Game 5, 4/30: Timberwolves at Lakers, 9 pm

[frankenwolf]

Not going to win with Rudy as your leading scorer. Someone else has to come to the party.

This aged badly

[Guest84]

Not going to win with Rudy as your leading scorer. Someone else has to come to the party.

This aged badly

It was less about Rudy and more about him getting help. In the end, someone else came to the party (Randle) and in a big way.

[KGdaBom]

Not going to win with Rudy as your leading scorer. Someone else has to come to the party.

This aged badly

It was less about Rudy and more about him getting help. In the end, someone else came to the party (Randle) and in a big way.

But Rudy was our leading scorer.

[Klomp]

I’d also like to personally apologize to Randle and Rudy. I’ve been thinking about possible Randle trade possibilities all year, looking to upgrade our #2, and after the first three games, I was ready to send Rudy away in, essentially, a salary dump. They were the two best players tonight. Rudy absolutely dominated the Lakers small lineup and Randle has been consistently good all series. He was great in the fourth quarter tonight.

I really think part of the issue around Randle's narrative both nationally and even some locally up until recently is the belief that Finch uses Julius the same way that Thibs used him. That's the biggest thing to me that's sparked the improvement in his game. Finch uses him very differently.

[KGdaBom]

I’d also like to personally apologize to Randle and Rudy. I’ve been thinking about possible Randle trade possibilities all year, looking to upgrade our #2, and after the first three games, I was ready to send Rudy away in, essentially, a salary dump. They were the two best players tonight. Rudy absolutely dominated the Lakers small lineup and Randle has been consistently good all series. He was great in the fourth quarter tonight.

I really think part of the issue around Randle's narrative both nationally and even some locally up until recently is the belief that Finch uses Julius the same way that Thibs used him. That's the biggest thing to me that's sparked the improvement in his game. Finch uses him very differently.

I remember him being so high usage in NY. Good for my fantasy team, but not so good for my real team.

[Dewey]

Cc Jaden McDaniels:

STOP HAND-FIGHTING. PLEASE.

He’s a great defender. He doesn’t need that BS. It’s much greater risk than reward.

He just ends up in foul trouble.

Just keep moving those feet and contesting shots.

That’s all we need on D from you and nothing more!

Hopefully Jaden reads this and takes it to heart.

No excuse he can’t provide an efficient 10 points as a 5th wheel

[shrink]

Read on Twitter

[karch34]

Read on Twitter

This is the greatest tweet ever.

[TimberKat]

Read on Twitter

This is the greatest tweet ever.

Those are no where near worst trade.

[karch34]

Agreed. Think it’s more a comment on the national media narratives after both trades.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

This is the greatest tweet ever.

Those are no where near worst trade.

Yeah that's kinda the point of the tweet.

[winforlose]

Rudy was not a bad trade (though a bit of an overpay,) but he was bad in the context of moving on from Karl. He and Ant don’t fit as well together as a more mobile and more floor spacing big. Again, Rudy had 14 points and 25 rebounds in 4 full playoff games before game 5. Moving Rudy for a better fit with Ant probably happens next year or the year after.

The KAT trade was bad because of value back. Yes Randle played very well, yes Randle has a player option. But the trade was designed to dump salary. Randle is not supposed to be back. It was really DDV, plus expiring, plus 1 first for KAT. KAT is worth a lot more than we got back. You can have a great Randle series and still say we didn’t get proper value back on KAT. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[KGdaBom]

Read on Twitter

This is the greatest tweet ever.

Those are no where near worst trade.

He's mocking the people who called them the worst trades in NBA history.