rose and Wiggins off our roster and I struggle to figure out how we score 90 points in a game next year.

Efficiently?

Wiggins was 118th out of 120 in eFG% and 190th out of 199 in TS% but was 2nd on the team in FGAs. If we just want to replace that 18ppg and not give a crap about how many shots it takes we could easily find someone. I mean, just give 8 guys 2 extra shots a game and we probably come out ahead.

Rose would be more difficult to replace (though I thought we were talking about Wiggs so not sure why he's come up) but it's not like he didn't have his share of issues. His 3pt% nosedived after some ridiculous early shooting, finishing the last 3 months of the season shooting 19%, 7% and 0% respectively. So getting a more consistent floor spacer might improve the offence as a whole even if individually they can't replace Rose's PPG.

And this doesn't take into account things like what impact Culver or Nowell might have, or what will happen with shot distribution with Cov back.

I just don't see how you could hold onto Wiggins if a good (i.e. inexpensive) trade came along. He's shown no signs of growth thus far, the player he is right now is worthless and it would take a minor miracle to find someone who either likes what he is or still somehow believes in his potential. You just have to do that deal if it's presented, whether you can replace him on paper or not.

I think if we're counting on Culver and Nowell to be more efficient than Wiggins next season, then we're in trouble.
A roster of Towns surrounded by the non-attacking and poor outside shooting of Teague, Covington, Okogie, Dieng, KDB plus some unproven rookies might see an improvement an efficiency only because every other possession results in a shot clock violation instead of a missed 2 pointer or missed free throws.

If there was ever a perfect recipe to rehabilitate Wiggins' trade value, Rosas has done it. He is going to allow Wiggins to go back to being the primary scorer from the outside rather than play off the ball, which he really struggled with. He kept a coach that knows his strengths and weaknesses and believes in him. He brought in a developmental assistant from Portland that helped guys like Lillard and McCollum become leaders. And he's added to surrounding Wiggins with a glut of defensive wings that can take pressure off him on that side of the ball. So absent an offer that's too good to pass up, I think it makes more sense to gamble that Wiggins' stock will improve, rather than cut bait now when everyone has universally soured on him.

[Worm Guts]

If you’re counting on Wiggins to be our primary scorer we’re not winning anything anything anyway. It’s better for the long term health of the team to have that contract gone.

[delux55]

Dont see a point in moving him just to move him. Wiggins is obv flawed and obv has a horrible contract but no point in moving him if it isnt bringing someone worthwhile back. He contract will become more easily tradable as the years shed off. He wont bring us to the playoffs as the primary outside scorer but he will help improve his value even if its slight. That along with a year off his deal next off season will be the year to move him

[Domejandro]

I don't know how anyone watches that boring, lackadaisical workout highlight mix and actually derives hope out of it, to be brutally honest with you. If Andrew Wiggins thrives elsewhere, good for him, but it most likely is not happening here.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Dont see a point in moving him just to move him. Wiggins is obv flawed and obv has a horrible contract but no point in moving him if it isnt bringing someone worthwhile back. He contract will become more easily tradable as the years shed off. He wont bring us to the playoffs as the primary outside scorer but he will help improve his value even if its slight. That along with a year off his deal next off season will be the year to move him

Why wouldn't you move him just to move him?

[delux55]

Cause if you aren't bringing anything worthwhile in return it's pointless. There is a very very very slim chance that his value can go any lower so why sell for nothing or god forbid add any assets to him to move him

[SO_MONEY]

Cause if you aren't bringing anything worthwhile in return it's pointless. There is a very very very slim chance that his value can go any lower so why sell for nothing or god forbid add any assets to him to move him

Exactly.

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[Worm Guts]

Cause if you aren't bringing anything worthwhile in return it's pointless. There is a very very very slim chance that his value can go any lower so why sell for nothing or god forbid add any assets to him to move him

Selling him to shorten his contract isn’t nothing. It opens flexibility to add players in the future. You’re given a limited amount of resources in the NBA and giving 30 percent of your cap for a player that isn’t good makes winning even more difficult.
Especially given his production over the last 2 seasons, you could probably pull someone from the G-league and get comparable performance.

[Krapinsky]

If you’re counting on Wiggins to be our primary scorer we’re not winning anything anything anyway. It’s better for the long term health of the team to have that contract gone.

If all we can get is other bad contracts (e.g. Batum), then it's better for the long term health of the team to rehabilitate Wiggins' trade value before we trade him.

[Mattya]

Read on Twitter

[minimus]

If you’re counting on Wiggins to be our primary scorer we’re not winning anything anything anyway. It’s better for the long term health of the team to have that contract gone.

If all we can get is other bad contracts (e.g. Batum), then it's better for the long term health of the team to rehabilitate Wiggins' trade value before we trade him.

I agree that trading Wiggins itself won't fix problems. However, I believe that Rosas has couple of working scenarios, where trading Wiggins is only one piece of puzzle. Saying this from all possible expiring contracts (Whiteside, Hayward, Parsons etc) I find Batum the best option because of his versality that does not depend on his athleticism. He is an elite passer for a comboforward, positive rebounder and defender.

[wildvikeswolves]

The rumors/news are coming in fast! Not gonna be able to get off Twitter the next couple days

[wesleyt95]

Russel and Keita we’re apart of the same class at OSU so there’s that connection too

[Calinks]

Don't be fooled by Wiggins workouts. Last year people were posting pics of reddit and saying things like "Look at Wiggins, arms he put on weight!" "He's going to be a monster this year!" Every year we get that and every year we get let down. At least the first couple of seasons Wiggins was an aggressive scorer. Didn't play great but he could get you 24 points and some big time dunks. Last two season he has been playing like a role player with little athleticism.

Time to call this one and move on. Maybe he will raise the level of his game in a new environment, If so, good for him. I highly doubt he will ever be a great player though and his contract right now is preventing us from being able to get another great player to put next to KAT for the foreseeable future.

[Slim Tubby]

I still don't see us being able to land Russell but when there continues to be this much smoke, there has to be a fire somewhere, right?


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[wildvikeswolves]

Read on Twitter

[ForeverTFC]

How many picks are you guys willing to trade for Russell?

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Cause if you aren't bringing anything worthwhile in return it's pointless. There is a very very very slim chance that his value can go any lower so why sell for nothing or god forbid add any assets to him to move him

Yea well we'll agree to disagree. If a guy has absolutely no value(your words)... him being on the team is detrimental to everyone else. Especially when he makes the most money on the team.

I sell because he sucks. We're better off getting a 6th and 8th rotation player than having Wiggins play valuable minutes.

[_AIJ_]

Cause if you aren't bringing anything worthwhile in return it's pointless. There is a very very very slim chance that his value can go any lower so why sell for nothing or god forbid add any assets to him to move him

You wont be getting anything worthwhile for him anyway and he uber useless for us. That salary dump is the only choice moving forward.


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