2015-16 Wolves thread

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

Brandon Rush is the newest member of the team. 1 year at $3.5M. I think it's a really nice signing for wing depth and 3 point shooting.

Why are his stats so Hughes-like from year to year? Very up and down. 

[bluechipper]

 

Why are his stats so Hughes-like from year to year? Very up and down. 

I know he tore his ACL a few years ago, and of course he was playing on a loaded GS team the last couple of years, but he's a 40% 3 point shooter for his career, so he should help in an area of need.

[ALessKosherScott]

Kris Dunn trending on Twitter after his first game. Not a bad start.

[ALessKosherScott]

Thoughts through two summer league games:

 

1. Dunn's defense is pretty much as advertised. His midrange game is pretty decent too.

 

2. Dunn isn't Rubio good yet. Too foul prone and too turnover prone. I think his shooting percentage will be pretty Rubio esq in the regular season.

 

3. I like the Jones and Dunn backcourt. And I think Dunn and Rubio are going to coexist on the court a lot next year. Rubio/Dunn/Lavine/Wiggins/Towns would be a fun fast break to watch.

 

4. Jones really has come a long way and he serves a purpose. He's going to be our best shooting point guard next year.

 

5. Payne is playing for his career. And right now, it looks like he'll need a passport to play on his next team.

 

6. Outside of those three, it really isn't much of a team. I had hopes for Coty Clarke, but he has been invisible. We still have one more roster spot, and someone needs to step up and claim it.

[biggentleben]

 

6. Outside of those three, it really isn't much of a team. I had hopes for Coty Clarke, but he has been invisible. We still have one more roster spot, and someone needs to step up and claim it.

 

I do set a wicked pick...

[Vanimal46]

Tim Duncan calls her a career after 19 brilliant seasons in the NBA. Will the other PF legend KG follow suit? It's weird we're still unaware whether or not he's coming back, right?

[kab21]

There is really no reason for the Wolves to care whether or not Garnett retires. They aren't going to be able to spend the money that he is owed and I think he adds a lot practicing (when he can) and traveling with the team. Basically he is an expensive asst coach and they don't have to formally add him to the staff.

 

The same goes for Pekovic. Nothing is hurt by him staying on the team. The soon to be expiring contract could be useful at some point.

[bluechipper]

The Wolves have signed Jordan Hill to a 2 year $8M deal. I think he's a solid player, but that's a pretty crowded frontcourt. With Dieng and KAT probably starting, and then Belly, Aldrich, Hill, and maybe KG who should probably all be in the rotation.

[ALessKosherScott]

I'd bet there's a move to get another wing, with either Pek taking a medical retirement or Payne getting cut to open a roster space. Eight power forwards and centers does seem a little excessive, unless someone like Dunn is going to get some minutes at the 2.

[kab21]

I could see Payne on the way out.

 

What is Dieng's long term place on the team? He has one year before RFA and if he gets there he will probably get 15-20M/yr (or more if he has a good season). Is he really the guy that you want next to Towns? Will the Wolves be able to extend Wiggins and Lavine (the year after) and Towns (2 years after) and still be able to have any payroll flexibility?

 

Is Dieng on the block potentially?

[DaveW]

Dieng is a perfect trade candidate at this stage:

[TheLeviathan]

Good article on Simmons' new site.  

[ALessKosherScott]

Tyus Jones: Summer League MVP. Who knew?

[kab21]

Can Dunn and Jones form a backcourt combo where the offensive/defensive roles are flipped? Dunn leads the offense and Jones is more of a scorer but Dunn guards the larger opposing guard. 

[bluechipper]

 

Can Dunn and Jones form a backcourt combo where the offensive/defensive roles are flipped? Dunn leads the offense and Jones is more of a scorer but Dunn guards the larger opposing guard. 

Kris Dunn sure did look good in the SG role. I could see those two playing together a lot on the second unit. And like you said, put Dunn on the bigger or better scoring threat.

 

And Tyus is just a gamer. You can never have too many of those on your team. 

[kab21]

 

Kris Dunn sure did look good in the SG role. I could see those two playing together a lot on the second unit. And like you said, put Dunn on the bigger or better scoring threat.

 

And Tyus is just a gamer. You can never have too many of those on your team. 

I only saw highlights but I thought Dunn was running the offense mostly instead of playing off the ball.

[bluechipper]

 

I only saw highlights but I thought Dunn was running the offense mostly instead of playing off the ball.

They had Tyus bring the ball up and initiate the offense almost every time. Even when Dunn got a rebound he would pass the ball to Tyus to get everything set up. I think Dunn will get a lot of minutes at the 2 playing alongside Rubio and mostly with Jones on the second unit.

[Shane Wahl]

Jordan Hill was a damn nice signing, by the way.

[ALessKosherScott]

I think they're kind of grooming Dunn for a Marcus Smart/Avery Bradley role this year, at least from the two Summer League games he played. It would surprise me if the Wolves best defensive line-up didn't involve Dunn and Rubio somehow. 

[bluechipper]

 

Jordan Hill was a damn nice signing, by the way.

I think it's alright. He's not a good shooter (he still likes to shoot midrange shots), but he looks like a good rebounder and ok defensive player. As the roster stands right now, he's barely in the rotation.

 

The domestic violence in his past is terrible though.

[kab21]

I think the Hill and Aldrich signings are attempts to strengthen the 7th to 10th spots on the bench. That is what killed the Wolves last year. Combine that with the Dunn draft pick and it is obvious that Thibideau is committing to a defense first improvement.

 

The biggest reason to like this is that the Wolves spent relatively minimal dollars this offseason and maintain a lot of cap flexibility for next season. This season they were an intriguing destination based on young talent but that changes next year if they win 40+ games and look like a team poised to make the leap.

[ALessKosherScott]

The non-guaranteed second year is what moved the Hill signing from interesting to good, IMHO. If Garnett does retire, you need a capable defensive power forward like Hill. Even if Garnett doesn't retire, you probably need to hedge your bet that he'll spend more time on the training table. Assuming the medical retirement for Pek, Garnett and Hill coming off the books and the cap rise, that's a lot of money to play with in 2017 free agency. If Thibs can get the team to the 7 or 8 seed, people will listen.

[bluechipper]

Big news for the Wolves and their 16/17 schedule. They get a Christmas matchup with the OKC Thunder, there first ever Christmas game.