Comments on: Timberwolves Tradition in Capable Hands

By: Andrew Thell

Andrew Thell — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:10:11 +0000

Duly noted, Neil. You make several good points, and I hope you’re right about his vision.

Keep in mind, though, that Craig Smith and Madsen would have been $5.3 million coming off the books and if Telfair doesn’t exercise his player option that would have been another $2.5. Q is a notoriously bad locker-room and on-court presence, the type of player I would try to keep away from a young and rebuilding team at all costs. At this point, I’m not sure that extra couple million is worth the potential poisonous effect Q could have on the Wolves’ young talent pool.

By: neil

neil — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:27:14 +0000

Ithink everyone is losing sight of the fact that Q’s 9 plus million comes off the books at the end of next season, at a time when the free-agent class is said to be among the deepest in recent history.Q’s salary, along with Brian Cardinal’s, Songalia, Troy Hudson and one or two other players whose names I can’t recall will all come off the books.In regards to having 2 point guards, when is having great depth at the position ever been a problem.After drafting Rubio, the talent pool lessened considerably.The wolves needed a shooting guard at #6, but none were available–it was a bit too early to take Derozan, and Curry is undersized as a shooting guard, and isn’t really a point guard.Jordan Hill is a PF and the Wolves didn’t need another one of those.Kahn has procured assets, and , in my estimation, is looking at a process that can’t be finished in this off-season alone.The Wolves could have another 2 or 3 draft choices next year and will have very good salary cap flexiblity…..I think the criticism levied against him may be hasty.I think he may have a vision and that vision may take time.The Wolves have been badly broken from past moves, and the machine can’t be fixed overnight.

By: SD

SD — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:25:14 +0000

Here’s the deal, though–Q’s not expected to stay for long, as his expiring contract is going to be a great asset. Bassy was more valued because of his growth, but you have to give up something to get something, and if they can use his absence to trade in Q for a better contributor via trade, that’s all well and good. Also, Q is sturdy muscle–have you seen some of his workouts? He’s a power guard and that was a big asset for him as a player prior to his ankle issues, post-Phoenix. The ankles have made him less mobile, but he’s no fatty.

Also, Craig Smith is great, but like you said, he duplicated a BUNCH of forwards–prior to the trade, they were arguably NINE veteran power forwards on the roster, including Mark Madsen.

Despite the nonsense of drafting another point guard right behind Rubio, the Timberwolves seem to be heading in a positive direction.

Good piece, nonetheless.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:48:04 +0000

I’m baffled by how trading Bassy and the Rhino for Q helps anything, but is it really that bonkers to have both Flynn and Rubio on the team? Even if they come over at the same time, there’s 48 minutes at the point in a game. The Wolves have been playing a backup and a combo guard at the point, I think having two true points isn’t the worse thing that could happen.

By: Brian Spencer

Brian Spencer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:01:57 +0000

I’ve also heard that if/when Rubio’s services are secured this summer, Flynn will likely be traded… I fear another “Brandon Roy for Randy Foye” fiasco.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:32:23 +0000

Equally disturbed by the Q trade. My only hope is that Kahn’t plans to trade him again to a team that could actually use the extra cash next summer. Then again, I have no idea what he could get in return that’s better than Telfair and Smith in terms of value right now… More draft picks? Sigh.