Minnesota Sports Forum

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:20 pm

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 7:25 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 5:26 pm

Is this really true?
There's a cogent argument to be made that what bit them was a poorly constructed roster, terrible luck with injuries and a loser effort from the "second best player". You could also rightfully argue that putting better supporting pieces around a re-prioritized core is more helpful than just raw talent.
That's what the Thunder have
That's what Spurs have
And that's what the Knicks have.
Complimentary pieces that support their stars strengths and weaknesses.
c
I'm not suggesting nothing be done, but it's very important that the correct problem is accessed and the risk for any solutions are properly considered. There's isn't a path the Wolves can pursue that won't entail any risk, in fact any serious path will have a lot of risk. TC and company will just have to sort out which of those risk are worth absorbing for payoffs that are worth attaining

As the roster is constructed I think so. Both Ju and Rudy have enough games against OKC and SA for me to say, I really think it's a bad matchup. They got two things which they usually take advantage of against 95% of teams. Length and physicality. That doesn't work against Chet/Hartenstein Wemby/Kornet.

They matchup and even are BETTER then our strengths, Nullifying what is an advantage against most NBA teams to a disadvantage. It's not only that, they struggle to respond to the challenge as well. When the matchup gets tough, they shrink. I could understand getting beat, but watching them get outworked and bullied themselves is no bueno.

If your argument is to trade both of them, OK. But then it goes back to what players are you getting back.

Everyone should be operating from the assumption that at least one member of the frontcourt will not be returning.

I am pushing back that a big swing is absolutely necessary to be a championship roster. Things absolutely need to change, but for starters dropping Julius will be addition by subtraction, of that I am convinced.

Regardless you are still left with the question of what is to be done. You've consistently advocated for a big swing being the only real way to get one the top teams levels. Personally I'm open to lots of solutions, but I very strongly believe that simply having better synergy will go a long way.

Everyone keeps saying how you have to get past OCK and the Spurs, and I understand why, but the sole goal should not be to beat those teams. Build a championship roster that is not only talented but properly covers each others weaknesses and boost strengths.
Again, look at the 3 teams remaining. Obviously they're all very talented but they also have a clear identity, the wolves don't.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:43 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:20 pm

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 7:25 pm

As the roster is constructed I think so. Both Ju and Rudy have enough games against OKC and SA for me to say, I really think it's a bad matchup. They got two things which they usually take advantage of against 95% of teams. Length and physicality. That doesn't work against Chet/Hartenstein Wemby/Kornet.

They matchup and even are BETTER then our strengths, Nullifying what is an advantage against most NBA teams to a disadvantage. It's not only that, they struggle to respond to the challenge as well. When the matchup gets tough, they shrink. I could understand getting beat, but watching them get outworked and bullied themselves is no bueno.

If your argument is to trade both of them, OK. But then it goes back to what players are you getting back.

Everyone should be operating from the assumption that at least one member of the frontcourt will not be returning.

I am pushing back that a big swing is absolutely necessary to be a championship roster. Things absolutely need to change, but for starters dropping Julius will be addition by subtraction, of that I am convinced.

Regardless you are still left with the question of what is to be done. You've consistently advocated for a big swing being the only real way to get one the top teams levels. Personally I'm open to lots of solutions, but I very strongly believe that simply having better synergy will go a long way.

Everyone keeps saying how you have to get past OCK and the Spurs, and I understand why, but the sole goal should not be to beat those teams. Build a championship roster that is not only talented but properly covers each others weaknesses and boost strengths.
Again, look at the 3 teams remaining. Obviously they're all very talented but they also have a clear identity, the wolves don't.

Yeah, all 3 teams have everybody bought in defensively, and that's where they all start. The Wolves have 2 for sure in Rudy and Jaden, I'd probably lean to 3 with Ayo. It would be 4 because Divo does buy in. Offensively, all 3 have vastly superior ball movement compared to the Wolves.

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 9:02 pm

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:43 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2026 8:20 pm
Everyone should be operating from the assumption that at least one member of the frontcourt will not be returning.

I am pushing back that a big swing is absolutely necessary to be a championship roster. Things absolutely need to change, but for starters dropping Julius will be addition by subtraction, of that I am convinced.

