TheGrey08 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 11:56 pm
This is complete and utter bullshit lol. It's been reported and confirmed by multiple sources that Ant is fully on board and in support of where the team is right now. Reporters like Jon K, TC himself today, hell even Big Perk talked to people and reported it.
Ant loves the current young core, which was clearly a key reason Jaden was off the table for Giannis. People want to bitch about TC and they need to realize Ant has some influence. They're not going to blow up the roster of it would piss him off.
Get your story straight… it was reported very loudly that Jaden was ON the table for Giannis (and joker)
Big perk, huh? Ok then lol… TC took a couple of big swings and ultimately fell short. It was the right move to trade Randle, but the actual right move was to never trade Kat and figure it out with Ant and Kat (and Jaden). You’re being naive if you don’t think Ant is looking at his options over the next year. I haven’t heard this anywhere, so this is all me, but what if Giannis actually recruits his “favorite player” down to play with him in Miami? They obviously don’t have the remaining trade assets right now, but what if Ant decides that he wants to play hard ball and demands a trade? I could totally see this. You really think Ant would be loyal to the wolves if Giannis, Spoelstra and south beach come calling? Cmon.
My story is straight. I'm basing this off multiple reports, not one random report after all the others were out including the Bucks leaking that they wanted Jaden, Naz, TSJ and picks (which was also after it came out Jaden & Beringer were off the table).
Are you really the type to ignore several reports indicating what I said to believe one random report by HoopsHype/Bleacher that "well he's off the table except for like Giannis or Joker"? Quite illogical to believe that source over multiple much better sources. The evidence we have over the past month+ supports my comments.
I'm ok with trading Randle and moving on from his salary. But maybe I'm in the minority in feeling surprised we didn't get ANYTHING out of trading him? How did he go from being a major piece of the KAT trade to having zero value?
Depending on which stats you value most, one could argue that Randle was the second best player on our team last season. He was a close second to Edwards in total points scored and #2 on the team in VORP. And if you filter out the guys who only played small amount of minutes, Randle would rank second or third with regards to PER and WS/48.
Now, like everyone else, I'm fully aware of his warts and not saying he's bringing back a "haul". But doesn't it seem off he wouldn't be worth something like at least another future 2nd round pick? IDK. Obviously TC would have taken the best deal he could. And I get the dropping back out of the first round to save money part. I just kept waiting to hear there was more coming our way and was a little disappointed when I realized this was it. Oh well. It's done. Next.
Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2026 12:20 pm
I'm ok with trading Randle and moving on from his salary. But maybe I'm in the minority in feeling surprised we didn't get ANYTHING out of trading him? How did he go from being a major piece of the KAT trade to having zero value?
Depending on which stats you value most, one could argue that Randle was the second best player on our team last season. He was a close second to Edwards in total points scored and #2 on the team in VORP. And if you filter out the guys who only played small amount of minutes, Randle would rank second or third with regards to PER and WS/48.
Now, like everyone else, I'm fully aware of his warts and not saying he's bringing back a "haul". But doesn't it seem off he wouldn't be worth something like at least another future 2nd round pick? IDK. Obviously TC would have taken the best deal he could. And I get the dropping back out of the first round to save money part. I just kept waiting to hear there was more coming our way and was a little disappointed when I realized this was it. Oh well. It's done. Next.
Stats are nice but If gms from around the league watched him get squashed by Spurs and quit and then looked into the player and the season as a whole they would have seen what we all did. The guys a toxic head case who plays one brand of ball very well and refuses to commit to any other strategy. It’s incredibly frustrating because he is actually quite adept at being a point forward but he just never does it for more than a limited stretch here or there.
It was for me a PTSD level of Déjà vu with what I felt with KAT for years. I would constantly be on the “cash out” on the player train because he played the way he wanted with ample evidence it was not effective and then he would flip a switch and show incredible potential and you’d be forced to change your opinion and get on board the “roll it back” train with the roster cause there’s something here…only for the player to regress back to their preferred style of play that didn’t work or mesh with the team. It wasn’t just a money thing or a contract Tetris thing with Karl. There was real concern that he just wouldn’t stop his terrible drive to the hoop like a baby giraffe and cry when he wasn’t bailed out shtick. It was a cringe product to have to watch. Same with Julius in different shades. He showed flashes of distributing and being able to hit a three pointer but eventually would just go back to the bully ball well and brick quick transition threes. The difference in the two trades is that Towns was nearly peak talent but at the beginning of a huge contract where as Julius was bottomed out of good will and has no upside left to speak of in talent but has a simpler contract to move.
Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2026 12:20 pm
I'm ok with trading Randle and moving on from his salary. But maybe I'm in the minority in feeling surprised we didn't get ANYTHING out of trading him? How did he go from being a major piece of the KAT trade to having zero value?
