I have no doubt that the #1 priority for the Wolves this summer should and will be re-signing Ayo. Based on TC’s track record, I expect they’ll get him re-signed. I’ve said from the beginning that the Ayo deal would be a good one only of we re-sign him. Now I’ll say it’s a GREAT deal if we re-sign him and I’m confident we will. They should get an injury exception for Donte to help stay under the 2nd apron although they might need to trade Randle for some more space, although I think trading Randle makes sense for other reasons.
He is a better player overall than Naz. By a descent amount too. Zero reason he won't get more than 5 for 125 like Naz got. I would assume 5 for 150.
I think we might have overpaid Naz by a bit and should have kept NAW instead. I really think Ayo's lack of high end athleticism and craftiness makes him at best a long term backup. He's going to struggle against the better defenses and especially if he's starting long term.
Just because you made one mistake don't make another. Keep him at the right price for sure though. I kind of feel like the NBA does view him more like I think, so he won't get crazy money.
If we are going back in time to the off-season the play would have been to package Conley and Dillingham to a team for value and resign NAW.
Speaking of NAW...what if Ayo can take his game to another level like NAW did? NAW went from high level rotation player solid starter in the right roster configuration to a really good starting guard in the right situation. I think 25 million a year is probably my ceiling on him but I have only seen him play a couple of regular season games with the Wolves and then the playoffs so I don't have as good of a handle on how good he is as many other here. This off-season a lot of teams have money to spend right? Who will then prioritize? Who might get less than maybe expected? How much can the Wolves give Ayo in an extension before FA starts?
He is a better player overall than Naz. By a descent amount too. Zero reason he won't get more than 5 for 125 like Naz got. I would assume 5 for 150.
I think we might have overpaid Naz by a bit and should have kept NAW instead. I really think Ayo's lack of high end athleticism and craftiness makes him at best a long term backup. He's going to struggle against the better defenses and especially if he's starting long term.
Just because you made one mistake don't make another. Keep him at the right price for sure though. I kind of feel like the NBA does view him more like I think, so he won't get crazy money.
If we are going back in time to the off-season the play would have been to package Conley and Dillingham to a team for value and resign NAW.
Speaking of NAW...what if Ayo can take his game to another level like NAW did? NAW went from high level rotation player solid starter in the right roster configuration to a really good starting guard in the right situation. I think 25 million a year is probably my ceiling on him but I have only seen him play a couple of regular season games with the Wolves and then the playoffs so I don't have as good of a handle on how good he is as many other here. This off-season a lot of teams have money to spend right? Who will then prioritize? Who might get less than maybe expected? How much can the Wolves give Ayo in an extension before FA starts?
NAW for us played better then Ayo has and NAW did take another step forward given more opportunity this year. As I said before, I think the ceiling on Ayo is lower to me do to his less athletic ability and less craftiness then avg NBA player. I just don't see starter to me. I could be wrong for sure though and I like him, want to keep him, but see some limits too.
I have no doubt that the #1 priority for the Wolves this summer should and will be re-signing Ayo. Based on TC’s track record, I expect they’ll get him re-signed. I’ve said from the beginning that the Ayo deal would be a good one only of we re-sign him. Now I’ll say it’s a GREAT deal if we re-sign him and I’m confident we will. They should get an injury exception for Donte to help stay under the 2nd apron although they might need to trade Randle for some more space, although I think trading Randle makes sense for other reasons.
I wouldn't overpay Ayo, like Barkley said on the postgame show he's probably still a role player (I think Barkley is right for once). Now he's going to be targeted by Denvers defense and game planned for. They saw he can hurt them and he's going to get starter coverage (again bad Denver defense but still).
I think he is still a backup to my eyes, I think against better defenses he's going to come up short like he has in the past. You start paying role players starter money and all of a sudden you can never reach the the ultimate goal. I think we can fill that role more cheaply if need be, rather then paying him 25 mill a year or whatever.
I'm more interested in looking to explore a higher end PG or ball handler. Still Giannis intrigues me as well as Kyrie. Either one could elevate our team, depending of course on what we give up.
Now saying that, if the contract we can get Ayo for is reasonable then of course. Do it. If you can resign him and trade for Kyrie to start, I think that would be ideal.
When are we going to accept that their defense is complete trash?
There is no focusing and loading up on him that actually works for them, none
Of course Ayo isn't gonna score 43 again, but did we forget that he 25 and 9 assist in game 3?
I agree that it still remains to be seen to just what level Ayo can really get to, cause he's not gonna be going against pillow soft defense the rest of the way. I do disagree however that his ceiling is just as a backup.
He feels like poor mans OG to me-- excellent role player who can scale his game in the right spots or when you need him to.
