Worm Guts wrote:TheZachAttack wrote:Worm Guts wrote:The issue is that Russell really isn't much if any better than Wiggins and we gave up a top 10 pick to make that swap. It was a bad trade. We've been a worse team since we made it. No reason to dwell on it, because we can't change it, but it is dishonest to pretend that it's anything other than a bad trade.
I guess I disagree. Russell can create his own shot and create for others in the half-court from a primary ball-handler position in a way that Wiggins cannot (he may be able to shoot alright playing as a spacer though we'll see if that holds). That, in it of itself, and what that does and the importance of that in a modern NBA offense is HUGE. Russell is a whole different category of player than Wiggins, though there may be teams that would rather have Wiggins than Russell--the Wolves are not one of them. At the very least, the Wolves at the stage they were at when they made the Russell trade were not one of them and I would argue now still.
The Wolves, if they have any chance of being good, need a perimeter player who can create his own shot and hit perimeter shots off the dribble coming from a primary ball-handler position. We weren't going anywhere until we got that and Wiggins was not that guy and never will be despite some success in a quasi-role similar to what Edwards played last season as a ball dominant scorer.
Russell for Wiggins straight up might have been a good trade for the Wolves (or maybe not considering how often Russell has been injured). Adding any first round pick was a mistake. I do think giving up the 7th pick is a big deal. The Wolves need to make a difference with the assets they have, and in this case they gave away a good one.
I feel quite comfortable when I say anything that Russell has produced in this past 1,5 years could've been duplicated by Derrick Rose for less than a fourth of Russells salary. Rose is even the more efficient scorer.
Goes to show you that the value per dollar with Russell is still the same crap as with Wiggins.
No idea how anyone can still talk themselves into giving up the pick was a good idea.