Minnesota Sports Forum

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2024 8:10 pm

mjs34 wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2024 6:02 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2024 12:53 pm The more I consider our options the more I'm convinced we need to move on from either KAT or Rudy. KAT's contract is going to make him hard to move, and even though he was inconsistent, I think he can be a #3 on a championship team. The time to move KAT was 3 years ago when his value was at its zenith. I think we need to make the best of him being here. Rudy on the other hand makes some sense. I'm not sure I can stomach watching him fumble-fuck the ball away for another season. He's been a good player for us, but his limitations were magnified in these playoffs. He won't bring the same haul we gave up to get him, but we should be able to get a nice player and a pick for him. TC might not want to move him because of the price he paid, but I think we would be better next season if he did. We could possibly draft Zach Edey to replace him, and get our future PG in the trade.

I disagree with the run it back sentiment. We are not good enough as is. I will say again that you have to continue to get better or you will fall behind. One of these centers needs to go, and it shouldn't be NAZ. Today I think the guy on the block should be Rudy.

I completely agree with the Rudy sentiments. It is either trade him or upgrade coaching with a more offensive minded guy. Whatever system we were running under Finch was not working with Rudy, KAT, and Ant. We cant have offensive talent like KAT and Ant struggling for space due to Rudy clogging things up while struggling to finish inside.

The question is how much will our defense suffer without Rudy. I am not worried about the shot blocking as our defense was more dependent on our perimeter guys.

I think the question is how much do we think we drop off defensively by trading Rudy and does the offense improve enough to make up for it? And as clumsy as Rudy was offensively, he did some effective things out there in terms of screen setting, putting pressure on the rim, and drawing fouls. I don't think it's as simple as addition by subtraction offensively if he were to go.

Q - I think you’re right that it’s not a simple addition by subtraction offensively. But on the flip side, I think Rudy impedes the offensive output of KAT and especially Ant in ways that don’t show up in any stats. I tend to align with Cool inasmuch as I see a lot of offensive flow and scoring we’re not getting from KAT and Ant because of Rudy’s presence on the floor. It’s a lot of little things. It’s Ant not passing the ball to Rudy because he’s worried Rudy will fumble it or won’t be able to finish through contact, which is often the case with Rudy. It’s Rudy’s presence in or around the paint that closes down or narrows driving lanes for Ant. Meanwhile, defenders can focus entirely on Ant because they know Rudy can’t score more than a foot from the basket and isn’t sure-handed or strong enough to be counted on to catch a dish and finish through contact at the rim.

I still favor bringing the team back next season with Rudy, KAT and Naz. But I think I’d lean towards trading Rudy if we decide to trade one of those three this offseason - obviously depending on what we could get in return. I don’t take losing Rudy’s defense and screening lightly. But I do think this team has to significantly upgrade its offense to win a championship and I’m not sure that’s possible with the Rudy on the team. I’ll add that Edwards clearly likes and has chemistry with KAT. I don’t Ant having the same level of affection for or chemistry with Rudy. And let there be no doubt, this is Ant’s team if we’re serious about winning a title.

By the way, I’m convinced that, if we were going to trade KAT, Cool was right that we should have traded him two or three years ago. That was the time frame to maximize his trade value. I didn’t want to trade him back then. Moreover, I don’t think it was a terrible mistake keeping KAT. After all, we made the Western Conference finals this year and KAT was a key reason we got that far. However, trading KAT two or three years ago would have brought back a HUGE return and who knows what that could have turned into as building blocks around Ant, Jaden and Naz.