Wolves acquire Lamelo Ball and Josh Green for Naz

[YBBR]

Julius Randle is a slightly different assembled version of a player like Al Jefferson. Less low post moves and can pass a bit better and is a worse rebounder. He's that level of player. Good in areas. Major deficiencies in others.

[weimy froob]

Julius Randle just isn't a #2 option on a legitimate contender. He's not. He's just not that good. Full stop. There's too many holes in his game. Most of us knew this. He doesn't elevate his teammates enough to make that big of a difference.

His inability to generate quality looks or generate points for himself or others from the perimeter to take pressure off of Ant is what we have needed desperately in tue playoffs. Julius couldn't do it. He ended up coughing up the ball whenever the opposition sent a double his way too.

that just doesn't jive with the facts in the series against the Lakers or the Warriors last year. he was effective against the Nuggets this year too. sorry. now when things get ramped up against teams that end up playing for the championship that year then it can look bad. but the Thunder and the Spurs pressure defenses were kryptonite for him.

[YBBR]

Julius Randle just isn't a #2 option on a legitimate contender. He's not. He's just not that good. Full stop. There's too many holes in his game. Most of us knew this. He doesn't elevate his teammates enough to make that big of a difference.

His inability to generate quality looks or generate points for himself or others from the perimeter to take pressure off of Ant is what we have needed desperately in tue playoffs. Julius couldn't do it. He ended up coughing up the ball whenever the opposition sent a double his way too.

that just doesn't jive with the facts in the series against the Lakers or the Warriors last year. he was effective against the Nuggets this year too. sorry. now when things get ramped up against teams that end up playing for the championship that year then it can look bad. but the Thunder and the Spurs can pressure defenses were kryptonite for him.

Agree to disagree. When a matchup didn't favor him and his style of play he completely dropped off the map. That's why he isn't good enough. Your stars have to be stars in every scenario for you to have an actual chance. You have to produce and make a difference if you're going to make that amount of money. Julius didn't. He didnt in New York either. Now he's playing for the Nets.

[weimy froob]

Julius Randle just isn't a #2 option on a legitimate contender. He's not. He's just not that good. Full stop. There's too many holes in his game. Most of us knew this. He doesn't elevate his teammates enough to make that big of a difference.

His inability to generate quality looks or generate points for himself or others from the perimeter to take pressure off of Ant is what we have needed desperately in tue playoffs. Julius couldn't do it. He ended up coughing up the ball whenever the opposition sent a double his way too.

that just doesn't jive with the facts in the series against the Lakers or the Warriors last year. he was effective against the Nuggets this year too. sorry. now when things get ramped up against teams that end up playing for the championship that year then it can look bad. but the Thunder and the Spurs can pressure defenses were kryptonite for him.

Agree to disagree. When a matchup didn't favor him and his style of play he completely dropped off the map. That's why he isn't good enough. Your stars have to be stars in every scenario for you to have an actual chance. You have to produce and make a difference if you're going to make that amount of money. Julius didn't. He didnt in New York either. Now he's playing for the Nets.

I'm not saying he was elite. he was very good. and I don't think he was overpaid compared to other players. pressure defenses bothered him and his three ball wasn't great. but he had some good power moves, could get to the foul line and he was a big contributor in a lot of wins the last two years. last year he was playing at an all-star level for the first half of the season. that's just reality. he wasn't as good post all-star break, and who knows what was all going on with that dynamic and the reason for the drop off. also, if you want to get back to the trade, it wasn't Julius for KAT. as I posted earlier, until the Knicks went on their playoff run and DD blew his Achilles out, there was a strong argument that the Wolves won it.

it was time for Julius to go. I even thought that the team should've thought long and hard about a reboot the year before and moved off of him then. there are posts somewhere in the forum making that case. but the Randle hate was way over the top from the fan base. at every poor game they came out of the woodwork with the knives for him in the twitterverse. i thought it was pathetic. maybe some people take their fandom a little too seriously.

[YBBR]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

[SHAFA]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

Randle’s playmaking ability kept his career arc from mirroring Jahlil Okafor.

[somuchyummy]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

I think that’s too cut and dried. One of the main reasons Wemby got ripped in the Finals is precisely because he doesn’t have any kind of arsenal from 6 to 15 feet. He’s basically going to become the face of the league unless he doesn’t develop that. And we got hoarse screaming for someone to take something this season besides another clanged three. There is always going to be a place in the league for someone who can just get you two points when you need it.

[YBBR]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

Randle’s playmaking ability kept his career arc from mirroring Jahlil Okafor.

He's an Al Jefferson/Jahlil Okafor type that can pass better and is a worse rebounder. He's in that mold of player. Like, he's good at what he does, but what he does is pretty limited and has less and less value as the league continues to evolve. I don't hate Julius Randle. I feel like I'm just evaluating his game with eyes unclouded.

He's okay.

[YBBR]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

I think that’s too cut and dried. One of the main reasons Wemby got ripped in the Finals is precisely because he doesn’t have any kind of arsenal from 6 to 15 feet. He’s basically going to become the face of the league unless he doesn’t develop that. And we got hoarse screaming for someone to take something this season besides another clanged three. There is always going to be a place in the league for someone who can just get you two points when you need it.

You have to be dangerous from the outside inward to be an elite player today. You can't be a 1 or 2 level player. You have to be a 3 level player. You have to be dangerous from the 3 point line inward. That's perimeter, midrange, and inside the paint.

[somuchyummy]

Putting him in a pocket with okafor is exactly the kind of over the top negative analysis I’m talking about. A seven year player who averaged in double figures only twice, had a career rebounding mark of 4.7 and shot 22% from three is basically Julius Randle without the assists. OK. Or maybe you guys are mixing up Jahlil with Emeka.

[YBBR]

Putting him in a pocket with okafor is exactly the kind of over the top negative analysis I’m talking about. A seven year player who averaged in double figures only twice, had a career rebounding mark of 4.7 and shot 22% from three is basically Julius Randle without the assists. OK. Or maybe you guys are mixing up Jahlil with Emeka.

In a different era Okafor probably would have been a star though. If he came out in the 80's or 90's there would have been Jahlil Okafor stuff everywhere. He did one thing extremely well and that was the focus of the game. That just isn't the game anymore.

[Mnwild1128]

Julius Randle is a slightly different assembled version of a player like Al Jefferson. Less low post moves and can pass a bit better and is a worse rebounder. He's that level of player. Good in areas. Major deficiencies in others.

I thought Al for a brief few seasons was one of the most underrated players in the league. And i view him as a better player than Randle.

[Mnwild1128]

I don't know what Julius Randle's ideal role is in the current NBA. It's clear the league is moving away from players like him. Players that thrive 15 feet inward. You need to be able to create and score from the perimeter. If you can't do that on offense your value is limited.

I think that’s too cut and dried. One of the main reasons Wemby got ripped in the Finals is precisely because he doesn’t have any kind of arsenal from 6 to 15 feet. He’s basically going to become the face of the league unless he doesn’t develop that. And we got hoarse screaming for someone to take something this season besides another clanged three. There is always going to be a place in the league for someone who can just get you two points when you need it.

You have to be dangerous from the outside inward to be an elite player today. You can't be a 1 or 2 level player. You have to be a 3 level player. You have to be dangerous from the 3 point line inward. That's perimeter, midrange, and inside the paint.

So if Shaq played today he would not be elite? I think the numbers he would put up today would clown his season stats of yester-years. There is no one playing today that could even semi slow him down.

[YBBR]

I think that’s too cut and dried. One of the main reasons Wemby got ripped in the Finals is precisely because he doesn’t have any kind of arsenal from 6 to 15 feet. He’s basically going to become the face of the league unless he doesn’t develop that. And we got hoarse screaming for someone to take something this season besides another clanged three. There is always going to be a place in the league for someone who can just get you two points when you need it.

You have to be dangerous from the outside inward to be an elite player today. You can't be a 1 or 2 level player. You have to be a 3 level player. You have to be dangerous from the 3 point line inward. That's perimeter, midrange, and inside the paint.

So if Shaq played today he would not be elite? I think the numbers he would put up today would clown his season stats of yester-years. There is no one playing today that could even semi slow him down.

In general. Yeah if you put Wilt Chamberlain or Shaq in any era they're gonna do their thing. Go look at the PPG leaders last year. Almost everyone in the top 25 is a perimeter based player that can either create their own shot from their handle to get to their spot or and is a 3 level scorer. Wings/guards are the new center/PFs. The league revolves around the gravity they create.

[SHAFA]

Putting him in a pocket with okafor is exactly the kind of over the top negative analysis I’m talking about. A seven year player who averaged in double figures only twice, had a career rebounding mark of 4.7 and shot 22% from three is basically Julius Randle without the assists. OK. Or maybe you guys are mixing up Jahlil with Emeka.

I’m not mixing anyone up.

Okafor fell out of the league because he couldn’t evolve alongside it. He wasn’t a floor spacer. Had no playmaking ability. You couldn’t ask him to switch. He just had a game built for the ‘90’s.

Randle’s got a solid 90’s-like low-post game too, but he’s carved out a longer career because he can act as a secondary ball-handler/playmaker and sometimes be a deep threat.

