Andrew Wiggins and the wolves future

[DaKid]

Ryan has to do everything at his reach to put a offseason plan that involves at least KAT and Wigs together. As late I have seen KAT finding Wigs of backdoor cuts like never before. I think big part of Wiggins problems is sinergy with other pieces and I think one offseason of practice a 1-2 game could do wonders for him.

Why hasn't that already occurred would be my question. Why has he not been cutting at all for the past three seasons. Go way back and even Martin used to cut more than Wiggins has, and Martin at least had a history of being a decent shooter beyond the arc, was less athletically mobile, and had a reason to stand and wait around for the pass. I watch Kat with the ball getting doubled tripled now, anyone on the team for that matter, and everyone else just stands out at the arc waiting for them to solve it themselves. Saw it happen at least twice in the last game. Is this something they are going to fix in the last week of September next year but they couldn't have fixed it two months ago?

I think it was pretty obvious early on that saunders wasn't going to make big changes mid season whether that was his preference or it came from above.

[Jedzz]

Why hasn't that already occurred would be my question. Why has he not been cutting at all for the past three seasons. Go way back and even Martin used to cut more than Wiggins has, and Martin at least had a history of being a decent shooter beyond the arc, was less athletically mobile, and had a reason to stand and wait around for the pass. I watch Kat with the ball getting doubled tripled now, anyone on the team for that matter, and everyone else just stands out at the arc waiting for them to solve it themselves. Saw it happen at least twice in the last game. Is this something they are going to fix in the last week of September next year but they couldn't have fixed it two months ago?

[Klomp]

Why hasn't that already occurred would be my question. Why has he not been cutting at all for the past three seasons. Go way back and even Martin used to cut more than Wiggins has, and Martin at least had a history of being a decent shooter beyond the arc, was less athletically mobile, and had a reason to stand and wait around for the pass. I watch Kat with the ball getting doubled tripled now, anyone on the team for that matter, and everyone else just stands out at the arc waiting for them to solve it themselves. Saw it happen at least twice in the last game. Is this something they are going to fix in the last week of September next year but they couldn't have fixed it two months ago?

Spoiler:

I wasn't aware Ryan Saunders has been in charge for the majority of the past three seasons (see bolded).

Wiggins has started cutting since Saunders took over.

[southern wolf]

Thibs was never the right coach for a player like Wiggins, so I have some hope that Wiggins will improve with a full off-season and training camp under Saunders. Some improvement isn't going to be enough to justify $30 million though, unfortunately.

[King Malta]

Thibs was never the right coach for a player like Wiggins, so I have some hope that Wiggins will improve with a full off-season and training camp under Saunders. Some improvement isn't going to be enough to justify $30 million though, unfortunately.

Honestly, at this point I'll just be happy if he can play to the level of a 17 million dollar player.

I don't think he's ever going to get anywhere near max value, but most of this season he was playing like he was worth sub 10 mil.

[Jedzz]

[

I wasn't aware Ryan Saunders has been in charge for the majority of the past three seasons (see bolded).

Wiggins has started cutting since Saunders took over.

Bold all you want. I never absolved Thibs of his handling. I specifically pointed all all the last three years so of course I include him. You just want to blame it all on Thibs and absolve Ryan. In my opinion that's really wrong. Ryan has actually been working with Wiggins much longer than Thibs has been. This has also been used as a reason to let Ryan have the interim this year. "He knows these players" they say, and yes he does.

Wiggins has started cutting since...? Really? That''s a typical choice for you to word it as such. No, he hasn't. Not in any sustainable way. What, twice since Ryan has been in charge? Just like when he shows glimpses of playing defense. Gone as fast. Everyone gushes at the sight of things we rarely see enough of. We want to celebrate it when it happens. But it's just that moment, it has not been more. Wiggins has dunked a basketball since Saunders took over as well. Doesn't mean he's been willing to do it twice in a month.

You keep wanting to totally absolve Ryan. He's been the coach Since January started. That's the majority of the season now. Whether they go with a new plan before next season will be up in the air. It doesn't change what he's asked of him since January and that could have easily been changed in this time period. It may have been the perfect time to do it. Didn't happen.

Sounds like the plan is set, Ryan and Layden are staying. It was too quiet for anything else. I can't wait to be totally amazed at the new player he molds Wiggins into with a month of camp and preseason and this new plan a few of you say he's just holding back on. I expect to see much the same come September unless there are big player movements before then.

