Can either one be effective without the ball in their hands? That is, they both are playing very effective right now running the shows at their respective schools, but if they were teamed up together would one of them lose a part of what makes them special?

I write this because I have suggested and other have suggested that if we were to get #1 we aught to trade a bunch of assets to get #2 and draft both players. I was running the scenario in my head the last couple of days and have been skeptical of the idea. To some extent, I have been thinking of the Andre Miller Brandon Roy fiasco in Portland.

Probably not even a chance we would ever be in this situation, but what if? Would it be a good idea to pair them up? or would it cause problems?

I thought I would write up my Wolves off season predictions...just like a bunch already have.

First...who is on contract for next year?

1.Flynn

2.Sessions

3.Hollins

4.Love

5.Brewer

6.Jefferson

7.Ellington

Second...who is staying put?

1.Everyone but one of the Love/Jefferson combo and/or one of the Flynn/Sessions combo. Also, if Hollins could be gotten ridden of then he is gone too.  That is, four or five players from this years team will be with the team next year...

1.Flynn or Sessions (only one)

2.Love or Jefferson (only one)

3.Brewer

4.Ellington

5.Hollins

Third...how many wins do we project to win next year? 30

1. This means we need some semblance of continuity with this year, player acclimation.

2. Talent improvement, draft and trades

3. Evening out the roster positionally.

Fourth...what trades do we do?

1. Jefferson and Charlotte pick to Indiana for Troy Murphy and their #1 Pick

2. If we get #1 overall and draft John Wall then...we trade Sessions and the Utah pick to move up and take an athletic big with good hands and a high BBIQ (the anti-Hollins)

3. If we get Evan Turner then we keep both Flynn and Sessions unless a nice little deal comes though, but no need to move either one.

Fifth...recap roster...

1. Flynn/Sessions

2. Ellington

3. Brewer

4. Love/Murphy

5. Hollins

Sixth...draft...we pick 2 very early (our pick and Indiana's) and 1 middle plus three 2nd rounders (I think)

1. We want Wall or Turner...if it takes trading both of the higher picks then we do it.

2. We want athletic big with hands and high BBIQ with middle pick.

3. We want to fill our roster with 2nd rounders.

Seventh...recap again

If we get #1 pick...

1. Wall/Flynn

2. Ellington/(Johnson or Aminu w/Indiana pick)

3. Brewer

4. Love/Murphy

5. Big Drafted/Hollins

If we get 2nd pick....

1. Flynn/Sessions

2. Turner/Ellington

3. Brewer/ Johnson or Aminu

4. Love/Murphy

5. Big Drafted/Hollins

If we get 3rd thru 5th pick...we cry.

Eighth...we bring in Pekovic and never let Hollins off the bench.

1. Same rosters as above only with Pekovic in front of Hollins (and probably the rookie as well)

Ninth...we take a nap....

But it seems to be a different Edwards! haha...just having a little fun.

Are the Vikes to keep Edwards? Who knows, I am just trying to have a little fun, but am having trouble getting to 75 words. They should really only keep him long term on a very easy contract. I am willing to bet that a lot of his success has A LOT to do with who he is playing with. Later!

A discussion we have been having over at Canus Hoopus is the possibility of trading Big Al to Detroit. How does this trade go over with you all?

Pistons get:

1.Big Al

2. Utah's 1st (25th or so)

Wolves get:

1. T. Prince

2. Piston's 1st (6 or 7 I think)

Piston's possible starters, not too shabby:

1. Stuckey

2. Gordon

3. Hamilton

4. Jerebko

5. Big Al

So...how do you all think of this? are we way off? do you like it? tell us what you think....

Does this mean we can try again? or are we still waiting for the Nets to pass us?

Also, Nellie really does not like using subs...lol. Four guys over 40 minutes with Curry and Morrow playing all 48! Curry had 27 points on 11 of 25 shooting (not terrible from outside, not great either) 5 rebounds 4 assists 1 steal and 5 turnovers.

I need to make 75 words so you are all going to get to read this wonderful sentence about reaching 75 words!

I haven't been able to see Bosh play much, but he sounds very interesting! My question for today is, can Chris Bosh and Kevin Love play together at the same time or would they end up being like Big Al and Love of this year (though, to be fair to KLJ, they have not been given enough time to work out kinks)?

I'm thinking of a sign and trade with Toronto-Al for Bosh. What are all your thoughts?

Seriously, this trade makes perfect sense to me:

Miami get:

PF: Stoudemire

Phoenix gets:

PF: Beasley

Expirings (Haslem and Wright)

and 1 or 2 middle first rounders next year

and, maybe, cash

I think Phoenix makes out like a bandit on this considering where they are in negotiations with Stoudemire. Where am I going wrong?

Why would Phoenix not want Beasley? He does not seem to be as much of a knucklehead as was assumed a couple of months ago. He scores. He could be shown how to play defense.If he had a worthwhile mentor I bet he could even make an All Star team or two.

My stab at it is they want to get rid of their bad contracts (namely, Richardson) in the process. But, they don't want to do that too much or they will cease to be competitive. If they cease to be competitive they need a full blown re-build. A full blown re-build involves, in my opinion, moving Nash. Moving Nash is something Phoenix refuses to do. Thus, Phoenix has as little sense of what they want to do right now as I do (in regard to Pheonix) and that all they really want right now is to not let Stoudemire walk for free.

I have another option that might be of some interest...(is this getting old yet?)

