Wolves Updates 7/16
by SG on Jul 16, 2010 2:09 AM CDT
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Kahn wants Rambis to find "creative and imaginative" ways for Beasley and Love to play together, Wolves to spend part of preseason in London, Jefferson happy he left MN on a good note and more
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
The Wolves traded one natural power forward for perhaps a player best suited to play that position -- Love's natural position -- as well. Love called Beasley's arrival "bittersweet" because it hastened Jefferson's departure and because he has played with Beasley in AAU ball since seventh grade. Kahn said he wants coach Kurt Rambis to find "creative and imaginative" ways to play them together.
"We have a lot in common, but we also don't have a lot of common," Love said. "He's lefthanded and unorthodox. I hope he keeps everything straight and narrow. If he does, he'll help us. I think he will."
Beasley has hired a personal assistant and a personal chef to help manage his life. Last summer, he checked himself into a rehabilitation hospital to address possible substance and psychological issues, a part of his life he called a "tough situation" that "made me a better person."
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
New Timberwolf Michael Beasley becomes the team's highest-paid player at $4.9 million next season. Al Jefferson, traded this week to Utah, was the highest-paid Wolves player at $13 million annually.
The 6-foot-9 Beasley wore jersey No. 30 in Miami. No. 30 is available with the departure of Ryan Gomes, but Beasley chose instead to wear No. 8 with the Wolves.
"Just something different," Beasley said.
Beasley, 21, who has had his share of behavioral issues, has hired a personal assistant to help keep him organized, a personal chef to help him eat right and, word is, a housekeeper to keep him tidy.
Even though Jefferson was traded, his family will remain in Minneapolis and be welcome guests of the Wolves at Target Center.
From Sid Hartman:
The Timberwolves' contracts for scouts and other basketball positions end Aug. 1. However, Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said he plans to keep most of the group he inherited from Kevin McHale. ... At $4.96 million a season, Michael Beasley will be the highest-paid player on the Wolves. ... The Wolves will play preseason home games with the Bulls and Bucks this fall, in addition to playing the Lakers in London on Oct. 4 and the Knicks in Paris on Oct. 6.
From Jerry Zgoda's twitter account:
#Timberwolves again will hold training camp in Mankato, then head to London for nearly a week for Lakers' preseason game.
From J. Michael Falgoust/USA TODAY:
Perhaps most surprising is the re-signing of Milicic, who seemed on his way out of the NBA, by the Minnesota Timberwolves. A No. 2 overall draft pick in 2003 by the Detroit Pistons, Milicic has not played a major role for any of his five teams.
"Darko is 7-foot-1. He has a lot of skill and he's only 25," said David Kahn, the T'wolves' president of basketball operations. "We project him as our starting center. I think the number we arrived at is fair for both sides."
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
"I'm 25," Jefferson said. "These first six years in the league went by so fast. Another six years go by and I'll be 31. I just felt it was the time. I don't feel like I have three more years to sit and wait. Minnesota understood everything I was saying. They respected that.
"I thank them for the opportunity to let me come here. I'm really happy I left there on a good note."
Jefferson said Kahn told him that he'll always be part of the Timberwolves family.
"Minnesota welcomed me with open arms when I got there," he said. "I was really nervous about that, replacing a guy like Kevin Garnett. The fans really supported me for my three years there, they really supported me during my DWI [February's drunken-driving arrest]. Minnesota was a family to me. That's what I will miss the most about it."
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So by "most of the staff he inherited from McHale...."
Are we talking Gregg Farnam and Dave Vital? Or Jim Stack and Rob Bacbcock?
Love sounds less-than-enthusastic about Beasley...
Not speaking specifically about his comments on this situation, but just in general, I get the feeling Love is going to someday say something the team can’t brush off or explain away or defend him on. Just a feelin’…..
He honestly needs to man up and play hard and let the chips fall where they may...
Instead of all this mooping around…it’s getting old.
by Timberwolf i.e. Albatross on Jul 16, 2010 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Love (loss)
He is kind of seeming like a D-bag and a baby to me…
I agree he just needs to shut his mouth, work his butt off, and prove that he can be the number one guy at 4. Shut up and do it Love!
by J Sizzle on Jul 16, 2010 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Perhaps
That was my take on Love’s comments too, at first, but then I realized that you can take them other ways as well.