If Ryan is the present coach for the immediate future I'll support that. But I'm not going to lie to myself and others about every little detail. The Wiggins handling has not improved/changed anything real on the court yet. Seems like it will take more than a smiling face reassuring Wiggins as he comes to the bench. I loved how that lasted a whole two magical games after Ryan took over. It didn't surprise many people that Wiggins increased performance didn't last much longer.

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this interview. To me Andrew has no clue about his development. I hope this summer he changes personal trainer, plus spends more time watching, studying games.

[AirP.]

Sounds like the plan is set, Ryan and Layden are staying. It was too quiet for anything else. I can't wait to be totally amazed at the new player he molds Wiggins into with a month of camp and preseason and this new plan a few of you say he's just holding back on. I expect to see much the same come September unless there are big player movements before then.

If Ryan is the present coach for the immediate future I'll support that. But I'm not going to lie to myself and others about every little detail. The Wiggins handling has not improved/changed anything real on the court yet. Seems like it will take more than a smiling face reassuring Wiggins as he comes to the bench. I loved how that lasted a whole two magical games after Ryan took over. It didn't surprise many people that Wiggins increased performance didn't last much longer.

Unless there's a good long term replacement for Ryan and/or Layden there's no reason for replacing them. THIS FRANCHISE NEEDS STABILITY and with that it needs a long term plan/culture, so until Taylor can identify those individuals, he should stay with what he currently has.

[Jedzz]

Sounds like the plan is set, Ryan and Layden are staying. It was too quiet for anything else. I can't wait to be totally amazed at the new player he molds Wiggins into with a month of camp and preseason and this new plan a few of you say he's just holding back on. I expect to see much the same come September unless there are big player movements before then.

If Ryan is the present coach for the immediate future I'll support that. But I'm not going to lie to myself and others about every little detail. The Wiggins handling has not improved/changed anything real on the court yet. Seems like it will take more than a smiling face reassuring Wiggins as he comes to the bench. I loved how that lasted a whole two magical games after Ryan took over. It didn't surprise many people that Wiggins increased performance didn't last much longer.

Unless there's a good long term replacement for Ryan and/or Layden there's no reason for replacing them. THIS FRANCHISE NEEDS STABILITY and with that it needs a long term plan/culture, so until Taylor can identify those individuals, he should stay with what he currently has.

I'm not for or against moving on blindly to something else. I agree to some extent with what you are saying. I'm just talking about the likely reality that it will mostly look the same next year with these guys. If this is enough for people then by all means, Stability is a good idea to maintain. I think there were signs that this team can get better results next season just doing the same things on the court if the same players were brought back, given an absence of major injury problems. But will the injury problems not be an issue if the team doesn't change their operations a little more? And will all these players be back? If they send 4 major minutes holders away there is literally no telling what kind of instability that will cause or what the results will be. Ryan inherited a roster put together around Towns and Wiggins that could reach the playoffs. A few specific talents helped make that doable. All removed, I have a feeling stability isn't going to feel like the word to use at that point.

[AirP.]

Sounds like the plan is set, Ryan and Layden are staying. It was too quiet for anything else. I can't wait to be totally amazed at the new player he molds Wiggins into with a month of camp and preseason and this new plan a few of you say he's just holding back on. I expect to see much the same come September unless there are big player movements before then.

If Ryan is the present coach for the immediate future I'll support that. But I'm not going to lie to myself and others about every little detail. The Wiggins handling has not improved/changed anything real on the court yet. Seems like it will take more than a smiling face reassuring Wiggins as he comes to the bench. I loved how that lasted a whole two magical games after Ryan took over. It didn't surprise many people that Wiggins increased performance didn't last much longer.

Unless there's a good long term replacement for Ryan and/or Layden there's no reason for replacing them. THIS FRANCHISE NEEDS STABILITY and with that it needs a long term plan/culture, so until Taylor can identify those individuals, he should stay with what he currently has.

I'm not for or against moving on blindly to something else. I agree to some extent with what you are saying. I'm just talking about the likely reality that it will mostly look the same next year with these guys. If this is enough for people then by all means, Stability is a good idea to maintain. I think there were signs that this team can get better results next season just doing the same things on the court if the same players were brought back, given an absence of major injury problems. But will the injury problems not be an issue if the team doesn't change their operations a little more? And will all these players be back? If they send 4 major minutes holders away there is literally no telling what kind of instability that will cause or what the results will be. Ryan inherited a roster put together around Towns and Wiggins that could reach the playoffs. A few specific talents helped make that doable. All removed, I have a feeling stability isn't going to feel like the word to use at that point.

If Ryan is replaced this summer, Towns will be entering his 5th year in the league with his 4th different coach. That is ridiculous. Good luck with retaining Towns if Minnesota makes another 2-3 coaching changes before his next contract.

