Minnesota Sports Forum

Wolves are enjoying the most success they’ve had in 20 years, ranked top 3 defensively and yet folks still won’t give Rudy his flowers. Was it expected that he carried part of the offensive load? He doesn’t demand touches offensively but still gives 10 plus a game on low volume. Him,Ant and Jaden are a formidable defensive unit. His defense will age well.

Hey Pork, I gave Rudy an A+ tonight. He is the unsung hero of the Wolves this season. I can't believe all the folks who wanted to trade Rudy or KAT before the season started. I love both guys.

3 elite defenders in the starting lineup is making 55 wins a real possibility.

Agree with the Pork Chop. I think the Gobert "nay sayers" are mainly a small group based on what we gave up to get him. It seemed like a lot at the time (but is starting to look better). Add to that, the team struggles to start last year and obviously that's where the "Rudy won't fit" here steam started. But like Pork, I'm just enjoying this.

There have been seasons where we literally won 15 games all year. We're at 10 now and it's only late November. No complaints here. I tip my hat to TC for doubling down and running it back. So far, he is proving himself right.

Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:35 am Agree with the Pork Chop. I think the Gobert "nay sayers" are mainly a small group based on what we gave up to get him. It seemed like a lot at the time (but is starting to look better). Add to that, the team struggles to start last year and obviously that's where the "Rudy won't fit" here steam started. But like Pork, I'm just enjoying this.

There have been seasons where we literally won 15 games all year. We're at 10 now and it's only late November. No complaints here. I tip my hat to TC for doubling down and running it back. So far, he is proving himself right.

The Timberwolves have won only 15 games twice. They've won 19 games or fewer five times.

They've won more than 51 games... only once.

Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:35 am Agree with the Pork Chop. I think the Gobert "nay sayers" are mainly a small group based on what we gave up to get him. It seemed like a lot at the time (but is starting to look better). Add to that, the team struggles to start last year and obviously that's where the "Rudy won't fit" here steam started. But like Pork, I'm just enjoying this.

There have been seasons where we literally won 15 games all year. We're at 10 now and it's only late November. No complaints here. I tip my hat to TC for doubling down and running it back. So far, he is proving himself right.

Rudy looks fully healthy now and the team has gelled. He played hurt last year and simply couldn't move with any quickness and speed. Hence him punching Slo mo when challenged to man up and play better (he simply couldn't). If you've had back problems before, I think most of us have at some point you know you are simply going to be ineffective playing a sport.

The naysayers did say I told you so too soon for sure. I knew he never was right last year but I didn also wonder if he could come back fully healthy and he has. The trade looks to have been a steal at this point. I mean who would go back and not do it?

The Wolves have a legit chance to win a chip. Sure the odds are not in their favor but it's really been since 2004 since we had a team and roster who could legitimately win it all. Even in the Butler year it felt like we weren't good enough (and we weren't). As a fan isn't that really what you want? At least a chance to win it all?

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:59 pm

Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:35 am Agree with the Pork Chop. I think the Gobert "nay sayers" are mainly a small group based on what we gave up to get him. It seemed like a lot at the time (but is starting to look better). Add to that, the team struggles to start last year and obviously that's where the "Rudy won't fit" here steam started. But like Pork, I'm just enjoying this.

There have been seasons where we literally won 15 games all year. We're at 10 now and it's only late November. No complaints here. I tip my hat to TC for doubling down and running it back. So far, he is proving himself right.

Rudy looks fully healthy now and the team has gelled. He played hurt last year and simply couldn't move with any quickness and speed. Hence him punching Slo mo when challenged to man up and play better (he simply couldn't). If you've had back problems before, I think most of us have at some point you know you are simply going to be ineffective playing a sport.

The naysayers did say I told you so too soon for sure. I knew he never was right last year but I didn also wonder if he could come back fully healthy and he has. The trade looks to have been a steal at this point. I mean who would go back and not do it?

The Wolves have a legit chance to win a chip. Sure the odds are not in their favor but it's really been since 2004 since we had a team and roster who could legitimately win it all. Even in the Butler year it felt like we weren't good enough (and we weren't). As a fan isn't that really what you want? At least a chance to win it all?

