Nov 2, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger (10) against the Sacramento Kings at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Kings 92-80. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

With all of the personnel speculation that March Madness (and in Chase Budinger’s case, successful 5×5 practices) brings — draft boards, MLB fantasy baseball drafts, NFL players migrating — it’s tough not to look at the roster the Wolves have been forced to trot out there and dream about the other moribund franchises getting ready to move on from their questionable investments gone to seed.

A recent email conversation began thusly:

Let me throw this one out for you guys, I have been thinking about it all year…we need a 2-guard next year, Tyreke Evans is pretty much odd man out in Sacramento and after a big rookie season all his numbers have gone down.  Part of it is they keep moving him from PG to SG to SF and back and the coaching turnover, DMC etc, Sacramento is a mess.  But the guy is talented, do you dangle an offer to him?  Try to get him and see if you can salvage something from him?
I am very intrigued by him, the talent, the physical nature of his drives to the hoop, get him attacking like he did his rookie year when he was one of the top guys in the league in attempts at the rim.
Not sure how well he fits Adelman’s system per se, but he could be a nice, relatively cheap addition.

My knee-jerk generalizing, ideologically manic-overreaction:

Evans is an 0-guard, in that — in his prime, which at this point was his rookie year — he could create for himself and dump or kick to shooters. Once the book was out that he couldn’t shoot, you could lay off him and watch him try and try and create. And then once he got teammates who needed the ball, too (DMC, Thornton, Thomas), he was told to play well with others.

If you like watching JJ pound the life out of the rock, you love the idea of Evans — but what about Tyreke do you think would make Adelman not kill him? He can’t shoot and dominates the ball.

To the shot chart:

Tyreke Evans’ shot chart.

And now — not setting the bar too high — check Corey Brewer’s shot chart for comparison.

Corey Brewer’s shot chart.

That’s Corey Brewer’s chart shaming Tyreke Evans’. Look at all of the red that changed to yellow. Take a look at Courtney Lee’s…

Courney Lee’s shot chart.

Look at all the green. Last one: Chase Budinger.

Chase Budinger’s shot chart.

Look at those corners. Actually, look at the whole right side from 3. (Might even look better next to Derrick Williams on the left.) This is 2011-12 Chase, but you get the picture.

As far as personnel this season, I hate that Ridnour is the starting 2 (2 years running) but at least he moves the ball and — in theory — can shoot it. (In theory.) A big 2 who could play d — Ronnie Brewer, Thabo Sefolosha, Tony Allen-types would be a worst-case scenario pair with Ricky. If that bigger, solid defending 2 could shoot? All the better. If that 2 could be a secondary ballhandler? Done deal.

At this point, with Ricky as your point guard who (at this point) can’t dependably shoot it; the 2′s gotta do what the 3 doesn’t. The fact AK can’t shoot and Love hasn’t been around, means the 2 has to. So, it’s Ridnour until Chase is back.

Best case? Tyreke would make a good Harden-type leader of the 2nd unit. Just dominate the ball and run wild, don’t worry about defending. Sure, the physicality of lowering a shoulder and barreling to the hole is different than what the Wolves have, but does that make it better? If Tyreke is dominating the 2nd unit, what would happen to this guy?

No thanks.

1. I love the chemistry of this roster.  And no matter what people say, chemistry matters.
2. Luke Ridnour impresses me is shooting has been better then advertised.  Granted, it has only been three games.
3. Darko has to be more than a black-hole on the block.  Especially when this season his averages are is 22 minutes, 24% shooting from the field, 67% from the foul-line, 5.3 rpg and 4.7 ppg.  The only bright spot – he is averaging 3.3 blocks per game which is 3rd in the league.  But come one, please show me something!
4. Micheal Beasley has been great to watch.  He has hustled, made big shots, and looks very motivated.  But Beasley’s relationship with the fans reminds me of  Randy Moss when he was with the Vikings – either time.  I hope it ends better.
5. Kevin Love needs to remember that it is OK not shot the 3-point shot every time you get the ball there.  But I love the double-doubles.
6. Corey Brewer still impresses me.  Even though he is not starting – and without an extension, he is an important player off the bench.  He brings a ton of hustle and athletic ability and has improved his shooting.
7. I don’t understand limiting Love to 25 mins a game.  What is the point?  Saving him for the playoffs…wait.  Nope.  He is only 22 years old.
8. Wes Johnson has a nice jumper, can get off the floor, rebounds well, but struggles with ball-handling.  All in all, I like him as a player…so far.
9. Kosta Koufos has the worst hair in the league.  But is surprisingly productive with his minutes.
10. Anthony Tolliver has been fun to watch, but the only way he should play over Love is if Love loses an arm.
11. I still think Sebastian Telfair is gone once Jonny Flynn gets healthy.
12. I do wonder what will happen to the rotation when Flynn and Martell Webster return.
13. The Wolves average 55 rebounds a game which is best in the league.  They also grab 12.7 rebounds more a game than their opponents.

Other NBA Thoughts

1. The Heat will struggle on the road, but could very well go undefeated at home.  Mike Miller needs to get healthy ASAP!
2. Depth will not be an issue with the Lakers, but Kobe does not look great.  But give it time.
3. The Clippers are 0-4 and Baron Davis is out of shape, but Blake Griffin looks amazing averaging a double-double (give him the ROY already) and Eric Gordon is legit.
4. Even though the Magic were destroyed by the Heat, I still think they will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.
5. The Cavs beat the Celtics, but I have to believe we will see roster moves ala David Kahn in the next 14 months.
6. Houston Rockets = my favorite non-Minnesota team.  They added Brad Miller and Courtney Lee from free agency, Luis Scola is 3rd in scoring in the NBA, and this team looks legit.

7. Monta Ellis averages 27 ppg and is shooting 59% from the field.  He is going to be an All-Star reserve.  Write it down!
8. The Pistons make me sad.  Richard Hamilton is counting down the days to the trading deadline.
9. You know Kevin Durant is the leading scorer in the league, Scola is third, but do you know who is second? Derrick Rose.  Boozer can not come back soon enough.
10. Rajon Rondo amazes me.  He is leading the league with 16.7 assist per game and is third on the team in rebounding at 6.3 per game (Paul Peirce is 2nd).  Only through three games, but still.  That’s amazing!  I can’t wait for Kendrick Perkins to come back and then the insanity will ensue!  PS Glen Davis is scoring as much as KG.
11. New Orleans’ Marcus Thornton for Sixth Man Of The Year!  Like the Cavs, this roster is going to blown up.
12. Maybe Chauncey Billups is tried from this summer, but he is not playing well.  That can not make the Denver front office feel good.  Outcome = see the Cavs and Hornets.  Enjoy Melo while you can.
13. The Bucks look bad, I feel bad for Michael Redd, he is a classy guy.  But that is $18M not even in street clothes.
14. Dallas is old and Dirk is leading the team in rebounding – look out.

Well, the Wolves face the Heat tonight in Miami, and it could be ugly.  Or the Wolves could step it up and make a game of it.

Here are the Wolves next five games;

• Nov. 2nd @ Miami
• Nov. 3rd @ Orlando
• Nov. 5th Vs. Atlanta
• Nov. 7th @Houston
• Nov. 9th @ LA Lakers