Taylor has to make his next hire(s) are long term hires or it's a real possibility that Towns will want out and with that, basically a complete rebuild in hopes of finding the next franchise level talent to be able to compete in the West.

[Streakers33]

Watch on YouTube

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this interview. To me Andrew has no clue about his development. I hope this summer he changes personal trainer, plus spends more time watching, studying games.

Did anyone else get the vibe that it was too much effort for him to answer these basic questions ?

[Jedzz]

Unless there's a good long term replacement for Ryan and/or Layden there's no reason for replacing them. THIS FRANCHISE NEEDS STABILITY and with that it needs a long term plan/culture, so until Taylor can identify those individuals, he should stay with what he currently has.

I'm not for or against moving on blindly to something else. I agree to some extent with what you are saying. I'm just talking about the likely reality that it will mostly look the same next year with these guys. If this is enough for people then by all means, Stability is a good idea to maintain. I think there were signs that this team can get better results next season just doing the same things on the court if the same players were brought back, given an absence of major injury problems. But will the injury problems not be an issue if the team doesn't change their operations a little more? And will all these players be back? If they send 4 major minutes holders away there is literally no telling what kind of instability that will cause or what the results will be. Ryan inherited a roster put together around Towns and Wiggins that could reach the playoffs. A few specific talents helped make that doable. All removed, I have a feeling stability isn't going to feel like the word to use at that point.

If Ryan is replaced this summer, Towns will be entering his 5th year in the league with his 4th different coach. That is ridiculous. Good luck with retaining Towns if Minnesota makes another 2-3 coaching changes before his next contract.

Taylor has to make his next hire(s) are long term hires or it's a real possibility that Towns will want out and with that, basically a complete rebuild in hopes of finding the next franchise level talent to be able to compete in the West.

I don't really get your Stability or highway track right now though. Please remember Towns is just starting a 5 year. Towns got his money and years. He got the coach out that he wanted out. I'm not even thinking about it for 4 more years. It's pointless and damaging.

The only thing is, if you want stability for Towns and want Ryan to stay, then everyone should stop asking for the roster to be flipped over entirely. Keep it all intact the best you can. Use what Thibs pulled together, just in a better way than he did. Ryan knows a lot about how to use this current roster after using them all like no one has ever here.

I dare the next Coach to do better than Thibs and survive it, whether that ends up Ryan or otherwise.. In 14 years nobody did that well and it wasn't enough. Tall order for anyone I'd say.

[Grubie024]

Watch on YouTube

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this interview. To me Andrew has no clue about his development. I hope this summer he changes personal trainer, plus spends more time watching, studying games.

Thanks for sharing Minimus

The big takeaways from this are not good at all.... Only positive thing he spoke of is not giving up, which is cliche as can be.
1. He was happy with how this year played out. Loser mentality straight up. You're a max player, one of the faces of the franchise and you're happy enough not making the postseason. Wiggins is not a winner point blank period
2. He apparently has no goals. Not personally or for the team (see #1). Like you said, he has no clue about his development. He could've easily responded to more than one question indicating what he'd like to work on in the offseason, what to accomplish next year. Just going through the motions and playing hard. Sounds like a recipe for personal mediocrity, therefore bad for the team considering his max contract.

We gotta unload this guy when it doesn't cripple us asset-wise. No confidence he'll ever meaningfully improve, not even with Saunders running the show.

For the love of god let us get it right in the draft

[AirP.]

I don't really get your Stability or highway track right now though. Please remember Towns is just starting a 5 year. Towns got his money and years. He got the coach out that he wanted out. I'm not even thinking about it for 4 more years. It's pointless and damaging.

The only thing is, if you want stability for Towns and want Ryan to stay, then everyone should stop asking for the roster to be flipped over entirely. Keep it all intact the best you can. Use what Thibs pulled together, just in a better way than he did. Ryan knows a lot about how to use this current roster after using them all like no one has ever here.

I dare the next Coach to do better than Thibs and survive it, whether that ends up Ryan or otherwise.. In 14 years nobody did that well and it wasn't enough. Tall order for anyone I'd say.

That's fine but the franchise player is already talking about needing stability.

Read on Twitter

[AirP.]

On how Wiggins ended the season...

Read on Twitter

[Jedzz]

That's fine but the franchise player is already talking about needing stability.

[tweet]5*[/tweet]

Sorry. I don't feed into that. Where was he talking about stability when he was uprooting Butler and Thibs? He's just another dog trying to make his bed the way he wants it.



