2024 Timberwolves

With Kittykat gone, I thought a new thread was in order. I am super excited for the new season and a facelift. Never been a fan of Kat and all the whining he does. I would have shipped him off and signed Jimmy years ago but my opinion is meaningless. He makes too much money for what he gives back and its a business decision that was not a surprising move, it just took all summer to find a deal to absorb that kind of contract. I wish him well but after the honeymoon phase he will go back to the old whiny kitty he has always been. Great guy but not a great player.
Randle was in the deal to make the money work and not sure he will stay but he is a dog and this team could use guys like that. Divencenzo has improved EVERY year and is a flame throwing 3 point shooter this team will need. The 1st round Pistons pick seems like a downer after all the stipulations attached to it but this was a good deal for both teams. Gives the wolves flexibility to extend Naz or add another solid free agent I think?

I’ll still maintain this was a move about money, and the basketball effects were a distant second consideration. I don’t share your enthusiasm for Randle, nor the belief that any second big deal is coming. The other guy is a back-up, and while the shooting is nice he will in reality probably just hinder the development of the two guys we just drafted. This is a wing and a prayer hope that Naz and Jaden can still improve while not paying the tax. If it works, great, if it doesn’t you’ve just wasted the prime of the guy you picked to be lead dog, and we’re back in the usual Wolves rut. With so little draft capital remaining, there’s really no margin for error, and no place between those options. I would wager most rational Wolves fans expect the worst as its usually what happens with this team.

Absolutely a business decision. Karl was the odd man out. Feelings will be hurt but he don’t help in the grand scheme of things. Ant is the future and Karl don’t fit the timeline. Great move by TC and the season can’t come soon enough.
The West will be tough unlike the cakewalk in the East.

Wolves were getting pretty high on the luxury tax threshold.
Before the trade:

2024-25 Payroll: $205.56 million

2024-25 Luxury Tax Payment: $105.62 million

2024-25 Combined Payroll and Luxury Tax Payment: $311.18 million

The only team other than the Suns with more than a $300 million combined in salary and tax bills are the Wolves, who have also cemented themselves in place with a hugely expensive Big Three. Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards are all on huge salaries, and will be for a while. Yet even if the Wolves had any regrets about this, they would be hard pushed to do much about it, given the inflexibilities in trade that teams over both aprons face.

Interesting payroll vs. ___________

Yeah this was about the money simple as that. I’ve been critical of kat before but last year he really turned it around defensively. Still whined a lot but his d was much improved.

His D improved but he still took a lot of dumb fouls. I’m not sure you can fix that at this point.

I’m glad to see him gone. Ant is the only player that we hopefully never let leave. The pieces around him can be moved and changed and I’d trust Connelly on that.

I think in the end they realized what was obvious and that Kat is not a championship caliber player. Jimmy knew it and got the hell out. He may be a self proclaimed best long distance shooter but that don’t win Larry O’Briens. He don’t have that dog in him like you see with Ant, Conley and even Naz. I like that TC doesn’t care and worries about business decisions only. Too many players in MN get the MN nice treatment but nice don’t win you $hit.

The NBA salary cap rules are really complex but what I understand is they were going to be in the second apron which means the luxury tax they would pay was super high. They had to do something about it and getting rid of Kat was the best option.

I think it was a good money and basketball move. Kat proved he’s not a championship level player last playoffs. They need better pieces around ANT and now they have that and/or have a little more options to trade and resign players.

Conley and Finch seem to know their stuff. I just hope they can figure out how to get Gobert productive in the playoffs.

Did I hear correctly that the deal is still not official yet because of some salary cap discrepancies? Something like $8 million in salary needs to be reconciled by one of the teams…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Did I hear correctly that the deal is still not official yet because of some salary cap discrepancies? Something like $8 million in salary needs to be reconciled by one of the teams…

Yeah, that’s what they were saying on KFAN this morning, but sounds like that is a formality at this point. I love that they got rid of Kat, he’s soft as 10 ply and never won anywhere he’s been. Hopefully this is a lesson for all NBA front offices that max deals really only should go to Max Alpha Dogs, not whiny soft big men. This is Ant’s team, and Jaden is his Robin, everything else is exchangeable. Divenchenzo (sp?) is a better fit than Randle, but it’s all kind of meaningless as they just need shooters and defenders around Ant, Naz, and Jaden.

I was hoping they would “run it back” one more year with KAT, and after this season, offload his contract to reset. Easier said than done with his contract which escalates every year. Either way, the team has Ant so they will always have a chance. I personally believe Naz steps up and fills the KAT role. Excited for the season! (it should start in November)

Its crazy because I thought most fans would be pumped to see him go. I for one love the trade and actually think it makes the Timberwolves a better team and frees up a ton of money. They get some depth now and they needed a shooter bad! When Randle is healthy he is an above average player.

Maybe this is for my hate of KAT but his whining and complaining hurt the team a ton. Also will not miss when he would try and drive the lane out of control.

