[high floorParticipant]

Watching franchises rebuild after they are forced to trade a star player (or lose via FA) is one of the most interesting things about the NBA to me. And 2 intriguing clubs that are experiencing this very scenario reside out West: The Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

I’m fascinated with both teams. With the Utah Jazz, they have rebuilt with a combination of great prospects/young players via trade (a prime Deron Williams) and also with mid to late-lottery picks. The fact they are this talented without having a top 2 selection is impressive. Perhaps most impressive though, Utah’s most intriguing player was acquired in trade as a 27th selection for a 2nd rd pick and cash considerations.. The Stifle Tower! Rudy Gobert. Just look at Utah’s defensive statistics and overall W/L after he was inserted into the starting lineup. Straight up beast. 

Exum/Hood/Hayward/Favors/Gobert – with a bench of Alec Burks, Trey Lyles, and Trey Burke is a fantastic foundation. They have it all: Size, defense, shooting, athleticism, upside, and a great young coach as well. For the Jazz faithful, I really hope you can keep this core in tact. I see many 50+ win seasons in your future.

With the Minnesota Timberwolves, it’s equally impressive. The Kevin Love trade was an absolute blessing for this ball club. And kudos to Flip Saunders for embracing a full rebuild. The summer of Love ended up netting the Twolves Andrew frickin Wiggins. Then you win the lottery in what is considered a Plus-quality draft and grab another 2-way stud in Karl Anthony-Towns. You also have one of the best and most creative distributors in Ricky Rubio who will give the young guys the ball & put them in places to succeed on the court.

Rubio/Lavine/Wiggins/Dieng/Towns – with a bench of Tyus Jones, Shabazz Muhammed, Adreian Payne is a youthful squad brimming with upside. To me, Lavine is the key. If he puts in the work, gains a bit of weight and muscle to his frame without compromising his explosiveness, they’ll have the most formidable & athletic young core in the league. I could see him averaging 20+ by his 4th season if all goes to plan in his development.  

It’s a true nail biter, but if we’re gauging each team’s foundation as a potential title contender I have to go with Minnesota. Mostly because they have two potential 1st Team All-NBA players in Towns & Wiggins, plus a likely top-5 selection in next year’s draft to add to their talent pool. 

[drpg913Participant]

Hood isn’t starting over Burks. He’s coming off the bench. 

[high floorParticipant]

If Burks is healthy during training camp he’ll likely draw the start, mainly because of the money he’s owed. But Hood has superior size, length and shooting ability. His floor-spacing would be a perfect compliment to Exum and Hayward’s drive and kick game, plus it would offer more real-estate for gobert and Favors to operate in the post since they don’t have range past 15 ft.

I’d just give Burks the #%$* ball in the 2nd unit and get out of the way. He’d eat up the back-ups for lunch

[high floorParticipant]

If Burks is healthy during training camp he’ll likely draw the start, mainly because of the money he’s owed. But Hood has superior size, length and shooting ability. His floor-spacing would be a perfect compliment to Exum and Hayward’s drive and kick game, plus it would offer more real-estate for gobert and Favors to operate in the post since they don’t have range past 15 ft.

I’d just give Burks the #%$* ball in the 2nd unit and get out of the way. He’d eat up the back-ups for lunch

[drpg913Participant]

Hood isn’t starting over Burks. He’s coming off the bench. 

[BallGawd01Participant]

 I think the Bucks have best young roster in NBA with MCW/Middleton/Giannis/Jabari/Monroe. In terms of these two teams, I think the Twolves have the better roster because they have the superior talent. Andrew Wiggins is SPECIAL. I believe Towns will be special as well. The Jazz have a good team, but the TWovles have two potential superstars who both could become top 10 players in the league one day. While talented, I don’t believe Hayward or Derrick Favors has that type of potetential. Also, I’m not a true believer in Dante Exum, the #5 pick in the draft in 2014. When I watch him I don’t see superstar, I believe Lavine has a chance to be a much better player than he does. While both teams are headed in the right direction, I think the Twolves, in 4 or 5 years or so, have a chance to be one of the better teams in the western conference. 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 before lasy year’s .500 season Milwaukee had 10 straight years of sub .500 ball….. I Like Parker a lot – & Monroe was an excellent signing but the Greek Freek is WAY overblown – he’s a nice player but no way will he vecome a star – he’s averaging 9.8 poinst & 5.6 rebounds in the League & trading that Lakers Lottery pick for MCW was a horrific move…. Minnesota has a couple nice players in Wiggins & Towns but I really think Flip Saunders should have trusted his gut & chose Okafor over Towns… I like Utah but once again they are in year 6 of a rebuild – their two Best pieces are Hayward & Favors who were drafted in 2009 & 2010…. But Gobert is similar to the Greek in that he’s Wildly over-rated… Gobert averages 6 poits & 7 rebounds – not bad but there’s a reason that his former team traded him…. Do some research….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 before lasy year’s .500 season Milwaukee had 10 straight years of sub .500 ball….. I Like Parker a lot – & Monroe was an excellent signing but the Greek Freek is WAY overblown – he’s a nice player but no way will he vecome a star – he’s averaging 9.8 poinst & 5.6 rebounds in the League & trading that Lakers Lottery pick for MCW was a horrific move…. Minnesota has a couple nice players in Wiggins & Towns but I really think Flip Saunders should have trusted his gut & chose Okafor over Towns… I like Utah but once again they are in year 6 of a rebuild – their two Best pieces are Hayward & Favors who were drafted in 2009 & 2010…. But Gobert is similar to the Greek in that he’s Wildly over-rated… Gobert averages 6 poits & 7 rebounds – not bad but there’s a reason that his former team traded him…. Do some research….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bumbleb33Participant]

