Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:05 pm
The only time KAT doesn't complain is when he scores. It's usually not demonstrative or long, but it is as often as it ever was. The refs could actually call him for offensive fouls twice as often as they do. He uses his left arm illegally 75% of the time on his drives. I just wish he would play basketball because when he does he does it awfully well, at least in the regular season.
I do want to add that I share your dislike of KAT’s antics. I just don’t see them being as prevalent or as consequential as you do. At the same time, I also wish he would simply, as you noted, play basketball. Said another way, I wish his approach to the game and demeanor were more like Giannis. But that’s not who he is and he’s not alone. If we had Giannis I’m sure people on this board would be complaining about him taking perimeter shots. .
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:05 pm
The only time KAT doesn't complain is when he scores. It's usually not demonstrative or long, but it is as often as it ever was. The refs could actually call him for offensive fouls twice as often as they do. He uses his left arm illegally 75% of the time on his drives. I just wish he would play basketball because when he does he does it awfully well, at least in the regular season.
You obviously believe that, Cool. So there’s no. point in arguing. By the way, I thought it’s been 68% of the time on the illegal use of his left arm. .
This team has improved because they are the best defensive team in the league. You can’t argue that their biggest weakness is offensive inconsistency while still proclaiming Kat is a star player and second best player on this team. Without Rudy this would be the same team it’s always been. They’d show out with big numbers for a game or two giving fans hope then they’d shit the bed for a game or three. Kat has in no way progressed as a player. I hear his rebounding numbers are down because of Rudy, why hasn’t Goberts rebounding numbers gone down playing next to another 7 footer? Karl has never raised the play of players around him, Gobert has raised the play of the whole team on the defensive end. Not for one or two games, for 65 plus games.
Let’s consider a scenario where Minnesota' offered OKC Towns for Holmgren last year prior to his injury and they accepted. Would this team be better right now? I say exponentially.
I would only accept moving on from KAT if ownership forces a move...i.e. refuses to enter the second apron. But I hope that doesn't happen. Towns is a unique offensive player at the peak of his career, and the best shooting big man in the game. He is making a career high 42.3% of his three-point shots and has a very efficient TS% of 62.8%. And while like others I had some concerns about his fit next to Gobert, he has proven to be the ideal PF next to him. Rudy needs spacing in order to exert his will inside, and KAT's elite 3-point shooting provides spacing better than any PF I can think of.
KAT still has the bad-attitude whiner label with some fans, because Timberwolves fans watched him earn it the first seven years of his career...I found him annoying to watch on the court. But I began posting frequently last season that he had changed, and that he was now in the lowest quartile in the Association when it comes to whining. And he has gotten even better this season. I don't blame people for judging KAT based on past behavior...he earned that. But the new version of KAT is completely different. Gone is the guy who used to regularly allow opponents 5 on 4 opportunities while he stayed back to complain to the official. I would argue now that KAT gets back on defense as well as anyone on our team after a failed offensive possession, and that (along with his surprising quickness in defending the perimeter) has been a big factor in our greatly improved defense.
Does he still commit too many offensive fouls? Certainly. He deserves most of the fouls he is called on, and as a veteran player, he should have corrected this by now. But he remains an enormously efficient force despite this maddening tendency. He is a vital core member of this first place team at both ends of the court. I can't imagine how moving on from KAT could ever make us better.
I agree with the others who say KAT is much better this season. He at the very least is fitting in nicely with the system (on defense) and playing very well on offense. I too am still annoyed with some of his antics. He has that whiny voice that makes it worse. Like nails on a chalkboard.
He is playing very well overall though. Lots of games left to really change my mind on what I would like to see happen. We have a fucking great team for once in 20 years, I just want to enjoy the ride and see how it plays out.
Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:46 am
I agree with the others who say KAT is much better this season. He at the very least is fitting in nicely with the system (on defense) and playing very well on offense. I too am still annoyed with some of his antics. He has that whiny voice that makes it worse. Like nails on a chalkboard.
He is playing very well overall though. Lots of games left to really change my mind on what I would like to see happen. We have a fucking great team for once in 20 years, I just want to enjoy the ride and see how it plays out.
Absolutely right, Wolvesfan. We have a great team this season. We’re great because of Ant, Rudy and KAT in particular but also Jaden, Conley, Naz and Naw. Are we a true championship contender right now? I’m not sure, but we’ll find out about 6 or 7 weeks from now. In the meantime, like you, I’m going to enjoy the ride.
FNG wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:58 am
I would only accept moving on from KAT if ownership forces a move...i.e. refuses to enter the second apron. But I hope that doesn't happen. Towns is a unique offensive player at the peak of his career, and the best shooting big man in the game. He is making a career high 42.3% of his three-point shots and has a very efficient TS% of 62.8%. And while like others I had some concerns about his fit next to Gobert, he has proven to be the ideal PF next to him. Rudy needs spacing in order to exert his will inside, and KAT's elite 3-point shooting provides spacing better than any PF I can think of.
