Kyle Anderson

[Q-is-here]

Like I keep saying, it's a high floor move but not one that really moves the needle for us. The question is does his presence enable others to play better to? Does our team defense and rebounding improve because we now have properly sized 4s, 3s, and 2s?

What we haven't solved yet is that KAT still needs to engage in hand to hand combat with the likes of JoVal, Embiid, Zubac, and Jokic. That wears him down and gets him in foul trouble early in games. SloMo won't help solve that issue. Walker Kessler may help....in two or three years. So in my mind we still have a gap in terms of getting a legit veteran big that can knock heads in the paint with the big boys for 18-22 minutes per night.

[Monster]

I'm a little confused as to why people don't love the K. Anderson addition.

The fit is a veteran that can teach young players how to change gears, use timely body contact along with defenders momentum to create space and open looks. He doesn't have the most athletic profile but his length and basketball IQ are great. He passes well, guards multiple positions, you could be looking at the Wolves starting PF unless they are going to start Kessler next to KAT at PF. Either way I think K. Anderson provides 17-27 solid mins a night. His price is what I like most about the deal, rather cheap for a playoff caliber rotational player that can be trusted.

I know Kyle Anderson isn't the most amazing FA addition but when you consider price and playoff playability he's quite the value and an addition I love for the Wolves.

I think most of us (maybe all of us) like the Anderson addition. Some and probably most of us don't "love" it because the Wolves used their one meaningful cap exception and last roster spot on a good but not great or exciting player who doesn't fill the Wolves biggest need for a starting rebounding rim-protecting big next to KAT.

But again, not a bad acquisition and it will look better if the Wolves can pull off a good trade to fill their need for a big. My issue is that the Wolves had good free-agent options to get the big they need with the MLE. My concern with relying on trades is that you have to give to get and that makes it hard to achieve net improvement. The Wolves will likely have to move Beasley and Naz to get a high-caliber big like Capela, Myles Turner or Nurkic (sign-and-trade). If that happens, the Wolves will lose their only elite high-volume 3-point shooter in an era when three-point shooting is critical to success. And the Wolves might also have to part with a future 1st-round draft pick as well - maybe multiple picks if they want Gobert.

So I like the Anderson signing because I see the positive things he brings. But I don't love it when I factor in the opportunity costs and more critical need for a big.

I get where you are coming from. Let's look at it another way.

In your scenario the Wolves still have a glut of guards and a big glut of centers and one true PF in Vanderbilt. It would make a lot of sense to still need to make a move trading a guard. With the Kyle anderson signing they shored up the biggest positional weakness on the roster by far and as other have pointed out it actually helps the size and rebounding pushing other players to their better positions at the wing. If the Wolves traded Beasley for Capela in terms of assets sign me up. Naz and Beasley are expendable because everyone here believes they may not be here in a few months anyways. Capela if heathy is easily a better more impactful player than either. The only issue with that deal would be paying Capela and his injury history. In terms of assets I would rather trade Beasley and Naz for Capela and sign Anderson than sign Hartenstein who quite frankly we don't absolutely know for certain is even as good as Anderson (I think Hartenstein will be at least a good rotation player) and then have to trade for a PF which recently around the league has been costly. Sure they wouldn't have had to add a starting level guy but then we may have just 2 rotation level guys. How exciting is that? Yes Hartenstein has upside to be a starter and that's exciting but if the Wolves pull off a reasonable deal for a good center via trade that's gonna be exciting also. Anyways we will see what happens. Whether is a trade or FA I think there is a chance to get a god player that's considered but the league a center. The Wolves decided to go the trade route. Let's see what they are able to do there.

Edit: the Wolves could also still make a trade to open up a roster spot to fill the center spot with a value/cheap FA signing. I would not be shocked if the wolves have offers on the table from teams for Naz for some 2nd rounders. I wouldn't hate that and I like Naz a lot.

[TheFuture]

Like I keep saying, it's a high floor move but not one that really moves the needle for us. The question is does his presence enable others to play better to? Does our team defense and rebounding improve because we now have properly sized 4s, 3s, and 2s?

What we haven't solved yet is that KAT still needs to engage in hand to hand combat with the likes of JoVal, Embiid, Zubac, and Jokic. That wears him down and gets him in foul trouble early in games. SloMo won't help solve that issue. Walker Kessler may help....in two or three years. So in my mind we still have a gap in terms of getting a legit veteran big that can knock heads in the paint with the big boys for 18-22 minutes per night.

The only thing I see with Kyle Anderson is that we went from 3 ball handlers/creaters in Dlo, Jmac, and Ant, to now four. Which is a good thing, but I don't know if it is necessarily better than swinging for a rebounder/defensive presence big.