The team paid him for many years now and it's time for him to join in their plans to start playing winning basketball and whatever that ends up needing to look like. Please don't feed the dog.

[Jedzz]

On how Wiggins ended the season...

Read on Twitter

I'm not planning a trip to twitter just to read about Wiggins. What does it say?

[AirP.]

That's fine but the franchise player is already talking about needing stability.

Sorry. I don't feed into that. Where was he talking about stability when he was uprooting Butler and Thibs? He's just another dog trying to make his bed the way he wants it.

The team paid him for many years now and it's time for him to join in their plans to start playing winning basketball and whatever that ends up needing to look like. Please don't feed the dog.

It's like the New Orlean's situation with Anthony Davis just a few more years down the road.

I'm not saying Towns is right and hasn't created some of this instability himself, but he really doesn't care and won't hold himself accountable. He'll justify it to himself as the franchise hired/traded for the wrong people. My point is, there is a foundation being set by a top tier player to push himself out of Minnesota and that sucks for Timberwolves' fans.

I think Minnesota made the right hire with Thibs, he added a star type player that I don't see Minnesota acquiring anytime soon AND Thibs knew he could retain Butler by maxing him out(Butler himself said there was still a way to fix the situation after that big practice but didn't expect it to happen, I believe he knew of the power struggle between Thibs and Taylor). I believe Butler had the idea that Taylor didn't want to give him the max and also seeing the hate towards Thibs from everywhere, knew once Thibs was pushed out(like in Chicago) the money to keep him in Minnesota was also gone so he pushed to get out and possibly land on a team he's want to sign a max with(having faith Thibs would try to help him, as he said in Philly, Thib's is still his guy).

I personally think Taylor torpedoed Minnesota's future by screwing up a great trade for Minnesota by taking Wiggins out of the Butler trade then going to the media asking Wiggins to come sign a max contract then basically give the indications he didn't feel that Butler was worth the max, even with the incredible turn around the franchise had with Butler and Towns leading the way. Bad ownership has a way of keeping a franchise down. Ownership matters.

[Jedzz]

That's fine but the franchise player is already talking about needing stability.

Sorry. I don't feed into that. Where was he talking about stability when he was uprooting Butler and Thibs? He's just another dog trying to make his bed the way he wants it.

The team paid him for many years now and it's time for him to join in their plans to start playing winning basketball and whatever that ends up needing to look like. Please don't feed the dog.

It's like the New Orlean's situation with Anthony Davis just a few more years down the road.

I'm not saying Towns is right and hasn't created some of this instability himself, but he really doesn't care and won't hold himself accountable. He'll justify it to himself as the franchise hired/traded for the wrong people. My point is, there is a foundation being set by a top tier player to push himself out of Minnesota and that sucks for Timberwolves' fans.

I think Minnesota made the right hire with Thibs, he added a star type player that I don't see Minnesota acquiring anytime soon AND Thibs knew he could retain Butler by maxing him out(Butler himself said there was still a way to fix the situation after that big practice but didn't expect it to happen, I believe he knew of the power struggle between Thibs and Taylor). I believe Butler had the idea that Taylor didn't want to give him the max and also seeing the hate towards Thibs from everywhere, knew once Thibs was pushed out(like in Chicago) the money to keep him in Minnesota was also gone so he pushed to get out and possibly land on a team he's want to sign a max with(having faith Thibs would try to help him, as he said in Philly, Thib's is still his guy).

I personally think Taylor torpedoed Minnesota's future by screwing up a great trade for Minnesota by taking Wiggins out of the Butler trade then going to the media asking Wiggins to come sign a max contract then basically give the indications he didn't feel that Butler was worth the max, even with the incredible turn around the franchise had with Butler and Towns leading the way. Bad ownership has a way of keeping a franchise down. Ownership matters.

Agree on some of that. Towns also played a part in leveraging Wiggins to stay. This is his bed. But it's all done. As far as KAT now, I do not care. Call back in January of 2023 and I'll decide if I care to talk about a Towns extension or not at that time. He can beg off the team in 2022 if he wants. He can do it tomorrow if he wants. Who cares anymore? The only way to move forward is to not care about such things. He's locked in whether he's playing or sitting out.

One thing is clear. The team again failed to make the playoffs with him and WIggins and that will continue unless something is improved upon. 15/16 16/17 18/19 The years of a Wiggins/Towns combo not getting to the playoffs.

[DaKid]

Wiggins is here to stay. I think he will be significantly better next year. Saunders will overhaul the offense to get the most out of him and hopefully he puts some muscle on over the summer.