Around the time Wednesday we read the 93rd updated NBA mock draft — this is the season, after all — a thought crept into our head: As the Wolves head toward their 25th season in the league (crazy, right?), who is their greatest shooting guard of all-time?
This led to far too much time on basketball-reference.com, but at least it was better than wondering which player the Wolves will take with the No. 9 pick next month. (It has to be a shooting guard, right?)
Yes. It has to be a shooting guard. Just once in a quarter-century they have to get it right at that position. Because here are some of the legitimate candidates to be their all-time greatest at the 2-spot. Everyone under consideration had to have played at least two full seasons with the Wolves (so Ray Allen doesn't count!).
• Wally Szczerbiak: He is among the top five in franchise history in games played, points scored and three-pointers made. But to be honest, Szczerbiak was more of a small forward than a shooting guard. If you don't think there is much of a distinction between the two positions, watch film of Wally putting the ball on the floor or trying to guard someone on the perimeter.
• Doug West: He played on the original Wolves team (1989-90 season) and averaged 19.3 ppg on 51.7 percent shooting in his best season, 1992-93. Last year's Wolves would have killed for that kind of production from that spot. But he also made 37 three-pointers (on 19 percent accuracy) in his career, underscoring his limitations.
• Anthony Peeler: He was acquired when the Wolves traded West. He could shoot threes (unlike West), but his game had plenty of holes.
• Latrell Sprewell: He was here for two years — one great, one a disaster. He, like Szczerbiak, had some minutes at small forward. But he was a huge part of the best season in franchise history and was dynamite in the playoffs. That gets him on the list.
• J.R. Rider: Not kidding. As bad as it got with off-court stuff, he averaged 20 points per game in his three seasons here.
