Gentleman's Sweep - Wolves at Lakers GDT

[DNatagal]

Which teams will have cap room for Naz and or Randle and will actually want them?

[rapsuperstar31]

Which teams will have cap room for Naz and or Randle and will actually want them?

Only Brooklyn has the available cap, but Houston, San Antonio, and Detroit can make room. It sounds like Detroit wants to keep Dennis and Malik so they're probably out. Houston is going to need a point guard if they get rid of Fred's big contract. Maybe San Antonio want's one of them. Teams can always go the sign and trade route though,where they send a bad asset to another team in exchange of draft picks to sign one of them in a mutli team sign and trade. Golden State did something similar last year when they signed Anderson and Buddy and turned it into a multi team sign and trade.

[Wolvesfan21]

I agree with the "win now" philosophy. Let's go for it this year. You never know when the next opportunity will come your way.

100%, potential injuries can derail a season or postseason. We got a deep squad and health (knock on wood) right now. We don't know what the team will look like next year or the year after. We likely get progression from young guys, but then guys like Conley and Gobert could regress never mind having not having both of Naz and Ju, AND NAW too. You got an opportunity, however small and difficult it may be to go through likely GSW, OKC and Boston or Cleveland. There is a chance!!!

[thedoper]

If we make our shots this game we should have beat them by 50. I dont see how JJ would be the coach of the future with Luka.

[TheFuture]

I agree with the "win now" philosophy. Let's go for it this year. You never know when the next opportunity will come your way.

100%, potential injuries can derail a season or postseason. We got a deep squad and health (knock on wood) right now. We don't know what the team will look like next year or the year after. We likely get progression from young guys, but then guys like Conley and Gobert could regress never mind having not having both of Naz and Ju, AND NAW too. You got an opportunity, however small and difficult it may be to go through likely GSW, OKC and Boston or Cleveland. There is a chance!!!

The western conference is tough to slog through, but I am not worried about facing any teams in a series in it. If we make the Finals, Cleveland and Boston are actually frightening to face due to their plethora of wing and big talent.

[TheFuture]

Which teams will have cap room for Naz and or Randle and will actually want them?

I actually think both stay. Randle opts in, and they work an extension when Conley is dropping. Naz will get a decent deal, and realize he won't capitalize on ads and such if he moves elsewhere.

[Monster]

Edit: Came back and realized I never hit submit the morning after.

Just finished watching this game a few minutes ago. I had seen a couple new stories pop up and didn't see the headlines but kinda figured we would have to go to a game 6 to win so I honestly feel a bit shocked. Lol

A couple thoughts.

If you had told me that Randle would have easily outplayed Reeves in this series I would say we probably win the series. Well not only was Randle better than Reeves but McDaniels was as well. A lot of the Wolves perimeter players struggled with their shot and getting buckets but they made up for that buy hustle and keeping the other team from scoring.

There was a few times in this game I got a little frustrated with the officiating and then a few plays later there would be a call we're I'm like...ok we probably aren't fighting some sort of deep conspiracy. That's my take but anyways it's just great to get the win!

I can tell you there are some other fans that are pretty thrilled with this outcome. My friend that is a Kings fan is extastic! Lol

[Monster]

As bad as Rudy was in the first 4 games of this series, he more than made up for it with his stellar performance tonight. As others have noted, Rudy and Randle carried the team.

I don’t know what Rudy’s issue was through the first four game, but he obviously has a lot of pride. I think he came into this game determined to make up for his prior lackluster performances. Having bad games and slumps is part of sports. You have to hand it to the players who will themselves out of those slumps and take it upon themselves to win games for their teammates. That’s what Rudy did tonight.

I don’t agree with those who think we would have lost tonight if we still had KAT instead of Randle. KAT is so talented and I can see where he might have been our one playing hitting threes tonight, which would have put us over the top. Having said that, I love the toughness that Randle brings to this team. That toughness and his ability to score effectively have been apparent throughout this series and were on full display tonight. If we’re giving out a series MVP award for the Wolves, I’m giving it to Randle even though Ant has been fantastic. Randle has shown up and performed in every single game. His scoring has been critical while his toughness and energy have been incredible and infectious.

Ant obviously had a terrible night shooting as did every other player not named Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle. But Ant really stepped up in other categories with 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 0 turnovers. I love that Ant’s not turning the ball over in the playoffs so far.

