So What's Your Plan? The Offseason Roster Construction Thread

[Lipoli390]

Here is the net rating stuff for various big pairings over the past two seasons:

Player Pairing/Offensive Rating/Defensive Rating/Net Rating:

2024-25 Regular Season
Randle-Rudy - 114.4/108.9/+5.4
Randle-Naz - 115.3/112.9/+2.4
Naz-Rudy - 113.4/101.6/+11.8

2025 Playoffs
Randle-Rudy - 112.5/102.5/+10.0
Randle-Naz - 112.0/112.2/-.2
Naz-Rudy - 107.4/103.7/+3.7

2023-24 Regular Season:
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/109.4/+8.6
KAT-Naz - 113.1/106.1/+7.0
Naz-Rudy - 108.6/99.4/+9.2

2024 Playoffs
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/108.3/+9.7
KAT-Naz - 103.6/114.4/-10.8
Naz-Rudy - 118.1/108.6/+9.6

Interesting Q. Thanks for posting. Just looking at these comparative numbers alone tells us keeping Naz over Randle is the sensible thing to do - before you even look at comparative age and connection between Naz and our two core young guys. Randle had a great run in the first two playoff series this year but that has to be viewed as somewhat anomalous when viewed in the broader context of Randle’s huge sample of regular season and playoff minutes in an 11-year career mainly as starter.

[60WinTim]

Here is the net rating stuff for various big pairings over the past two seasons:

Player Pairing/Offensive Rating/Defensive Rating/Net Rating:

2024-25 Regular Season
Randle-Rudy - 114.4/108.9/+5.4
Randle-Naz - 115.3/112.9/+2.4
Naz-Rudy - 113.4/101.6/+11.8

2025 Playoffs
Randle-Rudy - 112.5/102.5/+10.0
Randle-Naz - 112.0/112.2/-.2
Naz-Rudy - 107.4/103.7/+3.7

2023-24 Regular Season:
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/109.4/+8.6
KAT-Naz - 113.1/106.1/+7.0
Naz-Rudy - 108.6/99.4/+9.2

2024 Playoffs
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/108.3/+9.7
KAT-Naz - 103.6/114.4/-10.8
Naz-Rudy - 118.1/108.6/+9.6

Interesting Q. Thanks for posting. Just looking at these comparative numbers alone tells us keeping Naz over Randle is the sensible thing to do - before you even look at comparative age and connection between Naz and our two core young guys. Randle had a great run in the first two playoff series this year but that has to be viewed as somewhat anomalous when viewed in the broader context of Randle’s huge sample of regular season and playoff minutes in an 11-year career mainly as starter.

While I prefer Randle over NAZ, I can see reasons for going either way. The only concrete conclusion is just how damn important Rudy is!!!

[Q-is-here]

Here is the net rating stuff for various big pairings over the past two seasons:

Player Pairing/Offensive Rating/Defensive Rating/Net Rating:

2024-25 Regular Season
Randle-Rudy - 114.4/108.9/+5.4
Randle-Naz - 115.3/112.9/+2.4
Naz-Rudy - 113.4/101.6/+11.8

2025 Playoffs
Randle-Rudy - 112.5/102.5/+10.0
Randle-Naz - 112.0/112.2/-.2
Naz-Rudy - 107.4/103.7/+3.7

2023-24 Regular Season:
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/109.4/+8.6
KAT-Naz - 113.1/106.1/+7.0
Naz-Rudy - 108.6/99.4/+9.2

2024 Playoffs
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/108.3/+9.7
KAT-Naz - 103.6/114.4/-10.8
Naz-Rudy - 118.1/108.6/+9.6

Interesting Q. Thanks for posting. Just looking at these comparative numbers alone tells us keeping Naz over Randle is the sensible thing to do - before you even look at comparative age and connection between Naz and our two core young guys. Randle had a great run in the first two playoff series this year but that has to be viewed as somewhat anomalous when viewed in the broader context of Randle’s huge sample of regular season and playoff minutes in an 11-year career mainly as starter.

While I prefer Randle over NAZ, I can see reasons for going either way. The only concrete conclusion is just how damn important Rudy is!!!

Right on Rudy for sure. Time and again we get frustrated watching him fumble and bumble around on offense, but then we go do these post mortems and come to find out he's practically the most important player on the team. It's frustrating because I'd love to have a Center that can, you know, catch the damn ball and not get stripped of it so easily. But his defense and screening is so damn valuable.

[Coolbreeze44]

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

[Lipoli390]

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

Cool - You’ve fully captured my thinking. As I think about it, this is the first time I’ve ever had almost full confidence in the Wolves front office. I say that even though I didn’t like and still don’t like the Gobert deal. I’ve come to understand and respect TC’s decision to make that deal. I see that his thinking was sound and I also see how Rudy has helped us and what TC has done with picks and assets to keep us competitive now while still building for the future.

The only bad draft pick TC has made was Moore. No one is perfect. Minott hasn’t worked out but I can see why TC drafted him in the middle of the second round and he might still become a valuable role player in the League at some point. Kessler wasn’t even on my radar but TC picked him and he’s looking like he’ll become a very good NBA big. I see the high-end potential of Miller, Clark, TSJ and Dilly.

