Minnesota Timberwolves: Zach LaVine Breaks Out
I remember back to the 2010 NBA Draft when the ping pong balls failed to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a break, again, and I was checking out prospect lists to examine the possibilities. Later that night I got a call from a friend of mine that happened to be massive Wolves fan. He had what I would describe as an “apathetic resignation.” For a discussion about the fourth pick, I thought it seemed unfair and overly pessimistic.
He said, “Well, it looks like we have to live with Wesley Johnson,” followed by a number of well-timed expletives. I concurred with his argument that it wasn’t a hugely exciting option, but I said that he would be a solid guy, or at least one of those outside shooters that every good team needed. I still considered it a valuable option.
More than four years later, Johnson was a joke with the Wolves and I’m surprised that he even has a place in the NBA, much less starting (but doing nothing) for the laughable Los Angeles Lakers. And it still hurts to think they could’ve had DeMarcus Cousins, but apparently he was just too much to deal with (a handful, sure, but without question worth the effort). I can almost guarantee he was higher on their boards than Johnson.
And for some reason watching rookie Zach LaVine on Friday night made me think about all of this. He’s raw. Oh my goodness LaVine is raw, but watching him post an impressive line of 28 points and five assists on 11-of-14 shooting told me something. I’m confident this guy is no Wes Johnson and he’s nowhere near the abomination that Wes Johnson is.
LaVine is going to be a significant work in progress, especially if they want him to be a full-time point guard, but he has the kind of ceiling that can elevate the status of a franchise. Johnson, even on draft night, never gave off that kind of impression.
It is so nice that the Wolves were willing to make that kind of risky, upside pick. I appreciate that kind of philosophy instead of taking the Johnson-ish type like Adreian Payne or Tyler Ennis. And Friday night was the first real glimpse into what could be with LaVine.
Think about what was on display that night: A very impressive shot selection where it didn’t look like he was forcing offense or his shot, but very efficient when he did; an explosive burst to the basket where he was able to create or find open teammates, where I am surprised at how quickly he has adapted, not necessarily in assist numbers but getting people the ball in the right spots.
The way I look at it, Ricky Rubio has elite playmaking skills but his lack of athleticism can make things difficult sometimes; LaVine, though, can add his own level of playmaking but have it evolve from athleticism and an ability to create that Rubio may not have. It has the potential to be an interesting combination when Rubio returns.
I could talk about more, but I really think the best way to think is that this franchise seems committed to the big score. They could have taken a veteran-laden package for Kevin Love last summer and put themselves on a track to purgatory and fringe competitiveness that only disenfranchises their fans because they know there is nothing bigger on the horizon. That was the Wes Johnson philosophy; the Zach LaVine philosophy is not only a lot more fun, but a lot more attractive, too.
For everyone involved.