 Twolves have superior talent? The hype is just crazy for this team. Wiggins has a tonne of potential, yes, but his rookie year was mediocre. Somehow it has everyone thinking he is a generational player in the making. Towns has not even played an nba game yet. Utah has much more proven talent. Hayward is a 20ppg beast with good defense, Favors is so underrated and is only like 24, Gobert has played two seasons and has become a monster on defense. Now in regards to Lavine and Exum, what makes you think zach will be a much better player? The kid is off the charts athletically but seems like a complete knucklehead. He has a strong work ethic but any sense of team or system seems to go out the window the moment he steps on the court. Dante may be a scrub offensively (largely due to lack of confidence) but he was leagues ahead defensively compared to lavine and he just came off playing high school bball in Australia. (To give you a sense of how crap bball is here, a good high school team in US could challenge our "pro" teams).

[bumbleb33Participant]

 Twolves have superior talent? The hype is just crazy for this team. Wiggins has a tonne of potential, yes, but his rookie year was mediocre. Somehow it has everyone thinking he is a generational player in the making. Towns has not even played an nba game yet. Utah has much more proven talent. Hayward is a 20ppg beast with good defense, Favors is so underrated and is only like 24, Gobert has played two seasons and has become a monster on defense. Now in regards to Lavine and Exum, what makes you think zach will be a much better player? The kid is off the charts athletically but seems like a complete knucklehead. He has a strong work ethic but any sense of team or system seems to go out the window the moment he steps on the court. Dante may be a scrub offensively (largely due to lack of confidence) but he was leagues ahead defensively compared to lavine and he just came off playing high school bball in Australia. (To give you a sense of how crap bball is here, a good high school team in US could challenge our "pro" teams).

[BallGawd01Participant]

 I think the Bucks have best young roster in NBA with MCW/Middleton/Giannis/Jabari/Monroe. In terms of these two teams, I think the Twolves have the better roster because they have the superior talent. Andrew Wiggins is SPECIAL. I believe Towns will be special as well. The Jazz have a good team, but the TWovles have two potential superstars who both could become top 10 players in the league one day. While talented, I don’t believe Hayward or Derrick Favors has that type of potetential. Also, I’m not a true believer in Dante Exum, the #5 pick in the draft in 2014. When I watch him I don’t see superstar, I believe Lavine has a chance to be a much better player than he does. While both teams are headed in the right direction, I think the Twolves, in 4 or 5 years or so, have a chance to be one of the better teams in the western conference. 

[bigfungotitdone5timesParticipant]

I agree let burks anchor the bench hed carry the scoring load

[bigfungotitdone5timesParticipant]

I agree let burks anchor the bench hed carry the scoring load

[llperez]

 not sure would call what the wolves are a doing a "rebuild" They are in like year 12 now. 

[llperez]

 not sure would call what the wolves are a doing a "rebuild" They are in like year 12 now. 

[FrozetoesParticipant]

WOLVES:  I actually want a line-up of: Rubio, Martin, Wiggins, Towns, Pekovic.

When healthy (big ?) Pek is a 20/10 guy, with bad D.  That’s where Towns would cover him.

Flip has a lot of options and it will be interesting to see how he uses Garnett.

The other battle is at the SG.  Martin and LaVine have a shot at the starting role.

JAZZ: Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Gobert is IMO their best line-up.

Hayward and Favors are really good players, but Gobert is the guy I see becoming dominant.

Exum seems to have a nice feel for the game and plays strong D, but he needs to be a more confident offensive player.

They have a lot of potential on their bench as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FrozetoesParticipant]

WOLVES:  I actually want a line-up of: Rubio, Martin, Wiggins, Towns, Pekovic.

When healthy (big ?) Pek is a 20/10 guy, with bad D.  That’s where Towns would cover him.

Flip has a lot of options and it will be interesting to see how he uses Garnett.

The other battle is at the SG.  Martin and LaVine have a shot at the starting role.

JAZZ: Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Gobert is IMO their best line-up.

Hayward and Favors are really good players, but Gobert is the guy I see becoming dominant.

Exum seems to have a nice feel for the game and plays strong D, but he needs to be a more confident offensive player.

