Around the NBA (Part Two)

[BlacJacMac]

Fair, but starting there and starting here isn’t the same thing. Conley is more effective than him, and he isn’t starting over Ant. NAW is the better player overall, and Naz was 6th man of the year, thus 8th man.

He was really good in the Playoffs. And got better as they went along.

EC1: 14 PPG (60/45/67), 3.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
ECS: 12 PPG (55/53/75), 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ECF: 21 PPG (54/48/89), 3.8 RPG, 7.8 APG

He might've been our 7th or 8th man this year, but (before drafting Dilly), he would've been an outstanding player to groom as Mike's replacement.

Still makes him 7th or 8th man behind Naz and maybe NAW.

For last year only.

And maybe not even then. If we had him last year, we likely don't trade for Morris.

He would've clearly been Conley's back-up going into this season (again, assuming we acquired him and not Dilly).

[winforlose]

He was really good in the Playoffs. And got better as they went along.

EC1: 14 PPG (60/45/67), 3.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
ECS: 12 PPG (55/53/75), 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ECF: 21 PPG (54/48/89), 3.8 RPG, 7.8 APG

He might've been our 7th or 8th man this year, but (before drafting Dilly), he would've been an outstanding player to groom as Mike's replacement.

Still makes him 7th or 8th man behind Naz and maybe NAW.

For last year only.

And maybe not even then. If we had him last year, we likely don't trade for Morris.

He would've clearly been Conley's back-up going into this season (again, assuming we acquired him and not Dilly).

This year would you start him over Conley? If no, then he is not 1-5. Is he gonna play more minutes than Naz? Is Nembhard the teams leading scoring option off the bench? I still think it is Naz. That means you are talking 7th or 8th man. It cannot be more simple than that. You want to get into NAW vs Nembhard for minutes you can, but he is still 7th or 8th man on the Wolves THIS SEASON.

[Neeva]

He literally started all 17 games in playoffs, including ECF

Fair, but starting there and starting here isn’t the same thing. Conley is more effective than him, and he isn’t starting over Ant. NAW is the better player overall, and Naz was 6th man of the year, thus 8th man.

He was really good in the Playoffs. And got better as they went along.

EC1: 14 PPG (60/45/67), 3.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
ECS: 12 PPG (55/53/75), 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ECF: 21 PPG (54/48/89), 3.8 RPG, 7.8 APG

He might've been our 7th or 8th man this year, but (before drafting Dilly), he would've been an outstanding player to groom as Mike's replacement.

He was surprisingly good against Boston, I thought he sucked against the Knicks before all their injuries, he was getting abused by Brunson, bad! His defense only looks good because Haliburton and McConnell’s defense is soo bad in comparison.

[BlacJacMac]

Still makes him 7th or 8th man behind Naz and maybe NAW.

For last year only.

And maybe not even then. If we had him last year, we likely don't trade for Morris.

He would've clearly been Conley's back-up going into this season (again, assuming we acquired him and not Dilly).

This year would you start him over Conley? If no, then he is not 1-5. Is he gonna play more minutes than Naz? Is Nembhard the teams leading scoring option off the bench? I still think it is Naz. That means you are talking 7th or 8th man. It cannot be more simple than that. You want to get into NAW vs Nembhard for minutes you can, but he is still 7th or 8th man on the Wolves THIS SEASON.

Maybe. Its going to depend on your rotations and health. And my whole point was that even if he's the 7th or 8th man this year, he'd have had a direct track to being a starter in another year. Something neither NAZ or NAW have.

[BlacJacMac]

Fair, but starting there and starting here isn’t the same thing. Conley is more effective than him, and he isn’t starting over Ant. NAW is the better player overall, and Naz was 6th man of the year, thus 8th man.

He was really good in the Playoffs. And got better as they went along.

EC1: 14 PPG (60/45/67), 3.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
ECS: 12 PPG (55/53/75), 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ECF: 21 PPG (54/48/89), 3.8 RPG, 7.8 APG

He might've been our 7th or 8th man this year, but (before drafting Dilly), he would've been an outstanding player to groom as Mike's replacement.

He was surprisingly good against Boston, I thought he sucked against the Knicks before all their injuries, he was getting abused by Brunson, bad! His defense only looks good because Haliburton and McConnell’s defense is soo bad in comparison.

It was his 2nd season and his first playoffs. I like his trajectory.

[Neeva]

He was really good in the Playoffs. And got better as they went along.

EC1: 14 PPG (60/45/67), 3.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
ECS: 12 PPG (55/53/75), 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
ECF: 21 PPG (54/48/89), 3.8 RPG, 7.8 APG

He might've been our 7th or 8th man this year, but (before drafting Dilly), he would've been an outstanding player to groom as Mike's replacement.

He was surprisingly good against Boston, I thought he sucked against the Knicks before all their injuries, he was getting abused by Brunson, bad! His defense only looks good because Haliburton and McConnell’s defense is soo bad in comparison.

It was his 2nd season and his first playoffs. I like his trajectory.

Or he might be a one post season wonder, it’s happened before.

[BlacJacMac]

He was surprisingly good against Boston, I thought he sucked against the Knicks before all their injuries, he was getting abused by Brunson, bad! His defense only looks good because Haliburton and McConnell’s defense is soo bad in comparison.

It was his 2nd season and his first playoffs. I like his trajectory.

Or he might be a one post season wonder, it’s happened before.

I thought he looked like a very nice player all year.

[winforlose]

For last year only.

And maybe not even then. If we had him last year, we likely don't trade for Morris.

He would've clearly been Conley's back-up going into this season (again, assuming we acquired him and not Dilly).

This year would you start him over Conley? If no, then he is not 1-5. Is he gonna play more minutes than Naz? Is Nembhard the teams leading scoring option off the bench? I still think it is Naz. That means you are talking 7th or 8th man. It cannot be more simple than that. You want to get into NAW vs Nembhard for minutes you can, but he is still 7th or 8th man on the Wolves THIS SEASON.

Maybe. Its going to depend on your rotations and health. And my whole point was that even if he's the 7th or 8th man this year, he'd have had a direct track to being a starter in another year. Something neither NAZ or NAW have.

1. This assumes Mike is not gonna start in 25-26 which may or may not be true.

2. Assuming Mike doesn’t start next year whoever is PG2 has the inside track on starting regardless of talent.

3. If we somehow acquired him, he sucked, and we benched him, then we would be looking for someone else (probably a vet minimum or trade,) to start. He would only be a starter if he could perform the role. Indy is not as good as we are. They played a Bucks team without GA and Knicks team falling apart with injuries. Most years they are 1 round and out team, if not a play in team. It really isn’t is the same to compare one of their starters to one of our starters as the criteria is harder here than there.

[Klomp]

I expect Miller to get regular minutes. Less than 10, but very few DNP CDs.

That would shock me, to be honest. I'm guessing at least 40-50 DNP-CDs (he had 65 DNP-CDs in 2023-24).

I want to clarify this slightly, because this is in the situation of perfect health and complete roster continuity. I do think it will be important for Miller to stay ready, because it's very possible a big man trade or other departure could come down at any point before the beginning of the 2025-26 season. If that happens, Miller is set to be next man up.

[KGdaBom]

I expect Miller to get regular minutes. Less than 10, but very few DNP CDs.

That would shock me, to be honest. I'm guessing at least 40-50 DNP-CDs (he had 65 DNP-CDs in 2023-24).

I want to clarify this slightly, because this is in the situation of perfect health and complete roster continuity. I do think it will be important for Miller to stay ready, because it's very possible a big man trade or other departure could come down at any point before the beginning of the 2025-26 season. If that happens, Miller is set to be next man up.

Lots of things happen. That's why I expect Miller to be a contributor for the Wolves this season.

[Slim Tubby]

Who does he take minutes from? KAT, Rudy, Naz, McDaniels, Ingles, TSJ?

Probably minutes from Ingles/TSJ.

Miller is far more PF/C than he is SF/PF though.

I agree...but he still looks like a "3" on defense compared to other 4/5's.

I fear Miller's time with the Wolves is coming to an end. Like Minott, he just will never get enough meaningful minutes to develop as a player with our current roster compared to teams like DET or BKN.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[KGdaBom]

Probably minutes from Ingles/TSJ.

Miller is far more PF/C than he is SF/PF though.

I agree...but he still looks like a "3" on defense compared to other 4/5's.

I fear Miller's time with the Wolves is coming to an end. Like Minott, he just will never get enough meaningful minutes to develop as a player with our current roster compared to teams like DET or BKN.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Miller is going to be a contributor to the Wolves starting this year and get more time in the future. His time with us is not coming to an end. I am declaring this.

[KGdaBom]

Ben Beecken claims that Minott and Miller helped their NBA case at Summer League.