So, like I said, it’s that part of Randle’s game - to me - that has sustained his career. It wasn’t a comparison that had anything to do with basic stats. Jahlil just couldn’t grow his game, and he couldn’t stay on the floor because of it.

[Mnwild1128]

You have to be dangerous from the outside inward to be an elite player today. You can't be a 1 or 2 level player. You have to be a 3 level player. You have to be dangerous from the 3 point line inward. That's perimeter, midrange, and inside the paint.

So if Shaq played today he would not be elite? I think the numbers he would put up today would clown his season stats of yester-years. There is no one playing today that could even semi slow him down.

In general. Yeah if you put Wilt Chamberlain or Shaq in any era they're gonna do their thing. Go look at the PPG leaders last year. Almost everyone in the top 25 is a perimeter based player that can either create their own shot from their handle to get to their spot or and is a 3 level scorer. Wings/guards are the new center/PFs. The league revolves around the gravity they create.

That is cause most of the bigs today don't have one of or all of: low post games, the skill to do it, or the bodies.

I also believe that if new players (the next equivelants) of Shaqs, Hakeems, Wilts, etc... started being born and drafted in close proximity, we would see another shift in the league towards bigs play.

[YBBR]

So if Shaq played today he would not be elite? I think the numbers he would put up today would clown his season stats of yester-years. There is no one playing today that could even semi slow him down.

In general. Yeah if you put Wilt Chamberlain or Shaq in any era they're gonna do their thing. Go look at the PPG leaders last year. Almost everyone in the top 25 is a perimeter based player that can either create their own shot from their handle to get to their spot or and is a 3 level scorer. Wings/guards are the new center/PFs. The league revolves around the gravity they create.

That is cause most of the bigs today don't have one of or all of: low post games, the skill to do it, or the bodies.

I also believe that if new players (the next equivelants) of Shaqs, Hakeems, Wilts, etc... started being born and drafted in close proximity, we would see another shift in the league towards bigs play.

Players are just not being developed that way anymore. A good low post game is pretty far down on the list of skills that are desirable in the modern NBA for bigs. You're just not getting many back to the basket touches anymore in modern offenses. That's by design.

Even Jokic essentially plays from the high post or further out so he can see the floor and distribute. Denver runs action so Jokic can hit cutters or off ball action, or the open man when they double him from another spot on the floor. That's all spacing. Spreading the defense out and taking advantage of the gaps created by the distance they have to cover. As soon as the help defense commits and makes a decision, you want to punish them with the effective counter to that decision.

[Mnwild1128]

In general. Yeah if you put Wilt Chamberlain or Shaq in any era they're gonna do their thing. Go look at the PPG leaders last year. Almost everyone in the top 25 is a perimeter based player that can either create their own shot from their handle to get to their spot or and is a 3 level scorer. Wings/guards are the new center/PFs. The league revolves around the gravity they create.

That is cause most of the bigs today don't have one of or all of: low post games, the skill to do it, or the bodies.

I also believe that if new players (the next equivelants) of Shaqs, Hakeems, Wilts, etc... started being born and drafted in close proximity, we would see another shift in the league towards bigs play.

Players are just not being developed that way anymore. A good low post game is pretty far down on the list of skills that are desirable in the modern NBA for bigs. You're just not getting many back to the basket touches anymore in modern offenses. That's by design.

Even Jokic essentially plays from the high post or further out so he can see the floor and distribute. Denver runs action so Jokic can hit cutters or off ball action, or the open man when they double him from another spot on the floor. That's all spacing. Spreading the defense out and taking advantage of the gaps created by the distance they have to cover. As soon as the help defense commits and makes a decision, you want to punish them with the effective counter to that decision.

Sure but he is incredible in low post play. The fact he is a gifted passer while also happens to be able to space the floor is why he is used or decides to play the way he does. Put Jokic in the early 2000's and he would cook then as well in that eras style of play.

Even if the league was still playing like back then, i just dont think there are any bigs capable of dominating that way. There are plenty of bigs lkaying that cant space. There just isn't the RIGHT bigs playing now that can mimick the good low post players of years past. If there was, they would gladly utilize them like that and be a focal point. Going against the grain of the league.

[Hoop Dreams]

[Oriole81]

^^

Can't survive in America?

Year One, back in the states, he wins the Rookie of the Year.

Shut up, Dillon.

[weimy froob]

Timberwolves Send Warning About Rudy Gobert After LaMelo Ball Trade

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/minnesota- ... dy-gobert/

[boxter432]

Timberwolves Send Warning About Rudy Gobert After LaMelo Ball Trade

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/minnesota- ... dy-gobert/

i am excited for more easy buckets. conley was the only guy who could remotely feed him decently, a couple more easy dunks/flip ins that are part of the flow vs just rebound put backs will be sweet.