04 Wolves

[Porckchop]

After years of KG dragging teams to one and done series in the playoffs the organization made some big moves to give him some real help. That season was one to remember but bringing in two older savvy vets wasn't a guaranteed recipe for success.
I feel this current team is far more talented than that squad even before the big trade. Considering the talent spread throughout the western conference do you feel this one acquisition should bring the same results in year one?

[Lipoli390]

After years of KG dragging teams to one and done series in the playoffs the organization made some big moves to give him some real help. That season was one to remember but bringing in two older savvy vets wasn't a guaranteed recipe for success.
I feel this current team is far more talented than that squad even before the big trade. Considering the talent spread throughout the western conference do you feel this one acquisition should bring the same results in year one?

Interesting question, Pork. I agree that the current Wolves team is more talented overall than the Wolves 2004 team. But so is the entire Western Conference. Another difference is that the Wolves best player back then, KG, was in his prime and the two vets the Wolves bought in were perfect backcourt/wing complements to KG. In contrast, the current Wolves best player, Edwards, is still only 21 years old (several years short of his prime), and there are questions about how well Gobert will fit with KAT as a second big in a League that has trended smaller with quickness and perimeter shooting as the main drivers of success.

Nevertheless, my view is that a relatively healthy Wolves team this season should be a top four team in the West and could finish 1st or 2nd. The national pundits disagree of course. But as I see it, KAT is just entering his prime as he turns 27 and Edwards should be even better than last season. I still see McDaniels eventually taking a huge leap forward as a two-way player perhaps as early as this season. The addition of Slo Mo helps as well. Then you add Gobert on top of that - an elite defender who will covers KAT's weaknesses. All of that with additional depth from Nowell, Prince, JMac, Naz and Rivers should make the Wolves really good this season.

On the other hand, it might take some time for the coaching staff and players to make all of this work. Moreover, we shouldn't underestimate the impact of losing Beverley and Vando - That's a lot of defense, energy and rebounding. Those were our two spark plugs and the two guys getting to loose balls. Beverley's presence supercharged or motivated Edwards and DLO on the defensive end. As I've said before, I'm fairly certain we could have gotten DeJounte Murray and Capela with all the assets we gave up for Gobert (substituting DLO for Beasley). If willing to give up all those assets, that's what I would have done. That move would have shored up both our perimeter and interior defense while also giving us another highly talented two-way player in the backcourt to keep the team on track if Edwards has to sit for extended periods because of his knees. Just as we got two players, Spree and Sam, to join KG back in 2003-04, I would have preferred to get Murray and Capela this year. But alas, the Wolves should still be really good and a bona fide contender.

[Carlos Danger]

After years of KG dragging teams to one and done series in the playoffs the organization made some big moves to give him some real help. That season was one to remember but bringing in two older savvy vets wasn't a guaranteed recipe for success.
I feel this current team is far more talented than that squad even before the big trade. Considering the talent spread throughout the western conference do you feel this one acquisition should bring the same results in year one?

I have no idea. Sometimes things just click and that certainly happened with the 2003/4 team. The following year...same key guys and it wasn't as great. I have fingers crossed that they did the right thing at the right time with going all in on Rudy. But my own opinion was they might have jumped a year too early and paid too high of price. I hope I'm wrong and KAT/Rudy/Ant stay healthy because if any of those guys miss significant time, I can't see it being a success.

[Porckchop]

After years of KG dragging teams to one and done series in the playoffs the organization made some big moves to give him some real help. That season was one to remember but bringing in two older savvy vets wasn't a guaranteed recipe for success.
I feel this current team is far more talented than that squad even before the big trade. Considering the talent spread throughout the western conference do you feel this one acquisition should bring the same results in year one?

I have no idea. Sometimes things just click and that certainly happened with the 2003/4 team. The following year...same key guys and it wasn't as great. I have fingers crossed that they did the right thing at the right time with going all in on Rudy. But my own opinion was they might have jumped a year too early and paid too high of price. I hope I'm wrong and KAT/Rudy/Ant stay healthy because if any of those guys miss significant time, I can't see it being a success.

I don't think it's a must win this year or the trade was a failure expectation. It might take a whole season to get Kat acclimated to his new role.

[Carlos Danger]

I don't think it's a must win this year or the trade was a failure expectation. It might take a whole season to get Kat acclimated to his new role.

That's a good way to look at it. I'm just in a different camp. I feel like when you make a big splash move like we did, you sort of need to justify it quickly with results. If the team doesn't improve on what they did last year (both regular season record and play off wins), I gotta believe some fans won't be as understanding and patient as you. And I'll be one of those fans - ha!

[Porckchop]

I don't think it's a must win this year or the trade was a failure expectation. It might take a whole season to get Kat acclimated to his new role.

That's a good way to look at it. I'm just in a different camp. I feel like when you make a big splash move like we did, you sort of need to justify it quickly with results. If the team doesn't improve on what they did last year (both regular season record and play off wins), I gotta believe some fans won't be as understanding and patient as you. And I'll be one of those fans - ha!

I expect to see immediate results, I just don't think it's finals or bust. I think we're better than Memphis and the Clippers. Top 4 and 52 wins would justify the trade. And next year we go big. This team still needs some seasoning. Kat needs to grow a pair and Ant inserts himself into the top 15 echelon of the league.

[Carlos Danger]

I expect to see immediate results, I just don't think it's finals or bust. I think we're better than Memphis and the Clippers. Top 4 and 52 wins would justify the trade. And next year we go big. This team still needs some seasoning. Kat needs to grow a pair and Ant inserts himself into the top 15 echelon of the league.

Yep. Completely agree with everything you wrote. I didn't mean to imply we had to win it all. Just show improvement this year. I don't see KAT "growing a pair" - I think he is what he is (but it would be nice if he stopped complaining so much to refs). But I am confident Ant will continue his upward trend from last year which along with Rudy certainly should be difference makers. I'll be curious to see how much Beverley is missed. I thought he fit in well last year and appeared to be a difference maker. But maybe I'm giving him too much credit - IDK. I think PG is the spot I worry about most heading into the year - especially after the way our playoff series unfolded.