Post Mortem #27 - Minnesota Timberwolves

[ReggiesKnicks]

It is really, really hard when you have to squint to tell if your best player is a Top 10 player in the NBA. Minnesota has made back-to-back NBA Semi-Finals in a difficult conference without a top-tier star. The last time that happened was 2013 and 2014 with the Spurs.

The KAT/Randle trade was a step in the right direction--taking a step back in terms of raw talent for flexibility and assets. They picked up a good pick, #17 while DDV is a good trade chip and/or a good rotation player for the next 2-3 years at a great number coming in at sub-MLE.

The next step forward for Minnesota will be from internal growth with their younger players (McDaniels, Shannon, Dillingham, Clark, Miller, #17, #31, 2026 1st) and whatever next level Anthony Edwards can achieve. Edwards has improved every year of his career and typically adds a new layer to his game.

[firedavidkahn]

Good team and a good season that is a major step up from Wolves' norm for most of their history. I think the franchise should feel good about it...but I'm not sure how to turn this team into a champion by making moves.

If it happens, feels like it's going to have to come from Ant reaching a new tier.

Ant has to reach a new tier like you said. He's made noticable improvement every year so I'm not worried about him to be honest

The only we can is if we get a secondary creator. The most realistic chance we have is if Rob Dillingham develops into one. He doesn't have to develop into an elite player but someone above average that can occasionally take over and it's above average most of the time. Easier said than done but within the realm of possibility!

Jaylen Clark will develop into a great defender but his offense will probably just be limited to being an open 3 shooter and hustle buckets.

Terrance Shannon is a wildcard. I never want to bank on late picks but I could also easily envision him developing into a reliable offensive weapon. Half the teams in the league probably have players like that though.

The Wolves have some intriguing young talent. Not all of them will develop but our cupboard isn't completely bare either. If even two of Dillingham, Shannon, Clark, Leonard Miller develop into consistent positive contributors we will be just fine

[BruttoNostra]

Keep
Keep
Better than / as expected
Treadmill.

Can't call them improving. 2/5 of their starting line up are old and declining and have been useless for most of the postseason.
Their second best player has a player option, as well as their highly coveted big from the bench, who will def do better than his $15M PO.
NAW is a FA, so even if they retain 2 of NAW, Randle and Reid - they will probably be in the tax and not that far away from the 2nd apron. Add their picks and it's a 2nd apron for sure without lateral movements, like moving Conley (with SRP attached?).

[iBall101]

They were the dark horse of the West. No one expected a WCF appearance for them this year. They need to trade for a lethal PG in the off-season (Lamelo). Then they will crack finals next year.

[Mamba Mentality]

Ant needs to live in the gym and work on his midrange game just like he worked on his three ball this past off season. It was either three ball or contested layups for him all postseason, almost nothing in between. Take some notes from SGA.

[_AIJ_]

Gobert+DDV LAKERS
Gafford/Reaves/Hachimura WOLVES
Vincent/Knecht MAVS

Does this make sense?

A player that flops a lot on my team? sign me up!

[GeorgeSears]

I still feel that the Wolves were better than what they showed in the OKC series. They had the defense and the depth to really make this an interesting series. Their bench scored 63 points in game 4.

Ant man isn't good enough at this stage of his career to carry a team to the next level.

[JustBuzzin]

Ant gonna recruit his idol KD. They will team up and play Luka/LeBron in the WCF next year.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Ant gonna recruit his idol KD. They will team up and play Luka/LeBron in the WCF next year.

Is OKC getting injured?

[Billl]

I think Ant is a talent, but I think the wolves need a vocal and steady leader in their top5 players to organize the offense. If conley was 10 years younger, he could fill that role, but he's not. If you don't have that second guy who can make sure you get a good shot when teams are doubling Ant, the team is pretty capped at what it can accomplish. Obviously the thunder are a fantastic defensive team, but the wolves had trouble cracking 100 for most of this series

[AbeVigodaLive]

Ant needs to live in the gym and work on his midrange game just like he worked on his three ball this past off season. It was either three ball or contested layups for him all postseason, almost nothing in between. Take some notes from SGA.

Learn to sell fouls.

That's not a knock on SGA necessarily... even if I don't like some of the antics. A mid-range shot isn't going to lead to 4+ ppg. A better three pointer won't get you there. Better footwork. Handle. Et al.

