Okay, I'll do it - Wolves at 76ers GDT

[AussieWolf3]

There's just not enough shot creators on this roster after Ant, and I really don't know what Julius is supposed to be if he isn't pressuring the middle of the defense

Part of the problem too is that our shot "makers" simply aren't making them. Naz especially has been cold as ice from 3 for over two months now. He's now become a liability against good teams since his shot has abandoned him. At least Randle still sucks in defenders and can generate some open shots for people, but he hasn't been at the top of his game either.

DDV has also been quietly underachieving on his shot for a couple of months now. He'll make a preposterously difficult contested 3 on one trip, but then the next time down brick a wide open one where he has time to get himself set. It's almost completely random which ones he makes and has almost nothing to do if he's covered or not. Or at least it seems that way.

It's frustrating to watch.

This is spot on and statically true:

Over the last 30 days the team is shooting 34% from 3 and it's only gotten worse in the last 14 days --- 32.6%, good for 28th in the league

They have been terrible at the rim too, 66.8 in the last 30 and 62.4% the last 14.

This obviously part of a cold stretch and missing some their best shooters throughout that time, but I something has also broken in how their generating their shots. It wasn't that long ago where some of us were posting about their top 6 TS numbers. Since then things have gone in the opposite direction.

Finch's offense is supposed to break the paint, move the defense and kick out to shooters or drive to the bucket if the lane is their. Players need to keep the ball moving until a shot presents itself.

As has often been discussed, this team doesn't do a good job of listening to that script, but..... Are they even built to do it? Ant should be elite at this and he kind of hs, but he also it's kicking out as much as he should so it can stall things out. At his best Randle is great at this, best on the team, but he hasn't been at his best since November.

When I look at Naz, Jaden, and even Ant and Julius I see players who would be great off cuts to the basket, finishing plays. Maybe this team's lack of a point guard prevents them from succeeding at this type of offense, but in my opinion every body outside of Ant or Randle is not equipped to break the paint and start the action that Finch is looking for with his "flow offense" and as I said above, Ant resorts to iso ball too much anyway and Randle hasn't been good for months.

I really don't know what to do with this team. There are times where I'm willing to bet that they surprise people again in the PS and then nights like tonight where I just don't see the vision of what this team is supposed to bw

[Q-is-here]

If Donte and Julius are back next season, something went terribly wrong.

I thought entering the draft that the Wolves would go looking for a PG to develop, but they may need a do-over on what they hoped Leonard Miller could be and draft a backup PF.

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

[WildWolf2813]

If Donte and Julius are back next season, something went terribly wrong.

I thought entering the draft that the Wolves would go looking for a PG to develop, but they may need a do-over on what they hoped Leonard Miller could be and draft a backup PF.

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

[AussieWolf3]

If Donte and Julius are back next season, something went terribly wrong.

I thought entering the draft that the Wolves would go looking for a PG to develop, but they may need a do-over on what they hoped Leonard Miller could be and draft a backup PF.

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

Completely scrap the bigs, bring in IHart

Ayo
Donte
Ant
Jaden
IHart

It's a start
Maybe trade for Herb

[AussieWolf3]

If Donte and Julius are back next season, something went terribly wrong.

I thought entering the draft that the Wolves would go looking for a PG to develop, but they may need a do-over on what they hoped Leonard Miller could be and draft a backup PF.

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

I really don't think Rudy should be considered safe, and I like Rudy

[Phenom]

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

I really don't think Rudy should be considered safe, and I like Rudy

For those that believe in trading a player a year too early vs a year too late, exploring his trade market this summer may be the move.

[WildWolf2813]

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

I really don't think Rudy should be considered safe, and I like Rudy

In a vacuum, Rudy should be expendable. Only one problem: This team can't pretend to contend by dealing him until Beringer is up to speed and we're probably a year and a half away from finding that out. If the team decides to trade Rudy but then pivot to someone else at center, then the Beringer/Zikarsky picks look like Justin Patton-level blunders.

[Q-is-here]

I'm on the cusp of just wanting to start from scratch at PF and get rid of both Randle and Naz. It's just so much effing money tied up in two highly flawed players with minimal positional versatility. Last summer I was lobbying for Jaden to be our starting PF. Of course that was under the assumption Shannon could step right into the starting SF role, which obviously turned out to be a horrible assumption!

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

I really don't think Rudy should be considered safe, and I like Rudy

No one is untouchable, but on the list of least likely to be traded, I go something like 1. Ant, 2. Jaden, 3. Beringer, 4. Rudy. All bets are off if Giannis is in play, as then Ant is probably the only one totally off the table in that scenario.

But I agree with WW that Rudy should be relatively safe in that he is a walking top ten defense. I actually think we over-estimate Beringer's potential defensive impact and underestimate his offensive impact.

The traditional PF position just isn't all that important and a lot of good teams have pretty average-ish players in that slot or bigger wings that happen to be called a PF on the roster: Tobias Harris for Detroit, Harrison Barnes for the Spurs, Jabari Smith for the Rockets, Miles Bridges for Charlotte, Jalen Johnson for Atlanta.

If you have two true Centers like Rudy and Joan in the middle at all times, you basically just need a bunch of big wings and guards after that.

[AussieWolf3]

I don't think Tim has the balls to deal both without having a clear plan at PF (to your point about McDaniels: if he is better at the 4-- I kinda disagree, but I understand-- then yes, both HAVE to go and then find a wing.

What's gonna be tested is who Tim sees in this league as someone to buy low on. When we got NAW, I was a skeptic, but we were also not expecting much. Whether it's Julian Phillips, Beringer (goes without saying), Shannon, both our draft picks, of our 8-9 rotation guys, 3 of them have to be cheap. Otherwise they're trying to build something they can't sustain which will lead to having to tear everything down anyway.

I keep harping on Donte because realistically we're not paying him and Ayo $37-$42 combined to stay.


Rudy, Ant, Jaden, Ayo, Beringer should be the only 26-27 rotation players safe.

I really don't think Rudy should be considered safe, and I like Rudy

No one is untouchable, but on the list of least likely to be traded, I go something like 1. Ant, 2. Jaden, 3. Beringer, 4. Rudy. All bets are off if Giannis is in play, as then Ant is probably the only one totally off the table in that scenario.

But I agree with WW that Rudy should be relatively safe in that he is a walking top ten defense. I actually think we over-estimate Beringer's potential defensive impact and underestimate his offensive impact.

The traditional PF position just isn't all that important and a lot of good teams have pretty average-ish players in that slot or bigger wings that happen to be called a PF on the roster: Tobias Harris for Detroit, Harrison Barnes for the Spurs, Jabari Smith for the Rockets, Miles Bridges for Charlotte, Jalen Johnson for Atlanta.

If you have two true Centers like Rudy and Joan in the middle at all times, you basically just need a bunch of big wings and guards after that.

Isn't Jayson Tatum technically a PF?
Again we're just putting more points in the Power Forward Jaden column

[KiwiMatt]

Nearly two full seasons in and our starting front court of Gobert and Randle still have terrible chemistry. Simply put their games don’t compliment each other. Time to move on from Julius.

I also don’t like DDV as a starting guard and wouldn’t be opposed to moving him this offseason as I see his contract as an appealing trade chip for another team.

A starting lineup of: Ayo - Ant - McDaniels - Naz - Gobert excites me a lot more than what we are currently running with.