Would it make us feel better if...

[Carlos Danger]

Now that it's confirmed, I do feel better. Denver pretty much steam rolled everyone else on it's way to the title. Now I'm just going to have to wonder how the Wolves would have done if they had drawn a different match up in the first round. Denver went 16-4 in the playoffs and were clearly the best team. I don't see us as able to beat them in a series even at full strength. But I do wonder how the Wolves would have fared if they could have just moved up a seed or two to start the playoffs? Lesson learned...take care of business in the regular season. Every game matters.

[kekgeek]

Now that it's confirmed, I do feel better. Denver pretty much steam rolled everyone else on it's way to the title. Now I'm just going to have to wonder how the Wolves would have done if they had drawn a different match up in the first round. Denver went 16-4 in the playoffs and were clearly the best team. I don't see us as able to beat them in a series even at full strength. But I do wonder how the Wolves would have fared if they could have just moved up a seed or two to start the playoffs? Lesson learned...take care of business in the regular season. Every game matters.

Can’t change what happened but a big What If is what happens if the wolves don’t go scoreless for 7 minutes in the play in

[Lipoli390]

I think Denver’s success, along with KAT missing so many games last season, will further encourage the Wolves front office to run it back with both KAT and Rudy. For purposes of next season, that makes sense. But Denver’s success doesn’t alter my view at all about the need to move one of our bigs this summer. I can feel good about keeping both bigs as a short-term decision for next season. But this organization has to look long term with Ant and Jaden as the core of a potential championship contender over a period of years. Having success next season and then moving one of our two bigs immediately thereafter to avoid the luxury tax cliff would be a terrible mistake. The transactional limitations associated with exceeding the second apron will be untenable for a Wolves organization that has already depleted its draft coffers.

So yes, I feel better about the Wolves roster right now, knowing that we lost to the best team in the League. But I’d feel better about the Wolves overall if the organization had a sound long-term plan for a sustainable championship contender. So far, I don’t see it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think Denver’s success, along with KAT missing so many games last season, will further encourage the Wolves front office to run it back with both KAT and Rudy. For purposes of next season, that makes sense. But Denver’s success doesn’t alter my view at all about the need to move one of our bigs this summer. I can feel good about keeping both bigs as a short-term decision for next season. But this organization has to look long term with Ant and Jaden as the core of a potential championship contender over a period of years. Having success next season and then moving one of our two bigs immediately thereafter to avoid the luxury tax cliff would be a terrible mistake. The transactional limitations associated with exceeding the second apron will be untenable for a Wolves organization that has already depleted its draft coffers.

So yes, I feel better about the Wolves roster right now, knowing that we lost to the best team in the League. But I’d feel better about the Wolves overall if the organization had a sound long-term plan for a sustainable championship contender. So far, I don’t see it.

From a Wins and Losses angle... it definitely makes sense to run it back. I think a healthy Wolves squad wins more games in the regular season next season, even with the expectation that Conley will miss more games than he did last year based on his recent career trends.

But as you mention... what's the long-term plan?

I know the board has discussed the issue with having three very expensive players on the roster and how it's untenable with the new CBA. If next season is anything like this season for whatever reasons... teams will have the Wolves over a barrel a bit. They'll know the Wolves will have no other choice but to unload one of the very well-paid centers.

It's gonna be an interesting summer for the Wolves and other teams in this spot.

[Monster]

Yeah I think Denver winning it all makes me feel a bit better. I don’t think about the what if I’m terms of them winning regular season games to have a higher seed as much as if they even had a healthy McDaniels for the Nuggets series. I’m not gonna get too carried away but the Wolves won 1 of the 4 games the Nuggets lost in the entire playoffs and had a hard fought final lost playing without Kyle Anderson. Would a healthy McDaniels got them to a game 6 or even game 7 against the eventual champs? Idk but it’s kinda fun to think about for a few seconds and I’m not talking about draft picks.

Meanwhile the Nuggets kinda showed the blueprint of a team with guys injured that got those guys healthy and on track and made some other solid moves to be even better. I thought the trade for KCP was an excellent idea for someone that had been there done that. I thought they gave up quite. About to do it but then they didn’t pay much for Bruce Brown as a FA. KCP and Brown were better for them than the guys they gave up to Washington in that deal. What assets do the Wolves have to add a guy in a trade like Denver did with KCP? Idk Maybe it’s a Naz sign and trade. Maybe they move Prince for a player that helps even more. Maybe they sign 2 FAs that have impact. I think most people here will agree the Wolves have some pretty talented players on the roster even if there are some flaws of those players and possible holes in the roster. There are paths to get better this offseason without doing anything too crazy. Imagine signing another FA with the impact Kyle Anderson did while bringing back Naz and running it back. If the Wolves could stay healthy that would be an upgraded roster…especially depending on what that FA was able to bring. I would assume it would be a guard.

Meanwhile I think the west is kinda wide open. Maybe the Nuggets are the next dynasty or maybe the Warriors pull their talent together and make another run. Every team has some questions. I’m not saying the Wolves are gonna compete for a title next season but I don’t think it’s super crazy to imagine. I’m not hoping for it very hard but I do think there is a legit opportunity even though the West (and actually the NBA) is pretty deep in terms of teams with plenty of talent. I’m not saying that everything is great and the Wolves with some tweaks is the best way to go but I can see a path to some possible high success achieved from doing just that.