The Wolves traded one natural power forward for perhaps a player best suited to play that position — Love’s natural position — as well. Love called Beasley’s arrival “bittersweet” because it hastened Jefferson’s departure and because he has played with Beasley in AAU ball since seventh grade. Kahn said he wants coach Kurt Rambis to find “creative and imaginative” ways to play them together. “We have a lot in common, but we also don’t have a lot of common,” Love said. “He’s lefthanded and unorthodox. I hope he keeps everything straight and narrow. If he does, he’ll help us. I think he will.”
For example, calling Beasley’s arrival “bittersweet” at first sounds like Love is bummed we have yet another player at Love’s position, but then I realized that the ‘bitter’ is in Al Jefferson leaving and the ‘sweet’ is in adding Beasley (whom he’s played with since 7th grade).
Then I realized that if I read the ‘bittersweet’ comment as a negative on Beasley, then the whole “we also don’t have a lot in common – I hope he keeps everything on the straight and narrow” sounds like Love is very skeptical of Beasley. But if I read it as though Love thinks it’s kind of sweet that Beasley’s here – an old friend and teammate – then his comments about what they have in common (or don’t) strikes me more as him musing about how they can compliment each other because they don’t do the same thing, and that Love’s optimistic that Beasley will be fine here.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Has Love stopped drinking chocolate milk by the carton?
Maybe they could share the personal chef
This reminds me
Did anybody else see him in a recent commercial on late-night TV? It was him talking to two other guys, sitting in a booth and drinking. I couldn’t remember the advertiser but I’m pretty sure it was a liquor/beer company that makes these little vignettes before showing their logo and something like “Last Call” at the end.
I won't take it any other way than he is pouting with Love
simply because BY NOW he should know that if he wants to be taken positively he needs to speak positively. He needs to speak how Beasley did at the Presser. Be confident and be excited to have a chance to play and prove yourself.
Instead he gives these half answers all the time that make it seem like we should just be handing him a starting spot. I used to feel bad for him about being behind Al cause he honestly shouldn’t have been, but his attitude then shouldn’t have been accepted either but most justified it. Now with Beasley, your either all in or your not…Now he has honest competition for his role and this is what he says.
by Timberwolf i.e. Albatross on Jul 16, 2010 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Everyone was complaining.....
about his playing time but if you act like a child that is what you deserve. The only problem with K-Love is his ego is already bigger than his game is.
by TheMorningAfter on Jul 16, 2010 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Clearly this is not meant to be at all negative...
Silly that people are trying to read this into Love pouting about potential PT. Biggity clearly has the right interpretation; Its bitter because they lost a good player in Al Jeff, its sweet because he gets to play with his childhood friend and AAU teammate. Regarding playing styles Love is clearly trying to deflect controversy over PT by pointing out how they are different and that Beas can help the team if he keeps his nose clean, which Love thinks he will. Regardless of how some of us might suspect Love really feels, this is obviously just him giving vanilla answers to some standard questions that are not meant to be at all negative. Keep in mind that you are not reading a transcript of everything Love said, just a few out of context quotes, you also don’t see the questions or comments that Love is responding to.
I don’t think he intended to stir up controversy, but this is terrible writing by Zgoda, who clearly failed to put Love’s statements in the proper context and terrible reading comprehension by those who jumped to the wrong conclusion.
by GregSandpaper on Jul 17, 2010 2:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Could not agree more
Love’s a stud with a head on his shoulders.
by jocky_flubio on Jul 17, 2010 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Love could be speaking honestly.
This is probably how he’d sound describing it to one of his friends. He seems to not put a lot of fluff in his statements as most do and as we’ve become accustomed to hearing. He kind of reminds me of Twins’ pitcher Kevin Slowey. When Slowey speaks it doesn’t have a lot of positives in it, I think he’s simply speaking his mind as he sees it and doesn’t want to dumb it down so much.
That’s my 2 cents on it. I’d love to hear him gloat about Beasley but let’s face it. I can’t remember Love gloating about anyone or anything.
I don't care what he sounds like now
I’d like to see him ball at the 4, and the team win. If the team can be competitive, I think a lot of his complaints will go away. It wouldn’t be easy to lose more times in a season than you’re used to in a lifetime, and I’d prefer no one on the team have to get used to it.
I'll second that
Timberwolves - NBA champs 2013!
