KAT, It's Time

[Coolbreeze44]

The stage is set. You are in your prime. It's time to answer the bell. You're a huge key to this series due to your talent and your size. It's time to answer the question of whether the Wolves can win with you or not.

[WildWolf2813]

Fast forward:


KAT to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben Simmons, a protected first and 3 2's.

I don't even think a good KAT outing is gonna matter in this series.


Part of why this series will be lost in 5 is because KD is the one guy in the league that turns Ant into a fanboy. He puts up his worst numbers against Phoenix.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Fast forward:


KAT to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben Simmons, a protected first and 3 2's.



Part of why this series will be lost in 5 is because KD is the one guy in the league that turns Ant into a fanboy. He puts up his worst numbers against Phoenix.

Yuck. So just a salary dump?

That would be disappointing.

[WildWolf2813]

Fast forward:


KAT to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben Simmons, a protected first and 3 2's.



Part of why this series will be lost in 5 is because KD is the one guy in the league that turns Ant into a fanboy. He puts up his worst numbers against Phoenix.

Yuck. So just a salary dump?

That would be disappointing.

It was always gonna end this way.

The things Wolves fans don't like about KAT, the rest of the NBA world REALLY don't like about KAT. Add in this need to stay under the 2nd apron regardless of ownership and now this looming need to keep Naz in a year and you have this mess coming. Even in the proposal I made, that's predicated on what ownership may prefer to do; Nets fans would rather blow it all up and just start over.

[rapsuperstar31]

Fast forward:


KAT to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben Simmons, a protected first and 3 2's.

I don't even think a good KAT outing is gonna matter in this series.


Part of why this series will be lost in 5 is because KD is the one guy in the league that turns Ant into a fanboy. He puts up his worst numbers against Phoenix.

It wouldn't surprise me if we win in 5 or 6 games or lose in 5 or 6 games. The Wolves have a week to go over every video, and analyze everything about Phoenix to put together game plans. Phoenix played pretty poorly last year against Denver in the playoffs. Durant is beatable, and so far in two playoff series Ant has come to play in them. The Wolves need to figure out a way to slow at least one of their big 3 as well as Allen. Let Durant and Booker score their points, but you stop Allen and Beal. I really don't understand why what we do for the Clippers and how the Wolves are always excited to play and defend the Clippers Iso ball, doesn't translate to playing Phoenix. They may pass it bit better, but their still a pretty similar team.

[Lipoli390]

The Wolves won’t have to trade KAT in some sort of salary-dump fire sale. The team can survive a season above the second apron and then negotiate a contract extension with Rudy that gets the team below the second apron the following season. We’ll see how well the Wolves and KAT perform in this season’s playoffs.

Keeping KAT and the rest of this team together for next season makes sense unless this team entirely implodes in the playoffs. Nevertheless, I can see where it might make sense to trade him. If that’s the choice, he’ll have suitors who will be willing to give up a lot to get him. KAT is a highly valuable player. He’s an elite offensive player with the ability to score in multiple ways, including 40% accuracy from behind the arc. This season his defense hasn’t just been OK, it’s been very good. He produces, gets along with teammates and won’t cause problems inside or outside the locker room. He’s still only 28 years old and will be playing at his peak for a number of years to come. He was the best player on a 46-win Wolves team two seasons ago and he’s been the third best player on this season’s 56-win team. He’d command a substantial return in the trade market. If he performs well in the playoffs, his stock will go up even more.

Yes, I recognize his weaknesses - dumb on-court decisions mainly as he’s curtailed his whining dramatically this season. I’d be happen to see the Wolves keep him, but I’d be perfectly fine trading him depending on the return. I’m honestly not worried about what happens with KAT. We’ll be fine with or without him. I’m more concerned about Ant becoming a better decision maker and getting some of the glue off his hands. I’m worried about Jaden fouling less and taking a step forward offensively and on the boards. More than anything, I’m worried about the ownership situation and whether TC will opt out of his contract. I trust Lore, A-Rod and TC to make the right player-personnel decisions and not make dumb fire-sale trades. I don’t trust Glen Taylor’s judgment at all.

