05-31-2024, 12:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-31-2024, 01:16 PM by KillerLeft.)
(05-31-2024, 12:50 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Yeah, it was interesting to hear people say entering the playoffs that the Timberwolves will be here for a long time. With this new CBA, I think a long time is different from what it used to be. Maybe with OKC being the exception. I think Minny has the right kind of star to build around. They have a good GM and a nicely put together roster. There are issues though. One being the ownership. The current owner is terrible but may have more money. The new owners may not have the money. Their GM may be tied to the new owners too. The GM has an option this offseason.
As far as players go, Kat extensions begins to kick in. Naz Reid has an opt out next year that he will surely take. He is going to get a big pay day. Is that feasible if KAT and Gobert is on the roster?
Age is also a concern. Gobert was very good this year but will be 32 soon. Can he stay at this level for the next 3-4 years? I have always liked Conley but he will be 37 years old soon. Minny currently has not option waiting in the wings. He did sign an extension but you really need to watch his minutes.
The KAT decision is huge. I think he is good. I just don't trust him. Ideally he would be your third guy. Sort of like a better version wildcard that Michael Porter is in Denver. At that salary though, he really needs to be one of your top 2 players. He showed in these playoffs that he did do this for a few series. Just didn't do it vs Dallas.
Yeah, I go back-and-forth between two extremes on Minnesota.
Part of me just doesn’t buy KAT at all as a player. Sometimes I think he is just too soft and too mentally weak to ever be what they need him to be. They could trade him and reinvent themselves somewhat that way, but it would still be basically what they are now, just hopefully a better version of it.
But the other part of me just doesn’t know if they will ever be able to win with the ball in Edwards’ hands while Gobert is on the floor. I think Jason Timpf nailed it last night. Because Gobert does not have utility on the offensive end the way lively does, He is literally, and I mean quite literally, in Edwards’ way. I’m not sure if they could even move him at his current salary, but if they could, and they played KAT at center, They could easily create enough space for Edwards to get downhill anytime he wanted against damn near any defensive scheme out there. At that point, if the paint was taken away from Edwards, KAT could literally just play horse. I am 100% positive this would have a negative impact on Minnesota’s defense, but I also feel like Edwards might win the next three scoring titles that way.
Thinking about all of that, and then mixing in the obvious second apron issues they are up against, I would say Minnesota is at a bit of a cross roads.