Delusional Wolves Optimist

Put another way, if the Wolves win 50+ games and are in position to make a run in the playoffs - yet I spent half of the season miserable because not everything is perfect, then what is Wolves fandom to me?

@podRetired Who is a first ballot hall of famer, has a track record of success in the role he’d be in, fits exactly what they need, w/o having to give any of their core young guys. Might not take down the bears of the western conference, but gotta be at least in the Buck convo (Giannis joke)

@OptimistWolves Kyrie caliber is 35yo guy coming off major surgery that can never stay healthy. Not sure what caliber that gun is but it’s not going to kill a squirrel

Forget Giannis, the Wolves best shot at contention is Jaden, Naz, Beringer, their young guys taking major leaps forward. Balance the roster and give them the keys, they need them to know how much more there is there Not that it precludes them from making a Kyrie-caliber move

@OptimistWolves No, I said the fact that fans “don’t see” he’s the second coming of a Wemby type player that’s heartbreaking lol. I see all of these trades like bro we just need a True PG. Rocco can do everything Wemby does and he’s only 19

@DezBillions Lmao I like Rocco, but him “not being a Wemby type player is heartbreaking” is a crazy sentence.

@OptimistWolves The fact that fans sleep on Rocco the second coming of a Wemby Type player is heartbreaking… Get rid of Rudy and that terrible contract no way I’m paying 30mil for someone who can’t drop step and dunk on Forwards.

@JRD_1000 x.com/optimistwolves…

@OptimistWolves What’s your ideal trade to move on from Randle & Rudy?

@JJungels1 Naz has one of the best handles in the league for his size. I think his post game is underutilized - and he plays quick. Would like to see him finally start. He does have a turnover problem, but I think you’re exaggerating. There’s more game there to tap into imo

@OptimistWolves Naz literally is a spot up shooter with average defense. He fumble stumbles the ball away as much as Randle and Rudy. If Wolves bring in a true facilitator then he is valuable but he is not a point forward shouldn’t be handle the ball almost at all.

@itmightbekd Agree -point is if firing the coach and making an all in trade are the two options you have in band-aiding an Ant trade request, you can’t afford to make a change before you know what you have, and then have exhausted that fully. And ideally not fire both bullets at the same time

@OptimistWolves I don’t necessarily think he will in two years but I do think he won’t be here long if we keep fucking around in the playoffs

@itmightbekd Maybe, but Jaden has shown there’s more to his game than the rope he’s been given. Naz has never been the unquestioned starter, etc If Ant is going to demand out in 2 years regardless, that’s when you make the all in/Giannis move. Doing so now would be playing hand too early IMO

@OptimistWolves I just don’t see these players taking that leap. I’m of the mind that we are on limited time with ant anyway

@march_mazness I think a Kyrie or Zion/Ja move is splashy enough to satisfy the feeling for a big change (I don’t want Zion or Ja). Point is I think there’s a way to do both

@OptimistWolves This, this, a thousand times this. You can make any non-Giannis reshuffling of expensive vets type move without sacrificing any of the stated core 4. You could also just lean all the way into youth + assets if you can get Ant on board with a retool, though seems unlikely.

@itmightbekd It’s more exciting that way, but how much better is Ant, Giannis, and a bunch of minimums than the current roster but more balanced/a clearer identity? Ceiling w Giannis is prob higher, but all the eggs are in the next two years or bust basket

@OptimistWolves I’d rather trade for someone I can’t lie

I’m sure there have been better rookies than Dylan Harper but idk man

@ChrisLoupos At the deadline they were

@OptimistWolves It’s never really been there nationally, they’re almost never mentioned by the big NBA reporters or podcasters. I think it’s more of a Minnesota pipe dream

Where has the Giannis to MN steam been? There’s been Celtics, Heat, Blazers, even Wizards reported interest. Either they’ve cooled off from him, are keeping things quieter after how loud the interest was at the deadline, or they’re working on something else entirely

@pryor_notices I hope so!

@OptimistWolves I think the playoffs set Jaden up as a no go Giannis injuries, and mid 30s taper off, really shortens the window to 2-3yrs Whereas McDaniels with remaining upside is a more pragmatic bet, and doubles the window Especially when you can pivot Randle/Rudy into significant change

@KareemRon33 I think only the Blazers (and maybe the Celtics) could come up with more than the Wolves in a package for Giannis if they were willing to gut their whole roster other than Ant. Wolves will be in the east in a couple years too

@OptimistWolves No assets, and he's staying East

@DietBeginsMon In general I like the idea/I know we’re getting the two firsts back, but Quickley on that contract scares me. He does fit the age/positionally tho.

This gets you younger and allows you to have every position essentially covered with a 26yo player under contract Wouldn’t say it’s the trade that’s gonna unlock a title for the wolves but for long term viability and resetting the core and assets might be good

@EriccNFL Yeah I mean of course depends what you could get for Rudy/Randle, but not sure what that’d be either. Just put it together this way to keep it between 2 teams - needed to include Donte and TSJ if not the future 1sts

@OptimistWolves For me just remove the Klay/Donte+TJ. I think you need to send our guys another direction. Gobert to Cha and Randle to bulls or something

Who says no? Mavs can reroute Rudy/Julius (multiple picks/young players). Donte a long term play, TSJ an upside piece Wolves balance their roster w/o trading the 2033 pick or the other swap Kyrie Ant Jaden Naz Gafford Ayo Marshall Joan Klay Bones? Clark? Slomo?

@EriccNFL Depends on Kyrie’s value which idk. Again, balancing and better fitting, keep the future picks and the core young guys

@OptimistWolves Seems like too much. I don’t hate but idk

@NBAisBest4 On a pretty good long term contract, only 27, solid rotation caliber/low level starting caliber center. IMO perfect guy to balance out Joan’s development

@OptimistWolves I'm not that against now that I think about it, dont think Gafford is that good though.