2022/23 preseason thread

[winforlose]

Link to pre season schedule

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2022/07/22/minnesota-timberwolves-schedule-preseason-games-set/

Date Opponent Where Time
Oct. 4 Miami Heat FTX Arena 6:30 pm CT
Oct. 6 LA Lakers TM Arena 9:00 pm CT
Oct. 9 LA Clippers Crypto Arena TBD
Oct. 12 LA Lakers Crypto Arena 9:00 pm CT
Oct. 14 Brooklyn Nets Target Center 7:00 pm CT (home game)

[winforlose]

Watch on YouTube

Key notes.

1. Rudy is out tomorrow but is expected to play with KAT on Friday.
2. Finch is not basing rotations on the preseason, they are seemingly set.
3. KA is being looked at 1-4 and not at the 5. Naz is being looked at to play minutes at the PF. KA and KAT is a pairing getting priority right now. This heavily implies Naz and Rudy will run together this season.

I strongly suggest you guys listen to this.

[_AIJ_]

Is KAT playing tonight?

[NebWolvesFan]

Is KAT playing tonight?

Yes. I think Towns is really close to 100 percent now. Hopefully, they both will play on Friday.

[Klomp]

KA is being looked at 1-4 and not at the 5. Naz is being looked at to play minutes at the PF. KA and KAT is a pairing getting priority right now. This heavily implies Naz and Rudy will run together this season.

That's IF they want to play big all 48 minutes

[winforlose]

KA is being looked at 1-4 and not at the 5. Naz is being looked at to play minutes at the PF. KA and KAT is a pairing getting priority right now. This heavily implies Naz and Rudy will run together this season.

That's IF they want to play big all 48 minutes

This isn’t me talking. Watch the video. Finch has made it clear he wants to play big. He said it is hard to play 3 centers so he wants Naz playing PF. That doesn’t sound like Prince is playing at PF. He talked about pairing KAT and KA, which tells you Naz and Rudy. Small ball is more about the situations where foul trouble or injury make going big impossible, now you consider matching up instead of forcing them to match up.

[minimus]

I want to see more Garza minutes. I know he is slow, but I heard he is the one who gives 100% effort on the court. If he can improve his 3pt shot and be effective rebounder and screener, I can see him as 3rd string big next year.

[Klomp]

KA is being looked at 1-4 and not at the 5. Naz is being looked at to play minutes at the PF. KA and KAT is a pairing getting priority right now. This heavily implies Naz and Rudy will run together this season.

That's IF they want to play big all 48 minutes

This isn’t me talking. Watch the video. Finch has made it clear he wants to play big. He said it is hard to play 3 centers so he wants Naz playing PF. That doesn’t sound like Prince is playing at PF. He talked about pairing KAT and KA, which tells you Naz and Rudy. Small ball is more about the situations where foul trouble or injury make going big impossible, now you consider matching up instead of forcing them to match up.

You are right, he said it's hard to play three Cs. But I took his full comments to mean that yes Reid's path to minutes would likely come at PF, but not necessarily a definitive statement that he will be in the regular rotation.

[winforlose]

I want to see more Garza minutes. I know he is slow, but I heard he is the one who gives 100% effort on the court. If he can improve his 3pt shot and be effective rebounder and screener, I can see him as 3rd string big next year.

Can you or someone else please explain how exhibit 10s work with regard to exclusivity. Is it just that another G league team cannot poach our exhibit 10s but that another NBA team can? Can our exhibit 10 players make another teams two way slot, or is that prohibited? I ask because I could see us punting on Garza and Dozier until later in the year. Knight and Rivers don’t fully guarantee until January (please correct me if that is incorrect,) and we can watch them play in the G and promote them either to two ways or main roster as needed during the season.

[winforlose]

That's IF they want to play big all 48 minutes

This isn’t me talking. Watch the video. Finch has made it clear he wants to play big. He said it is hard to play 3 centers so he wants Naz playing PF. That doesn’t sound like Prince is playing at PF. He talked about pairing KAT and KA, which tells you Naz and Rudy. Small ball is more about the situations where foul trouble or injury make going big impossible, now you consider matching up instead of forcing them to match up.

You are right, he said it's hard to play three Cs. But I took his full comments to mean that yes Reid's path to minutes would likely come at PF, but not necessarily a definitive statement that he will be in the regular rotation.

Perhaps not definitive, but certainly indicative. Finch is a guy who wants to reward good players with minutes. Naz dropping out of the rotation also lowers his trade value, and at this point everyone should know we are shopping him. Assume Naz and Rudy are a 4/5 pair and that Naz will eat any non All NBA backup center minutes. From there we know he wants KA and KAT together so that eats the remaining PF moments. Prince gets all minutes MCD is not on the floor. That is plenty for now. The real question is Nowell and JMAC. How many minutes do each get and does either get the nod over the other in their respective rotations. I would assume as of now that JMAC is with Ant/KAT and Nowell is with Dlo/Rudy, but one might get run with both.

