Rate the Wolves Off-Season So Far

[60WinTim]

The Green trade was a creative move to open the apron space for Kuminga, yet still keep Green's roster spot filled AND leave plenty of apron space to sign a player for the 15th roster spot. However, TC's work is NOT done. While we have a clear top 10 players that is very balanced and looks very strong, the final 5 spots are very unbalanced -- basically all guards: Bones, Evans, Williams and Donte. Another BIG or two is required. One can now be added with a vet minimum for the 15th roster spot, but I will not be surprised if another trade goes down, swapping a guard for a BIG.

[Lipoli390]

The Green trade was a creative move to open the apron space for Kuminga, yet still keep Green's roster spot filled AND leave plenty of apron space to sign a player for the 15th roster spot. However, TC's work is NOT done. While we have a clear top 10 players that is very balanced and looks very strong, the final 5 spots are very unbalanced -- basically all guards: Bones, Evans, Williams and Donte. Another BIG or two is required. One can now be added with a vet minimum for the 15th roster spot, but I will not be surprised if another trade goes down, swapping a guard for a BIG.

One things we know about TC is that he’s never really done making moves. But he has very little room under the 2nd apron and not a lot to work with to pull off a meaningful rebalancing deal before the season unless he’s willing to trade Donte, which seems very doubtful. They can’t trade Bones, Evans or Clark until Dec. 15 or Jan. 15. They can’t aggregate Cody with other outgoing players until Oct. 29. Maybe there’s a one-for-one Cody Williams swap that would bring in a good additional big man, but I doubt it. I don’t think roster balance is a concern right now after the Kuminga deal. We have Rudy, Joan, Kuminga and Trey Lyles as four rotation or rotation-worthy players for our two big-man positions. We could use our 15th roster spot to add another big at the vet minimum - maybe Kelly Olynyk. But I think we’re pretty well set now. This team has obviously been transformed, starting with the Ayo acquisition last February, into a guard and wing-centric, fast-paced high-octane offensive team with a solid defensive floor. Therefore, having a roster balance tilted in favor of guards and wings makes sense.

[Monster]

The Green trade was a creative move to open the apron space for Kuminga, yet still keep Green's roster spot filled AND leave plenty of apron space to sign a player for the 15th roster spot. However, TC's work is NOT done. While we have a clear top 10 players that is very balanced and looks very strong, the final 5 spots are very unbalanced -- basically all guards: Bones, Evans, Williams and Donte. Another BIG or two is required. One can now be added with a vet minimum for the 15th roster spot, but I will not be surprised if another trade goes down, swapping a guard for a BIG.

Tim, could the Wolves use a trade exception (I assume they still have some) to use the 4 or so millions in space they have to claim a guy that's waived that's making more than the vet min? Or are they limited from using those by being hard capped?

[60WinTim]

The Green trade was a creative move to open the apron space for Kuminga, yet still keep Green's roster spot filled AND leave plenty of apron space to sign a player for the 15th roster spot. However, TC's work is NOT done. While we have a clear top 10 players that is very balanced and looks very strong, the final 5 spots are very unbalanced -- basically all guards: Bones, Evans, Williams and Donte. Another BIG or two is required. One can now be added with a vet minimum for the 15th roster spot, but I will not be surprised if another trade goes down, swapping a guard for a BIG.

Tim, could the Wolves use a trade exception (I assume they still have some) to use the 4 or so millions in space they have to claim a guy that's waived that's making more than the vet min? Or are they limited from using those by being hard capped?

My understanding of the 1st apron rules says the Wolves can take back a player into an existing trade exception, which they do have. They might have to send out something, like a pick, to make the transaction work. Fortunately, they have one of those phantom 2nd rounders...

BUT! Now that we have Cody Williams, maybe that is enough to entice his former teammate in Utah to sign a vet min deal with the Wolves: Kevin Love!

[Monster]

The Green trade was a creative move to open the apron space for Kuminga, yet still keep Green's roster spot filled AND leave plenty of apron space to sign a player for the 15th roster spot. However, TC's work is NOT done. While we have a clear top 10 players that is very balanced and looks very strong, the final 5 spots are very unbalanced -- basically all guards: Bones, Evans, Williams and Donte. Another BIG or two is required. One can now be added with a vet minimum for the 15th roster spot, but I will not be surprised if another trade goes down, swapping a guard for a BIG.

