Page 1 of 6
Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:05 am
by FNG
Well, look at that...both of our missing starters are now listed as GTDs. Game results are meaningless with 6th place locked up, so Finchy needs to balance two objectives: make sure Ant and Jaden are sharp as the playoffs approach while ensuring they are healthy enough to play. We'll have to see what happens.
This game means nothing for the Wolves, but a lot for Orlando as they are just one game out of 6th place. They are hungry and have won three in a row, so it's understandable that they are favored by 6 1/2. Best case? the coaching staff deems both guys healthy, and we start our run for the playoffs. A win tonight would make most of us feel a lot better about our club.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
by Phenom
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 1:42 pm
by Coolbreeze44
Not sure about Jaden, but with how compromised Ant was in his last game, I can't see him being healthy enough already.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
by Phenom
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:22 pm
by Coolbreeze44
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
Should be a fun watch
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:24 pm
by Phenom
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:22 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
Should be a fun watch
Joe can start in front of his family again and run a ton of pick and roll with baby bear.
So Naz's shoulder is good now? Seems like an obvious rest candidate.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:28 pm
by Coolbreeze44
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:24 pm
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:22 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
Should be a fun watch
Joe can start in front of his family again and run a ton of pick and roll with baby bear.
So Naz's shoulder is good now? Seems like an obvious rest candidate.
If it's a labrum like I think it is, they may have already decided to have the surgery in the offseason to reattach it. Some players like Anthony Davis have not done the surgery and have tried to manage it. Again, I'm just speculating on the injury.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 3:19 pm
by AbeVigodaLive
So we don't have to fire Finch for playing all the starters in the 4th quarter yesterday?
This is what so many have been waiting for all season. Enjoy the show.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 3:25 pm
by FNG
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
I'm not sure, but it sure seems weird. Rudy is now out, and Jaden is questionable. Odd that Naz is playing...maybe the shoulder isn't as bad as we think, and Finchy wants him to get his 3-point stroke back.
Here are my thoughts. I don't think we are tanking to improve our chances of getting a better pick...I think we could easily lose the next three if we rested guys, but we need too much else to happen outside our control. And even then, we would also have to win a coin flip. The only reason Finchy might tank the last three games is if he knows something we don't about Ant...i.e. that his knee is bad and he's not going to be effective or even available in the first round. In that case going for the better pick in a deep draft might be the best long-game play. But if he thinks Ant and Jaden are okay and are going to be mostly healthy for the playoffs, he's going to want to play them the next two games (or even three for Jaden) to get them in game shape.
Ant has looked joyous on the sidelines, and I don't think he would if he knew he wasn't going to be healthy enough to play in the playoffs, so I don't think we're tanking. I expect to see everyone playing in our final two games.
Re: Return of Ant and/or Jaden?- Magic GDT
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 3:31 pm
by Phenom
FNG wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 3:25 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:11 pm
Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am
There are fairly significant draft pick ramifications for the Wolves last 3 games. The Wolves won't play with that in mind but I have an eye on it.
Is there a plan in place?
It looks like Conley, Ant, Jaden, Ju, Ayo and possibly Rudy are out.
I'm not sure, but it sure seems weird. Rudy is now out, and Jaden is questionable. Odd that Naz is playing...maybe the shoulder isn't as bad as we think, and Finchy wants him to get his 3-point stroke back.
Here are my thoughts. I don't think we are tanking to improve our chances of getting a better pick...I think we could easily lose the next three if we rested guys, but we need too much else to happen outside our control. And even then, we would also have to win a coin flip. The only reason Finchy might tank the last three games is if he knows something we don't about Ant...i.e. that his knee is bad and he's not going to be effective or even available in the first round. In that case going for the better pick in a deep draft might be the best long-game play. But if he thinks Ant and Jaden are okay and are going to be mostly healthy for the playoffs, he's going to want to play them the next two games (or even three for Jaden) to get them in game shape.
Ant has looked joyous on the sidelines, and I don't think he would if he knew he wasn't going to be healthy enough to play in the playoffs, so I don't think we're tanking. I expect to see everyone playing in our final two games.
I think ideally the main rotation guys play 20-25 minutes for the last 2 games. That shouldn't get in the way of losing against either team.