Minnesota Sports Forum

DNatagal wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 4:14 pm I swear that Finch reads my posts! 10 man rotation will hopefully lead to playing fast and playing some frenetic defense!

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 7:26 pm

DNatagal wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 4:14 pm I swear that Finch reads my posts! 10 man rotation will hopefully lead to playing fast and playing some frenetic defense!

Finch will need to manage minutes next season far more than the last few. He’ll need to keep Ball’s minutes at around 30 to protect his ankles (he averaged 28 last season). He’ll need to manage Ant’s minutes better after watching Ant’s knees succumb to wear and tear by the end of the season. He’ll need to limit Rudy’s minutes to keep his 35 year old legs healthy and fresh for the playoffs.

So I do think we’ll see a 10-man rotation or at least 9. At this point I think Joan, TSJ and Clark will all be part of the 9 or 10 player rotation unless they play their way out of it. I see Bones strictly as roster depth in case of injury at this point. Of course, much of this could change if the Wolves make a trade for a starting PF before the season.

One certainty is that players will miss games because of injuries. The question isn’t if. The questions are who, how many and for how many games. Depth is critical in today’s NBA. We have excellent depth where we need it the most - at the guard and wing positions - because this team is obviously designed to depend mainly on those positions.

We lack depth at the PF and C positions. I’m more concerned about the center position than PF. That’s not because I don’t have confidence in Beringer. My concern is that an extended injury to Rudy would leave us depending entirely on Joan with no center depth behind him. We can play small ball with bigger wings like Green and TSJ backing up Lyles or Jaden at PF, giving us the offensive punch we need. But we are so heavily dependent on the defense and rebounding of Rudy and Joan at C with no one behind Joan who can come remotely close to providing the defense and rebounding they provide. Moreover, while I’m very high on Joan, we have to acknowledge the uncertainty that goes along with a 20 year old with very little NBA playing time under his belt.

That’s why I would have signed Andre Drummond last month when he was still available.

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 8:20 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 7:26 pm

DNatagal wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 4:14 pm I swear that Finch reads my posts! 10 man rotation will hopefully lead to playing fast and playing some frenetic defense!

Finch will need to manage minutes next season far more than the last few. He’ll need to keep Ball’s minutes at around 30 to protect his ankles (he averaged 28 last season). He’ll need to manage Ant’s minutes better after watching Ant’s knees succumb to wear and tear by the end of the season. He’ll need to limit Rudy’s minutes to keep his 35 year old legs healthy and fresh for the playoffs.

So I do think we’ll see a 10-man rotation or at least 9. At this point I think Joan, TSJ and Clark will all be part of the 9 or 10 player rotation unless they play their way out of it. I see Bones strictly as roster depth in case of injury at this point. Of course, much of this could change if the Wolves make a trade for a starting PF before the season.

One certainty is that players will miss games because of injuries. The question isn’t if. The questions are who, how many and for how many games. Depth is critical in today’s NBA. We have excellent depth where we need it the most - at the guard and wing positions - because this team is obviously designed to depend mainly on those positions.

We lack depth at the PF and C positions. I’m more concerned about the center position than PF. That’s not because I don’t have confidence in Beringer. My concern is that an extended injury to Rudy would leave us depending entirely on Joan with no center depth behind him. We can play small ball with bigger wings like Green and TSJ backing up Lyles or Jaden at PF, giving us the offensive punch we need. But we are so heavily dependent on the defense and rebounding of Rudy and Joan at C with no one behind Joan who can come remotely close to providing the defense and rebounding they provide. Moreover, while I’m very high on Joan, we have to acknowledge the uncertainty that goes along with a 20 year old with very little NBA playing time under his belt.

That’s why I would have signed Andre Drummond last month when he was still available.

Drummond was gonna be a Knick. Had we pursued Drummond, it would have been another excuse to not play Beringer.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 9:45 am

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 8:20 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 7:26 pm

Finch will need to manage minutes next season far more than the last few. He’ll need to keep Ball’s minutes at around 30 to protect his ankles (he averaged 28 last season). He’ll need to manage Ant’s minutes better after watching Ant’s knees succumb to wear and tear by the end of the season. He’ll need to limit Rudy’s minutes to keep his 35 year old legs healthy and fresh for the playoffs.

So I do think we’ll see a 10-man rotation or at least 9. At this point I think Joan, TSJ and Clark will all be part of the 9 or 10 player rotation unless they play their way out of it. I see Bones strictly as roster depth in case of injury at this point. Of course, much of this could change if the Wolves make a trade for a starting PF before the season.

One certainty is that players will miss games because of injuries. The question isn’t if. The questions are who, how many and for how many games. Depth is critical in today’s NBA. We have excellent depth where we need it the most - at the guard and wing positions - because this team is obviously designed to depend mainly on those positions.

We lack depth at the PF and C positions. I’m more concerned about the center position than PF. That’s not because I don’t have confidence in Beringer. My concern is that an extended injury to Rudy would leave us depending entirely on Joan with no center depth behind him. We can play small ball with bigger wings like Green and TSJ backing up Lyles or Jaden at PF, giving us the offensive punch we need. But we are so heavily dependent on the defense and rebounding of Rudy and Joan at C with no one behind Joan who can come remotely close to providing the defense and rebounding they provide. Moreover, while I’m very high on Joan, we have to acknowledge the uncertainty that goes along with a 20 year old with very little NBA playing time under his belt.

That’s why I would have signed Andre Drummond last month when he was still available.

Drummond was gonna be a Knick. Had we pursued Drummond, it would have been another excuse to not play Beringer.

Drummond would not have played ahead of Beringer. He would have been an insurance policy as a potential backup in the event of an injury to Rudy or Joan. Finch obviously loves Joan and has publicly said he thinks Joan has earned a consistent role. Finch is not looking for excuses to keep Beringer in the bench.

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 10:05 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 9:45 am

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 8:20 am

Drummond was gonna be a Knick. Had we pursued Drummond, it would have been another excuse to not play Beringer.

Drummond would not have played ahead of Beringer. He would have been an insurance policy as a potential backup in the event of an injury to Rudy or Joan. Finch obviously loves Joan and has publicly said he thinks Joan has earned a consistent role. Finch is not looking for excuses to keep Beringer in the bench.

Lip Drummond wasn't gonna sign for the vet min to sit around as the 3rd center. With the Knicks he is the clear #2 guy and heck he could even play with Towns if they want to play big at times.

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 2:13 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 10:05 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 9:45 am

Drummond would not have played ahead of Beringer. He would have been an insurance policy as a potential backup in the event of an injury to Rudy or Joan. Finch obviously loves Joan and has publicly said he thinks Joan has earned a consistent role. Finch is not looking for excuses to keep Beringer in the bench.

Lip Drummond wasn't gonna sign for the vet min to sit around as the 3rd center. With the Knicks he is the clear #2 guy and heck he could even play with Towns if they want to play big at times.

Exactly. Drummond is a Mitchell Robinson replacement (and a local kid).

Nobody is signing up to be Luka Garza here. If anything, that's where they have to be careful about how much they use Rocco