Depending on which stats you value most, one could argue that Randle was the second best player on our team last season. He was a close second to Edwards in total points scored and #2 on the team in VORP. And if you filter out the guys who only played small amount of minutes, Randle would rank second or third with regards to PER and WS/48.
Now, like everyone else, I'm fully aware of his warts and not saying he's bringing back a "haul". But doesn't it seem off he wouldn't be worth something like at least another future 2nd round pick? IDK. Obviously TC would have taken the best deal he could. And I get the dropping back out of the first round to save money part. I just kept waiting to hear there was more coming our way and was a little disappointed when I realized this was it. Oh well. It's done. Next.
Salary cap flexibility and use of a $33M trade exception are definitely not "nothing". And sometimes the player you get back may also be expensive and highly flawed (for example, what if we traded him for Ja Morant?).
Power Forwards that can't play Center defensively and don't stretch the floor with their shooting are losing value very quickly in the NBA unfortunately. Randle is a good player, but his ideal fit is next to someone like Chet Holmgren or Wemby - guys that can shoot while still protecting the rim.
And the value to the wolves of a second round pick vs a first round pick cap wise is more than meets the casual eye. The player talent from picks 20-40 or so is flat. It’s more of a what does your team need or want skill wise because these guys all have skills that pop but no one is a well rounded amazing super high floor guy. The prize in the Julius trade is the Julius size hole it left in the roster that is ready to be filled by Naz and Ant playing their best version of an offense. We have all seen the big Jelly do his thing in the post. Now imagine the gravity of Ant who can get off the ball to Ayo who finds Naz slashing. That’s a beautiful game to watch. I can’t wait for the potentially next 4 or so seasons of that version of the wolves.
Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2026 12:20 pm
I'm ok with trading Randle and moving on from his salary. But maybe I'm in the minority in feeling surprised we didn't get ANYTHING out of trading him? How did he go from being a major piece of the KAT trade to having zero value?
Depending on which stats you value most, one could argue that Randle was the second best player on our team last season. He was a close second to Edwards in total points scored and #2 on the team in VORP. And if you filter out the guys who only played small amount of minutes, Randle would rank second or third with regards to PER and WS/48.
Now, like everyone else, I'm fully aware of his warts and not saying he's bringing back a "haul". But doesn't it seem off he wouldn't be worth something like at least another future 2nd round pick? IDK. Obviously TC would have taken the best deal he could. And I get the dropping back out of the first round to save money part. I just kept waiting to hear there was more coming our way and was a little disappointed when I realized this was it. Oh well. It's done. Next.
Salary cap flexibility and use of a $33M trade exception are definitely not "nothing". And sometimes the player you get back may also be expensive and highly flawed (for example, what if we traded him for Ja Morant?).
Power Forwards that can't play Center defensively and don't stretch the floor with their shooting are losing value very quickly in the NBA unfortunately. Randle is a good player, but his ideal fit is next to someone like Chet Holmgren or Wemby - guys that can shoot while still protecting the rim.
I get being surprised the Wolves didn't gain an asset in the Randle trade. Especially when Chicago got Claxton for nothing. Would have been nice if TC was able to get a 1 or 2 2nds back from them, granted these trades are not final & can be modified/added to. We can be surprised and a little disappointed in the return while also still seeing it as a net positive.
That trade exception is a ~33m blank check that they have the option of using, which could happen in July or... at the trade deadline. The team can have it both ways if they want by using the MLE & BAE, challenging the young core and seeing where things stand at the deadline where they could add someone significant to juice the rotation.
The trade and effect of it are incomplete as it stands. Lets see what TC does tonight and over the next couple weeks.
I have this scenario in my mind where TC calls 29 other teams and gauges their level of interest in Julius Randle. Some teams say, sure for Zach LaVine, or Ja Morant, or Grayson Allen or Patrick Williams. Tim then says, maybe we can circle back in 4 weeks.
Now he calls 29 teams, well maybe not Brooklyn anymore, and says we are able to absorb salaries into either a MLE or part of this large exception.
bleedspeed wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2026 1:00 pm
I was a bit surprised myself. So basically we now have traded KAT for nothing.
Those type of things get people fired in other local sports franchises based in Eagan.
Exactly. Screw the salary cap relief bullshit explanation. If that's what they wanted, why not just let his contract expire last year or trade him as an expiring contract last year.
Again - I'm ok with the trade and understand all the little details (allowed us to sign Ayo and cost savings of dropping back from 1st to a 2nd). Everyone gets that. But I'm just scratching my head at what was done leading up to this point. They clearly overvalued him within the context of the KAT trade and then giving him an extension. And now I'm pissed off because NY got a ring and our return is to feel good about a move back into the second round of this year's draft for salary relief. Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way! Alright, my rant is done.
This move goes down as another case study in franchise General Management 101 that the team that receives the best player in a player for player trade wins.
I do think if we didn't make the WCF last year TC would have been fired for the KAT trade.
My concern now is we don't stop the bleeding at do another bad trade trying to recover.