Tim, could the Wolves use a trade exception (I assume they still have some) to use the 4 or so millions in space they have to claim a guy that's waived that's making more than the vet min? Or are they limited from using those by being hard capped?

My understanding of the 1st apron rules says the Wolves can take back a player into an existing trade exception, which they do have. They might have to send out something, like a pick, to make the transaction work. Fortunately, they have one of those phantom 2nd rounders...

BUT! Now that we have Cody Williams, maybe that is enough to entice his former teammate in Utah to sign a vet min deal with the Wolves: Kevin Love!

Thanks for the response Tim. I was thinking being able to use the exception to just claim a guy would he handy as then they wouldn't need to include anything in a trade. It looks like they can use a trade exception to claim a waived player. This seems unlikely but still you never know. it will be interesting to see who all they add to the roster in a few weeks.

I'll note again just how much young talent the Wolves have even if they add an old guy like Love or Olynyk. That would have them 4 players over the age of 26.

[Lipoli390]

The Wolves won 49 games and finished 6th in the West last season. Assuming Donte doesn’t get back on the floor until the playoffs or the very end of the seasons, we won’t have Donte, Randle or Naz for the regular season. Those three are out and in their place we’ll have Ayo, Ball and Kuminga. In my mind, the question about whether this Wolves offseason has been a success boils down to the following quesiton: Are we a better team with Ayo, Ball and Kuminga instead of Donte, Randle and Naz?

[60WinTim]

The Wolves won 49 games and finished 6th in the West last season. Assuming Donte doesn’t get back on the floor until the playoffs or the very end of the seasons, we won’t have Donte, Randle or Naz for the regular season. Those three are out and in their place we’ll have Ayo, Ball and Kuminga. In my mind, the question about whether this Wolves offseason has been a success boils down to the following quesiton: Are we a better team with Ayo, Ball and Kuminga instead of Donte, Randle and Naz?

I think you are making a mistake leaving Lyles out of the equation, not to mention Beringer moving into the rotation. Ball is replacing Donte. Ayo is replacing Bones. Kuminga is replacing Randle. Lyles and Beringer are tag teaming to replace NAZ.

Thanks for getting me even more pumped for the season!!!

[WildWolf2813]

The Wolves won 49 games and finished 6th in the West last season. Assuming Donte doesn’t get back on the floor until the playoffs or the very end of the seasons, we won’t have Donte, Randle or Naz for the regular season. Those three are out and in their place we’ll have Ayo, Ball and Kuminga. In my mind, the question about whether this Wolves offseason has been a success boils down to the following quesiton: Are we a better team with Ayo, Ball and Kuminga instead of Donte, Randle and Naz?

I think you are making a mistake leaving Lyles out of the equation, not to mention Beringer moving into the rotation. Ball is replacing Donte. Ayo is replacing Bones. Kuminga is replacing Randle. Lyles and Beringer are tag teaming to replace NAZ.

Thanks for getting me even more pumped for the season!!!

Trey Lyles signed a prove it deal. I don't think it's asking too much for him to prove his worth.

[guest81]

The Wolves won 49 games and finished 6th in the West last season. Assuming Donte doesn’t get back on the floor until the playoffs or the very end of the seasons, we won’t have Donte, Randle or Naz for the regular season. Those three are out and in their place we’ll have Ayo, Ball and Kuminga. In my mind, the question about whether this Wolves offseason has been a success boils down to the following quesiton: Are we a better team with Ayo, Ball and Kuminga instead of Donte, Randle and Naz?

I look at it more as how much better will Ant be now that they are playing to his strengths rather than putting him in roles not suited for him. Can peak Ant be a top 3 player? If so they are much better

[BeenLurkin]

From afar it really seems like Ant was really affected by losing Kat. They were actual friends outside of ball. The locker room fell apart over two years of Julius and Ant couldn’t hold him accountable the way Ant and Kat could with eachother. Ants mom and grandma raised him and were both dead by the time he was drafted. He gets to MN and Towns becomes his ride or die big brother. It makes sense to me on a human level how much less you’d want to play with an outsider (Randle) then you would with someone you trust.

This offseason seemed to be about Ant choosing his new running mate and someone who can become a kindred spirit. By all reports it seems like he hand picked Lamelo and has been hanging out with him pretty much since he arrived. I don’t think we can judge the offseason by a simple swap of skill or on court talent. Ant is the most important cog in the machine and now we will see the machine they built for him. Last season has no bearing on next imo. Let’s see what happens.