Minnesota Sports Forum

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2023 8:57 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2023 7:31 am

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:40 pm
Sounds like Jon K is confirming the running it back. I love it. I think the Wolves have better depth than anytime I can recall. They also have plenty of players that I expect we could see improvement. Ant and Jaden have been improving yearly and hopefully this trend continues and KAT and Rudy could both bounce back with better years. I like the Wolve's chances next year and if our roster is healthy and the young guys show improvement, we should be in the hunt.

But we say this almost every offseason after the draft and free agency and then multiple guys completely shit the bed on us. It happened last year with Nowell, Forbes, and McLaughlin (after he came back from injury - he was good before that).

I'm not denying that on paper things might look like upgrades, but we'll see what happens in real life.

We do?? Not me. I have never been that impressed with the bench before and I genuinely am now. I'm also thrilled DLO is gone, Beasley is gone, Nowell is gone etc. We got guys who are more complete players, guys who can play a role and not play selfishly. I haven't been this excited for a season in many years.

Yeah, that's where I am now too, KG. I was never on the DLO or Beasley bandwagon, so unloading those guys was a huge upgrade to our roster. I was intrigued by Forbes 3-point potential, but knew he was horribly flawed...and ultimately he failed here in his one skill. Rivers was a blah pickup. I wanted to drink the Nowell Kool Aid, but I was always a little skeptical. I liked Prince, but I don't think we will miss him much. I loved the SloMo signing right from the start, and am thrilled to have him off the bench.

So now we have starting lineup that I love, and a bench with more reliable pieces than I can remember in a long time. Naz his his weaknesses, but we know he can deliver scoring. SloMo is a top-notch reserve. I don't know that we can rely on NAW's shooting, but he is a plus ballhandler and defender. I've always loved Shake Milton's game, and really like having him on the bench. But I'm looking for a healthy JMac to play more like he did prior to his injury than he did last spring, and take most of the backup minutes at PG. And then there are the upside guys...Miller and Minott. We don't know what they are going to bring us, but based on the fact that they are long and athletic and have a year of pro hoops under their belts, I think we can expect they can contribute more than the typical rookie...that is, if we even need them in the case of injuries. Like Naz, we know Garza's weaknesses, but we also know he will get buckets if called upon.

Brown Jr. doesn't do much for me, but he's a 5 year veteran that won't hurt us if we need him to fill in at PF...I hope we don't. And finally, I expect nothing from Moore Jr. except for lots of big smiles on the bench. What I like best about him is that he will only cost us $3 million when we are battling to stay under the apron in 2024-5.

I like this roster a lot.

It’s clear that the Wolves front office is “all in” on running it back with last year’s team and the two new additions (Troy Brown & Shake). And it’s good to see so many fans on this Board going all in. But I just wonder whether the guys who really matter - our core players - are as all in as the front office and many fans. KAT’s hopping around from interview to interview not talking about the team but talking about himself and doing so with the bravado of a petulant child. After the organization indicated they’d prefer Rudy not play in the Euro tournament, Rudy decided to play in the tournament. KAT and Rudy are certainly into themselves, but are they “all in” on the team? Ant and Jaden are probably all in, but if one or both of our two bigs are not, this won’t work. And it’s fair to wonder whether Ant is all in on running it back with these two bigs. If we didn’t shut our eyes and ears the entire season we know that Ant wasn’t particularly comfortable playing with Rudy and was downright frustrated with him at times as were Kyle Anderson and DLO.

I apologize for raining on the parade. I’m OK with the free agent signings TC made. I’m particularly happy about signing Milton and re-signing NAW. I really like TC’s maneuver to trade up and get Miller. Overall, I’m positive about next season. If we lock up Ant and Jaden long term, then I’ll be really excited about the longer-term horizon of this team with Ant, Jaden, Minott, Miller, Clark, and NAW, along with who and what we get in return for KAT, Rudy or both next summer.

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2023 8:57 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2023 7:31 am

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:40 pm
Sounds like Jon K is confirming the running it back. I love it. I think the Wolves have better depth than anytime I can recall. They also have plenty of players that I expect we could see improvement. Ant and Jaden have been improving yearly and hopefully this trend continues and KAT and Rudy could both bounce back with better years. I like the Wolve's chances next year and if our roster is healthy and the young guys show improvement, we should be in the hunt.

But we say this almost every offseason after the draft and free agency and then multiple guys completely shit the bed on us. It happened last year with Nowell, Forbes, and McLaughlin (after he came back from injury - he was good before that).

I'm not denying that on paper things might look like upgrades, but we'll see what happens in real life.

We do?? Not me. I have never been that impressed with the bench before and I genuinely am now. I'm also thrilled DLO is gone, Beasley is gone, Nowell is gone etc. We got guys who are more complete players, guys who can play a role and not play selfishly. I haven't been this excited for a season in many years.