(used with permission - Wolf in MO)
by frankenhoops on Jul 16, 2010 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions
head to London for nearly a week for Lakers’ preseason game.
And guess who will be there! Me baby! Me! (in my best Jack Black imitation of one-note-song)
well, here’s how to fold those d*mned quechua tents .. as a warmup (don’t mind the english; it’s not my best :p)
by Wim (Belgium) on Jul 16, 2010 5:54 AM CDT up reply actions
need .. edit .. button
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGfUIZVZC8
and to make up for the uncoolness .. riding a motorcycle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewrNAR8kAo
I’ll definitly try my best to get at least some pictures of the game ;)
by Wim (Belgium) on Jul 16, 2010 5:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Looks
like you are ready to be the new James Bond except for that dance move and that jingle from the Sound of Music.
hehe; put that one in to check how many people actually watch all the way to the end … was astonished about the number of people that did :D (though many skipped bits here and there no doubt :p)
by Wim (Belgium) on Jul 16, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Have a good time Wim!
Guess I’m in the minority, but I like Love’s responses, shows him to be an actual human being instead of trotting out “one game at a time” cliches. Part of being a human being is he is going to say things that we may agree or not agree with (like we all do), but I appreciate his straightforwardness.
Summer League is irrelevant unless it validates my opinion
by Son of Gerald Green on Jul 16, 2010 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions
hold your horses
This is good practice for Wayne. He could turn out to be quite the offensive force. He has a great shot and a surprisingly good drive to the basket. Let him start thinking of himself as a go-to guy and get a little more experience. Could be sweet.
But it will also be fun to see Wes and Jonny on the floor together. I just think it’s ok if we wait a bit..
That's what Zgoda tweeted yesterday
Any explanation why? Hip?
by PoohRichardson on Jul 16, 2010 8:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Thought that possibility too
But didn’t see any new rumors or speculation out there.
by PoohRichardson on Jul 16, 2010 12:39 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
it's be nice
to see a Wolves trade that isn’t rumored in advance, though, wouldn’t it?
Everyone take a breath.
Just looking at our cap info
Already includes Ridnour and Pekovic.
When are we expecting announcements on these two?
I think this is the first time in history one man managed to destroy an entire city by himself. Even the Enola Gay had a flight crew.
Which site is that from?
I think POBO said he expects Pek announcement within the next week
by PoohRichardson on Jul 16, 2010 8:03 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
SnP's
hacked Kahn’s computer. That’s how we know all the contract info already. %
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
In that case
I hope you grabbed and will be posting the “Ricky and Me” file folder…
by PoohRichardson on Jul 16, 2010 12:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Canis Hoopus
I think this is the first time in history one man managed to destroy an entire city by himself. Even the Enola Gay had a flight crew.
by Auswolf on Jul 16, 2010 5:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Al can't "wait three more years"?
I thought our rebuilding plan was only going to take one or two more years. Since when do 25 year-olds start saying they can’t wait any longer to win? Oh yeah, he’s just paraphrasing Lebron.
For all our offseason changes, our two best players are still power forwards. Beasley and Love are the new Al and Love. Perhaps someone should start a “trade Love or trade Beas” thread.
True, but...
Beasley has a more versatile offensive game than Al does. ‘course, he hasn’t shown much ability to rebound in the NBA, either. Too bad he’s not a better defender since he almost seems like a better fit at the SF spot than at PF. Beasley/Love/Darko would be nice (which, of course, takes us back to Beasley/Love/DMC would be better but that’s water under the bridge).
Keep the faith
2013 baby!!! 2013!!
Timberwolves - NBA champs 2013!
(used with permission - Wolf in MO)
by frankenhoops on Jul 16, 2010 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
If Beasley could move to small forward, that would be fabulous...
but didn’t someone on this website post a detailed statistical analysis showing how Beasley was more effective for the Heat as a PF than as a SF? Beasley might have a more diverse game than Al, but he’s still, for now, a power forward. I think Love realizes this and knows that he’s once again competing with a talented player at his own position, thus explaining his lukewarm response to the situation.
Oceanary did
I think the caveat is that he didn’t play that many minutes at SF. He’s faster than most 4s, but loses that edge playing SF. I think he could be a great SF, but his best position might always be as a tweener.
by aarendsvark on Jul 16, 2010 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
The key at SF
is that he needs to play in the post (low or high) when settting up the triangle. That means Darko or Love would often find themselves on the wing or corner. But that’s what they need to do to maximize his effectiveness as a SF. He’s bigger, longer, and stronger than 90% of the league’s SFs.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Wouldn't this work then?
