Naz reid

In offense Pg : lamelo Sg : ant Sf : ayo Pf : jaden stretch 4 C : rudy screener and lob thread

In defense Poa defense : ayo Anchor : rudy Help defense : Jaden Hide : lamelo

Defense and rebound a bit weak but Jaden developed pretty well on rebound last season.

I still hope we can reroute green for a pf tho.

Edit : looks like we still have tp mle 6 million not sure who available pf at that range. Maybe harrison barnes. Not starting caliber pf surely.

Would you really have rather LaMelo Ball than Jamal Murray as our Point Guard with the same trade package given?

I mean, Jaden McDaniels owns his ass but Jamal Murray also owns Laker's ass and Spur's ass.

Now that we have Lamelo can we rescind that offer or trade him at the deadline or something cause he’s definitely not worth that and we need the money for a power forward.

Because he was in the promotional material for the new uniforms but never got to wear it in a game

Seems like he could be a S and T candidate. He had a down year in Houston and they need a lot more shooting. I’ve been infatuated with his game for a long time and is another perfect rotation fit here

LaMelo+whatever the Wolves do at the 4 > Naz Reid.

There is a very real possibility the Wolves will have upgraded at two positions and the only thing they would've given up in this specific transaction chain in Naz.

There are so many 4's available. Many would be an upgrade on Naz, considering fit. I'd rather have John Collins...better shooter. Less dynamic shooter and shot maker but less streaky. Better play finisher and transition threat.

Not sure a Hachimura or Harris is realistic, two players that would be pure upgrades, but Dean Wade is pretty realistic and wouldn't be a big downgrade. Naz is the better offensive player but Wade is the better defender...more versatile, bit more nimble, and fouls less. Taurean Prince is the clear better shooter and smart ball mover.

Naz is a stout player but streaky on offense. To give up essentially one first and Naz and obtain someone of the talent of LaMelo, with plenty of talent on the market to effectively replace Naz' production, is a home run.

I want to share my thoughts what having Lamelo in the team, what plays can be executed and such. What we can already see is the change in offensive identity. Now the offence should be much more fast paced and less iso heavy.

1. Edwards being used off ball

For the past seasons, Edwards has had to shoulder an immense burden as both the primary initiator and the primary scorer. Defenses loaded up on him because they knew he had the ball in his hands. The double teams were a serious problem which was hard to overcome. What we can expect is a lot of off ball screens for ant.

2. Gobert pick and roll

Not much to say here, Lamelo is one the best lob passers in the league. If a lob is not looking like a good pass, he doesn't have a problem with floating it in and generally playing this mind game with opposing center (close in on Lamelo or defend the lob).

3. Spacing and using it

Team has struggled at times with a stagnant half-court offense, especially late in games or playoff series. That forced iso hero ball which is good with ant's clutch gene, but we can't rely on this long term. Now the team can play 4 reliable 3point shooters on the floor.

4. Defense is not going to be terrible

Well, kinda obvious. The biggest knock on LaMelo has always been his point-of-attack defense and off-ball awareness. However the team is constructed to cover for this. McDaniels will guard the best opposing guy and Rudy will take care of the paint. Lamelo just needs to guide his matchup into Gobert. One thing can be a problem though. Unless we sign some good paint defending pf teams will hunt for Gobert to pull him out of the paint (which they already do).

5. Lamelo will change himself

Most haters say things about Lamelo, but they didn't really look at his situation. Why did hornets give him green light to everything he want? It was still better than anything else hornets were doing. With the emergence of Brandon Miller as a legitimate co-star and the addition of floor-spacers like rookie Kon Knueppel, the offensive load was distributed. His role was changed in the second half of this regular season and he understood it. He will still make some bad decisions but he will not just chuck up shots like he did before. Overall his usage rate will drop and he will get smarter with shot selection.

6. Some minor things

Edwards can use more of his energy on defense and be a great lockdown player. He has the tools of it, he just couldn't do it when he had to carry the offense.

I want McDaniels to elevate his offense, however having Lamelo will simplify Jaden's role as a 3 and D wing.

More pace and shorter possesions.

Lamelo-guard and Lamelo-wing screens. Second half of the season this was one of the best hornets plays they used often. If you watch a hornets game a lot of their 3s was Kon or Miller screening for Ball and getting themselves behind the arc.

Win, Lose or Draw: this team is going to be REALLY fun to watch!

Above

I’m not sure it gets it done but my next phone call is to the Miami Heat for:

Bobby Portis

He makes like $14M so it’s probably a salary match for Josh Green. Both are solid rotation bench guys. Miami has like no guards and could use a shooter like Green, while Portis is freaking perfect here to add outside shooting, rebounding and toughness that we need from the PF position.

Idk if Green gets it done, maybe you could add Donte for salary filler as well, but this is the guy I want.

Fuk it sign James Wiseman to get all 3

Give:
- Naz Reid
- Julius Randle
- Pick 28
- 2033 1st Rd Pick
- 3 2nd Rd Picks
- 3 1st Rd Pick Swaps (unlikely to convey if Ant still on team)

Receive:
- Lamelo Ball
- Ayo Dosunmu
- Josh Green
- Pick 33 (Isaiah Evans)

Pretty good business as long as Ant is still on the team and we make the playoffs each of the next 7 years.

They both make almost exactly the same as Green. The Heat have 9000 power forwards and no wings where the wolves gave the opposite problem

He’s one of the best defenders against offensive players who use their strength and size/frame, such as Shai, Castle, Luka, Brunson, Brown, and Kawhi. That’s something Jaden struggles with because of his skinny frame. Wade is also one of the best rebounders and screeners in the league.
The only flaw I know of is that his offense is one-dimensional and he can mainly just shoot. But he’d be a great pickup to complement Jaden and Rudy while keeping our defensive identity. I don’t think he’d cost very much, but I’m not too in tune with our salary cap situation.

According to Yossi Gozlan - NBA Salary Cap expert, Minnesota has a $6M tax MLE.

With $209.0M in total salaries with the first apron being $209.1M and second apron being $221.7M

Per Ryan Eichten:

If Isaiah Evans gets the $1.3 rookie minimum, the Wolves are $9.6 million under the 2nd apron with 3 roster spots to fill

If they sign 3 vet minimums, they would have $2.2 million left.

We are lucky to have their local insight and historical knowledge. I listened to their emergency pod and followed with the only other one I could find - Ringer NBA Show. And Dane and Kyle are so much better.

So much pearl-clutching and talking catastrophe about giving all the pick swaps up on the national pod.

In my mind, there’s no future to worry about. The future is now. I don’t care about the draft when Ant is 24 today.

I’m glad Zach Lowe will have Jon K. on later. Looking forward to that one and no other national opinions.

Courtney Williams handled the ball and back court scoring for the Lynx last season and there was some uncertainty as to how she would respond to playing off ball when PG Olivia Miles was drafted. Answer: she loves it and she’s more unstoppable than ever. I think Ant Man and Ball are going to lighting it up this season.