Agree with you. Has their been a better Wolves defense in Franchise history than they are showing right now? I don't even think we had this in the KG years. I'd have to refresh myself on those teams, but I think it was basically KG "and the rest". We actually have a team now with different guys who can step up offensively in any game i.e. Edwards, KAT, Naz. But the defense seems to be there every night. And that starts with Rudy.

I like what we’re seeing from Rudy so far this season. But we’ll see where we’re at when the season ends. Let’s not forget that this team won 46 games two seasons ago when Ant, Jaden and Naz weren’t nearly as good as they are now and without eSlo Mo, Conley or NAW, all of whom have been terrific so far this season.

So we’ll first have to see if this team wins more than 46 games. And then we can all assess how good this team would have been with the players we had two seasons ago but with a much improved Ant, Jaden and Naz as well as the additions of Slo Mo, Conley and NAW. Then we have to factor in what other moves the Wolves could have made giving up only a fraction of the assets they gave up for Rudy. For example, what would the Wolves have had to give up to get Mitchell Robinson, Jonas Valanciunas, Jakob Poeltl or Mark Williams if the goal was a getting another big to pair with KAT? Williams had 18 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in the Hornets’ win over the Celtics last night. And he’s the same age as Ant on an inexpensive rookie-scale contract. Kessler is hurt and struggled a bit this season, but he was terrific last season and it’s hard to judge someone so young playing on a bad team. And that’s just bigs. There any number of other moves the Wolves could have made giving up fewer assets and taking on far less salary.

I’m pleased with how Rudy is playing so far and I don’t want the Wolves to trade him this season. I definitely want to see how this thing plays out over the course of the season. So far so good. After the season the Wolves front office will have to carefully evaluate the situation and decide whether to go above the second apron, or if not, decide who they will trade to stay under that threshold. Or maybe they can re-sign Conley for a lot less and somehow stay barely below the second apron without giving up Rudy, KAT, Naz or Jaden. We’ll see. Until then, I’m going to enjoy whatever success this team has this season with Rudy.

Meanwhile, it’s impossible to assess the trade based on the Wolves success so far this season. And even if the Wolves win the NBA championship this season we’ll never know how well the Wolves would have done with the core from their 46-win team two seasons ago plus the additions TC has made and other deals TC could have made for far fewer assets and with a much smaller hit to the payroll. There’s a legitimate debate on both sides about the merits of the Gobert trade, but that debate can’t be resolved by the Wolves record after 12 games or even after 82. There are too many variables.

I’m well past debating the merits of the trade. All I care about now is what this franchise does now and in the future. Right now we’re winning. I think we’ll need to add more offensive firepower off the bench by the deadline, but maybe Shake will step up and provide that firepower. Next summer will be a summer of big decisions. I just hope the Wolves are playing in June.

I always said I would evaluate the trade on our improvement on the defensive end. Last year we were up to 10th will little preparation. This year we are top 5 so far. If we finish with a top 5 D the trade start to look a lot better. I love that we are winning with a scrappy style and that D has been the reason why. We are nowhere near this level of D without Rudy. The reason we got Rudy was because our smoke and mirrors D on the 46 win team was not sustainable. We likely still gave up too much for Rudy, but hes a great player and a huge asset.

thedoper wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2023 1:01 pm I always said I would evaluate the trade on our improvement on the defensive end. Last year we were up to 10th will little preparation. This year we are top 5 so far. If we finish with a top 5 D the trade start to look a lot better. I love that we are winning with a scrappy style and that D has been the reason why. We are nowhere near this level of D without Rudy. The reason we got Rudy was because our smoke and mirrors D on the 46 win team was not sustainable. We likely still gave up too much for Rudy, but hes a great player and a huge asset.

Vando also couldn't space the floor either (he's like a poor mans Rudy in that way) and Bev wasn't exactly getting any younger meaning the team was capped a bit. That team was largely fueled by their energy on defense (Vando, Bev, Jaden), yet it still wasn't that great overall because KAT simply is a below avg defender in the paint and fouls too much (taking him off the floor). KAT getting abused on D then taken off the floor I think was a big reason to bring in a legit rim protector and the best in the league at that. So far this season is what I was hoping to see last year. Keep KAT on the floor more and have an elite defense. Both of which makes the team better.