Devin Vassell has to go asap.

[exstatic]

Have you actually followed their season?
They started off slowly, had an adjustment period.
23-22 at the start of the season.
6 game winning streak in January, then Randle got injured.
5-8 without him.
8 winning streak after he returned, 14 winning streak when he played.
9-4 to end the season.

Saying that NAW should be the priority is just dumb and invalidates the entire post.
Naz and Randle both have arguments over eachother, but NAW is just a bench player.

Guess who was starting while Randle was out? That's right, Naz Reid.
Started a total of 17 games this season.
5 games with 50%+ FG.
1 with 45-50% FG.
4 with 40-45% FG.
7 below 40% FG.

Naz Reid is a great 6th man, but most of his advantage comes from backup bigs getting ran off the floor due to his range and the ability to attack closeouts.
He's not that good as a starter.
20 to 25 million a year is fair value for him.



I was the one who's been saying they can't keep everyone even before the KAT trade and even before Dillingham draft deal.
I'm just saying they'll have to think really hard about who should be the priority.
Naz isn't worth more than 20 to 25 million a year. Randle 25 to 30.
Getting rid of Gobert and replacing him with a rim protector with half the salary would be ideal.

Naz is a player for the modern era. He defends, and is switchable. If you feel he can’t start, go get a cheaper starting option than Julius Randle. He reminds me of Bonzi Wells, in that you could look at his stat sheet and figure out when his contract years were. He coasted the rest of the time.

[LeBowen]

Naz is a player for the modern era.

True.

He defends, and is switchable.

Questionable.
He can do it for some possessions, but doesn't have the motor to play switch heavy defense for long stretches.

If you feel he can’t start, go get a cheaper starting option than Julius Randle.

I don't think anyone will offer Randle more than $30M he's on now and he's definitely been worth that money this season.

He reminds me of Bonzi Wells, in that you could look at his stat sheet and figure out when his contract years were. He coasted the rest of the time.

I don't take playing for garbage organizations against players.
Lakers and Pelicans were both garbage, Knicks were also a show when he joined and he kept them relevant.
Yeah, he was horrible in '23 playoffs, but he was a legit 1A-1B with Brunson last season until his injury.

Been very good again this season.
As I said many times, I really hate the NBA fan culture of every player either being 10/10 or 0/10.
Noone is solid or good, everyone is either amazing or garbage.

[scott]

Cam is more of an energizer off the bench...or at least that's what he's better suited for.

Can say the same about Devin, tbh... while they are very different players, they are actually quite similar in a lot of ways

[scott]

Are they over the 2nd tier if they let Naz walk?

They can keep them both and stay under the 2nd apron if one of them (if Randle opts out) will resign starting at $25MM/yr instead of $30MM.

[mo7888]

They can keep them both and stay under the 2nd apron if one of them (if Randle opts out) will resign starting at $25MM/yr instead of $30MM.

I'm guessing they couldn't use their MLE if they keep both? And do they want Naz and Randle on longterm deals? I doubt it. They may be forced to make a choice there.

[rascal]

If you want to focus on one single series you are welcomed to do so, but there is no doubt Randle didn’t do well the entire season and the wolves disappointed this year, with Randle getting most of that blame.

The wolves got real lucky in the playoffs, first facing a lakers team who’s +/- is more like an 8th seed team but somehow miraculously got the third seed, then faced a warriors team that wasn’t all that great to begin with, struggled against it and then have curry go down.

Wolves have to choose between randle, Reid and NAW. Of the three Randle should be the last priority.

How was Randle a disappointment? His regular season numbers were similar to his career numbers.

Regular Season (2024-2025)

32.3 Min/gm, 18.7 pts/gm, 48.5 FG%, 34.4 fg/3%, 7.1 R, 4.7 A, 0.7 steals, 0.2 blocks

Career (2014-2024)

32.0 Min/gm, 19.0 pts/gm, 47.1 FG%, 33.3 fg/3%, 9.1 R, 3.8 A, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks

[scott]

I'm guessing they couldn't use their MLE if they keep both? And do they want Naz and Randle on longterm deals? I doubt it. They may be forced to make a choice there.

I'm hoping that Randle continues to have a really strong playoffs to force them into having to choose one or the other... there is a pathway for them to retain both for the long term, but that pathway is relatively narrow. All depends on one of them starting at $25MM like I said... I hoping BKN has an affinity for Naz and makes him a very strong offer to be their tank commander going forward

[mo7888]

I'm hoping that Randle continues to have a really strong playoffs to force them into having to choose one or the other... there is a pathway for them to retain both for the long term, but that pathway is relatively narrow. All depends on one of them starting at $25MM like I said... I hoping BKN has an affinity for Naz and makes him a very strong offer to be their tank commander going forward

Agreed. I hope for the same..

[RC_Drunkford]

The T-Wolves problem is offense. Because Conley is old and can't get in the lane and Edwards is not a PG. They have the same issue we had with CP3 at PG before we aquired Fox. There's nobody being able to suck in the defense and create easy open looks except Edwards when he decides to drive and he doesn't do that enough.

