Does KAT Want Out?

[jpatrick]

If we do move KAT, I want to go full tank in 2023. Move KAT for a ton of draft picks and rookie scale guys (I see you Pels). You do what you have to to get as many lotto balls in an attempt to draft the best center prospect since Shaq. Maybe the best overall prospect since Lebron.

Our future center: Victor Wembanyama

I'm torn.

I get the appeal, I mean I've been sold this pitch...what, 3 times now? (After KG, after Love, then again after Butler?) But that's what's turning me off it too. How many times do we have to put everything on Red 21 before we realise putting all our hopes and dreams on something we cannot possibly control is foolish.

I'd also be curious if the new ownership is keen on tanking, seeing as how they're probably interested in a return on investment sooner rather than later.

Personally, I'm at a point where if we can get some young vets + a couple of picks I'd probably do that. 1 trade I was mulling was something along the lines of;

Spurs: KAT
Wolves: Murray, Poeltl, Vassell, then whatever picks to balance the value (though probably not many. Maybe 2 with another swap?)

The point being to bring in young vets (Murray is 25, Poeltl I think 26) that can help the team continue (begin?) moving upwards, but that still fit with Ant and can be around for the next 4-5 years.

I doubt the Spurs five up those players plus picks. But even if they do, what’s the ceiling? And I the Spurs players, but they are not all stars. DLo would probably be let go in free agency. A Murray, Ant, Vassell, Poeltl, and random PF is at best a 7-10 seed type team. With no draft picks, we become treadmill.

I get not wanting to go full tank again though.

[Neeva]

If we do move KAT, I want to go full tank in 2023. Move KAT for a ton of draft picks and rookie scale guys (I see you Pels). You do what you have to to get as many lotto balls in an attempt to draft the best center prospect since Shaq. Maybe the best overall prospect since Lebron.

Our future center: Victor Wembanyama

I am down for the tallest/skinniest front line ever in Wembanyama, Holmgren and Mcdaniels

[shangrila]

If we do move KAT, I want to go full tank in 2023. Move KAT for a ton of draft picks and rookie scale guys (I see you Pels). You do what you have to to get as many lotto balls in an attempt to draft the best center prospect since Shaq. Maybe the best overall prospect since Lebron.

Our future center: Victor Wembanyama

I'm torn.

I get the appeal, I mean I've been sold this pitch...what, 3 times now? (After KG, after Love, then again after Butler?) But that's what's turning me off it too. How many times do we have to put everything on Red 21 before we realise putting all our hopes and dreams on something we cannot possibly control is foolish.

I'd also be curious if the new ownership is keen on tanking, seeing as how they're probably interested in a return on investment sooner rather than later.

Personally, I'm at a point where if we can get some young vets + a couple of picks I'd probably do that. 1 trade I was mulling was something along the lines of;

Spurs: KAT
Wolves: Murray, Poeltl, Vassell, then whatever picks to balance the value (though probably not many. Maybe 2 with another swap?)

The point being to bring in young vets (Murray is 25, Poeltl I think 26) that can help the team continue (begin?) moving upwards, but that still fit with Ant and can be around for the next 4-5 years.

I doubt the Spurs five up those players plus picks. But even if they do, what’s the ceiling? And I the Spurs players, but they are not all stars. DLo would probably be let go in free agency. A Murray, Ant, Vassell, Poeltl, and random PF is at best a 7-10 seed type team. With no draft picks, we become treadmill.

I get not wanting to go full tank again though.

Fair enough. And I have no idea what fair value looks like in a KAT trade.

Honestly? I'd take a treadmill team.

[Foye]

Then why are we talking about trading him? We have only a few talented players. He's one of them. To get to the top, you should keep adding talent, not subtracting.

NEWS: The Minnesota @Timberwolves acquire Taurean Prince, a 2022 Second Round Pick and cash considerations from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ricky Rubio.

Here is how adding talent looks like when tried by the Timberwolves.

This seems unfair. In fact, the last trade we did was to add talent, Juancho and Culver for Patrick Beverley.

The Rubio trade wasn’t to add talent. Rubio > Prince, though Prince could be more useful because we have DLo. But the real reason we did the trade was to add additional room under the lux so we could re-sign Vanderbilt and surprisingly, be able to afford to bring McLaughlin back as well.

I think the net of the two trades added talent.

Rubio is the best player out of all of them. So no it wasnt a move to add talent.

[thenbaman]

Maybe it was Jerry Colangelo he has a habit of doing that,lol

[Krapinsky]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

[Worm Guts]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

[shrink]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

Yeah, if a guy is traded from the Wolves, he randomly has a 16 (20?) of 29 chance of being on a playoff team. Probably higher, since we generally trade players like this to better teams for young prospects..

[Krapinsky]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

It implies a few things. One, we’ve had talent here and squandered it. Two, we’ve managed to water down our assets around KAT through poor roster management. In hindsight I think Rosas might have about as poor of a track record as any GM we’ve has this side of Kahn.

[Dewey]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

It implies a few things. One, we’ve had talent here and squandered it. Two, we’ve managed to water down our assets around KAT through poor roster management. In hindsight I think Rosas might have about as poor of a track record as any GM we’ve has this side of Kahn.

