Minnesota Timberwolves 1999 Season: A Time of Turmoil
|
Key personnel losses: Tom
Gugliotta, Terry Porter, Stanley Roberts,
Stephon Marbury and Chris Carr (both traded in-season to New
Jersey) Key personnel gains: #17 pick Radoslav Nesterovic (who did not sign with the team until the last two games of the regular
season), #46 pick Andrae Patterson, Dean Garrett
and Bobby Jackson (acquired in a
three-way trade with Denver and Toronto for Michael Williams, the rights to C Zelko
Rebracca, and a conditional first-round pick), Malik Sealy (free agent), Joe Smith (free agent), and Terrell Brandon (acquired for Stephon Marbury et. al. in a three-way trade with Milwaukee
and New Jersey)
Record: 25-25, 4th
Place Midwest Division, 8th Place Pacific Conference |
I. Season Overview:
|
The Timberwolves came off the new Collective Bargaining
Agreement expecting to be contenders for homecourt advantage in the first round of the
playoffs and perhaps even first place in the Midwest Division. Instead, they were rocked
by free agent (and potential free agent) defections and injuries. Still, they beat out
Seattle for the final playoff spot because of owning the head-to-head tie-breaker and then
even managed to beat San Antonio, something the Lakers and Trailblazers could not
accomplish, before being ousted 3-1 in the first round. This season can best be discussed in terms of who they did not
have instead of who they did. The first major loss was Tom Gugliotta. Minnesota offered
him the maximum salary they could ($86 mil for 7 years), which was about $17 mil more than
any other team could offer. Googs turned down the Wolves offer and (after waiting
for the McDyess situation to be resolved) signed with Phoenix. Gugliotta said at the time
that he wanted to sign with a team that he knew would be a contender, but given that
Minnesota and Phoenix were at similar levels, it is hard to believe this was a deciding
factor. Part of the reason for his signing may have to do with the desire of his wife, a
competitive triathlete, to be in a better training environment. A more likely reason, as
revealed later by McHale, is that Gugliotta hated Marbury, who he (correctly) saw as a
prima donna, and wanted to be with a point guard who was a better distributor of the ball
(which Kidd certainly is, even though assist totals are not overly disparate between him
and Marbury). During the free agent signing period, there was a rumor that the Lakers had
offered Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell in a sign-and-trade for Gugliotta. McHale did not
want anything to do with Campbell and his large contract. Plus, Joness agent told
McHale that Eddie would never stay in Minnesota, which essentially nixed that deal. Jones
subsequently fired his agent for his statements. In retrospect, this deal, if indeed it
actually was on the table, definitely would have been of benefit for Minnesota, though at
the time this was far from clear.
One fall-out from the Gugliotta situation was the loss of
Terry Porter to Miami. Porter reportedly felt neglected by McHale and signed with Miami
out of fear that all of the lucrative deals would dry up. Likely, the signing of Malik
Sealy and the trade for Bobby Jackson, which meant that Porter would be the third option
at both point guard and shooting guard, also had something to do with it. Given the
injuries to Sealy and the generally poor play by Jackson, it is a shame that Porter could
not have been retained. There were a few minor free agent losses like DeJuan Wheat,
Cherokee Parks, and Stanley Roberts (the first two to Vancouver). Wheat and Parks might
have helped at times, but one cannot blame them for seeking more playing time elsewhere,
and their loses were not especially damaging either. Roberts would have provided interior
muscle, but was too slow to be especially effective.
The other major loss (in addition to Gugliotta), was
Stephon Marbury, who was traded to New Jersey in a three-way deal with Milwaukee after
threatening not to re-sign with the Timberwolves this summer. The deal involved Minnesota
sending Marbury, Chris Carr, and Bill Curley to New Jersey in exchange for Brian Evans
(quickly cut after a few games with the team) and New Jerseys first-round pick this
year (or their first-round picks in 2000 and 2003, but they chose the certain lottery
pick) and Terrell Brandon from Milwaukee (who received Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling from
New Jersey and Paul Grant from Minnesota). Marbury was being groomed to be the next
dynamic duo along with Kevin Garnett. Instead, Marbury could not handle sharing the
spotlight. Marbury provided a driving energy late in games that ignited the team and often
carried them to victory. His willingness to take the team on his shoulders, though, led to
some out of control play and poor shot selection. At the time, Marbury was the only player
that seemed willing to take on this responsibility, and he probably won more games than he
lost. Yet, there were indications of his growing resentment of the team and the attempts
of Saunders to get him to play more under control. Many say the turning point that
convinced Marbury he no longer wanted to be with the team occurred in a nationally
televised game against Seattle. Down one with only a few seconds remaining, Marbury drove
the lane and attempted an ugly shot over a Seattle player that had no chance of going in.
Fortunately for the Wolves, KG was there to slam home the rebound and provide the winning
margin. Marbury was furious: not only had he been made a fool of by his poor shot
selection, but Garnett grabbed all the glory for the victory on national television. After
the lockout ended, Marbury had said that even though he was not going to sign an
extension, he wanted to remain with the Timberwolves. By this point, he had changed his
mind. Hence, he had to be traded for the best deal that Minnesota could find. (Marbury
would almost certainly left for Chicago this summer if he had not been traded.) Marbury
complicated matters further, however, by saying he would only sign an extension (a
condition of any trade) with either New York or New Jersey. This nixed a rumored deal to
Miami for Tim Hardaway. Marbury later said that he could not handle getting only $81 mil
when Garnett was getting $126 mil and the two players were supposed to be equal. If this
was truly his attitude, then perhaps it is best that he left.
At the time of the Marbury trade, Minnesota was 12-6 and
in 4th place in the West. Following the trade, not only did Minnesota need time
to adjust to new players, something not easy in a condensed season without much practice
time, they also suffered a rash of injuries to their guards. Both Sealy and Peeler went
down for major stretches of the season. The newly acquired Brandon, after playing a few
games for his new team, suffered a deep thigh bruise and missed nine games. Such losses
forced the team to sign off of waivers such players as Dennis Scott and James
"Hollywood" Robinson. These players provided some short-term assistance, but
were clearly stop-gap measures. Indeed, with Scott in the starting line-up, Coach Saunders
even moved Garnett over to starting shooting guard for a couple of games.
Somehow, following a long losing streak that threatened
to doom the season even further, the Timberwolves managed to regroup just enough (winning
an impressive late-season home victory over Miami) to finish with a .500 record and make
the playoffs because of tie-brakers won over Seattle (when Marbury was still with the
team). That they would lose to San Antonio was almost a foregone conclusion.
