Hassel for Buckner

[Scott M]

I totally missed this, but Trenton Hassel got traded straight up for Greg Buckner of Dallas.

You traded a defensive specialist for a defensive specialist with an extra year on his contract. The salaries are about the same per year, about 4 mill.

I just don't get it....Get these guys off the books. Trade Jaric or Hudson who have 4 more years left, not Hassel with 3.

Minor point I guess since they aren't any good but still leaves you scratching your head. You get the same player for more $ and time.

[AWH]

Buckner's deal is for about $600K less per year but you're stuck with him for a year longer than you would have been with Hassel. Not exactly a deal to get excited about.

Aaron

[Flaco651]

It's gonna be hard watching the wolves this year. I've always been a wolves fan and will probably check out the "new look" wolves here and there, but I believe they are gonna be horrible...

I'll try to follow KG and the Celts as much as possible. Hopefully Garnett will get his ring before its too late. Go Celtics!

[AWH]

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Trade Jaric or Hudson who have 4 more years left, not Hassel with 3.

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One more minor point...Hudson is already gone. His contract was bought out. Even with Jaric's contract and his trade request, I don't see them dealing him. With Hudson and James gone, they kind of need Jaric for insurance at the point. Our depth behind Foye at the point is Jaric and Telfair. Unless I'm not thinking of someone else, that's it.

Ricky Davis probably has the most trade value of anyone that should be on the block. Hopefully we can make a move on him.

Aaron

[EBass]

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Ricky Davis probably has the most trade value of anyone that should be on the block. Hopefully we can make a move on him.

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Amen!

There's an article on hoopsworld (Contact Us Please) com about the T-pups and the guy that wrote it thinks the wolves will make the playoff's this year. I don't think he's from around here But gives hope that we have a young and talented team.

[Scott M]

Yep, you're right. My bad. T Hud did get bought out much to my chagrin (see earlier posts).

At this point we aren't getting anything for our older or overpaid players until they have expiring contracts, and by that time we might as well try and hold onto them to make a move for someone big in free agency or save money to resign *future studs* (Hopefully Jefferson, Brewer, etc.)

[AWH]

I believe Jefferson's contract is up after this year. It would be just like the Wolves to not get him signed to an extension and see him playing for someone else next year. Then we'd be able to look back at the KG trade and say - we got what???

Aaron

[Scott M]

He's due for a qualifying offer after this year...so you're right...they need to take care of him and get him re-signed. He's got amazing potential.

[Scott M]

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There's an article on hoopsworld (Contact Us Please) com about the T-pups and the guy that wrote it thinks the wolves will make the playoff's this year. I don't think he's from around here

But gives hope that we have a young and talented team.

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Here's the article:

A team with a storied past feels it needs one more superstar to give it a chance to win a title. They feel they only need one more piece of the puzzle to win it all.

Another team has a veteran superstar who is longing for the chance to play for a championship. But, his team must rebuild and is looking for the best deal it can find to trade the superstar and bring in some new, young talent.

Most football fans in Minnesota have nightmares about October of 1989, and are already dreading where I am going with this. This was that dreadful season when the Vikings traded a handful of players, and what turned out to be multiple draft picks, to the Dallas Cowboys for Herschel Walker.

Depending on your perspective, this is known as "The Trade" or "The Heist." Whatever you call it, this was the start of the Cowboy dynasty, courtesy of the Twin Cities. Three Super Bowls rings later, it is easy to see who got "heisted."

Fast forward two decades and change sports, to the Summer of 2007 and the NBA's blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston and four young Celtics to Minnesota.

Everyone knows what Boston got – one of the best 5 players in the NBA and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In Beantown, they are already celebrating their Eastern Conference championship, and Danny Ainge is practicing his acceptance speech for Executive of the Year.

But, what did Minnesota really get?

I'll tell you what they got - they got "The Heist" in reverse. From a coaching standpoint, I think the Timberwolves made out like bandits. And I'll tell you why:

The Timberwolves won 32 games last year, and 33 the year before – with KG. Everyone knew they weren't going to the playoffs, and everyone knew KG was leaving town sooner or later. So, Minnesota had two years to sit on this trade, and wait… and wait… and wait… until someone came along with the offer they were looking for. Enter the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have been on a youth movement the last few years, trying to rebuild a team to put around Paul Pierce. They have been drafting talented young players, and giving them major minutes and lots of game experience. Even more importantly, these youngsters have gotten a great deal of 4th quarter game experience, which must be suffered through before it can become beneficial.

