Timberwolves – Page 18 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Timberwolves Will Create High Drama in Coming Offseason

Posted on May 31, 2024 by David Shama

The Timberwolves are finished in the playoffs after losing last night to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavs won the series 4-1 and embarrassed Minnesota on its home court, jumping off to a big lead in the game and winning 124-103.

That thud last night and losing the series in five games doesn’t tarnish a special year. As time expired Thursday evening, fans chanted: “Let’s go Wolves!” The shout out was in appreciation for a 56-26 regular season, No. 3 seeding in the postseason and deep playoff run.

This team produced one of the best years in franchise history dating back to 1989-1990. That success has also set up an intriguing offseason. Among the drama will be the following:

Who is going to have majority ownership of the Wolves and WNBA Lynx? Arbitration and later a vote by the NBA’s owners will settle the issue. That vote will be very interesting not only because Glen Taylor has a long time relationships with the league’s other 29 owners that could favor him in the outcome. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are trying to close on a sales price of $1.5 billion for the Wolves and Lynx that was agreed to in 2021. With NBA franchises now valued at $3 billion and more, do the owners want to see a club sold for $1.5 billion? Prediction here: Taylor will emerge from the legal dispute with Lore and Rodriguez as the controlling owner.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who took over as the front office basketball boss in 2022, reportedly has an opt out now in his contract. Will the architect who put the pieces together elevating the team from mediocre to championship contender want to leave? The push to bring Connelly to Minneapolis from Denver was led by Lore and Rodriquez but the opinion here is the valued decision maker will stay on working for Taylor and wanting to further build on his work.

How will ownership and Connelly approach an expensive player payroll that as constructed now will put them way over the NBA salary cap? Speculation is ownership will have to pay over $25 million in luxury tax to keep an expensive core together led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and others. Spotrac.com projects the payroll at over $190 million for next season, one of the highest figures in the league.

But if all the key players return the Wolves will be sitting on a box office and marketing bonanza with fans. Presumably they could generate revenues from varied sources to cover the luxury tax expense while driving up the value of the franchise if success duplicates or exceeds last season. Taylor, 83, has never seen his team win an NBA title and might have a “let’s go for the ring” approach this offseason.

How does this team get better? Significant improvement will come organically from a roster mostly of young players led by Anthony Edwards, 22, Jaden McDaniels, 23, and Naz Reid, 24. It requires experience to win championships and these players have big upsides on a roster that potentially has its top six guys returning.

New pieces? The Wolves need a plan that sooner or later will replace valued 36-year-old veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. Other wants should be to add more consistent and clutching scoring, ideally from a big-time veteran or prospect (possible Towns trade?), and develop a deeper bench to go along with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Reid.

Those needs will go through Connelly’s mind in a rare NBA Draft where the Wolves haven’t mortgaged away their selections. Minnesota has the No. 27 and 37 picks in next month’s draft.

In some towns just the approaching draft, free agent signings and trades would provide the offseason focus but not here there is even more anticipation about what’s next.

Roles for U Frosh Koi Perich in 2024 Might Be Multiple

Koi Perich is the face of the 2024 Golden Gophers football recruiting class. Expectations by fans are considerable for the former Esko star and consensus four-star recruit ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota by On3, 247Sports and ESPN last year. On3 ranked him as the No. 3 safety in the nation and the No. 53 overall recruit in the country.

As a senior last fall Perich played defense, offense and special teams while leading Esko to a 10-1 record. He accounted for 27 touchdowns, including five on defense.

Perich showed he could perform not only against small town Minnesota competition but also on the national stage. Playing in the All-American Bowl against some of the better prep talent in the country last January, Perich was named MVP. He had an interception, broke up two passes, made a tackle for a loss, and blocked and recovered a punt.

Perich tantalizes fan enthusiasm beyond his talent because of his loyalty to the home state school. Ohio State, a favorite to win the 2024 national championship, put a December recruiting rush on the teenager with head coach Ryan Day visiting him. He could have not only become a Buckeye but chosen to any number of other marquee programs.

That kind of “he’s one of us” feeling fuels curiosity about Perich who also excelled in basketball at Esko and won the 2022 Class A state long jump championship. Among the questions is how soon will he play for the Gophers and where?

Ryan Burns, the recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated, predicts Perich isn’t likely to start right away. “It’s not a knock on Koi’s talent. It’s a knock on him getting here in June (summer school starts Monday). If he would have been here in January, I think the likelihood of him having a much bigger role this fall would have been exponentially higher.

“It’s just so tough for—in my eyes at least—for a true freshman that comes in in the summer to really make a giant impact in the fall. It’s not unheard of to see it happen. We’ve seen guys where it happened like Antoine Winfield Jr. . …”

As of late, there’s a developing tradition of great safeties at Minnesota. Winfield was named a unanimous All-American in 2019. Tyler Nubin was honored as a first and second team All-American in 2023.