What started out as a season with great promise, with
many pundits calling the Minnesota Timberwolves the team of the future, finished a
resounding disappointment. Furthermore, the turmoil may still not be over. Brandon is a
free agent and insists on testing the market; Joe Smith is also a free agent, and all the
Wolves can offer him is a continuation of his middle-class exemption. Still, there is
reason for hope. Minnesota managed to wrangle a first-round pick out of New Jersey, which
turned into the #6 pick overall. (The Nets finished with the 5th worst record,
but the pick dropped a slot after Charlotte moved up. In eight trips to the lottery,
Minnesota has moved down in six of them and remained steady in the other two.) Minnesota
also has their own pick at #14. (This pick could have been sent to Toronto to complete the
Garrett-Jackson trade, but Minnesota decided to keep it.) Many rumors are swirling as to
whether these picks will be kept or traded for a new superstar to complement Garnett. |
II. Draft History
|
- 1989:
- Jerome "Pooh" Richardson (10th)
- Gary Leonard (34th)
- Doug West (38th)
- 1990
Felton Spencer (6th)
Gerald Glass (20th)
- 1991
- Luc Longley (7th)
- Myron Brown (34th)
- 1992
- Christian Laettner (3rd)
- Marlon Maxey (28th)
- Chris Smith (34th)
- Tim Burroughs (51st)
- 1993
- Isaiah Rider (5th)
- Sherron Mills (29th)
- 1994
- Donyell Marshall (4th)
- Howard Eisley (30th)
- 1995
- Kevin Garnett (5th)
- Mark Davis (48th)
- Jerome Allen (49th)
- 1996
- Ray Allen (5th; traded same day with Andrew
Lang to Milwaukee for Stephon Marbury)
- 1997
- Paul Grant (20th)
- Gordon Malone (44th)
- 1998
- Radoslav Nesterovic (17th)
- Andrae Patterson (46th)
McHale took over starting with the 1995 draft. He showed
great courage in taking Garnett, the first highly touted high school player in quite some
time, with the #5 pick. This was clearly the pick that turned the franchise around. And to
think that many people predicted Minnesota taking Ed OBannon there! At the time of
the trade, Marbury said that he wanted to play in Minnesota, having become friends with KG
at a summer camp the year before. Had Marbury stayed, this trade definitely would have
been worth it, though in retrospect it might have been better to stick with Allen. The
next two picks were made by a team desperate for a center. Grant has still not played an
NBA minute, mostly because of ankle and foot injuries, and was eventually shipped to
Milwaukee in the Marbury deal for salary cap reasons. Malone, to put it bluntly, did not
have the intelligence to play in the NBA, as he could not grasp the complexities of the
pro game. Nesterovic and Patterson both show promising futures for the Timberwolves.
Indeed, some say Nesterovic, who played most of the year in Italy, would have been a
lottery pick this year if he had not entered the draft last year. |
III. Management and Coaching
|
After years of being one of the most mismanaged
franchises in the history of major professional sports, the Minnesota Timberwolves have
now obtained respectability and before the setbacks of this season were seen by many as
one of the teams of the future. The TWolves were tentatively sold in 1994 to a group
from New Orleans headed by boxing promoter Bob Arum before Commissioner Stern stepped in
and voided the sale. This allowed Glen Taylor, whose offer to buy the team helped sway the
NBA Relocation Committee, to become the new owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Upon
doing so, he installed former Celtic great Kevin McHale as Vice President of Basketball
Operations. In essence, McHale is the general manager, though that title is officially
held by Phil "Flip" Saunders, whom McHale installed as coach in December of
1995, replacing Bill Blair in that position. On the GM side, McHale has been wonderful,
especially compared to what we had in the past. He was able to trade Donyell Marshall (who
admittedly is finally starting to look mediocre) to Golden State for superstar Tom
Gugliotta and someone who absolutely cannot score, Doug West, to Vancouver for someone who
can, Anthony Peeler. Because of the loss of players this year, the TWolves have many
needs, but there is every reason to expect that the team is in good hands with McHale. His
drafts have also been quite fruitful. Three years ago he drafted Kevin Garnett at #5
before drafting high school seniors became fashionable. Now Garnett is widely accepted as
the best player in that draft and one of the cornerstones of the NBA. The next year he
drafted Ray Allen at #5, but was able to trade him and Andrew Lang to Milwaukee (probably
a deal engineered before the draft) for Stephon Marbury, arguably the second best player
from that draft (after Iverson). Not only is McHale able to evaluate talent well, but
players respect him and want to play for Minnesota. Thanks for this is also partially due
to the strong (financial) support given by Taylor. Despite
his lack of fame, Saunders seems to be an excellent coach for a developing team. Before
coming to the Timberwolves, he coached for many years in the CBA (winning the championship
twice and coach of the year twice), so he knows how to bring out the best in struggling
young players. The key to this is patience and the willingness to let young players like
Garnett make mistakes. Saunders seems to have excellent knowledge of basketball strategy;
the team finished with the lowest number of turnovers of any team in the league and played
fairly respectable defense considering the personnel available. I think Saunders might
have a slight problem on defense with defensive rotations; I do not have exact stats, but
I think Minnesota allowed close to the most 3-pointers of any team in the league, though
there did seem to be some improvement on last year. Part of this, though, might be due to
the team being undermanned. Not having a real center resulted in needing to double-team
more down low. Still, Saunders does an excellent job of having his team ready to play and
achieve their maximum potential. He is always pacing the sidelines and is always eager to
teach.
One of the keys to Minnesotas success in comparison
to "the early years" has been team unity, which has been stressed by both McHale
and Saunders. Both of them realize that championship teams need to develop over time and
play well together instead of as a collection of individuals (see the Lakers this year
[and every other]). To this end, they have traded away troublemakers like Isaiah Rider and