But learning how to sell fouls and getting to the line with the league leaders (6 FTA vs. 10 FTA) will be the greatest differentiator in Edwards' game and put him in the 1st team All NBA level.

[dakomish23]

Here’s my guess

They trade for Jrue Holiday. He helps them win a chip and goes down as the 2020’s Robert Horry, helping 3 teams win a championship

From your lips to God's ears. Make it happen, Connelly.

It's destiny

[JustBuzzin]

Ant gonna recruit his idol KD. They will team up and play Luka/LeBron in the WCF next year.

Is OKC getting injured?

Let me guess OKC is the next dynasty.

Just like Milwaukee/Denver/Boston were supposed to be the next dynasty.

The days of dynasties are over. The league is to competitive. OKC will be a threat, but I'm not betting on them repeating.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Ant gonna recruit his idol KD. They will team up and play Luka/LeBron in the WCF next year.

Is OKC getting injured?

Let me guess OKC is the next dynasty.

Just like Milwaukee/Denver/Boston were supposed to be the next dynasty.

The days of dynasties are over. The league is to competitive. OKC will be a threat, but I'm not betting on them repeating.

OKC is like Golden State in 2015. They haven't used any future assets and their core is young and growing together.

Milwaukee had to trade a lot of their future assets, which New Orleans STILL has, to get Jrue.

Denver already used a lot of their assets to acquire and keep their core together.

Boston never had a player as good as SGA and their best players were in their mid-late 20s and didn't win until they acquired Jrue Holiday in his 30s.

[JustBuzzin]

Is OKC getting injured?

Let me guess OKC is the next dynasty.

Just like Milwaukee/Denver/Boston were supposed to be the next dynasty.

The days of dynasties are over. The league is to competitive. OKC will be a threat, but I'm not betting on them repeating.

OKC is like Golden State in 2015. They haven't used any future assets and their core is young and growing together.

Milwaukee had to trade a lot of their future assets, which New Orleans STILL has, to get Jrue.

Denver already used a lot of their assets to acquire and keep their core together.

Boston never had a player as good as SGA and their best players were in their mid-late 20s and didn't win until they acquired Jrue Holiday in his 30s.

Im gonna laugh if Indiana beats OKC. Y'all crowning OKC like they really that much better than the rest of the league is crazy. It literally took them 7 games to beat Denver.

The playoffs are all about matchups. I don't view OKC like GSW because SGA is no Curry.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Let me guess OKC is the next dynasty.

Just like Milwaukee/Denver/Boston were supposed to be the next dynasty.

The days of dynasties are over. The league is to competitive. OKC will be a threat, but I'm not betting on them repeating.

OKC is like Golden State in 2015. They haven't used any future assets and their core is young and growing together.

Milwaukee had to trade a lot of their future assets, which New Orleans STILL has, to get Jrue.

Denver already used a lot of their assets to acquire and keep their core together.

Boston never had a player as good as SGA and their best players were in their mid-late 20s and didn't win until they acquired Jrue Holiday in his 30s.

Im gonna laugh if Indiana beats OKC. Y'all crowning OKC like they really that much better than the rest of the league is crazy. It literally took them 7 games to beat Denver.

The playoffs are all about matchups. I don't view OKC like GSW because SGA is no Curry.

That's fine, it is hard to compare teams across era. Relative to era, SGA is a Top 3 player, like Curry was in 2015.

I expect the Thunder to roll through us in no more than 5 games.

It took the 2008 Boston Celtics 7 games to beat an 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks team in the 1st round. No team in NBA history is perfect.

[cpower]

They need a PG to run the offense. ANT is not a complete offensive player and too replied on the threes

[dolphinatik]

Wolves finally ran out of gas after a tough Denver series. Time to move on from gobert and conley and bring in other vet voices while continuing to draft well. They are still heading in the right direction just need tweeks and rest.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Wolves finally ran out of gas after a tough Denver series. Time to move on from gobert and conley and bring in other vet voices while continuing to draft well. They are still heading in the right direction just need tweeks and rest.

Is this an AI post? Minnesota didn't play Denver.

[_AIJ_]

Wolves finally ran out of gas after a tough Denver series. Time to move on from gobert and conley and bring in other vet voices while continuing to draft well. They are still heading in the right direction just need tweeks and rest.

Yeah so Gobert for Bam?