Watch on YouTube

[winforlose]

Ben Beecken claims that Minott and Miller helped their NBA case at Summer League.

Watch on YouTube

Miller didn’t move the needle much in my opinion. He looks like he did last year. Minott did display good man defense, and he did show some improvement in his passing. He rebounded well (but he already did that in previous summer leagues,) and he played a bit smarter. Overall, Minott is probably near his peak without minutes. With minutes he can try and adjust to NBA caliber players, and we will know if he is a rotation player or not.

[KGdaBom]

Ben Beecken claims that Minott and Miller helped their NBA case at Summer League.

Watch on YouTube

Miller didn’t move the needle much in my opinion. He looks like he did last year. Minott did display good man defense, and he did show some improvement in his passing. He rebounded well (but he already did that in previous summer leagues,) and he played a bit smarter. Overall, Minott is probably near his peak without minutes. With minutes he can try and adjust to NBA caliber players, and we will know if he is a rotation player or not.

Miller puts up good points, rebounds and shooting game after game. Good enough that I'm confident that he will be able to do the same in NBA games. I'm looking forward to seeing him do just that this year.

[Colbinii]

Ben Beecken is also a homer like most of you [us?]. Miller is still far away from being able to play minutes on a title contender. Minott has an outside shot of being a low-minutes guy for us but needs to consistently either
A) Make shots and defense 1-on-1 in space
or
B) Cut and Flow as a Small-ball Center and Defend 1-on-1 and Weak-side Rim Protect without fouling

If he can do one of these 2 roles for us then he has a good shot at playing some minutes, more-so A than B.

[KGdaBom]

Ben Beecken is also a homer like most of you [us?]. Miller is still far away from being able to play minutes on a title contender. Minott has an outside shot of being a low-minutes guy for us but needs to consistently either
A) Make shots and defense 1-on-1 in space
or
B) Cut and Flow as a Small-ball Center and Defend 1-on-1 and Weak-side Rim Protect without fouling

If he can do one of these 2 roles for us then he has a good shot at playing some minutes, more-so A than B.

IMO You are one of the many Wolves fans who underrate Miller. What does he have to do to get any love/respect from Wolves fans?

[BlacJacMac]

Ben Beecken is also a homer like most of you [us?]. Miller is still far away from being able to play minutes on a title contender. Minott has an outside shot of being a low-minutes guy for us but needs to consistently either
A) Make shots and defense 1-on-1 in space
or
B) Cut and Flow as a Small-ball Center and Defend 1-on-1 and Weak-side Rim Protect without fouling

If he can do one of these 2 roles for us then he has a good shot at playing some minutes, more-so A than B.

IMO You are one of the many Wolves fans who underrate Miller. What does he have to do to get any love/respect from Wolves fans?

Show something in a real game.

[Colbinii]

Ben Beecken is also a homer like most of you [us?]. Miller is still far away from being able to play minutes on a title contender. Minott has an outside shot of being a low-minutes guy for us but needs to consistently either
A) Make shots and defense 1-on-1 in space
or
B) Cut and Flow as a Small-ball Center and Defend 1-on-1 and Weak-side Rim Protect without fouling

If he can do one of these 2 roles for us then he has a good shot at playing some minutes, more-so A than B.

IMO You are one of the many Wolves fans who underrate Miller. What does he have to do to get any love/respect from Wolves fans?

I underrate him in what sense? He is a tools-y prospect who has an inconsistent and unconventional shot, he doesn't have many NBA skills outside of rebounding.

I will ask you this--where do you see him slotting into a good NBA Team?

[KGdaBom]

Ben Beecken is also a homer like most of you [us?]. Miller is still far away from being able to play minutes on a title contender. Minott has an outside shot of being a low-minutes guy for us but needs to consistently either
A) Make shots and defense 1-on-1 in space
or
B) Cut and Flow as a Small-ball Center and Defend 1-on-1 and Weak-side Rim Protect without fouling

If he can do one of these 2 roles for us then he has a good shot at playing some minutes, more-so A than B.

IMO You are one of the many Wolves fans who underrate Miller. What does he have to do to get any love/respect from Wolves fans?

I underrate him in what sense? He is a tools-y prospect who has an inconsistent and unconventional shot, he doesn't have many NBA skills outside of rebounding.

I will ask you this--where do you see him slotting into a good NBA Team?

He consistently scores and rebounds and defends OK. I see him as a PF primarily who can play SF or C in a pinch.