Christian Laettner for lesser talent and are unlikely to draft anyone who has serious
questions about their attitude or behavior. The duo understands the importance of
stability and continuity, especially among the core players, and try to carry this
philosophy into their roster decisions. McHale learned these virtues in his days with the
Celtics and is instilling them in the entire organization. Unfortunately, todays
players do not value character as much as McHale does. He echoed this sentiment following
the defection of Marbury. Between Gugliotta and Marbury, McHale has suffered a great deal
of frustration this year, leading some to suggest that he will resign. Do not expect this
to happen. Saunders is rumored to be a candidate for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
coaching position if Clem Haskins is forced out, but this is unlikely. McHale and Saunders
have the full support of Taylor and are both committed to bringing a championship back to
Minnesota (how do you think the "Lakers" got their name?). Neither of them will
quit until that is accomplished. |
IV. Players
|
(Regular season statistics)
PLAYER |
G |
GS |
MPG |
FG% |
3P% |
FT% |
REBOUNDS
|
AST |
SPG |
BPG |
PPG |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OFF |
DEF |
TOT |
|
|
|
|
Garnett |
47 |
47 |
37.9 |
.460 |
.286 |
.704 |
3.5 |
6.9 |
10.4 |
4.3 |
1.66 |
1.77 |
20.8 |
Brandon |
36 |
34 |
33.8 |
.418 |
.255 |
.833 |
0.8 |
3.0 |
3.7 |
8.6 |
1.75 |
0.28 |
13.9 |
Smith |
43 |
42 |
33.0 |
.427 |
.000 |
.755 |
3.6 |
4.7 |
8.2 |
1.6 |
0.74 |
1.53 |
13.7 |
Mitchell |
50 |
20 |
26.9 |
.408 |
.237 |
.764 |
1.1 |
2.5 |
3.6 |
2.0 |
0.70 |
0.32 |
11.2 |
Peeler |
28 |
28 |
28.9 |
.379 |
.298 |
.732 |
1.1 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
1.25 |
0.21 |
9.6 |
Sealy |
31 |
7 |
23.6 |
.411 |
.261 |
.902 |
0.7 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
1.2 |
0.97 |
0.16 |
8.1 |
Jackson |
50 |
12 |
18.8 |
.405 |
.370 |
.772 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.7 |
3.3 |
0.78 |
0.06 |
7.1 |
Scott |
36 |
9 |
20.5 |
.408 |
.381 |
.742 |
0.2 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
0.42 |
0.08 |
6.5 |
Robinson |
31 |
0 |
16.3 |
.362 |
.284 |
.683 |
0.6 |
1.4 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
0.71 |
0.26 |
5.9 |
Garrett |
49 |
37 |
21.5 |
.502 |
-- |
.745 |
2.0 |
3.2 |
5.2 |
0.6 |
0.61 |
0.92 |
5.5 |
Hammonds |
49 |
0 |
14.6 |
.458 |
-- |
.640 |
1.1 |
1.7 |
2.8 |
0.4 |
0.16 |
0.14 |
4.3 |
Nesterovic |
2 |
0 |
15.0 |
.250 |
-- |
1.000 |
1.5 |
2.5 |
4.0 |
0.5 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4.0 |
Patterson |
35 |
0 |
8.1 |
.443 |
.000 |
.778 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.9 |
0.4 |
0.54 |
0.20 |
3.3 |
Curley |
35 |
7 |
10.6 |
.403 |
.200 |
.864 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
0.4 |
0.49 |
0.26 |
2.2 |
Jordan |
27 |
1 |
11.0 |
.278 |
-- |
.553 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
2.2 |
1.5 |
0.44 |
0.19 |
1.9 |
Team Totals |
50 |
250 |
240.5 |
.425 |
.298 |
.743 |
15.1 |
27.8 |
42.9 |
24.4 |
8.52 |
5.44 |
92.9 |
Opponents |
50 |
-- |
240.5 |
.439 |
.326 |
.718 |
11.8 |
31.3 |
43.1 |
22.3 |
7.26 |
5.24 |
92.6 |
TEAM |
G |
GS |
MIN |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
REBOUNDS
|
AST |
ST |
BL |
PTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OFF |
DEF |
TOT |
|
|
|
|
Garnett |
47 |
47 |
1780 |
414-900 |
4-14 |
145-206 |
166 |
323 |
489 |
202 |
78 |
83 |
977 |
Brandon |
36 |
34 |
1217 |
212-507 |
12-47 |
65-78 |
27 |
107 |
134 |
309 |
63 |
10 |
501 |
Smith |
43 |
42 |
1418 |
223-522 |
0-3 |
142-188 |
154 |
200 |
354 |
68 |
32 |
66 |
588 |
Mitchell |
50 |
20 |
1344 |
213-522 |
9-38 |
126-165 |
55 |
127 |
182 |
98 |
35 |
16 |
561 |
Peeler |
28 |
28 |
810 |
103-272 |
34-114 |
30-41 |
30 |
54 |
84 |
78 |
35 |
6 |
270 |
Sealy |
31 |
7 |
731 |
95-231 |
6-23 |
55-61 |
23 |
69 |
92 |
36 |
30 |
5 |
251 |
Jackson |
50 |
12 |
941 |
141-348 |
10-27 |
61-79 |
43 |
92 |
135 |
167 |
39 |
3 |
353 |
Scott |
36 |
9 |
738 |
87-213 |
37-97 |
23-31 |
8 |
50 |
58 |
40 |
15 |
3 |
234 |
Robinson |
31 |
0 |
506 |
67-185 |
21-74 |
28-41 |
18 |
44 |
62 |
56 |
22 |
8 |
183 |
Garrett |
49 |
37 |
1054 |
116-231 |
0-0 |
38-51 |
99 |
158 |
257 |
28 |
30 |
45 |
270 |
Hammonds |
49 |
0 |
716 |
82-179 |
0-0 |
48-75 |
54 |
82 |
136 |
20 |
8 |
7 |
212 |
Nesterovic |
2 |
0 |
30 |
3-12 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
Patterson |
35 |
0 |
284 |
43-97 |
0-5 |
28-36 |
30 |
35 |
65 |
15 |
19 |
7 |
114 |
Curley |
35 |
7 |
372 |
29-72 |
1-5 |
19-22 |
20 |
31 |
51 |
14 |
17 |
9 |
78 |
Jordan |
27 |
1 |
296 |
15-54 |
0-0 |
21-38 |
27 |
32 |
59 |
41 |
12 |
5 |
51 |
Team Totals |
50 |
250 |
12025 |
1838-4327 |
122-410 |
849-1143 |
754 |
1392 |
2146 |
1218 |
426 |
272 |
4647 |
Opponents |
50 |
-- |
12025 |
1680-3823 |
213-654 |
1055-1470 |
591 |
1563 |
2154 |
1114 |
363 |
262 |
4628 |
|
A. Centers:
|
Dean Garrett (611", 250 lbs, dob: 11/27/66,
years NBA: 3, Indiana 88): Garrett took the league by
storm well, relatively speaking, at least as a 30-year old rookie in
1996-97. He shot 57% and averaged 8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, before promptly
fleeing to the bigger bucks (if not greener pastures) of Denver in 1997-98. Once there, he
discovered that playing on one of the worst teams in history was nowhere near as much fun
as being on the receiving end of passes from Stephon Marbury. He wanted out, and the
Nuggets were happy to oblige, sending Garrett back to the Wolves along with Bobby Jackson
in the three-way deal that sent Micheal Williams and a future first-round draft pick to
Toronto (who sent Chauncy Billups to Denver). Unfortunately, once back in a Minnesota
uniform, Garrett never found his 1996-97 form. He shot a respectable 50% from the field
but disappeared at times and never provided the physical presence in the paint that the
Wolves needed. The Nuggets signed him to a five year deal for $15 million, which has three
more years to run. The Wolves hope that Nestorevic develops, which will allow Dean to
slide into a role as a backup center. Hell fit that role quite well, but if this
season was any indication, the 32-year old is not the quality starter at center that the
Wolves need. Radoslav (Rasha, Rasho,
Nesty) Nesterovic (70", 248 lbs, dob: 5/30/76, years NBA: 1, Slovenia): Cries of "who?" greeted the announcement of the
Timberwolves selection in the 1998 draft, as the team drafted a little-known center
who was signed to play for Virtus Kinder Bologna in the Italian League during 1998-1999.
