All Things 2025 Minnesota Timberwolves Off-Season Thread

[kg21]

I personally don't value Jaden very closely to Jalen Williams but your preferred target for an acceptable return makes a ton of sense.

I think the talent is there for Jaden but I question if he'll every display the maturity, BBIQ and consistency to reach his potential.

Jalen Williams averages 22 points a game on 48% shooting

Ant averages 26 points a gam on 45% shooting.

It puts OKC against the Wolves into perspective. SGA makes Williams job so much easier, but still, we are severely lacking against OKC

 

[upnorthkid]

I personally don't value Jaden very closely to Jalen Williams but your preferred target for an acceptable return makes a ton of sense.

I think the talent is there for Jaden but I question if he'll every display the maturity, BBIQ and consistency to reach his potential.

Agreed entirely. I like Jaden in that he has no ego, plays defense, and is totally ok being an ancillary fiddle, which fits perfectly with Ant. Williams fits a similar profile but with better scoring (but less defense). My feelings in part come because of my belief in ant. You need a robin and I do think Jaden can get there

 

[Just Gopher It!!]

Omitting the obvious superstars like Jokic, Shai, Doncic and Giannis, do you have an example of a player that would change your mind about trading Jaden?

Derrick White would be perfect for this roster but he's older. DeAaron Fox might become available if the Spurs draft Harper but he wants a Max contract and he's not close to being worth that deal.

Besides Amir Coffey????

Josh Gidney from Chicago is a restricted FA and played at a AS level once LaVine was sent packing!! Only 22, and is also a tall (6’8”) PG.

Package Jaden and Rob get him!! Shannon won’t be as good offensively, but will be a much better offensive player than McDaniels over the long haul!!!

Shannon should have seen the court a hell of a lot more - that’s a travesty and is on Finch and his old school stubborn ways - he reeks worse than @kg21 slippers!!

 

[Just Gopher It!!]

Trading Jaden would be the dumbest thing they could do outside of trading ant. Even if you get a haul, ant loves Jaden and will certainly look at things differently if you do

He’ll survive!!

Maybe he should look at things differently, if he wants to win some chips!!

 

[tikited]

Please sign and trade Randle. Please find a way to not overpay NAZ. Please draft a player ready to contribute right away.

Hopefully that would give them a chance to improve the team.

This was a season where they looked like a team that wasn't going to make the play-in games, only to become the hottest team at the end of the season. This could easily go south with the wrong moves.

 

[kg21]

Please sign and trade Randle. Please find a way to not overpay NAZ. Please draft a player ready to contribute right away.

Hopefully that would give them a chance to improve the team.

This was a season where they looked like a team that wasn't going to make the play-in games, only to become the hottest team at the end of the season. This could easily go south with the wrong moves.

Trade Gobert and get a center.

For the love of gawd, find a point guard.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Trade Gobert and get a center.

For the love of gawd, find a point guard.

* If DET wants to expedite their Playoff aspirations:

DET in: Rudy Gobert
MIN in: Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey & $20M TPE

* Is this enough/too much for Durant?:

PHO in: Randle, Naz (S&T) and Conley
MIN in: Durant

17. PG Walter Clayton Jr
31. C/F Johnni Broome
FA C Steven Adams ($14M MLE)

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/Broome
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/Clayton Jr

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

* If DET wants to expedite their Playoff aspirations:

DET in: Rudy Gobert
MIN in: Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey & $20M TPE

* Is this enough/too much for Durant?:

PHO in: Randle, Naz (S&T) and Conley
MIN in: Durant

17. PG Walter Clayton Jr
31. C/F Johnni Broome
FA C Steven Adams ($14M MLE)

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/Broome
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/Clayton Jr

What were you drinking last night? Detroit would never do that trade.

 

[TruthSeeker]

* If DET wants to expedite their Playoff aspirations:

DET in: Rudy Gobert
MIN in: Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey & $20M TPE

* Is this enough/too much for Durant?:

PHO in: Randle, Naz (S&T) and Conley
MIN in: Durant

17. PG Walter Clayton Jr
31. C/F Johnni Broome
FA C Steven Adams ($14M MLE)

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/Broome
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/Clayton Jr

Duren is arguably better than Gobert. He's absolutely better based on their prices.

 

[Slim Tubby]

What were you drinking last night? Detroit would never do that trade.

Kg21 demanded some answers at C and PG and this was my evil plan. I'm not actually a NBA GM but I do play one on an anonymous message board.

An actual Gobert deal with DET would probably center around Beef Stew and Ivey rather than Duren but I want nothing to do with Stewart. He might be a bigger douchebag than Draymond.