Randle actually helps bail them out with his post ups, which is why he's a good fit for this team and I don't even like Randle.

[scott]

MIN picks 17... I think we'll likely see them do some kind of deal where they package that pick and Conley for a younger PG on a rookie deal or relatively cheap deal. Something like Ayo from CHI or Cason Wallace (though OKC doesn't need any more picks... but maybe a third team gets involved whereby Conley and 17 get rerouted for future draft capital so OKC just keeps reloading the war chest and they make room for Topic and Ajay Mitc to take over for Wallace as the backup PG)

[ambchang]

Have you actually followed their season?
They started off slowly, had an adjustment period.
23-22 at the start of the season.
6 game winning streak in January, then Randle got injured.
5-8 without him.
8 winning streak after he returned, 14 winning streak when he played.
9-4 to end the season.

Saying that NAW should be the priority is just dumb and invalidates the entire post.
Naz and Randle both have arguments over eachother, but NAW is just a bench player.

Guess who was starting while Randle was out? That's right, Naz Reid.
Started a total of 17 games this season.
5 games with 50%+ FG.
1 with 45-50% FG.
4 with 40-45% FG.
7 below 40% FG.

Naz Reid is a great 6th man, but most of his advantage comes from backup bigs getting ran off the floor due to his range and the ability to attack closeouts.
He's not that good as a starter.
20 to 25 million a year is fair value for him.



I was the one who's been saying they can't keep everyone even before the KAT trade and even before Dillingham draft deal.
I'm just saying they'll have to think really hard about who should be the priority.
Naz isn't worth more than 20 to 25 million a year. Randle 25 to 30.
Getting rid of Gobert and replacing him with a rim protector with half the salary would be ideal.

Could’ve read it wrong and admit I haven’t been fully following the wolves the entire year. What I recalled was that the talks were largely wolves lost the trade and randle wasn’t a good fit with them.

Naw is much cheaper, younger, and his perimeter defence is great. There has been countless rumours that the wolves are prioritizing Reid and NAW over randle so I’m not sure why it’s such a shocking take. Randle is known to give up as much as it gives you.

You make it sound like the wolves were some world beating team, but they ended up as the 6th seed with a record of 49-33.

It depends if the wolves wanted to avoid the 2nd apron quicker and how they see the current team. It makes little sense for them to trade KAT away because of the tax then do nothing and keep paying the tax afterwards.

[ambchang]

How was Randle a disappointment? His regular season numbers were similar to his career numbers.

Regular Season (2024-2025)

32.3 Min/gm, 18.7 pts/gm, 48.5 FG%, 34.4 fg/3%, 7.1 R, 4.7 A, 0.7 steals, 0.2 blocks

Career (2014-2024)

32.0 Min/gm, 19.0 pts/gm, 47.1 FG%, 33.3 fg/3%, 9.1 R, 3.8 A, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks

Are you serious? You are coming his prime year against his career average? I’m here for honest disagreements on points but this is straight out dishonest.

His ppg is the worst since year four. Rebounds is fhe worst ever (unless you count his rookie year where he played two games). Assists is the 2nd worst of the last 5 years. There is no question statistics were worse than his time with the Knicks.

It’s like saying a sprinter didn’t slow down because his last 10m is the same average speed is the same has his first 90m as if they don’t need time to accerlatebb

[dn0774]

Are you serious? You are coming his prime year against his career average? I’m here for honest disagreements on points but this is straight out dishonest.

His ppg is the worst since year four. Rebounds is fhe worst ever (unless you count his rookie year where he played two games). Assists is the 2nd worst of the last 5 years. There is no question statistics were worse than his time with the Knicks.

It’s like saying a sprinter didn’t slow down because his last 10m is the same average speed is the same has his first 90m as if they don’t need time to accerlatebb

Damn, tough critic lol

I am the furthest thing from a Randle guy but I admit he actually had a better season than I expected (my expectations were low), especially taking into account team performance and his personal playoff performance thus far. He was never going to have the same featured role as he did for the Knicks (which his usage% reflects) so his counting stats took a dive as expected. But he actually had one of his better scoring efficiency seasons to date. The Wolves since March have been disgustingly elite and that just happened to coincide with Randle coming back from injury. Was it all him? Nah, I don't believe that but he certainly played his part.

Beating the Curry-less Warriors isn't impressive to me, but he did kind of feast on the Lakers and you could tell the Lakers didn't account for him at all in their game plan and it burned them.

[scott]

Are you serious? You are coming his prime year against his career average? I’m here for honest disagreements on points but this is straight out dishonest.

His ppg is the worst since year four. Rebounds is fhe worst ever (unless you count his rookie year where he played two games). Assists is the 2nd worst of the last 5 years. There is no question statistics were worse than his time with the Knicks.

