Minnesota Sports Forum

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:41 am Here's my prediction. There will be a lot of doom and gloom here by the end of the month. We're in 6th place right now, but we'll be barely in the play-in discussion after a tough month...3 games with OkC, and also games with Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland and at the Lakers, not to mention the suddenly formidable Trailblazers. But then we catch fire with a very soft schedule...we finish 15-7 and sneak into the 4th spot in the West. We win a first round playoff series, but then get blown out in 5 by OkC.

Phenom wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 9:40 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 6:48 pm

Phenom wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 5:25 pm As for a prediction: Wolves get 6th seed, beat Houston and Memphis, then take OKC to 6 in the WCF.

You've been hanging around 60WinTim too much!

Wolves now 9-5 against the top 6 in the West and 5th in the West in net rating.

Sometimes injuries will improve the team by necessity of players showing what they can do. They should be a better and deeper team when everyone is back.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 10:42 am

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:41 am Here's my prediction. There will be a lot of doom and gloom here by the end of the month. We're in 6th place right now, but we'll be barely in the play-in discussion after a tough month...3 games with OkC, and also games with Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland and at the Lakers, not to mention the suddenly formidable Trailblazers. But then we catch fire with a very soft schedule...we finish 15-7 and sneak into the 4th spot in the West. We win a first round playoff series, but then get blown out in 5 by OkC.

Wow, heady stuff here FNG.

What's interesting about OKC is that they are a team filled with a seemingly endless supply of skilled mid-sized guards and forwards that allow them to play a large rotation (usually 10 guys get minutes in their competitive games, which aren't many since they blowout so many teams) and defend like crazy. Here are some of those rather anonymous players: Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell. Then of course you have more household names like SGA, Jalen Williams, Dort, and Caruso. All of these guys are between 6'4" and 6'6".

Basically half their roster is filled with a bunch of NAWs, Clarks, and Shannons!

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 11:05 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 10:42 am

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:41 am Here's my prediction. There will be a lot of doom and gloom here by the end of the month. We're in 6th place right now, but we'll be barely in the play-in discussion after a tough month...3 games with OkC, and also games with Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland and at the Lakers, not to mention the suddenly formidable Trailblazers. But then we catch fire with a very soft schedule...we finish 15-7 and sneak into the 4th spot in the West. We win a first round playoff series, but then get blown out in 5 by OkC.

Wow, heady stuff here FNG.

What's interesting about OKC is that they are a team filled with a seemingly endless supply of skilled mid-sized guards and forwards that allow them to play a large rotation (usually 10 guys get minutes in their competitive games, which aren't many since they blowout so many teams) and defend like crazy. Here are some of those rather anonymous players: Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell. Then of course you have more household names like SGA, Jalen Williams, Dort, and Caruso. All of these guys are between 6'4" and 6'6".

Basically half their roster is filled with a bunch of NAWs, Clarks, and Shannons!

Finishing 4th this season is within the realm of reasonable possibilities, provided Edwards stays healthy.

Q - Your assessment of OKC is spot on. That’s the sort of team I had visions of the Wolves becoming after their successful 46-win season in 2021-22 before the Gobert trade. I think we can still be that sort of team with Rudy but it will require some skillful front office work and the sort of development from Dilly, TSJ and Clark that we’re beginning to see. As for this season, I see the potential to finish strong as as high as 4th as FNG predicts. I worry, however, about the impact of Randle’s return on this team’s development and trajectory.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 12:33 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 11:05 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 10:42 am

Wow, heady stuff here FNG.

What's interesting about OKC is that they are a team filled with a seemingly endless supply of skilled mid-sized guards and forwards that allow them to play a large rotation (usually 10 guys get minutes in their competitive games, which aren't many since they blowout so many teams) and defend like crazy. Here are some of those rather anonymous players: Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell. Then of course you have more household names like SGA, Jalen Williams, Dort, and Caruso. All of these guys are between 6'4" and 6'6".

Basically half their roster is filled with a bunch of NAWs, Clarks, and Shannons!

Finishing 4th this season is within the realm of reasonable possibilities, provided Edwards stays healthy.