Regardless you are still left with the question of what is to be done. You've consistently advocated for a big swing being the only real way to get one the top teams levels. Personally I'm open to lots of solutions, but I very strongly believe that simply having better synergy will go a long way.

Everyone keeps saying how you have to get past OCK and the Spurs, and I understand why, but the sole goal should not be to beat those teams. Build a championship roster that is not only talented but properly covers each others weaknesses and boost strengths.
Again, look at the 3 teams remaining. Obviously they're all very talented but they also have a clear identity, the wolves don't.

Yeah, all 3 teams have everybody bought in defensively, and that's where they all start. The Wolves have 2 for sure in Rudy and Jaden, I'd probably lean to 3 with Ayo. It would be 4 because Divo does buy in. Offensively, all 3 have vastly superior ball movement compared to the Wolves.

I think it's more than just buy in tho, which certainly plays a factor, but it's also not strenuous for those teams to play together.
The gears to make the offense work were so difficult to turn if they met any resistance. Against inferior opponents they could just overwhelm them, but great defenses wouldn't let them do their offense because it was built around Julius being a hub.

Think about Naz and Julius lineups versus the Rudy/Randle ones, they had very little trouble moving the ball. Why? Cause there weren't two shooters clogging things up. The fact that 3 starters wanted to work in the mid range only complicated things.

Of course the flip side of all that was the defense you got our of the Randle/Naz front court which simply couldn't hold up

Everyone wants a PG and for good reason but the biggest problem with this team was their front court, or maybe better said:
The offense needed Randle to be the hub yet the starting unit wasn't well suited enough for that to actually work because of Rudy --- and let's not even mention that Randle just isn't good enough to warrant being a hub.
Defensively you had to have Rudy and you basically end up in a decision loop between offense and defense.

So again build a roster that isn't so difficult to make work and then we'll see how hard it is for everyone to buy in

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 8:41 am He hasn't been brought up enough but Cam Spencer would be a solid addition. Not to start but hes a good rotation player.

I also am seeing Ty Jerome come up and little bit more and more and I'm gonna be honest, I didn't think there would be anyway he's available but if he is then for the love of God go get him. He's likely sporting the most valuable contract in the association.

For those that like the "deep stats" here's some of his 25-26' numbers
DPM: 2.5- 25th best in the league and better than any Twolf
EPM: 6.2- 7th best in the league O.o
His net rating wasn't good overall (on a bad team) but his ORTG was +8.1 and the offense off/on was +11.1

The dude would solve so many problems, he's just a bad defender and you'd have to cover for that

Edit with some more stats

Last years DPM was +1.6 while playing 70 games (only 15 this year)
Net rating was +9.4 last year
And his zTS numbers are insane
26': +7.6 (Ant had a very very good 6.2 for context)
25': +8.9
24': +3.5

zTS is such a good indicator and predictor of offensive impact!
If this guy is available, go get him!
PS- he's had 15 or more potential asst per 100 for 3 straight years

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 9:55 am

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 8:41 am He hasn't been brought up enough but Cam Spencer would be a solid addition. Not to start but hes a good rotation player.

I also am seeing Ty Jerome come up and little bit more and more and I'm gonna be honest, I didn't think there would be anyway he's available but if he is then for the love of God go get him. He's likely sporting the most valuable contract in the association.

For those that like the "deep stats" here's some of his 25-26' numbers
DPM: 2.5- 25th best in the league and better than any Twolf
EPM: 6.2- 7th best in the league O.o
His net rating wasn't good overall (on a bad team) but his ORTG was +8.1 and the offense off/on was +11.1

The dude would solve so many problems, he's just a bad defender and you'd have to cover for that

Edit with some more stats

Last years DPM was +1.6 while playing 70 games (only 15 this year)
Net rating was +9.4 last year
And his zTS numbers are insane
26': +7.6 (Ant had a very very good 6.2 for context)
25': +8.9
24': +3.5

zTS is such a good indicator and predictor of offensive impact!
If this guy is available, go get him!
PS- he's had 15 or more potential asst per 100 for 3 straight years

Good call out Aussie. Memphis overall has a surplus of quality role-playing guards that we should definitely look at: Ty Jerome (6th man instant offense); Cam Spencer (high quality backup PG); and Scotty Pippen Jr. (3&D PG).

