KAT

[KG4Ever]

He's become untradeable

Kind of like Ant then.

??

We aren't trading Batman or Robin.

[Coolbreeze44]

Pass the ball Antman

[WildWolf2813]

Not surprised.

[Lipoli390]

Ant and KAT are our two best players and our only all-stars. KAT’s in the middle of his prime and Ant is approaching his prime. You don’t trade either one for cap purposes. That’s especially true if you can’t get multiple picks in return. I wasn’t sure about KAT after the first few games this season. But the last three games I’ve seen the same KAT who led this team to 46 wins two seasons ago without any other all-star players on the roster. The only difference between that KAT and the one we’ve see the last few games is that KAT looks significantly better defensively now than he did then.

I’m not sure what Windy means when he says the Wolves likely wouldn’t get multiple picks for KAT. Is he just talking about 1st-round picks? Wouldn’t the number of picks depend on the players the other team gives up - lesser players more picks, better players fewer picks? I’ll ready the article to look for context and answers to these questions.

Bottom line is that the the Wolves won’t and shouldn’t trade KAT, Rudy or Naz this season. If the Wolves feel compelled to trade someone after the season to stay under the 2nd apron, then it makes even more sense to trade Rudy rather than KAT if we can’t get more than one pick in return for KAT. I would think we can get one pick for Rudy. Maybe the Wolves can find a way to stay barely under the second apron for one more season without trading any of our high-priced players (KAT, Ant, Naz or Jaden). Then they can negotiate a lower multi-year salary for Rudy to stay under the apron thereafter. We’ll see. For now, I’m going to enjoy what’s unfolding before our eyes - namely a team that looks much better than the 44-win team I expected before the season started.

[KG4Ever]

Wolves are clearly a top two team in West and top four or five overall as long as they are healthy. There is no reason to trade any of the Wolves starters, even if we go over second apron. This all part of the Wolves plan when they traded for Gobert. They are all in as long as the wheels don't fall off.

[Coolbreeze44]

There is smoke around KAT for a reason. I don't see him getting traded anytime soon, but we will have to see how things go. The time to move him has passed in my opinion, as I had feared would happen all along. I hope management is prepared to go 2nd apron, because it doesn't sound like we could get much for him anyway.

[KG4Ever]

There is smoke around KAT for a reason. I don't see him getting traded anytime soon, but we will have to see how things go. The time to move him has passed in my opinion, as I had feared would happen all along. I hope management is prepared to go 2nd apron, because it doesn't sound like we could get much for him anyway.

Yeah, the reason is New York Knicks desperately want KAT and they manufacture or plant stories. Embiid to New York is another hilarious fabricated story. These planted or made up stories are ridiculous and I just ignore the writers who are gullible enough to believe it. And yes, I believe that management will go second apron for this team and was always their intent if the Gobert/KAT pairing worked.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Towns is a very good player with some very obvious weaknesses.

The best thing for his value is to win more. Ironically, that will have MN fans want to keep him even more.

But that 2nd apron is punitive. Do you take on those penalties (as a non-destination locale with a dearth of assets) for the team's 2nd most talented player, but maybe not the 2nd most important?

I highly doubt it.

[KG4Ever]

Towns is a very good player with some very obvious weaknesses.

The best thing for his value is to win more. Ironically, that will have MN fans want to keep him even more.

But that 2nd apron is punitive. Do you take on those penalties (as a non-destination locale with a dearth of assets) for the team's 2nd most talented player, but maybe not the 2nd most important?

I highly doubt it.

I think they already plan to do so. Rudy trade looks much better if ownership decided then to pay luxury tax to keep Rudy and KAT pairing intact and knowing that Ant and Jaden would get big contracts. Second apron isn't all that bad considering that Wolves have been on the receiving end of their share of the big tax bills other teams received and were distributed to the Wolves. As I've posted before its only for a year or two since Rudy's contract can be restructured as early as 2025 if he is willing to forego his option for more years or 2026 if he's not willing. If the Wolves make WC Finals, and KAT and Rudy are big reasons for that, I think Wolves brass are all in on breaching the second apron.

[Q-is-here]

Towns is a very good player with some very obvious weaknesses.

The best thing for his value is to win more. Ironically, that will have MN fans want to keep him even more.

But that 2nd apron is punitive. Do you take on those penalties (as a non-destination locale with a dearth of assets) for the team's 2nd most talented player, but maybe not the 2nd most important?

I highly doubt it.

I think they already plan to do so. Rudy trade looks much better if ownership decided then to pay luxury tax to keep Rudy and KAT pairing intact and knowing that Ant and Jaden would get big contracts. Second apron isn't all that bad considering that Wolves have been on the receiving end of their share of the big tax bills other teams received and were distributed to the Wolves. As I've posted before its only for a year or two since Rudy's contract can be restructured as early as 2025 if he is willing to forego his option for more years or 2026 if he's not willing. If the Wolves make WC Finals, and KAT and Rudy are big reasons for that, I think Wolves brass are all in on breaching the second apron.

Yeah, I think it depends on how far they go. If they make the WCF or Finals, then they might be willing to run it back and pay the piper. But if they win just one playoff series or none, then I think they make some moves.