@PoorlyJoker @Okachukwudi I can agree with that but Shai and Wemby are 2 of the Top 5 players in the league and as long as they aren't going anywhere, their teams will always be in the mix
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Keyshawn Varnado
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@BuildPlayersPpl @Okachukwudi this all ignores how difficult the new rules have made it to keep teams like the thunder and spurs together when it’s time to sign new deals. they won’t last as long as people think
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@JonesOnTheNBA It's only about winning a title, it's about putting yourself in the best position to compete for a title. The Wolves lost every game in this series by double digits, 3 games by 20+. This same core lost in dominating fashion last year to OKC. This core is not in a position to win
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Key today is deciding if you’re willing to take a step back to get better instead of doubling down. Other side of it is what Minnesota fans have gotten the last 4 years is better than anything they’ve ever experienced. Should title or bust be the only standard?
Tom Haberstroh@tomhaberstroh
Denver and Minnesota’s windows closed just like that. It happens so quick in this league.
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@Okachukwudi any team besides the Thunder to beat the Spurs. Once they gain the experience they need it will be almost impossible to beat them. I feel like your point about the 2018 Rockets ties into Sam's point he made about assembling the best team possible to get within their MOE
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@Okachukwudi The Pacers took an inexperienced Thunder team to 7 games. Last year and 2024 were the best years to beat the Thunder because of this inexperience. Now they have that experience and they are young. That's what makes them hard to beat. This year and next year are the best years for
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@PetarLalovic @jfro2323 @TimGarrisonMN That's just it. The Timberwolves are not a contender. As presently constructed, they cannot compete with the Thunder or the Spurs
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@jfro2323 @TimGarrisonMN Nobody can catch Spurs and Thunder with their talent, rookie scale contracts and future pics. Wolves need to stay a contender and pray a window opens one year (think 2011 Mavs). If you swing aggressively for the fences like the Bucks, you end up…well…like the Bucks
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2026 Timberwolves Offseason Snapshot:
1st Apron Space: $16.9 million
Players under contract: 9
Pending free agents:
Ayo Dosunmu
Bones Hyland
Jaylen Clark
Kyle Anderson
Mike Conley
Joe Ingles
Tradable Draft Picks:
- Pick #28 in the upcoming draft
- 2033 1st
- 2028 (Pick swap only)
- 2032 2nd
- 2033 2nd
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It sure feels like the Timberwolves will make sweeping changes. With the NBA cap not rising to its anticipated level, the Timberwolves face less flexibility than expected in filling out their roster.
That means it's likely become untenable to pay Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert a combined $69.8 million next year. Rudy is still a movable asset, and because of that, I would be surprised to see him return next season.
Minnesota will need to find the right partner for Julius Randle, and they may even need to attach pick #28 in the upcoming draft to entice a taker.
While I expect to see us in the headliner trades for Giannis, I don't actually see a legitimate pathway, barring Giannis forcing his way to Minnesota. I think, given the limited assets, Minnesota will need to target a depressed asset, such as a 34-year-old Kyrie Irving coming off a major injury.
There is also a robust market for Joan Beringer insurance policies. Mark Williams could likely be had for very little in a sign-and-trade scenario.
So there are several options Minnesota can turn to for a pivot despite the limited budget, but it's going to take some luck and wizardry from Tim Connelly to pull it off.
I'll have more in depth thoughts coming in the near future, but I am looking forward to seeing what's ahead this summer for the Timberwolves.
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@intothefray86 @tomhaberstroh The Nuggets will never be able to match the talent of the Spurs or the Thunder, which is what you need to beat them. 2024 and 2025 were the best chances to beat the Thunder because of their inexperience. Now that they have the experience, you have to match them to beat them
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@tomhaberstroh Any team with Jokic can reopen the window pretty quickly. Minnesota on the other hand needs to trade Randle and Gobert for whatever they can get.
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Denver and Minnesota’s windows closed just like that. It happens so quick in this league.
