Terrence Shannon

[Monster]

The way I sort of look at the floor of TSJ if he plays minutes I see him being able to play reasonably serviceable minutes in the mold of Taurean Prince and Troy Brown Jr. What I mean is those guys mostly stay in their lane don't screw up and offer a few solid strengths.

Prince of that group is easily the best shooter and best scorer although TSJ has potential there. Brown Jr was easily a better defender than Prince and was able to actually guard forwards physically and was a much better enounder. TSJ seems more like a guy that might be able to guard 1-3 and maybe mature enough physically to put up some resistance if switched onto a typical NBA PF. It seems like he won't just be a compete disaster from 3 and can offer something in transition.

Prince may be a little better player than Brown but I'm not sure the difference is vast. If TSJ this season when called on can for the most part be solid defensively, not screw up on offense and therefore not be a big negative (he is a rookie so probably will be a slight negative) that's not bad. There is clearly more potential from him to be more but watching him it feels like he has a solid floor. He isn't a scorer that has to learn how to play defense or figure out how to fill a role. He did all those things for a number of games during his 5 years of college. Like a number of other players we have drafted in the last few years I feel pretty confident his defense is gonna translate.

[Q-is-here]

Shannon's Per 36 minute averages starting with last regular season.

Season Segment: Points/Rebounds/Assists/FG%/3pt%/FT%

'24-25 regular season: 14.7/5.0/3.4/48%/36%/81%

'24-25 playoffs: 25.9/6.3/1.9/48%/38%/100%

'25 Summer League: 27.8/7.4/6.2/48%/39%/95%

'25-26 Preseason: 17.3/7.8/5.6/45%/63%/73%


....and this is our 8th man!

Granted, there are some limited sample sizes among these segments, but add it all up and it paints a picture of a starting-caliber player in my opinion. And his defense looks improved, which is something he absolutely has the physical traits to excel at.

[60WinTim]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

[Q-is-here]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

[60WinTim]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

Conley turns 38 today. Happy Birthday, Mike!

[Lipoli390]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

I agree, Q. After my 57-win projection I’ve sobered up watching our games against NY and Indiana. I still see what troubled me last season and led me to believe we should have moved on from Randle this past off-season. I was pretty emphatic early last season that we needed to move on to Wolves 2.0. Instead, our front office continued and still continues to hold onto personnel suited to a slow, grind-it-out model while attempting to blend in newer/younger guys who are more suited to the fast-paced, relentless style needed to win a championship in today’s NBA unless your slow grind-it-out personnel are really tough, physical and elite. I agree it might be different if Ant were in that top superstar tier with SGA and others, but clearly he’s not.

In my view, we’re not going to win a championship or even make the NBA finals this season with Rudy, Randle and Conley as our starters. If there’s a championship on the horizon for the Wolves it will be built around a core of Ant, Jaden, Naz, Shannon, Clark and Dilly. It won’t be this season. I thought last year we should have been looking to and planning for two seasons ahead. Similarly, I’m viewing this season as an opportunity to build and prepare for next season (2026-27). In my view, that means going with what I see as our future core and living with the inevitable ups and downs. I’d look to move Randle, Rudy or both and be open to dealing Donte at some point this season before the deadline. I’ll note that this would be the season to take a step back because we have our 1st round pick next June.

[rapsuperstar31]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

None of SGA, Joker, or Giannis had been to the finals yet at 24 years old.

[rapsuperstar31]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

I agree, Q. After my 57-win projection I’ve sobered up watching our games against NY and Indiana. I still see what troubled me last season and led me to believe we should have moved on from Randle this past off-season. I was pretty emphatic early last season that we needed to move on to Wolves 2.0. Instead, our front office continued and still continues to hold onto personnel suited to a slow, grind-it-out model while attempting to blend in newer/younger guys who are more suited to the fast-paced, relentless style needed to win a championship in today’s NBA unless your slow grind-it-out personnel are really tough, physical and elite. I agree it might be different if Ant were in that top superstar tier with SGA and others, but clearly he’s not.

In my view, we’re not going to win a championship or even make the NBA finals this season with Rudy, Randle and Conley as our starters. If there’s a championship on the horizon for the Wolves it will be built around a core of Ant, Jaden, Naz, Shannon, Clark and Dilly. It won’t be this season. I thought last year we should have been looking to and planning for two seasons ahead. Similarly, I’m viewing this season as an opportunity to build and prepare for next season (2026-27). In my view, that means going with what I see as our future core and living with the inevitable ups and downs. I’d look to move Randle, Rudy or both and be open to dealing Donte at some point this season before the deadline. I’ll note that this would be the season to take a step back because we have our 1st round pick next June.

I don't think we wanted to lose Randle for nothing this off season. We can still move him at any time if Tim sees the right player become available. Mike will be gone next season, and Rudy's main goal should be mentoring Joan so he's ready to go once we move on from Rudy.

[FNG]

I'm not sure I understand the gloom that has invaded our board after the Knicks game. We held a Knicks team playing all their starters to 38 points in the first half, and Kek's report was that Ju and Ant (2 guys who have been challenged to provide more on defense) had a lot to do with that with their defense on the Knicks' 2 best scorers. I disregard the second half and OT because Jaden was out and we were playing a lot of guys who are not going to see the court this season. Our assist to turnover ratio was not good, but we also were not playing with our starting PG who always has a good ratio. We won 49 games last season despite a very slow start incorporating Ju and Donte into the rotation and not getting much out of our rookies. Now we have a guy in TJ who looks ready to really produce off the bench for us, along with playing good defense. Barring any significant injuries, I don't see any reason this club isn't going to win more games this year. I'm in the bottom half of the group in the wins prediction thread, but I'm still feeling good about this team.

If Ricky were posting here today, he'd tell you guys to change your face!

[Q-is-here]

And in the Knicks game Finch started with Donte, ANT and Jaden at 1 thru 3. Later in the quarter, Shannon subbed in for Donte, so it was ANT, Shannon and Jaden at 1 thru 3. It lasted for a couple minutes, after which Rob subbed in for Jaden.

It's time to start phasing Mike out...

My theory with this team is that Conley, Rudy, and Randle all help ensure a very high floor for this team, but ultimately limit it's ceiling to Western Conference Finalists at best. You could argue if Ant was as good as Shai or Jokic or Giannis we'd get over the top, but the reality is he isn't as good as those guys and is in the next tier down of stars.

But of the three aforementioned floor-raisers, I think Randle is the biggest impediment to realizing the full potential of other guys, specifically Jaden and TJ. It's not that he's a net negative on his own, it's that there is an opportunity cost of having him on the team that exceeds the benefit.

As for Mike and Rudy, I feel like they don't really take touches away from the others and they bring value in areas that we are otherwise lacking right now. Plus with Conley especially, he is less likely to have a fit over reduced playing time as father time takes its toll and Finch needs to go with more youth and athleticism.

None of SGA, Joker, or Giannis had been to the finals yet at 24 years old.

Very true, but I just have a hard time seeing Ant reach their level of impact in terms of individual productivity. That doesn't mean he can't win a title, as guys like Jayson Tatum and Kawhi Leonard (Toronto) did while not being among the top 5 MVP vote-getters. They both were on elite teams and didn't need to be top 3 or 5 NBA players to win a chip.