Because Love can shoot from deep, right? It seems that Love would be a perfect pairing because if Beasley posts, then Love can roam around the three, and if Beasley wants to slash/shoot, then Love is rebounding where he belongs. This is why I think Beasley works at SF
It's more about
who you can guard. Offenses can be adjusted to fit various styles/players. It all comes down to if Beasley can guard other SF’s.
by Smilin' Carl on Jul 16, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Good point
Don’t know how quick his feet are on defense. But he’s at a length disadvantage against some PFs, so he’s not ideally suited for that role either on D.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Watching him play it t is hard to imagine that Beasley isn't at least as quick as...
Durant, Kirilenko, Odom, Melo, LeBron, Pierce, and Turner… You can definitely quibble with some of those, but none is an easy argument over Beasley for quickness, and there are probably a lot of other guys that play NBA SF that are the same quickness as Beasley without his size.
I think
Beasley could also hassle these guys with his strength too. Sometimes playing good defense means that you bully guys around a bit. Maybe they still drop 25 on you, but if Durant gets his 25 by going 8 of 24 because Beasley’s bullying him (a la Artest), then that’s probably a net positive for the Wolves because of so many poorly used possessions by the Thunder.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Although Beasley isn't a bully
Remember, he likes puppy dogs, kids, and long walks in the park….Artest drinks at half-time and starts fights. He’s a mean, drunk bully.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Artest...
Isn’t that a really good comp for Beasley physically? Beasley probably has a more diverse game and handles than Artest on Offense, and Artest is much more “defensively minded”, but in terms of athletic limitations Artest seems like a great… if anything I bet Beasley is quicker.
Artest is huge
I mean, he’s built like a tank. Before Lebron, he was probably the most physical wing.
Defensive footspeed
Is a lot different than offensive footspeed. We’ve seen athletes like Flynn or even Randy Foye struggle to stay in front of guys. It’s weird how some of the better defenders aren’t great overall athletes – Battier and Bowen for example. It seems like lateral footspeed and defensive awareness is independent of athleticism in the cliche sense of vertical, sprint time, etc.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
The difference between offensive foot speed and defensive foot speed is immense. To play defense you need to take 2-3 steps for every 1 step the offensive player takes and it’s more about not taking false steps than taking quick steps. It all comes down to know-how with the footwork and want-to. Beasley has great quickness for a player his size and his offensive first-step is very nice, but he just hasn’t learned how to use his quickness on the defensive end. Our coaching staff should help with that, but the question about want-to can only be answered by Beasley himself.
Will power plays a fairly big part in it as well. Guys don’t necessarily always want to play great defense. Rather, just do enough so they can conserve some energy for offense.
by packallday555 on Jul 16, 2010 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
Beasley needs to work hard on defense and work on his handle to be a small forward. The times I have seen him, when he catches the ball on the perimeter, he looks a bit stone-footed. He will never be Lebron off the dribble, but if he could become nifty with the ball like Paul Pierce, he would a good SF. A fairly big if there.
by Are we cursed? on Jul 16, 2010 11:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Pierce is actually a really good comparison I think. Both are bigger, and both don’t necessarily have the quickest feet. If he can develop a great pull up like Pierce has he could be a nightmare for teams.
by packallday555 on Jul 17, 2010 1:07 AM CDT up reply actions
I like the idea of pulling Darko out at times too
since it allows Love to work the offensive glass and Darko really doesn’t do this well. The bottom-line is that it’s about putting players in positions where they can succeed.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Darko
will pick up his rebounding this season. I believe the last min or two of the game be flynn-wes-beas-love-darko and throughout the game have beas play half the time at the 3 and half the time at the 4 with Pek being center on 2nd squad.
by TheMorningAfter on Jul 16, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Guys just don't pick up their rebounding
He’s been pretty mediocre his whole career and this is one of the more inelastic statistics in basketball. This is why pairing him with Love and Beasley (at SF) makes some sense, because those two give us a rebounding edge at their respective positions while Darko (and Pekovic it seems) are at best mediocre and at worst liabilities. I agree though that 50/50 at SF/PF sounds about right.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
He has never gotten to start while in shape
and numerous people on here have already mentioned he likes to tip half of them to a teammate when being surrounded.
by TheMorningAfter on Jul 16, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Bah!