[Klomp]

I want to see more Garza minutes. I know he is slow, but I heard he is the one who gives 100% effort on the court. If he can improve his 3pt shot and be effective rebounder and screener, I can see him as 3rd string big next year.

Can you or someone else please explain how exhibit 10s work with regard to exclusivity. Is it just that another G league team cannot poach our exhibit 10s but that another NBA team can? Can our exhibit 10 players make another teams two way slot, or is that prohibited? I ask because I could see us punting on Garza and Dozier until later in the year. Knight and Rivers don’t fully guarantee until January (please correct me if that is incorrect,) and we can watch them play in the G and promote them either to two ways or main roster as needed during the season.

An Exhibit 10 player can be poached by another team with a 2-way spot open. Otherwise, the only other option is for a NBA team to sign them outright...which usually doesn't happen until 10-day contracts are allowed in January.

[shrink]

I want to see more Garza minutes. I know he is slow, but I heard he is the one who gives 100% effort on the court. If he can improve his 3pt shot and be effective rebounder and screener, I can see him as 3rd string big next year.

I like him and I hope they can find a place for him.

I’m a little frustrated with the coverage he’s gotten from the local Locked On podcaster, Ben Beecken. Even when he had an episode on each individual player, he didn’t do his research, saying, “I think Garza was All Big Ten or something.” Garza was Sporting News National Player of the Year, for two consecutive seasons. The last person to do that was named Michael Jordan. He went on to stress that Garza needs to work on his three point shooting, after shooting 44% in his senior year at Iowa. Just a minimal amount of effort on Beecken’s part should have made him more aware.

Finally, I really liked Garza at the end of the Clippers game. With the game tied, I think the next four possessions were that he scored, blocked Diamonte, made a beautiful assist, and then got a strip on defense. I know this was third stringers vs third stringers, but I am happy we got a win, and are undefeated in pre-season.

[KGdaBom]

I want to see more Garza minutes. I know he is slow, but I heard he is the one who gives 100% effort on the court. If he can improve his 3pt shot and be effective rebounder and screener, I can see him as 3rd string big next year.

I like him and I hope they can find a place for him.

I’m a little frustrated with the coverage he’s gotten from the local Locked On podcaster, Ben Beecken. Even when he had an episode on each individual player, he didn’t do his research, saying, “I think Garza was All Big Ten or something.” Garza was Sporting News National Player of the Year, for two consecutive seasons. The last person to do that was named Michael Jordan. He went on to stress that Garza needs to work on his three point shooting, after shooting 44% in his senior year at Iowa. Just a minimal amount of effort on Beecken’s part should have made him more aware.

Finally, I really liked Garza at the end of the Clippers game. With the game tied, I think the next four possessions were that he scored, blocked Diamonte, made a beautiful assist, and then got a strip on defense. I know this was third stringers vs third stringers, but I am happy we got a win, and are undefeated in pre-season.

Ben Beecken should not be doing podcasts. Listening to his shows is like a visit to the dentist. I will watch sometimes because it's Timberwolves content, but they need to find somebody anybody to replace him.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

I noticed here that Moore played some PG. I am very intrigued by his development this season.

[winforlose]

2 questions for the group.

1. Has Naz proven his skills well enough to get a starting role on another team?

2. If we trade Naz, what is the minimum return we need back? I want to point out that keeping him and letting him leave in free agency does have value this season, especially if we think we might go somewhere this year. But, we are asset poor and lack minutes for Naz. Getting something of value for Naz (young player in different position, or a protected first likely to convey,) has real value as well.

[minimus]

2 questions for the group.

1. Has Naz proven his skills well enough to get a starting role on another team?

2. If we trade Naz, what is the minimum return we need back? I want to point out that keeping him and letting him leave in free agency does have value this season, especially if we think we might go somewhere this year. But, we are asset poor and lack minutes for Naz. Getting something of value for Naz (young player in different position, or a protected first likely to convey,) has real value as well.

1. until he proves that he can defend PNR he cant be starter in NBA. But he has shown enough to be backup C in NBA

2. two second round picks with at least one in 31-40 range

[KGdaBom]

2 questions for the group.

1. Has Naz proven his skills well enough to get a starting role on another team?

2. If we trade Naz, what is the minimum return we need back? I want to point out that keeping him and letting him leave in free agency does have value this season, especially if we think we might go somewhere this year. But, we are asset poor and lack minutes for Naz. Getting something of value for Naz (young player in different position, or a protected first likely to convey,) has real value as well.

1. until he proves that he can defend PNR he cant be starter in NBA. But he has shown enough to be backup C in NBA

2. two second round picks with at least one in 31-40 range

I sure wouldn't trade Naz for that garbage.

[Klomp]

I noticed here that Moore played some PG. I am very intrigued by his development this season.

Showed that skill in college too (start at 3:46 below)

Watch on YouTube