Wolves Big Three
by DTrim on Feb 1, 2012 1:36 PM CST
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PrintIf Monday night's win against the Rockets showed us anything, it's that the Timberwolves would look REALLY good with a legitimate and consistent third option. It all depends on who the third option is, but as an example if we had Kevin Martin on our team now we'd be no worse than the third or fourth seed in the West. We're that close. I'm well aware that some fans believe this already, but given the current contract situation of Kevin Love it is important for us to make a move sooner rather than later. And as much potential as Derrick Williams might have, it is imperative that we move him for a capable scoring threat.
Some might suggest that a third option already exists on our roster. For instance, when Beasley is on and relatively efficient the Wolves will be extremely tough to beat. But it's difficult to imagine him suddenly becoming a consistent player. And some talk about the development of Williams, but I'm not sure that he will be the answer we're looking for. So far he's shown the ability to use a quick first step to get by some defenders, but unless he has a clear path to the basket things get ugly pretty quickly. As far as his jumper, it will probably improve but will it be enough for him to be a consistent difference maker?
That is why I'm hoping the Timberwolves front office is seriously looking at trading almost anything other than Love and Rubio for a "relatively" young third amigo. I'm not sure who they can get, but the idea of waiting to see if Williams develops is frightening. I don't want to give him away for nothing but I'm worried that if he doesn't begin to play better by the end of the year that his trade value will take a hit, and given that he is by far our most tradeable asset that is concerning. We should be looking to deal him AND Beasley (who has some value as an expiring contract) for a proven player. The last time we hit the floor we showed what we can do when another player can work with Love and Rubio. Instead of being passive and waiting to see what develops, I'm hoping that the front office is aggressive and finds that guy.
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Pek could be considered on this list
But he needs to stop fouling all the time. Hell, he’s doing it right now.
Stop fouling, Pek.
Tongue was in cheek...
but Pek really has been awesome. 10 more games like his past few and he really could be part of a “big 3.”
Yes… fouling certainly continues to be his Achilles heel.
Fouling or ...
Being called for fouls. Last game he was called for some ticky tack fouls that depending on the game may or may not be called. However he still has to figure out how to avoid those situations all together.
I can't fault him for a lot of them
he is just cutting off driving angles, or the baseline and when the little guard runs into him they’re calling fouls on Pek regardless of how early he got there or if he’s moving into them at all.
If Pekovic maintains his level of production and cuts the fouling rate to allow him to average 30 minutes a night....
Otherwise we are still like 2 and 1/2
600 N First Ave "like a Pirate's cove".
right after Beasley scores 34?
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
by VoodooMagic on Feb 1, 2012 2:33 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I think that's the point
Beasley was the other “big three” guy against the Rockets, and we looked like an awesome team. I have some small amount of hope that Beasley will become that guy, but we need a third guy one way or another.
The option I prefer
is trading Memphis pick to them for OJ Mayo.
They want a pick for him, we have picks to trade
And then keep everyone through the end of the season and make a decision then.
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
This is right in line with what I think we need
He doesn’t need the ball to be effective but he can create his own shot and he has a great jumper. Give them anything but Rubio and love. Make it happen Kahn
by blingin_egyptian on Feb 1, 2012 10:03 PM CST up reply actions
I was thining Brad Miller
the trade would be like Memphis 2013 pick and Brad Miller to make salaries match
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
I just think it's funny
that after the most promising two game stretch of the year for Beasley (LA/Hou) that it’s trade time.
It seems like a no-win situation if you trade him. I’d just prefer to play the season out with him and let him walk if this two game stretch is more mirage than trend.
But if he continues to attack the basket like the coaching is probably pointing to….he might be a guy to keep that might actually not be too expensive as a FA.
With him and Williams for sure (as they are by far the two most polarizing players on the team) rush decision are never gonna be a great way to deal with things. I just don’t know that at this moment you are going to be able to do an even talent match trade for either player.
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
yes but what does he offer that the rest of our team doesn't???
You really want someone to create his own shot? Barea can do it. Love can do it against a lot of matchups, Luke can do it. He has a long history of a few great games spattered between loads of bad ones. I don’t want to win 1 game in four because Beasley plays well, I want us to have an elite team that competes night in and night out.
IMO they have both been on the block all season. Beasley because he’s an expiring whose skill is scoring points, the skill that most gets overpaid in the NBA, despite that fact that he doesn’t play D. DWill because he’s a PF and we don’t need a young stud at PF, we already have one. I have nothing against Williams, I think he’ll be a fine player but he’s not a player that this team needs unless we’re aiming for Denver like depth. Depth is good when you have 5 quality starters, but when you have 2-3 quality starters (Ridnour is arguable) it’s better to trade depth for those good players that will give you 35mpg. It’s very simple: 35 good minutes > 13 good minutes.
Why emphasize having a Big 3 when we can boast a whole bunch of regular threes?
Ridnour, D Thrill, Miller
Webster, Randolph, Darko
Wes, Ellington, Tolliver
B Easy, Barea, Pek
Dont understand this Kevin Martin love
There’s not enough shots to go around as it is.
