[TiosecoParticipant]

Everyone knows the Wolves probably have the brightest future of any young team right now, and that KAT and Wiggins are two of the best prospects in the league. A lot has been said about those two and so I would want to talk about (IMO) the most exciting and intriguing player to watch on their team – Zach Lavine (I’m not saying he’s the best player/prospect).

I was a big believer of him coming into the 2014 draft and, although I wished that his development as a PG under the Wolves’ experimental plans had gone better, I would have to say that I am still pleased with how he has progressed through his first 2 years in the NBA.

I know the opinions on him on this site are mixed, but I am really high on him and I want him to be a star in the league. Some have compared him to Jamal Crawford, and even if Jamal is no slouch by any means and is a significant cult figure in the NBA, I definitely wish Zach would surpass the level Jamal has achieved. I want him to at least be an all-star at some point in his career.

Before any of that tho, a lot of work still needs to be done. Specifically for: shot selection, overall awareness (these first 2 could generally lumped as "Bball IQ"), ball-handling, body strength, and his left hand. Based on all accounts, I hear he’s a gym rat and I’m sure he really wants to be as great as he can.

How do you guys think he will pan out? Will he need to (eventually) go to another team to fully realize his full potential given KAT and Wiggins’ presence?

[HitsterParticipant]

Zach gets a lot of love as he is such a spectacular – highlight reel type player but I feel he is much more than that and can find the perfect role with the T-Wolves. His speed and movement can help make him a very good off the ball player and as his shooting improves, he’ll be very hard to pin down as the T-Wolves can spread the floor with Wiggins and KAT.

Also Zach is a good ball handler so can assist Rubio with that or be the main creator when Rubio is on the bench.

[HitsterParticipant]

Zach gets a lot of love as he is such a spectacular – highlight reel type player but I feel he is much more than that and can find the perfect role with the T-Wolves. His speed and movement can help make him a very good off the ball player and as his shooting improves, he’ll be very hard to pin down as the T-Wolves can spread the floor with Wiggins and KAT.

Also Zach is a good ball handler so can assist Rubio with that or be the main creator when Rubio is on the bench.

[GBeeParticipant]

 If Lavine has proven anything his first couple of years in the league it’s that he’s not a PG.  If he’s their back up PG/ primary creator when Rubio is out then they need an upgrade at that role.  He’s a horrendous decision maker.

I’ll be interested to see how Thibs handles him, if he holds him accountable and how Lavine responds to hard coaching.  If Zach responds well then can be more than a 6th man on a winning team, otherwise that’s the role I see him as: a gunner off the bench who you leave in if he has it going, but have no issue sitting if he doesn’t.  His floor game stinks and his defense is atrocious.  According to advanced stats, he was one of the worst guard defenders in the league for the 2nd year in a row.

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 If Lavine has proven anything his first couple of years in the league it’s that he’s not a PG.  If he’s their back up PG/ primary creator when Rubio is out then they need an upgrade at that role.  He’s a horrendous decision maker.

I’ll be interested to see how Thibs handles him, if he holds him accountable and how Lavine responds to hard coaching.  If Zach responds well then can be more than a 6th man on a winning team, otherwise that’s the role I see him as: a gunner off the bench who you leave in if he has it going, but have no issue sitting if he doesn’t.  His floor game stinks and his defense is atrocious.  According to advanced stats, he was one of the worst guard defenders in the league for the 2nd year in a row.

 

[Arc12345Participant]

 Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins, Dieng, and KAT.

Thats the lineup for me. Not sure why they didn’t go with it from the beginning. People seem to think they need to get better at point, but I like Rubio. That’s a championship line up IF everyone continues to develop especially the 3 you have mentioned…just give them a little more time.

[Arc12345Participant]

 Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins, Dieng, and KAT.

Thats the lineup for me. Not sure why they didn’t go with it from the beginning. People seem to think they need to get better at point, but I like Rubio. That’s a championship line up IF everyone continues to develop especially the 3 you have mentioned…just give them a little more time.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

They have some great building blocks to build on! Now they have to take the next step and build a better bench, play better defense for the entire game, and the big one…..mentally be tough! Prime example of a team that’s not mentally tough….the Lost Angeles Clippers! So the young T-Wolves should watch the Clippers, so they know what NOT TO DO! I think they can make some noise next season?