It’s like saying a sprinter didn’t slow down because his last 10m is the same average speed is the same has his first 90m as if they don’t need time to accerlatebb

Kind of ironic to criticize comparing this years average versus career averages as disingenuous, and then turn around and point out his decline in raw counting stats while not taking into account the reduction in USG based on role.

You are right that at the time of the trade, it was widely viewed that the Wolves lost that trade... but after the season played out, the finished 2 games behind the team that "won" the trade, while playing in a tougher conference (and still only 3 games out of the 2 seed in the west) and are back in the WCF with Randle as their second option (and they certainly were better team when he was available versus when he was out).

I just find it hard to believe that MIN is feeling much regret about the trade or wishing they could rid themselves of Randle... but we'd probably have to ask Wolves fans.

I don't think the Wolves are going to go out and max Randle or anything... but I definitely think they'd like to retain him (along with Naz). The talk earlier in the year was that he'd definitely opt in, because no one else would give him $31MM. But if he likes MIN, I don't think it's crazy to think he might opt out to sign something like a 4/100 as his last big NBA deal, which would allow MIN to sign Naz and stay under the second apron (which I believe is the bigger consideration than the tax).

The tough thing is going to be if they are forced to choose between Randle and Naz (and I hope they are forced into that, for the sake of the compe ive landscape in the west)... if I were them I'd probably choose Naz, but it's not like Randle is some bum who needs to be vanquished ASAP.

[ambchang]

Kind of ironic to criticize comparing this years average versus career averages as disingenuous, and then turn around and point out his decline in raw counting stats while not taking into account the reduction in USG based on role.

You are right that at the time of the trade, it was widely viewed that the Wolves lost that trade... but after the season played out, the finished 2 games behind the team that "won" the trade, while playing in a tougher conference (and still only 3 games out of the 2 seed in the west) and are back in the WCF with Randle as their second option (and they certainly were better team when he was available versus when he was out).

I just find it hard to believe that MIN is feeling much regret about the trade or wishing they could rid themselves of Randle... but we'd probably have to ask Wolves fans.

I don't think the Wolves are going to go out and max Randle or anything... but I definitely think they'd like to retain him (along with Naz). The talk earlier in the year was that he'd definitely opt in, because no one else would give him $31MM. But if he likes MIN, I don't think it's crazy to think he might opt out to sign something like a 4/100 as his last big NBA deal, which would allow MIN to sign Naz and stay under the second apron (which I believe is the bigger consideration than the tax).

The tough thing is going to be if they are forced to choose between Randle and Naz (and I hope they are forced into that, for the sake of the compe ive landscape in the west)... if I were them I'd probably choose Naz, but it's not like Randle is some bum who needs to be vanquished ASAP.

Having raw counting stats average and taking into a count usage rate are sort of far apart. When rascal looked up counting stats, i can’t see anyway he’d (assuming the user is a he as I’m assuming most of us are) can take the effort to calculate the previous 8 years of stats to compare to this years stats without seeing that his stats plummeted from his Knicks years. He couldve pulled the usage rates and I’d be fine with the argument because that would be an honest argument. What he did was straight out dishonest.

In terms of results, randle played well in the playoffs based on matchups, but I’m just thinking what the wolves would do with their salary situation. There are many situations for them to make things work and yes, I’m looking at this is as a Boolean situation where they either keep or get rid of him. If they want to get rid of one of Randle, naz or NAW, I’d think it would be Randle, then eventually see how they can rid of Gobert and just rebuild around ant.

To your point though, if they can fit everyone under a team friendly deal, and they believe this team can contend, then they may run it for a few years. I think they are a pretender though.

[exstatic]

Having raw counting stats average and taking into a count usage rate are sort of far apart. When rascal looked up counting stats, i can’t see anyway he’d (assuming the user is a he as I’m assuming most of us are) can take the effort to calculate the previous 8 years of stats to compare to this years stats without seeing that his stats plummeted from his Knicks years. He couldve pulled the usage rates and I’d be fine with the argument because that would be an honest argument. What he did was straight out dishonest.

In terms of results, randle played well in the playoffs based on matchups, but I’m just thinking what the wolves would do with their salary situation. There are many situations for them to make things work and yes, I’m looking at this is as a Boolean situation where they either keep or get rid of him. If they want to get rid of one of Randle, naz or NAW, I’d think it would be Randle, then eventually see how they can rid of Gobert and just rebuild around ant.

To your point though, if they can fit everyone under a team friendly deal, and they believe this team can contend, then they may run it for a few years. I think they are a pretender though.

Randle’s career USG% is 26.6, compared to 25 this season. If his numbers are off his career numbers, the USG% makes it a fair criticism.

[DAF86]

Vassell already had his chance to prove he's a primary option and he didn't came through. Next season he needs to hone in into his 3 and D skills if he wants to have a future in this team.

[BackHome]

I think the problem is he is going to think he is the sixth man and will try to do to much starting with the second unit guys. When in reality he needs to play with the flow get people the ball and shoot when open and play hard defense all the time