I don’t see it with the guy. He’s generally a very passive, but skilled, player. And at his age, what does it take exactly to get in shape? 10, 15 games wasn’t enough? Does it take, what, 50 games of playing 25MPG to get in shape? Seems odd that a professional player requires that much runway to get into rebounding shape. I agree his sheer size is helpful in that he can get some tips and will need to be accounted for on the glass, but in general he plays like a wussy. He’s Luc Longley II, a skilled complimentary Center that needs power players and difference makers around him to make it work.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I don’t think Love has a problem competing with talented players. He strikes me as a competitive dude. I think it’s more of a problem of the Wolves again being stacked at PF and nowhere else. I’m sure at some point the guy would like to share the court with another above-average player.
He might have a bit of a problem
I remember there being a bit of incredulity on his part when Rambis asked him to guard Melo. Which I thought was a good move by Rambis. Beasley physically should be able to guard most SF and the PF who aren’t enormous.
by aarendsvark on Jul 16, 2010 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
One other thing on Beasley playing SF....
Right now we have two above average players on our squad if you go by PER: Love and Beasley. Now hopefully one of these other guys breaks through to that status, but it’s fair to say that as of today, these are our only two above average production players. Rambis CANNOT go another season playing these two off each other like he did with Love and Jefferson. He’s got to find a way to get his two best players on the court as much as possible. Putting Beazus at SF for long stretches is one way to do this, even if that means Wes Johnson has to take a back seat.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Look at Beasley's total minutes played at the SF spot though.
I believe he was hardly used there. Give him time to get comfortable with the other SFs in the league and he’ll learn to guard them.
by NYCVike on Jul 16, 2010 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
PA
Beas was on with Paul Allen today and said he sees himself as a small forward. I think paired with the right players, and in the right situations, he can start at small forward for us, and then take all the leftover PF minutes from Love.
Really he can split 16/16 minutes at the two positions.
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
I'll miss Al and Gomes
Well ok not on defense but in every other way. Really good guys to have around and good role models. Al’s DWI should not be down played but for the most part these guys were always a “class act” too bad the teams woes kept them out of the spot light.
K-Love
is going to be on Dan Patrick today, if you want to listen…
His voice makes my head hurt
I’d rather watch him play…
by Breaking Ankles on Jul 16, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
pretty funny interview
he said he honestly thought he would be traded this offseason..
i never thought that? I figured it was clear Al was going to be traded
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
is there a link?
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
click listen to this segment at the top of the article
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
oops link fail
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/120721/index.html
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Thanks!
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
no problemo senor
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Interesting
while sounding very skeptical and non-commital towards this team, Love also states that he wants to take over this team and make it his own while also recognizing that doing so will require him to grow up a lot pretty quick. Dan Patrick’s kind of an ass, IMO, in this interview, but I suppose that’s also his job. Basically setting Love up to hate on the Wolves.
Anyways, I’m impressed with Love’s knowledge about everything that’s going on, the fact that he could name our entire roster on demand, and the bit of excitement and optimism that snuck into his voice talking about the athleticism and improved shooting of this team. Then of course he follows it up by flirting with playing for the Lakers.
Kevin Love is on the cusp right now – he’s got one foot in being a young, cocksure player who thinks he’s great and the Wolves are dumb and that he’s gone to the highest bidder when he can; and the other foot in growing up to be the team leader, the guy who teammates look to and trust (and believe me, if I was his teammate I wouldn’t be looking to him for leadership right now after listening to interviews like this – he sounds like a guy who sees the Wolves as ‘me and a bunch of other guys’), the guy who understands that to be the leader of a good team means that he takes on the Dan Patricks of the world when they criticize your team to your face. KG never would’ve stood for Patrick’s questions, and would’ve at the least called him on it to let the humor be known. Love just rolls with it and so you can’t decide if he agrees with Patrick or not. The implication is that he does, whether that’s true or not. Come on Love – are you going to be the leader or not? If not, hope you like New Jersey.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
I didn't read the interview...
But you brought up an appropriate comparison. KG might be considered a jerk, but when he was here, he was all the way here and embodied “face of the franchise.”