FWII, there are a ton of reports around the NBA that DET has a lot of interest in both Gobert and Reid.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Duren is arguably better than Gobert.

No he isn't...and when factoring in all aspects of what each player is asked to do, it's not even relatively close at the moment.

He's absolutely better based on their prices.

Debatable...salaries always effect a player's trade value. After next season when Duren demands a Max deal, he won't be as "valuable" when he's no longer on a Rookie contract and wants to be paid 30% of your team's cap space.

I'm far from a Gobert apologist and have no issues if we move him for the right deal. The Wolves fans who hated that trade with UTA will never appreciate how important Rudy is to our success the way fans around the rest of the league acknowledge.

I'm just spitballin' ideas for shits and giggles anyways.

 

[tikited]

No he isn't...and when factoring in all aspects of what each player is asked to do, it's not even relatively close at the moment.

Debatable...salaries always effect a player's trade value. After next season when Duren demands a Max deal, he won't be as "valuable" when he's no longer on a Rookie contract and wants to be paid 30% of your team's cap space.

I'm far from a Gobert apologist and have no issues if we move him for the right deal. The Wolves fans who hated that trade with UTA will never appreciate how important Rudy is to our success the way fans around the rest of the league acknowledge.

I'm just spitballin' ideas for shits and giggles anyways.

Rudy sucks on offense. That is true, but he is imo the most important player on this team. They absolutely fall apart on defense when he's not out there. Rudy, McDaniels and sometimes Naw are the only guys getting minutes that play defense consistently. If they trade Rudy, they better get a couple of defensive minded guys to take his place.

 

[kg21]

I don't mind Gobert, but if you watched OKC.......they weren't even guarding him in the paint. They were leaving him wide open daring us to throw him the ball. They figured if we threw it to him, there was a 50% chance the pass would get there or he'd fumble it.

If he did catch it, they'd just swarm him and wait for him to chuck it off the backboard.

Again, when Conley and Gobert were on the floor, we have 3 guys who had no shot at scoring. It's impossible to win it all that way.

Sometimes I wonder how we get as far as we do.

 

[kg21]

Rudy sucks on offense. That is true, but he is imo the most important player on this team. They absolutely fall apart on defense when he's not out there. Rudy, McDaniels and sometimes Naw are the only guys getting minutes that play defense consistently. If they trade Rudy, they better get a couple of defensive minded guys to take his place.

Correct, but we have to go through OKC in future years and couldn't hope to stop them. So what real good is Gobert when we can't stop them anyway?

 

[tikited]

Correct, but we have to go through OKC in future years and couldn't hope to stop them. So what real good is Gobert when we can't stop them anyway?

I get it. But, we could be back in the lottery if there isn't a legit big man who can play D. I would much rather get rid of Randle, who is the opposite of Rudy. I have some bias in that I can't stand the way Randle plays.

 

[upnorthkid]

Rudy matches up well with about every team in the league but OKC and probably the pacers.

You can get away with having Rudy if you have 4 other guys who can shoot from outside consistently and against a team that can’t just pull Rudy outside with 5 guys who can spray it (that’s why Rudy is a bad okc matchup in the non hartenstein minutes). The Rudy pick and roll works fine and I’m guessing a guy like Doncic would murder teams playing that way. Ants just not quite there decision making wise and we don’t quite hurt you enough shooting 3s with any of our ancillary lineups as we need to yet where they can’t double into the lane so heavily. Clayton would be a good add for us from that standpoint (he’s a plus shooter over Conley as this point in his career).

Move Julius for a guy that can shoot from the outside and play defense (like Nic Batum of old for example) and this lineup is fine (with Naz back).

 

[kg21]

Rudy matches up well with about every team in the league but OKC and probably the pacers.

You can get away with having Rudy if you have 4 other guys who can shoot from outside consistently and against a team that can’t just pull Rudy outside with 5 guys who can spray it (that’s why Rudy is a bad okc matchup in the non hartenstein minutes). The Rudy pick and roll works fine and I’m guessing a guy like Doncic would murder teams playing that way. Ants just not quite there decision making wise and we don’t quite hurt you enough shooting 3s with any of our ancillary lineups as we need to yet where they can’t double into the lane so heavily. Clayton would be a good add for us from that standpoint (he’s a plus shooter over Conley as this point in his career).

Move Julius for a guy that can shoot from the outside and play defense (like Nic Batum of old for example) and this lineup is fine (with Naz back).

Rudy would have been a brutal matchup if Curry stayed healthy.