The pick was all but forgotten by the average Timberwolves fan, so the question
"who?" arose again when, with two days left in the 1998-1999 NBA season, the
Wolves reported that they were signing that player, Radoslav Nesterovic, and bringing him
on board that very night. Nesterovics Italian season had come to an end when his
team was knocked out of the playoffs not long before, and he had expressed an interest in
joining the Wolves. The reason for signing him now was two-fold: first, he had had a great
season in Italy and had attracted the attention of a number of European teams who,
unfettered by the salary cap, would have been able to offer him far more money during the
summer than was available in the Wolves rookie deal; and, second, it ensured that he
would be on board over the summer and thus give the team the entire offseason (minus a few
weeks playing for his national team) to work with him. The signing did cost the Wolves
money and, maybe more importantly, counted as a full year towards the four-year limit on
rookie contracts, but seems to have been a good idea. Nestorevic is currently pegged as
the Wolves starting center for next season and the more time he has to work with
McHale and crew, the better. While in Italy, he averaged 13.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg and and a
league-leading 1.42 bpg, and shot .652 from the field. Although it is impossible to judge
his potential from a few appearances when he had only had days to learn the system, he
displayed a nice shooting touch and a good head for the game. McHale missed the boat a
couple years ago by bringing Stojko Vrankovic back from overseas; Wolves fans, for years
desperate for a quality center, are hoping for better results from this latest European
import.
Trevor Winter (70", 280 lbs, dob: 1/7/74,
years NBA: 1, Minnesota 97): Trevor Winter, another
local favorite from his days playing at the University of Minnesota, is the latest in a
long line of tall Minnesota guys playing in the NBA. Unfortunately, hes no Kevin
McHale or even Randy Breuer. Winter played exactly five minutes in one game for the Wolves
in 1999 (I think he even scored a basket) but talks as if hell be back with the team
this coming season. He may well be, but only as one of those oft-injured IR-shuttlees. |
B. Forwards:
|
Kevin (KG, Da Kid, Big Ticket, The Franchise) Garnett
(611", 220 lbs, dob: 5/19/76, years NBA: 4, Farragut Academy High School
95): What more can be said that hasnt already
been said? KG is not just the best player on the Timberwolves, at age 23, he already ranks
among the NBAs elite players. This past season, he was named to the All-NBA Third
Team. When the defections of Marbury and Gugliotta left the weight of the team squarely on
his shoulders, he stepped up his game yet another notch, at times seemingly carrying the
team by himself. Early in the season, he had a tendency to disappear at the end of games,
but he turned that around as it became clear Minnesota had no one else to go to. He ranked
11th in the league in scoring and displayed an ability to score from both inside and
outside, displaying a remarkably soft touch on his jumper for a guy who unofficially
stands over 7 feet tall (he has requested to be listed at 611" because he
thinks that 7 sounds slow). Hes a terrific rebounder and probably the
teams best defensive player, both in terms of guarding his man and playing weak-side
defense. He ranked in the top twenty in the league in rebounds, blocks, steals, and
double-doubles. To top it off, hes a great ballhandler for someone his size and one
of the best passing forwards in the game (ranking 5th in assists among
forwards). The superlatives could go on, but you get the point. What cant he do?
Very little, though there is room for improvement in his game. He tends to be more of a
finesse player than a player of his size and athletic ability should be he likes to
give a couple shoulder fakes and go to the turn-around jumper from the low post. Sometimes
it falls, but when youre three or four inches taller and quicker than the defender,
you should be going to the hoop, not away from it. As a result of his finesse game,
Garnett, who ranked 3rd in the league in field goal attempts, didnt even
finish in the top 40 in free throws attempted. Why does it matter, so long as he scores?
Two main reasons: first, he shot only 46% from the field, which isnt bad but
isnt great either and could have been improved if he took the ball to the hoop more
strongly, and second, the Wolves desperately need someone who can get to the foul line and
get opponents in foul trouble. Lacking either a slashing guard or a bruising center,
Garnett is the obvious answer. That is just nitpicking, though Garnett will be a
fixture on the All-NBA team for years to come. He is signed until 2004 with the now-famous
$125mil contract extension that began this year. Joe Smith (610", 225 lbs, dob: 7/25/75, years NBA: 4, Maryland
95): Drafted four picks ahead of Garnett in 1995, Joe
Smith now finds himself playing second fiddle to Da Kid. Smith signed as a free agent in
the Wolves middle-class exception slot under the salary cap, a nice move by McHale that
allowed to Wolves to patch up at least some of the damage done by Gugliottas
departure. Smith had a nice year, though he has yet to live up to his status as the top
pick in the draft. When Smith was on as in a three game stretch in March when he
averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game he was great, but he had a tendency to
disappear just as frequently as he exploded. A slim 225 pounds, he is a bit undersized in
the post (as evidenced by his getting overpowered by David Robinson in the playoffs) and
sometimes resorts to playing a face-up shooters game rather than the banging power
game that the Wolves need. The result is that Smith shot only 42.7% from the field, an
atrociously lower percentage for a power forward. He did provide a degree of athleticism
that matched up nicely with Garnetts game and proved to be a surprisingly good
offensive rebounder (finishing 10th in the league in offensive rebounds per game, and 19th
in rebounds per game). If Smith could bulk up a bit and, perhaps more importantly, if the
Wolves can find themselves a true center with a power game to complement the finesse of
Garnett and Smith, the Wolves would have a frontcourt to be reckoned with. A power player
would mitigate the problems the Wolves often face with guarding opposing big men and Smith
and Garnett would cause significant matchup problems. Smith is a free agent this year and
under the collective bargaining agreement will be able to make more money by signing
elsewhere (the Wolves can only offer him around $2 million for the next two years before
they can give him big money). However, Smith has said that he enjoys playing alongside
Garnett and, after shuttling through three teams in his first four years in the league, is
looking for stability. Sources with the Timberwolves are highly optimistic that he will be
back in 1999-2000.
Sam (Sam-I-Am) Mitchell (67", 210 lbs, dob:
9/2/63, years NBA: 10, Mercer 85): If Garnett is the
soul of the franchise, Sam Mitchell is its heart. A charter member of the Timberwolves
(after playing a few years in Europe), Mitchell was traded to Indiana in 1992 and played
three seasons there before returning as a free agent in 1995. The aging warrior never was
the most athletic or graceful player, but he makes up for it with determination and hustle
hes the kind of guy every coach wishes he had on his team. One example jumps
out: with five games to play in the season, the Wolves, in a battle to make the playoffs,
realistically had to win at least three games to make the postseason and were facing the
Phoenix Suns, with whom they were fighting for position. Garnett had an off-night, but
Mitchell refused to let the Wolves lose, driving hard to the hoop, knocking down jumper
after jumper, and hurtling himself after loose balls. He finished with 25 points, 7
rebounds, and 6 assists in a win that served to break the team out of a slump and begin a
run that put them into the playoffs. Mitchell is perhaps the teams most physical
player, able to defend both small forwards and power forwards, and he likes to take it
hard into the lane and get fouled. He has an uncanny ability to knock down the mid-range
jumper from the baseline and often finds himself open as teams are slow to recover from
doubling Garnett. Sam is the epitome of the NBA bench player, providing spark and hustle
on the floor and leadership off it. This year he was forced to start in several games
while Joe Smith was injured and Garrett was in the doghouse, but he is much better suited
to a role as a sixth man, a role he definitely excels at. He is signed for next year and
should provide valuable minutes coming off of the bench. (There is conflicting information
on Mitchells contract; I am going with the Minnesota beat writer, though he is
listed as a free agent in a couple of other places. If he is a free agent, he almost
certainly will be brought back for another year.)