They also have Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Walter Clayton Jr. on their original rookie deals.

Even if Ja is traded, there isn't possibly enough playing time for all these quality guards!

They are definitely a team to look at trading with if our goal is to accumulate younger/under-the-radar players that could eventually take on bigger roles and shine on a better team like Minnesota.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 10:53 am I’m finally getting around to this thread. Thanks for your great work compiling the list, Q. My first thought is that acquiring q starting PG shouldn’t be the primary focus this offseason. Instead, I think the main focus should be acquiring the RIGHT players to optimize team success around Ant, Jaden and Naz. That said, I’d like to upgrade our PG position even if it means acquiring a PG off the bench with Ayo as our starter. But our lack of draft assets will make it very difficult or impossible to acquire an elite starting PG in or near his prime without giving up Ant, Jaden or Naz - three guys we should absolutely not trade in my view.

Realistically, the only players/assets with value I would consider trading are Randle, Donte, Clark, TSJ, our #28 pick and maybe Rudy. I think we absolutely should trade Randle and I’d rather not move TSJ. With those parameters in mind, here’s my take on who we should target from Q’s PG list.

My favorites in Q’s list are Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, Derrick White and LaMello Ball. Those are all elite starting PGs who are in or near their prime and could be game changers for the Wolves, but I doubt we could get any of them with the assets I’d be willing to give up, although perhaps Rudy would be enticing enough for Boston or Charlotte. Below are the PGs I like from Q’s list who I think we could realistically acquire without giving up Ant, Jaden or Naz while ensuring we have the cap room to re-sign Ayo, which I consider critical:

Two-Way Starters
1. Aye Dosunmu -(I see him in this category. We need to re-sign him, which means another PG acquisition would be additive)
2. Jrue Holiday - $34.8M, $37.2M (Randle & Clark would be my offer. He’s my top pick at that price in this category)
3. Jalen Suggs - $32.4M, $29.6M, $26.8M, $26.7M (Maybe better acquisition than Holiday if we can get him for no more than Randle or Rudy + Clark and #28 pick)
4. Immanuel Quickley -$32.5, $32.5, $32.5

Young Potential Risers That Could Be in First Two Categories Above
1. Scoot Henderson - $13.6M (Portland wants to win now and is looking to make big moves. I think they’re new owner is overly eager to make a splash and ripe for exploitation, so maybe…)
2. Anthony Black - $10.1M (Disappointing early career so far. Could be a SGA type acquisition if we can pull it off)
3. Ryan Rollins - $4M, $4M (Probably can’t get him since Bucks would likely want draft assets for rebuild)
4. Isaiah Collier - $2.7M, $5M

Shooter/Scorers
1. Keyonte George - $4.3M, $6.5M (My top pick in this category but probably not realistic option unless we’re willing to give up Naz or Jaden to get him).
2. Collin Sexton - Unrestricted Free Agent (Not sure we can afford his defensive weakness but I like him)
3. Ty Jerome - $9.2M, $9.7M (Player Option)
4. Payton Pritchard - $7.2M, $7.8M, $8.3M (Would help fill the Donte gap)
5. Cam Spencer - $2.5M, $2.4M, $2.6M, $2.8M (More of a SG than the others in this list, but would be good addition)

Vet Game Managers
1. Tre Jones - $8M, $8M, $8M (Team Option) (My top pick in this category, but not sure he’s realistic. TSJ + pick #28?)
2. Dennis Schroder - $14.8M, $15.5M
3. T.J. McConnell - $11M, $11.8M, $11.8M (Team Option)
4. Tyus Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent (Easy cheap option as FA signing. Maybe sign him and use trade assets for another position like a defensive big to replace Randle and especially if we move Rudy(
5. Collin Gillespie - Unrestricted Free Agent

POA Defenders
1. Davion Mitchell - $12.4M (My top pick in this category. Is it realistic to get him without giving up more than Randle, Clark and pick #28?)
2. Jevon Carter - Unrestricted Free Agent
3. Marcus Smart - $5.2M (Player Option)
4. Jose Alvarado - $4.5M (Player Option)
5. Scotty Pippen, Jr. - $2.5M, $2.8M
6. Vince Williams, Jr. - $2.5M (Team Option)

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:08 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 10:53 am I’m finally getting around to this thread. Thanks for your great work compiling the list, Q. My first thought is that acquiring q starting PG shouldn’t be the primary focus this offseason. Instead, I think the main focus should be acquiring the RIGHT players to optimize team success around Ant, Jaden and Naz. That said, I’d like to upgrade our PG position even if it means acquiring a PG off the bench with Ayo as our starter. But our lack of draft assets will make it very difficult or impossible to acquire an elite starting PG in or near his prime without giving up Ant, Jaden or Naz - three guys we should absolutely not trade in my view.

