My thoughts are: wow, that trade for KG was a pretty bad idea. But as the chart shows, it wasn't David Kahn's idea. He's a popular whipping boy right now and some of the criticism is deserved. But not in this case. Gomes and (Babbitt) for Webster? (Though there's no proof that Babbitt would have been the guy they picked at that spot.) This isn't a bad deal for them. They didn't like anybody that was left at the #16 spot, so they got a proven shooter who's young and plays slightly above average defense for an ending contract and a pick that they didn't want. And Kahn is an idiot for that? I disagree. What more could they have gotten from that? The rumor was that they could have Beasley for that contract and that's the only secondary option I ever heard. Since they ended up getting Beasley anyway...they made the better move by getting two pieces they wanted for two pieces they didn't want. Al Jefferson for two first round picks and a bunch of cap space? Jefferson is, in my opinion, overrated. He's terrible on defense. He's a bit of a headcase. He plays the same position as Minnesota's best player, Kevin Love. This deal is no different really than when Portland traded Zach Randolph for garbage. In fact, this deal is better because it gets them instant cap space and two first round picks. We got a rental on Channing Frye and, eventually, Rudy Fernandez. It's not like Utah is making out like bandits on this. That memphis pick is likely to be a lotto pick and it could very well be a high lotto pick. Could somebody have gotten more? Maybe. But it's a decent return in my opinion. And the return isn't even close to over year. At the trade deadline, Kahn may in fact decide to pull the trigger on a player that somebody else doesn't want anymore. It's entirely possible that the talent available before this next trade deadline is pretty strong, with the impending lockout. Certainly they haven't reaped the full reward for dealing Jefferson yet, so I don't think you can say that was a horrible move. Wayne Ellington? Incomplete. It's impossible to tell how this part will work out. He played okay in his rookie season, but it's still too early to say what he'll turn into. But he was a late 1st round pick anyway, so it's a gamble either way with a player like that. As for the cap space, they got Michael Beasley for nothing. Got two decent and relatively cheap point guards plus resigned their own player to a contract that was a bit too high, but within the realm of normal this off-season. I understand that David Kahn has made some bizarre moves, but he got an okay return from the scraps he was left with in the aftermath of the Garnett deal. Maybe not the greatest, but not worthy of repeated posts about how inept he is.
to add to Cake's recap, I thought the Darko resigning was a very good move. 4 years at 5M per for a passable NBA center for his prime (ages 25-29) is a good move in my eyes. STOMP
I just think Kahn has no clue about how to build a team based on the triangle. If he was running a screen and roll or a dribble drive, or even a princeton style offense I could see these personnel fitting, but so far he's either drafted or signed 4 P&R points (most of whom can't shoot from outside) and he's got a lot of wings with no ballhandling or ability to create, and only one big who is a proven passer. If he likes his personnel, then he's done a piss poor job of hiring a coach, if he likes his coach, then the pieces don't fit.
I saw him on NBATV right after the draft saying that he want the Wolves to play more of a running oriented game. Kinda goes against his coaches philosophy. Love is an excellent big to play a running game with his outlet passes. Rubio and Flynn can run. Brewer can get out and Martell is just garbage.
You can "run" in the triangle if you get a lot of stops and generate fast break opportunities, but really the triangle is all about working for an open shot and everybody reading and reacting to the defense and their own teammates. Maybe Kahn just thought the triangle sounded cool and figured "hey if it's good enough to win 11 championships, it's good enough for me." Fit be damned.
