All Things 2022 Minnesota Timberwolves Off-Season Thread

Donate To GopherHole
ecoperson said:
Interesting analysis. Puts a lot of pressure on Edwards to improve both sides of the ball. Could see them as a #1 or #2 in the west but not a true title threat.

I think the success of this team all comes down to coaching and player buy-in. Most of the Wolves primary players now have some solid skills in multiple facets of the game. Unfortunately, most also still have one or more more prevalent deficiencies as well.

Finch and the staff will be challenged to get these pieces working together to highlight their strengths and minimize the weaknesses... not ground breaking... but absolutely necessary for this team to make some real noise. Some players may see their role on the team change dramatically... KAT being the most notable. Can KAT adjust to a more 4-like role on defense when he is on the floor with Gobert?

Gobert adds so many elements that this team has been lacking. If deployed effectively, I think that his presence can help erase mistakes from others on D while providing a similar outlet on the offensive end with his ability to get up and put the ball down.

In addition to the immediate skills he brings to the table, I think Gobert allows many of the other players to hide their weaknesses... again if they play within themselves as a team.

Looking forward to seeing how this squad performs in just over a month!
Click to expand...

If you’re #1 or #2 in the west, you’re a title threat.
 

ecoperson said:
Interesting analysis. Puts a lot of pressure on Edwards to improve both sides of the ball. Could see them as a #1 or #2 in the west but not a true title threat.

I think the success of this team all comes down to coaching and player buy-in. Most of the Wolves primary players now have some solid skills in multiple facets of the game. Unfortunately, most also still have one or more more prevalent deficiencies as well.

Finch and the staff will be challenged to get these pieces working together to highlight their strengths and minimize the weaknesses... not ground breaking... but absolutely necessary for this team to make some real noise. Some players may see their role on the team change dramatically... KAT being the most notable. Can KAT adjust to a more 4-like role on defense when he is on the floor with Gobert?

Gobert adds so many elements that this team has been lacking. If deployed effectively, I think that his presence can help erase mistakes from others on D while providing a similar outlet on the offensive end with his ability to get up and put the ball down.

In addition to the immediate skills he brings to the table, I think Gobert allows many of the other players to hide their weaknesses... again if they play within themselves as a team.

Looking forward to seeing how this squad performs in just over a month!
Click to expand...
If they are willing to move the ball (a real problem at times last year) and Gobert doesn't clog the middle when KAT and Ant go to the basket, they will be just fine on that side of the ball. If Gobert hasn't lost a step and KAT doesn't get exposed on the perimeter, they will be top five defensively.

I think this will be Finch's toughest coaching job because he has to get some of his stars to change their games. He has the most talented roster by far and he's facing the greatest expectations. 46-36 isn't going to cut it.
 

kg21 said:
You seriously think Kaepernick wasn't praised by the media. No way do you believe that.
Click to expand...
I'm sure some praised him. But he was also black-balled out of the NFL. Hardly seems like he came out ahead in the end.
 


Doubt many Sun's fans are upset about this.

The league's investigation came after ESPN published a November 2021 story, based on interviews with more than 70 current and former employees, that included allegations of racism and misogyny in a sometimes hostile and toxic workplace in Phoenix during Sarver's tenure.

Led by New York-based law firm Wachtell Lipton, the investigation included interviews with more than 320 current and former employees as well as Sarver, the NBA announced. It also examined more than 80,000 documents and other materials, including emails, text messages and videos...

"The statements and conduct described in the findings of the independent investigation are troubling and disappointing," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the statement. "We believe the outcome is the right one, taking into account all the facts, circumstances and context brought to light by the comprehensive investigation of this 18-year period and our commitment to upholding proper standards in NBA workplaces...

The Suns granted access to human resources records and thousands of internal emails, those sources said. Specialists from Deloitte, a global accounting firm headquartered in London, and from Kirkland Ellis, a Chicago-based law firm, were also involved in the investigation.

In interviews with the Wachtell Lipton lawyers, some of which were conducted in person, over the phone and via video conferencing, Suns' employees confirmed a range of allegations published in ESPN's November story, introduced others and provided documents, including emails.

