The 20-year-old Williams gives the Wolves a promising roster now that includes Love, 22, and 20-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio, 23-year-old shooting guard Wes Johnson, and 26-year-old Darko Milicic. Even before the draft Ronzone was intrigued about the team’s future.
“We are gonna get better,” he said. “We are gonna win more games. You can see the talent we got on the floor. We’re excited for the future.”
Love led the NBA in rebounding last year at 15.2 per game. He also averaged a career high 20.2 points and is easily the most advanced of the team’s players.
Rubio’s arrival on the roster after being drafted in 2009 has teammates excited. Reserve forward Anthony Randolph, 21, told Ronzone he has never played with a point guard who will get him the ball. If the Wolves win games, Ronzone doesn’t even care if Rubio scores. “Jason Kidd (Dallas point guard) said his goal one day was to get a triple double without scoring,” Ronzone said.
Ronzone believes Johnson’s talent is “off the charts.” He was inconsistent during his rookie season and often played without intensity. But Ronzone said it’s typical for NBA players to make a lot of improvement from their first to second years and expects that progression for Johnson who is so athletic and basketball skilled he could be among the league’s better players offensively and defensively.
Milicic started the most games of his much criticized NBA career last season, his first full year with the Wolves, averaging a modest 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. His overall consistency and intensity was an issue and Ronzone admits this is a “big year” for the 7-foot center who has not only size but exceptional skills including shot blocking and passing.
Ronzone predicts this next season will be one for both Milicic and the Wolves to make evaluations. “See how committed he is,” Ronzone said. “How bad he wants it. I feel he will do it. I believe in him.”
Milicic, Love and Rubio could form one of the better passing trios seen in the NBA in a long time. The prospect of that had Ronzone enthused. “(If) we guard, we can score with anybody in the league. We did that this year. We just couldn’t finish games.”