2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

[Suns_fan69]

Weird move for the Wolves. I get that it's tax/apron related, but the team just went to the Western finals, and Edwards is still on the way up. Minnesota fans must be frustrated.

 

[Yuma]

When Randle and Gobert have their inevitable fist fight I hope it's on TV and not in the locker room.

I am betting on Randle.

 

[Phrazbit]

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[Cheesebeef]

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Haha… nice.

I think this move slightly buttresses my argument that the Knicks valuing Bridges as worth 5 first rounders doesn’t automatically mean he was actually worth that price.

I’m super interested to see what this Knicks team is like though this season.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't hate this for the Knicks. They didn't miss a beat when Randle went down and there have been a lot of signs that he was not well liked in that locker room. Losing DeVincenzo hurts, especially with how often OG gets injured. Towns is a very bad defender (Randle is pretty lousy on D as well) but he's worse as a 4 on D than as a 5, and he shoots from all the same areas Randle does, only he's much better at shooting. They might get killed on the glass though.

For Minnesota, this looks like it's all about salary, because it just doesn't make sense on paper. Randle and Gobert seem like an awful pairing and Edwards openly complains when he feels like the lane is clogged and with those guys, the lane is going to be clogged. None of them compliment each other. Randle has a player option at the end of the season and I expect he will decline it and the Wolves will let him walk for nothing.

Also, this Pistons 1st round pick the Wolves got will become a 2nd rounder unless the Pistons make the playoffs... and they ain't making the playoffs.

So, a role player, a toxic "star" forward on a lame duck contract and a 2nd round pick, for Towns... I'm a certified Towns doubter, but that is a joke of a return.

Coming off that WCF showing too... just a really strange move by Minnesota.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't hate this for the Knicks. They didn't miss a beat when Randle went down

Not sure this can be said with a lot of authority. The Knicks were 29-17 when Randle went down and surging but ended up only 21-15 after he got injured. That’s a difference between a 53 win club and a 48 win club over the course of the season. 5 games seems like a pretty solid difference between success measures.

I like the move a tiny bit more for Minnesota. It gives them a much needed second option who can score and create for himself and others a little bit. Towns was also becoming one of the biggest choke artists ever.

Overall though, I don’t think it moves the needle for either team but it does allow the Wolves to get out from under Towns’ terrible contract and even worst stupidity on the court.

 

[Phrazbit]

Not sure this can be said with a lot of authority. The Knicks were 29-17 when Randle went down and surging but ended up only 21-15 after he got injured. That’s a difference between a 53 win club and a 48 win club over the course of the season. 5 games seems like a pretty solid difference between success measures.

I like the move a tiny bit more for Minnesota. It gives them a much needed second option who can score and create for himself and others a little bit. Towns was also becoming one of the biggest choke artists ever.

Overall though, I don’t think it moves the needle for either team but it does allow the Wolves to get out from under Towns’ terrible contract and even worst stupidity on the court.

Randle can get pretty stupid out there, he has some turnovers that are beyond comprehension, and his shot selection is awful. He's a better passer than Towns, I'll give you that. I think this really wrecks Minnesota's spacing, Gobert is a non-factor outside of 5 feet and Randle LOVES to shoot outside but he's really bad at it, he is good in the post but if he plays down low he's going to have Gobert and Gobert's defender in the way. He isn't a catch and shoot guy either, part of the reason he has decent assist numbers is because he pounds the rock, lots of dribbling.

I think the Wolves took a step back, not sure how big, might be small, if my thoughts on the chemistry are on point, then it could be huge.

I don't know how the Towns thing is going to work out in NY, but I think they have some good leaders on that team and they have some defenders to help cover how terrible he is on that end. He's a front runner though, if things start off bad there and the Garden crowd turns on him he could go really sideways.

 

[Raindog]

My take is that really wasn't that great for either team. Minnesota in my opinion takes two steps back from a team that made a surprising surge upwards last year, although I get they are doing it solely for economic flexibility. So maybe it pays off down the road, who knows. But their team next season is going to be significantly weaker on the court (but good news for the Suns on that front).

New York gets the better asset out of it, but not at all a sure thing how Towns will fit into the chemistry mix in NY. Because of the unique nature of that market, moves like this have a definite history of going sidewise for them. We'll see how it plays out this time.

 

[GatorAZ]

Randle can get pretty stupid out there, he has some turnovers that are beyond comprehension, and his shot selection is awful. He's a better passer than Towns, I'll give you that. I think this really wrecks Minnesota's spacing, Gobert is a non-factor outside of 5 feet and Randle LOVES to shoot outside but he's really bad at it, he is good in the post but if he plays down low he's going to have Gobert and Gobert's defender in the way. He isn't a catch and shoot guy either, part of the reason he has decent assist numbers is because he pounds the rock, lots of dribbling.

I think the Wolves took a step back, not sure how big, might be small, if my thoughts on the chemistry are on point, then it could be huge.

I don't know how the Towns thing is going to work out in NY, but I think they have some good leaders on that team and they have some defenders to help cover how terrible he is on that end. He's a front runner though, if things start off bad there and the Garden crowd turns on him he could go really sideways.

That’s what the Knicks are banking on. They’re finally an adult franchise with good leadership/chemistry. Meanwhile the T-Wolves have a frontcourt straight out of 1994. Edwards is a superstar but he’s none too bright and goofy enough to get weird if things go south. The Suns have improved moderately and the Wolves have declined moderately although I do like the DiVencenzo piece for depth.

 

[Phrazbit]

My take is that really wasn't that great for either team. Minnesota in my opinion takes two steps back from a team that made a surprising surge upwards last year, although I get they are doing it solely for economic flexibility. So maybe it pays off down the road, who knows. But their team next season is going to be significantly weaker on the court (but good news for the Suns on that front).

New York gets the better asset out of it, but not at all a sure thing how Towns will fit into the chemistry mix in NY. Because of the unique nature of that market, moves like this have a definite history of going sidewise for them. We'll see how it plays out this time.

Very fair.

I think this is a step backwards for Minnesota and if New York improved, I don't know by how much and there is more risk on their end.

That’s what the Knicks are banking on. They’re finally an adult franchise with good leadership/chemistry. Meanwhile the T-Wolves have a frontcourt straight out of 1994. Edwards is a superstar but he’s none too bright and goofy enough to get weird if things go south. The Suns have improved moderately and the Wolves have declined moderately although I do like the DiVencenzo piece for depth.

There were some hot mic moments as the Wolves were getting knocked out in the semifinals that really made me question Edwards, flat out trashing his teammates on the court:

"This ****** talking about passing the ball and s***… F out of here. Pass me the f*ing ball."

"I’m better than these ******, man. Those ****** can’t f with me."

Maybe he was unraveling a bit as they got routed, but that is toxic stuff.

Now you add Randle, a total loose cannon, to that team... and you've got Gobert over there, who gets strangled and punched by his teammates as often as his opponents, things might get crazy.