The young Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot to look forward to in the 2015-16 season. They have the last two number one overall picks in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns and one of their young budding stars is reigning slam dunk champion Zach LaVine.
The running narrative on the young high-flyer out of the Seattle area is that all he can do is dunk. While his shooting numbers haven’t been the best and his defense is sometimes suspect. He still has a high ceiling considering his athleticism, leaping ability and how he can finish at the rim with some contact.
While T-Wolves coach Flip Saunders continues his indefinite leave of absence, Sam Mitchell is taking over as the interim head coach. It appears that Mitchell is not afraid to take a chance on the young LaVine.
Following from Sirius XM NBA.
AUDIO: Today at #TWolves camp @SamMitchellNBA revealed @ZachLaVine will be the starting SG
Hear the INT Wed at 6p CT
https://t.co/L0csPeNZn5
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 6, 2015
And from Justin Termine of Sirius XM NBA.
Not sure what it means for K Martin, but Mitchell told me LaVine "absolutely, absolutely will start" at 2..Rubio called LaVine best at camp.
— Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) October 6, 2015
The Timberwolves know they aren’t competing for a playoff spot this year and knowing that, they are welcome to take a risk on the young LaVine over the veteran Kevin Martin.
Martin, in his last season under contract with the Timberwolves, was thought to be the starting shooting guard for the Wolves this season. This could also place Martin on the trading block and try to optimize his value as a sixth man as his career comes to an end.
This is great for LaVine and despite the rhetoric that LaVine can’t be a point guard in the NBA should be forever dead. Zach is a shooting guard, he might be a little undersized and his shooting might be questionable at time but he can grow into his body and add some strength that is necessary to be a high level NBA two and shooting for him should be his biggest on-court focus right now.
