Minnesota Sports Forum

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 11:17 am

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 11:06 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:59 am

I think they will look to keep Ayo, but after watching the Spurs series and what we're up against in the West I'm questioning if he's good enough to be a full-time starter. He may go back to being a 6th or 7th man that can be plugged into a starting role as needed due to injury or rest during the regular season.

I def think they're going to try and keep him but he's gonna get 15M minimum right? Honest question, should you really be paying your 6th or 7th that much?

Before you bring up Naz, I honest think that was a development investment and the plan if for him to start

Caruso - $18M, Keldon Johnson - $18M, Harrison Barnes - $19M, Kevin Huerter - $18M. All guys coming off the bench for contenders and unlike Naz none really have a path toward starting eventually.

Fair, thanks

According to Spotrac, hoopshype and basketball reference we are indeed under the first apron. Not sure about what that means for our ability to resign Ayo as a top priority before making trades or anything, that’s Tim Conelys job…

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 11:07 am

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 11:02 am

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:45 am Is a sign and trade with Ayo possible and maybe even a good idea?
After is big 43 point game in a big spot his value will never be higher and he might be a bit of fools gold. I like Ayo but to my eye his defense is overrated and I'm not sure I trust the sudden jump in 3pt percentage.

Edit: just looked up his career 3pt shooting, it's better than I thought. I legit thought this was his first year being above average. He literally alternated every year being above average and before average.

There are rules around the tax aprons. I don't believe any team in the first or second apron can do a sign and trade. So a team under the apron could perform a sign and trade with us, and we can take salary back as long as we stay under the 2nd apron. Since we are an apron team we wouldn't be able to do a sign and trade of Ayo for a sign and trade of another player like Coby White. Since apron teams can't use a sign and trade to sign a player, it limits the amount of teams that can do it.

I thought they got under the apron at the trade deadline.

Oh yeah looks like you're right, I thought we were still in the first apron but we got a few million under the first apron this year. I do believe we still won't be able to do a double sign and trade if it the result puts us over the 1st apron.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:59 am

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:45 am Is a sign and trade with Ayo possible and maybe even a good idea?
After is big 43 point game in a big spot his value will never be higher and he might be a bit of fools gold. I like Ayo but to my eye his defense is overrated and I'm not sure I trust the sudden jump in 3pt percentage.

Edit: just looked up his career 3pt shooting, it's better than I thought. I legit thought this was his first year being above average. He literally alternated every year being above average and before average.

I think they will look to keep Ayo, but after watching the Spurs series and what we're up against in the West I'm questioning if he's good enough to be a full-time starter. He may go back to being a 6th or 7th man that can be plugged into a starting role as needed due to injury or rest during the regular season.

The more healthy Ayo got during the series the better he was I thought. He's been pretty awesome since the Wolves got him. The only time he looked bad was when he was clearly hurt

guest81 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 12:01 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:59 am

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:45 am Is a sign and trade with Ayo possible and maybe even a good idea?
After is big 43 point game in a big spot his value will never be higher and he might be a bit of fools gold. I like Ayo but to my eye his defense is overrated and I'm not sure I trust the sudden jump in 3pt percentage.

Edit: just looked up his career 3pt shooting, it's better than I thought. I legit thought this was his first year being above average. He literally alternated every year being above average and before average.

I think they will look to keep Ayo, but after watching the Spurs series and what we're up against in the West I'm questioning if he's good enough to be a full-time starter. He may go back to being a 6th or 7th man that can be plugged into a starting role as needed due to injury or rest during the regular season.

The more healthy Ayo got during the series the better he was I thought. He's been pretty awesome since the Wolves got him. The only time he looked bad was when he was clearly hurt

I see his top potential as a high end role player. He doesn't quite have the athleticism or skills passing and finishing around the hoop to warrant a starters role. His defense is also adequate, but not great either. He does a lot of things good enough, shoots a nice percentage, but also can't get his own off well either. He's just lacking that higher end NBA athlete ability or skill to be a starter. Not crafty or quick, but he can fill a role.

If someone wants to pay him starter money he's gone, but I don't see that happening so I think we'll see him back and we do need him especially with DDV hurt.

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 12:58 pm

guest81 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 12:01 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 10:59 am

I think they will look to keep Ayo, but after watching the Spurs series and what we're up against in the West I'm questioning if he's good enough to be a full-time starter. He may go back to being a 6th or 7th man that can be plugged into a starting role as needed due to injury or rest during the regular season.

The more healthy Ayo got during the series the better he was I thought. He's been pretty awesome since the Wolves got him. The only time he looked bad was when he was clearly hurt

I see his top potential as a high end role player. He doesn't quite have the athleticism or skills passing and finishing around the hoop to warrant a starters role. His defense is also adequate, but not great either. He does a lot of things good enough, shoots a nice percentage, but also can't get his own off well either. He's just lacking that higher end NBA athlete ability or skill to be a starter. Not crafty or quick, but he can fill a role.

If someone wants to pay him starter money he's gone, but I don't see that happening so I think we'll see him back and we do need him especially with DDV hurt.

If by some chance that happens, it almost becomes mandatory that a PG HAS to come back in any Randle move. Otherwise we're right back to starting Conley full time out of necessity.

No matter what, Connelly and Finch have to see something in a player that nobody else sees. In other words, they need 2 more NAW development stories.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2026 10:17 pm Did anyone listen to Donte's exit interview? It was pretty dang impressive. I had kind of assumed he would just be an expiring contract, perhaps used as part of a larger deal (ala Melton with Golden State). But I can see a world where he is signed to an extension this offseason, or re-signed next offseason. His advanced stats certainly supported his effectiveness as a key cog in the starting lineup.

Tough to be out an entire season in a contract year. Just a few years ago, Divincenzo's career would be in jeopardy... or at least his impact in his current role. But modern medicine is a marvel. So, there's hope that Divincenzo could return to where he was when he's back on the court on the other side of 30.

The rub is that the injury will hurt him a bit financially. It's still a very serious injury and there will be a bit of out-of-sight our-of-mind thing going on.

The Wolves might be able to keep him for a bit less than previously expected.

TC gave his end of season exit interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X41LFBmqw8

He's not going to say what their plans are, be he did allude to a few things that provide hints:

- He commented on the bench depth of the Spurs and Thunder. He said that depth is filled with guys that have played well in the regular season, but may not see any action in the playoffs. Because this is one of our Finch critiques, I interpreted this as something Finch needs be better at: finding ways to get other players minutes in the regular season.

- They need to help ANT by allowing him to play off the ball more than he had this season. Read into that what you want.

- He referenced size at the point of attack. I take this to mean we are not looking at Garland-type PG to run alongside ANT... (although he did say they would like to see Mike back)

- He had good things to say about Ayo, Shannon and Rudy. Unless something BIG happens, I'm pretty sure we'll see those guys next season with ANT, Jaden and NAZ. Joan will play a role, and don't sleep on Rocco.

Ben Beecken at Locked On Wolves says Ayo can sign a 3 year extension before free agency that could be 3/52. I wasn't aware of that but it would be a good price point I think.

Phenom wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2026 6:11 pm Ben Beecken at Locked On Wolves says Ayo can sign a 3 year extension before free agency that could be 3/52. I wasn't aware of that but it would be a good price point I think.

I heard that but I think he also mentioned having to move salary around? Because if we resign him before the league year starts then we reenter apron territory and it gets murky again. If there’s some way we can Joe smith him and just “agree” to a thing that has to wait till after league year resets it gets easier?