 

[upnorthkid]

Rudy would have been a brutal matchup if Curry stayed healthy.

he still can play draymond who can't shoot from the outside, just like he did. puts him a little more pick and roll, but i think the wolves would be perfectly fine with steph coming into the paint with your wing length and GS's weak outside shooting outside of Curry

 

[kg21]

he still can play draymond who can't shoot from the outside, just like he did. puts him a little more pick and roll, but i think the wolves would be perfectly fine with steph coming into the paint with your wing length and GS's weak outside shooting outside of Curry

golden state would have spread the floor with Curry! Rudy would have been worthless.

 

[Just Gopher It!!]

* If DET wants to expedite their Playoff aspirations:

DET in: Rudy Gobert
MIN in: Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey & $20M TPE

* Is this enough/too much for Durant?:

PHO in: Randle, Naz (S&T) and Conley
MIN in: Durant

17. PG Walter Clayton Jr
31. C/F Johnni Broome
FA C Steven Adams ($14M MLE)

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/Broome
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/Clayton Jr

You’re Hired!!!

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

 

[Just Gopher It!!]

Since Jan 1, the two teams with the best records are OKC and Indy!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Neal: It’s time to see what A-Rod and Marc Lore can do​

When Lore and Alex Rodriguez were introduced as future owners in 2021 — and the layaway plan to slowly transfer ownership to them was announced — I asked Rodriguez about their plans.

“We want to do everything first class,” A-Rod replied.

A first-class operation sounds nice. And Target Center is the second-oldest building in the NBA, behind Madison Square Garden. That needs to be addressed, and I get that.

But fielding a championship-caliber team around one of the league’s best players in Anthony Edwards must be the No. 1 priority while that window is open.

You want a sparkling, state-of-the-art arena with facial recognition, aromatherapy and holograms of George Mikan? Fine. You want to mend fences with Kevin Garnett and finally hang his jersey from the rafters? Overdue.

But how about getting a point guard?

Neal: What does the future of the Timberwolves look like? That'll be up to A-Rod and Marc Lore

Neal: Timberwolves must address personnel needs and financial realities in the offseason

www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[bga1]

* If DET wants to expedite their Playoff aspirations:

DET in: Rudy Gobert
MIN in: Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey & $20M TPE

* Is this enough/too much for Durant?:

PHO in: Randle, Naz (S&T) and Conley
MIN in: Durant

17. PG Walter Clayton Jr
31. C/F Johnni Broome
FA C Steven Adams ($14M MLE)

C Duren/Adams/Miller
PF Durant/TSJ/Broome
SF McDaniels/Clark
SG Edwards/DDV
PG Dilly/Ivey/Clayton Jr

I'd love to see them get Clayton and Broome in the draft.

 

[BleedGopher]

ESPN Mock Draft:

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)​

Givony's pick that fills the biggest need:
Danny Wolf, PF, Michigan, Junior | TS%: 56.6

The Timberwolves are facing considerable uncertainty in the frontcourt this offseason, with Julius Randle and Naz Reid, who averaged a combined 60 minutes per game, possessing player options in their contracts, allowing them to potentially explore free agency this summer. With both of those situations likely to come to a head after the draft, adding a big man with this pick makes sense as an insurance policy, as retaining both big men might prove too costly.

Wolf has the size and versatility to play either big-man spot, as he did at Michigan, and should be more ready to contribute than most rookies at 21 years old.

Woo's pick that gets the best value:
Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia, Freshman | TS%: 62.0

Newell has been a bit divisive for teams and has a somewhat wide range, but his youth, productivity and potential to develop into a useful stretch-4 are strong calling cards.

Minnesota should be looking to cultivate roster depth here and potentially thinking long term, due to its limited future draft capital, making Newell an interesting investment who could solve for some of its frontcourt issues in time.

Our latest NBA mock draft: Back-and-forth on team need vs. best value

Best player available? Fill a need? We played out both strategies for 30 first-round slots in the draft.

www.espn.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[gophersfan]

 

[kg21]

 

[kg21]

^^^^^^ Hell, f-------g NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Slim Tubby]

^^^^^^ Hell, f-------g NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

You have a problem giving up valuable assets for the privilege to pay a 40-year old $60M/year? I'm sure we're not alone.

Durant's offensive splits last season (55/42/86) were crazy good and he's still incredibly efficient and easy offense. I have no doubt we'd be better next year with him which is always the carrot for GMs.

My guess is he ends up in HOU.

 

[TruthSeeker]

HELL NO! He's declining, has zero defense, and is always hurt with something.

If the Wolves do this, it will be the move that signals the end of the Anthony Edwards era.

It will be a catastrophic mistake that will ruin the team for a long time.