Fixing the T-Wolves - Part 2: Ranking the Wolves
I'm going to rank the Wolves as I see them 1-15. I will also grade them using my roster grades from the previous post. When applicable, I will list how coach Randy Whitman views the player or how the rest of the NBA views the player.
#1 PF Al Jefferson - A1: AlJeff is the only legitimate star and starter on this team.
#2 PG/SG Randy Foye - A1?: The problem with Foye is that injure has stunted his development so I'm only guessing his raw talent will translate into an A1 player, but the Wolves need it to happen. Right now, Randy is probably rated by the league as a B*.
#3 SG/SF Corey Brewer - A2? Brewer is just recently getting the minutes of a starter, and while his offense isn't there yet, his defense stands tall. Another player the league will see as a B*, but the guy has real talent and while his ceiling is lower than Foye's, I think he is far more likely to develop as expected.
#4 SG Rashad McCants - B: The Wolves have issues when only three guys are genuine NBA starters and two of those are questionable right now. I see McCants as a very useful offensive 6th man option once the Wolves get decent. In the mean time he should be starting and allowed to continue developing.
#5 PF Craig Smith - B: I like the little big man as a backup once the Wolves set their roster. He plays tough and has nice scoring touch. Also and excellent value as a 2nd round pick and not much value in the rest of the league. Very useful player for putting together a roster.
#6 PG Sebastian Telfair - B: Foye is a tweener guard whereas Telfair is a pass first point guard, which are all the rage right now. Telfair should be getting starting minutes this year, but his external value should be monitored. The Celtics gave up a 1st rounder for him, and there may be another team out there with a need for a pure PG back up (Suns?). I have no problem keeping him as a PG backup or pure PG option play once the roster is set in the future, nor would I hesitate to trade him for a mid 1st round pick.
#7 F Ryan Gomes - A2/B? I'm not sure how to grade Gomes who is getting starting minutes and doing very well. However, I don't believe he should be in the Wolves future plans. I think he'll get paid well after this season by another team, but with a salary under a millionthis year, he would be a very attractive commodity in a trade for a late 1st round pick.
#8 C Chris Richard - D1: The 8th most important player is now in the D-league... But I do see a future for Richard on this team. Again, I believe he is a very good 2nd round talent who could be the 8th guy or the big 9-10 guy. He'll be cheap and I believe he can be effective.
#9 F Gerald Green - B*: While I give Green a B*, and many NBA teams agree with me, Whitman has him as a D1 and will likely be releases at the end of the season. Hopefully the Wolves come to their senses and trade him for a 1st rounder (very cheap and tradeable contract) or Whitman comes to his senses and allow Green to be a big minute backup guy.
#10 C Mark Madson - D2: His contract at $2.5M is too big, but it goes a long time, so he might as well be the 5th big man on the team. Not completely useless, but close.
#11 C Theo Ratliff - D3: Theo might sign another contract after this year, but his value to the Wolves is purely that his contract goes away. Now some might want to be aggressive with his contract and trade for a another high priced player - which I would only endorse if it came back with top flight young talent or high picks.
#12 C Mike Doleac - D3: Just like Theo, but smaller contract.
#13 F Antoine Walker - D4: Has two years left on a big contract and already did his service to the Wolves by allowing them to dump Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. Sadly, Whitman still sees Walker as one of his best 5 - just look at all the minutes he gets in the 4th quarter in close games...
#14 SG Greg Buckner - D4: 3 more years left on his contract, thank goodness it is small peaking at $4M in the last year.
#15 PG/SG Marko Jaric - D4: Jaric is killing the team. He gets starting minutes and puts up D-League numbers. Every minute he plays steals development time from Telfair, Foye, McCants and Brewer. Allegedly his defense is great, but the D stats paint him average at best. His contract is as long as Buckner's and about double, maxing out at $7M in the last year. And to boot, the Wolves must give up this year's draft pick if 4 or greater, or give up next year's pick no matter how good. Wolves fans should pray that some team will take him off our hands.