Q - Your assessment of OKC is spot on. That’s the sort of team I had visions of the Wolves becoming after their successful 46-win season in 2021-22 before the Gobert trade. I think we can still be that sort of team with Rudy but it will require some skillful front office work and the sort of development from Dilly, TSJ and Clark that we’re beginning to see. As for this season, I see the potential to finish strong as as high as 4th as FNG predicts. I worry, however, about the impact of Randle’s return on this team’s development and trajectory.

I think Finch found the right way to use Julius in the weeks leading up to his injury. He's like a spice or seasoning that helps make the meal taste better but too much of it ruins its flavor. I was dumbfounded by how Ant had to contort his game to fit around Julius earlier in the year, but as time went on they seemed to find a better balance.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:31 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 12:33 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 11:05 am

Finishing 4th this season is within the realm of reasonable possibilities, provided Edwards stays healthy.

Q - Your assessment of OKC is spot on. That’s the sort of team I had visions of the Wolves becoming after their successful 46-win season in 2021-22 before the Gobert trade. I think we can still be that sort of team with Rudy but it will require some skillful front office work and the sort of development from Dilly, TSJ and Clark that we’re beginning to see. As for this season, I see the potential to finish strong as as high as 4th as FNG predicts. I worry, however, about the impact of Randle’s return on this team’s development and trajectory.

I think Finch found the right way to use Julius in the weeks leading up to his injury. He's like a spice or seasoning that helps make the meal taste better but too much of it ruins its flavor. I was dumbfounded by how Ant had to contort his game to fit around Julius earlier in the year, but as time went on they seemed to find a better balance.

Good point about Finch making much better use of Julius in the few weeks leading up to his injury. It’s a wonder that it too Finch that long. So things might work well for the Wolves this season after Randle’s return. However, I don’t think the way Finch has used Randle lately is sustainable over the long haul for several reasons. First, I don’t think Randle is wired to stay within the lines Finch has necessarily drawn for him to make him a better fit for this team. His 31-year-old propensities and muscle memory will kick in too often over time. Second, even the constrained version of Randle isn’t ideal for this team. Note that Ant did not start exploding as he has recently until after Randle was no longer playing. Third, keeping Randle beyond this season jeopardizes our chances of re-signing Naz and getting below both aprons. Finally, Randle will eat up minutes that we need to allocate to our young guys - TSJ and Clark especially but also perhaps Miller or Minott.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 7:45 pm This didn't seem worthy of its own thread, at least not yet. So, I am putting it here because it is a "change in status" following the trade deadline.

It is being reported that KD is upset about being included in trade talks, and will force a trade this summer. The Wolves were one of the teams making an inquiry. And, or course, the KD-ANT connection has been well documented.

Could the Wolves, and would the Wolves, be a bidder for KD this summer?

Assuming Randle opts in, a Randle and Jaden trade could make the salaries work. The trade could not happen until the new year beings in July, but if arranged before the draft, the Wolves would have some draft capital to include, not to mention a young player.

It's an interesting thought. Would ANT's desire to play with KD be stronger than his bond with Jaden? Probably not. But it is an interesting idea to entertain!

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 9:47 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 7:45 pm This didn't seem worthy of its own thread, at least not yet. So, I am putting it here because it is a "change in status" following the trade deadline.

It is being reported that KD is upset about being included in trade talks, and will force a trade this summer. The Wolves were one of the teams making an inquiry. And, or course, the KD-ANT connection has been well documented.

Could the Wolves, and would the Wolves, be a bidder for KD this summer?

Assuming Randle opts in, a Randle and Jaden trade could make the salaries work. The trade could not happen until the new year beings in July, but if arranged before the draft, the Wolves would have some draft capital to include, not to mention a young player.

It's an interesting thought. Would ANT's desire to play with KD be stronger than his bond with Jaden? Probably not. But it is an interesting idea to entertain!

Jon K. does NOT believe the story is over yet. He won't be surprised at all if this heats up again in the summer. And we know he doesn't just throw shit out there.

Durant only has one year left on his contract, so it's basically a one year rental. The question is what would we need to give up to make the salaries work without compromising too many Ant 2.0 assets? This is a case where Randle opting in could actually help us!