TWolves Previews

by Jeff Clark on Oct 11, 2010 6:50 PM EDT in NBA Previews

Kahnnnnnnnnn!!!!

Season Preview, 2010-11 Edition - Canis Hoopus

Trading Al Jefferson means that the remaining tangible return for Kevin Garnett consists of Wayne Ellington, Kosta Koufos, part of Martell Webster and some draft picks. Despite being the man pegged as KG’s alpha dog heir and having the best low-post offensive moves in the league, Al’s welcome wore out in Minnesota with Kurt Rambis looking to pick up the offensive pace and fans’ confidence in Al as a championship caliber franchise player waning.

That has to hurt.

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Youth movement

Yup. The Timberwolves currently hold the longest streak of non playoff bound seasons.

I believe Minnesota is doing the right thing by developing their youth, so that hopefully they turn this franchise into a winning organization again (or through trades, a la the Celtics in 2007).

But I have no choice but to be critical of Kahn, until he disproves the vast majority of people who think he is only setting the franchise back with the line of moves he’s made. No GM besides Kahn would have given Darko a 4-year deal. There were question marks all over Al Jefferson as an unproven #1 option and player who cannot seem to stay healthy, but to give up on someone that young was also very questionable.

TPD 4 3333333

by TradeProposalDude on Oct 11, 2010 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

Well

Darko is signed for 4 mil per year, and the 4th year is optional. PLus if you look at the average amount of money that an average starting center makes in the NBA, he is below that average. He is a solid starting center, and showed improvement last year, so it was a good risk.
As for the Al Jefferson trade, that was definitly necessary. The wolves are trying to run a running system that utilizes parts of the triangle, flow offense, and the motion pick and roll. For that they need a low post player that could post up, defend, pass, run the floor, and step out and shoot. Al Jefferson only do one of those things, and the three some we have right now, Love, Darko, and Pek, can do all of those things and more. He wasn’t as good a fit for this team and needed to go, especially with his 11 mil per year contract. Could we have gotten something better in return? Probably, but, Al Jefferson didn’t fit with this team and need to go to a team where could get his talents used the right way.

by AT-360 on Oct 12, 2010 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions