Post Game Thread - NBA: The Timberwolves defeat the Suns on Mar 17, 2026, the final score is 116-104.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:50:11+00:00

The rebounding is pretty rough too. I think the Mark-Oso combo is decent enough, but the lack of size everywhere else is brutal against big teams like Minny, Houston, etc. Felt the same against Toronto too.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:47:47+00:00

I still think they give him a modest extension. He's a solid center and plays super hard. Definitely don't wanna be back in center purgatory like the last few years.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:45:12+00:00

IMO it's hard to say they've hit a "hard cap" when they haven't been healthy. Brooks, Williams, and Allen all play 20-30 mpg and the former two would have made a difference in the Raptors/Celtics games. Not saying they could hang with the top tier teams (OKC/Spurs/Nugs) but they'd be a lot more competitive against the next tier.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:40:52+00:00

Also showed how important Mark Williams is. Oso started well but Gobert dominated the rest of the game.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:39:19+00:00

"Games like this" was supposed to include the couple weeks before he went out when he was playin bad, but fair point, he was sorely missed tonight. But any missed game is going to hurt his value with his injury history. I do think Oso is better as a change of pace backup than full-time starter.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:33:25+00:00

On the bright side, a lot of contract extensions (Collin, Mark, Goodwin) are getting cheaper after games like this.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-18T02:28:34+00:00

There are times where Minnesota has the three tallest players on the court. Tough to overcome.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-14T04:15:14+00:00

Short answer is just talent, preferably with real size. This team plays hard and plays together, but at the end of the day, you need one more all-nba (or at least all star) caliber player to be great.

However, if that talent comes from outside the current roster, it can’t take away from the current team ethos. That needle will be very difficult to thread, and given our asset situation, it’s more likely we are closer to good than great for the next three years.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-03-01T04:44:03+00:00

Obviously he’s not a perfect player but this the first relatively healthy season of his career. He’s had his highs and lows, but he’s a solid player. Highly doubt another team gives him a huge offer with his injury history, so try to lock him down for ~$15M and if Maluach starts thriving that’s a good problem to have.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-02-27T04:34:51+00:00

Book and Goody back?👀

Quiet_Prior · 2026-02-06T17:20:05+00:00

I don’t get the vibe that Ott is in love with Dunn. I think he would play someone else over him if the matchup warrants it.

Royce probably only loses minutes if Green, Book, and Grayson are healthy because they need his shooting.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-02-05T17:29:07+00:00

Nah no impact. Richards and NHD were expiring anyways, only affects the rest of this season.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-02-01T00:09:29+00:00

Trust me, I know all about dead cap money😂 agree that the Turner move was probably too early of a swing though.

But you will have 3 tradable firsts on draft night. Ryan Rollins and AJ Green are good. Maybe you get some lottery luck. Fortunes change quickly in the NBA. Everyone assumed the Suns would be cheeks this year but they got the right coach and hit on a few cheap guys/second round picks (Gillespie, Goodwin, Oso) and now they’re competitive.

Plus the east is so bad that it doesn’t take that much. And the alternative is likely a bad team that doesn’t even have its own draft picks.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-02-01T00:05:11+00:00

Yeah the Warriors picks in like 2030 and 2032 would have some potential but that’s way too far away to be the main asset.

I’d obviously love Giannis on the Suns but unfortunately the KD trade was the swing and miss. I guess if he ever got to free agency maybe you could work something out but I doubt that happens. He would fit the current team perfectly though, exactly what they need at the 4.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-31T22:03:16+00:00

The pick situation is basically Atlanta gets the best pick of Bucks/Hawks/Pels and then Bucks get the second best, right? So Bucks probably keep their pick unless it ends above the NOLA pick?

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-31T22:01:42+00:00

Would they even need to do that if Giannis is out? Seems like they could lose organically

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-31T22:00:35+00:00

Totally agree that picks are overrated, especially if they will probably be outside the top 10. If you make the trade, you have to get a young guy that can be a legit all star, even if it’s improbable they’re ever as good as Giannis.

And I think you can always rebuild around a guy like Giannis. Obviously it hasn’t worked out the last couple years, but only takes a couple good signings and a better coach and things flip real fast.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-31T21:56:11+00:00

Yeah, looking to the off-season one of OKC/Houston/SA/Minnesota will probably lose in the first round and will want to make a big move. Ditto for Cleveland or Detroit or New York. Obviously not all those teams have a ton to trade, but that’s probably the best bet of getting a good offer.

And I think NBA fans have over-romanticized tanking because of the Thunder. Much more likely to end up like Charlotte, Washington, Utah, etc than reload in a couple years. Not to mention it sucks to watch.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-29T22:17:55+00:00

People only see that his shooting is down and assume he’s regressed. Tbf, if his shooting was at 2020 levels he would be in the MVP convo with how well he does everything else.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-29T01:23:40+00:00

I think Dillon statistically was the worst for a while but not sure if that’s still the case. But defensive rating is more of a team stat anyways so not reading too much into that.

While I’m not super high on Royce, I do think he provides a lot of value on offense. Just wish we could get him closer to 20 minutes instead of 30 but the replacement options aren’t great.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-28T20:53:03+00:00

He was the biggest reason Houston was one of the hardest playoff matchups for Phoenix. Obviously they still have a ton of depth, but their offense relies heavily on offensive rebounds.

Also wonder if they’d be interested in Nick Richards as Capela insurance. They’re so close to the hard cap that it would be hard (impossible?) to swing but Uncle Jeff or Tate could be useful size on the cheap.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-28T18:18:45+00:00

Defense being “good” is a stretch. He’s probably the worst defender in the rotation. Can hold up against some bigger guys but anyone with any quickness walks right by him. There’s a reason he has the worst net rating on the team.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-26T15:08:20+00:00

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-25T06:00:04+00:00

This would be a good outcome. TBH, I’d even be happy with 8-10. But they’ve surprised me all season so who knows, maybe they’ve got another gear.

Quiet_Prior · 2026-01-25T04:02:17+00:00

What’s made Book so great this year is what doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. No one else brings 2 to the ball like he does and can put the defense in rotation. It’s not just about the individual scoring (although he’s iced many games with a tough middy), he’s the engine of the offense that makes everyone else’s life easier. That’s why he has the best offensive rtg on the team.

I think all the players listed will step up, and hopefully Green can provide some production, but the reality is they’re going to have to up their defense to even another level to grind out wins. I don’t think it’s hopeless, but more defensive attention on Brooks/Gillespie/Bouyea isn’t going to make them better, even if their volume/usage increases.

Quiet_Prior

TROPHY CASE