[JDB12Participant]

I’m worried…

Since Towns arrived two years ago the Wolves have been considered to arguably have the highest ceiling in the NBA. I think a lot of people including me, thought the Wolves were going to take a significant step forward this season and possibly contend for a playoff spot. But all year they continued to disappoint… this year they will only finish 2 or 3 wins better than last season. To be fair, I think they were much more competitive than last season in most of their games, but they still can’t finish games and found themselves losing to the bottom feeders in the NBA multiple times. They often have very efficient first halves, and then fall apart in either the third, fourth or both. Is this just a result of the youth or losing environment that the Wolves have been apart of for about a decade? Am I jumping the gun for being worried or do I need to be more patient? I know we didn’t have LaVine for the second half of the season who was arguably our best player this season, but I still just expected more from them. Will Kris Dunn work out? Will the Wolves keep Ricky and will he keep up his improved play in the last month to next season? Will LaVine come back and play as good or better than last season after the ACL? Will Thibs’ stifling defensive schemes and coaching show next season? And who should they draft? There are just more questions than I was hoping for… But part of being a fan is having faith!

What do you guys think about the Wolves?

 

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 They’ll be fine. Usually, most highly touted freshmen became stars during their 3rd or 4th year in the league and the young core of Wolves are no different. Towns and Wiggins will be stars and the Wolves have a bright future. Guys like Davis and Wall made the playoffs not until their 3rd or 4th year in the league. The same case with Durant and Curry as well. Lebron made his first playoff appearance in his 3rd year in the league so yeah. I would only be worried if this team doesn’t win at least 40 games next season.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I think they’ll need someone really deadly from outside. 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 I think JJ Redick would be a great fit with this team then put Lavine off the bench.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Big Wolves fan here. I was hoping for 45 wins this year but looking back I guess I’m not surprised that the team hasn’t progressed as quickly. They’ve got two guys that would start on most teams. When Lavine went down, it became really clear how depleted they are roster-wise. 

Dunn giving them nothing has hurt them a ton too of course. 

They just need more good players. It’s not that complicated. They’ve got the core guys to build around in Towns and Wiggins but they need to put quality players around them. When Brandon Rush, Nemanja Bjelica, Cole Aldrich and Shabazz Muhammed are key rotation guys, your team isn’t going to be good unless you’ve got LeBron playing or Pop coaching. 

This is a huge offseason for them because if they are ever going to add outside help via FA, its now or never. Once they resign Wiggins and Lavine and then Towns, they won’t have money to go get help. So they’ve got to find guys now that can help them. 

With that thought in mind, I don’t think they should trade their pick. Once they max out the roster financially, the only way to get better is to do so internally. Draft a 19/20 year old and let him grow. But build up the roster so that said 19/20 year old isn’t forced into significant playing time right away. 

A good offseason for me would include the Wolves signing PJ Tucker and Taj Gibson and drafting Dennis Smith. 

Rubio-Tucker-Wiggins-Gibson-Towns

Smith-Dunn-Lavine-Bjelica-Dieng 

That’s a rotation I can live with. There’s a bit of a log jam on the wing there and you may have to decide between Lavine and Dunn and measure which one can get you more in a trade versus which one fits your roster best going forward but I think that’s a group that can win next year but also continue to get better. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[markfitz14Participant]

They need som depth plain and simple. Some vets that could instantly compete would do amazing things for them. They are doing a disservice if they don’t sign some FA  round out the team next year. Can’t just depend on the draft for multiple years. 

[thetrademachineryParticipant]

i still believe rubio – wiggins – butler would be a nightmare backcourt and they should search for a possible trade scenario for this. And millsap is a great veteran fit from free agency.

rubio – wiggins – butler – millsap – towns

 

 

 

 

 

[thetrademachineryParticipant]

 their new logo sucks btw.

[vulture711Participant]

 The biggest disappointment in the NBA.  Even before Zach went down they were struggling.  They play little D and when you get past their Big 3 you don’t get much production (little to nothing from the bench).  The Lakers game over the weekend sort of spelled it all – Wiggins and Towns combine for 81 – they get 14 points from the entore bench, give up 110 to a mediocre team and lose again

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 They are the best first half team in the entire league- they just need to work on closing out games. They are fine

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 This is exactly how the Jazz were last year and the year before that. They struggled to win games. Last year especially, their entire season was full of close losses. Then what did they do in the offseason, stocked up on some veterans (Hill, Diaw, and Joe Johnson) and now look at the a 50- win team who might get home court advantage tonight, or if not will at least advance to the semifinals and give quite a challenge to the top-seeded warriors.The Jazz only won 40 games last year. That’s a 10 win improvement in just one season all because they added some desperate veteran depth. (Oh yeah and did I mention, the Jazz had starting players in and out of their lineup all season long. The starters only played like 13 games together this season! Yet they still won 50 games!!) Before this year the Jazz were a very young team just like the Wolves are.

The Wolves just need to add some veteran depth. Do that and you got a 40-45 win team that could possibly challenge for the 8th spot next year. As a matter of fact if the Wolves do add some veterans in the offseason, I’d put them in my list of contenders for the 8th seed next year. Along with the Kings, and Nuggets. So no, nothing to worry about, they are right where they should be. Just be patient, their time will come.

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 I don’t Luv lavine but he’s a good player.

I really think Dunn giving them nothing really hurt them. 

If you put a high level PG w/ Towns the Wolves could Really do some damage. 

You guys just need time. Pieces will continue to be added.

The Hardest part is getting that True Superstar & a #2 option. And you guys Already have that. The only other young team w/ Two potential Stars like Minnesota has is Milwaukee w/ the Greek Freak & Jabari Parker & Phila w/ EmBeast & Ben Scrizzle.

 After that you can fill in pieces but you have to be patient but you guys Already have the Heavy lifting Done w/ KAT & Wig-Money-Grizip 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[canadabasketballisrisingParticipant]

I think they needs to try and trade lavine, but after hes played for a while, as his value is too low with the knee. Not the best fit with Rubio, I can see them trading Dunn, their pick and lavine for George and young, and playing Wiggins at the 2, and young as the 4 man. I don’t want his contact either, but getting a player of george’s value, costs alot. 

Rubio, Wiggins, George, Young and KAT, would be very competitive. 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Sign Gallinari to a big contract. Trade Lavine for a big mean PF – maybe something like a Favors for Lavine swap with some throw ins included could work. 

Rubio-Wiggins-Gallinari-Favors-KAT — I’ll take that lineup anyday. 

Draft Smith Jr and prosper. 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 How much stupid was Thibs last summer not to take bulls offer of butler for lavine and dunn? You just take the deal in a heartbeat and go from there, trying next to find how to improve shooting…

[Author]

Posts