Minnesota Sports Forum

Ant is just not there in clutch situations yet. He needs to calm the fuck down and make the right play. Were at 4 or five losses at least this year when Ant has made some really dumb plays. Nice that he can make us competitive in the first place but we need poise. Conley hasnt given us that either. A young PG in his ilk would be the answer. Hopefully Connelly has his draft eye working on it.

thedoper wrote:Ant is just not there in clutch situations yet. He needs to calm the fuck down and make the right play. Were at 4 or five losses at least this year when Ant has made some really dumb plays. Nice that he can make us competitive in the first place but we need poise. Conley hasnt given us that either. A young PG in his ilk would be the answer. Hopefully Connelly has his draft eye working on it.

It's a catch 22. A lot of times we're in the game because of Ant, and then we lose the game because of him too. He needs to play the last 5 minutes of the game the same as the first 43.

Let's not forget that Edwards is still only 21 years old. Let's also keep in mind that with KAT out and DLO gone, he's surrounded by a bunch of decent role players and that's about it. He has to shoulder almost the entire offensive burden of the team. And he's carrying that burden late in a grueling season in which he has played every single game. No load management for Anthony Edwards.

A really good basketball person I know, and a Sixers fan, watched the Wolves-Sixers last week. I spoke with him today. He said Edwards is the real deal in his view. He also noted that the players surrounding Edwards were terrible, although he liked some things he saw from Jaden. He said if the Wolves front office has any sense, they'd focus entirely on building around Ant and maybe Jaden. He couldn't fathom the decision to trade for the 30 year old Gobert, even if the Wolves had given up less, when this team's future, Edwards, was only 20. He didn't realize the first round picks we gave up were all totally unprotected or in 2029 only top-five protected until I told him today. He laughed. As a Wolves fan, I just cry. I asked him what he would do if he ran the Wolves front office. He said he'd trade both Rudy and KAT for young talent and picks to build around Edwards and possibly Jaden. Nothing new or earth shattering there. Just interesting to hear from someone I respect for his basketball acumen and who can view the Wolves objectively.

lipoli390 wrote:Let's not forget that Edwards is still only 21 years old. Let's also keep in mind that with KAT out and DLO gone, he's surrounded by a bunch of decent role players and that's about it. He has to shoulder almost the entire offensive burden of the team. And he's carrying that burden late in a grueling season in which he has played every single game. No load management for Anthony Edwards.

A really good basketball person I know, and a Sixers fan, watched the Wolves-Sixers last week. I spoke with him today. He said Edwards is the real deal in his view. He also noted that the players surrounding Edwards were terrible, although he liked some things he saw from Jaden. He said if the Wolves front office has any sense, they'd focus entirely on building around Ant and maybe Jaden. He couldn't fathom the decision to trade for the 30 year old Gobert, even if the Wolves had given up less, when this team's future, Edwards, was only 20. He didn't realize the first round picks we gave up were all totally unprotected or in 2029 only top-five protected until I told him today. He laughed. As a Wolves fan, I just cry. I asked him what he would do if he ran the Wolves front office. He said he'd trade both Rudy and KAT for young talent and picks to build around Edwards and possibly Jaden. Nothing new or earth shattering there. Just interesting to hear from someone I respect for his basketball acumen and who can view the Wolves objectively.

I don't think anyone is going to argue against the fact TC completely over paid for Rudy. But at least he took a shot. If the argument was to build around Edwards, then wouldn't bringing in a three time All Star possibly be helpful? We had KAT, Edwards and DLO coming back - so plenty of scoring. Rudy job would be to defend and dunk. Was that really a horrible idea? I was fine with getting Rudy. But like everyone else, I thought we gave up too much to get him.

As Wolves fans, we've seen the other side not work great either. We've drafted the Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, Justin Patton and Kris Dunns. None of those guys made the team better. It was just perfect Wolves luck that Kessler would turn out to be pretty good. If he was like any of those other picks I mentioned, I don't think we are having a lot of these conversations..

I get that people are pissed about the trade and the results this year. I am too. We all expected better. And every draft pick we gave up will be another kick in the nuts going forward. All we can do is buckle down and get into the damn playoffs. If we can do that, I like this team better than last year's team in a playoff series and that's why the trade was made.

Carlos, the rub is that they might not even make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 1 game out of the 12th seed.

It's the UNNECESSARY overpay for something with so much uncertainty that I just can't shake. It was obvious that the Jazz were in rebuild mode. It was obvious that Gobert -- as arguably the league's most polarizing one-dimensional star -- only fit on a handful of teams. It was obvious that he was on the wrong side of 30. It was obvious that he was overpaid for what he is/was. It was obvious that the trade for Gobert was going to lead to an issue with what to do with D. Russell after the season.