In the past, I often found myself doing a better job in my personal mock drafts than the Wolves front office executives did in the real drafts. That hasn’t been the case with TC. As I mentioned, I didn’t even have Walker Kessler on my draft radar but he’s panning out as a very good player. I was aware of Miller but wouldn’t have picked him. Clark wasn’t on my radar. I liked TSJ but only late in the draft process and I wasn’t as high on him then as I am now. I liked Dilly in the draft, but I wouldn’t have traded up for him and I never would have come up with the deal TC devised to get him. The DLO deal for Conley and picks was terrific and not something I would have come up even with all the time I spend manipulating various trade machines. . Meanwhile, this team has made two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. Players are talking about wanting to be here. Bottom line is that, in spite of my initial skepticism following the Rudy deal, I have a great deal of confidence in Tim Connelly and for the first time as a Wolves fan I find myself looking forward to Tim surprising us. In the past, the prospect of being surprised by a Wolves front office head was a nightmare. .

[Lipoli390]

Here is the net rating stuff for various big pairings over the past two seasons:

Player Pairing/Offensive Rating/Defensive Rating/Net Rating:

2024-25 Regular Season
Randle-Rudy - 114.4/108.9/+5.4
Randle-Naz - 115.3/112.9/+2.4
Naz-Rudy - 113.4/101.6/+11.8

2025 Playoffs
Randle-Rudy - 112.5/102.5/+10.0
Randle-Naz - 112.0/112.2/-.2
Naz-Rudy - 107.4/103.7/+3.7

2023-24 Regular Season:
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/109.4/+8.6
KAT-Naz - 113.1/106.1/+7.0
Naz-Rudy - 108.6/99.4/+9.2

2024 Playoffs
KAT-Rudy - 118.0/108.3/+9.7
KAT-Naz - 103.6/114.4/-10.8
Naz-Rudy - 118.1/108.6/+9.6

Interesting Q. Thanks for posting. Just looking at these comparative numbers alone tells us keeping Naz over Randle is the sensible thing to do - before you even look at comparative age and connection between Naz and our two core young guys. Randle had a great run in the first two playoff series this year but that has to be viewed as somewhat anomalous when viewed in the broader context of Randle’s huge sample of regular season and playoff minutes in an 11-year career mainly as starter.

While I prefer Randle over NAZ, I can see reasons for going either way. The only concrete conclusion is just how damn important Rudy is!!!

Well said, Tim!!

[DNatagal]

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

Cool, how dare you bring a calm and measured response to this thread! I came here for the slightly delusional and mostly unhinged takes!!!

[Coolbreeze44]

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

Cool, how dare you bring a calm and measured response to this thread! I came here for the slightly delusional and mostly unhinged takes!!!

Haha, sorry man. Even I have a coherent moment once in a while.

[FNG]

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

Cool, how dare you bring a calm and measured response to this thread! I came here for the slightly delusional and mostly unhinged takes!!!

Haha, sorry man. Even I have a coherent moment once in a while.

I would really like to see an improved roster that doesn't include Randle. However, if you believe in TC (which I do) the best thing might be to just let him operate and see what happens. I'm going to try not to get too hung up on individual players and trust the man to do what's best for the organization. I'd be shocked if he just runs it back with the same cast. I expect lots of maneuvering and transactions between now and October. Should be good theater for us this summer.

Cool, how dare you bring a calm and measured response to this thread! I came here for the slightly delusional and mostly unhinged takes!!!

Haha, sorry man. Even I have a coherent moment once in a while.

Lol. And actually I am in exactly the same place as Cool. I have certain preferences, but ultimately I think what TC gets done will be better than any ideas I have. I do reserve the right to rip him though if I really disagree!

[Phenom]

Naz defensive rating without Rudy in the playoffs 117.1. 6.6 points per 100 worse when Naz gets to play with Rudy.

Same thing happened in the regular season Naz w/o Rudy 115.4 and with Rudy 103.6 (99th percentile).


Rudy is the Naz defensive savior. With Rudy on the floor the wolves are an elite defense when Rudy comes off and Naz is still in the regular season the defense was slightly below average and in the playoffs it cratered. Rudy skews Naz defensive numbers dramatically.

Yep, look at how Rudy made towns look last year compared to what his knicks teammates are saying about him this year. For as awkward as Rudy is on offense, he makes pretty much anyone look good or at least decent on D. Just to clarify, when I say 4-80 for Naz that means it’s starting at 17 or whatever it is in the first year. If someone like Brooklyn wants to offer more, let them. Naz is a great story and a fan favorite, but when you start overpaying based on that emotional stuff, that’s when you get in trouble

Agreed on all. I like that idea of a contract structure for Naz. 17,19,21,23.

The more I think about Brooklyn, the more I believe they will produce more value by renting out their cap space for assets from other teams. They are not in a position to make a leap by giving Naz a fat payday. There will be many teams, if not most teams, hitting them up to take on salary to facilitate trades. They will be the pretty girl at that dance and can make out like bandits going that route.

The Pistons are another story. They have ways to manufacture space and could use Naz to make a leap.

I think Wolves are in a good spot with Naz.