Wolves get:

Carlos Boozer

Ronnie Brewer

New York 1st Round

Jazz get:

Al Jefferson

Corey Brewer

We get Ronnie Brewer matching rights (I think) and another expiring in Boozer, plus another very high (probably) draft pick in this years draft.

Jazz get Big Al for the long hall, and Brewer can be exciting (and terrible). Not sure if Big Al is what the Jazz are looking for in trading Boozer (how would he fit with Milsap?)

Is this enough for the Wolves to part ways with Jefferson? meh, not sure.

(I was reading a book for class and this just popped into my head, haven't thought it all the way through yet).

Why don't we help them? Here is the deal:

Twolves to GS:

1. Blount

2. Cardinal

3. Gomes

4. Sessions

GS to Twolves:

1. Biedrins

2. Curry

3. Randolph

4. Maggette

I think this deal is strange and weird and never going to happen, but I am bored so I thought I would put my thoughts out there.

The feasibility of this deal is predicted upon Kahn not believing we could get a free agent this summer worthy of our cap space.

A major issue with this deal is that we would be taking on a HUGE amount of salary for a LONG TIME. Is it worth it? Probably not.

Also, to get the deal done I think we are going to have to give GS one or both of our middle 1st rounders for this summer.

Finally, this puts us in position to win NOW. Here is our new rotation:

PG: Flynn/Curry (Rubio in wings)

SG: Curry/Ellington

SF:Maggette/Brewer

PF: Jefferson/Love

C: Biedrins/Randolph

I do not think this puts us in championship contention next year, but it will gets us to mediocrity! I need to learn how to be more productive with my time.

Finally, unless there are serious money issue in GS, they never do this in my opinion anyway.

I think the Timberwolves are in a good position going into next year even before any moves are made.

Here is our rotation assuming both Pekovic and Rubio come over next year:

PG:Rubio/Flynn or Sessions

SG:Brewer/Ellington

SF:Gomes/Wilkins

PF:Jefferson/Love

C:Hollins/Pekovic

With this line up, without even considering who we draft or add in free agency, we are looking at, maybe, on the brink of a playoff run next year. It would be near the bottom of course (7th or 8th seed), but it still would be about where the Grizzlies are at now.

There are two holes that need to be addressed either in the draft or free agency (or trades...): SF and C could each be improved considerably. How we do that, I am not sure. But, on the heals of seeing how we have played the last week or so, I am beginning to be fairly optimistic about our chances to really improve our chances of being competitive in the very near future.

(As an aside, from a strictly talent point of view I think the addition of Iguodala and Dalemert would be great players to fill the holes we have. Contractually, I do not know if it would be prudent, it seems quite consensus that Iguodala and Dalembert are both overpaid.)

but try this on for size: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ygdnz37

What if we spiced up the 76ers side by throwing in Pekovic or one or more of our middle first/second rounders? They already are getting major salary relief, though they might insist on moving Brand as well.

I do not know what kind of non-roster assets Houston has. They also could figure in this as well.

Wolves get:

Iguodala

Sixers get:

McGrady

Houston gets:

Dalembert

Blount

Gomes

(I am responding to this story)

Got bored during game...turned on Wild...but came up with this New idea...based on yahoo's new story about the Spur's alleged interest in Amare.

Spurs want to win THIS YEAR

Suns want to save money and collect young talent

Timberwolves want young talent and become more balanced

How can we get in on the Amare move to San Antonio?

Here is my idea: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yfq68fq

Spurs get:

1. Amare (from Suns)

2. Wilkins (from Wolves)

Suns get: (all from Wolves)

1. Jefferson

2. Sessions

3. Gomes

Wolves get:

1. DeJuan Blair (from Spurs)

2. Miachal Finley (from Spurs)

3. Richard Jefferson (from Spurs)

4. Robin Lopez (from Suns)

It makes sense for Spurs because they get their second low post presence (which they are allegedly after) and only have to give up two veterans and Blair. Are they willing to sacrifice the future for a chance at a championship this year?

It makes sense for Suns because they get Big Al and Sessions (both young talents) for Amare (who likely would not re-sign with the Suns) and Lopez. We could also send one of our mid-first rounds as well.

Timberwolves do this because Blair and Lopez are both excellent young players, Jefferson would help in scoring (who was not getting adequate scoring opportunities in San Antonio)

Also, Jefferson would become an expiring right around the time Rubio would be coming over so we could then make another move for a more pieces or re-sign Jefferson (unlikely)

Any thoughts? Any new suggestions?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yzzk6x2

Wolves get:

1. Andrew Bynum (C)

2. Leandro Barbossa (SG)

3. Luke Walton (SF)

Lakers get:

1. Kevin Love (PF)

2. Ramon Sessions (PG)

3. Expirings

Phoenix get:

1. Amare Stoudemire (PF)

2. Grant Hill (SF)

Wolves do this because they get a lot more talent at positions of need while alleviating ourselves of the PF logjam

Phoenix does this because they get young talent and salary relief

LA does this because it gives them an even better chance at repeating as champions and because Stoudemire is likely to re-sign with them. Whether this gives them enough is an open question (e.g. is Stoudemire that much better-if at all- better than Bynum? or Hill to Walton)

New Wolves rotation:

PG: Flynn/stock d-leaguer or throw-in (Rubio in the wings)

SG: Barbossa/Brewer

SF: Walton/Brewer/Gomes

PF: Jefferson/Gomes

C: Bynum/Jefferson