I get the swing for the fences move instead of hoping and praying for rookies and young guys.

I don't get why Rudy Gobert was the only guy (or even preferred guy) in the batter's box.

Why do the Wolves keep losing to teams they "should" win? Are the Wolves players really that weak and soft? Can't come out and beat down the sisters of the NBA?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Carlos, the rub is that they might not even make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 1 game out of the 12th seed.

It's the UNNECESSARY overpay for something with so much uncertainty that I just can't shake. It was obvious that the Jazz were in rebuild mode. It was obvious that Gobert -- as arguably the league's most polarizing one-dimensional star -- only fit on a handful of teams. It was obvious that he was on the wrong side of 30. It was obvious that he was overpaid for what he is/was. It was obvious that the trade for Gobert was going to lead to an issue with what to do with D. Russell after the season.

I get the swing for the fences move instead of hoping and praying for rookies and young guys.

I don't get why Rudy Gobert was the only guy (or even preferred guy) in the batter's box.

Rudy hasn't played up to his DPOY status over the season though either. If you knew he was going to get banged up / getting older and would drop off some then congrats on that. I thought we would still be getting a top 5 defensive player, and while he's not that far off he has been slightly worse then expected. But also playing better since DLO was sent packing.

The Wolves do (you can look it up) for the first time since KG left a top 10 defense. Think about that?

Interior wise we went from Jefferson, to Love, to KAT. Just complete sieves honestly. KAT mighty be the best of that much and that is not saying much! Now we actually have a lockdown center and I like that. I'm kind of tired of seeing teams go through our defense like a lay up line and get And 1's non stop.

WolvesFan21 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Carlos, the rub is that they might not even make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 1 game out of the 12th seed.

It's the UNNECESSARY overpay for something with so much uncertainty that I just can't shake. It was obvious that the Jazz were in rebuild mode. It was obvious that Gobert -- as arguably the league's most polarizing one-dimensional star -- only fit on a handful of teams. It was obvious that he was on the wrong side of 30. It was obvious that he was overpaid for what he is/was. It was obvious that the trade for Gobert was going to lead to an issue with what to do with D. Russell after the season.

I get the swing for the fences move instead of hoping and praying for rookies and young guys.

I don't get why Rudy Gobert was the only guy (or even preferred guy) in the batter's box.

Rudy hasn't played up to his DPOY status over the season though either. If you knew he was going to get banged up / getting older and would drop off some then congrats on that. I thought we would still be getting a top 5 defensive player, and while he's not that far off he has been slightly worse then expected. But also playing better since DLO was sent packing.

The Wolves do (you can look it up) for the first time since KG left a top 10 defense. Think about that?

Interior wise we went from Jefferson, to Love, to KAT. Just complete sieves honestly. KAT mighty be the best of that much and that is not saying much! Now we actually have a lockdown center and I like that. I'm kind of tired of seeing teams go through our defense like a lay up line and get And 1's non stop.

I'm not refuting Gobert is a good player.

But was it it worth mortgaging the team's future worth it just to get a top 10 defense?

Maybe I'd be on board if it was 3 first round picks. Or, just Vanderbilt. Or, whatever. The point is that they Wolves gave us the maximum amount for Gobert.

And nearing the close of season 1 (for whatever reasons)... it's been an abject failure.




[Note: In some perverse world of tragic irony... the team that seemingly tanked the present for a better future (Utah) is currently only 1 game behind the team that did the complete opposite.]

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Carlos, the rub is that they might not even make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 1 game out of the 12th seed.

It's the UNNECESSARY overpay for something with so much uncertainty that I just can't shake. It was obvious that the Jazz were in rebuild mode. It was obvious that Gobert -- as arguably the league's most polarizing one-dimensional star -- only fit on a handful of teams. It was obvious that he was on the wrong side of 30. It was obvious that he was overpaid for what he is/was. It was obvious that the trade for Gobert was going to lead to an issue with what to do with D. Russell after the season.

I get the swing for the fences move instead of hoping and praying for rookies and young guys.

I don't get why Rudy Gobert was the only guy (or even preferred guy) in the batter's box.

Rudy hasn't played up to his DPOY status over the season though either. If you knew he was going to get banged up / getting older and would drop off some then congrats on that. I thought we would still be getting a top 5 defensive player, and while he's not that far off he has been slightly worse then expected. But also playing better since DLO was sent packing.

The Wolves do (you can look it up) for the first time since KG left a top 10 defense. Think about that?

Interior wise we went from Jefferson, to Love, to KAT. Just complete sieves honestly. KAT mighty be the best of that much and that is not saying much! Now we actually have a lockdown center and I like that. I'm kind of tired of seeing teams go through our defense like a lay up line and get And 1's non stop.