Perich has a legacy to follow and although he may not be a starting safety in 2024, Burns sees potential roles on the field including the possibility of playing nickel on passing downs. That could have the hyped freshman on the field for 200 to 300 snaps next season.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

At Esko Perich returned three punts for touchdowns and one kickoff for a score last season. Given how prolific Perich was at returning punts and kickoffs in high school, Burns would “love to see” the fan favorite have a chance at those roles with the Gophers.

“As you know, my bar for (head coach) P.J. Fleck’s return game is incredibly low,” said Burns who noted the Gophers haven’t returned a kickoff for a TD since 2017, nor taken a punt back for a score since 2018. A poor kickoff return game last year, he said, resulted in consistent bad field position and added to problems for aa challenged offense.

So, nickel back, returning punts and kickoffs, and even time at safety could be on the table for Perich. The Gophers do have to replace their starting safeties from 2023 and sooner or later that could create an opening for you-know-who.

The conclusion? No one should be shocked if Perich contributes to Minnesota’s success in 2024 with probably bigger things coming in 2025.

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Luka Doncic’s Health May Determine Wolves Playoff Fate

Posted on May 25, 2024May 25, 2024 by David Shama

Luka Doncic’s health may determine the fate of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks’ superstar guard has been laboring in the playoffs with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness.

At times Doncic moves with a slight limp. He is also frequently seen bent over in apparent exhaustion from his max minutes and pain.

After last night’s heroics while making a three-point shot to defeat the Wolves 109-108 at Target Center, Doncic was asked on TNT’s postgame show about his health. He told Ernie Johnson it was good. “I will play no matter what,” said Doncic whose physical style of play sometimes has him sprawled on the floor.

That’s the uber competitor talking but there are limits to what even a superbly conditioned 25-year-old can endure. Not saying it’s gong to happen but as the Mavericks, up 2-0 in the best of seven series get ready to host Game 3 tomorrow night in Dallas, there’s no guarantee Doncic’s injuries won’t worsen—or something new may happen to prevent him from being on the court.

The Wolves’ chances in the series have come down to not only correcting their own flaws but the possibility of benefiting from an ailing Doncic who is limited in his movement or unable to play at all. Doncic has carved up the Wolves in the first two games, scoring 65 points, while totaling 16 rebounds and 21 assists (passing with shades of Magic and Pistol Pete).

Minnesota so far has no answer for the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Slovenian who finished No. 3 in NBA voting for MVP. He has scored inside and out, while frustrating the Wolves with deft passing all over the court. His alley-oops to teammates in the lane have given the Mavs consistent offense in both games, and when it’s not Doncic in action it’s fellow superstar guard Kyrie Irving doing the damage.

Doncic’s menacing presence has even shown up on defense. Not known as a standout defensively, he has a talent for anticipating passing lanes, intercepting the ball and often starting a fast break.

For all of Doncic’s heroic play and stellar contributions by teammates including the electric Irving, the Mavs have won two games by a total of four points. The Wolves entered the series as betting favorites and the close losses in the first two games are a reminder (we shouldn’t need one) the playoffs are unpredictable.

As recently as their last playoff series the Wolves jumped to a 2-0 lead by winning opening games in Denver against the defending NBA champion Nuggets. Then Minnesota lost three consecutive games only to win two straight, including their dramatic Game 7 win in Denver.

The Mavs aren’t dominating the Wolves and seem unlikely to win the next two games, even as the home court advantage moves to Dallas (Game 4 Tuesday night). The Wolves can and will make adjustments after they blew a five-point lead in the closing minutes last night in a game where they led by 18 in the second quarter. Suggestions from this “bench:”

Replace Jaden McDaniels with Anthony Edwards as the primary defender on Doncic. Daniels is a terrific defensive player, but Edwards is superlative, too, and is about 40 pounds heavier. Edwards’ strength is a better match against the muscular Doncic.

Irving has scored 50 points in the series. At 6-9, with long arms and mobility, McDaniels can cause problems for the 6-1 Irving who has scored 50 points in the series and can ignite sustained offensive runs for Dallas.

Edwards has to do better than 40 points in the first two games (making 11 of 33 field goals). One adjustment is to prioritize getting Edwards off to fast starts in the first half, bolstering his rhythm and confidence. Throughout the game the Wolves need to put the basketball more in his hands, letting him make plays for himself and others.

Towns photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns has 31 points in the two games, making 10 of 36 field goals. The world knows there’s no such thing as consistency in the playoffs from KAT, who is now in his ninth NBA season. But it would help if the Wolves regularly posted him near the basket and let him shoot over defenders, providing higher percentage scoring opportunities and drawing fouls on Dallas front court players.

If “bad” KAT shows up tomorrow night, don’t hesitate to give max minutes to NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. He made seven of nine three-point attempts while scoring 23 points off the bench in Friday night’s loss, while KAT sat and watched.

