Yeah a fun exercise is to look through the west and see what PF starter your afraid will cook Jaden.
The worry isn't about a PF cooking Jaden, it's about Ayo being able to handle the best wings in the league. Jaden will be fine no matter where he plays, it's the cost of taking him off of the best wings and entrusting that duty to Ayo.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
Yeah, we need more depth on the frontline with Randle and Reid gone, but I don't think we need to go find some big-bodied PF specifically to start for us. That's what we just got rid of in Randle! That just puts Jaden in the exact same position he's always been in - as the main POA defender that has to exhaust a ton of energy guarding on the ball. Isn't part of all these maneuvers to get him more opportunity to spread his wings offensively???
Whether it's Ayo or Josh Green or Jaylen Clark or someone else we go acquire, I'd like to see someone else given the main POA defensive assignment with Jaden given a bit more freedom to roam.
The worry isn't about a PF cooking Jaden, it's about Ayo being able to handle the best wings in the league. Jaden will be fine no matter where he plays, it's the cost of taking him off of the best wings and entrusting that duty to Ayo.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
Yeah, we need more depth on the frontline with Randle and Reid gone, but I don't think we need to go find some big-bodied PF specifically to start for us. That's what we just got rid of in Randle! That just puts Jaden in the exact same position he's always been in - as the main POA defender that has to exhaust a ton of energy guarding on the ball. Isn't part of all these maneuvers to get him more opportunity to spread his wings offensively???
Whether it's Ayo or Josh Green or Jaylen Clark or someone else we go acquire, I'd like to see someone else given the main POA defensive assignment with Jaden given a bit more freedom to roam.
I agree we don’t need to find a starting PF. My idea is a physical banger/rebounder off the bench. The player doesn’t have to be huge, but he needs to be physical and tough.
Crazysauce wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2026 10:57 pm
So didn't see this discussed but two of the pick swaps were already swapped with the gobert and dillingham deals so basically we just did one extra pick swap and the unprotected in 33 which is downright scary. I am nervously excited to see what happens. Health being key but also would be nice to see Ball play some actual defense but that isn't likely.
I do feel Connelly has been really reckless. Some call it bold. The bills will come due on this sometime. The later the better. If we remain good it should be OK. If not it will be very grim.
On another note maybe it's time to sign James Wiseman and complete the trilogy.
I've long been a person that values draft picks pretty highly. However at this point I generally feel like pick swaps in general are not really a thing that would keep me from acquiring a player if it wanted them. Same with 2nd rounders. Pick swaps you still have a pick and have a decent chance if you are smart to get a player or even trade that pick at the draft for a player etc. I wasn't a fan of the Aaron Gordon deal when Connelly made it I thought it was too much to give up for him. It didn't take me long to admit I was wrong on that one.
I also think right now there is simply so much depth of talent available that it makes 2nd round picks not as valuable to some extent. For example a couple drafts ago indiana picked 2 guys in the 2nd round. The Wolves ended up signing both those guys to 2-way deals a few months later. There is also going to be the "2nd draft" guys that either didn't succeed with their first team or didn't get an opportunity. At some point it's gonna be having any open roster spot is like having a draft pick to the team. Now this might change some when the league expands but it feels like the game just continues to grow especially with the ability to grow an develop guys on 2 way contracts and the G-league where every NBA franchise has a team.
Historically usually only 3 players end up amounting to anything in round 2 of drafts. So i have always and will always be of the mindset to trade 2nd rd picks for proven players in the league already.
I am not looking forward to watching this guy. His shot form is ridiculous. Easy to see why he has such low percentage. His passes seem lucky more than planned. Injury and age will take away is only superpower of uber athlete.
He dominates the ball until he needs to Rubio a pass and hope someone’s there vs set people up.
Why would Charlotte do this? We got foisted and this will end very poorly.
After he gets exposed playing for the “perfect fit” for him his value will be less than Randles.
I’m glad I got a vesee box so I can watch Charlotte games…
Brunson might be a bad defender but i view him as alot superior to Melo in that regard.
All those stats were done with Rudy. Trying to convince the fan base. How has that worked out exactly? And no, we aren't winning a chip with both Rudy or Melo on this roster. Little lone both of them. Giannis or Brown were the move.
Can't even take you seriously when you suggest Brown being the move when you're team finally has a PG who cost 16 million less.
Brown is crazy overrated and overpaid
He just took a middling roster where they traded tons of guys away to a 2nd seed. Everyone thought they were missing the playoffs or at best be a very low seed. Way more than Melo has ever done. And he is proven in the playoffs. Overpaid? No doubt. But you know exactly what you are gettiing. A winning player. Who carried a team on its back last season. He actually tries hard every game. Something most players on our team havent done in years.
And i cant take people seriously who applaud and want the most controversial players in the league. See Gobert. See Randle. See Melo. You have gotten your wish thrice times.
None of these players were my wish, I was upset after the first two, and I understand this latest one but it's not the gamble I would have made.
I also don't have the hubris to believe that my opinion should be regarded as anything resembling certain
KiwiMatt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2026 12:42 am
I wonder why we didn’t acquire Grant Williams instead of Josh Green. Slightly cheaper salary and better roster fit. I’m sure TC would have tried.
It would have made sense. I think there is a chance that maybe the Wolves just wanted Josh Green. He's on the age timeline, can shoot and defend, and probably can be resigned cheaper next summer.
What I feel to be certain….is that this smells fishy. A team shouldn’t be giving up their cornerstone young leader for peanuts….if it’s too good to be true
BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2026 10:35 am
Don’t worry! I have enough hubris for us all!
What I feel to be certain….is that this smells fishy. A team shouldn’t be giving up their cornerstone young leader for peanuts….if it’s too good to be true
It's how the NBA operates, usually it's for a big market like the Luka trade to LA. This time the NBA told the Wolves to back off of Giannis and you can have Ball. The league wants more excitement around one of their favorite young players in Ant.
