Anthony Edwards and State of the Wolves

[Q-is-here]

I am feeling coach Finch has stalled out.....

If you want to blame the coach for one of the best shooting players in the NBA having one of the worst shooting playoff series in NBA history...

... sure.

Then blame Finch.

To me it's less about blame and more about bringing in fresh ideas and perspective. It's an easy lever for front offices to pull and we've seen that it can actually work sometimes. That doesn't mean I think Finch should be fired, but if Tim Connelly and all the big brains he has in the front office feel a change is needed, I'm not going to flip out over it.

[WildWolf2813]

Let's look at Dallas for a minute. They screwed up and ended up letting Brunson walk for nothing. They made a sort of all in trade for Kyrie to fix that problem. I wasn't a big fan of it but also didn't think it was some sort of massive amount of assets to give up to get Kyrie. My issue was that it did hurt them last season though but it also gave them a better draft pick. Meanwhile at the trade deadline they added 2 starters in Gafford and PJ Washington. Both of those guys had been discussed in the past as guys we could have targeted adding to the Wolves depending on what it would cost to acquire them. Both guys turn 26 later this year. They were also able to move on from Grant Williams which seemed to be a bad signing for them.

Think about this a team with Derrick Jones Jr and PJ Washington as starters are likely going to the NBA finals. If you would have said that a couple years ago people would have probably not believed you but here we are. Luka is a big reason for that. Edwards has taken a significant leap in his passing and decision making this season. He isn't Luka but damn he has gotten so much better as a playmaker this year and he is only 22. He keeps getting better and that's what we want to see.

It's also worth mentioning (I'm not gonna give Finch and Nori a pass or anything) but this is their 3rd playoff run and Finch being hurt may have at times make some sort of difference on the sidelines. Meanwhile Jason Kidd played for years won a championship as a player, has coached 3 teams and now has a total of 57 playoff games coached that's 32 more games than Finch. I remember when I was wondering if Mike Malone had stalled out and was just a pretty good head coach and I've always been a fan of his. Then basically few months later he won a championship. Lol

It's pretty crazy how badly Dallas screwed up the Brunson situation... and how they recovered so quickly.

A LOT of it has to do with Luka Doncic being a legendary player.

Luka before Kyrie is how the Wolves will look after they trade Towns. A potential superstar without anyone on the roster who's a 2nd option.

[Q-is-here]

Let's look at Dallas for a minute. They screwed up and ended up letting Brunson walk for nothing. They made a sort of all in trade for Kyrie to fix that problem. I wasn't a big fan of it but also didn't think it was some sort of massive amount of assets to give up to get Kyrie. My issue was that it did hurt them last season though but it also gave them a better draft pick. Meanwhile at the trade deadline they added 2 starters in Gafford and PJ Washington. Both of those guys had been discussed in the past as guys we could have targeted adding to the Wolves depending on what it would cost to acquire them. Both guys turn 26 later this year. They were also able to move on from Grant Williams which seemed to be a bad signing for them.

Think about this a team with Derrick Jones Jr and PJ Washington as starters are likely going to the NBA finals. If you would have said that a couple years ago people would have probably not believed you but here we are. Luka is a big reason for that. Edwards has taken a significant leap in his passing and decision making this season. He isn't Luka but damn he has gotten so much better as a playmaker this year and he is only 22. He keeps getting better and that's what we want to see.

It's also worth mentioning (I'm not gonna give Finch and Nori a pass or anything) but this is their 3rd playoff run and Finch being hurt may have at times make some sort of difference on the sidelines. Meanwhile Jason Kidd played for years won a championship as a player, has coached 3 teams and now has a total of 57 playoff games coached that's 32 more games than Finch. I remember when I was wondering if Mike Malone had stalled out and was just a pretty good head coach and I've always been a fan of his. Then basically few months later he won a championship. Lol

It's pretty crazy how badly Dallas screwed up the Brunson situation... and how they recovered so quickly.

A LOT of it has to do with Luka Doncic being a legendary player.

Luka before Kyrie is how the Wolves will look after they trade Towns. A potential superstar without anyone on the roster who's a 2nd option.

Naz could probably step in as a starting 4 and be a solid 2nd option, but not nearly as good as Kyrie, that's for sure. In the 14 games Naz started this past regular season he averaged 18PPG on 57 TS%, which is decent-ish. His issue on offense is he can't make plays for others off the bounce.

[WildWolf2813]

It's pretty crazy how badly Dallas screwed up the Brunson situation... and how they recovered so quickly.

A LOT of it has to do with Luka Doncic being a legendary player.

Luka before Kyrie is how the Wolves will look after they trade Towns. A potential superstar without anyone on the roster who's a 2nd option.

Naz could probably step in as a starting 4 and be a solid 2nd option, but not nearly as good as Kyrie, that's for sure. In the 14 games Naz started this past regular season he averaged 18PPG on 57 TS%, which is decent-ish. His issue on offense is he can't make plays for others off the bounce.

I don't think he can do that over 82 games + playoffs. I think he could start on a good team but despite the fact that we love him so much, I don't think he's the 2nd best player on a championship team. The role changes when you go from 6th man who can come in a give a boost to someone who teams primarily target. Also, even in the role he's in now, he disappears at times during even these playoffs. It's easier for him to do that now with Towns there than it is when he's the 2nd guy in a championship duo.

[Q-is-here]

Luka before Kyrie is how the Wolves will look after they trade Towns. A potential superstar without anyone on the roster who's a 2nd option.