Tom Hammonds (69", 225 lbs, dob: 3/27/67,
years NBA: 10, Georgia Tech 89): Hammonds, the
prototype NBA journeyman, came to the Timberwolves in November 1997. He fills much the
same role that Mitchell does veteran leadership, hustle, and physical play off the
bench. Hes not the scorer that Sam is but the two share the ability to play
hard-nosed defense. He is probably the strongest player currently on the Timberwolves.
Because of the Wolves lack of a true center, Hammonds is often called upon to guard
opposing centers and is generally up to the task. Hammonds is a free agent and may be
brought back depending on whom the Timberwolves get in the draft and through free agency
and trades.
Andrae Patterson (69", 238 lbs, dob: 12/12/75,
years NBA: 1, Indiana 98): Patterson, the Wolves
second-round pick in 1998 (46th overall), was a pleasant surprise. McHale and Saunders
like what they see in the youngster, bringing him off the bench for quality minutes late
in the season. He averaged 11 rebounds per 48 minutes played, with nearly half of those on
the offensive glass. He needs to bulk up and improve his defense but will provide useful
backup minutes at PF. He is being groomed as a successor to Sam Mitchell, though Patterson
does not quite have the range on his shot that Mitchell does. He is a free agent this
year, but unless he gets a huge offer from another team (not likely), he will be back next
season.
Dennis (3D) Scott (68", 229 lbs, dob: 9/5/68,
years NBA: 9, Georgia Tech 90): After being cut by the
Knicks early in the season, "3D" caught on with the Wolves in March at the
minimum salary. He seemed a decent fit, since a three-point shooter has been a key need
for years, but his lack of defense and, well, inability to do anything besides a stroke it
from downtown cost him a spot on the playoff roster. He won kudos for sticking around to
practice during the playoffs rather than going on an early vacation, but dont look
for him to be back.
Bill Curley (69", 245 lbs, dob: 5/29/72, years
NBA: 5, Boston College 94): Curley, a former Boston
College star, has seen his NBA dreams hampered by leg injuries. He rejoined the Wolves
after being sent to and then cut by the Nets in the Marbury deal. Hes
a crowd favorite and McHale called him one of the most fundamentally sound players on the
squad. Unfortunately, fundamentals without athleticism dont get you very far in
todays NBA. Curley may stick around as a banger at the end of the bench but does not
figure prominently in the Wolves future plans. |
Guards:
|
Terrell (TB) Brandon (511", 173 lbs, 5/20/70,
years NBA: 8, Oregon 90): Brandon came to Minnesota in
the Marbury deal and was supposedly a player that McHale really coveted. After roughly
half of a half-season, it is not clear that this marriage is going to work out. Brandon is
a free agent and has always insisted that he wants to test the market. While he has not
said that he doesnt want to play in Minnesota, he has talked favorably of playing
for other teams and reportedly wants to stay in the Western Conference. It is not entirely
clear the that TWolves see him as a long-term solution either. Though Brandon was
labeled the best point guard in the NBA a few years ago by Sports Illustrated, few people
believed it then and he has done little to improve his assessment. Brandon is certainly a
very good player, but he is more of a role player than a star. He is an excellent passer,
finishing 5th in the NBA in assists per game, but is not especially fast and almost never
drives to the basket. Minnesota based much of their offense on Marbury driving to the hoop
and then dishing off if necessary (though probably not as many times as he should have
dished off). This is not a skill that Brandon possesses; Brandon cannot create his own
shot. Brandon is more of a spot-up shooter up to about 20, but has no three-point
shot. One problem with the Timberwolves is that they do not have anyone who can take
advantage of Brandons spot-up abilities by themselves driving to the lane and
dishing off. Brandon has neither the ability to shoot on the run nor does he have the
3-point ability to stretch the defense. Consequently, he has trouble with what is
generally demanded of a point guard in the NBA today. This is not to say that Brandon does
not have valuable skills; his passing ability and skill at running an offense can be put
to good use in the proper offensive scheme. If Minnesota does keep Brandon, they will
definitely need to redesign plays away from Marburys slashing style and more toward
a motion offense. In order to do this, they will need a shooting guard with reasonable
range to stretch the opposing defense. Speaking of defense, Brandon is not especially
strong here, though he is not quite the defensive liability that some have accused him of
being. His sub-six-foot height means that he can be posted up easily by many point guards
in the NBA, and those that cannot post him up can often run past or around him. Brandon is
an intelligent player and not a huge defensive liability, but his limitations must be
taken into account when designing a defensive scheme. Brandon also has a reputation for
getting injured easily (he missed two-weeks this season [which translated into nine games
because of the compressed schedule] with a thigh bruise) and not wanting to play through
pain, which makes teams wonder if he can be depended upon in a championship run. In sum,
Brandon is a decent (maybe top 10) point guard, but one with serious question marks,
especially regarding his fit with the Timberwolves. He will certainly be a starting point
guard somewhere in the NBA next season. McHale was a college teammate of Brandons
agent, so it is hoped that if Brandon does not re-sign that he will be amenable to
participating in a sign-and-trade deal so that Minnesota is not left out in the cold, so
to speak, as they were when Gugliotta departed. Bobby Jackson (61", 185 lbs, 3/13/73, years NBA: 2, Minnesota
97): While Brandon (and certainly Marbury before him)
was a quality starter, Jackson was a huge disappointment as a back-up point guard. Early
in the season his flaws were not apparent because Marbury played so many minutes, but when
Brandon came over, and especially when Brandon was injured, Jacksons weaknesses
became clear. Anyone who saw how Minnesota completely fell apart against San Antonio in
the playoffs during the few minutes when Brandon got a rest knows this to be the case.
Jackson often, both in the playoffs and during the regular season, seemed lost and out of
control on the basketball court, with no clear idea of how to run an offense. He had
decent assist numbers as a rookie in Denver, but, then again, they were one of the worst
teams in the history of basketball. In retrospect, Jacksons inability to run an
offense might have contributed to that. Indeed, toward the end of the year he was removed
from the starting line-up and Denver started to win a few games. Jackson is the classic
case of a shooting guard in a point guards body. He is only a decent shooter, but
that seems to be acceptable in the NBA today. Jackson has decent speed and is somewhat
effective in driving the lane (which he tends to do too much). He is decent (better than
Brandon) defensively when matched up against other teams point guards. It is not
clear what his future in the NBA is. He is really too short to be the kind of back-up
shooting guard that teams want, which means he is going to have to learn to play the
point. The hope is that a full training camp will allow Jackson to learn the offense and
develop into a back-up point guard, but this is far from a certainty. He is signed through
next year and really needs to prove himself if he wants a future in this league.
Anthony Peeler (64", 208 lbs, 11/25/69, years
NBA: 7, Missouri 92): As with Jackson, Peeler also had
a disappointing season, though he had a bit better of a record with which to justify that
disappointment. After coming over from Vancouver in the middle of the 1997-98 season,
Minnesota felt that it had finally found a competent shooting guard to replace J.R. Rider.
