Minnesota Sports Forum

Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:38 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:36 pm They had to get him back, but that's a big number. I'm just sad they chose Randle over NAW and we're still dealing with that choice

Connelly now has the financial flexibility to right that wrong because he can add another player for more than just the vet min.

I really don't need to relitigate all of this, but hypothetically could they not have gained that flexibility automatically this off season at the latest if they had chosen not to extend him. Except they'd have Naw, the assets given up for Ayo and the money to sign Ayo anyway if they wanted?
At least that would be one of the potential outcomes. Another is that Randle wouldn't have exorcized his option and they would have had that flexibility last summer, and with what you've learned about Randle I'm beginning to think he would have taken it personally if no extension has been offered and would have chosen FA

Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:03 pm Good news bad news good news

They were able to resign him

Bad news it's maybe a little more than what some would have liked. I could have seen it being even more though.

Good news is that he is locked in so if he blows up and becomes even better which is possible he could be a value contract. If he did a 3 year deal with a player option he could have gotten expensive.

And what about if he flops? What scenario did you possibly see this being higher? Was that the one where our economy goes into hyperinflation?

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:44 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:38 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:36 pm They had to get him back, but that's a big number. I'm just sad they chose Randle over NAW and we're still dealing with that choice

Connelly now has the financial flexibility to right that wrong because he can add another player for more than just the vet min.

I really don't need to relitigate all of this, but hypothetically could they not have gained that flexibility automatically this off season at the latest if they had chosen not to extend him. Except they'd have Naw, the assets given up for Ayo and the money to sign Ayo anyway if they wanted?
At least that would be one of the potential outcomes. Another is that Randle wouldn't have exorcized his option and they would have had that flexibility last summer, and with what you've learned about Randle I'm beginning to think he would have taken it personally if no extension has been offered and would have chosen FA

Basically extending him cost us 5 slots in this draft. That's all.

You only woulda kept NAW had Randle opted out, which wasn't happening.

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:36 pm They had to get him back, but that's a big number. I'm just sad they chose Randle over NAW and we're still dealing with that choice

Bingo. You absolutely nailed the source here. I was advocating for Naw over Randle. Then we could have traded for a PF instead of Ayo last year. Stupid choices have consequences. I’d much rather have NAW at his current contract than this. Much. Everyone could see NAW trending up to what he did this year, but we chose Randle over him. Terrible.

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:46 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:44 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:38 pm

Connelly now has the financial flexibility to right that wrong because he can add another player for more than just the vet min.

I really don't need to relitigate all of this, but hypothetically could they not have gained that flexibility automatically this off season at the latest if they had chosen not to extend him. Except they'd have Naw, the assets given up for Ayo and the money to sign Ayo anyway if they wanted?
At least that would be one of the potential outcomes. Another is that Randle wouldn't have exorcized his option and they would have had that flexibility last summer, and with what you've learned about Randle I'm beginning to think he would have taken it personally if no extension has been offered and would have chosen FA

Basically extending him cost us 5 slots in this draft. That's all.

You only woulda kept NAW had Randle opted out, which wasn't happening.

Nope you can still keep NAW even if Randle opts in. Just get creative at the deadline or even better, just trade him right after he opts in.

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:46 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:44 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:38 pm

Connelly now has the financial flexibility to right that wrong because he can add another player for more than just the vet min.

I really don't need to relitigate all of this, but hypothetically could they not have gained that flexibility automatically this off season at the latest if they had chosen not to extend him. Except they'd have Naw, the assets given up for Ayo and the money to sign Ayo anyway if they wanted?
At least that would be one of the potential outcomes. Another is that Randle wouldn't have exorcized his option and they would have had that flexibility last summer, and with what you've learned about Randle I'm beginning to think he would have taken it personally if no extension has been offered and would have chosen FA

Basically extending him cost us 5 slots in this draft. That's all.

You only woulda kept NAW had Randle opted out, which wasn't happening.

I'm almost certain you're not correct about that, and as I said, he might have opted out with how salty he gets about any trade rumour he's involved in. It was also possible for them to keep all three players it would have just been tight. It would have made sense for them to do that tho if they knew Randle would be off the books.

They also probably don't do the Ayo trade, meaning they still have those 2nds and maybe don't do the weird Conely trade that basically cost them the 21st pick this year.

The externalities are kind of endless and obviously not just limited to this most recent trade. It's not entirely worth it to go over all of it, but I think it worth questioning their judgement about in house talent when nearly every bet they made about Randle, and by extension Naw has gone sideways.

- Dilly, Clark and TJ were comically unable to replace Walker
- Randle being this mercurial and basically skipping town after the season ended is a bad look when you put so much on his shoulders, and constantly gas him up. I'm just weary of front office judgement here. They can't predict the future obviously but if this is who he is, than why extend him? Especially when the whole point of the Kat trade was to gain flexibility.
- Naw being able to legitimately play point guard for a playoff team is also a pretty rough look when they are now so desperately searching for one.

Complaining about each of these on their own and you could accuse me of hindsight bias, but with so many of these things going exactly the wrong way is suggestive that some people in that building are not great at accessing their internal talent.

This isnt really just a bitch session. I'm not just crying that TC and Finch sucks, but there are just so many little things that raise ones eyebrow

I just want to say Naw was God Awful in the playoffs yet again.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 12:04 am I just want to say Naw was God Awful in the playoffs yet again.

I think it's quite true that if Naw were still on this team, they would still be looking for a starting PG, but at his contract he would still be so freaking valuable

D-Loser25 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:53 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:36 pm They had to get him back, but that's a big number. I'm just sad they chose Randle over NAW and we're still dealing with that choice

Bingo. You absolutely nailed the source here. I was advocating for Naw over Randle. Then we could have traded for a PF instead of Ayo last year. Stupid choices have consequences. I’d much rather have NAW at his current contract than this. Much. Everyone could see NAW trending up to what he did this year, but we chose Randle over him. Terrible.

Show me the posts where everyone (actually anyone) saw NAW becoming a 20ppg scorer. I'll wait.

I’m gonna argue NAW is a slightly better overall player. Maybe that’s wrong, idk, maybe call it a tie. NAW is on 4/60 contract (3/45 for the next 3 years). With Randle now gone, we’re left with NAW vs AYO as the comparison. Looks pretty bad, value-wise, if you ask me. Plus we’d still have the 4 2nds. I hope that AYO surprises me, but I think it’s more likely that TC has fooled a lot of people into thinking he’s good at his job, when he’s average at best.