They have a lot of potential on their bench as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 LLperez…the difference is that they’ve seemingly embraced the fact that they have to rebuild and have almost an entire roster of youngsters. They tried patching holes when they traded Garnett for Big Al and servicaeble role players. 

They probably should’ve been in rebuild mode when they effed up top 6 picks four years in a row. 

Now at least they’ve got some hope. So the feeling at least now is that they’ve actually started the BUILD part of a rebuild. 

I’d say the Jazz are further along in their rebuild but I’m not sure they’ve got the collective "upside" the Wolves might have. That might be a fancy way of saying we still aren’t sure how they’ll all turn out. 

I think Wiggins and Towns have the POTENTIAL to be better players than anybody the Jazz have, but right now, Hayward, Favors and maybe Gobert are better. 

Neither team is going to attract free agents, so they’ve got to build through the draft. The Wolves might have 1 more crack at a top 5ish pick but the Jazz will most likely be selecting between 12-20 at worst for the forseeable future. 

I’m hoping the Wolves can take a similar step the Jazz took last year, this year. The Jazz could be a playoff team this year I think. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[llperez]

Al Jefferson was 22 years old when they traded kg for him, it was a rebuild move not a patch parts move. They are doing nothing different today they weren’t doing since the kg trade, difference is now they have 2 back to pack number 1 picks that everyone believes in. Regardless of how long they have been rebuilding, they certainly appear to be in great shape right now with wiggins and towns.

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

They actually have 3 no.1 picks back to back. You say it is 12 years of rbuilding, but not with Flip there. The first of those picks is a bust though.

[llperez]

 Yeah that’s why I added back to back picks that everyone believes in, lol. In bennetts defense, that was a draft that will go down as historically weak. I actually thought Alex Len was a good candidate to go number 1 at the time so I wouldn’t look too smart either. 

[llperez]

 Yeah that’s why I added back to back picks that everyone believes in, lol. In bennetts defense, that was a draft that will go down as historically weak. I actually thought Alex Len was a good candidate to go number 1 at the time so I wouldn’t look too smart either. 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

They actually have 3 no.1 picks back to back. You say it is 12 years of rbuilding, but not with Flip there. The first of those picks is a bust though.

[llperez]

Al Jefferson was 22 years old when they traded kg for him, it was a rebuild move not a patch parts move. They are doing nothing different today they weren’t doing since the kg trade, difference is now they have 2 back to pack number 1 picks that everyone believes in. Regardless of how long they have been rebuilding, they certainly appear to be in great shape right now with wiggins and towns.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 LLperez…the difference is that they’ve seemingly embraced the fact that they have to rebuild and have almost an entire roster of youngsters. They tried patching holes when they traded Garnett for Big Al and servicaeble role players. 

They probably should’ve been in rebuild mode when they effed up top 6 picks four years in a row. 

Now at least they’ve got some hope. So the feeling at least now is that they’ve actually started the BUILD part of a rebuild. 

I’d say the Jazz are further along in their rebuild but I’m not sure they’ve got the collective "upside" the Wolves might have. That might be a fancy way of saying we still aren’t sure how they’ll all turn out. 

I think Wiggins and Towns have the POTENTIAL to be better players than anybody the Jazz have, but right now, Hayward, Favors and maybe Gobert are better. 

Neither team is going to attract free agents, so they’ve got to build through the draft. The Wolves might have 1 more crack at a top 5ish pick but the Jazz will most likely be selecting between 12-20 at worst for the forseeable future. 

I’m hoping the Wolves can take a similar step the Jazz took last year, this year. The Jazz could be a playoff team this year I think. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 To me it’s pretty clear. Utah Jazz are Playoffs bound. 29 of the last 30 top 5 defenses went to the Playoffs. If they pick up right where they left off at the end of the season on that end of the floor,noone will score against them. And they’re so young,they just keep improving.

The T’Wolves are still I think two years away from the Playoffs,but boy they have some talent. Wiggins,Towns,Lavine,Rubio,Dieng,Payne,Muhammad. That’s one hell of a core. I love the Bjelica signing by the way.

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 To me it’s pretty clear. Utah Jazz are Playoffs bound. 29 of the last 30 top 5 defenses went to the Playoffs. If they pick up right where they left off at the end of the season on that end of the floor,noone will score against them. And they’re so young,they just keep improving.

The T’Wolves are still I think two years away from the Playoffs,but boy they have some talent. Wiggins,Towns,Lavine,Rubio,Dieng,Payne,Muhammad. That’s one hell of a core. I love the Bjelica signing by the way.

 

[bumbleb33Participant]

 twolves are more than 2 years away from playoffs IMO since it is the west. We dont even know how KAT will pan out and even if wiggins becomes all star calibre good within the next 2 years (23ppg+) they will struggle for the 8th seed

[bumbleb33Participant]

 twolves are more than 2 years away from playoffs IMO since it is the west. We dont even know how KAT will pan out and even if wiggins becomes all star calibre good within the next 2 years (23ppg+) they will struggle for the 8th seed

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