NBA 2019-20 thread.

Basically the Ws gave up IGGY and a 2024 1st, and 2025 2nd, to get Russell then turned Russell into Wiggins, the Wolves 1st and 2nd next year, and dumped $4M in contracts. The salaries for Wiggins and Russell are the same for next 3 yrs so that’s a wash. I see how they got better picks than the ones they gave up. I liked Russell, looked like a team player with great shooting range but he didn’t fit with Steph and Klay, not at a max deal. At least Wiggins might fit as a bigger player; he’s more athletic than Barnes with better handle, and maybe he can blossom like Harrell or Lou Williams late. The W's also have a $17.2 trade exception through July and can add a substantial player that way.

 

I don’t watch any Timberwolves games to know but isn’t Wiggins an upper level defender or no?

 

No.

No no no no no no.

Steph is a better defender.

 

See the hope is that at this point Steph is a better defender because he tries harder; the Ws can motivate Wiggins to try harder on D. From afar, it doesn't seem like Wiggins is a malcontent or has a bad attitude, he's just been lost, especially defensively.

 

I mean, the Wolves aren't the Knicks. They've mostly been hiring competent, decently regarded coaches, and none of them have been able to produce much fruit from the KAT and Wiggins core. I think Russell is a great fit for them, and if the Warriors wanted to move on from Russell (already), this seems like a not so great return.

 

He doesn't have the rep as a malcontent, but when he was given the max contract he actually had a sit-down with the owner about the holes in his game and the need to improve. Wiggins vowed to improve and earn the deal he just signed... and by pretty much all accounts he did nothing and if anything got worse. (Not a brilliant move by ownership, of course.)

Steph has gotten better but he's still a guy you essentially try to hide on defense. I don't think they can have him on the floor at the same time with Wiggins unless they expect to score 150 every night.

 

I’m a better defender

 

Steph at least tries. I've seen cones defend better than Wiggins.

 

Try harder is a great strategy, it usually works. It’s similar to stop shooting people. Defense is a skill.

 

Shaq and Chuck annihilated Embiid at halftime. Damn...

 

An odd trade, mostly because the idea was that someone would pay for Russell and they could shed any salary which they would receive in return. Not going to happen with Wiggins

 

Reggie too; it’s rare to hear him trash anyone.

Meanwhile, if I am Brett Brown I am not buying anything on credit these days.