Minnesota Sports Forum

I'm hoping the bigger issue is that Finch has a hard time working him back into the rotation because the group he has is humming and it's tough to find the minutes. That would be a good problem to have. My guess is injuries or underperformance by the bench may pave an easy path for his re-integration into the rotation.

What if you think Donte will be traded? Is that what "never" is for?

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2026 7:20 am What if you think Donte will be traded? Is that what "never" is for?

Tim, I don't think Donte will be traded, but there is a possibility he will be. I put the never option out there to include either a trade or losing him in free agency before he plays for us.

I voted never. I think you need to trade him for a PF.

I estimate his value to the Wolves rides heavily on what he wants his next contract to look like. The Wolves squad show was having a discussion about this topic and numbers around what Ayo make was being thrown around.

I dont think it's crazy to think the Wolves won't pay Ant, Melo, Ayo and then Donte at 20ish million. That isnt a good allocation of resources, especially since there are so many front court questions in the near and intermediate term.

If Donte comes in around 15, it is probably workable. If the Wolves give him Ayo money, then Ayo is probably a trade chip, sooner or later.

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:55 am I estimate his value to the Wolves rides heavily on what he wants his next contract to look like. The Wolves squad show was having a discussion about this topic and numbers around what Ayo make was being thrown around.

I dont think it's crazy to think the Wolves won't pay Ant, Melo, Ayo and then Donte at 20ish million. That isnt a good allocation of resources, especially since there are so many front court questions in the near and intermediate term.

If Donte comes in around 15, it is probably workable. If the Wolves give him Ayo money, then Ayo is probably a trade chip, sooner or later.

I think this is a good breakdown of the situation. I don't know what Donte's value will be in FA. In some ways he is the player pretty much every team needs. On the other hand his injury history has often kept his contract size down. His current contract is his biggest and the next one might be his last one to really cash in depending on how important that is to him. I'd guess the floor for him is 15 million unless he looks really terrible in the return to the floor this season.

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:55 am I estimate his value to the Wolves rides heavily on what he wants his next contract to look like. The Wolves squad show was having a discussion about this topic and numbers around what Ayo make was being thrown around.

I dont think it's crazy to think the Wolves won't pay Ant, Melo, Ayo and then Donte at 20ish million. That isnt a good allocation of resources, especially since there are so many front court questions in the near and intermediate term.

If Donte comes in around 15, it is probably workable. If the Wolves give him Ayo money, then Ayo is probably a trade chip, sooner or later.

I couldn't agree more with your assessment, Phe. I also listened to the squad show pod yesterday, and came to the conclusion we are going to have to give Donte Ayo-type money if we want to keep him...especially if he comes back healthy and effective in late winter and Ball turns him into the 20 point per 36, 40%+ 3-point shooter I think he could become, while also playing the kind of defense he played last season. While it's not impossible to keep both Ayo and Donte for next season, I don't think it will happen. I think TC will view them both as valuable contributors, and move the one he thinks can give us the best return.

Monster wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2026 11:05 am

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:55 am I estimate his value to the Wolves rides heavily on what he wants his next contract to look like. The Wolves squad show was having a discussion about this topic and numbers around what Ayo make was being thrown around.

I dont think it's crazy to think the Wolves won't pay Ant, Melo, Ayo and then Donte at 20ish million. That isnt a good allocation of resources, especially since there are so many front court questions in the near and intermediate term.

If Donte comes in around 15, it is probably workable. If the Wolves give him Ayo money, then Ayo is probably a trade chip, sooner or later.

I think this is a good breakdown of the situation. I don't know what Donte's value will be in FA. In some ways he is the player pretty much every team needs. On the other hand his injury history has often kept his contract size down. His current contract is his biggest and the next one might be his last one to really cash in depending on how important that is to him. I'd guess the floor for him is 15 million unless he looks really terrible in the return to the floor this season.

Yeah, how he looks when he returns will determine both his salary floor and how other teams perceive him. If he looks like his achilles has slowed him, he will be looked at as an injury risk. But if he comes back strong, teams (and the Wolves) will focus more on the fact that he has averaged a very solid 74 games per year the past 4 seasons.

No idea how accurate this is but I saw a report from Sportando that the team believes Donte can be back at the all star break. I was thinking March or April wouldnt surprise me so this is in line with that.

A lot of you likely have already seen this video about Donte and the injury that the Wolves put out a couple days ago but I'll post it here in case you haven't seen it.

https://youtu.be/ndjLVMeJBT4?si=7an9-wfy-X0NzNdZ