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jul 16, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
i definitly liked the part where he said (while not directly i think)
that this is his team now. which is true
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Maybe what Love needs
is a Terry Porter and Sam Mitchell to put him back in his place and show him how you be a great NBA player despite precocious gifts.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
I give you Luke Ridenour
… as our token veteran
Frodo
does not strike me as a veteran presence in the vein of Sam Mitchell.
Unrelated to Wolves...
What do people think of Luis Scola for 5 years, $47 Million? He’s a good, hard-nosed player. I’d rather have him for that money than Amar’e for twice as much. I’m just not exactly sure what the end-game is for the Rockets and their personnel moves. I sort of thought they’d have some genius plan that ended with Chris Paul or a different superstar, and title contention. Maybe it still will — who knows.
In 5 years
he’ll be, I think 35, and likely less productive. I really like Scola, but I don’t know if he’s a long term solution. Probably a great short term move for most teams though.
by aarendsvark on Jul 16, 2010 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Ya
Love Scola, but would rather spend less than that for four years of both Darko and Pek.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
ps
Why in the hell did Splitter sign for so little? Talk about the biggest aberration contract out there – him and Richard Jefferson. Is there some sort of under the table dealing going on in SAS? Serious accusation, I know, but why are these the only two guys to leave major money on the table and accept below market value deals? I just don’t understand. (And for the record, I’m not actually accusing the Spurs of under the table deals, just that they are home to the two major outliers among below value contracts this summer. Miami’s big three don’t count for obvious reasons – needing a team to play with).
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 16, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
It really is a strange one.
It isn’t like Splitter didn’t have a benchmark to work from (Pek and Darko both would work pretty well). The Jefferson situation is even weirder… I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Players Union or the League are already poking around trying to see if something fishy is going on. I doubt that the Spurs are doing anything unscrupulous, but both moves are weird enough that they should attract some attention.
Ya
The Player’s Union should be going apeshit right now. It’s one thing if Splitter’s accepting less to join the Lakers or the Heat, or Boston or the Orlando even. But the Spurs aren’t anywhere near solid championship contenders anymore. Just weird.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Jefferson
I think some players are scared of the lockout coming just as they become FAs and perhaps not be able to get another contract if they are nearing the end of their careers. Jefferson gets a guaranteed deal for more money over it’s life than he gave up in terms of his option.
by highpockets on Jul 16, 2010 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
“Tiago, come play with one of the best run sporting organisations anywhere in the world. Oh, and you’ll be playing next to Tim Duncan in the NBA”.
I think this is the first time in history one man managed to destroy an entire city by himself. Even the Enola Gay had a flight crew.
by Auswolf on Jul 16, 2010 5:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Ok, that one I can understand
But how about, “RJefferson, opt out of your ENORMOUS contract to get a much smaller one.”
This ESPN the Mag article on Shaddy McCants is a great read
It’s an Insider article, but if you have access, I’d definitely recommend you taking the time to give it a look. Some interesting quotes from Love and other players in there about McCants.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=5383373
Actively looking for red flags since my 5th grade traveling team
gaahhh I hate not having insider.
such a scam by ESPN the whole insider concept.
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Any highlights you can share with those of us not willing to part with the coin for Insider.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions
It's basically about why McCants is out of the league
It touches on his withdrawn attitude and how coaches have consistently tried to get him to seek mental help. He’s on Cleveland’s summer league team this year but he’s been turned down for tryouts by a bunch of times, including Miami, Denver, Charlotte and Dallas.
A Love quote that I thought was interesting: “In any line of work you have to know how to talk to people and when to bite your tongue,” says Kevin Love, who played with McCants two years ago. “Rashad has a me-against-the-world attitude. You have to get past that if you want to help yourself.”
McCants himself: “They say I don’t smile,” McCants says. “Does that make me a bad person?” In his eyes he’s done everything asked of a good teammate. He sees none of the accountability issues everyone else can’t stop talking about. What coaches label as sulking McCants says is just being quiet. “Management doesn’t see how well I get along with my teammates when we’re hanging out together,” he says. “They’re not interested in that.”
The article details some of his dealings with Randy Wittman and Kevin McHale, and why those relationships may have gone south.
McCants also says in the article that ""There isn’t a 2-guard in the league who can guard me," he says. “Not one.”