This season, Peeler had what can only be hoped was an off year. Not only are his stats
down, he also was far more inconsistent than you would want in a starter. Most
importantly, he could not be counted on as an outside shooter (his 3-pt% fell from a bit
over 42% to under 30%), which was his primary function in the offense. In Peelers
defense, he injured his left calf in the pre-season and never really recovered, missing an
entire month in the middle of the season in the process. Even when healthy, though, Peeler
comes across as a player who would be better as an offensive spark (though his defense is
decent if not stellar) off the bench rather than a regular starter. There seems to be an
increasing emphasis in the NBA on reserve shooting guards who can anchor an offense when
the starters are out. Peeler, if he can regain some of his earlier form, is well-suited
for that role. Peeler is signed through 2002, and if the TWolves do not trade him,
he will likely be moved into a back-up position.
Malik Sealy (68", 200 lbs, 2/1/70, years NBA:
7, St. Johns 92): Sealy was brought in primarily
for defensive purposes and also to be the back-up shooting guard behind Peeler. His solid
offense was a pleasant surprise, and the Wolves missed him greatly when he was out for a
month with injuries. Sealy is big enough and talented enough to guard any opposing
shooting guard. Sealy has a decent mid-range game, but does not have especially good
range, nor are his moves around the basket anything to be excited about. He does always
play hard, though, and serves as an example to the rest of the tem with his effort. Sealy
would make a decent back-up, though in a completely different vein than Peeler, but should
not be expected to become a starter. Sealy signed last year for the million dollar
exemption and might be re-signed for that amount this year. Sealy is very dependable for
what he does and should be re-signed as the back-up shooting guard as protection against a
continued collapse by Peeler. (I have seen some places where Sealy is listed as being
signed through next year.)
Reggie Jordan (64", 195 lbs, 1/26/68, years
NBA: 5, New Mexico St. 91): Jordan, definitely not to
be confused with the other guy, also shows a great deal of heart and is a very good
defensive stopper, but his range is a lay-up. This is not good when your size dictates
that you play guard. The night that he started at shooting guard (because of injuries and
a not-yet finalized trade) was truly one of the most frightening nights in Timberwolves
history. His effort makes you root for the guy, but his talent definitely places him in
the CBA. Toward the end of the season he came down with a phantom injury because it was
clear he had no place on the team. He is a free agent, and if he is re-signed it is an
indication of serious off-season failures.
James "Hollywood" Robinson (62", 180
lbs, 8/31/70, Alabama 93): Robinson, after being cut by
the Clippers (!), was signed essentially as an injury replacement mostly because he knew
the system from his previous stint with Minnesota two years ago. Indeed, it was his decent
play in Minnesota that got him a three year deal with the Clippers. Robinson was kept on
the playoff roster over Dennis Scott because it was thought that Robinson could provide
some minutes at point guard since Coach Saunders had lost all confidence in Bobby Jackson.
Robinson fared no better. As with Scott, Robinson was also counted upon to hit 3-point
shots, but unlike Scott he fared miserably there as well. Since he signed with Minnesota
for the league minimum, he is a free agent, even though I think he still has a guaranteed
year on his Clippers contract. Regardless, he will not be back. |
V. Team Needs and Possible Offseason Moves
|
Going into the season, the Timberwolves thought they had
their starting line-up of the future set, with Marbury at PG, Peeler at SG, KG at SF,
Gugliotta at PF, and Nesterovic (in a year) at C. Little did they know how much things
would change. Garnett is still solid at small forward, and there are strong hopes for
Nesterovic at center, but everything else, including the bench, is up in the air. Joe
Smith will probably be back and be a solid starter at power forward. He needs to develop
more strength and a better inside game, but he seems to have the talent to do this and is
almost certainly a better option than anyone else the TWolves could get. If Brandon
is back, he will be the starting point guard. Peeler might start at the beginning of the
season, but is probably not a long-term solution at shooting guard. It would also be nice
to have a bit more strength at center for teams like the Lakers and Spurs; Nesterovic is
still somewhat thin, though this can at least partially be corrected with the proper
off-season training regimen. The frontcourt is very good at blocking shots, but has
trouble with being backed-down because of a general lack of strength. Minnesota was only
slightly out-rebounded on average, but the lack of strength on the inside forced
double-teaming on defense that left shooters open on the outside. Their own outside
shooting was quite poor, with the team finishing 26th out of 29 teams in 3-point
percentage. Outside shooting will be a priority for any guards that Minnesota acquires.
The Timberwolves finished only slightly better (23rd) in field goal percentage. Much of
this was due to a lack of a dependable shooting guard who could stretch the defense with
outside shooting and consequently open up room for other players to drive to the hoop. As
a result, the TWolves were forced to settle for far more mid-range jump shots than a
winning team should have to. This problem was only exacerbated with the substitution of
Brandon, who cannot drive the lane, for Marbury, who could quite well. Overall, the team
finished 11th in the league on offense and 16th on defense. On the bright side, the Wolves
finished 2nd in the league in the number of assists, 1st in fewest turnovers, and 4th in
forcing turnovers. This is all a sign of excellent coaching, as the talent level is
certainly not appreciably better than that of other teams. Indeed, with better talent,
this coaching should translate into a much better record. Essentially all of Minnesotas draft strategy depends on what
they think will happen with Brandon. If Brandon is retained, then the biggest team needs
are (in order): 1) starting shooting guard (to create more spacing in the offense); 2)
back-up point guard (if nothing else because of Brandons frailty); 3) interior
muscle (which I place third because you can only play five players at a time and Hammonds
and Mitchell are decent enough off the bench). If Brandon is sent elsewhere in a
sign-and-trade, then you need to take into account who the Timberwolves get in return.
Brandon could be traded for one or more of these needs, though this would obviously open
up a huge gap at starting point guard. If Brandon is traded for a starting point guard,
then the old needs remain. In addition to Brandon, pretty much anyone else other than
Garnett is a possibility for trades, though Minnesota only has KG, Mitchell, Peeler,
Jackson, Garrett, Nesterovic, and maybe Sealy signed for next season. (Joe Smith probably
could not be included as part of a sign-and-trade: he is signed for the middle-class
exception, so if he wanted to go elsewhere he would just sign for the exception there.)
Minnesota will only have money under the cap if they renounce their rights to Brandon
(along with all of their other free agents), so expect them to make trades to acquire the
players they want. Saunders has been quoted as saying, "Our No. 1 thing is we have to
bring in a dynamic player. We owe it to our team and our fans to show our
commitment." In the same interview, he promised, "I guarantee we will do a lot
of things and put a spark back into our organization, to where it was last year at this
time with the expectations and the enthusiasm." McHale seems to share the same
sentiments. This would indicate that there are many changes that can and will be made this
off-season (i.e. Brandon is probably gone). Both of them realize that the franchise is at
a crucial crossroads, and that if they want to avoid becoming mired in mediocrity,
significant changes need to be made. The organization needs to recapture the vision of the
future it had only two years ago. McHale and Saunders seem to know what they want the
identity of this team to be, though this identity is not presently clear to the public,
and are determined to make the changes necessary to achieve this identity.
