Minnesota Sports Forum

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:40 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:09 am

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:21 am How quickly things change... and stay the same.

One year removed from the WCF and four months from preseason championship hopes...

... and we're right back to the latest Promise of Hope campaign. It's what the Timberwolves do best.



[Note: Seriously, two WCF appearances... both followed up by entirely underwhelming campaigns. Hopefully, this one doesn't lead to another 14-year playoff drought.]

Not sure I would go that far Abe. Prior "hope and change" campaigns were 30-win seasons or much worse. I think of this as more of a competitive re-build. Also, there is a 5-year age difference between when KG went to his first Conference Finals and when Ant did.

And finally, the season isn't over yet. While I don't see us competing for a title, I'm not completely ruling out a winning record and perhaps a little bit of noise in the playoffs. Still a lot of games to be played and levers that Connelly can pull.

Yeah... maybe a hyperbolic statement from me.

Just more of a commentary that there seems to be as much genuine excitement and anticipation about a random upcoming draft pick as what's actually happening on the court this season.

That's fair, but when we got rid of half our first rounders to get Rudy, it's understandable that we lavish attention on the 1st rounder some other team owes us.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 1:55 pm

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:40 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:09 am

Not sure I would go that far Abe. Prior "hope and change" campaigns were 30-win seasons or much worse. I think of this as more of a competitive re-build. Also, there is a 5-year age difference between when KG went to his first Conference Finals and when Ant did.

And finally, the season isn't over yet. While I don't see us competing for a title, I'm not completely ruling out a winning record and perhaps a little bit of noise in the playoffs. Still a lot of games to be played and levers that Connelly can pull.

Yeah... maybe a hyperbolic statement from me.

Just more of a commentary that there seems to be as much genuine excitement and anticipation about a random upcoming draft pick as what's actually happening on the court this season.

That's fair, but when we got rid of half our first rounders to get Rudy, it's understandable that we lavish attention on the 1st rounder some other team owes us.

Well said, Q! I’ll add that it’s a lot easier to get excited about a random future pick than the frustrating product the Wolves have on the court right now, which I believe was the crux of Abe’s comment. Hope is almost always preferable to mediocrity and failure.

I'm excited about the pick if it's kept because TC seems to have a good handle on picking players and it could be a very valuable piece. This is something TC manufactured and most people thought the pick wasn't worth much at the time.

KAT had 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks tonight in the Knicks win over the Nets. I wonder if TC ever ventures out during the day when he can be seen. .

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:14 am KAT had 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks tonight in the Knicks win over the Nets. I wonder if TC ever ventures out during the day when he can be seen. .

It's been said that is better to move on from a player a year too early opposed to a year too late. I would think TC is banking on this.

Jimmy Butler

SMH

Detroit wins again, this time at Atlanta. Malik Beasley with another good game off the bench. He's really been a difference maker for Detroit playing the 6th man gunslinger role.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 9:48 pm Detroit wins again, this time at Atlanta. Malik Beasley with another good game off the bench. He's really been a difference maker for Detroit playing the 6th man gunslinger role.

Yep. Detroit won and Utah lost. So it was a good night for the Wolves upcoming draft. .

I’ve noticed Beasley’s having a terrific season for Detroit. It forces me to think of what the Wolves would be like now if they had Beasley, Walker Kessler, KAT, Hartenstein (signed as a free agent), no apron restrictions and all of our future 1st round picks through 2030 as well as whatever assets we would have received for Vanderbilt and Pat Bev. Alas, what might have been.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:03 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 9:48 pm Detroit wins again, this time at Atlanta. Malik Beasley with another good game off the bench. He's really been a difference maker for Detroit playing the 6th man gunslinger role.

Yep. Detroit won and Utah lost. So it was a good night for the Wolves upcoming draft. .

I’ve noticed Beasley’s having a terrific season for Detroit. It forces me to think of what the Wolves would be like now if they had Beasley, Walker Kessler, KAT, Hartenstein (signed as a free agent), no apron restrictions and all of our future 1st round picks through 2030 as well as whatever assets we would have received for Vanderbilt and Pat Bev. Alas, what might have been.

Ha, let it go Lip, let it go! I may make you watch "Frozen" a dozen times to get that lesson grilled into you!

I think DDV is a better version of Beasley, but we first need to a) get him healthy, and b) stop pretending he can play PG. Put him in a pure 6th man movement shooter role and we'll be in business.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:07 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:03 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 9:48 pm Detroit wins again, this time at Atlanta. Malik Beasley with another good game off the bench. He's really been a difference maker for Detroit playing the 6th man gunslinger role.

Yep. Detroit won and Utah lost. So it was a good night for the Wolves upcoming draft. .

I’ve noticed Beasley’s having a terrific season for Detroit. It forces me to think of what the Wolves would be like now if they had Beasley, Walker Kessler, KAT, Hartenstein (signed as a free agent), no apron restrictions and all of our future 1st round picks through 2030 as well as whatever assets we would have received for Vanderbilt and Pat Bev. Alas, what might have been.

Ha, let it go Lip, let it go! I may make you watch "Frozen" a dozen times to get that lesson grilled into you!

I think DDV is a better version of Beasley, but we first need to a) get him healthy, and b) stop pretending he can play PG. Put him in a pure 6th man movement shooter role and we'll be in business.

lol. I just can’t let it go!! Any time Kessler or Beasley has a good game my obsession gets the best of me. . Actually, I share your view of DDV as a better version of Beasley. DDV does more stuff. But I’d rather have Beasley and KAT than DDV and Randle and it’s not even close in my mind. Nevertheless, I like DDV as part of the Wolves 2.0 that I’m hoping the organization pivots to before the end of this season. Ant, Jaden, Naz, Dilly, TSJ, Garza, DDV and Rudy - that’s my core for the next iteration of the Wolves. I see Minott, Miller and Clark orbiting around that core and potentially landing as part of it. If we can get below the 1st apron we can use full MLE to sign a backup defensive center to play behind and possibly replace Rudy if he gets traded.