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Wolves Make a Minor, Probably Inconsequential, Trade
Okay, enough sites are reporting that the Wolves have swung a deal with Sacramento to analyze what appears to be the particulars. I'll update if anything changes from my current understanding, or if the deal for some reason doesn't pan out.
Minnesota apparently has sent Shaddy McCants and Calvin Booth to the Kings for Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown. The first two words that come to mind are innocuous and redundant. Does Minnesota really need another smallish, 6-9 power forward to go beside Kevin Love, Craig Smith, Brian Cardinal and Ryan Gomes? Shelden Williams slips right in the middle of that quartet in terms of his size and positioning. I'll watch him play for awhile before making this statement definitive, but on first blush I can't think of a thing he does that represents an upgrade over the current crew. The other player, Bobby Brown, is a smaller Randy Foye in that he can pretend to play quality point guard but you don't want him running your ballclub against a tenacious D in the half-court set at crunchtime. He was foremost a scorer in college at Fullerton State, but at 6-2 needs to adapt to the point to avoid being punished by taller 2's in this league.
Bottom line, this isn't a particularly distinguished duo. Brown was averaging 14 minutes a game, and Williams 10 minutes, for a team with the NBA's worst record. Brown has logged about as many minutes as Rodney Carney, on a ballclub that starts Beno Udrih at the point. Williams has played less than Brian Cardinal.
The "good news" is that the Wolves didn't give up very much either, and in the case of McCants may have made an addition-by-subtraction impact on their locker room as Shaddy inevitably had difficulty coping with his steady plummet from starter to microwave 6th man to nonentity. He wasn't going to be re-signed by Minnesota at the end of this season anyway. He has enormous talent and a shameless lack of self-awareness. Anyone who thinks they can change his enigmatic, corrosive ego after a controversial stint as a college star and four years in the pros is fighting an uphill battle. But if someone can unlock that enigma and make it right, McCants will pay big rewards. That wasn't ever going to happen in Minnesota. Calvin Booth will go down in the records books at the Timberwolf with the least amount of career playing time in franchise history--40 seconds. He came from Philly as a salary dump and is presumably destined to fulfill the same role in Sactown as he has in Minnesota--as a deck chair on the Titanic.
Okay, you want the sunny take? Shelden Williams has some talent. Coming from Duke, he presumably knows how to play, and he is athletic. His contract expires at the end of this season, so the Wolves aren't locked into anything more than a 30-game look-see. Maybe the second change of scenary will be the tonic. And god knows he fortifies the ranks for the smallball coach McHale enjoys so much. Brown will not be as problematical as was McCants, and may be able to come in and provide a little instant offense while dishing the rock more than he hogs it. He makes less than $500,000 this season and has a player option for $736K next year, meaning he can fill out the tail end of a roster or be summarily dropped without much pain next season should he decide to re-up with Minnesota.
Those disappointed that McCants didn't fetch something more than this should realize that Williams is probably a McCants equivalent--he was taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2006 draft, after all. With Jefferson out for the season, Williams will at least give the Wolves a chance to keep Gomes at the small forward slot more often. And Brown is mildly intriguing--he hung 10 points and 6 assists on the Wolves back in December, when the team was in its Wittmanesque squalor.
This feels like a pretty inconsequential shuffle. But something to talk about in the dogsled days of February.
Update: Reading around about others' reactions, there is apparently some opinion that Williams plays bigger than I imagined, and is a 4/5 more than a smallish 4. That's not the memory I have of him at various points over the last couple of years, but if he can indeed be a more rugged, albeit small, low post defender that keeps Love at power forward instead of the pivot, then his value upgrades a bit. But I repeat: From my recollections, I don't think you plug this guy in at center, and at the 4 he seems pretty repetitious.
16 Reader Comments
"Those disappointed that McCants didn't fetch something more than this should realize that Williams is probably a McCants equivalent--he was taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2006 draft, after all."
Granted. But the 5th overall draft pick by one of the most inept drafting teams in Basketball teams in history (The Hawks)
Xander--
And where do the Wolves rank in your inept drafting pantheon? The fact that the Wolves have been criticized for taking him as high as 14th should tell you something.
This trade brings a name to mind: Chris Richard. Britt, do you think Williams will contribute more than Richard would? The gaping hole at center made worse with the loss of Jefferson immediately made my wonder why the Wolves didn't get Richard back on the squad as a body for the 5 spot that can at least log enough minutes to rest some guys. How does Williams compare to Richard in your estimation?
Also, if Brown sees the floor at all I think it will be a plus especially if Ollie returns as well: Foye and Telfair have been logging big minutes lately, no?
Another attempt at a sunny read: depending on how this works out, it *may* grease the wheels for a Rhino departure (not now, of course, but perhaps at draft time). Maybe this is grasping at straws... Ok, so it probably is. But at least Shelden is interested in defense.
At the very least, I praise the culture-building dimension of the move.
Blech.
Are you kidding? This is our move? What's the point? Just to say we did something?
Shelden Williams not only can't get on the court for the Kings, he couldn't get on the court for ATL back when they really sucked. The guy is a McCants equivalent, except for the fact that he really, really sucks.
If McCants was a negative influence just send him home, or buy him out (probably the classier move)....
B- good call. We could have just called up Chris Richard and signed him for the rest of the season.
I don't see what the problem is with the trade. Shelden has actually been alright with the limited minutes he's gotten. I'm sure he's got some holes in his game or he likely would have seen more minutes with ATL or SAC. But what did you want us to get for McCants? I don't think there's a big market for malcontents who think they are stars, yet take way more off the table than they bring to it. Williams has at least a little upside. Hopefully he'll thrive with the new chance. And if not, big deal. We cut him loose at the end of the year like we were going to do with McCants anyways. There's really no risk to it. If we'd given up another 1st round pick or brought back a bad contract, you could complain. But there's really nothing to complain about here.
