Hollinger Chat: Lots of Wolves stuff

[Wile E Coyote]

Scott W (Reno, NV)
John, do you think Ramon Sessions will end up being Flynn's back-up, or will start next to him at the two?

John Hollinger
I expect Sessions to start games at the 1 and finish them at the 2, though I notice Minnseota didn't line up that way for the first preseason game.
Alok Shah (NYC, NY)


Tim (Minneapolis)
The wolves have three strong players according to your PER, do you see them putting up more wins than last year as a result?

John Hollinger
I see the Wolves as fringe playoff challengers, probably settling in the low-to-mid 30s in wins. not great, but a lot better than most expect from them I believe. Upgrading from Telfair to Sessions is a huge, huge, HUGE difference.


Dan (DC)
Who's this year's Devin Harris? And by that I mean, "star who everyone realizes is a star a year too late because of minutes".

John Hollinger
Ramon Sessions would be my first guess, Carl Landry also has to get a mention -- I'm not sure he can play next to Scola for long stretches, but if he can he could blow up.


Trevor (Minneapolis)
With Kahn making all of these financial trades, who do you see the wolves going after in free agency 2010? Any chance of getting a guy like joe johnson?

John Hollinger
I have a feeling he'll target somebody younger if he can, but upgrading the wing positions is the obvious move given how locked in they are at point guard, power forward and center.


Rick (Philadelphia)
Re: Dan (DC) - this year's Devon Harris - Maresse Speights

John Hollinger
Yep, that's another possibility. As is Kevin Love.


Herbie (Minny)
When you look 'round the league, which team is likely farthest away from serious contention even for a playoff spot? Is it still likely to be a western team?

John Hollinger
Has to be either New Jersey or Sacramento. But since Nets have mad cap space next summer, I'll go with Sacramento.


http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/28724

[Wolf on the Prowl]

Sure hope we see the Wolves improve a great deal this season. I just hope we dont improve to much where we can lose our lottery pick. The draft could be very strong next year and we need every chance to add the talent next years draft could provide. The worst thing that can happen is missing the playoffs or even making them but being pinned a position where we cant improve the roster through the draft. Free agency will only take us so far.

[jersey wolf]

dont worry WOTP, stern will rig the lottery FOR US next year b/c we hired kahn and drafted rubio. we're on his "i owe them" list now

[Kestrel]

Originally Posted by Wile E Coyote

Herbie (Minny)
When you look 'round the league, which team is likely farthest away from serious contention even for a playoff spot? Is it still likely to be a western team?

John Hollinger
Has to be either New Jersey or Sacramento. But since Nets have mad cap space next summer, I'll go with Sacramento.

The Nets have Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, and some other possibly at least okay young talent like Yi Jianlian and Chris Douglas-Roberts. The Vince Carter deal got them to a point where they could possibly try for two max free agents next offseason. They'll have loads of room.

Sacramento, meanwhile.... Well, one can see why Rubio's situation would have been harder for them to swallow. If they'd taken him and he wound up doing what he did, well, try selling your fanbase on "Spencer Hawes is really going to improve" as reason to re-up those season tickets. Their secondary younger talent is more like "Sean May, reclamation project." Tyreke had better come through, but even if he works at point guard it's not like he's got a ton of talent around him.

[Vegas]

Originally Posted by jersey wolf

dont worry WOTP, stern will rig the lottery FOR US next year b/c we hired kahn and drafted rubio. we're on his "i owe them" list now

If that where to happen, I'd start to wonder if Kahn was destined to draft a PG every year. Guess you can't complain if your PG options for the future are Wall, Flynn, Sessions and Rubio.