KAT still has the bad-attitude whiner label with some fans, because Timberwolves fans watched him earn it the first seven years of his career...I found him annoying to watch on the court. But I began posting frequently last season that he had changed, and that he was now in the lowest quartile in the Association when it comes to whining. And he has gotten even better this season. I don't blame people for judging KAT based on past behavior...he earned that. But the new version of KAT is completely different. Gone is the guy who used to regularly allow opponents 5 on 4 opportunities while he stayed back to complain to the official. I would argue now that KAT gets back on defense as well as anyone on our team after a failed offensive possession, and that (along with his surprising quickness in defending the perimeter) has been a big factor in our greatly improved defense.
Does he still commit too many offensive fouls? Certainly. He deserves most of the fouls he is called on, and as a veteran player, he should have corrected this by now. But he remains an enormously efficient force despite this maddening tendency. He is a vital core member of this first place team at both ends of the court. I can't imagine how moving on from KAT could ever make us better.
It’s sort of amusing that there are some folks who want to trade KAT just as I’ve been proven wrong about the Rudy/KAT double-big combo. Truth is, TC was right and I was wrong. The KAT/Rudy combo works! Those two have been excellent together and I still think they’re adjusting on the offensive end and can get even better. A lot of the credit for making it work goes to KAT who trimmed up and adjusted his game from Center to PF. And credit Rudy as well for being the consummate professional and teammate.
You provided some compelling offensive stats. Kek provided a lot of compelling facts about KAT’s value on both ends of the court. KAT’s substantial positive value to this team isn’t really debatable on the facts. Watching KAT can be annoying, but it can also be exhilarating to see him finish inside on his highly efficient drives, hit threes at an efficiency level unlike any other big in the League and grab tough rebounds with his vise like grip. He’s a great offensive player who has turned himself into a very good defensive player as evidenced by the stats Kek provided. We need Ant to be smarter and far less turnover prone with the ball and we need another offensive spark off the bench in addition to Naz. Those are our two significant weaknesses that might stop the Wolves from turning a great season into a trip to the NBA finals. But we’ll see. I remain hopeful and I love what this team has given us this season.
Porckchop wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:18 am
This team has improved because they are the best defensive team in the league. You can’t argue that their biggest weakness is offensive inconsistency while still proclaiming Kat is a star player and second best player on this team. Without Rudy this would be the same team it’s always been. They’d show out with big numbers for a game or two giving fans hope then they’d shit the bed for a game or three. Kat has in no way progressed as a player. I hear his rebounding numbers are down because of Rudy, why hasn’t Goberts rebounding numbers gone down playing next to another 7 footer? Karl has never raised the play of players around him, Gobert has raised the play of the whole team on the defensive end. Not for one or two games, for 65 plus games.
Let’s consider a scenario where Minnesota' offered OKC Towns for Holmgren last year prior to his injury and they accepted. Would this team be better right now? I say exponentially.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:49 pm
Here is an interesting twist as far as the financials go...
If KAT is traded around the draft the salary matching would use his 36 mil, and a team could take on his contract by sending out as little as 29 mil. So KAT's 49 mil contract for next season would be reduced to 29 mil of incoming player(s). That is a potential 20 mil savings on next year's salaries.
But if KAT is traded in the off-season the salary matching would use his 49 mil, and a team could take on his contract by sending out as little as 39 mil. This means the best we can achieve is a potential 10 mil of savings on next year's salaries.
It's a tough decision whether to move on from KAT, and a lot depends on how much luxury tax the new owners are willing to pay. If the decision is trade KAT, the best time is around the draft.
Thanks for confirming this Tim. I had read this elsewhere. As soon as KATs supermax kicks in his trade value instantly goes down and it will make him incredibly hard to move, in regards to salary matching and cap relief.
We do not want to become repeat luxury tax offenders, especially if we are in the 2nd apron. Not sustainable for a small market team. That is my concern.
It all depends on how well we do these playoffs. If we make a serious push then you would be a fool to break it up. But if we fold and KAT is his usual let down in the post season then I think we need to seriously think about moving him.
I've seen KAT be the most mature settling and distributing player on the team during stretches this year. We've also seen some stray voltage.
I'm not sure that folks who say his complaining hasn't decreased dramatically this year are watching the games, and I'd even go so far as to say he gets more than his share of crappy calls based on his reputation that he completely walks away from when perhaps he shouldn't.
All that being said, KAT has a unique skillset as a big that can score from 3, in the mid-range, driving, and (I wish we'd see more of it) very easily and efficiently with his back to the basket.
Even if his friend hadn't died a week ago and we were seeing this slump I wouldn't trade the guy.
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