I guess the problem is that highly paid, supposedly smart basketball minds put some time and effort into improving this team...and this is the result.
Basically the equivalent of removing your dirty sock from your left foot and moving it to the right foot.
You're right. Little or no harm done. Should we expect more? From this front office...no, but we should want more.
The improvement from "boneheaded" trades to "meaningless" trades is not going to cut it for me.
worm,
agreed. not the splash i was hoping for, but it's at least an interesting wrinkle to watch the rest of the season. Kirk Snyder proved to be a pleasant surprise last year. the contracts we didn't trade (Miller & Cardinal) are now more valuable next year. we should look into a Hinrich trade in the offseason.
Little risk on this one. I remember watching Williams at Duke and thinking that, while he was a reach at 5, he would be able to do for Atlanta what they ended up getting Al Horford to do a year later. There were times when he was a bull inside in college playing against good players (Duke's nonconference schedule is also usually tough). I agree that he could play together with Love if they wanted to do that, but I don't think he'll see the floor much.
The other potential benefit is that McCants starts lighting it up in a few games and gets the Kings a few more wins (and fewer ping pong balls). I like Bobby Brown's athleticism, but the stats aren't in his favor.
Update on Richard: he had a season-ending injury in the D-League. Not sure where I heard that.
b and Dunno:
Just a heads up for those who are wondering why we didn't just go pick up Chris Richard: he hurt his back (if I recall) and is out for the season in the D-league. A little aside to that- he didn't really do much in the D-league (he was an all star, but of the most mediocre ilk), and I don't recall seeing much of him in Minny that made me think he was anything but beef.
There are bodies in the D-League that could be called up, but I'd rather give Shelden a look.
This trade is a net positive, while still managing to be almost totally irrelevant.
With Kevin Ollie returning, I doubt there is a future for Bobby Brown. Sheldon? Who knows. One thing, he won't be making any trips to Vegas on New Year's (if you know what I mean).
I doubt Shaddy's website will be overhauled considering it only talks about himself.
Is there a real talented "big" in our future? Gawd, let's hope so.
I also have heard the Richards got hurt and was out for the year.
I think this trade represents an interesting window into the Wolves' FO thinking:
First off, it's a no-risk trade. Shaddy wasn't going to play, and Booth definitely wasn't going to play. We could have gotten two sacks of potatoes in return and the risk wouldn't have been any different for us.
If that's the case, why not take a flier on a guy who still could develop into a solid second stringer/able defensive (moderate) big for us under McHale's tuteledge? Williams may never be a starter, but why not see if playing for McHale and next to Love (who seems to make everybody better) turns into something?
As for Brown, I think he fills minutes off the bench in place of Randy/Bassy, and can occasionally drop in some points as well. Basically he's here to give them some more rest and that's it.
So what does this trade suggest? It suggests that the Wolves are content to draft a PG. It suggests that the FO is strategizing for next year by holding onto Miller and Cardinal, draft picks, and taking a flier on a player who might (but probably won't) turn into something.
Think of it this way: after another (hopefully) productive draft, the Wolves will be positioned to be HUGE players in next season's trade market, with around $16 million in expiring contracts between Miller and Cardinal. Given the decreasing salary cap, it may put us in the best position we'll be able to get in getting one of the 2010 Super Duper FA's (by trading for them and signing them to an extension).
I have to admit, though, I was kind of hoping for Chandler.
Thanks for the Richard update, paging and TheFlinger.
I think the word "inconsequential" really sums this trade up: getting any beneficial run out of two guys by giving up two guys who gave almost no beneficial run would be a small positive. I'm not angry that a "bigger" move wasn't made especially since I have very little idea of what was being proposed/offered: I'm in no way "plugged in" and the only names I heard were Tyson Chandler and Kirk Heinrich and who knows what would have been give up for them plus Chandler's eventual trade was nixed anyway.
And, lets face it, this was always a "rebuilding" a.k.a. "throwaway" year. The real important things are going to happen around draft time and free agency. That will be the time to get angry if very little happens.
i, for one, am glad to have some fresh laundry to cheer for. the mccants cancer has been removed and now, with another big body around to do a little heavy lifting, love may survive his rookie year. (did anyone else pine for williams during the '06 draft to be the thug to help kg?)
this may be kind of off-base after bassy's exhibition last night, but the bandied-about hinrich trade scared me if only because the guy has a history of shooting woes. he's hovered around 40% from the field. and i felt the same thing with the raymond felton rumors: i like both as strong floor generals (floors general?), but not with bassy as the "change of pace" backup.
the price sounded right and the wolves expiring contracts don't all get used up, but waiting to see how the draft pans out before we go plugging holes with other team's super-savings cutouts and castaways could net the wolves a better catch this summer.
good riddance, rashad. you'll always be a better baller in your mind.
thanks for the posts, brit.
Please. Somebody. Please tell me that McHale does not view Williams as the replacement (and eventual backup) for Jefferson at the "5".
Now, way back in the day, Pat Riley opined that maybe you could trot out five 6'9" guys and win championships. Of course, at least one of those guys must be able to play like a guy named Ervin used to.
Oh well. Nevermind. Better to sacrifice Shelden than continue butchering Kevin Love for the rest of the season.
Either Williams helps or he helps show Love what not to do as the 5th pick of the draft. Either way, there is a good chance there will be something positive that comes from this move.
April 15 is the Wolves final home game and the next meeting of the Wolves and Kings. Rashad may have more PT at Target Center that night than he will have for the rest of calendar '09.
This is a page I have looked forward to turning for some time.
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