I’m already in the camp of those who would like to see LeBron come here, but that’s only if we can sign or acquire him without giving up any of our good or promising players beyond Josh Green and Mo Gueye. I don’t think LeBron will sign here for the $6M taxpayer MLE. That means we’d either have to do major roster gymnastics to get below the taxpayer threshold o use the full $15M MLE or work a sign-and trade with the Lakers with Josh and Mo going to the Lakers. My sense is the Lakers would do that if LeBron asks them to because of LeBron’s clout and his relationship with the Lakers. But if the Lakers were to get greedy and demand TSJ in the deal, I’d say no. I don’t want to help the Lakers or undermine the longer-term success of the Wolves for perhaps one great season with LeBron.
Ultimately, I think LeBron will end up in Cleveland or Golden State. Those two options provide the best story line for LeBron and as we know he loves story lines as part of his brand. Signing with the Cavs would be a great story line with LeBron returning home for one last run. Signing with the Warriors and playing with Steph and Draymond would be another appealing story line and also allow LeBron to continue enjoying the favorable California weather. If not one of those two, perhaps it will be Miami to close his career with Giannis, but that seems less likely.
I agree Lebronikes a storyline. What about helping the Wolves win a championship!?
Ball, Edwards, Jaden, Lebron and Gobert starting lineup would be insane. Lebron wouldn't even have to play defense or play PG or even have to score. Lol Gobert would just be loving at the rim waiting for people to throw him the ball. I'm not saying it's gonna happen but man that's gotta be something Lebron is mulling around. How much money is enough for him to sign anywhere? Is he gonna pick one team because he can make another 10 million? Look if the Wolves had to find a way to clear some salary to sign Lebron for more than a couple million they can and would and should do it and probably wouldn't have to give up anything too crazy to do so. I'm not getting my hopes up but I wouldn't be completely shocked if it happened...
I'd say we're still a massive long shot to get LeBron. I would say if Ant and LeBron are close, maybe considered friends and Ant would welcome him here, even recruit him here then there is a chance. It's not zero, but probably less then 5% chance I'd say. I think LeBron would prefer to play with Steph or go back to Cleveland. Those are the two heavy favorites.
As you say, don't get your hopes up. He'd be a great fit though for sure.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 10:20 am
And don't forget about Rocco!
He's either the 2nd or 3rd tallest player in the NBA and had a nice year developmentally!
I think the issue is less about our collective size (we're not small) and more about having only one of our tall guys being able to shoot (Jaden), thus making it hard to find two-big lineups where floor spacing doesn't get messed up. This is why Naz Reid is a valuable player. We had to give up something of value to get something we thought was even more important.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 10:20 am
And don't forget about Rocco!
He's either the 2nd or 3rd tallest player in the NBA and had a nice year developmentally!
I think the issue is less about our collective size (we're not small) and more about having only one of our tall guys being able to shoot (Jaden), thus making it hard to find two-big lineups where floor spacing doesn't get messed up. This is why Naz Reid is a valuable player. We had to give up something of value to get something we thought was even more important.
That's a really good point Q!
Man .. who else is even left to provide size and shooting?
60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 10:20 am
And don't forget about Rocco!
He's either the 2nd or 3rd tallest player in the NBA and had a nice year developmentally!
I think the issue is less about our collective size (we're not small) and more about having only one of our tall guys being able to shoot (Jaden), thus making it hard to find two-big lineups where floor spacing doesn't get messed up. This is why Naz Reid is a valuable player. We had to give up something of value to get something we thought was even more important.
That's a really good point Q!
Man .. who else is even left to provide size and shooting?
It's why a lot of teams in crunch time simply go down to one big even if they have some other quality bigs in the rotation. Handles, switchability on defense, and shot making become a big deal when the screws tighten and most of the guys that have those skills are wings and guards.
KAT and Mitchell almost NEVER played together in the frontcourt during the playoffs because that meant there was a more highly skilled option being left on the bench.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 4:41 pm
BTW, we ARE going small. The organization is already planting the seed that Shannon could be our starting PF at the start of the season.
It's a whole new world!
If you start Jaden and Shannon at the two forward positions, than to me they are just "forwards" and neither can really be considered a SF or PF.
I think Shannon is better suited to come off the bench when LaMelo and/or Ant is sitting since he obviously does best with the ball in his hands. And he isn't a very good POA defender, so him starting doesn't help Jaden much either.
I still think the answer, barring another move, is either Green or Clark as a token starter at the 2, with Ant at the 3, and Jaden at the 4. Shannon, Ayo, and Beringer are the three main bench pieces. In that context perhaps Shannon plays the 4 next to Rudy to give Jaden some rest.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 4:41 pm
BTW, we ARE going small. The organization is already planting the seed that Shannon could be our starting PF at the start of the season.
It's a whole new world!
