#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

The JNR: Someone borrowed our projector and never returned it, so we don't have a video package for you. Instead, we have a story.

A few years back we acquired Otto Porter in the middle of one of our worst seasons. He came into the facility and listened to us talk about our goal for the rebuild and our plan to make it back to contention. He was quiet for most of it, just nodding and saying a few things here and there. Finally, at the end I asked him if he had any questions for us, any concerns, any input on our team strategy.

He just looked at me and said, "I'm just ready to work. I think I can make this team special."

That team wasn't special: we had a bottom record. But within a few years we started building. And we got better, and better. Eventually we got so good we got to the PBSL Finals. And even though we lost, during our postgame conversation Otto was still positive. He told me, "We did it. We made this team special."

Otto never talked trash, or fought with teammates, or made crazy demands. He just came into work every day with a goal of making himself and his team better. And I think he'll be happy to hear that I think he accomplished that goal better than we ever could have imagined. Trading Otto Porter was the single hardest decision I've had to make as a GM. Harder than any other trades, though there may have been better talent. There has never been a Timberwolf as unique and as good a person as Otto Porter. We'll miss him and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Our team unfortunately didn't have a lot of wiggle room with Otto and Wiggins together. It was time for a change, and so we made the tough decision. We brought in Keith Pfeffer, who is excited to play alongside Wiggins. We also signed James Pearsall to a contract, but negotiations with the Pelicans didn't go as planned and they matched the contract. We also brought in Dennis Schroeder to man the point for the final year of his deal. Free agency went well; we brought in some young talent to try and round out our roster. And while camp was slightly disappointing in some areas, we are pleased to announce that Andrew Wiggins showed up in the best shape of his life and is ready to take the next leap in his career.

Our anticipated starting lineup is constantly in flux, but we will most likely start out with:

C: Dewayne Dedmon
PF: Tom Collins
SF: Andrew Wiggins
SG: Keith Pfeffer
PG: Dennis Schroeder

With Jordan Adams, Hunter Gentry, Danilo Gallinari and Melvin McCall making important contributions off the bench. We expect to flip the starting lineup a good bit to see what we have. Overall, our goal is to make the playoffs. We don't have our pick, so we need to get as many wins as possible, and I think our talent is good enough to get us there.

Does anyone have any questions?

How does it fee to finally have a player with purple current in Wiggins? Do you think he will get the T-Wolves where they need to be this season and was his purple current a result of Otto leaving knowing he have to step up and work even harder this season?

Eazy P wrote: Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:04 am How does it fee to finally have a player with purple current in Wiggins? Do you think he will get the T-Wolves where they need to be this season and was his purple current a result of Otto leaving knowing he have to step up and work even harder this season?

The JNR: It does feel good. I think Wiggins loved playing with Otto and respected his talent, so he took the trade hard. But we told him we had a vision for a team built around his scoring and elite defense, and he came into camp ready to prove that our decision was a good one.

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: The West has started to look more and more comparative with the East in terms of competition. How many teams out there do you think have a legitimate shot of being playoff contenders?

The JNR: At least 10 or 11. There are a lot of solid teams. I think we're at the bottom of that contender list but I do think we can make it to the playoffs if we play our brand of basketball.

Mitch Landrieu, nola.com: Getting back to Andrew Wiggins for a moment, what brought this change in him for this training camp? Did you meet with him and let him know it's his team now?

You were at a crossroads this year, and it seemed like it was Otto or Andrew. Can you go over the decision making process on why it was Andrew over Otto?

RPF wrote: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:37 pm Mitch Landrieu, nola.com: Getting back to Andrew Wiggins for a moment, what brought this change in him for this training camp? Did you meet with him and let him know it's his team now?

The JNR: Exactly right, Mr. Mayor. We told him that it was his team, that we planned on building around him, and he had to work. He had to make moves and not stand around like a statue. We told him people around the league would try to take him down, so he had to work hard.

ballsohard wrote: Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:27 pm You were at a crossroads this year, and it seemed like it was Otto or Andrew. Can you go over the decision making process on why it was Andrew over Otto?

The JNR: Contract, youth. Also, Otto is a great player, but he seems like he'll always be more of a complementary star than a team-leading superstar. He's an elite second star, but we think Wiggins can be an elite first star.

The wolves look a bit thin at center. Are there any plans to shore up the frontcourt by dealing Melvin McCall?

Wombataholic wrote: Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:57 pm The wolves look a bit thin at center. Are there any plans to shore up the frontcourt by dealing Melvin McCall?

The JNR: It's not off the table. I like Melvin McCall a lot, and felt he had a good training camp, but I am of the impression that we need a core young PF or C to make the next step, so I am keeping my options open.

Danilo seems to have never replicated his Chicago success elsewhere. What, for you, would constitute a successful season for him?

WigNosy wrote: Thu Apr 19, 2018 6:28 pm Danilo seems to have never replicated his Chicago success elsewhere. What, for you, would constitute a successful season for him?

Make a few shots and stay healthy.

Talk to us about Keith Pfeffer. The 6'4 PG has made tremendous strides in training camp over his short career and he looks to be a solid addition to pair with Wiggins. What role do you see him filling during his tenure with the Wolves?

The Northwest is an interesting division, with the up and coming, and frankly frightening Jazz, last years division champ Nuggets + Giannis, the bridesmaid Blazers, and your team. What is you prediction for the standings at the end of the season?

NOLa. wrote: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:49 am Talk to us about Keith Pfeffer. The 6'4 PG has made tremendous strides in training camp over his short career and he looks to be a solid addition to pair with Wiggins. What role do you see him filling during his tenure with the Wolves?

The JNR: We like versatility here and I think Pfeffer can fit in as the 1 or 2. We love how hungry he is, and how hard he works. In his first visit here, I told him that he was the reason for the Otto trade, that if we didn't have the opportunity to get someone like him we wouldn't have done the deal. And I think he took that seriously. He's been in the gym trying to get better at defense and getting stronger, and we really think he will be a valuable part of this organization going forward.

kucoach7 wrote: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:53 am The Northwest is an interesting division, with the up and coming, and frankly frightening Jazz, last years division champ Nuggets + Giannis, the bridesmaid Blazers, and your team. What is you prediction for the standings at the end of the season?

The JNR: Initially, I see it going this way:

1. Nuggets
2. Blazers
3. Jazz
4. Wolves
5. Thunder

But I do think we have the potential to be as high as second on that list. We just need to find the style of basketball that makes the most sense for us and learn to play together as a team.

Will you be looking to address the hole in the front court around the trade deadline? Also, Melvin McCall was signed to a fairly reasonable deal during UFA. Was he a target you were looking to go after if he deal had been picked up during RFA?

NickMalone77 wrote: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:13 am Will you be looking to address the hole in the front court around the trade deadline? Also, Melvin McCall was signed to a fairly reasonable deal during UFA. Was he a target you were looking to go after if he deal had been picked up during RFA?

The JNR: We will always be active in looking to improve the team. As for McCall, we were interested in his athleticism and would've likely made an offer if he were an RFA as well.

I know you're probably tired of being asked about your frontcourt, but I'd like to know who you have pegged as starters, and which guy you hope to see big things from.

Xist2Inspire wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:08 am I know you're probably tired of being asked about your frontcourt, but I'd like to know who you have pegged as starters, and which guy you hope to see big things from.

In the preseason we ran with Gallinari and Dedmon, and I was pretty unimpressed. I may try to do a twin towers with Dedmon and Hunter Gentry just to try and get some offense in the frontcourt. I also expect Tom Collins to get some minutes at the 4.