I'm not refuting Gobert is a good player.

But was it it worth mortgaging the team's future worth it just to get a top 10 defense?

Maybe I'd be on board if it was 3 first round picks. Or, just Vanderbilt. Or, whatever. The point is that they Wolves gave us the maximum amount for Gobert.

And nearing the close of season 1 (for whatever reasons)... it's been an abject failure.




[Note: In some perverse world of tragic irony... the team that seemingly tanked the present for a better future (Utah) is currently only 1 game behind the team that did the complete opposite.]

I can hear an argument for going for another cheaper center. I can't be on board of sticking with the same path though. Certainly if TC had more confidence in his own draft pick in Kessler we just trade DLO, Vandy and Bease for others and stick with Kessler. Vandy is a similar player as Kessler and Gobert, just a poor mans version. He doesn't read the floor so he is fairly redundant.

I'm still not that concerned over the picks either. It's rare you draft a starter like Kessler in the late 1st or Jaden who we also drafted. I was looking at past drafts and 90 some percent of the are essentially "busts". You're more likely to get a crap player which makes your team worse then a good one in the late 1st.

Now if a couple of those picks end up top 5 then that is certainly an overpay. But TC bet the house that Ant is going to be a superstar so he went all in right now on Gobert and Ant. KAT could certainly be moved for a good haul. He is still a great player on a reasonable deal. Despite me thinking he doesn't move the needle that much, he does help certainly. If he was good on defense he would be a top 10 NBA player. It's just hard because he is below avg on that end.

WolvesFan21 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Carlos, the rub is that they might not even make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 1 game out of the 12th seed.

It's the UNNECESSARY overpay for something with so much uncertainty that I just can't shake. It was obvious that the Jazz were in rebuild mode. It was obvious that Gobert -- as arguably the league's most polarizing one-dimensional star -- only fit on a handful of teams. It was obvious that he was on the wrong side of 30. It was obvious that he was overpaid for what he is/was. It was obvious that the trade for Gobert was going to lead to an issue with what to do with D. Russell after the season.

I get the swing for the fences move instead of hoping and praying for rookies and young guys.

I don't get why Rudy Gobert was the only guy (or even preferred guy) in the batter's box.

Rudy hasn't played up to his DPOY status over the season though either. If you knew he was going to get banged up / getting older and would drop off some then congrats on that. I thought we would still be getting a top 5 defensive player, and while he's not that far off he has been slightly worse then expected. But also playing better since DLO was sent packing.

The Wolves do (you can look it up) for the first time since KG left a top 10 defense. Think about that?

Interior wise we went from Jefferson, to Love, to KAT. Just complete sieves honestly. KAT mighty be the best of that much and that is not saying much! Now we actually have a lockdown center and I like that. I'm kind of tired of seeing teams go through our defense like a lay up line and get And 1's non stop.

I'm not refuting Gobert is a good player.

But was it it worth mortgaging the team's future just to get a top 10 defense?

Maybe I'd be on board if it was 3 first round picks. Or, just Vanderbilt. Or, whatever. The point is that they Wolves gave us the maximum amount for Gobert.

And nearing the close of season 1 (for whatever reasons)... it's been an abject failure.




[Note: In some perverse world of tragic irony... the team that seemingly tanked the present for a better future (Utah) is currently only 1 game behind the team that did the complete opposite.]

I can hear an argument for going for another cheaper center. I can't be on board of sticking with the same path though. Certainly if TC had more confidence in his own draft pick in Kessler we just trade DLO, Vandy and Bease for others and stick with Kessler. Vandy is a similar player as Kessler and Gobert, just a poor mans version. He doesn't read the floor so he is fairly redundant.

I'm still not that concerned over the picks either. It's rare you draft a starter like Kessler in the late 1st or Jaden who we also drafted. I was looking at past drafts and 90 some percent of the are essentially "busts". You're more likely to get a crap player which makes your team worse then a good one in the late 1st.

Now if a couple of those picks end up top 5 then that is certainly an overpay. But TC bet the house that Ant is going to be a superstar so he went all in right now on Gobert and Ant. KAT could certainly be moved for a good haul. He is still a great player on a reasonable deal. Despite me thinking he doesn't move the needle that much, he does help certainly. If he was good on defense he would be a top 10 NBA player. It's just hard because he is below avg on that end.

I'm totally ok with the Timberwolves making a trade. After all, they basically said they were using smoke and mirrors last season on defense. Improvement wasn't a given with the same or similar roster.

I'm simply saying (1) the Wolves overpaid massively for Gobert. And (2) maybe they should have traded for somebody else.