If you start Jaden and Shannon at the two forward positions, than to me they are just "forwards" and neither can really be considered a SF or PF.
I think Shannon is better suited to come off the bench when LaMelo and/or Ant is sitting since he obviously does best with the ball in his hands. And he isn't a very good POA defender, so him starting doesn't help Jaden much either.
I still think the answer, barring another move, is either Green or Clark as a token starter at the 2, with Ant at the 3, and Jaden at the 4. Shannon, Ayo, and Beringer are the three main bench pieces. In that context perhaps Shannon plays the 4 next to Rudy to give Jaden some rest.
I'm agreement, but I don't think Finch will do this. He's pretty ridged in the idea that you start "the five best basketball players"
This is how we ended up with Randle always closing games even if Naz would have made more sense
60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 4:41 pm
BTW, we ARE going small. The organization is already planting the seed that Shannon could be our starting PF at the start of the season.
It's a whole new world!
If you start Jaden and Shannon at the two forward positions, than to me they are just "forwards" and neither can really be considered a SF or PF.
I think Shannon is better suited to come off the bench when LaMelo and/or Ant is sitting since he obviously does best with the ball in his hands. And he isn't a very good POA defender, so him starting doesn't help Jaden much either.
I still think the answer, barring another move, is either Green or Clark as a token starter at the 2, with Ant at the 3, and Jaden at the 4. Shannon, Ayo, and Beringer are the three main bench pieces. In that context perhaps Shannon plays the 4 next to Rudy to give Jaden some rest.
I'm agreement, but I don't think Finch will do this. He's pretty ridged in the idea that you start "the five best basketball players"
This is how we ended up with Randle always closing games even if Naz would have made more sense
Well, it would be Ayo then at the 2 and Ant at the 3 if that were the case.
Ayo's defense is sort of weird to me. He looks like he could be really good, but he's just sort of OK on that end. Not an ideal POA defender, but perhaps if that's all he has to focus on he can be better.
If you start Jaden and Shannon at the two forward positions, than to me they are just "forwards" and neither can really be considered a SF or PF.
I think Shannon is better suited to come off the bench when LaMelo and/or Ant is sitting since he obviously does best with the ball in his hands. And he isn't a very good POA defender, so him starting doesn't help Jaden much either.
I still think the answer, barring another move, is either Green or Clark as a token starter at the 2, with Ant at the 3, and Jaden at the 4. Shannon, Ayo, and Beringer are the three main bench pieces. In that context perhaps Shannon plays the 4 next to Rudy to give Jaden some rest.
I'm agreement, but I don't think Finch will do this. He's pretty ridged in the idea that you start "the five best basketball players"
This is how we ended up with Randle always closing games even if Naz would have made more sense
Well, it would be Ayo then at the 2 and Ant at the 3 if that were the case.
Ayo's defense is sort of weird to me. He looks like he could be really good, but he's just sort of OK on that end. Not an ideal POA defender, but perhaps if that's all he has to focus on he can be better.
Ayo is so confusing lol
His advanced metrics are impossible to really interpret though. They all look terrible, but significantly improved after joining the wolves, but a lot of the numbers still include the whole season of data.
DPM for example finished at like -0.5 or something like that, but improved from like -1.2 or whatever from his time with the Bulls.
He had the 2nd best net rating of rotation players on the Wolves after the trade deadline (a measley+2.3) and had a very solid 110 defensive rating.
I think we're all gonna end up very happy that he's a wolf next year, but it'll be interesting to see how he's used
I'm agreement, but I don't think Finch will do this. He's pretty ridged in the idea that you start "the five best basketball players"
This is how we ended up with Randle always closing games even if Naz would have made more sense
Well, it would be Ayo then at the 2 and Ant at the 3 if that were the case.
Ayo's defense is sort of weird to me. He looks like he could be really good, but he's just sort of OK on that end. Not an ideal POA defender, but perhaps if that's all he has to focus on he can be better.
Ayo is so confusing lol
His advanced metrics are impossible to really interpret though. They all look terrible, but significantly improved after joining the wolves, but a lot of the numbers still include the whole season of data.
DPM for example finished at like -0.5 or something like that, but improved from like -1.2 or whatever from his time with the Bulls.
He had the 2nd best net rating of rotation players on the Wolves after the trade deadline (a measley+2.3) and had a very solid 110 defensive rating.
I think we're all gonna end up very happy that he's a wolf next year, but it'll be interesting to see how he's used
I have a list of worries about the Wolves next season but Ayo isn’t on that list. He’s going to be a huge positive. Here’s my list of worries in addition to the general worry about injuries:
1. LaMelo’s ankles
2. Rebounding with Randle and Naz both gone
3. Toughness, physicality and size inside - don’t think we have enough
4. Defense when Rudy’s not on the court - same problem as last season but our offense should be better