Did I read that Dante has more 3’s than any player in wolves history? People are underestimating the impact he can have. Yes this was about money but they also managed to get someone who can really contribute in pressure spots.

I like this team. Hopefully even deeper playoff run !

Besides my hatred of Kat’s whining in games he is a class act. I read Johnny Athletics article on how the day after KAT was traded he attended Johnny’s daughters soccer game because he wanted to see her before he flew out to New York. If you have a subscription to the Athletic I highly recommend reading it.

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
Did I hear correctly that the deal is still not official yet because of some salary cap discrepancies? Something like $8 million in salary needs to be reconciled by one of the teams…

Yeah, that’s what they were saying on KFAN this morning, but sounds like that is a formality at this point. I love that they got rid of Kat, he’s soft as 10 ply and never won anywhere he’s been. Hopefully this is a lesson for all NBA front offices that max deals really only should go to Max Alpha Dogs, not whiny soft big men. This is Ant’s team, and Jaden is his Robin, everything else is exchangeable. Divenchenzo (sp?) is a better fit than Randle, but it’s all kind of meaningless as they just need shooters and defenders around Ant, Naz, and Jaden.

I love the Timberwolves and root for them against anyone BUT the Bucks. Ant is fun to watch, the small market teams in the NBA being relevant makes the game better.

With that said, I think the Timberwolves are putting a lot of “eggs” in the basket of Jaden McDaniels. His stat line below is from last season:

10.5 points per game
3.1 rebounds per game
1.4 assists per game
0.9 steals per game

29 minutes played per game

***He’s going to have to be more of a factor offensively. Ant can get 30+ on any given night, but in today’s NBA that will get him an All Star spot and a 7 seed in the West without more help.

Maybe Divencenzo can be the Robin? Here’s his stat line from last season:

15.5 points per game
3.7 rebounds per game
2.7 assists per game
1.3 steals per game

29 minutes played per game

Yeah its going to be tough to replicate KATs production for sure.

buckybadger wrote:

With that said, I think the Timberwolves are putting a lot of “eggs” in the basket of Jaden McDaniels. His stat line below is from last season:

10.5 points per game
3.1 rebounds per game
1.4 assists per game
0.9 steals per game

29 minutes played per game

You forgot his 2 most important stats 2nd Team All-Defense last year and he’s only 24. Points are about the easiest stat to get in today’s NBA, and I see him improving quite a bit more as he develops and they feature him more. But doesn’t really matter as long as he is serviceable offensively and keeps it up on the defensive end.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Yeah its going to be tough to replicate KATs production for sure.

Should not be that hard Devicenzio stats were already posted.

Randle
46 games 24pts 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists

Kat
62 games 21pts 8 rebounds and 3 assists

I’m fine with the trade, there was no alternative $ wise if trying to keep the younger core together… I love Kat, but his trimmed ACL last season is a ticking timebomb moving forward as he ages…KAT playing for Thibs soap opera will be must see TV….

I’m not excited for Randle as his play style will clash a bit with others, but he’s likely just here this season before he’s dealt off… I know nothing about the other guy, the 1st round pick is interesting, but there’s risk it turns into nothing if Detroit remains terrible for the next few years and picks in the top 10…

I’m most excited to see Dillingham this season…

Ripjiggen wrote:

Should not be that hard Devicenzio stats were already posted.

Randle
46 games 24pts 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists

Kat
62 games 21pts 8 rebounds and 3 assists

Whoa KATs stats are a lot lower than I guess I expected them to be.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I’m fine with the trade, there was no alternative $ wise if trying to keep the younger core together… I love Kat, but his trimmed ACL last season is a ticking timebomb moving forward as he ages…

I’m not excited for Randle as his play style will clash a bit with others, but he’s likely just here this season before he’s dealt off… I know nothing about the other guy, the 1st round pick is interesting, but there’s risk it turns into nothing if Detroit remains terrible for the next few years and picks in the top 10…

I’m most excited to see Dillingham this season…

I doubt they ever see that first round pick.

Are we thinking Dillingham can/will be a significant contributor?

lindyrig79 wrote:

Are we thinking Dillingham can/will be a significant contributor?

You don’t make a move like they did to draft him for him not to be. However he is playing with men now so there will be a steep learning curve.

The other 1st rounder they drafted looks like a good player as well, although his expectations this season are much less than Dillingham’s…

If you want to see something funny, go look at what the Wolves future draft picks look like the next 6+ years out… so the team they have now will be pretty much the team they have for the next 5-6 seasons with some minor tweaks here and there of minimal salary players…

Donte can hoop!

I’m excited for double D. Should be a great addition!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Donte can hoop!

He’s going to be a key piece for the Timberwolves. He’s crazy athletic plus the ultimate 3 and D guy…combined with the “Villanova Way” making him more likely than not a great locker room guy

How about this lead into Episode 2 of the NBA series “Starting 5”

Ant is all the hype now!

https://x.com/kgformvp211/status/1844103011397927388?s=46&t=uoRWUp28rKzoSODmtmr3Lw