I dont disagree - but I would add that we have not had players that attract free agents … clearly no one has beat the door down to play with anyone player on this roster… our best players lack grit and leadership.

[Worm Guts]

The list of former Wolves as cogs on playoff teams is something.

Lavine
Rubio
Butler
Rose
Wiggins and Bjelicia
Saric
Covington
Jones

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

It implies a few things. One, we’ve had talent here and squandered it. Two, we’ve managed to water down our assets around KAT through poor roster management. In hindsight I think Rosas might have about as poor of a track record as any GM we’ve has this side of Kahn.

I think it exaggerates the talent we’ve had, although we squandered the talent we did have. The only difference makers on that list are Butler and maybe Lavine. Guys like Jones, Bjelica or Saric don’t do much to affect whether you’re making the playoffs even if they are capable of being rotation players are the right playoff team.

[winforlose]

I’m not sure I agree with what this implies. Most of these guys are who we thought they were. (And Zach Lavine hasn’t played a playoff game yet)

It implies a few things. One, we’ve had talent here and squandered it. Two, we’ve managed to water down our assets around KAT through poor roster management. In hindsight I think Rosas might have about as poor of a track record as any GM we’ve has this side of Kahn.

I dont disagree - but I would add that we have not had players that attract free agents … clearly no one has beat the door down to play with anyone player on this roster… our best players lack grit and leadership.

You know I keep hearing KAT is soft, lacks leadership, lacks grit, ect… Look at Hardin, Doncic, CP3, and really any other elite player, how are they different? I see them all complain. I see them all lobby the refs for better calls or at least to try and get them to pay more attention to a specific action by their defenders. KAT often faces double and triple teams and still finds a way to be the most efficient and often highest scoring Wolf. He just dropped 20 on 11 while Ant dropped 17 on 22 and Beasley dropped 18 on 18. What exactly does KAT need to do to stop being soft? Please use specifics as it seems the goal post keeps changing. Also, I would point out that the 17-18 season was 4 years ago now. Butler didn’t play with KAT much in the 18-19 because of “General Soreness.” So the argument that he was soft years ago doesn’t by itself so much for me.

[moss_is_1]

I hope any team that we trade him to also wants DLO. get rid of both of them. Start fresh with Ant, Jaden, Naz. Shop Beasley for picks as well if thats the case.

DLo only has one more year left on his contract and has no trade value. He might be salary filler in a trade. But I could also just seeing him leaving after next offseason as a FA.

Rosas. What were you thinking?

Good call on his contract. If that's the case then could for sure seeing this as the make or break season for KAT. Doesn't work out, dump him, don't resign Bev, Prince(or move them at the deadline for picks if we're out of it), then use Russell as an expiring trade bait or let his ass expire the following season.

[Wolveswin]

Yes.

Next question.

[shangrila]

Yeah, if he wasn't before then last night was the definitive answer to me.

I think the only question is when; mid-season or after?

Which would you prefer?

[jpatrick]

Yeah, if he wasn't before then last night was the definitive answer to me.

I think the only question is when; mid-season or after?

Which would you prefer?

I don’t think it’ll be midseason only because Lore/Arod will want their handpicked POBO/GM making the trade, not Gupta.

[Wolveswin]

Yeah, if he wasn't before then last night was the definitive answer to me.

I think the only question is when; mid-season or after?

Which would you prefer?

I don’t think it’ll be midseason only because Lore/Arod will want their handpicked POBO/GM making the trade, not Gupta.

The answer is what someone is willing to pay. That tells you the WHEN.

If at deadline, Towns is biggest name on block: no Beal, Dame, Zion (yes I said it). AND he stands value wise above Wood, Grant, Turner/Sabonis, maybe Fox…Wolves might get a godfather offer. Sadly Towns and Wolves need to play better to have that false hope as a Wolves fan.

[Slim Tubby]

I'm ready to move KAT but I wouldn't even entertain offers until after the Draft Lottery results next Spring. I would want to know the exact value of the pick(s) coming back along with young talent that we surround Ant with. Moving KAT also means getting his buddy Russell out of her asap. The problem is you can't include Russell in the KAT trade because it would most certainly diminish our return for Towns.

[Mattya]

If we are to trade him the teams to look at at the Thunder and Hawks. The one thing we can’t do in another rebuild is rely on all young unproven players tho. So if it isn’t in the trade for Towns we gotta go out and get some proven players in follow up moves.

[Foye]

I'm ready to move KAT but I wouldn't even entertain offers until after the Draft Lottery results next Spring. I would want to know the exact value of the pick(s) coming back along with young talent that we surround Ant with. Moving KAT also means getting his buddy Russell out of her asap. The problem is you can't include Russell in the KAT because it would most certainly diminish our return for Towns.

Russell's expring will be a good asset in 2022/23 to acquire either picks or young talent from a team looking to shred salary as long as the new owners are willing to take on future deadweight salary (which the new owners probably will refuse to - but should given Minnesota is not a FA location anyway).