Season Over

[Volans19]

The T-Wolves hopes for the playoffs are dead.

The focus for the rest of the season should be developing Shabazz and Dieng, trying to get Budinger back up to speed and getting his shot back, and tanking for at top 10 pick.

We have no trade assets apart from maybe Dante but I can't see the Wolves getting anything better than a second round pick for him which we should take. Barea has to be moved, I don't care what we get (as long as it's not a longer contract than his) but he has to go. Ideally this would force Adelman to play Shved at back-up PG but he'd probably play Price.

Unfortunately, Adelman, Flip, and players like Love and Ricky will keep trying to win games. But if we are honest here we should try and tank. I don't care if it pisses Love off because I don't think he'll stay regardless of us making the playoffs or not so the Wolves should play for the future (however bleak that may be).

Next season we will hopefully have a new coach, a rookie that can crack the rotation (maybe even the starting line-up *fingers crossed*), and a new cheap player or two. Similar to this season my excitement level for the possibility of this team making the playoffs will carry me into the next.

What do you guys think? Should we try and tank for a top 10 pick or keep grinding and hope we can put a long string of wins together to make a playoff push?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

While I'm not comfortable with the word "tank", I agree with the premise of your post, Volans. The injuries to Pek and Martin just accelerated the inevitable conclusion...missing the playoffs again, and Adelman needs to change his focus to a longer view. This means seeing what his roster has to offer, so that Flip has enough knowledge to prioritize his off-season moves. Adelman's "win-now" philosophy has kept Muhammad, Dieng and even Hummel on the bench, so that Flip doesn't really know if they are legitimate wing options, or in Dieng's case, a potential rim protector. All three need to see some meaningful minutes so that Flip can assess their capabilities. I have been riding Rick for his continuing to play Bud while he was obviously not physically ready, but he has looked a little more healed the past two games. If the medical staff doesn't think he will hurt himself, he should also be seeing meaningful minutes. JJ does not need to see the court the rest of the season; instead Shved and Price need minutes at PG so Flip can see if either is a viable option in the future. Shabazz, Corey and Bud need to audition at SG so it can be determined if any of them can handle the position defensively. It's a time for experimentation and assessment, and if Adelman doesn't want to play along, he needs to be shown the door. If Flip has his eye on a coach that is currently employed (such as Hoiberg), Terry Porter can be the interim coach the rest of the year, with the understanding that he needs to play the guys Flip needs to assess.

if the Wolves do this, they actually may find that they are playing better. This increases the chance that they give up their 2014 first rounder, but it would be worth it to find some unutilized talent at the end of the bench. The downside is that the reserves completely flop, but even that has a silver lining, as it leads to the Wolves getting a better draft pick...not due to tanking, but in a valid desire to assess the current roster. So there is really no downside.

I don't know that Flip has the power to make this happen. If not, Taylor needs to get involved to make sure our Hall Of Fame coach is dedicated to the long-term prospects of this franchise, and not just to his legacy.

[Coolbreeze44]

As most on this board know, I never advocate for tanking. The Wolves have done enough of that over the years without even trying. And I'm a believer that it's much more important WHO you pick, rather than WHERE. There are always ways to win a draft, superior scouting, luck, trades to mention just a few. So I put very little stock in being a few places higher in the pecking order.

The rest of your post I agree with. It's time to see what we have with our younger players so we can make more educated decisions on what to do this offseason. That may mean Rick has to go before the season ends so Flip can be the interim coach to focus on what he needs to see.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

As most on this board know, I never advocate for tanking. The Wolves have done enough of that over the years without even trying. And I'm a believer that it's much more important WHO you pick, rather than WHERE. There are always ways to win a draft, superior scouting, luck, trades to mention just a few. So I put very little stock in being a few places higher in the pecking order.

The rest of your post I agree with. It's time to see what we have with our younger players so we can make more educated decisions on what to this offseason. That may mean Rick has to go before the season ends so Flip can be the interim coach to focus on what he needs to see.

I really like your suggestion of Flip as an interim coach. It's unlikely he would be coaching to "win now", and rather would be getting a close up look at who is going to stay and who is going to go. Zgoda tweeted yesterday that there was a 20% chance Adelman never coaches another game...come on 20%!!!!!

[Coolbreeze44]

LST - That was the first thing I thought of when I heard he wasn't coaching last night. They say he will be on the bench tomorrow night, I'm not so sure.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LST - That was the first thing I thought of when I heard he wasn't coaching last night. They say he will be on the bench tomorrow night, I'm not so sure.

He really doesn't look like he is having fun on the bench, and bayouwolf's game report really made it sound like he has checked out. He's had a good career as a coach and his legacy is intact, and the draw of spending time with his wife and grandkids has to be powerful right now. I have my fingers crossed.

[worldK]

As most on this board know, I never advocate for tanking. The Wolves have done enough of that over the years without even trying. And I'm a believer that it's much more important WHO you pick, rather than WHERE. There are always ways to win a draft, superior scouting, luck, trades to mention just a few. So I put very little stock in being a few places higher in the pecking order.

The rest of your post I agree with. It's time to see what we have with our younger players so we can make more educated decisions on what to do this offseason. That may mean Rick has to go before the season ends so Flip can be the interim coach to focus on what he needs to see.

Good post cool. I agree with most of what you say.