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

They have some great building blocks to build on! Now they have to take the next step and build a better bench, play better defense for the entire game, and the big one…..mentally be tough! Prime example of a team that’s not mentally tough….the Lost Angeles Clippers! So the young T-Wolves should watch the Clippers, so they know what NOT TO DO! I think they can make some noise next season?

[TravelinTravParticipant]

LaVine has a lot of potential. I watched every game during his rookie campaign, he may be able to be one of he best scorers on the team. He doesn’t back down and his confidence is always high. I believe he will be a top 10 SG in the league this year. He’s developed patience, utilizes pump fakes and doesn’t run 100 percent on every play like his rookie season.  

[TravelinTravParticipant]

LaVine has a lot of potential. I watched every game during his rookie campaign, he may be able to be one of he best scorers on the team. He doesn’t back down and his confidence is always high. I believe he will be a top 10 SG in the league this year. He’s developed patience, utilizes pump fakes and doesn’t run 100 percent on every play like his rookie season.  

[celticsthug]

 Wanted this guy instead of smart so bad that year. I still do

[celticsthug]

 Wanted this guy instead of smart so bad that year. I still do

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Lavine has come along nicely in his first two years with the Wolves. He was a guy who you could tell didn’t play with much structure in his High School/AAU days and didn’t get much run at UCLA, so while there was talent, it was really raw. 

He’s still raw, but the talent is showing up more and more. The second half of the year he averaged around 16 points and shot over 40% from 3. You can also tell he’s put on weight and developed his body…which may be the biggest thing for him reaching his potential. 

I know some people on here get a little wild with their stat projections but I don’t see Lavine being a 20 ppg guy on a good team. That’s fine. If the Wolves become a team people here hope they can, Lavine is a good 3rd or 4th guy. 

He’s a good shooter off the ball, his shot selection has improved and his time at PG helped develop his floor game where he can create for others in a secondary ball handling role. I hate when people say his time as a PG was a waste. It absolutely was not. He developed a ton from a mental standpoint there and I think his playmaking skills, while not cut out for a starting PG, can be very good as a SG. 

The biggest question will be how does he come along defensively. There’s no reason, with all that length and athleticism that he can’t be a good defender. He may never be a great defender, but if he – and Wiggins for that matter – can get to the point where you can put him on good scoring wings, he can be a really good player. 

 

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Lavine has come along nicely in his first two years with the Wolves. He was a guy who you could tell didn’t play with much structure in his High School/AAU days and didn’t get much run at UCLA, so while there was talent, it was really raw. 

He’s still raw, but the talent is showing up more and more. The second half of the year he averaged around 16 points and shot over 40% from 3. You can also tell he’s put on weight and developed his body…which may be the biggest thing for him reaching his potential. 

I know some people on here get a little wild with their stat projections but I don’t see Lavine being a 20 ppg guy on a good team. That’s fine. If the Wolves become a team people here hope they can, Lavine is a good 3rd or 4th guy. 

He’s a good shooter off the ball, his shot selection has improved and his time at PG helped develop his floor game where he can create for others in a secondary ball handling role. I hate when people say his time as a PG was a waste. It absolutely was not. He developed a ton from a mental standpoint there and I think his playmaking skills, while not cut out for a starting PG, can be very good as a SG. 

The biggest question will be how does he come along defensively. There’s no reason, with all that length and athleticism that he can’t be a good defender. He may never be a great defender, but if he – and Wiggins for that matter – can get to the point where you can put him on good scoring wings, he can be a really good player. 

 

 

 

 

[TheLastWordParticipant]

He’s made some improvements but still an atrocious defender. Doesn’t get set in a good stance, loses his man, an overall is kind of weak physically. 

[TheLastWordParticipant]

He’s made some improvements but still an atrocious defender. Doesn’t get set in a good stance, loses his man, an overall is kind of weak physically. 

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