Draft Week Will Be FIRE!

[60WinTim]

The Wolves don't play until next Friday, ugh! Shockley and Mally are riding on their confiscated chopper, and spending far too much time avoiding a helicopter that is shooting at them. There are no great quotes in that scene, so I will not be using it for the game at Houston. The next scene is The Train.

The draft and week following the draft are going to be FIRE. Assuming the Wolves draft two players (Detroit 1st and Jazz 2nd), it is highly likely that both players would be signed to roster spots in the offseason. Assuming all the kiddies team options are picked up, Clark is converted to a standard contract, NAZ is signed to an extension, and Randle picks up his player option, that is 15 guaranteed contracts, which means no FAs. and Jingles is gone, too. So, here are some of the many decisions that WILL be decided during that week:

• June 25th and 26th, Draft Days - Do we draft two players that are likely candidates to be signed to the roster? Or do we trade out the 2nd rounder for a future pick?

• June 28th - NAZ is eligible for an extension. Does TC get it done right away?

• June 29th - Randle must make a decision on his player option. He cannot be traded until he makes this decision, making a draft day trade unlikely.

• June 29th - Wolves must decide on their team option on Minott. Releasing him frees up a roster spot.

• June 29th - Wolves must decide on their team option on Garza. Releasing him frees up a roster spot.

• June 29th - Wolves must decide on extending 2-way QOs for Jesse and Tristan. Clark would be here, too, but we know he will be converted to a standard contract before the playoffs.

• June 30th - NAZ must make a decision on his player option. We assume he will opt out and seek an extension.

• June 30th - Miller's '25-26 salary becomes guaranteed if not released by this date. Seems like a no-brainer that he will be retained for another season.

That's a lot of action to happen following the draft and before free agency begins. The draft should be very entertaining with TC having two good picks in a deep draft. And the Randle decision will be the move that has most of us on the edge of our seats!

The choices made during that week will give us clues as to who our free agent targets might be, if any. The positions of our draftees, Randle's decision, and how many open roster spots we have will tell the tale...

[Q-is-here]

Thanks for laying all this out Tim. Yeah, should be an exciting off-season, as I'd like to see the Wolves continue their pivot to Ant 2.0.

Here is my basic to-do list for Connelly this offseason, in no particular order:

1. Re-sign Naz
2. Trade Randle if he picks up his option without having to attach assets (unless the return is a really good player, like a starting PG)
3. Obtain a Center that can backup Rudy.
4. Obtain a starting-caliber PG

Don't really care too much about what happens with NAW, Garza, Minott, Tristen, Miller, or Edwards.

I think #3 can be dealt with through the draft, trade, or free agency. #4 has to be dealt with through free agency (MLE?) or trade, as we need a vet.

[Wolvesfan21]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

[Q-is-here]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

[60WinTim]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

I don't know, Q. That seems like a pretty small lineup. I didn't have a problem with the DDV/ANT backcourt. I still think that could be a thing. Which helps make room for Dilly, Clark and Shannon to all find decent minutes. I kind of view Dilly and Conley as one player next year -- sharing minutes in a single role as Dilly continues his development.

[Wolvesfan21]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

I actually like DDV and Ant backcourt. Better defense then likely any PG you bring in. Ant and DDV will continue to develop their handles and passing as time goes on. It'll only be a benefit to them and the teams chances to win a chip over the next 2-3 years. Point Ant is a good thing. Plus he already has the ball a ton anyways. The turnovers will come down over time. He keeps making progress so I would simply count on it to happen.

I'm more concerned with replacing Randle with a good backup. It's tough finding guys who can defend the rim and shoot the 3 decently. Garza on D is still no bueno for sure.

[Q-is-here]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

I don't know, Q. That seems like a pretty small lineup. I didn't have a problem with the DDV/ANT backcourt. I still think that could be a thing. Which helps make room for Dilly, Clark and Shannon to all find decent minutes. I kind of view Dilly and Conley as one player next year -- sharing minutes in a single role as Dilly continues his development.

No rotation with Rudy starting at Center is small. They may not be big overall, but it isn't small. Naz would slide to Center as Rudy makes way for one of our wings off the bench, with Jaden sliding to the 4, and Ant to the 3.