Possible trades that have been rumored include (in no
particular order):
- Brandon (and maybe Peeler, #6 or # 14) to Portland for
Damon Stoudamire: This is the most likely sign-and-trade of Brandon, as there are many in
Portland who do not think that Stoudamire will be happy there. Brandon is also from
Portland, so he would probably do a sign-and-trade to go there. This deal would make sense
for Minnesota if it is straight up, but throwing in the draft picks may be too much.
- Brandon and some combination #6, #14, and/or Peeler to
Seattle for Payton: This rumor arose after Payton blew his top about not getting into the
playoffs. He now seemingly wants to stay in Seattle. Plus, it is hard to see Seattle
trading away their most marketable superstar and not getting one in return.
- Brandon to the Lakers for Glen Rice: Rice would have to
shift over to shooting guard; he would be a bit slow there, but not terrible. However, I
do not think Rice would want to come to Minnesota, and Flip does not want people on the
team who do not want to be here. Also, Rice is rumored to be headed to Houston for Pippen.
- Brandon and #14 to the Lakers for Robert Horry, Derek
Fisher, and LAs second round pick (#30): This does not sound like a very good deal
for Minnesota. There is especially no reason to include #14. Fisher is good, but not that
good. Horry is a problem child who is better suited for the bench than the starting
line-up. Why would Minnesota relieve the Lakers of the two positions they most want to
replace?
- Brandon (and maybe Peeler, #6 or #14 [actually, this goes
for all possible trades of Brandon]) to Orlando for Penny Hardaway in a double
sign-and-trade: No way Saunders and McHale take on his bad attitude. Stoudamires
pouting can be dismissed to youth, but Penny is a real whiner and would threaten to drag
the team down. The only hope would be if Penny could accept side-kick status to KG like he
more or less did to Shaq. It sounds like Saunders wants to get another star, so he might
be thinking about Penny. However, Phoenix is supposedly offering Gugliotta and #9, which
is probably a better offer for Orlando.
- Brandon to Dallas for Finley: This is Crazy Don Nelson
were dealing with here, but I cant see him trading away Finley. I dont
think he has given up on Nash yet.
- Brandon (and other stuff) to New York for Houston: If the
Knicks had lost in the first round, this might have happened, but not now.
- Brandon to Golden State for players other than Antawn
Jamison: Golden State is really high on Brandon and Brandon has expressed interest in
playing for them (which makes you question his commitment to winning). Golden State has
some salary cap room. Im not sure how much, but it is not enough to offer Brandon
the maximum salary like Minnesota could. Basically, we would take enough players so that
the Warriors could get under the cap enough to give Brandon the max. Possible players
include Donyell Marshall, Erick Dampier (in a sign-and-trade), John Starks, and maybe
Jason Caffey. This deal would be more or less a last ditch effort if we thought we were
going to lose Brandon and wanted to make sure we got something for him. Dampier might be
the most intriguing of these: He would provide needed inside muscle, but is still very raw
and somewhat of an offensive liability. He is also asking for more money than he is worth.
He might be useful in a three-team trade, though (as would any player potentially).
- Pick #6 to Utah for Byron Russell or to Toronto for Doug
Christie: Both of these players are decent, but at #6 we have a chance to get a player who
could develop into a star, which I think is the way we should go.
- Bobby Jackson and Dean Garrett to the Clippers for
Lorenzen Wright in a sign-and-trade: Wright is definitely out of Clipper-land. Los Angeles
will probably get better offers for Wright than this, but if they do not this one may be
intriguing. It all depends on what Wright is offered on the free agent market, since this
deal would only be for about $4 mil/year. (To be honest, that is probably about what he is
worth, but centers tend to be overpaid.) Wright would definitely be a player who could
provide interior muscle and would form an effective change of pace combo with Nesterovic.
- If Szczerbiak is available at #6, take him and trade him
(and maybe #14) to Cleveland for #8 and #11 and/or Wesley Person/Derek Anderson/Brevin
Knight: Cleveland wants Wally so badly that we could probably name our price. Personally,
I would take #8 and Wesley person if they limited our choices to two. Then again, there is
growing consensus that Szczerbiak may be good enough defensively to fill our needs at
shooting guard. He can definitely shoot from anywhere on the court. However, it is also
becoming increasingly likely that he will be gone by #6. (BTW, with #8 I would draft Jason
Terry.)
As you can see, there are a multitude of possibilities. I
did not even mention all of the minor trades involving just Peeler, Garrett, and Bobby
Jackson that have been suggested. What do I think will happen? I think the Brandon for
Stoudamire deal will happen, especially given his poor performance against the Spurs. We
may need to throw in #14 for this to happen, but then again, the last thing Portland needs
is more players. Minnesota supposedly offered this deal after the Blazers were eliminated
from the playoffs; Portland said they would think about it, which indicates to me that
they want to trade Brandon and are hoping for better offers. I am not totally enamored
with Stoudamire, but he would probably be a better fit for us than Brandon (though
ultimately perhaps not a better player overall). Damon could definitely help while a young
point guard was being groomed as the successor. Or, Stoudamire could be traded, as he
would likely have more appeal than Brandon. I have real hopes about landing Lorenzen
Wright, but expect those hopes to be dashed. Even if Wally is available, Im not sure
I would make that trade. I have not seen him play enough to evaluate how he would fit in
with Minnesota, but he seems to be a keeper. |
VI. My Selection
|
Ron Artest,
66" SG/SF, St. Johns University:
"Versatility" is the one word heard over and over again when Ron Artest is
described. The Third Team All-America led his team to the Elite Eight in this years
NCAA tournament, leading the team in scoring 10 times, rebounding 12 times, and assists 15
times. He may not be quite the scorer that some of the other available swing men, but with
the Wolves selecting Szczerbiak with the sixth pick, the need for another scorer was
largely filled. Instead, Artest will be a good complement to the Wolves core of Garnett,
Smith, Szczerbiak, and whoever ends up at point guard. Hes a capable scorer, able to
deliver insider, outside, and on the drive. While his average of 14.5 points per game is
undeniably low for someone picked just outside the lottery, its quite possible he
would have been able to score more but realized that wasnt the best thing for his
team (to quote The Sporting News: "He could have been a 20-point scorer but used all
his offensive ability to make St. John's a top 10-caliber team."). Indeed, he scored
over twenty points in a game six times this past season and shot 47% from the field, 37%
from three-point land. Hes also a good passer (averaging 4.2 assists per game from
the forward spot) and a tough rebounder. Hes a hard-nosed defender with a good head
for the game. He runs the floor very well and will be a good fit in the Wolves
transition game, where Garnetts already one of the leagues best running and
passing forwards. Hes also a proven winner, taking an underdog St. Johns team
farther in the tournament than anyone thought theyd go. The main question that arises with Artest is where he fits in the
Wolves scheme. At 66", hes a bit undersized to play small forward
(though at 235 pounds, he has the bulk) and, moreover, thats the most crowded
position on the team. The hope here is that hes able to see some minutes at
off-guard as well. Hes not a pure off-guard, but no one left at the 14th pick was,
and I feel hes better suited to the transition than guys like Lewis, Marion, or
Posey. Hell need to work on his ball-handling and cut down on the turnovers if
hes going to see major minutes at shooting guard, and he may not be quite quick
enough to guard the leagues speediest guards. However, the Wolves have the luxury of
a couple top shot blockers in Smith and Garnett and, depending on the match-up, could even
let Garnett guard the opposing shooting guard while Artest slides over to guard the small
forward.
