Minnesota Sports Forum

Monster wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 6:33 pm

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 12:18 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 11:25 am

I think you hit my perspective. I am ok going the 3 year route and thinking about a new window. I would have preferred it was done last year. Ant could get just as restless and the national narrative will grow with a string of playoff let downs. I think Kyrie is way too risky of a bet to go all in, for a myriad of reasons beyond his injury history and age. It just feels all to familiar of a desperate Minnesota move. Sign Ayo, find another young PG via trade or Draft from my perspective.

And trade Ju and Rudy for picks and younger players.

I do think you either go for it now, or retool. I have a bad feeling they will go the middle route and take neither which limits both upsides. Just try and get marginally better (some Ju trade for a mid tier PG) while probably keeping Rudy, maybe even keeping Ju which would be foolish. They haven't fired Finch, so that window looks closed too.

The only scenario in keeping Ju (maybe till the trade deadline) would be if the market is really trash, which I still don't see. He needs a change of scenery and to go East. He'll have more success there and he's a fine player / borderline All Star at times on a fair deal. There is potential for some team to get the best out of him, we unfortunately failed.

Randle had a couple pretty good seasons here. I don't think the Wolves failed in getting the best out him. I think there might be better fits in terms of roster but he was pretty successful here and for that reason there will likely be at least one team that will be interested in adding him to their roster.

thedoper wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 11:25 am

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 11:21 am

thedoper wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2026 5:54 pm Please no on injury prone vets. Let's look at Ayo and more youth in the position. Even though Dillingham didnt work out I would love to see them wiggle a draft day move to get another guard on the roster.

I get the risk, but I think we're ready now or never (OKC and SA are not going anywhere). Trying to hit a miraculous draft pick seems to me like a much longer shot. I'd rather risk Kyrie can come back and stay healthy while being 90+% of his old self. I think it's reasonably possible.

I think relying on a draft pick to hit, you might as well wait the three years too while we move East. Can we even keep Ant happy enough for three years of likely getting no where close to beating SA or OKC just so we can avoid them till possibly the Finals?

I bet it all right now on Kyrie.

Otherwise I think you should trade both Ju and Randle and try to get younger, build up possible momentum for 3 years from now.

I think the Wolves have to make a choice now. Rudy is probably more valuable to an Eastern team also. So is Ju. They could certainly help a middling team contend there, while I see doing a middling plan here as selling both short on the now and future.

I think you hit my perspective. I am ok going the 3 year route and thinking about a new window. I would have preferred it was done last year. Ant could get just as restless and the national narrative will grow with a string of playoff let downs. I think Kyrie is way too risky of a bet to go all in, for a myriad of reasons beyond his injury history and age. It just feels all to familiar of a desperate Minnesota move. Sign Ayo, find another young PG via trade or Draft from my perspective.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 7:22 am Can anyone come up with an example of an NBA team winning a championship or even making the NBA finals after trading for a veteran star in his mid-30s - especially one with a recent history of serious injuries? It didn’t work out for Houston this season after trading for Durant and it didn’t even work out for the Suns when they traded for Durant when he was still in his early 30s.

Former NBA stars in their mid-30s are fools gold.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 7:22 am Can anyone come up with an example of an NBA team winning a championship or even making the NBA finals after trading for a veteran star in his mid-30s - especially one with a recent history of serious injuries? It didn’t work out for Houston this season after trading for Durant and it didn’t even work out for the Suns when they traded for Durant when he was still in his early 30s.

Former NBA stars in their mid-30s are fools gold.

BloopOracle wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 10:16 pm Ant has been a good soldier so far in his career, but I definitely think he would cause a stink if we pivot towards a mini rebuild. Kyrie fits like a glove and he doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 8:12 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 7:22 am Can anyone come up with an example of an NBA team winning a championship or even making the NBA finals after trading for a veteran star in his mid-30s - especially one with a recent history of serious injuries? It didn’t work out for Houston this season after trading for Durant and it didn’t even work out for the Suns when they traded for Durant when he was still in his early 30s.

Former NBA stars in their mid-30s are fools gold.

The only recent example I can think of is LeBron James. It wasn't a trade, but he signed with the Lakers as a free agent before the 2018-19 season when he was 33. They won the title in the bubble year in 2020 when he was 35 and he won the Finals MVP.

Steph Curry wasn't traded for, but he was the best player on Golden State's last title team and he was 34 years old.

When San Antonio won their last title in 2014 Tim Duncan was 38 and he was still one of their two or three best players.

There are also plenty of examples of former all-stars or older all-stars that are well into their 30s and made huge contributions to championship teams, but aren't considered one of the top two or three players. Al Horford (37) was the starting Center on the Celtics; Ray Allen (37) was a major contributor off the bench for the Heat when they won their second of back to back titles; Marc Gasol (34) was the starting Center for the Raptors title run; Andre Iguodala (34) was a huge factor off the bench for the 2018 Warriors.

But generally speaking, the top two or three guys on title teams are in their mid-20s to early-30s at most.

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 8:22 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 8:12 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 7:22 am Can anyone come up with an example of an NBA team winning a championship or even making the NBA finals after trading for a veteran star in his mid-30s - especially one with a recent history of serious injuries? It didn’t work out for Houston this season after trading for Durant and it didn’t even work out for the Suns when they traded for Durant when he was still in his early 30s.

Former NBA stars in their mid-30s are fools gold.

The only recent example I can think of is LeBron James. It wasn't a trade, but he signed with the Lakers as a free agent before the 2018-19 season when he was 33. They won the title in the bubble year in 2020 when he was 35 and he won the Finals MVP.

Steph Curry wasn't traded for, but he was the best player on Golden State's last title team and he was 34 years old.

When San Antonio won their last title in 2014 Tim Duncan was 38 and he was still one of their two or three best players.

There are also plenty of examples of former all-stars or older all-stars that are well into their 30s and made huge contributions to championship teams, but aren't considered one of the top two or three players. Al Horford (37) was the starting Center on the Celtics; Ray Allen (37) was a major contributor off the bench for the Heat when they won their second of back to back titles; Marc Gasol (34) was the starting Center for the Raptors title run; Andre Iguodala (34) was a huge factor off the bench for the 2018 Warriors.

But generally speaking, the top two or three guys on title teams are in their mid-20s to early-30s at most.

Oh did the Spurs win that one with Duncan? I couldn't remember.

Generally yes, guys are late 20's early 30's usually. But a dozen or so examples exist of 34 yo plus guys winning and contributing.