Today I'm going to deviate from my APBA summaries and write about the Timberwolves recent trades. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks and if these moves put them over the top.

Let's recap: 

On June 22nd, the Wolves shipped Julius Randle and the 28th pick in the draft to Brooklyn, in exchange got the 33rd pick from Brooklyn and Mo Gueye from Chicago. This deal was actually more about dumping Randle's salary than picking up quality players. The 33rd pick ended up to be Isaiah Evans. 

This move allowed the Wolves to lock up Ayo Dosunmu to a long-term contract. 

On June 25th the Wolves shipped fan favorite Naz Reid and a boatload of picks to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.

I don't think the Wolves are done dealing but they don't have a lot of capital left to use. They may have to roll with what they have and hope it is enough to win them a championship.

What does the roster look like now and what would the starting lineup be?

With Randle and Reid gone, they will have to find a way to make up 34 points and 13 rebounds. Ball should be able to cover 20 points and about 5 rebounds (What he averaged last year). He also averaged 7 assists which gives the Wolves a nice point guard. They will also have Dosunmu for a full season and he averaged 14 points last year. He will most likely come off the bench and spell Ball or Edwards.

They still need someone to back-up Gobert and be able to play power forward and pull down rebounds. They have too many guards. Will they package a couple to get the power forward they need? Do they sign a PF in free agency? 

Some free agents that are available are: LeBron James, Kristaps Porzingis, Tobias Harris, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes. Do they sign one of these guys with some of the cap space money they freed up?

I'd like to hear what you think. Leave a comment.

Washington vs Cleveland 1962

 My next APBA series consisted of two American League teams squaring off using the basic game. After the old Washington Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961 This 1962 Washington Senators team was an expansion team that later became the Texas Rangers. They finished last with a record of 60 - 101. The Cleveland Indians finished with a record of 80 - 82.

  

Logos are Courtesy of https://www.sportslogos.net/

GAME 1: Location, Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Municipal Stadium

On the mound for the visiting Senators is Don Rudolph a C pitcher. Toeing the rubber for the home team Indians is Jim "Mudcat" Grant a D pitcher. Needless to say this is not a pitchers duel.

Cleveland puts up a single run in the second on a solo shot by Gene Green. Each team scores one in the third. In the fourth the Indians put up three on another solo shot by Green and a two run blast by Gerald Kindall. This dropped Rudolph to a D pitcher. 

With the score 5 to 1 Cleveland, the Senators put up a 5 spot in the top of the 5th culminating with a three run shot off the bat of Jim King. Unfortunately for the Senators that would be the last of their scoring as Bill Dailey (D), Jim Perry (D), and Frank Funk (B) would shut them down for the final 4 innings. 

Cleveland went on to score single runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th to come away with a 8 to 6 victory. Dailey got the win and Funk got the save. For the Senators their relievers of Marty Kutyna (D) and Steve Hamilton (C) were unable to keep the Indians from scoring. Kutyna took the loss.

GAME 2: Location, Washington DC, DC Stadium

This game saw Sudden Sam McDowell (D) on the hump for the visiting Indians and Claude Osteen (C) hurling for the hometown Senators.

The hometown team struck first with a 2 run single in the 3rd off the bat of Chuck Hinton. In the top of the 5th Cleveland tied the game with a two run homerun from Woody Held. 

After Osteen was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 6th the Indians got to reliever Pete Burnside (D) with one unearned run and a steal of home from Al Luplow. They surprised the Senators when John Romano took off for second on the double steal and Luplow made it home safely.

The Senators came back with two of their own in the bottom of the 7th on a two run homer from Harry Bright. But in the top of the 8th Cleveland tallied one run and the Frank Funk (B) closed it out for a two inning save and his second of the series.

GAME 3: Location, Washington DC, DC Stadium

The final game was all Cleveland with a 10 to 2 bashing of the hometown Senators. Starter Dick Donovan (B) for Cleveland pitched a complete game for his first win of the season. Starter Tom Cheney (C) only made it through 3 innings and gave up 6 runs. Relievers Ed Hobaugh (D), Steve Hamilton (C), and Jim Hannan (B) pitched the remaining 6 innings with Hobaugh not giving up any runs.

The offense for Cleveland was lead by homeruns from Jim Mahoney a solo homerun in the first, Willie Tasby a 3 run shot in the second and Chuck Essegian a two run blast in the 3rd.

That's it for this summary Cleveland took all three from Washington. My next series and recap will be the 1957 Giants versus the 1957 Cubs. Mays vs Banks. Look for my writeup on that series.