In a nutshell, Artest may not do one thing amazingly
well, but he does everything quite well, and that makes him a better fit than anyone else
left on the board. Hes not the pure shooting guard the Wolves were looking for but
neither is anyone else left, and his game will add to the teams bench. Hes a
more talented player than Malik Sealy, who was able to contribute as a swingman off the
bench last year. Admittedly, a lot of the reasoning used here seems an awful lot like that
used in picking Wally Szczerbiak but the Wolves find themselves in an odd position, with
both the first and second picks coming at the tail-end of fairly well-defined tiers of
quality and theres no "need filler" worth reaching for. The team has a few
major holes, but it also just plan lacks depth at most positions, and adding Wally and Ron
will give the team a nucleus of talented, enthusiastic, hard-working, young players.
Talent is nice but as the past years events in Minneapolis showed, enthusiasm and
dedication are just as important. |
VII. Other Players Considered
|
The Wolves came into this draft needing a point guard, a
center, and a shooting guard, and left filling none of the above needs. Szczerbiak and
Artest may both be able to play some shooting guard but it may not be their best position.
Nonetheless, a couple of guys I had my eye on were selected just before this pick, and the
drop off at PG and C after them was pretty great and there were no pure shooting guards of
note left. William Avery, 6'2", PG, Duke: If Avery had slid to #14, I would have taken him. The uncertainty over
the Brandon situation makes adding a point guard even more important for the Wolves than
it would otherwise be, but even if Brandon plans to re-sign, the Wolves desperately need a
backup point guard. Both Bobby Jackson and Hollywood Robinson are scorers in point guard
bodies and neither seems to know how to run an offense. Whenever they came in to the game,
the offense ground to a halt. The Wolves are in a bad position to pick a point guard,
because the top ones will likely go before pick 6 and the next two (Avery and Terry)
probably aren't worth the sixth pick but likely won't fall to 14. If either of them does -
and Avery's more likely to slip - the Wolves will grab him.
Alek Radojevic,
7'3", C, Barton County CC: Radojevic is another
player I would have consdired seriously if he'd been around. Although the Wolves claim to
have filled their need at center with the addition of Radoslavic Nesterovic, I didn't see
enough in the couple weeks he was with the team to be convinced. Adding another
seven-footer would be an insurance policy in case Rasha doesn't pan out, and the buzz on
Radojevic is quite good. With only a few years of college ball under his belt, Radojevic
is a bit of a gamble, but considering who else is likely to be on the board at 14 -
especially at positions the Wolves need - it seems like a wise gamble to take. Even if
Nesterovic is all McHale hopes and more, the Wolves still could use size up front. Dean
Garrett's a decent backup but he's only getting older and, while Tom Hammonds plays his
heart out, he's a bit undersized to take on the Shaqs of the world. Having two young,
promising seven-foot centers in a front court alongside Garnett and Smith would be a nice
luxury and would go a long way to solving the lack of bulk problem that has plagued the
Wolves for years.
Quincy Lewis, 6'7",
SF, University of Minnesota: Although this season's
experiment with a former Gophers player (Bobby Jackson) was a failure, Quincy Lewis would
be a nice fit for the team. The Wolves need someone who can create his own shot, drive to
the hoop, and open things up for the inside game of Garnett and Smith. Lewis is an
offensive force and would fill that role nicely. However, with the addition of Szczerbiak
at #6, I felt like Lewis would be a bit redundant. Both are more small forwards than
shooting guards, and having both of them playing a position that's already owned by Kevin
Garnett would lead to matchup and possible playing time issues. If we hadn't added
Szczerbiak, I might have been tempted to take Lewis. As it is, I felt that Ron Artest is a
better pick because he's more versatile than Quincy, a better passer, and a better
defender.
Evan Eschmeyer,
6'11", C, Northwestern: Eschmeyer is a safe bet and
picking him wouldn't be a bad move. It just wouldn't be a great move, either, and brought
back too many memories of the Wolves taking size over talent (see picks ranging from Paul
Grant back to the days of Luc Longley and Felton Spencer) for me to make the pick.
Eschmeyer's a hard worker and would add size, determination, and effort to the front line.
I think he'll be a pretty good low-post scorer and an adequate but not great defender and
rebounder. To me, that spells "backup" and, while I think he'll be a pretty good
one, I just don't see the potential for anything more that you'd like to see in a pick in
the early teens. Eschmeyer's also older that most rookies, leaving school as a sixth-year
senior, and has been plagued by injuries during his career. He's been healthy recently,
but age and injury aren't an attractive thing when you're looking a few years down the
line, as the Wolves are. |
VIII. Likely Timberwolves Selection
|
As noted above, any moves the Timberwolves make this
off-season will depend in large part upon whether they think they'll be able to re-sign
Terrell Brandon. This pick also turns on who they take with the #6 pick. If they take a
point guard at #6, we can be pretty sure both that TB won't be back and that they won't
take a point guard at #14. If they don't take a point guard at #6 (and I don't think they
will), they'd love to grab either Terry or Avery if they're still here at #14. Terry won't
be, but there's an outside chance Avery will be. If so, he fits the Wolves' needs far
better than anyone else available, and they'll likely take him to back up Brandon or
whoever they're looking to get in a sign-and-trade deal. If things go as expected and
none of the top tier point guards are still around, my hunch is that the Wolves will look
for a big man. I think a swing man makes more sense, both in terms of the team's needs and
in terms of getting the most talent for your pick, but McHale seems enamored with tall
white guys (random thought: how often do we hear big men being brought in and McHale
"promising to teach them the low post"? Have you ever seen a remotely
McHale-like post move from one of the Wolves' big men?), and there are plenty on the board
at this point. Eschmeyer wouldn't be a bad fit for the Wolves. He'd add bulk up front and
seems like a bright, hard-working player who'd fit well in a complementary role. However,
neither he nor any of the other big men likely to be available at 14 seem to have much
upside, and while I could justify taking someone like that at, say, 20, ideally at 14
you'd like to get someone who's potential doesn't max out at being a career backup. Still,
looking over who's likely to be available, most of the players projected for go in the
mid-teens to early twenties are either slightly undersized small forwards or slightly slow
but big centers - neither of which is all that exciting. I look for McHale to stick to the
old maxim "you can't teach size" and take another big body in the frontcourt in
case Nesterovic doesn't come along as quickly as the Wolves hope he will. |
Prepared jointly by: Ryan Fortson (Sections I, II, III, IV [guards], V, VI [pick #6],
VII [pick #6], VIII [pick #6])
fortson@leland.stanford.edu
Jonathan Vessey (Sections IV [centers, forwards], VI
[pick #14], VII [pick #14], VIII [pick #14])
jbvessey@yahoo.com |
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