[Phenom]

I think KAT needs to be on KD and Conley on Allen. Beal and Booker are too big and strong for Mike. He also won't have mental lapses and leave Allen open for 3s. KAT at least has length to compete with KD and will make it more difficult for him to crash the offensive glass.

[Porckchop]

Kats propensity to cheap whistles would give me pause to putting him on the Suns best player. Phoenix will look to exploit that match up and take him out of the game early with 2 fouls

[WildWolf2813]

The Wolves won’t have to trade KAT in some sort of salary-dump fire sale. The team can survive a season above the second apron and then negotiate a contract extension with Rudy that gets the team below the second apron the following season. We’ll see how well the Wolves and KAT perform in this season’s playoffs.

Keeping KAT and the rest of this team together for next season makes sense unless this team entirely implodes in the playoffs. Nevertheless, I can see where it might make sense to trade him. If that’s the choice, he’ll have suitors who will be willing to give up a lot to get him. KAT is a highly valuable player. He’s an elite offensive player with the ability to score in multiple ways, including 40% accuracy from behind the arc. This season his defense hasn’t just been OK, it’s been very good. He produces, gets along with teammates and won’t cause problems inside or outside the locker room. He’s still only 28 years old and will be playing at his peak for a number of years to come. He was the best player on a 46-win Wolves team two seasons ago and he’s been the third best player on this season’s 56-win team. He’d command a substantial return in the trade market. If he performs well in the playoffs, his stock will go up even more.

Yes, I recognize his weaknesses - dumb on-court decisions mainly as he’s curtailed his whining dramatically this season. I’d be happen to see the Wolves keep him, but I’d be perfectly fine trading him depending on the return. I’m honestly not worried about what happens with KAT. We’ll be fine with or without him. I’m more concerned about Ant becoming a better decision maker and getting some of the glue off his hands. I’m worried about Jaden fouling less and taking a step forward offensively and on the boards. More than anything, I’m worried about the ownership situation and whether TC will opt out of his contract. I trust Lore, A-Rod and TC to make the right player-personnel decisions and not make dumb fire-sale trades. I don’t trust Glen Taylor’s judgment at all.

If they lose even in a hard fought 7 game series against the Suns, they're not running this back.


To the bolded: it's completely irrelevant. It's not about his game. It's about HIM. There are people who think the Wolves will somehow be markedly better once KAT is gone, regardless of what the return is. (I disagree with this). It's because there's something about KAT that rubs people the wrong way. See, KAT's been here 9 years now and by all accounts he's a nice guy who cares about his family who loves being here and yada yada yada. Outside of that, nobody outside of Minnesota cares. Everyone views him the same way: as a soft ass bitch who comes off fake and can't perform in big moments. Nobody's gonna lobby to want that guy on their team, let alone when you factor in the supermax and how restrictive that can be when you have lofty goals. For a team to want KAT, they have to be convinced that they can't do better than KAT for the foreseeable future, and in a league that constantly waits for the next big star to ask out, like an Embiid, a Luka, a Giannis, a Dame, a Mitchell, even a Trae Young, settling for KAT even as a donation makes it seem like your team isn't serious about winning. When KG struggled to win here, even if you wondered how KG would do in big games, everyone blamed the Wolves for why he didn't win. With KAT, they blame him.

Long story short, Ant needs to get his head out of his ass against Phoenix and KAT needs to play this series as if he wants to be around next year.

[Phenom]

Kats propensity to cheap whistles would give me pause to putting him on the Suns best player. Phoenix will look to exploit that match up and take him out of the game early with 2 fouls

I see what you mean but he, and the team, might not have a choice. Guarding KD is a whole different animal than guarding Jokic, but it is still a big challenge and he has done well enough.