[Monster]

Like I keep saying, it's a high floor move but not one that really moves the needle for us. The question is does his presence enable others to play better to? Does our team defense and rebounding improve because we now have properly sized 4s, 3s, and 2s?

What we haven't solved yet is that KAT still needs to engage in hand to hand combat with the likes of JoVal, Embiid, Zubac, and Jokic. That wears him down and gets him in foul trouble early in games. SloMo won't help solve that issue. Walker Kessler may help....in two or three years. So in my mind we still have a gap in terms of getting a legit veteran big that can knock heads in the paint with the big boys for 18-22 minutes per night.

And that is why the Wolves are still looking for a big.

[Q-is-here]

Like I keep saying, it's a high floor move but not one that really moves the needle for us. The question is does his presence enable others to play better to? Does our team defense and rebounding improve because we now have properly sized 4s, 3s, and 2s?

What we haven't solved yet is that KAT still needs to engage in hand to hand combat with the likes of JoVal, Embiid, Zubac, and Jokic. That wears him down and gets him in foul trouble early in games. SloMo won't help solve that issue. Walker Kessler may help....in two or three years. So in my mind we still have a gap in terms of getting a legit veteran big that can knock heads in the paint with the big boys for 18-22 minutes per night.

And that is why the Wolves are still looking for a big.

Ok, but we're running out of options, no? I think Beasley can be used as a trade chip, but it takes two to tango. And I'm not sure Dwight Powell (who I think could be easily had for Beasley) is the answer. We need legit size and muscle.

[Monster]

Like I keep saying, it's a high floor move but not one that really moves the needle for us. The question is does his presence enable others to play better to? Does our team defense and rebounding improve because we now have properly sized 4s, 3s, and 2s?

What we haven't solved yet is that KAT still needs to engage in hand to hand combat with the likes of JoVal, Embiid, Zubac, and Jokic. That wears him down and gets him in foul trouble early in games. SloMo won't help solve that issue. Walker Kessler may help....in two or three years. So in my mind we still have a gap in terms of getting a legit veteran big that can knock heads in the paint with the big boys for 18-22 minutes per night.

And that is why the Wolves are still looking for a big.

Ok, but we're running out of options, no? I think Beasley can be used as a trade chip, but it takes two to tango. And I'm not sure Dwight Powell (who I think could be easily had for Beasley) is the answer. We need legit size and muscle.

Well yes the more inspiring options other than a trade are dwindling yes. It if the Wolves want a guy they can throw out there for a few minutes on the nights they face those bigger players there are some ok guys that are vets that could be more along the lines of a sacrificial dude to get the job done. Nobody is gonna be thrilled with Robin Lopez or Whiteside or whatever but there will be someone of that I'll that will only cost the vet min. Maybe even one of them could be had for a partially guaranteed deal so they could be let go if the Wolves are able to make a move later for a more legit guy. The Wolves are clearly aiming higher than this but again we are looking at how the roster is upgraded from last season. We already have an upgrade at PF and even a Greg Monroe for a full season would be better than nobody for most of the season. I think the Wolves will do better than the vet min guy but it's not the worst option IMO.

[Sundog]

Miles to go before we sleep, methinks.

Or, maybe Myles to go before we sleep (see what I did there, ha!)

[TheFuture]

Miles to go before we sleep, methinks.

Or, maybe Myles to go before we sleep (see what I did there, ha!)

Ayton is the best option out there for us. Myles second best. Capela third warranted on price to get. Gobert is out for me, he would cost too much for what he ends up providing.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The following appears to be the most viable options remaining for Minnesota to add to their interior:

- Trade for Clint Capela
- Trade for Jakob Poeltl
- Trade for Myles Turner
- Trade for Rudy Gobert

- Sign-and-trade for Jusuf Nurkic
- Sign-and-trade for Deandre Ayton
- Sign-and-trade for Jalen Smith

- Sign Serge Ibaka
- Sign Hassan Whiteside
- Sign Montrezl Harrell
- Sign Drew Eubanks
- Sign Bol Bol
- Sign Thomas Bryant
- Sign DeMarcus Cousins
- Sign Robin Lopez

[TheFuture]

The following appears to be the most viable options remaining for Minnesota to add to their interior:

- Trade for Clint Capela
- Trade for Jakob Poeltl
- Trade for Myles Turner
- Trade for Rudy Gobert

- Sign-and trade for Jusuf Nurkic
- Sign-and trade for Deandre Ayton
- Sign-and-trade for Jalen Smith

- Sign Serge Ibaka
- Sign Hassan Whiteside
- Sign Montrezl Harrell
- Sign Drew Eubanks
- Sign Bol Bol
- Sign Thomas Bryant
- Sign DeMarcus Cousins
- Sign Robin Lopez

All would be welcome additions. Except Gobert imo.