2023 off-season predictions

[shrink]

Since KG (and even Love)… Anyone ever notice teams looking to win now or add “that player” never mention Kat?

Well, KAT is no KG. I guess winning an MVP makes him better than most players. And nobody was asking for Love until LeBron came back to CLE and wanted him in a complimentary role.

Also, timing. KG and Love were ready to move on. Garnett’s time had come, and Love was frustrated that Kahn was saving the 5-year max for Rubio, and was insulted he was only offered the 4-year max. KAT has never made any noise about wanting to leave Minnesota, and before last year’s Rudy trade, it probably seemed inconceivable MIN would trade him.

[shrink]

Back on the thread topic, I have another prediction:

MIN GIVES: Taurean Prince, 2024 2nd (least favorable of MEM/WAS), 2025 UTA 2nd, 2026 2nd (least of IND/MIA/SA)

WAS GIVES: Monte Morris, #35

Why for the Wizards? WAS has a PG glut, and they are building for the future. Big wings like Prince are always useful and tradeable. They also have three 2nd round picks this season, and no second rounders in 2024 or 2025.

Why for the Timberwolves? Mike Conley played well for the Wolves last year, but he will be 36 when the season starts, so there will be plenty of minutes for Morris this season. Since Conley is expiring, Morris would become the heir-apparent to the starting job. He is another Tim Connolly late pick that made good, so we know the GM likes him. MIN also has no legal way of replacing Conley next year without rushing the point-Ant development, and Morris is extension eligible - and I’d expect a quick extension around $14 mil. The team can’t afford one of the best PG’s next year, but Morris is acceptable.

Connolly has said he wants to move up in tonight’s draft, and the Wizards have more seconds than they need. This 3-for-1 spreads out their seconds, and can help compensate for any value difference between Prince and Morris.

[minimus]

My predictions:

- we will let Nowell, Knight go
- we will keep JMac
- we will re-sign Naz and NAW
- we will give Garza Gupta special
- we will trade TP and 53rd pick for 30-40 pick. MIN will draft a shooter or comboguard
- we will use all three two-way contracts

Gobert/Reid/Garza
Towns/Anderson/Minott
MCD/TP/Moore
Edwards/NAW/???
Conley/???/JMac

I really think that by the end of the season NAW and Moore will play for us similar as Bruce Brown and Cristian Braun for DEN.

That was close

Interesting, that Connelly kind of used only NAW and Prince contracts to create room to operate and sign NAW, Brown and Milton (shooter and comboguard that I mentioned) and how SPRs to get Miller. Kind of reminded me how Rosas used RoCo to get Vando, Beasley (and later with some additional moves MCD)

[TimberKat]

I just read the ringer NBA top 125 rankings. Our 5 starters are all within top 100. As bad as we think Gobert were, he is rank 52. There were some questionables ahead of him such as Aaron Gordon at 45, Wiggins at 46 and VanVleet at 51. Most of the top 50 are max or eventually max players, so even if you get the same Gobert next year, he isn't super overpaid. Towns rank 31 and Giddey at 69.

The ranking is not perfect but when you put all the names together, it gives a good perspective of how good our player are and you can question those players ahead or below to get a good comparison.

According to this ranking, we should have a very good team next year. I totally expect Towns/Gobert to go up this ranking by mid season.

[KGdaBom]

I just read the ringer NBA top 125 rankings. Our 5 starters are all within top 100. As bad as we think Gobert were, he is rank 52. There were some questionables ahead of him such as Aaron Gordon at 45, Wiggins at 46 and VanVleet at 51. Most of the top 50 are max or eventually max players, so even if you get the same Gobert next year, he isn't super overpaid. Towns rank 31 and Giddey at 69.

The ranking is not perfect but when you put all the names together, it gives a good perspective of how good our player are and you can question those players ahead or below to get a good comparison.

According to this ranking, we should have a very good team next year. I totally expect Towns/Gobert to go up this ranking by mid season.

We have an extremely talented team.