Realistically, the only players/assets with value I would consider trading are Randle, Donte, Clark, TSJ, our #28 pick and maybe Rudy. I think we absolutely should trade Randle and I’d rather not move TSJ. With those parameters in mind, here’s my take on who we should target from Q’s PG list.

My favorites in Q’s list are Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, Derrick White and LaMello Ball. Those are all elite starting PGs who are in or near their prime and could be game changers for the Wolves, but I doubt we could get any of them with the assets I’d be willing to give up, although perhaps Rudy would be enticing enough for Boston or Charlotte. Below are the PGs I like from Q’s list who I think we could realistically acquire without giving up Ant, Jaden or Naz while ensuring we have the cap room to re-sign Ayo, which I consider critical:

Two-Way Starters
1. Aye Dosunmu -(I see him in this category. We need to re-sign him, which means another PG acquisition would be additive)
2. Jrue Holiday - $34.8M, $37.2M (Randle & Clark would be my offer. He’s my top pick at that price in this category)
3. Jalen Suggs - $32.4M, $29.6M, $26.8M, $26.7M (Maybe better acquisition than Holiday if we can get him for no more than Randle or Rudy + Clark and #28 pick)
4. Immanuel Quickley -$32.5, $32.5, $32.5

Young Potential Risers That Could Be in First Two Categories Above
1. Scoot Henderson - $13.6M (Portland wants to win now and is looking to make big moves. I think they’re new owner is overly eager to make a splash and ripe for exploitation, so maybe…)
2. Anthony Black - $10.1M (Disappointing early career so far. Could be a SGA type acquisition if we can pull it off)
3. Ryan Rollins - $4M, $4M (Probably can’t get him since Bucks would likely want draft assets for rebuild)
4. Isaiah Collier - $2.7M, $5M

Shooter/Scorers
1. Keyonte George - $4.3M, $6.5M (My top pick in this category but probably not realistic option unless we’re willing to give up Naz or Jaden to get him).
2. Collin Sexton - Unrestricted Free Agent (Not sure we can afford his defensive weakness but I like him)
3. Ty Jerome - $9.2M, $9.7M (Player Option)
4. Payton Pritchard - $7.2M, $7.8M, $8.3M (Would help fill the Donte gap)
5. Cam Spencer - $2.5M, $2.4M, $2.6M, $2.8M (More of a SG than the others in this list, but would be good addition)

Vet Game Managers
1. Tre Jones - $8M, $8M, $8M (Team Option) (My top pick in this category, but not sure he’s realistic. TSJ + pick #28?)
2. Dennis Schroder - $14.8M, $15.5M
3. T.J. McConnell - $11M, $11.8M, $11.8M (Team Option)
4. Tyus Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent (Easy cheap option as FA signing. Maybe sign him and use trade assets for another position like a defensive big to replace Randle and especially if we move Rudy(
5. Collin Gillespie - Unrestricted Free Agent

POA Defenders
1. Davion Mitchell - $12.4M (My top pick in this category. Is it realistic to get him without giving up more than Randle, Clark and pick #28?)
2. Jevon Carter - Unrestricted Free Agent
3. Marcus Smart - $5.2M (Player Option)
4. Jose Alvarado - $4.5M (Player Option)
5. Scotty Pippen, Jr. - $2.5M, $2.8M
6. Vince Williams, Jr. - $2.5M (Team Option)

Thanks Lip, good stuff!

Yes, there are lots of PG options out there at different price points that can help us. It doesn't always have to be the gold-plated solution, as Ayo + Davion or Ayo + Tre or Ayo + Cam Spencer are viable options that take Ant mostly off the ball.