The issue isn't that we couldn't get somewhat better with a marginal Ju trade for instance for younger vet PG, whoever you like. I think the issue is that not only are OKC and SA better, they are younger and deeper!Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 3:44 pmLots of teams have won titles with only one #1 pick. The Thunder have only one #1 pick and he’s not even their best player. The Warriors won multiple championships with no #1 picks. The Bulls won six championships with a #3 pick (MJ) and a #7 pick (Pippen). The list goes on and on. Teams typically win championships by drafting well to build their core and filling in aound them with trades and FA acquisitions. A variation on drafting well is suckering a team into giving up on a young highly promising player in exchange for an aging vet, which is what the Thunder did to get SGA. What never works is giving up valuable assets for aging former stars in their mid 30s with durability issues.WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 3:27 pm I don't know many vets in their mid-30s who have helped spearhead a team over the top to win a title.
I also don't know any #1 overall picks since the start of the lottery who have won their first title without drafting another #1 pick alongside him
For the Wolves to win a title, a lot of outliers will have to be made.
The Wolves aren’t that far off. They have a star player in Ant who hasn’t even hit his prime yet. They have a very good player and terrific defender in Jaden who is just entering his prime. They have a very talented and pretty unique big in Naz just entering his prime as well. The Wolves have had two consecutive trips to the Conference Finals and knocked off Denver in the first round this year without Ant. On the other hand, the Wolves finished 6th in spite of being largely healthy most of the season and it is clear they’re not at the same level as the Thunder and Spurs. So yes, the Wolves will need to make a significant move or two this off season. But this isn’t a hale Mary situation. It’s a “design a few really smart plays and get well down the field situation” to put us roughly on par with OKC and San Antonio. Will it be easy? No. But we purportedly have one of the best PBOs in the League and pay him accordingly. You don’t hire someone like TC to throw Hale Marys. You higher him to skillfully take you down the field and get you across the goal line more than the other teams.
We have a very talented team with our core guys just entering their prime years so we’re not staring at our own 10 yard line with 10 seconds to go. We’re at mid field and have a full 2 minutes to get another 50 years and cross the goal line. The ball is in TC’s hands. Let’s see what he can do. If he chucks the ball into the end zone four times, then hiring him was a huge mistake.
I think that hoping internal growth and a draft pick or two pan out simply doesn't close the gap. Those guys are getting better too and probably at a faster rate considering many of their stars are sub 24 yo!
We've kind of maxed out here. I just don't see anything but a homerun turning us around enough to really contend.
Any minimal move to me is just accepting being 3rd best.
The ONLY argument I can maybe get on board with is that either Ju and/or FInch have been detrimental and simply replacing one or both over the next year gets us a bigger boost. I don't see it though.
Oh and Jason Kidd was 35 when traded to Dallas, Horford also 35 traded to Boston, both won the rings with respective teams at age 38. I'm not sure why a trade prerequisite matters though. I mean if LeBron is traded to the Cavs and wins next year at age 42 or whatever, so idk.
I mean I do get the point that trading for older vets, you are somewhat paying for the name and what they've done. Versus what they can do. So sure. We'll see what Kyrie gets traded for, I don't think it'll be too steep given his age and ACL injury.