We don’t need this scoring two everyone is talking about.
If we began the season again today, the twolves would be 4th or 5th in the west imo with the new depth and chemistry they have developed.
completely agree
but Wes Johnson has to be given 15 minutes a night at most, and ridnour cant guard elite SGs.
i just hope Malcolm Lee is the answer at the 2 so no one needs to be traded
I think if we put webster and ellington
on elite SGs we will be better defensively than most teams. Love webster’s length on D.
"Love webster’s length on D."
He looks the part… Of course its never shown up in any of the stats that he was anything but below average on defense.
Pretty sure that after 6 years and 8000+ minutes, that isn;t changing.
We will
see how he does against 2s this year defensively.
Maybe he'll transform into something he's never been...
We can only hope.
I agree.....mostly
Given a new coach, significant roster changes, the young age of our players, and pretty much no preseason team training, we were at a significant disadvantage in our first few weeks to the teams that had some chemistry and stability from last season. The team we have right now is much improved and I would consider us the sixth or seventh best team in the West right now. I agree that we don’t need a guy like Kevin Martin because he is a volume shooter that I don’t think will fit well with the game we are trying to play right now. We do need an upgrade at the starting 2 position because of the incompetence at that position that we have. I feel like we don’t need a superstar, just a consistent shooter (one that can at least make the wide open threes that Wes misses every time) and can distribute in an offense focused on ball movement.
Spinozagreen, you took the words right off my finger tips..
There is so much Kevin Martin love on CH and I do not believe we need another volume shooter with suspect defense on our team. We need a solid 2 guard who can make open jumpers, work within the offense (i.e. keep the ball moving) and be able to play above average D. Who that person is? That is open for discussion
by The K-Love Train on Feb 1, 2012 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
I agree, but im undecided about the upgrade at the 2.
They havent had a lot of time together and I want to see what Webster/Ellington/Barea/Ridnour can do at the 2, and how Adelman will use them.
I love the versatility of our team, and it allows us to match up well defensively.
Volume Shooter?
You can call Martin whatever you want, but I think he would be better described as an “efficient” shooter or a “really good” shooter. By the way, those are both things that the Timberwolves could REALLY use. Just so you know, I’m not sure we have much that interests the Rockets, so I’m not trying to work out a Martin deal. I was just using him as an example. As far as volume goes, he has about the same usage rate as Beasley. Now, imagine our offense if we could magically swap those two players. Suddenly, we make more shots and score more points in fewer possessions. Does that help the team? It’s hard to argue that it doesn’t. That singular move would make us much better.
Don't understand the Kevin Martin love?
I’ll try to break it down for you. We don’t have a great deal of production from the wing position. In order for us to become a legit contender as opposed to a playoff also ran, we really need to get more production from that spot. Kevin Martin is one of the most productive players in the league. Not to sound like a smarty pants but it really is that simple. He plays a position we need, he’s been rumored to be available, and he’s extremely productive. Why WOULDN’T you love him?
Patience grasshopper. Let these players play and see what they become. Right now there are 15 (15!) legitimate nba players on this roster (being kind to Wes Johnson that is). Adelman knows more than anyone other than a handfull of people on the planet how to make this work. He can take the broken toys and make them shiny again. He’ll get us there.
That's also
being kind to Wayne Ellington. The fact that he and Wes are fourth and fifth on the team in minutes played really is an indictment of the complete lack of talent at the wing spots on this team.
Epistemic closure means never having to admit your wrong.
by Spouting Opinions on Feb 1, 2012 9:37 PM CST up reply actions
Today's PiPress interview with Kahn
strongly suggests we’ll sit pat unless it looks like a playoff situation. The team is still coming together and I suspect our third option will be a combo of Beasley/Webster/Wes/Wellington taking turns lighting it up.
Over the years I’ve noticed that a lot of good teams don’t have a third option so much as a handful of players who take turns getting hot and lighting it up. I think we’ve got plenty of guys who can put up 20 points, even from off the bench.
Yo ho ho and a FirstRow stream!
Those good teams you speak of...
are not counting on the likes of Wes and Wellington to provide that spark… I am only omitting Beasley from that list out of respect for his game against Houston.
heh interesting choice
I would much rather count on Wellington than Beasley on a day in day out basis. Ellington has drastically reduced his TO% this year so even if he’s a low usage 3point shooter he’s semi-reliable for 10 points per 36 minutes. Beasley has played soo poorly (offensive fouls, bad selection, ball stopping, no defense) that he hurts us when he’s not the proverbial “good Beas” who it should be noted might be good enough to win us a game. I would call Beas, Darko and Johnson our 3 problems with Ellington being a marginal part of the solution.
My point wasn't that any of these guys are "it"
but rather that they’re pieces a good coach (and we’ve got one) can throw in the mix and on any given night if one doesn’t take off, maybe the next one will.
Yo ho ho and a FirstRow stream!
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