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@howlytics @DietBeginsMon @TwolvesBlog That's debatable. I am a big Gobert fan, but this trade, although it raised their floor, has locked their ceiling. Their ceiling now that OKC and SA are in the mix is at best a 2nd round exit. And the Gobert trade made it nearly impossible to improve that ceiling
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We cannot continue to live in this world where Connelly and Finch are complete above reproach and have unquestioned jobs
You are allowed to believe in one or the other but we are not both well run and well coached - one of those is wrong
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@howlytics @DietBeginsMon @TwolvesBlog They put themselves in that situation when they traded for Gobert
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This is a stretch. We were forced into a tough situation with the new CBA where we couldn’t retain both Ant and KAT, and had to maximize how much we could get for KAT. Which led to Randle. Connelly made a good trade, Finch was stuck trying to maximize a roster that lacked cohesion (and did a fairly good job of that).
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remained patient, and they have both passed Minnesota. If they can't get a 2nd star on the low, they are cooked. If you want to go back further, Josh Okogie not panning out and trading away their 2021 pick have also hurt this team in terms of accumulating assets/young players
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I love Rudy Gobert and believe his impact is great for a contender, but trading for him and the Dillingham trade will make it nearly impossible to trade for a true 2nd star that compliments Ant. They rushed their timeline and now it has come back to bit them. OKC and SA have
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The Timberwolves are ready to go home. Time for big changes. This team as presently constructed can no longer contend for a title
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Keyshawn Varnado retweetledi
Keyshawn Varnado retweetledi
@Fullcourtpass @espn @RealGM Mfs life be changing after they beat Kawhi. Wemby started crying after he beat them earlier this szn.
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@mannygibson1985 @DaneMooreNBA The Wolves would have not won the Nuggets series with Towns over Gobert
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@DaneMooreNBA If the Timberwolves want to get to the next level, they have to get away from these specialist players like Rudy, that can be play off the court in certain situations. We win this series with KAT; he will stretch the floor to get Wemby out of the paint, lay body on him.
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The Rudy Gobert minutes historically drop when there is not a center for him to guard or a non-shooter out there for him to lurk off of.
Wembanyama doesn’t function like a center in San Antonio’s offense — he rolls and offensive rebounds, but he doesn’t lurk in the dunker spot; he gets right back out to the perimeter, where he’s most comfortable (and where Rudy would prefer not to be). And with Castle being enough of a threat from 3 that the Wolves haven’t yet been willing to lurk off him, there just aren’t that many minutes out there, outside of the Kornet minutes, where Gobert can provide his typical defensive impact.
And then Wemby’s presence also blocks out a lot of where Gobert’s offensive impact is typically found — screen setting, offensive rebounding, finishing at the rim. Wemby blows so much of that up just by being as long as he is.
It’s proving to be a really rough matchup for Gobert from an X’s and O’s sense. Kind of like the perfect storm of problems.
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@TheDunkCentral @AdamFinkelstein @Fullcourtpass Curry's preference was to go to the Knicks. The Warriors drafted him. The rest is history. If the Wizards believe he is the best prospect, he is going to Washington
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AJ Dybantsa’s preference is reportedly to remain in Utah and get drafted by the Jazz, per @AdamFinkelstein
(h/t @Fullcourtpass )
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@JRivyJr @DrewV2323 @LakeShowYo Every time Lebron's team wins, you all give Lebron the credit. When his team loses or a discussion of his Finals record comes up, the narrative starts to shift. All of a sudden, it's a team game. Where is the consistency?
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@DrewV2323 @LakeShowYo You're an idiot to want LeBron gone. The hate people have for the one that's the sole reason for getting past the rockets is crazy.
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BREAKING: Luka has informed the Lakers that he wants to continue playing with Austin Reaves
🚨 He does NOT want Reaves included in a trade package for Giannis 😳
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@dog_muppet I am always wondering what exactly the Wolves are running on offense. Just a whole lot of randomness; an overreliance on talent to get them by offensively
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The reasons I’ve called for Finch’s job all year are glaring in this series:
• Refuses to bench Randle even when he’s been completely ineffective
• Offensive game plan has looked awful for long stretches
• Way too many moments where the team looks lost w/ no adjustment
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The Spurs and Thunder have already passed up the Wolves, and if they do nothing, other teams will continue to pass them up. They need another elite shot creator, more consistent shooting, and more physicality (Spurs are dominating the Wolves in the paint this series).
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If and when the Timberwolves lose in the playoffs, everyone outside of Ant can be had. Yes, even JMac and Gobert. The Wolves need to build around Ant, and right now he doesn't have the ideal team around him. There is no way that the Wolves can afford to stay pat once again
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This Timberwolves team is frustrating to watch on offense. I'm not exactly sure what offense they even run. Just looks like a whole lot of randomness
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