In a league where the likes of Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and OG Anunoby are all starting 4's, I no longer consider Jaden sliding to the 4 as playing small, especially since he's demonstrated this year an ability to rebound the ball and be a good low man when he's not on the ball.

Naz can be bullied in the paint as a C, but that's where we do need a legit backup Center to help out when we play teams like Memphis and post-Luka Dallas. But most teams these days play one legit big Center and then the backup bigs tend to be PF-sized like Naz.

[Q-is-here]

With the way NAWs play has dropped since the start of the year he is probably making himself affordable for us. But do we already have too many guys needing minutes? I'd for sure love to keep him if we can. Conley is a huge risk, he's signed through next year right?

Resign NAW and we could trade Conley on an expiring along with Randle (expiring) if he opts in. Which might net us a another decent good backup quality 4/5. I wouldn't want to go into next year counting on Garza or automatically having to play smaller. Though Jaden has been pretty damn good as a 4 at times.

As far as draft picks it might be smart to package both to move up for a guy TC really likes.

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

I actually like DDV and Ant backcourt. Better defense then likely any PG you bring in. Ant and DDV will continue to develop their handles and passing as time goes on. It'll only be a benefit to them and the teams chances to win a chip over the next 2-3 years. Point Ant is a good thing. Plus he already has the ball a ton anyways. The turnovers will come down over time. He keeps making progress so I would simply count on it to happen.

I'm more concerned with replacing Randle with a good backup. It's tough finding guys who can defend the rim and shoot the 3 decently. Garza on D is still no bueno for sure.

I agree that in the absence of being able to acquire a staring PG, DDV is probably the next best option. It just isn't his natural position and I'd much prefer a true PG playing next to Ant 100% of the time.

[Wolvesfan21]

There is just no reason to re-sign NAW unless it's at a ridiculous discount. We keep having to shoehorn him and DDV into playing point guard, which does help them each get deserved playing time, but it's led to a lot of disorganized and turnover prone basketball.

I'm hoping our 9-man rotation is something like this next year:

Starting 5 - Rudy, Naz, Jaden, Ant, [insert vet PG to be acquired somehow]
Main bench 4 - DDV, Dillingham, Shannon, Clark
Spot Players - Conley, Miller, [insert C to be acquired somehow]

It's a smaller team with Jaden sliding to the 4 a lot, but I like playing faster and smaller overall. We'd still need another true Center to backup Rudy against certain matchups.

I actually like DDV and Ant backcourt. Better defense then likely any PG you bring in. Ant and DDV will continue to develop their handles and passing as time goes on. It'll only be a benefit to them and the teams chances to win a chip over the next 2-3 years. Point Ant is a good thing. Plus he already has the ball a ton anyways. The turnovers will come down over time. He keeps making progress so I would simply count on it to happen.

I'm more concerned with replacing Randle with a good backup. It's tough finding guys who can defend the rim and shoot the 3 decently. Garza on D is still no bueno for sure.

I agree that in the absence of being able to acquire a staring PG, DDV is probably the next best option. It just isn't his natural position and I'd much prefer a true PG playing next to Ant 100% of the time.

Ant and DDV share the role and yes, it's not perfect or ideal. I think mid to longer term it could be a good thing. Maybe in a a year or two Dilly really starts to shine and he can no longer be a bench guy too, cause he's too good. I think we're fine.

Like I said, I'm more concerned with the backup big. We get a good rim protector/rebounder/adequate floor spacer 4/5 then I like our squad. Especially if either Rudy or Naz get hurt, then what? We're much thinner there then PG imo. Ant can handle and dish, DDV a bit, Dilly backing up, NAW if he's cheap. Etc... They can all make progress in that area too with reps and continuity.

[FNG]

We've talked a lot here about how difficult it has been for Finchie to find minutes for our young players who seem to have potential. Adding two more young players this year with the Utah and Detroit picks would only make the situation worse, so I will be quite surprised if TC ends up keeping both picks. Maybe he can find a team in the lottery who might want our two picks in exchange for their better pick...that would be ideal. More likely though he will trade one of the two picks.