I’d share more, but I don’t want to violate SnP’s policy on sharing the full text of articles like that.
Actively looking for red flags since my 5th grade traveling team
Ok, thanks!
It sounds like McCants simply reinforces the reason he failed in the NBA. Some guys never learn.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Already a fanshot
FYI: This was a fanshot yesterday. Good stuff
by littleboxes on Jul 16, 2010 2:06 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Beasley will probably take it over but just for fun........
Who was the best Timberwolf to have warn the #8? Even though I’m aware that Sprewell rocked the ocho, I’m gonna have to say that Rasho takes this. Not only was he our starting center for like 4 straight 1st round exits in the playoff years, he also looks identical to me(just trust me). I’m pretty sure it goes 1. Rasho 2. Spre 3. Gomes
More Beasley fun
interesting results when you use Queen City Hoops’ player swap tool.
Not that this is a great predictor or anything, but swapping out Al for Beasley adds 3 wins, and swapping Beasley in for Love adds 8 wins. Swapping Love for Al adds nearly 4 wins. (The tool does factor in how everyone else’s usage rates would vary, so for example if you swapped Dalembert and Al the tool would add extra shots to everyone else to make up for the reduction in shots Dalembert would take in this hypothetical).
Swapping in Martell Webster for Brewer adds over 4 wins, and swapping in Shawn Marion (who’s a better comp for Wes?) for either Damian or Gomes yields an additional 9 wins. If we use Ariza instead of Marion it’s still an additional 3 wins.
Main point – our talent got better this year compared to last year.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Cabin fever
When u went missing at your cabin I was trying to remember the name of this swap tool. Why were u gone when I needed you?
I love this swap tool. Thanks
by littleboxes on Jul 16, 2010 2:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
swapping ridnour for sessions gives us 8 more wins..
thats doubtful…
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
Distribution of Minutes
Love: 35
Flynn: 30
Beasley: 30
Webster: 28
Johnson: 28
Milicic: 25
Corey: 20
Ridnour: 18
Pekovic: 16
Wayne: 10
Lazar: DNP
Hollins: DNP
PG: Flynn=30/Ridnour=18
SG: Webster=20/Corey=10/Ellington=10/Johnson=8
SF: Johnson=20/Corey=10/Beasley=10/Webster=8
PF: Love=20/Beasley=20/Pekovic=8
C: Milicic=25/Love=15/Pekovic=8
by NorthernLights666 on Jul 16, 2010 2:13 PM CDT reply actions
I'm not seeing it with Lazar
It’s going to take more than making a couple of jumpshots in summer league to displace Corey out of the rotation. And for that matter, I don’t see why Webster should be entitled to our starting SG slot. While I think that might be how it ends up, I’m not counting Corey out. Hopefully he makes Rambis have to make a very tough decision in terms of playing time on the wings.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't count Corey out either
but I think it’s going to be awfully hard for Rambis to not want to put a guy out there who plays hard all the time, plays defense, and has a great stroke. Lazar’s going to play regularly this season – count on it. Maybe not more than 5-10 minutes a game, but he’s going to play. In the above outline of minutes distribution the indication is that Lazar won’t be playing at all, and I just don’t think that’s going to be true at all. Of the guys who may be fighting Lazar for minutes I think Corey, Webster, and Ellington are the most likely to lose minutes to Lazar (so to speak).
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Then you are talking about an 11 man rotation
Ish. Well, injuries are always an issue with NBA teams, so in that sense, our top 12 guys should all have decent bouts of playing time. But on those rare occasions we are totally healthy, I just struggle to see minutes go to Hayward.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 16, 2010 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions
That's why there will be
another trade or two. Either packaging a couple for one better player, or getting a couple guys out to save money and get picks.
Daaaaaannnnngggg
that’s a young team. I feel like we should be sending EVERYONE to the summer league.
Close
Give Pek’s minutes at PF to Love and 8 of Love’s minutes at C to Pek.
Beasley starts at SF and gets at least 16 minutes there.
Otherwise, I think it looks good.
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
Ah, Hell
Here’s my version, based on how I feel the team will prioritize getting certain players playing time, rookie adjustment, positional fit, etc.
