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Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:34 pm
by Sundog
Lip, I think you have a point, but do you disagree that DDV was starting to play great those few games before he got hurt? And that the team seems to have sorta kinda figured out how to play with Randle and he’s playing better too?
I think those two things, plus Jaden’s reemergence, Rudy’s solidity and Naz’s production makes me think they are a bit better team for this year, all in, than you might. I don’t know that how the team performed during the first part of season necessarily holds for the second part. Still not going to achieve my pre-season prediction of making the WCF though…
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:35 pm
by Phenom
DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:24 pm
As seen on the Jimmy Butler rumor page on ESPN+
Butler to Denver in nine-player deal
Denver Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith
That could be interesting. I think it would be worthy of a pick coming to the Wolves as well for taking on Robinson.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:54 pm
by Volans19
DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:24 pm
As seen on the Jimmy Butler rumor page on ESPN+
Butler to Denver in nine-player deal
Denver Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith
I would absolutely hate to have Russ on my team
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:14 pm
by 60WinTim
Volans19 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:54 pm
DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:24 pm
As seen on the Jimmy Butler rumor page on ESPN+
Butler to Denver in nine-player deal
Denver Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith
I would absolutely hate to have Russ on my team
Yeah, I don't see this as something the Wolves would accept back. None of the contracts are expiring, so you are still left with the "re-sign NAZ" dilemma. And none of those players are a boost to the frontcourt, which was already rather thin, and now downright depleted with Randle injured.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:15 pm
by Monster
60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:14 pm
Volans19 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:54 pm
DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:24 pm
As seen on the Jimmy Butler rumor page on ESPN+
Butler to Denver in nine-player deal
Denver Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith
I would absolutely hate to have Russ on my team
Yeah, I don't see this as something the Wolves would accept back. None of the contracts are expiring, so you are still left with the "re-sign NAZ" dilemma. And none of those players are a boost to the frontcourt, which was already rather thin, and now downright depleted with Randle injured.
That trade isn't exactly thrilling. A couple positives that I could see from it.
It looks like statistically Highsmith is a pretty solid player for around 5 million. He seems like a guy that wouldn't be too hard to move if you wanted to cut salalry. You might even get a 2nd rounder or something small back.
Robinson is overpaid but he is a worthwhile player.
Westbrook doesn't suck and is making the vet min on a player option. I would guess he either opts out or is a guy that could also be traded.
This trade woukd give the Wolves some salaries to make trades with. Robinson is a negative salalry but it's only one year and another team might be moving salalry they don't want in a deal.
Having said all that I would assume they woukd want more than this for Randle unless they really valued Highsmith which to some extent might be possible.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 pm
by shrink
FNG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 am
The last two losses at home playing without Randle against undermanned teams has strengthened my hope that we don't unload him this week. Granted one of those losses was also without Ant, but I think we easily win both games if Ju is playing and Naz is providing firepower off the bench. And the narrative that Randle clogs the lane and doesn't facilitate Ant wasn't helped by Ant's poor game last night. Maybe TC has the long game in mind if he moves Randle, but I'm an immediate gratification kind of guy, and I foresee a tanked season if we don't get something back in return that immediately helps us.
I agree, and I think our three big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Naz is better than most contenders.
That said, they all have to stay healthy, because our fourth big/replacement is so below average.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:25 pm
by shrink
DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:24 pm
As seen on the Jimmy Butler rumor page on ESPN+
Butler to Denver in nine-player deal
Denver Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith
This puts a valuation on Westbrook based on the last five minutes, not the last five years. Ick
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:04 am
by Lipoli390
shrink wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 pm
FNG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 am
The last two losses at home playing without Randle against undermanned teams has strengthened my hope that we don't unload him this week. Granted one of those losses was also without Ant, but I think we easily win both games if Ju is playing and Naz is providing firepower off the bench. And the narrative that Randle clogs the lane and doesn't facilitate Ant wasn't helped by Ant's poor game last night. Maybe TC has the long game in mind if he moves Randle, but I'm an immediate gratification kind of guy, and I foresee a tanked season if we don't get something back in return that immediately helps us.