#1 PF Al Jefferson - A1: AlJeff is the only legitimate star and starter on this team.
#2 PG/SG Randy Foye - A1?: The problem with Foye is that injure has stunted his development so I'm only guessing his raw talent will translate into an A1 player, but the Wolves need it to happen. Right now, Randy is probably rated by the league as a B*.
#3 SG/SF Corey Brewer - A2? Brewer is just recently getting the minutes of a starter, and while his offense isn't there yet, his defense stands tall. Another player the league will see as a B*, but the guy has real talent and while his ceiling is lower than Foye's, I think he is far more likely to develop as expected.
#4 SG Rashad McCants - B: The Wolves have issues when only three guys are genuine NBA starters and two of those are questionable right now. I see McCants as a very useful offensive 6th man option once the Wolves get decent. In the mean time he should be starting and allowed to continue developing.
#5 PF Craig Smith - B: I like the little big man as a backup once the Wolves set their roster. He plays tough and has nice scoring touch. Also and excellent value as a 2nd round pick and not much value in the rest of the league. Very useful player for putting together a roster.
#6 PG Sebastian Telfair - B: Foye is a tweener guard whereas Telfair is a pass first point guard, which are all the rage right now. Telfair should be getting starting minutes this year, but his external value should be monitored. The Celtics gave up a 1st rounder for him, and there may be another team out there with a need for a pure PG back up (Suns?). I have no problem keeping him as a PG backup or pure PG option play once the roster is set in the future, nor would I hesitate to trade him for a mid 1st round pick.
#7 F Ryan Gomes - A2/B? I'm not sure how to grade Gomes who is getting starting minutes and doing very well. However, I don't believe he should be in the Wolves future plans. I think he'll get paid well after this season by another team, but with a salary under a millionthis year, he would be a very attractive commodity in a trade for a late 1st round pick.
#8 C Chris Richard - D1: The 8th most important player is now in the D-league... But I do see a future for Richard on this team. Again, I believe he is a very good 2nd round talent who could be the 8th guy or the big 9-10 guy. He'll be cheap and I believe he can be effective.
#9 F Gerald Green - B*: While I give Green a B*, and many NBA teams agree with me, Whitman has him as a D1 and will likely be releases at the end of the season. Hopefully the Wolves come to their senses and trade him for a 1st rounder (very cheap and tradeable contract) or Whitman comes to his senses and allow Green to be a big minute backup guy.
#10 C Mark Madson - D2: His contract at $2.5M is too big, but it goes a long time, so he might as well be the 5th big man on the team. Not completely useless, but close.
#11 C Theo Ratliff - D3: Theo might sign another contract after this year, but his value to the Wolves is purely that his contract goes away. Now some might want to be aggressive with his contract and trade for a another high priced player - which I would only endorse if it came back with top flight young talent or high picks.
#12 C Mike Doleac - D3: Just like Theo, but smaller contract.
#13 F Antoine Walker - D4: Has two years left on a big contract and already did his service to the Wolves by allowing them to dump Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. Sadly, Whitman still sees Walker as one of his best 5 - just look at all the minutes he gets in the 4th quarter in close games...
#14 SG Greg Buckner - D4: 3 more years left on his contract, thank goodness it is small peaking at $4M in the last year.
#15 PG/SG Marko Jaric - D4: Jaric is killing the team. He gets starting minutes and puts up D-League numbers. Every minute he plays steals development time from Telfair, Foye, McCants and Brewer. Allegedly his defense is great, but the D stats paint him average at best. His contract is as long as Buckner's and about double, maxing out at $7M in the last year. And to boot, the Wolves must give up this year's draft pick if 4 or greater, or give up next year's pick no matter how good. Wolves fans should pray that some team will take him off our hands.
posted by Bill Gilles | 4:11 PM
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