Maverick centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II can be subpar free throw shooters. Hacking them in the two to five minutes period in the fourth quarter could be a targeted strategy paying off in close games for the Wolves.

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Unflappable Finch: Calm Voice for Frustrated Timberwolves

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by David Shama

It was typical Chris Finch last night at his presser following Minnesota’s 115-107 loss to Denver. There had been a roller coaster of emotions at Target Center among fans, players and coaches–including Finch’s frustrated Timberwolves—but if there were expectations for a ranting head coach, that didn’t happen.

Not too high, not too low describes the team’s three-plus years bench boss. With an inexperienced playoff team and having lost two straight to the Nuggets, that looks like the right approach and what everyone has come to expect from the steady leader who could be granted a pass for some orneriness after surgery earlier this month to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.

Finch, of course, was hardly a happy camper about his team’s performance but his demeanor fit the situation of the game and playoff series that is now tied and continues Tuesday night in Denver. Asked about his team’s postgame emotional state Finch said matter-of factly:

“They’re frustrated but they’re fine. We’re two-two. We got a three-game series (best of seven) going on. We never thought this would be a quick series. …”

Finch wasn’t at a loss for critical words in describing his team’s play Sunday night when he spoke at his news conference that was also broadcast on KFAN Radio. “These are inexcusable plays you can’t make right now,” he said about a couple of key parts of the game.

At times during the pivotal game (the Wolves led only once), Finch found fault with the offense, analyzing that his players “lost our composure a little bit, just kind of rushing things.” The coach added he didn’t like the offense’s structure and lack of ball movement.

Anthony Edwards scored a franchise playoff record 44 points, but the Wolves had a “Big 1” in their All-Star shooting guard, while the Nuggets countered with a “Big 3” of Nikola Jokic, with 35 points, Aaron Gordon, 27 and Jamal Murray, 19. The Wolves aren’t going to win the series without a “Big 2,” or “Big 3,” and expectations start with Karl-Anthony Towns whose career performances in playoff games is often MIA.

Among the NBA’s better paid players at more than $30 million this season, Towns scored 13 points last night on five of 18 shooting and two free throws. “Rushed a lot of things,” Finch said. “I thought physicality (the Nuggets) kind of got him off his spot a little bit. He kind of rushed it.”

The 28-year-old veteran falls into lapses where he makes too many physical and mental errors including unnecessary fouls, careless passes, ill-advised shots and bulldozing to the basket. Tomorrow night the Wolves will need performances from KAT like his contributions in Minnesota’s May 4 and 6 wins in Denver: 20 and 27 points.

Maybe for focus and calm KAT can channel his inner-Finch.

Worth Noting

Nuggets coach Michael Malone at his presser last night: “…We have to go home and protect our home court. We can’t allow them to get a third win at Ball Arena. That’s a message to our fans to come out and make that place an absolute zoo come whatever night we’re playing. I don’t even know what day it is anymore. Good win for us, but we got a long way to go.”

The Wolves only led once in the game, allowing the Nuggets to often silence the raucous sold-out crowd of 19,583 that was potentially ready to explode with every positive move by their hometown favorites.

Celebrities at the game included Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Twins star Royce Lewis.

Word is a prominent national company that was a Wolves Target Center suite purchaser during the season turned down the opportunity to rent space for $29,000.00 at last Friday night’s Game 3 between Minnesota and Denver.

The Wolves had over 160 reservations for media space for last night’s game.

Dr. Sheldon Burns has been with the Wolves since their inception, now celebrating 35 years as a team physician. “Third employee hired,” he told Sports Headliners.

ESPN.com reports this afternoon former Golden Gopher Antoine Winfield Jr., a former second round draft choice, has reached agreement with the Bucs on a deal making him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The deal is four years, $84.1 million.

The Twins, who have won 17 of their last 20 games, will start right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack tomorrow night at Target Field in the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees. Paddack, 4-1 with a 4.34 ERA, opposes Yankee left-hander Carlos Rodon, 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA.

Paddack is trying to extend his career-high four-game win streak. In his last four starts he has a 1.93 ERA, giving up three walks, 28 strikeouts and two home runs. He is tied for first with Ronel Blanco, Tarik Skubal and Cole Irvin for the longest active win streak in the American League.

Sam Vecenie’s NBA mock draft yesterday for The Athletic has Golden Gophers’ freshman guard Cam Christie going to the Trail Blazers at No. 34 in the second round. That might surprise Gopher fans, but the smooth shooting and athletic Christie is a solid prospect in a very average NBA Draft. If an NBA team chose to, they could offer Christie guaranteed money—something second rounders don’t automatically receive.

Vecenie projects the Wolves taking Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis at No. 27 in the first round and Connecticut guard Cam Spencer at No. 37 in the second.

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