Minnesota Sports Forum

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 8:15 am Seeing his name come up in trade discussions has me concerned that we end up getting worse overall and people seem OK with IT!!! Because the dude is still a lockdown top 10 defense basically with him just showing up. That's even when he's not 100% too, which he wasn't for much of the season.

If we do trade Rudy in this offseason we sure as hell better have a plan coming back because in the end, Naz and Ju they aren't centers. It's nearly impossible to play defense with out one. Trying to outscore teams 128 to 127 might be entertaining, I'm not sure how much winning happens.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:23 am Yes, this team can play defense without Rudy, but it would require that Connelly has a plan to acquire some other Center that can offer at least 75% of what Rudy does at a lesser cost and presumably with more reliable hands/finishing ability in traffic (otherwise, why trade Rudy?).

It would also require we get Jaylen Clark on the floor more, as I would submit he's probably the best perimeter defender on the team, including Jaden. However, Jaden can be a really effective off ball defender and rim protector, so I feel like we unleash a much better overall player in Jaden by playing Clark more off the bench.

I can't speak to any of these guys in detail, but here are some Center trade/free agent targets that could backfill Rudy at 75%: Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Daniel Gafford, and Clint Capela.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:31 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:23 am Yes, this team can play defense without Rudy, but it would require that Connelly has a plan to acquire some other Center that can offer at least 75% of what Rudy does at a lesser cost and presumably with more reliable hands/finishing ability in traffic (otherwise, why trade Rudy?).

It would also require we get Jaylen Clark on the floor more, as I would submit he's probably the best perimeter defender on the team, including Jaden. However, Jaden can be a really effective off ball defender and rim protector, so I feel like we unleash a much better overall player in Jaden by playing Clark more off the bench.

I can't speak to any of these guys in detail, but here are some Center trade/free agent targets that could backfill Rudy at 75%: Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Daniel Gafford, and Clint Capela.

If we don't go center/pf in the draft at 17, we could easily find someone to take Donte and or NAW's spot at 17. Jase Richardson is a smaller better playmaking Donte. Nique Clifford or Cedric Coward can easily take NAW's spot. Dallas is in need of a point guard with Kyrie out maybe they view Donte as a temporary band aid there. Donte for Gafford and whatever other pieces needed to match salary might work.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 11:39 am An FYI: Nique Clifford is working out for the Wolves today, per Doogie.

DNatagal wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 12:22 pm The amount of "nopes" that happen when Rudy is in the game is very valuable. The layup line when Rudy is on the bench really skews the TS% higher due to the efficiency of an uncontested layup/dunk.

I would love to see a bouncy 7' center that wants to dunk on people whenever he gets the ball at point blank range, but doesn't need touches in the post. Nothing more frustrating for a motion type offense than the ball not actually moving. Unfortunately, Rudy is most of what we need, most of the time. He disappears far too often on the glass for his size, he sometimes has hands like stone, a few times he is a 7' Justin Jefferson catching everything near him. He doesn't need touches in the post, but he does need the ball when he has someone pinned under the hoop. Ant needs to throw the right pass and let Rudy draw fouls, which of course helps Ant get to the line more often when the opponent is in the penalty.

Is there a cheaper version of Rudy out there that the Wolves can acquire?

Walker Kessler seems to be the pundits savior for the Lakers. It is kind of funny how many Lakers are/could be former Wolves players or draft picks.

Embiid is too rickety and undependable. Needs to many touches and isn't as mobile as he once was.

Zubaz might be the perfect guy for the Wolves, but he isn't going anywhere .