The collective "we", not necessarily singling you out. Go back and look at all the old threads from seasons past and you will see plenty of excitement based on offseason drafts and acquisitions. One of the common themes is this perception of how deep we are.

My theory is that depth is based on two things: 1) The actual skill level of individual bench players and 2) The skill level of your starters, especially your best players.

It's amazing how deep a team can look if you have guys like Nikola Jokic throwing people dimes and Jamaal Murray making contested 20-footers from all over the place!

Bottom line....our depth will be just as much a function of what Rudy, Ant, KAT, and Jaden give us as it is whatever skills the guys we just acquired bring to the table.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2023 9:43 am It’s clear that the Wolves front office is “all in” on running it back with last year’s team and the two new additions (Troy Brown & Shake). And it’s good to see so many fans on this Board going all in. But I just wonder whether the guys who really matter - our core players - are as all in as the front office and many fans. KAT’s hopping around from interview to interview not talking about the team but talking about himself and doing so with the bravado of a petulant child. After the organization indicated they’d prefer Rudy not play in the Euro tournament, Rudy decided to play in the tournament. KAT and Rudy are certainly into themselves, but are they “all in” on the team? Ant and Jaden are probably all in, but if one or both of our two bigs are not, this won’t work. And it’s fair to wonder whether Ant is all in on running it back with these two bigs. If we didn’t shut our eyes and ears the entire season we know that Ant wasn’t particularly comfortable playing with Rudy and was downright frustrated with him at times as were Kyle Anderson and DLO.

I apologize for raining on the parade. I’m OK with the free agent signings TC made. I’m particularly happy about signing Milton and re-signing NAW. I really like TC’s maneuver to trade up and get Miller. Overall, I’m positive about next season. If we lock up Ant and Jaden long term, then I’ll be really excited about the longer-term horizon of this team with Ant, Jaden, Minott, Miller, Clark, and NAW, along with who and what we get in return for KAT, Rudy or both next summer.

My thoughts exactly Lip. Ant wouldn't throw a pass to Rudy unless he was standing under the basket with no one within 10 feet of him. I mean, he looked him off ALL the time. Plus even if he tries to get the ball to him, Ant hasn't shown that he has the delicate passing touch required to get Rudy the ball in a way that he doesn't fumble it away. Conley and Slo-Mo could do it, but those guys are like master craftsmen and they probably won't be around after next season.

One additional question. Are we better off with Troy Brown, Shake Milton and NAW next season than we’d be with Tauran Prince, some minimum level vet and NAW? I ask because that’s essentially the trade off that resulted from the Wolves decision to waive Prince. I hope the answer is yes. If not, it’s even worse knowing that a conference rival signed Prince for about the same amount as the salary we’ve giving Shake.

Yes. I’d say the team is better off. First, Taurean wasn’t all that and a bag of chips… often injured, poor rebounder, streaky shooter. He showed up on occasion when we needed it, but only occasion. Troy Brown is younger, a much better rebounder, equivalent adv stats for the most part.

But letting TP go also allowed the signing of Shake and NAW. Long, athletic, young, decent 3pt shooters, both can play some point.

I guess if you compare this group to TP plus some ideal but unnamed vet, you can think the grass might be greener. But I think TC did pretty good.

The wolves technically have 1 open roster spot. They also apparently have a million over the vet Min. We’ll see what they do

SloMo and Naz is a really intriguing bench tandem. I just wish the Wolves would find a way to fit more reserve snipers around them. Maybe that is the goal with Ryan? Because I don't know who else fits the corner 3/wing 3 mold. It isn't JMaC, it doesn't seem to be Shake or Brown Jr.

Hoping for a big leap from NAW and so happy the Wolves kept him.

What is it, about 14 mil to snag 3 players in NAW, Brown, and Milton, all with TO's. Prince was owed 8 mil himself and went and signed for something around 3/30? Seems like a good deal to me. Never forget that game where he was fumbling the ball off his feet one possession and then threw the ball clear to Russia the next. All to lose the game that the Wolves had handily.

I am actually excited about these signings because it doesn't change any dynamic. These people are competing for spots; not handed them. The 4 vets in Rudy, KAT, Conley, and SloMo seem to be casual guys. Show ANT the ropes, bring him along, let him take over. Many people gloss over how much Jaden has said Rudy has taught him. Keep him around Rudy, Conley, SloMo again. Those 3 are our turn from excuses of losing to doing what it takes to win; ANT is our answer to reach the top.

The league should be freaked out if ANT and KAT get chemistry going in the PNR/PNP. How the hell would you defend that.

Bane getting 41 million a season is insane. 9th highest scoring sg in the league.

Free agent G D’Angelo Russell has agreed on a two-year, $37 million contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell tell ESPN. Deal has player option. Lakers secure their starting point guard.