That kind of experience is essential for a player to learn how to win games, and many young players don't get that playing in the 2nd quarter or in garbage time in blowouts. This is the kind of experience necessary for young players to become veterans who can help their teams win in the future.

In other words, over the last two years, the Boston Celtics have been building the Minnesota Timberwolves decade long playoff run, which will begin in the 2008-09 season. Why would I be so optimistic if I were coaching the T'wolves? Let's take a look at the method to my madness:

First of all, I get Al Jefferson, one of the best young post players in the NBA. Averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds last year, he is an All-Star waiting to happen. Three years from now, he will just be coming into his own. He is 22 years old.

I also have Gerald Green, a super athletic wing man who averaged 10.4 ppg last season. He played lots of minutes and gained valuable experience. In April, he had a three game stretch in which he averaged 23.6 points per game on 31of 59 shooting. Shades of things to come? He is 21 years old.

So, I have a potential All-Star and a great young athlete. Not a bad start. However, it is the other two players in this trade that intrigue me the most – Ryan Gomes and Sebastian Telfair.

I must admit that I do have a bias – I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time training on the court with both players – Telfair during his first two summers in the NBA and Gomes during the pre-draft process. I thought both were first-rounders and sure-fire locks to be excellent pros.

Ryan Gomes is a player Minnesota passed by in the draft two years ago. ("…With the 47th pick in the 2005 NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select…Bracey Wright.") He fell in Boston's lap at #50 (not exactly great foresight by either G.M.) and has quickly become a dependable scorer (12.1 ppg), rebounds well (5.6) and is a consummate professional. He is 25 years old.

Which brings us to Sebastian Telfair. Forget the high school, AAU, New York City hype – that means nothing in the NBA. Remember Erick Barkley? Shammgod Wells?

Sebastian Telfair, for whatever reason, has been a disappointment as a pro. After playing well in the last part of his rookie year, he has struggled to find himself over the last two years. Another over-hyped New York bust?

I don't think so. I worked with Sebastian during parts of two summers, and he took the court like a pro, trained like a pro, and conducted himself as one of the most mature players coming out of high school I had ever seen. On a court full of NBA veterans, he looked like he belonged.

What I saw was a jet-quick point guard who could get anywhere he wanted to with the ball. He had a well-beyond his years understanding of half-court offense, and ran the pick-and-roll like a 10-year veteran. Most importantly, the other NBA veterans loved to play on his team in 5-on-5 because he knew how to get them the ball.

All of that translates into a player who has the potential to be an excellent, starting NBA point guard – a player that can be the engine on a playoff team. Do I have enough evidence to make that case right now? No. I'll have to depend on Bassy to make it for me.

There are a great many NBA people who have written Sebastian Telfair off. But, Minnesota fans, not long ago you had a guard on your team who was the 4th pick in the draft who NBA people gave up on as well. It took him seven years and five different teams to find his way. Two All-Star games and an NBA Finals MVP later, Chauncey Billups has become a pretty good player.

Would anyone have taken that bet after Chauncey's second or third year? I doubt it.

So, as a coach, I like what I have – four young, talented guys to build with. All can be good players, one or two might even become All-Stars. But, none want to be known as a "throw in" guy on a blockbuster trade. That makes them hungry and with something to prove.

William Shakespeare had no NBA experience, but he said it right about men with a lean and hungry look – "Such men are dangerous." That's my team.

I don't know how the veteran T'wolves will react to this new group or how everyone will fit in. It will take some time – there will be early losses and frustration. But, by the end of the season, this team will be playing good basketball, and laying the groundwork for a 10-year playoff run.

It will be a fun team to coach, a fun team to watch, and Minnesota fans can exorcise the demons of "The Heist" when their young Timberwolves knock the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks out of the playoffs in 2009.

Mike Moreau is the Director of Basketball at IMG Academies in Bradenton, FL – home of The Basketball Academy and the Pro Training Center.

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I don't know if I'd call it the Hershel Walker trade in reverse. "Your potential is gonna get me fired" is what coaches like to say. Where I think the guy loses face is where he praises Bassy Telfair for like 4 paragraphs. No way guy, even I can't chug that kool aid at that point. But if the wolves won 32 and 33 with Garnett, what can they win without him? It'll be worth seeing. Wish we still had Dwayne Casey or somebody that had some experience bringing along rookies.