Distribution of Minutes
Love: 36
Beasley: 32
Flynn: 30
Webster: 30
Milicic: 28
Johnson: 24
Corey: 22
Ridnour: 18
Pekovic: 16
Wayne: 4
Lazar: DNP
Hollins: DNP
PG: Flynn=30/Ridnour=18
SG: Webster=24/Corey=16/Johnson=4/Ellington=4
SF: Beasley=16/Johnson=20/Corey=6/Webster=6
PF: Love=32/Beasley=16
C: Milicic=28/Pekovic=16/Love=4
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
Two quibbles
First, I think Lazar plays some. See my comment above.
Second, do you think Love can handle 36 minutes? I know we want to give him more minutes, but isn’t this risking giving the guy a heart attack? ;)
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Yeah.
I totally see your pov about Love’s minutes.
32 seems too small.
Maybe he’ s more like 34, with the other 2 going to Pek.
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
You also have to remember Rambis.
….if memory serves, he wasn’t just stingy with Love’s minutes, but other than Jonny and Al, no one sniffed 30 minutes/game.
I think...
Nobody played 30+ minutes because everybody sucked, and he was trying to find what would work.
I think Webster absolutely gets at least 28 minutes, based on the team’s own projections of how much better he plays with significant time.
Check out Humdinger TV on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/HumdingerTV
Anyone else get the feeling that Love and Beasely together isn’t going to work out. This is the second questionable quote regarding Beasely that I’ve seen from Love now. Maybe it’s just me but Love comes off like a d-bag, who thinks he knows it all.
I wonder what their relationship was like back on those AAU teams. Wouldn’t be surprised if Beasley destroyed Love in high school.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Jul 16, 2010 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Haha I wouldn’t be surprised either, and I’m sure he probably did.
by packallday555 on Jul 16, 2010 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Love was the national high school player of the year....
He owned high school basketball like few ever have. He basically played point-center and made everything happen on a nationally competitive team. Let me repeat “National Player of the Year”, he wasn’t owned by anyone.
National High School Player of the Year means nothing on the.......
AAU circuit, the only place where they’d have a legitimate shot at playing against each other besides in Camps and HS All Star Games. Love also had the fortunate advantage of playing against weaker HS competition at a Suburban Public School in Oregon than Beasley played against in the next great “Hot Bed” of hoops the DC/Maryland area is and on the Private School circuit.
by NorthernLights666 on Jul 16, 2010 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, it really doesn’t matter. The AAU circuit has the best competition, and I’d bet they played each other a couple of times. (Pretty much all the best teams always go to the same tournaments, and obviously the two of them were on great teams.)
by packallday555 on Jul 17, 2010 1:10 AM CDT up reply actions
DeMarcus Cousins current halftim stat line
18 Minutes
0-10 FG’s
1-2 FT’s
1 Point
9 Rebounds
5 Turnovers
4 Fouls
1 Assists
1 Block
2 Shots of his own Blocked
He matched up against Dorsey, Alabi and Davis.
Maybe we should hold off on that Hall of Fame pronouncement…
No....too late!!!!
Kidding. In all seriousness, Dorsey and Alabi are defensive beasts. I can see why Cousins would have problems with JD in particular
Comment on Love
Why are people taking things out of context on Loves comments about Beasley? In HoopsHype ( NBA rumors) Love points out that he believes “it will be fun to play with Mike” and that they enjoyed playing against each other. I also don’t see the problem of Love basically saying what Kahn said about Beasley.
twolves play summer league tonight?
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
score
wes gonna play?
also, I saw Lawrence Westbrook has gotten to play some, but has Damian Johnson got any playing time yet? I feel like Damian has more potential than Westbrook even if they both have little shot of making the team
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
More potential in general yes, but I think Westbrook would have more potential to make the T’Wolves. Johnson is virtually the same player as Wes, Brewer, and Webster, only he can’t shoot as well as any of them. Maybe they see Westbrook as a long shot to make the team as a SG, which we desperately need. Though I don’t think Westbrook is the answer.
by packallday555 on Jul 17, 2010 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions
needs
we need new gm new owner guys rubio is not coming to minnesota rambis willgone after this year
owner
we never have been good because we have a owner who does not know basketball kahn is not the right guy for the job nobody wanted to take the job of gm because of glen taylor minnesota is a joke right now
I know something else that is a joke...
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
by biggity2bit on Jul 17, 2010 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Rubio is never coming over??!!!
I’m going to jump of a bridge after hearing this breaking news. My day was just ruined. %
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