The league's investigation marked the third of its kind centered on a team owner since Adam Silver became the NBA commissioner in 2014 -- with all three cases being led by Wachtell Lipton..

www.espn.com

Suns owner Sarver suspended 1 year, fined $10M

An investigation commissioned by the NBA led to the suspension of Suns owner Robert Sarver for one year, in addition to a $10 million fine.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 



heard a note that because Gobert is playing in this EuroBasket tournament, the Wolves will give him a break at the start of training camp.

he probably will not go through full practices to start and may not appear in the first couple of pre-season games.
 

The right response to Anthony Edwards' homophobic words? Education, not fines​


Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will probably be fined by the NBA for making homophobic comments on social media. The penalty may even amount to what he earns by playing a quarter of one basketball game.

When a star athlete embarrasses himself, his team and his league, the league's response usually takes the form of damage control. Put out a statement or two, levy a fine that the athlete barely will notice, and move on as quickly as possible.

The NBA, in this case, could even suspend him for a game, if it wants to make a sharper point.

Any fine, for a player who will probably make a half-billion dollars during his career, will not matter.

A suspension would punish those in the Timberwolves organization who had nothing to do with Edwards' offense.

So don't fine Edwards. Educate him.

Bigotry is ignorance made evil. Erase Edwards' ignorance.

www.startribune.com

The right response to Anthony Edwards' homophobic words? Education, not fines

Edwards should be asked to meet with gay employees of the Timberwolves and Lynx and gay fans of those teams so he could learn how much his homophobic words hurt them.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!
 




"Mitchell sat down with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski after being announced as a member of the Cavaliers on Wednesday and discussed the whirlwind offseason that ultimately sent him to Cleveland.

“I told Danny [Ainge] and Justin [Zanik] and all those guys, ‘Look, don’t trade Rudy,'” Mitchell said. “‘Don’t trade him, let’s find things that we need to work on and build upon, and let’s make this thing happen.'”

The All-star guard said new Jazz coach Will Hardy joined him in his Connecticut home to discuss how the team could operate with Gobert on the floor when he learned the All-Star center had been traded to Minnesota.

“Believe it or not we were talking about how Rudy and I can work,” Mitchell said. “In that moment, we were talking about how we can work — what he sees in our sets, and literally his phone and my phone started blowing up while we’re in the backyard of my house and I’m like, ‘Well, I guess this is irrelevant.'”

Hardy was announced as the Jazz head coach on June 28, and Gobert was traded to the Timberwolves on July 1.

That’s when Mitchell said he understood Ainge, Zanik, and the Jazz front office had decided to move the team in a new direction.

“We weren’t in a position to win right now,” Mitchell recognized after the trade. “We just traded an All-Star, potential Hall of Fame center. And I really didn’t see what the plan was.”

kslsports.com

Donovan Mitchell: I Told Jazz Front Office 'Don't Trade Rudy'

Donovan Mitchell said he told the Utah Jazz front office not to trade Rudy Gobert before they made the blockbuster deal with Minnesota.
kslsports.com kslsports.com
 

according to Bleacher Report, Ant is being fined $40,000 for his use of "offensive and derogatory language" on social media.
 

BleedGopher said:
Per Shama:

Timberwolves CEO Ethan Casson recently talked about the growing ticket buying interest in the team. “We sold more single game tickets this year than we ever have in the history of the franchise,” he told Sports Headliners.

Interest is carrying over to new sales for the 2022-2023 season. “…We’re top five in the NBA today in total new season tickets sold for next year,” he said last week.

Casson declined to provide specific totals about new and past season tickets. He acknowledged sales have been “significantly down” in recent seasons because of the pandemic and disappointing team performance.

Who replaces Dave Benz as TV play-by-play voice of the Wolves? Casson said the selection will be “driven” by Bally Sports.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if the choice is a female broadcaster? Is longtime Wolves courtside reporter Marney Gellner interested?

New Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez considers this a basketball town and said fans are “starving for winning and stability.” He told Sports Headliners the organization is dedicated to making this a model franchise in every way. A place where the vision, capital and resources convince players they want to be here.

“I understand what it takes to be a champion,” he said. “I understand…(what) champions look like. I also understand that it is very, very difficult to win. …”


Howl Wolves!!
Click to expand...
This new guy is boring as shit. Benz brought some energy and made Peterson better.

This guy is a drag.

Bring Benz back.
 

The Wolves signed Luka Garza to a two-way contract.
 



You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom