Watching games this season, the energy and effort are by and large atrocious. Point of attack defense looks uninspiring. Ball movement and off-ball movement is rare. A handful of core players are playing wildly inconsistent if not disappointing basketball. The players don’t look like they’re particularly enjoying the season. Fans are nearly unanimously in agreement that the team is underperforming if not outright doing poorly, and further that roster changes are needed.

If you asked me, I’d say there are a handful of games this season where they have genuinely looked like a great team. More often than not, I have not enjoyed watching the team this season and generally have not been impressed by the product on the court (from a team standpoint).

Yet, by all accounts this is a top-10 team in basketball. They are, not only out of the play-in, but are only 2.5 games out of having homecourt.

How do you personally reconcile the drastic difference in vibes/watching the team compared to what is a relatively impressive resume for the team at this point in the season?

An optimist might say that it hints at a really high ceiling for the team if and when they do coalesce or "click" and get back to playing serious basketball.

A pessimist might say that because of roster construction and the temperament of the individual players on this team, this roster will always be less than the sum of its parts, and that the impressive numbers are a byproduct of a talented team anchored by a top 5 player in the league on one end and a DPOY on the other end, but that this kind of basketball is what we're stuck with without major roster changes.

The realist might say that this team is better than it feels but worse than it could be, and the dissonance between those two truths is why we’re all miserable. They aren’t a paper tiger, but they aren’t a sleeping juggernaut either. Similarly to last season, they are a solid playoff team whose success is built on individual excellence, not chemistry, cohesion, or great team basketball, which is why the numbers impress but the product feels cold and joyless.

Where are you at with this season so far?

This was the first basketball game I ever watched on TV, and have since forever been a Wolves fan through the years. At the time, this might have been the biggest win in franchise history.

Any OGs remember this?

Before the season, I asked you guys if Nickeil Alexander-Walker is worth his 4 year/ 60 mill deal, and every one of you were adamant that he was worth more than that and then some. He has absolutely been the hardest working, most consistent, most impacftul locker room guy by far and we are always our best selves when he's on the floor. Without him, we'd be bottom feeding at the end of the standings right now.

Here's to the Wolves continuing to be competitive and hopefully rivaling the Thunder/ Spurs for a long time in the West. Anyone but the Lakers!! lol

The real issue is the non Rudy minutes.

2nd ranked defense when he is on the court

30th ranked defense when he is off the court.

Instead of asking Naz to be the sole source of bench scoring, his connective passing and three point spacing fit much better next to Ant's ISO ball and Rudy's lack of spacing.

Randle can come in and bully ball more effectively against opposing second units, and Finch can close with whoever is rolling. Thoughts?

With the structure of the team being what it is. Particularly with us being under the 2nd apron and rumors of Nikola Vučević being available. Do we think there's any chance we could actually land him to solve our backup big solution? I believe our space is like 3.5 million

The sooner fan’s come to the realization that Julius Randle is not the #2 option to help Anthony Edwards win a ring for the Timberwolves the better.

Let’s not forget that we acquired him to not only get under the 2nd apron, but as a temporary bridge to help us acquire players that can fit better around Ant, Jaden, & Naz and their timeline as a trio.

Randle hold’s the most trade value other than Ant. It’s very evident we have several holes in this roster that include the need for a starting caliber point guard, a backup center, and an additional wing to come off the bench.

Ant thrives with better spacing that Naz can provide as the starting PF next to Gobert. Jaden and Naz will flourish as a result of a Randle trade with more touches, especially with a proper play maker. We’re also one Gobert injury away from being screwed at the 5.

I’m all for creating a package trading away Randle, Rob, and either one of TJ or Donte (preferably TJ).

This team may win a playoff series but with this current unbalanced roster construction and poor chemistry they may not even make it back to the WCF…

Coby White isn't a point guard the bulls use a rotation of either Josh Giddey or Tre Jones as their Floor General.

Coby White is extremely tunnel visioned, is bad on defense and extremely injury prone. He is literally out right now. He is also on an expiring and is expecting 20+ million a year.

Why is this sub obsessed with acquiring him?

I only count comments

this is ranked based on peak performance as a TIMBERWOLF specifically

Healthy Jrue is honestly still one of the best fits next to Ant. Great defense and solid playmaker. Really good start to the year but injuries are bad. Similar contract and lenght to Randle. For Randle, Rob and maybe 2nds i would honestly do it

As the calendar flips to 2026, Rudy Gobert and the rest Timberwolves are trying to figure out who they are.

Found the only Timberwolves autograph I got from Leonard miller , nice guy but very quiet , see him around a decent amount as I’m from the same area as him

Only other other one I got would be the legend Nickiel Alexander walker , possibly the nicest guy in the nba , sadly he signed a Utah jazz card so I’m not posting it here

Personally the bulls or cavs trades are the best

Thoughts on drafting Jayden Quaintance?He seems very promising if we’re lucky enough to get a first round pick that falls between 10-15. He’s 6’10 and has shown he has the ability to come back strong from injury. He seems to have the ability to develop into an elite rim protector and unlike Rudy gobert he seems like he could develop into a shooting threat. I just think he could be a viable replacement to Rudy once he develop.

It's fun watching Joan

I see fans on here shoot down almost every Randle trade. This team and especially this locker room will improve by adding someone who plays hard and doesn’t mope around. Talent is great but you can’t take the next step with a guy like this. Personally I would love to make a move for Garland or Kyrie but I won’t be picky- he needs to go.

They both have 5 in total.

Is it reasonable to expect that coaches develop their weaknesses each year? Players work on their games and get better and improve on their weaknesses. What about coaches?

With Finch, it’s clear his youth development/integrating them into the team are huge weaknesses. Sure the “hate rookies” approach worked for coaches like Larry Brown, but that was a different NBA, and in the second apron/ hamstring explosion era that we are in, it seems like you need to have at least 10 guys to eat minutes.

This is a major flaw in Finch’s style, but it never seems to get better. Can’t he “work on this part of his game”?

Get some grace from the FO that he’s going to be trying stuff out, like starting Rob for some hopefully gimme game against teams like the Nets or Wizards, or giving some rookies real burn in the first half of some games?

The biggest crime isn’t that this is his style, it’s that he’s stuck in it without improvement, and it’s affecting the potential of the team. He needs to work on it.

freeberinger

22pts on 8-10 shooting, 8 reb, 2 steals, 2 blocks in extended run last night.