Naz could probably step in as a starting 4 and be a solid 2nd option, but not nearly as good as Kyrie, that's for sure. In the 14 games Naz started this past regular season he averaged 18PPG on 57 TS%, which is decent-ish. His issue on offense is he can't make plays for others off the bounce.

I don't think he can do that over 82 games + playoffs. I think he could start on a good team but despite the fact that we love him so much, I don't think he's the 2nd best player on a championship team. The role changes when you go from 6th man who can come in a give a boost to someone who teams primarily target. Also, even in the role he's in now, he disappears at times during even these playoffs. It's easier for him to do that now with Towns there than it is when he's the 2nd guy in a championship duo.

I agree he's not the 2nd best player on a title team, but I also don't think we have some massive fall-off if he were to simply replace KAT with no other talent added to the roster (hypothetical scenario).

[rapsuperstar31]

I am feeling coach Finch has stalled out.....

I don't think it's easy to coach from behind the bench with him injury when trying to make in game adjustments, timeouts, trying to talk to the refs to point out things. If we struggle next season that will be on Finch.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I am feeling coach Finch has stalled out.....

If you want to blame the coach for one of the best shooting players in the NBA having one of the worst shooting playoff series in NBA history...

... sure.

Then blame Finch.

To me it's less about blame and more about bringing in fresh ideas and perspective. It's an easy lever for front offices to pull and we've seen that it can actually work sometimes. That doesn't mean I think Finch should be fired, but if Tim Connelly and all the big brains he has in the front office feel a change is needed, I'm not going to flip out over it.

Well... historically, I've been in the "NBA coaches don't matter nearly as much as some think" camp. Especially when people would clamor for coaching changes on teams featuring Shabazz Muhammad or Shabazz Napier.

And it seems like more posters are coming around to that way of thinking... as is the entire NBA community.

It's actually pretty amusing how quickly the coaching carousel churns nowadays. Nick Nurse, Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel all fired shortly after winning NBA titles.

Heck, Frank Vogel has been fired TWICE in less than 4 years. LOL.

At some point, it really does come down to the team's best shooter having the worst shooting streak of his career... and the team's best player underperforming and missing too many shots at the same time.

Conversely, do we really think Jason Kidd is a basketball coaching genius? Ask Milwaukee fans who were ecstatic when Budenholzer replaced him and won a title.


[Note: As long as Edwards digs and respects Finch... than the coach should stay. Personally, I think he's done a good job. But what I think is irrelevant. Only Edwards' opinion matters. That's simply the NBA in 2024.]

[Wolvesfan21]

Luka before Kyrie is how the Wolves will look after they trade Towns. A potential superstar without anyone on the roster who's a 2nd option.

Naz could probably step in as a starting 4 and be a solid 2nd option, but not nearly as good as Kyrie, that's for sure. In the 14 games Naz started this past regular season he averaged 18PPG on 57 TS%, which is decent-ish. His issue on offense is he can't make plays for others off the bounce.

I don't think he can do that over 82 games + playoffs. I think he could start on a good team but despite the fact that we love him so much, I don't think he's the 2nd best player on a championship team. The role changes when you go from 6th man who can come in a give a boost to someone who teams primarily target. Also, even in the role he's in now, he disappears at times during even these playoffs. It's easier for him to do that now with Towns there than it is when he's the 2nd guy in a championship duo.

I agree. KAT as much as we've ripped him for being terrible is secondarily being focused on right after Ant.

Naz gets some more freedom to get open and hit shots. To his credit he is doing his job great. But you're right. Starting lineup and being a focus of the defense is a different story. Not only that Naz plays many minutes against backups too. Makes a difference.

[rapsuperstar31]

Naz could probably step in as a starting 4 and be a solid 2nd option, but not nearly as good as Kyrie, that's for sure. In the 14 games Naz started this past regular season he averaged 18PPG on 57 TS%, which is decent-ish. His issue on offense is he can't make plays for others off the bounce.

I don't think he can do that over 82 games + playoffs. I think he could start on a good team but despite the fact that we love him so much, I don't think he's the 2nd best player on a championship team. The role changes when you go from 6th man who can come in a give a boost to someone who teams primarily target. Also, even in the role he's in now, he disappears at times during even these playoffs. It's easier for him to do that now with Towns there than it is when he's the 2nd guy in a championship duo.

I agree he's not the 2nd best player on a title team, but I also don't think we have some massive fall-off if he were to simply replace KAT with no other talent added to the roster (hypothetical scenario).

I think if you trade Kat for say Darius Garland and whatever small pieces need to be added, you would be fine with Naz being your starting pf especially if Naz continues to get better. One worry would be, working out an extension for Naz since he can opt out after next season, so you have to make sure you can lock him into a contract and he doesn't just leave in free agency. Now I don't know if we can beat Denver in next seasons playoffs without Towns in that scenario.

[Coolbreeze44]

As Abe indicates, unless Ant throws a fit about Finch being the coach, he isn't going anywhere. And from what I've gathered Finch has Ant's respect. I'd be pretty upset if they fired Finch.

I'm not going to pound on the table about trading KAT like I did 2-3 years ago, but I DO think we have to get better. From my perspective, it doesn't look like KAT can be the #2 on a championship team. In that vein he clearly isn't worth the contract he's on. If they trade him, great, if they keep him, okay. But one way or another we need a Herro, Wagner, Mitchell type to add to this cast, as well as a young point guard to groom. We can't stand pat and figure next year will be different. The West isn't going to get any easier.