Minnesota Sports Forum

The national media thinks we are better, what do you think?

I don't know if the wolves are better, but I am! No more frustration at his constant bitching about no calls, and stupid offensive fouls. My blood pressure will improve for sure!

That said, he's a good guy in a league were many aren't. I wish him luck even though he'll be coached by the Penguin!

I think we won and are going to be better rounded, but I also think KAT won the trade. KAT is going to shoot so many free throws with the big market biased whistle, it's not going to be funny.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 12:10 pm I think we won and are going to be better rounded, but I also think KAT won the trade. KAT is going to shoot so many free throws with the big market biased whistle, it's not going to be funny.

To expand on that, I actually think NY won the trade too, meaning this was truly a win-win trade. The Knicks have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA now and KAT is surrounded by wings that can defend. Plus offensively, Center is his best position. I think this gives the Knicks a real shot at competing with Boston. Hart has to make his 3s though or he'll be guarded by Centers come playoff time.

As for the Wolves, I think it makes us slightly better because Randle + DDV is probably a tick better than KAT + SloMo (I know SloMo wasn't part of the trade, but I'm just looking at it from a rotational perspective of who is in and who is out).

Just as important though....Getting off of KAT's massive contract while also getting positive assets in return makes it a Timberwolves Franchise win, even if the '24-25 team is no better or worse than last year's squad.

KAT's an overrated "max player". Yes we won the trade, they maybe won slightly too (eh probably not) because of their lack of a center to start the year and yet I am still concerned a bit.

The non Rudy minutes on defense. We will need Naz to play better as a 5, or Randle to handle that. Which neither are obviously good options. KAT as lackluster of a defender as a 5. Fouls too much and simply mediocre does rebound pretty well and is still OK as a defender overall. Naz has not proven to be a good defender as a 5, nor good enough rebounder. Same obviously with Randle, if he's played much 5 in his career. Defense will drop when Rudy hits the bench I think for sure. How much is the question.

Can we overcome that with a step up in Naz's defense and better shooting bench minutes along with other floor spacers? It may be a more heavy D starting lineup, then shifting to heavy offense for those bench minutes. The grey area of offset is where I wonder.

Saying that KAT was never a good starting 5 in the long run. He fouled WAY too much, cried WAY too much, both on offense and defense. So by crunch time he was in foul trouble, thus either not on the floor, or couldn't defend with any aggression when the game was close jut to make it worse. Teams targeted him on offense to get him into foul trouble. They will again and that's where NY will likely fail. KAT will be in foul trouble when it matters most.

I'm with everyone else here in saying the trade makes us a better team. I was somewhat of a KAT fan. I thought his on-court whining was greatly reduced, and there's no arguing that he was an elite 3-point shooter. And i thought he was a good teammate who always played hard. I'll miss him, and I don't really know what Randle will bring. But if Randle plays anything like he has during his career, the addition of him and DiVo combined with the shedding of KAT's contract makes us a better team...certainly in the long run, and very likely also in the short run.

DDV will provide more spacing than Towns did and is a better playmaker. I think there is a legit chance DDV is the 2nd best perimeter player on the roster and even if he is 3rd behind Conley that's a pretty big upgrade. Sorry Jaden simply hasn't arrived as an offensive player.

You know what killed the Wolves last year in the regular season and in the playoffs? Lack of scoring and shooting. DVV has a chance to help both of those things while being a tough smart player when on the floor. You know know how valuable a Anderson was in his 2 years despite his flaws? DDV will be that type of guy only even better because he can actually shoot.

Monster wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 8:34 pm DDV will provide more spacing than Towns did and is a better playmaker. I think there is a legit chance DDV is the 2nd best perimeter player on the roster and even if he is 3rd behind Conley that's a pretty big upgrade. Sorry Jaden simply hasn't arrived as an offensive player.

You know what killed the Wolves last year in the regular season and in the playoffs? Lack of scoring and shooting. DVV has a chance to help both of those things while being a tough smart player when on the floor. You know know how valuable a Anderson was in his 2 years despite his flaws? DDV will be that type of guy only even better because he can actually shoot.

There are so many things in your post I'd like to counter, but you seem to be trolling so I'm going to leave it alone.

The Ringer guys felt that the trade for Minnesota was neutral to negative as far as this season is concerned. They mostly struggled with Randle's fit, which is understandable. That was my first feeling too, like yuck, Julius Randle!? Of course since then he and Finch have been saying all the right things and the process of convincing ourselves he can fit is nearly complete. That doesn't mean it will work out in reality!

Talent... and chemistry... and fit... I don't think the Wolves won the trade.

But, it's impossible to ignore the financial side of this trade. It's HUGE... and the primary reason for it happening. We all knew the Wolves were hamstrung with the Towns' contract and the impending second apron. It would have crippled adding much of anything to a team already very short on draft assets.

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Now, if Randle hits 36% of this threes at his normal volume... and Reid and Devincizo remain around 40%... great!

But what if Randle keeps dribbling for 6 seconds every time he touches the ball? Towns' was a good fit for Edwards. Time will tell how things work out for Randle. He's immensely talented in his own way, but it's hard to ignore the spacing and hogging issues that could pose problems with Edwards and others.

In the end, Devincoiafdjcenzo might be the best asset considering his contract. The rub is whether it's fool's gold right now or he's one of those later bloomers who turns himself into a helluva player after bouncing around the L for a bit.