Minnesota Sports Forum

Or ANT at the 4...

Here is an article from Chris Hine and his interview with Finch. LaMelo is discussed. But the topic of Jaden at the 4 comes up as well. Nothing is solved, but it is a good read:

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-t ... ource=gift

60WinTim wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 10:08 am Or ANT at the 4...

Here is an article from Chris Hine and his interview with Finch. LaMelo is discussed. But the topic of Jaden at the 4 comes up as well. Nothing is solved, but it is a good read:

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-t ... ource=gift

Thanks for sharing Tim!

Finch has final say on the matter and it's clear he doesn't view Jaden as a full-time PF based on this article, but also acknowledges he will play the 4 for "some or may be a lot" of minutes. But he was also sort of ambiguous in how the role gets addressed, as it very well could be a number of options that don't all fit the prototypical PF category (e.g. Ant guarding opposing 4s).

And obviously if we get LeBron then Jaden is the starting 3 and LeBron the starting 4. But beyond that, I think it's still very murky and not necessarily a conventional solution.

This isn't really about the PF spot, but I thought this tid bit at the end was interesting

--- Connelly mentioned after the first round of the draft that he has had conversations with Edwards regarding the direction of the team. Finch has noticed a different attitude in Edwards this summer.

“He’s engaged in a way like I’ve not seen, and I think it’s a combination of factors,” Finch said. “Obviously excitement of playing alongside LaMelo. … I think it’s also a maturation and recognizing what the team needs, where the team’s at. He’s far more like, I think, just engaged in the overall sport.

“He’s looking, he’s watching, he maybe didn’t have the confidence to express some of his thoughts before, and now he’s just way more communicative, and it’s fun.” ---

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 10:53 am This isn't really about the PF spot, but I thought this tid bit at the end was interesting

--- Connelly mentioned after the first round of the draft that he has had conversations with Edwards regarding the direction of the team. Finch has noticed a different attitude in Edwards this summer.

“He’s engaged in a way like I’ve not seen, and I think it’s a combination of factors,” Finch said. “Obviously excitement of playing alongside LaMelo. … I think it’s also a maturation and recognizing what the team needs, where the team’s at. He’s far more like, I think, just engaged in the overall sport.

“He’s looking, he’s watching, he maybe didn’t have the confidence to express some of his thoughts before, and now he’s just way more communicative, and it’s fun.” ---

Very interesting. I hadn’t seen that quote. Thanks for posting.

Finch said he doesn’t envision Jaden starting at PF. Hmm. Does that mean he envisions Green, Edwards or TSJ starting there? I really doubt it. Finch’s comment is telling because it indicates the Wolves organization does not share the view of Q and others on this board that we’re fine moving forward with the current roster. Obviously, if LeBron signs here he will be our starting PF. But if LeBron goes elsewhere then I think it’s inevitable the Wolves will trade for a starting PF and I don’t think they’ll wait until after the season starts.

I’m troubled by the need to trade for a PF because it will obviously involve trading Josh Green AND one of our other wings, most likely TSJ. This team needs three-point shooting. Ant, Ball, Jaden, Ayo and Green are the only guys we can count on to hit threes. TSJ has the most 3-point potential among the others. After watching the terrible shooting from Isaiah Evans so far in Summer League we clearly can’t count on him. If we trade Green and TSJ then we’re counting on Clark and Evans for three point shooting and I don’t like that bet.

Why can't this franchise ever find 3pt shooting PFs? It is like how the Vikings can't draft QBs.

bleedspeed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:06 am Why can't this franchise ever find 3pt shooting PFs? It is like how the Vikings can't draft QBs.

LOL, I think you've been out of the loop for a while Bleed!

Naz Reid! He is the epitome of a 3-point shooting PF and is probably the greatest development story in this franchise's (mostly) sorry history.

Additionally, Jaden made a huge improvement as a shooter last year (until the playoffs) and he will play the 4 at least part of the time this year.

And finally, we signed Trey Lyles, who you guessed it, is a solid 3-point shooting PF off the bench.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:36 am

bleedspeed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:06 am Why can't this franchise ever find 3pt shooting PFs? It is like how the Vikings can't draft QBs.

LOL, I think you've been out of the loop for a while Bleed!

Naz Reid! He is the epitome of a 3-point shooting PF and is probably the greatest development story in this franchise's (mostly) sorry history.

Additionally, Jaden made a huge improvement as a shooter last year (until the playoffs) and he will play the 4 at least part of the time this year.

And finally, we signed Trey Lyles, who you guessed it, is a solid 3-point shooting PF off the bench.

I try to stay up to date but with all of the changes. Is Rick Mahorn still with the team?

bleedspeed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:43 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:36 am

bleedspeed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 9:06 am Why can't this franchise ever find 3pt shooting PFs? It is like how the Vikings can't draft QBs.

LOL, I think you've been out of the loop for a while Bleed!

Naz Reid! He is the epitome of a 3-point shooting PF and is probably the greatest development story in this franchise's (mostly) sorry history.

Additionally, Jaden made a huge improvement as a shooter last year (until the playoffs) and he will play the 4 at least part of the time this year.

And finally, we signed Trey Lyles, who you guessed it, is a solid 3-point shooting PF off the bench.

I try to stay up to date but with all of the changes. Is Rick Mahorn still with the team?

. Love it, keep!!

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 8:56 am Finch said he doesn’t envision Jaden starting at PF. Hmm. Does that mean he envisions Green, Edwards or TSJ starting there? I really doubt it. Finch’s comment is telling because it indicates the Wolves organization does not share the view of Q and others on this board that we’re fine moving forward with the current roster. Obviously, if LeBron signs here he will be our starting PF. But if LeBron goes elsewhere then I think it’s inevitable the Wolves will trade for a starting PF and I don’t think they’ll wait until after the season starts.

I’m troubled by the need to trade for a PF because it will obviously involve trading Josh Green AND one of our other wings, most likely TSJ. This team needs three-point shooting. Ant, Ball, Jaden, Ayo and Green are the only guys we can count on to hit threes. TSJ has the most 3-point potential among the others. After watching the terrible shooting from Isaiah Evans so far in Summer League we clearly can’t count on him. If we trade Green and TSJ then we’re counting on Clark and Evans for three point shooting and I don’t like that bet.

I thought that was an illuminating quote from Finch, but I don't know exactly how much we should draw from it.

For one his statements are ones that I largely agree with, even as a pro PF Jaden, which is that I still think his best position is at SF but not as a POA defender. I don't know how much Finch agrees with that last point, but he certainly views him as a SF.

Fwiw, Jaden is bit of a tough nut to set, because like I said I think he'd be best on defense as Swiss army knife roaming demon small forward. Offensively he's probably best as a PF even tho he's a bit light, because the closer Jaden is to the basket the more useful he is on offense while also being able to spread out the floor cause he can shoot. He's not ever gonna be a point forward but with his height and length he can be a really good playmaker within 10ft or so from the basket. Anyway I'll end the digression there.

What the coaches comments tell us is that he wants a different starting PF than Jaden and almost certainly Lyles. However, we also know that Tim won't force something before he needs to even if the state of the roster needs it, as evident by waiting on the Russel trade, the Kat trade and then the Randle trade.

He's always feeling things out but he won't strike out of desperation.

To but succinctly, TC might very well tell Finch, "this is what you got to work with for now, figure it out"