I agree, and I think our three big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Naz is better than most contenders.
That said, they all have to stay healthy, because our fourth big/replacement is so below average.
That three-big rotation, Ant, Jaden, Conley and NAW have all been healthy and playing almost the entire season during which we have ended up as a team hovering slightly above .500. If getting Randle back gives us hope then I know longer believe in a little place called hope.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:18 am
by rapsuperstar31
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:04 am
shrink wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 pm
FNG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 am
The last two losses at home playing without Randle against undermanned teams has strengthened my hope that we don't unload him this week. Granted one of those losses was also without Ant, but I think we easily win both games if Ju is playing and Naz is providing firepower off the bench. And the narrative that Randle clogs the lane and doesn't facilitate Ant wasn't helped by Ant's poor game last night. Maybe TC has the long game in mind if he moves Randle, but I'm an immediate gratification kind of guy, and I foresee a tanked season if we don't get something back in return that immediately helps us.
I agree, and I think our three big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Naz is better than most contenders.
That said, they all have to stay healthy, because our fourth big/replacement is so below average.
That three-big rotation, Ant, Jaden, Conley and NAW have all been healthy and playing almost the entire season during which we have ended up as a team hovering slightly above .500. If getting Randle back gives us hope then I know longer believe in a little place called hope.
We haven't had a month, week, or even a game where everyone is firing on all cylinders. Ant was hot from 3 to start the season, Randle was solid from 3, NAW was fantastic from 3 the first two months, Naz was great from three the first handful of games, while Mike, Donte, and Jaden started horribly from three. After a handful of games, Naz was horrible from three for over a month. Ant goes cold from three, while Donte starts shooting lights out from three, and Naz kept cold. Naz and Ant start shooting great again, Donte get's hurt, Jaden finds his confidence and starts attacking and rebounding, while Randle's 3pt shot falls off a map and NAW all of a sudden can't hit a shot. Mike came around from 3 at one point as well, but can't make anything else. Randle gets hurt and here we are. Maybe we're just doomed to be a .500 team as constructed, but we never can get everyone going at the same time, which is a bummer.
Re: Julius Randle
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:28 am
by Wolvesfan21
rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:18 am
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:04 am
shrink wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 pm
I agree, and I think our three big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Naz is better than most contenders.
That said, they all have to stay healthy, because our fourth big/replacement is so below average.
That three-big rotation, Ant, Jaden, Conley and NAW have all been healthy and playing almost the entire season during which we have ended up as a team hovering slightly above .500. If getting Randle back gives us hope then I know longer believe in a little place called hope.
We haven't had a month, week, or even a game where everyone is firing on all cylinders. Ant was hot from 3 to start the season, Randle was solid from 3, NAW was fantastic from 3 the first two months, Naz was great from three the first handful of games, while Mike, Donte, and Jaden started horribly from three. After a handful of games, Naz was horrible from three for over a month. Ant goes cold from three, while Donte starts shooting lights out from three, and Naz kept cold. Naz and Ant start shooting great again, Donte get's hurt, Jaden finds his confidence and starts attacking and rebounding, while Randle's 3pt shot falls off a map and NAW all of a sudden can't hit a shot. Mike came around from 3 at one point as well, but can't make anything else. Randle gets hurt and here we are. Maybe we're just doomed to be a .500 team as constructed, but we never can get everyone going at the same time, which is a bummer.
The DDV injury was a killer for sure. I think we could be on a nice run with the way he was playing with energy and rebounding, it was really impressive. It is nice to see Clark and some more Dilly. People laughed when I said Clark had potential. He reminds me a bit of Pat Bev with his stickiness to defenders. Guys have to hate playing against him. No space.