Also hes not gonna be the focal point of the offense in this game or any others. For better or worse it'll be Randle
Right I think he'll probably score 20-25 points tonight. Someone has to be taking the shots, he'll get his opportunities to get buckets. Think who else is going to score much? Jaden might have to pick up some slack too. Missing both DDV and Ant is 35-40 some points we need to pick up.
I can't see Conley lighting it up, maybe TJ? Lots of shots to be had by others now.
He is a better player overall than Naz. By a descent amount too. Zero reason he won't get more than 5 for 125 like Naz got. I would assume 5 for 150.
I think we might have overpaid Naz by a bit and should have kept NAW instead. I really think Ayo's lack of high end athleticism and craftiness makes him at best a long term backup. He's going to struggle against the better defenses and especially if he's starting long term.
Just because you made one mistake don't make another. Keep him at the right price for sure though. I kind of feel like the NBA does view him more like I think, so he won't get crazy money.
If we are going back in time to the off-season the play would have been to package Conley and Dillingham to a team for value and resign NAW.
Speaking of NAW...what if Ayo can take his game to another level like NAW did? NAW went from high level rotation player solid starter in the right roster configuration to a really good starting guard in the right situation. I think 25 million a year is probably my ceiling on him but I have only seen him play a couple of regular season games with the Wolves and then the playoffs so I don't have as good of a handle on how good he is as many other here. This off-season a lot of teams have money to spend right? Who will then prioritize? Who might get less than maybe expected? How much can the Wolves give Ayo in an extension before FA starts?
Lets not forget Brunson similar age when Dallas decided to decline giving him a nice contract. Brunson wanted to stay and offered to sign a 4/55 contract and Dallas declined it twice before he pivoted and left for New York.
I think we might have overpaid Naz by a bit and should have kept NAW instead. I really think Ayo's lack of high end athleticism and craftiness makes him at best a long term backup. He's going to struggle against the better defenses and especially if he's starting long term.
Just because you made one mistake don't make another. Keep him at the right price for sure though. I kind of feel like the NBA does view him more like I think, so he won't get crazy money.
If we are going back in time to the off-season the play would have been to package Conley and Dillingham to a team for value and resign NAW.
Speaking of NAW...what if Ayo can take his game to another level like NAW did? NAW went from high level rotation player solid starter in the right roster configuration to a really good starting guard in the right situation. I think 25 million a year is probably my ceiling on him but I have only seen him play a couple of regular season games with the Wolves and then the playoffs so I don't have as good of a handle on how good he is as many other here. This off-season a lot of teams have money to spend right? Who will then prioritize? Who might get less than maybe expected? How much can the Wolves give Ayo in an extension before FA starts?
NAW for us played better then Ayo has and NAW did take another step forward given more opportunity this year. As I said before, I think the ceiling on Ayo is lower to me do to his less athletic ability and less craftiness then avg NBA player. I just don't see starter to me. I could be wrong for sure though and I like him, want to keep him, but see some limits too.
How did NAW play better last season that Ayo has this year?
Are you saying Ayo is less crafty and less athletic than NAW? I curious about that also.
If we are going back in time to the off-season the play would have been to package Conley and Dillingham to a team for value and resign NAW.
Speaking of NAW...what if Ayo can take his game to another level like NAW did? NAW went from high level rotation player solid starter in the right roster configuration to a really good starting guard in the right situation. I think 25 million a year is probably my ceiling on him but I have only seen him play a couple of regular season games with the Wolves and then the playoffs so I don't have as good of a handle on how good he is as many other here. This off-season a lot of teams have money to spend right? Who will then prioritize? Who might get less than maybe expected? How much can the Wolves give Ayo in an extension before FA starts?
NAW for us played better then Ayo has and NAW did take another step forward given more opportunity this year. As I said before, I think the ceiling on Ayo is lower to me do to his less athletic ability and less craftiness then avg NBA player. I just don't see starter to me. I could be wrong for sure though and I like him, want to keep him, but see some limits too.
How did NAW play better last season that Ayo has this year?
Are you saying Ayo is less crafty and less athletic than NAW? I curious about that also.
NAW was a much better defender for us, on offense might be close, though I think NAW has better body control, slightly better vision. Yeah I think overall craftiness and athleticism goes to NAW, even when he was here. Just a bit quicker, moves side to side better, body control, feet, fluidity, jumping ability, etc.
Ayo is a better driver and open shooter for us. Overall player though NAW I think was highly underrated for us. He was our best player for a lot of the regular season, carrying us when half the team was giving half ass effort.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 12:58 pm
Ayo is one of the more athletic guys we have. Not sure where WF is coming from on that.
Ayo is fast 100%, but every other athletic trait or skill I would give to NAW. I mean Luka is slow as slo mo but is so crafty that he gets it done. Someone mentioned Brunson too, but that dude is hella crafty. At his size to get space consistently for open shots is super impressive.