Conley’s dagger corner three late in the 4th was obviously huge for us.

Tonight’s game was a measure of just how good this team can be. We beat a very good Lakers team in their building with all but two of our players having a horrendous shooting night, and with the team hitting only 7 of 47 threes collectively and missing 9 of 32 free-throw attempts. As we all know, this is a Wolves team that could get swept by Houston or Golden State in the next round. But it’s also a team that could make it to the NBA finals.

Right now, I’m just happy that we won this first series and beyond thrilled that we beat the Lakers. Even more sweet that we beat them in their building. If this is as far as we get, I’ll be disappointed but content. Losing to the Lakers would have been hard to get over.

Thanks you Rudy and Julius!!

Great post. No player has ever made me change an opinion on him more than Julius.


I think your post is a great summary of this teams depth. Rudy terrible offensively for 4 games and then get a masterclass tonight, Ant can’t shoot tonight but almost a triple double, Jaden was not good tonight but elite in so many games this series, Naz was shit most on this series but was a key reason they won game 4, Naw and Donte can’t hit a 3 at all but don’t be shocked if they catch fire in round 2, and then finally Mike, no better player to hit the dagger than mister reliable Mike Conley.


This team has so many options, they can survive bad games from others. I want a championship so badly!!

100% agree with all of this. This team is so deep in damn near every facet of the game now. 3pt shooting, rim scoring, FT%, perimeter defense, interior defense, passing. Hell, the Wolves can legitimately roll 10 deep. Not many teams can say that. I really hope they capitalize this year, because as Lip alluded to, TC has some roster decisions to make this offseason.

P.S. I've been a Conley fan since he was at Ohio state with Oden. Love that guy's play. He has obviously hit the age barrier, but that 3 was so awesome and fitting.

Lots of great posts. I'll add a couple of things.

1. This was a weird match up. We all knew the Lakers had some issues lack of size and lack of depth. This is one reason the Wolves were able to win. Playing LeBron and Luka entire 2nd halves is a desperate strategy that didn't work. The Wolves helped bottle up Reeves to some extent. Rui came alive and helped them but the Lakers didn't get a whole lot from everyone else. This is not particularly surprising.

2. Idk how the Wolves would have done with Towns instead of Randle. Towns defends reasonably well on the perimeter but I kinda doubt he was gonna defend Luka and LeBron as well as Randle. Randle also at this point somewhat oddly seems better at punichijg smaller players in the paint. He is a better passer too. Towns would have given the Wolves some insane size though against a Lakers team with none. Idk if that woukd have been as much of a benefit in this series though. Randle played so well.

[Monster]

For years... I typed "just win" as the Timberwolves piled up loss after loss after loss.

Yesterday, they just won. I think players and fans should be optimistic after this series. Gobert was averaging 3.5 ppg and 6 reb. Conley, DDV and NAW were shooting below 25% on threes. Ant went 0 - 11 on threes last night.

And they won. Sorta easily.

Some teams are carried by the same cast of characters game after game after game. The Wolves have had three different players claim "best player in that game" status in their four wins. And none of those include Julius Randle who just went for 23/5/4 on 48/39/84 shooting during this series. As long as there's still potential of having one guy capable of being the best player in any game (Edwards) in the holster... I think I'll take that approach.

I'm a tempered optimist. At best. The Wolves have scarred me. But I'm optimistic for another WCF run.

Let's enjoy it. After 34 years of seeing the 2nd rd only once... we're about to enjoy it for the 2nd time in two years. I know this is very common (for other teams), but I'm relishing it.

Edwards averaged 1.2 TOs in this series. And 6.2 assists. That's better A/TO than Mike Conley and Tyus Jones.

Abe that's a hell of a Stat with the turnovers by Edward's. Great post.

[Monster]

Which teams will have cap room for Naz and or Randle and will actually want them?

I actually think both stay. Randle opts in, and they work an extension when Conley is dropping. Naz will get a decent deal, and realize he won't capitalize on ads and such if he moves elsewhere.

I think Randle is gonna want to stay because of Finch and the success he has had here. I don't think he is gonna take some Uber cheap deal but I don't think he is gonna be looking to get the most money he can get.

Naz...how much will another team offer? How bad does he want to stay? Is he happy with the role he will have here espcilaly if Randle stays? The Wolves are gonna offer him a nice raise I feel pretty confident of that. Will what they offer him be enough? Idk